I had so much fun writing this chapter. It's all fluff, naturally. I hope you guys love it. And don't forget to leave me a review if you do (or don't) like it and want to say good job (or bad job).

Disclaimer: Today, when I woke up, I decided that instead of going for a jog, I would eat ice cream. Don't ask me why. When my husband woke up, he saw me at the kitchen and laughed, and then we both just... ate ice cream. ... Uhhm.. oh yeah, I don't own Cold Case, please don't sue me.


Chapter 7: This Corner Of The World Is Ours

Detective John Stillman drove away from the hospital a little while later, after making sure that Scotty could handle the baby carrier with one hand and Lilly would be alright in her wheelchair. As he made his way back to the precinct, where a case was waiting on his desk, he picked up his phone, getting Jeffries, Miller, and Vera on the other line in an instant.

Seeing all those boxes on the floor and the pure anticipation on Scotty and Lilly's faces had given him an idea… and since he knew the speed of hospital staff, he figured he had all day to pull it off.


It was late afternoon when Scotty maneuvered around the crowds in the emergency room of Philadelphia General Hospital, three bottles of apple juice tucked under his arm. This was part of the reason he absolutely hated hospitals. There was an inbred antiseptic smell, along with people who didn't seem capable of any emotion but desperation. Still, there wasn't anything today that could take away the swell of happiness he felt when he saw Lilly and Elizabeth - they still hadn't settled on the proper nickname - in the corner of the waiting room.

"Apple juice is all they have." He grumbled good-naturedly, handing her the drink and eying her ankle critically. It didn't sit well with him that they'd given her only a pair of crutches and an order to stay off the foot for a few days.

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Stop worrying about me." She ordered. She didn't even have to look up to know what he was thinking.

"Can't do that, Lil." He insisted in reply.

Before he could continue, a tired looking nurse walked into the waiting room and, squinting slightly at her clipboard, called out, "Scotty Vay-lens? Is there a Scotty Vay-lens here?"

"I'll be right back." Scotty said, pressing a kiss to Lilly's head before jogging off after the impatient nurse.

The nurse led him to one bed of the ten that were in a line. She motioned for him to sit down and then left without a backward glance. Scotty shifted uncomfortably on the exam table. Here was another reason he hated hospitals. People bustled around without bothering to tell you anything.

It was twenty minutes before a harried looking male doctor, followed by the nurse from earlier, pulled the curtain back to reveal a very annoyed Scotty. "Hey doc." Scotty implored. "Couldn't make this quick, could you?"

"We'll see." The doctor told him to lay his hand flat, which Scotty did with some difficulty and he began to clean the wound.

Not wanting to pay particular attention to the sharp instruments the doctor was using, Scotty let his eyes wander around the busy ER. His gaze fixed on the nurse, a short black woman with an annoyed look on her face. For a moment, Scotty was going to demand that she stop looking at him like he was a child, but he was saved the trouble because she spoke first.

"Hope she was worth it." She commented softly, glancing at his bruised knuckles.

Scotty, who was in a considerable amount of pain because of whatever the doctor was doing to him, shot her a dark glare. "Don't know what you're talking about."

She snorted, as though having seen this way too many times, and Scotty supposed she had. "You think you're the first idiot to decide the best thing to do is punch things when their woman's giving him trouble?" She asked incredulously.

Before Scotty could come up with a retort, the young doctor spoke up. "Martha." He said tiredly. "Stop giving him a hard time." Scotty could tell from the slight twinkle in his eyes that this kind of banter from the nurse wasn't rare. Scotty shot him a grateful glance.

"Hey, I've been there, man." The doctor said sympathetically, reaching for a roll of gauze. "You're going to need a splint for the sprained ligaments, and you're lucky nothing's broken."

Scotty sighed in relief, glad that he would be able to get out of here soon. "Thanks, doc."

