"Rose," he started, kneeling behind his wife and putting his hands on her hips as she kicked off her shoes. He leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck lightly. "I love you. So much. Thank you so much, Rosie. It's all I ever wanted; a wife and children to love. You've made me so happy."

"You act like I did this on my own," she snorted, kicking her feet again in an attempt to get her shoe off. She generally initiated all their "tender moments" so she hadn't given the way Herbie had kissed her a second thought. "You definitely helped."

He peeled her coat from her arms, throwing it behind them, before kissing her neck again as his fingers began working the buttons of her maternity dress. "I love you, Rosie. I love you," he whispered, trailing soft kisses from the back of her neck to behind her ear and down the side of her neck.

Her eyes fluttered and she leaned against him, raising her hands in front of her and tearing at the buttons. "I love you, too, Herbie," she whispered, her breathing already labored. She turned around and hungrily pressed her lips to his, her tongue searching his mouth as her fingers started ripping at the buttons of his shirt as he pulled her dress off her body.

She started kissing his neck, sucking and nipping playfully as her fingers descended on his belt. She stiffened suddenly, sucking in a breath as pain rolled through her abdomen and to her back.

"What is it?" he asked, looking down at her as his fingers spread across her stomach. "What's wrong? The babies?"

She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head as the pain ebbed. "No, nothing. It's fine, I'm fine, they're fine. Everything's fine," she told him and herself. Couldn't be contractions. She was only on her thirty-sixth week. She wasn't due for another three or four weeks. She pressed her full lips to one of his sensitive points just above his collar bone as she unzipped his pants and rubbed him slowly through the fabric.

Seemingly appeased, he massaged her sides slowly, running his hands up and down them before unhitching her bra and freeing her ample breasts from their cloth prison. She whimpered when he ground his palms against her taut nipples.

"Oh, God, honey…. I want you so much," she breathed against his skin before again pressing her lips to his urgently. She missed, so much, feeling him lying on top of her when they kissed; missed feeling his weight crushing her deliciously as his fiery skin burned against her own. She liked variety as much as the next girl, but she didn't like having to always be on top. It took the fun out of it!

"I want you too, Rose," he whispered, shrugging out of his shirt before pushing his pants down to his knees. He pulled away from her long enough to strip himself entirely before helping her ease back against the pillows in a comfortably seated position. He laid next to her, kissing and sucking at her neck as his fingers moved slowly over her stomach. Her eyelids fluttered and she whimpered again in response.

He slipped his fingers past the elastic of her cotton panties, circling her clit with his first two fingers as her hips bucked against the teasingly light pressure.

Then pain was pushing through her abdomen again, slowly working from her front to her back. Herbie didn't notice the way she suddenly stiffened, didn't see her facial features contort with the sudden pain. And then it was gone again and she relaxed under his touch, moaning quietly as his fingers invaded her.

"Herbie," she swallowed, already pushing the pain from her mind. She pushed at the elastic of her panties, pushing them over her hips and down her thighs before trying to scoot closer to him.

He took her none-too-subtle hint, whisking her panties from her legs before helping her maneuver so she was straddling him. She gripped the headboard, moving until he's slid into her and filled her. Her head lolled back as she continued moving on him slowly and she heard him let out a deep groan of appreciation. She moaned quietly, too, before hissing as pain again gripped her. Her nails dug into the wood and she stopped moving, squeezing her eyes against the pain.

"What is it, Rose?" he asked, concerned. He reached up, caressing her cheek and she leaned into his touch. "Too deep?"

"No. No, it's fine, honey," she croaked, forcing herself to move as the pain started to ebb again.

It couldn't be contractions. She couldn't be in labor. She'd carried June and Louise both full term and she wasn't due for another four weeks. She couldn't possibly be in labor. It must be--what did the doctor call it? -- Braxton Hicks. False labor.

She moved, riding him determinedly and making him let out another deep groan of pleasure. She could feel her heart hammering away in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins, as Herbie ran his hands down her sides again. She wasn't getting any closer. Frustrated, she lowered one hand from the headboard, taking Herbie's hand and leading it away from her sides and between her thighs.

