Miguel put an arm around his sister and gently guided her through the office, past his staring, whispering co-workers. So much for not being fodder for water cooler gossip. In the parking garage he tried to recall anything he had learned in the birthing class he had taken with Roni months ago. "Breathe, Ali, breathe!"

"Don't tell me to breathe! Get Ryan on the phone and open the damn car!"

Frantically, Miguel fumbled with his car keys in one hand and pulled out his phone with the other. "Siri, call Ryan Rivera!" he shouted into his phone.

"Okay, calling Hawaiian Riviera" his phone replied in its robotic voice.

"Would you shut that thing up and call my husband!" Ali cried as he eased her into the passenger seat of his silver Honda Civic. She was scared, he could tell. And if he were honest with himself, so was he. His baby sister was having a baby!

Relax, Miguel, you've been through this before… he thought as his phone finally dialed Ryan successfully. "C'mon, Ryan, pick up…" he mumbled, but Ryan's voicemail came on. "Damnit!" He hopped in the drivers seat and tore out of the parking garage and onto the highway toward the hospital as he dialed once more.

"He's not there? Miguel, I need him! He can't miss this!" Ali was tearful now. "You have to call Roni!"

"But…"

"Put your damn pride away and call your wife! She probably knows where Ryan is!"

Miguel inhaled deeply and dialed the familiar number. He prayed she would not ignore his call.

Finally he could hear someone pick up and a beautiful voice spoke, "What do you want, Miguel?"

"Babe, I mean- Roni… It's Ali. I mean, it's me, but it's about Ali. She's having a baby!"

"The baby's coming?!" Roni screeched excitedly, and from his desk across from her, Ryan's head snapped up at attention. "I'll call Maria and your parents, we'll meet you at the hospital!"

After he had hung up, Miguel glanced over at his sister and saw her grimace with a large, painful contraction. He held her hand and she squeezed hard. "It's okay, Ali. I'm here," he reassured her.

She looked into his eyes, and he saw fear, real fear. An emotion that the ever-strong and fierce Alison Castillo-Rivera rarely showed. "Don't leave me, Miguel," she pleaded.

He squeezed her hand back. "I won't, I promise. When we get to the hospital, I'll stay right by your side until Ryan gets there."

"No- I mean, don't leave me… you're my big brother, my whole life we've shared everything, you've always been there for me. And now we're parents! I want to share that journey with you too. I want Jack and Nathan to be best friends, to be like you and I were. Please Miguel, don't go to New York. We're family…" Tears glistened in her pleading eyes, and he gave her a small smile.

At the hospital, he helped her into a wheelchair, through the ER, and up the elevator to the maternity wing. A warm, happy feeling rushed over him as he recalled doing the same for Roni just six months ago. He recalled the joy they had both felt upon seeing the miracle they had created together, the result of a lifetime of friendship and love.

After Ali settled in her hospital bed, another contraction overtook her. She squeezed her bother's hand once more. "Where's Ryan?" she cried. "And my hospital bag… I packed it and it's in his car…"

"He's coming Ali, he'll be here soon," he replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And I'm sure Roni will help him remember your bag."

As if on cue, Ryan flew into the room, sweating and breathing heavily as if he had just run a marathon. "Ali! Are you okay? Is they baby okay?"

"I'm fine Ryan, baby's good, I can't believe he'll be here soon!" They kissed and Miguel smiled. He regretted ever hating Ryan Rivera when he was a kid.

"And I have your suitcase here, Ali!" Roni said cheerfully, walking in the room and holding up a blue duffel bag triumphantly.

"Thanks, Roni! Miguel said you'd remember," Ali remarked.

Roni turned to her husband and he blushed a bit before looking into her eyes. "Well, you're always organized and you remember the little things that are important."

She smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. "Thanks," she said softly, then turned to Ali and Ryan. "Well, I should head over to the waiting room so I can show your parents in." She turned to exit and Miguel followed her into the hall.