The doctor nodded wearily. "Next time, do yourself a favor, and aim for a pillow, not a wall." He smiled knowingly before picking up his chart and disappearing around the corner.

Slightly stunned by how much doctors and nurses could gather from the physical injuries, Scotty stuck his newly splinted hand into the sleeve of his jacket with some difficulty and walked back out into the living room. He smiled at the sight of Lilly trying to feed Elizabeth apple juice through a straw and laughed when it spilled all over the baby's clothes. Lilly frowned, looking up.

"Thank God, you're back." She studied his splint. "Nothing broken then?"

"I'll be good as new in a few days." Scotty confirmed with a smile. "What do you say, we call Boss and have him pick us up."

Lilly nodded, after spending the better part of the whole day sitting in the hospital, she was more than happy to go home. With a slight groan, she remembered the boxes that still remained to be moved. Maybe they would just spend another night at Scotty's place.


Lieutenant Stillman smiled as he pulled up the front door of the hospital, seeing Lilly, Scotty, and their baby waiting patiently at the curb. He honked and Scotty waved happily before picking up the baby carrier. He made his way toward the car, Lilly trailing behind, trying to get used to her new crutches. John could tell that she'd be off them way sooner than the doctors advised.

"Uh, Boss?" It was ten minutes later when Lilly realized they were traveling in the wrong direction. "Where are we going?" She asked.

"Home." John replied simply, smiling mysteriously and hoping that neither of them asked any more questions. He really didn't trust himself not to give away the surprise. "You'll see."

Scotty reached around the baby car seat to wrap an arm, his good arm, around Lilly's shoulders. He gave her a reassuring smile. Their boss was probably just taking a short cut, the man had been a cop all his life, longer than either of them, he probably knew some good short cuts, Scotty mused confidently. And even if he wasn't, more time just sitting still, next to Lilly and his daughter… well damn, what more could a man ask for?

Lilly must have drifted off in the warmth of her boss's back seat, because one minute she had closed her eyes and leaned against Scotty's arm, and the next the car was pulling to a stop… on her driveway. As she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, she was vaguely aware of Scotty speaking softly to her right.

"Uh, Boss?" He ventured tentatively. "This ain't -"

"We're supposed to be at Scotty's apartment." Lilly cut in, shooting him a apologetic glance. The sun was starting to set. Would it be too much to ask to sleep in a real bed tonight?

Scotty scowled at her. "What Lil means, Boss. Is thanks for drivin' us all around today, but-"

Once again, Scotty was unable to finish his sentence, this time cut off by Stillman. "Would you two just quiet down and get out of the car?" Damn it, they should've sent Vera or Miller to do this. How did he get stuck with dealing with them?

Scotty and Lilly shrugged simultaneously before glancing at each other with confusion and began unbuckling their seatbelts. Within a few seconds, they were approaching her front door. Lilly felt more than a little apprehension. She hadn't been home in 3 or 4 days. Did she remember to clean her house before she left? Or was that old takeout still lying abandoned on her kitchen table? She slid the key into the lock, not knowing what to expect.

Lieutenant Stillman took a step back, allowing Scotty to stand next to Lilly as she fumbled nervously with the latch on her door. He looked equally confused. A moment later, when she threw open the door, Scotty was speechless, and judging by the sharp intake of breath from next to him, Lilly was equally stunned.

In all the years Lilly had stood at the threshold of her house, all the times she'd come home after a long day, a long run, or a long trip… never, ever had she seen it so full of … love. Her whole house was lighted, dusted, and cleaned. But more importantly, Nick, Will, Kat, and even Veronica, stood beaming from her living room, all wearing similar satisfied grins. Lilly felt tears prick her eyes as she hobbled into her house as best as she could on her crutches.

When Scotty stepped in after Lilly, bringing Elizabeth with him, he couldn't help but bring his hands up to his mouth, as though trying to stop his jaw from dropping to the ground. Because if ever there was a reason for the metaphorical reaction to surprising things to come true, it would be now, in this moment.

