It had been eighteen years since Carolyn had last had a baby. Eighteen years since she felt true love for a baby. Her own baby. Now, as she looked down at her green eyed daughter all she wanted to do was give it away, give it to someone who would actually love the damned child, but of course when does anything work out that way for her? Derek and Amelia had a screaming fit, absolutely refused to allow her to do that to their baby sibling, and Carolyn listened. She didn't have to, and frankly, she didn't want to but she did it. She listened, for whatever the reason was.

"She's a beautiful girl, Mrs. Shepherd." The doctor complimented with a smile on his face. "What do you want to name her?"

"Nothing." Carolyn spat.

He gave her a concerned look. "Excuse me?"

"I don't want to give her anything." She repeated. "Get her out of my face."

The doctor was utterly confused. This, of course, wasn't the usual reaction he recieved from a new mother. But he worried for the child so he lifted the small girl from her mothers arms. "So...You want me to leave her birth certificate blank?"

"I don't give a fuck what you do."

He took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Derek was half asleep on the chair, Amelia was draped over the chairs, her head resting on her brothers. She was sleeping for sure. "Um...Mr. Shepherd?" The doctor coughed.

Derek startled awake, bringing Amelia with him. "Yeah, yeah?"

"This is your baby sister." He smiled lightly, hoping the reaction wouldn't be the same.

Derek and Amelia shared a look before grinning. Amelia sat up first, running towards the doctor and looking down at the little thing. "Oh, Derek. She's gorgeous."

"Do you want to hold her?"

Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. "Um...sure. Yes." The doctor handed Royal off to her big sister and Amelia gasped.

Derek looked at her encouragingly. "Don't worry, you've got her."

Amelia felt tears heat her eyes. "Derek she's so beautiful."

Derek came beside his sisters and caressed the girls head. "She is. She's beautiful, Amy."

"Um...listen, I don't know if her mother is just...stressed. But she seems to be alarmingly...unhappy, with your sister. She doesn't want to name her, so I'll be forced to put Baby Shepherd down on her birth certificate." The doctor said. "I worry for your sisters safety, and I recommend one of you...fights for custody."

"The doctor said she just had some post portem depression." Amelia furrowed her eyebrows. "I live at home still, I'll be with her all day. She'll be okay, and our mother will...grow out of whatever it is she's in."

"Right..." The doctor shrugged. "What do I know, I guess. Why don't I bring you three into another room, and let your mother rest?"

"Okay." Derek agreed, his hand resting on Amelia's back, his eyes focused on his baby sisters. They were a striking shade of green, and he'd fallen in love with them. His baby sister was the most beautiful thing he'd ever layed eyes on, and he knew that he loved her, and would do his best to keep her safe.

The doctor lead the three Shepherd's to another room, where Amelia layed on one side of the bed and Derek layed on the other. Amelia handed Derek their sister, and she gurgled in his arms. Amelia giggled. "Aw, she likes you, Der."

Derek smiled. "Not as much as I like her."

"So, we'll send a nurse by to give her a bath soon." The doctor interrupted. "You both can help if you'd like. Did you have any formula you planned on using, or should I bring up donated breast milk?"

"The breast milk is the healthiest option, right?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, it is of my opinion that it's healthier." The doctor nodded.

"Then that's what's best." Derek said. "We'll give her that."

"Okay." The doctor left.

"Amy, why'd you tell him she has post porterm depression?" Derek raised his eyebrows at his sister.

"I didn't want him to take her away." She muttered. "They would never give her to me...and you're trying to become a doctor, Der. They'd send her away for good, and...I'm home. I can help. I'll keep my eye on her, I love her, Der. I don't want her to go anywhere."

Derek nodded. "If you're sure you can keep her safe...before I can get guradianship of her...then okay."

"I will always keep you safe." Amelia bent down and kissed the baby on her head. "Forever and always, sweet pea."

Royal grinned a gummy smile at her sister and gurgled once more.

Hoping to do a chapter per age, but maybe I'll do two per age. We'll see what happens, I suppose!

-Sam