Gabriella was awake when Charlize met her, though her eyes were drooping shut from the heavy medication. She had been shifted to a room from the ICU as her condition had stabilized.

Robert stood in a corner, watching their daughter smile to see her mother. She lifted her hand toward Charlize and she grasped it quickly, taking a seat next to her bed.

"How are you now, sweetie?" She asked, trying her best to hold back the tears brimming up in her eyes.

"I'm okay... Very tired though," Ella's voice was a faint rasp and she leaned closer to hear her, her fingers rubbing her tiny hand soothingly.

Robert stood there in silence, observing how Gabriella had instantly relaxed in her presence. There was just something about their bond that he felt he could never match up to even though Ella spent most of her time with him and only got to see Charlize on alternative weekends.

Eventually, he stepped out, knowing he shouldn't say anything hurtful to Charlize when she was so important to their daughter. He shouldn't have been so harsh earlier either and that realization simmered in his heart.

He paused to see Jonathan who had still not left. He had returned from the cafeteria, holding a tray with three cups of hot coffee in his hands.

"Coffee?" He asked, offering him one.

Robert wasn't expecting that but took it, "Thanks..."

His eyes flickered to the clock, but then placing the tray on a chair, he took Charlize's cup in. Shortly after, he returned, sitting down as he picked up the last remaining cup.

"I... I'm sorry," Robert mumbled, his words strained as he wasn't used to apologizing. "I shouldn't have reacted like I did."

Jonathan didn't reply immediately, but when he did, his voice was calm and free of judgment. "You don't have to apologize to me. I'm just a third person who has no involvement whatsoever in your family matters. However, you need to make it clear to Charlize that all you said was out of anger and fear. You didn't really mean it."

"I've hurt her, haven't I?" He looked down at his hands, eyes aimlessly staring at the cup he held.

"All I can say is I've never seen her like this before," Jonathan replied, the memory of Charlize's tear stained face churning his heart. "It... It shocked me, to be honest."

He couldn't say anything, feeling the guilt brew within him. All he could utter was a feeble justification. "When she told me Ella was in the hospital, I just... I snapped. I shouldn't have done that, I should have been more levelheaded..."

"Gabriella is her world. She would never intentionally do anything to hurt her." He couldn't erase the memory of her helpless features, her trembling hands, and the tears in her eyes. "She was just as scared and worried as you were. But your reaction made her think it was her fault that Gabriella relapsed. She shouldn't have this burden on her conscience."

"I know... I..." Words failed him and he felt rather stupid for having reacted so harshly. "I'll talk to her."

Silence engulfed them as both men drank coffee, not knowing what to say to the other. A mild understanding lingered in that moment as Robert was beginning to accept that Jonathan was a new chapter in Charlize's life and things would obviously change with him being around.

He had to stop bringing up the past over and over again when he was the one who ended their relationship. Charlize had a right to move on and live her life with whomever she pleased.

He had no say in that.

"Jonathan... I can call you Jonathan, right?"

He nodded in affirmation, tilting his head briefly to look at him.

"How do you know Charlize?"

He paused, feeling that question had a relatively lengthy answer. "She is my therapist," he replied at last, "I visit her for biweekly sessions."

Robert was surprised, "Therapist? But she said you were colleagues...?"

"Yes but I no longer practice since my license got revoked. I didn't apply for a renewal."

The gears in his head turned, "So you were a psychiatrist, too?"

"Yes."

"Jonathan...?" Robert realized he didn't know his surname.

"Crane," he replied, slightly tight lipped. "I was head psychiatrist at Arkham once."

The silence turned thick at that revelation. Jonathan Crane, the name sounded vaguely familiar. He felt he had read it somewhere in the papers.

"I will prefer it if you don't ask further about my past. It's not a story worth telling," seeing the curiosity on the man's face, Jonathan made it clear that he wouldn't want him to probe deeper.

"Oh, of course. I just... Never mind."

The door to the room opened and Charlize stepped out, making their somewhat awkward conversation come to an ultimate halt.

She was relieved to see that they were no longer at each other's throats and even Robert looked much calmer than earlier.