"Touch me," she whimpered, hoping that his teasing her clit again would bring her closer.

Obediently, he moved the pad of his thumb slowly over her clit, bucking his hips and making her squeal.

Yes, there it was. She could feel it now, sense her release on the horizon. No need to worry.

And then she whimpered, biting her lower lip, as pain suddenly pulsed through her abdomen and she felt a warm trickle between her thighs.

It can't be. Maybe he finished?

"Did you just-" he trailed off, looking up at her with confusion in his bright blue eyes.

So much for it being him.

"… Noooo," she answered, her movements ceasing.

"Was that-?"

"… I think so," she nodded, looking at him fearfully.

"Doesn't that mean-?"

She nodded again, trying--unsuccessfully--to remove herself from his form. He helped her pull herself from him, letting her collapse next to him.

They were both sweaty and unsatisfied as he handed her back her clothing and she started to shimmy into her panties. She bit back another whimper, trying to ignore the pain that was working its way through her abdomen again, as she pulled her bra on and pulled her dress over her head. She slowly did each button, her hands shaking uncontrollably, as Herbie dressed quickly beside her.

"Girls!" she called when they were both fully dressed. Herbie began hurriedly throwing her clothing into a suitcase, trying to stay calm despite his excitement. "Girls!"

Louise knocked timidly before June pushed the door open.

"Yes, mama?" she asked.

She forced a smile for her girls, "June, baby, call your grandpa and see if he minds us dropping you off."

"Why? We can take care of ourselves for a night, mama. We're not babies," June interrupted, glaring at her mother, completely oblivious to Herbie's frazzled packing.

"Yes, you are," she growled, not in the mood to argue. "You're my babies and I told you to call him."

"We can stay one night, ma-"

"Call your grandfather, June," Herbie instructed, cutting off June's plea for independence as he continued throwing clothes into a suitcase.

Herbie never told them what to do.

"What's wrong?" Louise asked from behind her sister.

Rose's hands fell to her stomach, her face contorted in pain, as another contraction worked its way through her system. "Just call!"

They'd never seen their mother in pain and June just stared at her mother, dumbstruck, as Louise took several steps forward and placed a hand across her mother's stomach. She smiled at her mother before pressing a kiss to her forehead and rushing to the phone, leaving a still-shocked June behind.

"But- What are- Are you-" the blonde stammered.

"Grandpa said it's fine, mama!" Louise announced, barreling into the room again and colliding with her younger sister. "Come on, June. We gotta pack!" She pulled the younger girl from the room, leaving the two adults alone again.

Herbie closed the suitcase before standing in front of his wife and helping her to stand up.

"I don't understand," Rose muttered as Herbie hauled her to her feet. One hand immediately went to her stomach and the other to her back as she stood. "I'm not due for another three or four weeks."

Herbie wrapped an arm around her waist, her suitcase clutched tightly in his other hand, as he led her from their bedroom and to the front door, letting her ramble to herself about how it didn't make sense. After all, whether or not it made sense, the babies were coming now. "I'll be right back, honey. I'm gonna get the girls." He put her suitcase by the door before returning to her side, running his hands up and down her arms in a calming manner as he looked at her.

She nodded, biting her lower lip to stifle a growl of pain as another contraction washed over her. He nodded in return, offering her a weak smile before hurrying to the room June and Louise shared.

He returned shortly, the girls and their small suitcases in tow, and slid an arm around her waist again as he picked up her suitcase. "Girls, get in the car," he directed as Rose attempted to control her breathing.

"Hee, hee, hooo," she kept repeating, one of the only things she remembered from being in labor with June.

She didn't talk much in the car, only offering her love for her girls and her thanks to Papa when they dropped the girls off. She only grunted, wincing, when the contractions would pulse through her abdomen.

"Did-- umm-- did you think about names, Rosie?" he asked, patting her knee idly in his attempt to distract her from the contractions. She only shook her head, attempting a smile for him before squeezing his hand as she continued her breathing exercises. "Well… Did you think about the names I suggested? Nancy, Penny, Nicholas, or Paul? I was thinking, maybe Parker instead of Paul. What do you think, honey?"