"You guys…" Scotty began weakly. His eyes traveled from one of his colleagues, no friends, best friends, to the next. They must have been busy all afternoon, because Lilly's house was no longer Lilly's house. It was his and Lilly's house. Those were his coasters next to hers on the coffee table, his favorite lamp across from hers, his DVD collection infused with hers, his scrawled grocery list tacked to her fridge with his PPD magnet. "What d'you do?" He couldn't help but ask.

Stupid, Valens. You should be on your knees thanking them.

Lilly was no more capable of speech than Scotty. "How did…" She began and trailed off. Her house had never looked so lived in, so whole, and it was all because of Scotty. He was everywhere. It was like he'd been living in her house for the past… entire lifetime. In an instant, Lilly knew the answer, and she turned a tearful gaze to her boss.

John stepped forward and put a hand on her back. "Figured you guys could use some help." He mumbled, slightly embarrassed. "I called them."

"An' we spent the afternoon shuttlin' Valens' stuff from his place to here." Kat added. "He's got more hair products than I do. We practically couldn't fit 'em all in your bathroom."

Lilly laughed tearfully, while Scotty shot Kat his best mutinous look, which was significantly diminished because of the sheen of tears over his own eyes. He'd never admit it in a million years, but Kat could say anything at that moment, and it wouldn't matter. Nothing mattered but being home.

Scotty made his way toward the crowd in Lilly's small living room. "I wanna introduce you guys to someone." He said softly. He was vaguely award of Lilly following him, and then they were all gathered in a small circle. "Our daughter…"

"Elizabeth, Valens Rush." Lilly finished triumphantly. She sat down against the back of her couch and set her crutches aside. Tripod and Olivia immediately wound themselves around their new play things as Lilly reached into the baby car seat Scotty had been carrying and scooped up the little girl. "Say 'hi'" She prompted.

Nick and Will looked on slightly uncomfortably, neither having had much experience with the little ones, and Kat shot them a scathing look before taking the little girl from Lilly's arms. "Hi." She cooed, in a dotting, maternal voice that none of them had ever heard before. Veronica beamed as her mother continued talking to what could only be her new little friend. "You wanna see your room?" She asked.

Lilly and Scotty looked up in surprise. "Oh, we ain't done showin' you everything yet." Nick confirmed with a gentle smile.

With a slightly tremulous, but still deeply touched glance at each other, Scotty took Lilly's hand in his and started to help her up the stairs, crutches forgotten. It was a slow process, but soon they found themselves outside her bedroom. Their bedroom, Lilly corrected herself silently. She could see his clothes in her closet and even his cell phone charger on the side of the bed she never slept in. Sharing a smile, they made their way toward the guest bedroom, followed silently by the rest of their friends. Kat was still carrying their daughter.

Scotty pushed open the door. He didn't think he could be any more shocked tonight, in fact all the surprises of the world had probably passed him by in the last 48 hours… but he was wrong. All of the baby furniture he'd bought in his haste that night was in this room, fully assembled and arranged. Scotty felt the happy tears pricking his eyes threaten to fall and when he turned to Lilly, he saw that they were already rolling silently down her cheeks.

Attempting to stop his own waterworks, Scotty spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. "How did you guys build the stuff?" He asked, unable to keep the emotion out of his voice. "Me an' Lil spent hours…"

John shrugged. "It really wasn't that hard."

Kat raised her eyebrows incredulously. "We." She gestured at her, Nick, and Will. "Could barely understand the damn instructions. Grandpa Stillman on the other hand…" She trailed off teasingly.

"Watch it, Miller." John admonished playfully.

Lilly laughed, or she sobbed, but it didn't really matter because either way it was a sound of happiness. "Scotty…" She breathed, a huge smile on her face. And without another word she threw her arms around his neck.

Scotty swayed on the spot for a second, trying to keep her upright when she'd all of a sudden decided not to support her own weight anymore. He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist. They were still swaying.