Miguel sped up a bit so he was beside her. "Roni, can we talk? I- I've really missed you."

The corner of her mouth turned up into a small smile and she rubbed his arm. "Yeah, definitely. And I've missed you too. I had my parents pick up Jack from the sitter, so we can stay here with Ali."

Feeling bold, he took both her hands in his and faced her. "Roni, I'm sorry for the way I behaved. I never want you to feel like I don't trust you or support you. You're an incredible cop, its just when Ali and Billy showed up at the door…" His voice caught and his eyes clouded over.

Gently she wiped a tear from his eye and hugged him. "Oh Miguel, I'm sorry too. I never should have told you to leave, I regretted it right away but I was too damn stubborn to admit it!." She pulled away, but maintained eye contact. "The truth is, I was scared too. Scared of something worse happening, of leaving Jack without a mother. And if that job in New York is important to you, maybe we should talk about it. Really talk about it."

Miguel opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by a flurry of activity on the other side of the waiting room.

"Where is she?" A familiar but frantic voice echoed from the elevator down the hall.

"Gina, calm down," Replied a gruff, but calming voice.

"Gina, Marty! Over here!" Roni called, waving them down and hugging them.

Gina squeezed Miguel so tightly, he could barely breathe. "Miguelito! Where's Ali? Is she okay? Is she scared? My baby's having a baby!"

"She's fine, Mom, don't worry. Ryan is with her," he replied reassuringly.

Martin put an arm around Gina and smiled. Miguel knew people often said that his dad rarely smiled, but in truth, he didn't hold back when there was truly something to smile about.

"I'll show you guys where she's at," Roni volunteered, giving her husband's hand a little squeeze before leading Gina toward Ali's room.

Martin held back at Miguel's side for a moment. "Everything going okay, son?" he nodded in Roni's direction.

He smiled. "Yeah, yeah I think everything's going to be just fine."

Martin nodded. "Don't ever let your pride stop you from doing what's right." Short and sweet, just like always, but true none the less. Miguel knew emotional stuff wasn't usually his dad's cup of tea, that was usually Gina's department. But he could always count on him to guide him in the right direction. Perhaps that was why he didn't go to his father right away when he and Roni first had their fight, he knew what Martin would say. And of course he would have been right. Miguel just wasn't ready to hear it at the time. But he just hoped he would remember the next time.

Hours went by. The sun had long set and darkness set in outside. Fueled only by adrenaline, excitement, and hospital cafeteria coffee, the family wearily became permanent fixtures in the waiting room. Miguel busied himself with his phone while Martin read the New York Times and discussed politics with Roni. Gina bit her nails and tearily reminisced about when she had been in this very hospital having Ali and Miguel, and how that "seemed like only yesterday.". Finally, just when Miguel thought he couldn't take one more game of Angry Birds, a cheerful nurse approached them.

"Castillo family? Alison would like to see you."

They swarmed into Ali's room and surrounded her bed. She looked tired, but angelic, while Ryan looked on with pride and kissed her forehead. Cradled in her arms was a tiny bundle in a blue blanket.

"I'd like you all to meet Nathan Edward Rivera!" she held the baby up a bit and they all drew in their breath. "Nathan, this is your grandma and grandpa, and your Auntie Roni, and that crazy guy is your Uncle Miguel." She turned to Miguel. "Would you like to hold him?"

He nodded enthusiastically and carefully cradled the tiny form in his arms. He marveled at the tiny fingers, head full of soft, fuzzy brown hair, and dark brown eyes, that matched his and Ali's. I'll protect you with my life, little one, he silently vowed. "He's perfect, Ali," He glanced over at Roni, who kissed the baby's head.

"I forgot how tiny they are when they're born! Jack is like a moose compared to him!" She commented laughing.