"Herbie, honey," she said, her voice very even as her features contorted with pain again, betraying her resolve to not show her pain as she squeezed his hand tightly. "Not right now, okay? Please?"

He nodded, hating to see her in pain. "Nearly there," he assured her, rubbing the back of her hand lightly with his thumb.

He rushed from the car and into the emergency room entrance, excitedly shouting that his wife was in labor. She was clutching her stomach, forcing herself to breathe as another contraction rolled through her, when he returned for her with the wheelchair.

"Honey, come on, I'll take you inside," he told her, positioning the wheelchair by her car door. "The babies are coming; I can't believe it! I'm so excited, Ro-"

"Herbie," she growled, gritting her teeth and fixing him with a dangerous glare as she clutched her stomach. "Shut. Up. You yellin' isn't gonna make the babies come out any sooner and it sure as hell ain't gonna make me move any faster. Now help me."

Wide-eyed, he reached out and gingerly assisted her in getting out of the car before easing her into the wheelchair and briskly pushing her through the doors.

"Excuse me," he greeted the woman at the desk. "My wife is in labor and-"

"Get me a doctor!" she hollered, interrupting him as she tried to peer over the desk.

"Rose, please calm down. I'll take care of this, of you and the babies," he told her, smiling happily down at her.

"Ma'am, there's no need to yell."

At that, Rose smacked Herbie, pushing him out of the way and moving the wheelchair she was in backwards so she could see the desk attendant. "The hell there isn't! I got two babies fighting to come out and I'm in pain!"

"Miss-"

"Get me a damn doctor!" she interrupted, yelling again and calling attention to them.

The desk attendant nodded obediently, turning to dial the number of the maternity ward.

"Rose-"

"Don't. Start."

He, too, nodded obediently, wheeling her in the direction the petrified desk attendant was pointing.

Not surprisingly, she was assigned a room moments later and Herbie helped her into her hospital gown before she climbed into the bed.

"Rosie, honey, can I get you anything?" he asked tentatively, gripping her hand as he sat beside her.

She growled in response, gripping his hand tighter as she covered her stomach with her free hand.

"Rose-"

"Shut. Up."

"Are you in pain?" he asked, moving his other hand to cover hers on her stomach.

"Yes," she exhaled.

"Wh-What kind of pain, ho-"

"The kind that hurts, Herbie," she growled, cutting him off. She sighed and relaxed against her pillows, the contraction passing. "Honey? Get me some water?"

He smiled at her, nodding. He kissed the back of his hand before going off in search of water for his wife.

He heard her yelling before he even got back to the room.

"No! Don't you dare! I said no, damn it!" she was shrieking. He heard something heavy hit the wall and he started running, knowing she had started throwing things. "Don't you touch me! -- HERBIE! HERBIE! -- WHERE is my husband? NO! Don't touch me!"

"What is it, honey?" he asked, flying into the room as a vase connected with the wall in front of him. He stepped over the puddle of water and pieces of broken glass, taking the hand of his crying wife.

"They-- Don't touch me! -- wanna put a needle in my back and I told them no. I don't like needles and I don't want one in my spine. Herbie, make them stop!" she complained, grunting through another contraction as she tightly gripped his hand and smacked a nurse away.

"Sir, it will relieve her pain. It's an epidural. They're a relatively new invention but they really help," the nurse was saying as she tried to get at Rose's back. Rose growled and pushed the nurse away again. "Sir, please control your wife."

"Get outta my room!" Rose yelled again, still squeezing Herbie's hand. "If you come near me with that damn needle again, I'm gonna stick you with it!"

"I think you should go," he told the nurse firmly, standing and crossing so he stood between Rose and the nurse.

Shaking her head, the nurse left only to have a doctor come in minutes later.

"Mrs. Sommers?" the doctor asked, looking at her medical chart.

Rose ignored him, turning to her husband, "I'm tired, Herbie." She tugged him into a seated position beside her on the bed and leaned against him, closing her eyes.

"Mrs. Sommers, ma'am? We need to see how much you're dilated," the doctor explained, gently pulling her sheets from her legs and leaving them at the foot of the bed making Rose growl in response. Both Rose's and Herbie's eyes shot open, Rose squeaking in indignation when the doctor used his fingers to check how dilated she was.