"I'm gonna fall." Lilly laughed, as her balance started to tilt backwards. But immediately, she found three separate hands on her back, steadying her.

"We've got you." Someone said, and she turned her gaze back to Scotty, kissing him fiercely. She sensed his slight discomfort at being surrounded by their friends, but in less than a second, he was kissing her back with equal fervor.

"I love you." He whispered against her lips. "I love you, I love you… love you."

"Okay kids, let's break it up now." John said, faking his best disapproving tone. The kissing couple broke apart immediately, both blushing furiously. He was glad that Scotty and Lil had finally come to their sense. But there was really a limit, at how much him, a father basically, could see without wanting to take action. "Why don't you guys take Valens downstairs and get him a beer before he faints." He instructed Nick and Will.

Cheerfully, the two other male detectives steered the younger, still stuttering detective toward the kitchen. Kat took Veronica's hand, readjusted Elizabeth in her arms and decided to follow, with a slight nod toward her boss, leaving Lilly and John alone upstairs.

It was a moment before he spoke, putting a reassuring hand on Lilly's shoulder. "I'm proud of you." He said quietly.

Lilly let out a shaky laugh. "For what, completely messing up your team?" She asked, sarcastic but smiling.

John ducked his head to meet her gaze. "For making the right choice. You're gonna have a family Lil, 'cause you chose right." He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"You have a family too Boss, " Lilly added with a smile. "Us." She looked to the side for a second, not entirely sure how to word what came next, but knowing exactly what she wanted to say. "Elizabeth already has a grandpa, from me and Scotty, and I know you've got a daughter and a grandson too…" She trailed off hesitantly, "But if you want-"

John cut her off. "I'd be more than happy to let her call me Grandpa Stillman." He quoted Kat from earlier, earning a brilliant smile from Lilly. "After all, you can't have too much family."

Lilly nodded, hearing the peels of laughter from her kitchen, the sounds of her family. She couldn't contain the laugh any longer. God, this day had been filled with so much happiness. Laughing type happiness and crying type happiness. She didn't know if she could handle much more without bursting with joy. "Let's go join them downstairs?" She beckoned. And John nodded.


Scotty sat at Lilly's kitchen table, and if not for the beer he was currently nursing, he would be feeling no different from a suspect in the interrogation room. Nick and Will sat on the other side, staring at him intensely. He wondered who would break the silence first.

"So you and Rush, huh?" Vera began. Scotty had the sneaking suspicion he was either about to be questioned by how in the hell it happened, or given the third degree about what it was like. He wasn't sure what he would prefer.

"Don't get us wrong, we're happy for you." Will said, and Scotty got the impression that they'd rehearsed this. He almost felt a trickle of sweat meander its way down his back and his good hand clenched around the cold beer.

"-but if you ever do wrong by her, " Nick cautioned seriously. Okay, that's it. Am I, being threatened?

"We'll kick your ass nine ways to Sunday." Will concluded with a triumphant touch of finality. Shit. I am.

"Hey, man…" Scotty began weakly. "Me and Lil are good. No need to be, kickin' anyone's ass."

"Make sure it stays that way." And Scotty could tell from Nick's words that it was all good between them, even if they were threatening him. This was just something they had to do. Big brother sort of thing or whatever.

Scotty inclined his beer toward them before taking a sip. "Yeah. I'm hopin'"

His eyes traveled over to the living room couch, where Lilly had sat down next to Kat, taken Elizabeth from her and hugged her to her chest. John sat down at the kitchen table with them, cracking open his own beer and giving a cryptic smile. Scotty stared at the back of Lilly's head, willing her to turn and look at him, and when she did, he knew. They were home.


THE END! Well mostly, except for the epilogue. I'm excited you guys, this is the longest story I've officially finished so far. Anyways, see the button... yeah I know you do... now click it, feedback would be nice. :)