The vow "for better or worse" sounds romantic until "worse" becomes an indefinite coma. Carmen begins to realize that there are worse things than death. When Lori returns to reclaim two-year-old Destiny, Carmen and Alex consult a lawyer. The six month waiting time has passed, but Lori insists Carmen had promised that she could come back and get her later. But Alex didn't agree and it was a legal adoption. Lori is determined and even a restraining order doesn't stop her. When she resorts to unorthodox methods, it results in Carmen being attacked and Alex being stabbed while trying to rescue her. Alex lives, but he remains in a coma after the stabbing. Carmen isn't accustomed to making all the decisions. Alex has been the one they all turned to for final decisions. Now she must be both mother and father. As if all this isn't enough, Carmen discovers Alex has kept a secret from her since the beginning of their relationship. She doesn't know why and Alex can't explain. Things look pretty bleak, but to Carmen's way of thinking, as long as you don't give up, you haven't failed.