"Ex-cuse you! Who do you think you are!?" she roared, trying to reach around her stomach to bat his hand from between her thighs. She turned to Herbie, and fixing him with a face that clearly said "DO SOMETHING!"

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice drenched in confusion and concern.

"Don't worry about it, Mister Sommers," the doctor smiled, pulling his fingers back without a second look at Rose. "I just had to see how dilated your wife is. She's at about 8 and a half centimeters. Less than an hour now, folks!"

Rose glared angrily, reaching beside her and pulling the phone from the wall to throw it at the door as the doctor left. "Why didn't you do something?!" she growled at her husband, clutching her stomach in anger as another contraction worked its way through her. "You just let some random man touch me, Herbie!"

"He's the doctor, Ro-"

"I don't care if he's Florenz Ziegfeld!" she snarled, pushing him away from her as the contraction faded. Less than a minute later, she was whimpering and reaching for him again as a fresh wave of contractions hit her anew. "Herbie!!"

"I'm here, Rosie, I'm here," he told her, sitting beside her and holding her small hand in both of his against his chest.

"Hee, hee, hoo," she breathed, clutching his hand desperately and Herbie couldn't tell when one contraction ended and another started anymore, she just appeared to be constantly in pain. "Herbie, honey, they're ready to come out," she managed, panting and gasping.

"The doctor said it would be about another hour, honey," he answered.

"I don't care what he said," she growled between pants. "I'm telling you: They. Want. Out." Her free hand suddenly flew to her mouth and she moved to get up.

"Honey, you really can't be on your feet," he told her, forcing her to stay in the bed before she wrenched out of his grasp and waddled as quickly as she could to the bathroom. He followed her, walking in to the sound of her vomiting before she accepted his help in standing, letting him lead her back to the bed.

"I'm tired, and it hurts," she whined, leaning back against the pillows as he pulled the sheets back up to her stomach. "It hurts everywhere and my back hurts and… Herbie, I'm tired."

"I know, Rosie, I know," he told her, sitting beside her again and sliding his hand between her body and the pillows to gently massage her lower back. She whimpered, his actions slightly relieving the pain in her lower back even as another contraction pushed through her.

"Are you cold, honey? You're trembling," he soothed, kissing the top of her head before pushing her sweat-dampened curls away from her face with his free hand.

She shook her head, her features contorting in pain even as she started dozing against him, "No, I'm hot. It's so hot in here."

She woke up less than thirty minutes later to an extremely painful contraction ripping through her and she screamed in pain. Herbie automatically went to her side, taking her hand.

"Do you want the doctor?" he asked her quietly. She whimpered, forcing herself to hold back a scream of pain. "Rose?"

She growled in response, unable to form words.

"Mrs. Sommers, I think we're ready to bring you to the delivery room," the doctor announced cheerfully, having heard her scream of pain.

She was barely aware of anything as they took her to the delivery room, putting her feet in the stirrups as Herbie was instructed to change into a gown like the doctor's.

"Mrs. Sommers, I want you to push with the next contraction. Can you do that?" the doctor asked her.

She whimpered, her eyes scanning the room for Herbie but seeing only medical instruments and doctors and nurses she'd never seen before. "Where's Herbie?" she croaked, her mouth dry.

"Your husband will be right in, ma'am, but I need you to push, okay?"

"No. Herbie? HERBIE!?" she screamed, reaching for him despite his not being there. "HERBIE!!"

"Mrs. Sommers, ma'am, I need you to push," the doctor repeated.

And her body's instincts kicked in, pushing as the contraction hit her and she growled through the pain. Her eyes shot open when a pair of hands took hers. She grit her teeth, pushing through the pain, as she squeezed the hand.

"I'm here, Rosie. I'm right here," he told her, kissing her forehead. "You're doing great."

"Good," the doctor said as she fell back against the pillows. "The next contraction should hit in about two minutes and I should be able to see the first baby's head after that push."

She squeaked when the next contraction started--right on time-- and started pushing as Herbie whispered soothing words of encouragement in her ear.

"Okay, I can see the head, ma'am. One big push will get baby's head and shoulders out."