Miguel placed his finger in Nathan's hand and he gripped it tight in his tiny little fingers. Strong just like his mom, he thought. "Well, kiddo, welcome to the family," he said out loud. "I can't wait for you to meet your big cousin! You guys are going to be best friends, maybe you'll even go to the same school."

Ryan smiled. "So, does that mean New York is off the table?"

"Yes, definitely!" Miguel nodded, then caught himself, and looked toward his wife. "I mean, if Roni agrees?"

She grinned brightly and her eyes sparkled. "Yes! Of course I do! How could we leave our family?"

He grinned back and kissed her. "Then it's settled. Besides, Miami PD can't lose one of its finest." Miguel looked back at Nathan before passing him on to Gina (who looked like she would jump out of her skin with excitement). "Welcome to the world, little one!"

Six months later….

After Miguel finished placing the last of the balloons on the dining room table, he stood back and admired his work. He scooped Jack up in his arms, making the baby giggle happily.

"Boon!" Jack said excitedly, pointing.

"Yep, balloon! That's right! Don't let anyone tell you your old man can't decorate for a birthday party! Now, I know you have no clue that all of this is for you, but that's okay. It's really so your Mom and Dad can have some drinks and food and celebrate surviving a year of diapers and no sleep."

Jack laughed at this and Miguel kissed him.

There was a ring from the doorbell, Roni called from the kitchen. "Sweetie? Can you get that? I'm putting the finishing touches on this cake."

"No problem!" He shifted Jack a bit to carry him on his hip and opened the front door to reveal Ali and Ryan standing on the front porch.

Ali held a baby carrier with a tiny Nathan sleeping inside and Ryan carried two wrapped boxes.

Ryan smiled brightly and ruffled Jack's hair. "Happy birthday buddy! This big box is from your cousin Nathan! Don't worry, it's not dirty diapers. Oh, and this one is from me!" He leaned to Miguel and whispered, "It's a football."

Ali rolled her eyes as she set the baby carrier down in the living room. "I still have no clue what a one year old is supposed to do with a football."

"Hey, I'm gonna teach Jack all about cars and sports, and Miguel is going to teach Nathan the violin and handle all his emotional crap. That's how Miguel and I agreed we're going to raise our kids, right buddy?" Ryan put his arm around his brother in law.

"That's right!" Miguel agreed brightly.

Ali shook her head and laughed. "You two are too much."

"Hi guys!" Roni emerged from the kitchen and hugged Ali and Ryan. "Hey, Ali? Can you watch Jack for a second? And Miguel, can you give me a hand in the kitchen for a second?"

"Of course!" Ali happily took Jack from her brother. "How's my favorite nephew?"

"Ali!" Jack siad excitedly upon seeing his aunt.

In the kitchen, Miguel turned to Roni and started pulling food out of the fridge. "Wow, Nathan's getting big! Can't believe Ali will be back at work soon."

"Oh you didn't hear? She took an extra six months of leave. So she'll go back after he turns one year old." Roni paused and added dressing to the large bowl of salad in front of her. She smiled as if she were hiding something special, which piqued Miguel's curiosity. "So by the time she comes back, I'll probably be leaving."

Miguel was confused. "Leaving? But we agreed we weren't moving…"

Roni took Miguel's hands in hers. "Leaving on maternity leave. I- I wasn't feeling so great this morning, so I took this…" She pulled something small and plastic from her pocket.

Miguel was speechless. "Is this- Are you-" as reality set in, he hugged her tight and twirled her around.

"I wasn't feeling right this morning, so on a whim I decided to take a test a few minutes ago," she explained. "And, well, looks like Jack is getting a baby brother or sister for his birthday!"

Miguel had a smile on his face that nothing could take away. He gently placed his hand on her stomach and kissed her. "I love you, babe. I can't wait to share our lives with another little one."

The doorbell rang once more, and the couple heard Ali and Ryan greeting more birthday guests. "Shall we share the good news?" Roni asked.

Miguel nodded. "What are we waiting for?"