"Ella's gone to sleep," she told them, taking the empty seat next to Jonathan as she addressed Robert, "The doctors said only one of us can stay as an attendant so if you want, you..."

Robert spoke up before she suggested anything, "You can stay. I'll find a hotel room nearby."

She wasn't expecting that, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he looked at Jonathan who had a very neutral expression on his face.

Catching his hesitation, Jonathan stood up, taking the empty cups and tray.

"I'll be right back," he told them, walking away shortly after.

"Charlize, I'm sorry," Robert spoke up at last once he had left, "I didn't mean any of the things I said earlier. I... I was just too anxious to realize that... That I was hurting you."

She listened to him closely but couldn't help the look of disbelief that took over her face. Robert never apologized yet there he was, not only apologizing for his harshness but trying to make amends by letting her stay with their daughter instead.

He had come to some level of acceptance and understanding though she wasn't sure what brought about that change.

"Back there in the room, Ella was so happy to see you," he resumed, for once telling her exactly what he felt instead of concealing it within. "I realized that no matter what I do, you hold a special place in her life that I can't take away. It will be unfair on her. It already is unfair, considering we... Well... Considering we are no longer together."

She stiffened at the last remark but didn't interrupt.

"She already sees you very little. You should stay with her right now, she'll be much more comfortable with you."

Charlize let out the breath she was holding, her eyes looking directly in his. "Robert, I never wanted her to get hurt, you know that, right?"

"I know."

"If it were in my power, I would shield her from everything that could cause even the slightest harm to her," she explained gently. "But in doing so, don't you think we would end up smothering her and taking away her chance to a happy and fulfilling life?"

He gave her words a thought, trying to understand her perspective.

"She wanted to visit the museum so I took her. You're right that I should have been more careful but just taking her to the museum or to anywhere whatsoever wasn't wrong. You should have seen how excited she was, I've never seen her so happy..." She took in a deep breath, composing herself as she resumed. "I promise you I'll be much more careful from now on but you must also promise me that you'll let Ella live. Being cooped up inside isn't the solution to all her problems."

He listened to everything she said, realizing exactly why Ella preferred staying with her more. She was right, their daughter deserved a chance to live fully. And in all his fears for her health and safety, he often overlooked her happiness.

"I... I understand," he sighed, pushing his hair back as he held his throbbing temples. "I see now why she's so happy with you. I never really noticed I was smothering her with all my concern."

"She loves you just as much as she loves me, Robert. We're both her parents and we're not on a competition with one another. You must know that I don't want to take her away from you ever. Honest."

Listening to those words made something twitch in his heart, a slight relief that she knew exactly what he wanted to hear and didn't keep it from him.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, feeling more guilty for his behavior and he voiced the apology genuinely, "Jonathan is right. You don't deserve me being so harsh to you."

She paused, "You talked to Jonathan?"

He nodded, "I misjudged him and you. For that, I apologize."

A slight smile creased her features at last, "Stop apologizing so much, Robert, or I'll have to ask the doctors to examine you as well."

His eyes softened and he stood up, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "I'll go check on Ella. Then I'll be off. If you need anything, call me."

She nodded, watching him step inside the room. She didn't know what Jonathan and Robert had talked about in that brief time when they had been outside Ella's room. But whatever it had been, it probably helped Robert realize his mistake and accept the situation.

By then, Jonathan returned as well and seeing her alone, he stepped closer.

"All good?" He asked, making sure that she was alright.

"Yes. He's letting me stay the night with Ella."

He saw that she looked much relieved than earlier, and the tension on her features had eased. "It's good that he understands."

She tilted her head to look at him, "Jonathan, it's late. You should go home now. Ella and I will be fine here."

"Alright, still if you need anything, let me know."

She nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips. "You've already done enough. I don't know how to thank you."

He turned to face her, taking her hands in his. It was possibly the first time he had reached out himself without her having to hold his hands and prompt that gesture. "You don't have to thank me. Just... Just take care of yourself and Gabriella."

"I will," she nodded, squeezing his hands tenderly before letting go.

***