She pushed, feeling like her whole body was going to explode, until the scream of pain bubbling up in her throat was made vocal by the new being in the room. She fell, exhausted, back against the pillows, letting go of Herbie's hand and wiping the sweat and hair from her face.

"It's a boy!" the doctor announced. "Do you want to cut the cord, 'dad'?"

Herbie could barely form words as he stood by his wife's legs and the baby boy was placed in his arms. "Rose! Rosie, look! Look what we did! Look at him! He's beautiful!" She nodded weakly. "Ten perfect little fingers, ten perfect little toes…" He cut the cord before taking the baby to his wife, cooing "That's your mommy!"

"Okay, I don't want anyone to worry. I'm sure it's nothing big, but the second baby's cord seems to have prolapsed."

"What?" Rose asked, jerking up and out of her stupor. "What? What does that mean?"

"Well, I don't want you push when the next contraction hits, okay? I need to fix baby two's cord."

"What does that mean, 'prolapsed'?" she demanded hysterically. "What does that mean? Tell me what's happening to my baby!"

"Rose, calm down. I'm sure everything will be fine," Herbie told her, his free hand on her shoulder as he continued rocking their baby boy back and forth.

"Please, lay down, ma'am."

She did as instructed, still demanding answers as she did so, "What does that mean? Is he okay?" She felt the doctor pushing what she could only assume was "baby two's cord" back into her before he ordered her to push. She grabbed Herbie's arm with one hand and the side of the bed with the other and pushed with everything she had, forgetting pain entirely, when the contraction hit. She could feel the baby being pushed out of her, but she didn't hear a scream. She sat up, grabbing her knees so she could look over her belly, her exhaustion forgotten. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Ma'am-"

"NO! Tell me what's wrong! What's wrong with my baby? Why isn't he crying?!"

"It's a girl," a nurse offered.

"Fine, she. Why isn't she crying? What's wrong? Is she okay? What happened?!" Herbie was hovering by her legs again, his face looking tight and forced. "Herbie! Herbie, what is it? What's wrong? Is she okay?" she demanded, pulling on the sleeve of the gown the hospital gave him. "Tell me what's wrong!! What's wrong with my baby?!" she was crying now, thick tears sliding down her cheeks as she pulled at Herbie's arm. "TELL ME!!"

"Your baby, ma'am," the doctor started, his face just as forced as Herbie's. "She didn't ma-"

"NO! No don't tell me that! She did! She has to! FIX her!" she sobbed. "Fix her, damn it! She did make it! She has to!"

"I'm so sorry, ma'am," the doctor whispered, he and the nurses going through the motions and cleaning Rose up even as she continued yelling.

"No! No, damn it! Let me see her! I wanna see my baby!" she demanded, even as her clean baby boy was pushed into her arms and Herbie hovered beside her.

Herbie gently massaged her shoulders, "Honey, just-"

"No!" she wrenched out of his grasp, carrying her baby boy with her as she followed the doctor out of her room on unsteady legs. "I said I wanna see her!"

"What? Mrs. Sommers, you really need to be in bed."

"No! I want to see my baby girl, damn it!"

With a sigh, he turned around, her baby girl in his arms. She choked on her own voice, extending a shaking hand to caress the girl's cheek.

"Rose!" Herbie exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her and trying to steer her away before she could really memorize the baby's face. Defiantly, she stood her ground as fresh tears flowed down her cheeks.

"C-Can I h-hold her?" she croaked, handing their baby boy to Herbie and extending her arms. The doctor again gave in with a sigh. Rose instinctively cradled the baby's head, holding her close to her breasts as she turned and leaned against Herbie's chest. "He-Herbie," she cried, pillowing her face against him as she looked at both of her babies. "P-Parker, this is your sister, Nancy," she forced out before dissolving in tears again.

"What happened?" Herbie asked the doctor, running his free hand up and down Rose's back and letting her cry.

"The cord prolapsed during the early stages of delivery of the first baby and by the time we could do anything about it, the cord's prolapse had already caused a lack of oxygen for baby two and it died of asphyxiation."

"'Baby two' has a name!" Rose growled, turning angrily on her heel. "Her name is Nancy! And if you idiots had done your job right, she would still be with us!"

