It was a relaxing Saturday morning. Will was holding David and Mac was holding Cooper, sitting in the living room with Kate. They were all chatting and just relaxing. The home phone rang and Will answered.

"Thanks, send him up, please," he said and hung up.

"Michael is in the lobby," he announced.

"Your brother, Michael," Mac asked, confirming.

Will nodded. He handed David off to Kate and stood by the elevator waiting for Michael.

When the elevator door opened Michael was there, "Hello, Will."

"Michael, come on in," he said, holding out his hand to him. Michael took his hand.

"I apologize for not calling ahead," Michael said.

Will could tell something had changed with Michael. "No worries, come on in," Will said and led him into the living room.

Michael saw Kate, Mac and the babies. "If I'm interrupting, I can come back," he offered.

"Not at all," Mac said. "How are you, Michael?"

"I'm very well, thank you, Mac. I apologize for not calling ahead."

Kate got up and handed David to Will and hugged her brother. He easily went into her arms and returned her hug. "Come sit," Kate said, taking his hand and leading him to a chair.

Will and David sat next to Mac and Cooper. David was waving his arm at Michael. "Who are these adorable babies," Michael asked.

"This is David and Mac is holding Cooper. They are your nephews."

"Congratulations. How old are they?"

"Thank you. Two months," Mac said.

"What are you doing here, Michael," Will asked.

"I'm in town for a conference. But I'm here to apologize and see if we can all talk. Kate, I had no idea you were here."

"I've been here almost four months. Jane is here, too, in New York, I mean."

"I had no idea," Michael said.

"What did you want to talk about," Will asked.

"I need to explain my behavior when you were in Lincoln. I was on a very destructive path. I was not taking my medication at the time and I was out of control. There is no other way to say it."

"What changed," Will asked.

"Someone came into my life that made me see what was happening, how I was falling apart. I was on drugs and didn't care who or what was destroyed. I've been in therapy for about a year and clean for almost as long."

"Are you with this someone," Kate asked him.

"I am. He and I are living together and we're very happy."

Will smiled at him. "I'm glad you found someone to make you happy, Michael."

"Thanks."

David was waving his arms at Michael, who was sitting next to Will. Michael scooted forward and held his hand out to David. David grabbed his finger and laughed. "How do you get anything done," he asked smiling at David.

"It's hard," Mac said.

"Are you back at work, Mac?"

"I've been back a couple of weeks."

"You look great."

"Thanks."

"Look, I know you've got no reason to believe me and my past behavior has made you cautious, I don't blame you, I would be, too. Part of my therapy is to explain my past behavior and apologize. That's why I'm here to talk to you two, and you," he said turning to Kate.

"Let us put David and Cooper down and we'll talk," Will said and got up with Mac following him into the nursery.

"He looks good, Will," Mac said once they were in the nursery.

"He does. He looks clean. I hope he has gotten himself together. I could tell he was different the moment I saw him."

They had gotten the boys down and Cooper had already fallen asleep. "Let's see what he has to say," Mac said pulling Will out the door and shutting it part way. She grabbed the baby monitor from their bedroom and they went back out to the living room.

Kate and Michael were chatting when they came back. "Would you like something to drink," Mac offered.

"I'd love some coffee, if there's some ready," Michael said.

"Everybody want coffee," Will asked.

It was a consensus. "Okay, right back."

Mac sat with Kate and Michael. "What kind of conference are you attending?"

"The American Institute of Architects. Lots of discussion on design and green building and the green building movement is huge."

"I imagine it would be. Where are you staying?"

"The Plaza."

"If you have time you should have afternoon tea at the Palm Court in The Plaza. It's wonderful," she said smiling.

"I'll keep that in mind. My partner is British, so he would definitely enjoy that."

"Where is he from," Mac asked.

"Born in London, raised in Brighton."

Will walked in and said, "coffee will be ready soon," and sat beside Mac.

"Why did you leave Lincoln," Michael asked Kate.

Will started to say something and Kate stopped him. "It's all right."

"What's going on," he asked.

"I can talk about this, I need to talk about this," Kate said to Will.

"If this is uncomfortable…."

"No, I'll tell you."

Michael knew this was bad when he saw Mac take Will's hand.

"The guy I was dating hit me. I broke up with him and he became obsessed with me and would follow me around. He was inside the house when I got home one night, he beat me up and raped me."

Michael took her hand, "I'm so sorry, Kate."

She wiped the tears from her cheek and continued, "he was arrested and he's in prison now. Will came and got me and brought me back here and now this is home."

"May I give you a hug," Michael asked and she nodded and stood up. He pulled her into his arms and held her protectively. He was whispering something to her that Mac and Will couldn't make out, but whatever he'd said made her smile.

When she pulled away from him he let her go immediately. "I'm going to go so you guys can talk. Promise me that you and I will spend some time together, okay," she said to Michael.

"I promise. If you need anything, please let me know."

She nodded and went to her bedroom.

Michael sat in the chair Kate left and looked at Will.

"What," Will said.

"How long was this going on before she left?"

"You think I'd let her stay in that situation without doing something," Will said.

"No, I don't. I'm sorry. I know if you'd known she would have been out before she was beaten and raped."

Will walked over to the windows and stood there.

"Will," Michael started but was stopped by Mac.

"Help me bring the coffee out," she asked, knowing Will needed a few minutes.

"Of course," he said and followed Mac to the kitchen.

"Thank you for your help," she said putting cups on a tray along with cream and sugar. "He needs a few minutes."

Michael carried the coffee back into the living room for her.

"Thank you. Will do you want coffee?"