"That's quite enough, Mrs. Sommers," the doctor responded icily. "Now, if you'll give 'Nancy' back, we'll take her to the hospital morgue."

"Absolutely not! I won't let you just throw her in with all those corpses like she's some nameless, faceless pet to be put down."

"Rose-"

"No, Herbie. I'm her mother, she's my baby. She's your baby. And you want me to just let them take her to some incinerator in the basement? Over my dead body!" she took Parker in her other arm before striding back to her room.

When Herbie walked back into the room--after apologizing profusely to the doctor-- he found his wife sitting on the floor not far inside the room, her exhaustion and sadness finally catching up with her and preventing her from making it to the bed. She was forcing happy coos out between sobs as she rocked both babies in her arms. With a sad smile, he pulled her up from the floor and ushered her to the bed.

"Rosie, sleep, please?"

"N-No! They'll take her!"

"I won't let them. I'll call your father and have him make arrangements with the funeral parlor. And they'll come pick her up, okay?" he pulled the sheets up past her stomach, knowing better than to try to take either baby from her. "Parker needs to sleep, too, Rosie. And when he wakes up, you need to try to breastfeed, okay?"

"But what about Nancy?" she asked, still clutching her babies even as she leaned back against the pillows gratefully.

"I won't give her to anyone but your father, okay?" he reached tentatively for their babies, not surprised in the least when she didn't surrender them.

"No," she shook her head, her eyes darting from one baby's face to the other as she rocked them gently. "Call Papa first." She watched as baby Parker's eyes drifted closed and he fell asleep before looking back to Nancy. "And I want Parker to stay with me while he sleeps."

"Okay, Rosie," he nodded, leaving her alone so he could find a payphone. When he came back, Rose was dozing, less than half-awake as she sang snatches of lullabies and clutched her babies to her chest. He reached past her head and pressed the call button, a nurse appearing and preparing to take the small family back to the room they had been waiting in earlier.

"What's going on?" Rose demanded, coming back to her senses and clutching both babies tighter as the nurse began pulling her bed away from the wall.

"Shhh, Rosie, it's okay. She's taking us back to your room," he explained, his tones quiet and soothing.

Rose all but growled at the nurse when she moved to take Parker from her. "Don't touch my baby," she snarled, pulling away and scooting over in the bed.

"Ma'am-"

"Herbie?! HERBIE!!"

"Honey, it's okay!"

"You can't have them!" she snapped at the nurse, her eyes red and puffy from crying as they flicked down to her babies. The nurse immediately withdrew her hands, snapping them back against her own chest as though she'd been burned, at Rose's statement.

Rose opened her mouth, preparing to yell at the nurse again, when she was suddenly forced to look downward by an insistent pulling of her hair. Her chocolate orbs met Parker's bright blue ones and she faltered, words failing her. She moved her arm slightly and Parker took her index finger in his other hand, curling his tiny fingers around her much larger finger before yawning and continuing to blink up at her.

"Oh," she smiled down at him, laughter bubbling up and slipping through her full lips. "Herbie! He has your eyes! Don't you, Parker!? You have your daddy's eyes!" she cooed happily, shaking her head and smiling as he refused to relinquish his grip on her red curls. "Look at 'im, Herbie! He's got your blue eyes! Oh, honey, he's perfect."

"He sure is, Rosie," Herbie smiled, sitting down beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"You know," she sniffed, "she would've been perfect, too, Herbie." She held both babies tighter, letting herself get lost in Parker's bright blue eyes.

The nurse stared awkwardly at her feet as silence fell over the room.

"Wh-ahem-When is Papa coming to pick up Nancy?" Rose whispered, moving her index finger slightly in order to shift Parker's attention to their moving fingers.

"He said he'd come as soon as he could. Less than an hour, maybe. How about you let me hold Nancy and you can just hold Parker so the nurse can take us back to your room?"

"Why can't I hold them both?"

"Well, she doesn't want you to dr-"

"I'm not gonna drop my babies," she growled, interrupting him and snapping her eyes up for a split second to glare at the nurse before smiling at Parker again. "Am I, baby? No! Mama would never drop you!" she cooed, her voice bright and cheerful.

"Yes, ma'am," the nurse nodded, looking close to tears herself as she moved forward and started pushing Rose's bed from the room and to the elevator as Herbie followed close behind.

"Is Papa bringing the girls, Herbie?" she called over her shoulder. "Cause I want them to meet Parker, but I don't know if it would be good for them to meet Nancy."

"I'm not sure, Rose," he answered, raising his voice even as etiquette told him not to do so while in a hospital.

They rode the elevator to the eighth floor before the nurse pushed Rose's bed into her room and reattached it to the wall before scampering away.

"Here, Herbie. Hold Nancy so I can feed Parker," Rose instructed, surrendering her hold on her baby girl for the first time since she'd been allowed to hold her. Herbie, of course, took Nancy as per instruction, holding her protectively close. She cooed quietly, rocking him gently as she adjusted her gown and humming quietly when he began suckling.

She was only vaguely aware of a loud gasp before her door was shut and Herbie rushed from the room.

"That's mama's hungry boy," she cooed, caressing his cheek lightly with the index finger of her free hand as he drank hungrily. "You're mama's hungry-wungry baby-waby, aren't you?" He stared up at her, his eyes beginning to droop before he detached himself from her breast and began dozing against her once more. She moved him as little as possible as she righted her gown only to look up and see Herbie peering into the room.

"Your-um- your father wants to know if you're done feeding before he comes back in," he said awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.

She laughed quietly, her body rocking with her stifled laughter, as she gestured that they could come in with her free hand before bringing a solitary finger to her full lips. "Quiet though. Parker's sleeping." As if on cue, Parker wrapped his fingers around her index finger again and she shifted to accommodate him.

"Mama!" Louise cried, pushing past Herbie and hugging her mother.

Rose smiled, hugging her daughter tightly with her free hand before kissing her forehead. "Shhh, Louise. You'll wake your brother." She was beaming as she tipped him down slightly so her oldest daughter could see her baby brother. "Here," she scooted to the extreme middle of the bed to leave room for her daughters on either side of her. "Sit with me."

Louise happily climbed into the bed beside her mother, her gaze now fixed on the face of her baby brother.

"June, dear? Don't you wanna see your baby brother?"

June shook her head once, hovering behind her grandfather.

"What's wrong, baby?" Rose asked, her brow furrowing in confusion as she continued to rock the small baby in her arms. Then her attention shifted suddenly to her father, "Papa! Papa, did you see her? Isn't she just perfect? She's beautiful! And you haven't seen Parker yet! Come see 'im."

Her father smiled and nodded as he stepped forward to peer over Louise's shoulder at his grandson. "Well, look at him! He's gonna be a strong lad. He can go into the railroad company like I did!"

"He ain't goin' into the railroad company, Papa," she said immediately as she smiled down at her sleeping son. "He's gonna be a director."

"Oh, you're not gonna make him sing?" Herbie asked, smiling at his wife and son.

Rose looked up and her eyes met with his, "Oh, honey… No child of yours should ever sing. Or dance. Or be on stage. But he's gonna be the next Ziegfeld!"

"He-Herbie? I… I wanna hold her again before Papa takes her," Rose said, looking pointedly at the small bundle in her husband's arms. Her father wordlessly guided Louise to the other side of the bed so Rose could hold Nancy with her free arm. She leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to the baby's forehead, tears falling from her eyes again. "I love you, little Nancy," she whispered. "And I will never forget you, never."

She bit back tears, clutching Parker desperately, when Herbie gently took Nancy from her grasp. Her father took the small child in his arms before pressing a kiss to Rose's matted curls and padding from the room.

Even Louise seemed to understand that something terrible had happened. She sat on her mother's side looking sad and withdrawn as she leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. June, however, was still hovering by the foot of the bed and staring at her feet.

"Rosie? Are you-"

"I'm okay," she interrupted, forcing a smile. She reached for him with her free hand, squeezing his hand gratefully when he laced his fingers with hers. "I'm okay, honey." Parker pulled at her hair again in his sleep as though to remind her that he was there and she smiled down at him. "I'm okay."