"Please," he said and came back to sit on the couch next to Mac. Michael saw the tear tracks on his face.

"I'm sorry," Michael said.

Will nodded, accepting his apology.

"Are you okay to talk about this," he asked Will.

"Let's give it a try."

"Do you want the room," Mac asked Will.

"I need you here."

"I'm not going any where," she said smiling at him. He took her hand in his.

Michael noticed that she let him touch her first.

"Will if you aren't comfortable…."

"She's getting better, but the situation brought up a lot of memories of things I'd rather not think about."

"I understand that. You are the oldest and you were around the abuse the longest."

"Do you remember the abuse?"

"More on an abstract level, not specifically. I remember feeling uneasy and scared, but not really the reasons why. I may have been reacting to you and Kate and mom."

"Jane doesn't remember a lot and I thought you'd remember even less. Not that you weren't affected but that the actual memory wouldn't be there."

"I understand and I don't really remember any actual abuse, for which I'm thankful. Are you all right?"

He nodded.

"Will you couldn't have done anything," Michael said.

"He's right, you know," Kate said from the hallway. "I wondered how you were reacting and I needed to see if you were okay," she explained coming to sit next to him. He turned to her and pulled her into his arms.

Kate held him and when she felt him pull away she immediately let him go. Michael picked up on how everyone was allowing Will to be the initiator of any touching.

"May I ask you a personal question and if you aren't comfortable I completely understand," Michael said.

"Sure, why not," Will answered.

"Do you not like to be touched?"

"Because they are letting me initiate the contact?" Michael nodded. "It's a story I'd rather not tell but know that normally it's not a problem but when we're talking about all of it, I need to initiate the contact."

"Thank you for telling me."

"You're welcome."

They heard a cry from the baby monitor and then another. "I'll go," Kate said.

"I'll help you," Mac said. "Right back," she said and kissed his temple as she got up.

"Can I do anything," Michael offered.

Will smiled at him. "No, unfortunately not. Thanks for offering."

Michael nodded. "We've never been close, Will, but I'd do anything for you, know that."

"I do know that."

"I know you've done way more for the three of us than probably any of us know. You don't have to tell me, but know I appreciate everything you've done. You held us together and you had to grow up too fast."

"Thanks."

"I want to be a part of this family, I want to contribute and be there in good times and bad."

"We've missed having you around," Will said. "It's true, we were never really close, but that can change, if you want it to change. I'm here for whatever you need."

"I love you, Will. You were always bigger than life to me. I need you in my life, I need my big brother."

"I love you, too. I'm here for whatever you want and need," Will said.

"May I hug you?"

Will nodded and stood up. "Thank you," Michael said and hugged Will.

Mac came back in carrying David.

Will was back on the couch and Michael in the chair next to him.

"Coop asleep," Will asked.

She smiled and said, "he is." Mac sat next to Will with David on her lap.

"Jack," Michael started and realized they didn't know who Jack was, "my partner, and I are trying to adopt."

"That's great," Mac said. "I know it can be a long process."

"Good for you," Will said. "Do you want to hold David?"

Michael smiled, "may I?"

Mac handed the baby to Will who placed him in Michael's arms. "Thank you."

Will sat back down and pulled Mac into his side and placed his arm around her shoulders. Michael was very good with David. He played with him and gave him kisses. When David got fussy Mac offered to take him but Michael was fine. He stood up and walked around with him, gently rocking him. David calmed down and rested against his shoulder. Michael sat back in the chair.

"You're good with him," Will said.

Michael smiled at Will and said, "thanks."

"Where are you in the adoption process," Will asked.

"We are going through the approval process. We're trying to adopt from Korea. We've had the home visit and have been approved. Now we wait on the Korean side and all of their processes."

"Do you know how long the Korean side will take," Mac asked.

"No, there's not a set time. It's a waiting game, unfortunately."

Michael looked at David and he was asleep. "Do you want me to put him down for you, or will it wake Cooper?"

Will smiled. "Nothing wakes up Coop."

"Really?"

"He falls asleep the second you put him down and there could be a party going on out here and he'd still be asleep," Mac said. "He definitely takes after me. I always could sleep anywhere and fall asleep easily. I'll show you his crib," Mac said.

Michael followed Mac into the nursery and put David down, pulling a blanket over him. They then checked on Cooper, who remained asleep.

"You have beautiful babies, Mac."

"Thank you."

Mac and Michael rejoined Will in the living room. "I have to get going, I have meetings this afternoon, but are you free for dinner?"

"We are," Mac said. "May I make a suggestion?"

"Certainly," Michael said.

"Why don't you and Jack come here for dinner? Kate will be here and we'll invite Jane and Sam."

"You don't mind," Michael asked.

"Not at all," Will replied. "Please, join us for dinner."

"Thanks, we'd love to, what time?"

"Let's start about six. I know you're allergic to shellfish, anything Jack is allergic to, or doesn't like?"

"Why do you know I have a shellfish allergy?"

"I remember Mom talking about it to me."

Michael smiled. "Jack doesn't eat fish of any kind, everything else is fine."

"I'll call Jane," Mac offered.

"Thank you," Michael said. Thank you both for this morning, and for letting me hold David."

"You're welcome.," Will said and walked Michael to the elevator and hugged him as they were waiting.

Will came back into the living room and sat next to Mac. She turned toward him and took his hand. "Are you all right?"

He nodded. "It's a lot, you know?"

"I do. He seems to have gotten himself together."

"He does, doesn't he?"

Cooper started crying and Will said, "I'll get him. Why don't you call Jane."

"Okay." Mac grabbed the phone and dialed Jane.