Both Sam and Jason woke in the morning knowing this was the day Lila was coming home for good. Jason cooked breakfast trying to pass the time by, but when they sat down to eat their omelets and hash browns they picked at it. The earliest they could go was 9am; which was still an hour away. Jason wish he knew what to say to make the time pass a little faster. As Jason heard a knock on the door; he got up going to answer it.
"Monica," Jason said as he saw his mother on the other side of the door holding a gift box.
"Can I come in," Monica asked as she eyed Jason.
"Sure," Jason let her into the penthouse and shut the door behind her.
"Monica," Sam smiled as she came over next to Jason.
"Sam," Monica replied softly.
"What you got there," Sam asked looking to Monica.
"Your grandmother left this for the baby, but I held onto it since we didn't know for sure at first that. You know... I thought today was fitting for you both to have it," Monica looked from Sam to Jason.
"Thank you," Jason accepted the gift before handing it to Sam to open.
With care Sam went over to the couch taking a seat; then removed the ribbon before lifting the top off the box.
"Beautiful," Sam mused aloud pulling the tissue away to reveal a white crochet dress, flower head piece, and booties.
"Lila thought that the baby was a little girl, so she worked to make these before she passed away. Emily actually made the booties and head piece to go with it. I added the onesie for under the dress," Monica explained as she came to sit next to Sam.
"This is so perfect... I didn't know what I was going to put on her to bring her home. This is just right," Sam stammered as tears filled her eyes.
"I'm glad," Monica replied as she pulled out a handkerchief handing it to Sam to use.
"Thank you," Jason said as Sam worked at wiping away the tears from her eyes.
"I'm going to go on in to the hospital now, so I can see her before she goes home. My schedule is going to keep me away for most of today sadly," Monica kissed the top of Sam's head and got up giving Jason a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," Sam finally spoke up as she pulled herself together.
"Just take care of that grandbaby, and I know you will take amazing care of her," Monica paused at the door as she opened it before leaving closing the door behind her.
"I hope I don't burst into tears at GH," Sam sighed as she put the top back on the box and got up from off the couch going over to Jason.
"I think it was that the gift was from Lila for her namesake, and that we are finally going to bring her home after everything that happened," Jason wrapped his arms around Sam waist.
"I'll put this in the diaper bag, and you can grab the car seat. It's time we get going," Sam smiled ear to ear looking Jason in the eye.
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Jason watched as Sam dressed Lila in the outfit that his grandmother and sister had a hand in making for her. To him, it made her look like a beautiful doll from a fancy shop that was breakable. The fit was perfect for Lila to the surprise of Jason and Sam both. As Jason watched Sam fuss over Lila; he noticed that Lila didn't seemed fazed. She seemed to know something was up, but Lila was very laid back about the whole thing.
"Jason, can you hold her," Sam smirked as she handed Lila over to him.
Before he knew it Sam had a camera out taking pictures of him and Lila.
"Sam," Jason said eyeing her.
"This is a moment we will never get back, so let me have these pictures to remember it," Sam countered taking a stand.
"Pictures! Here let me! Get in there, mom," Elizabeth came up taking the camera from Sam.
Gently Jason handed Lila back to Sam; in the hopes of getting away from the camera.
"Stay right there," Elizabeth told him eyeing him.
Knowing there was no way out Jason stood there letting Elizabeth snap away. Then Sam sat down in the rocker where Elizabeth took more pictures.
"Thank you," Sam smiled as she got up putting Lila back in the cot.
"No problem, Jason isn't big on pictures.
He'll get over it because I've seen it too many times. Plus there are tons of picture of him and Michael," Elizabeth made small talk with Sam.
"Most of those were when I wasn't looking or know that Carly was taking those pictures," Jason defended himself.
"Sure," Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him.
"Why don't you go check on the release paperwork," Jason suggested to her.
"Alright, I'll go see," Elizabeth excused herself leaving Jason and Sam on their own.
Jason went over to Sam wrapping his arms around her; as they both watched Lila drift off to sleep.
"I'm glad it's just us for this," Sam admitted as she looked up at Jason.
"Me too," Jason agreed with her.
It wasn't long before Elizabeth was back, and told them they had to put Lila in her car seat for an hour. She explained that Lila had this last hurdle to prove that the ride home wouldn't be too much. Sam took a seat in front of the car seat after Jason placed Lila in it.
"One last hurdle, Baby Girl. Your daddy is ready to take us home and start this brand new life with you right in the middle of everything," Sam told her daughter encouragingly.
"She's going to pass this test with flying colors," Jason crouched down next to Sam.
"Do you think we are even going to sleep tonight?" Sam asked Jason seriously.
"I think we will sleep some," Jason answered her honestly.
"I think I might be up all night watching her sleep," Sam mused aloud softly.
"You'll need to rest to be ready for feedings; since we aren't going to be bottle feeding her," Jason stated more than questioned the fact that Sam would need rest.
"I can't promise anything," Sam shrugged her shoulders a little.
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After spending most of the day at the hospital; Sam was glad to come home with Lila and Jason standing next to her. Entering the penthouse Jason took the pile of stuff that the staff had given to Lila, and put it all on the table to be sorted through later when he and Sam had a chance. Sam took Lila over to the coffee table setting the car seat on it, and sat down where Jason join her to just watch their daughter sleep soundly.
"We did it!" Sam squealed in a whisper.
"You're the driving force behind our family," Jason smiled as he took his hand turning her face to look his way and then went in for a long deep kiss.
Just then Lila made her presence known; making them look her way.
"We didn't forget you," Sam carefully unbuckled Lila and got her out of the car seat nice and easy.
"This is perfect; just the three of us," Jason sighed as he was the happiest he had been in a long time.
"I've been thinking about godparents because we talked about christening her," Sam approached the topic carefully.
"Me too," Jason agreed with a nod.
"Well I was thinking Carly for her godmother because she is this unstopable force of nature. Although I haven't always liked it, but I couldn't imagine anyone other than us being that protective. She's also your best friend," Sam suggested to Jason.
"I think that Carly will be a great godmother... How about making Sonny her godfather because it gives him a special place in her life. I think Carly will rein him in hopefully or at least bring him around eventually," Jason replied softly as they looked down at Lila.
"I think it's only fair for Sonny," Sam agreed with Jason.
"Let me go make you something to eat," Jason kissed Sam softly before getting up leaving her alone with Lila.
It was nice for Sam to just sit there with her little girl. Once again Lila drifted off to sleep as Sam stood up, and took her putting her in the downstairs bassinet gently.
"I went by to see," Carly said barging into the penthouse stopping; as she saw Lila in the bassinet.
"Everything is fine, Carly," Sam chuckled at her a little.
"I thought something was wrong because no one would tell me anything," Carly complained to Sam.
"We wanted to keep it low key," Sam explained to Carly open and honestly.
"Where's Jason?" Carly asked Sam looking around.
"Cooking us some dinner," Sam explained to her.
"I'm sorry... I should get back to my place," Carly sighed knowing that she could come back later.
"Actually, could I ask you something?" Sam questioned first.
"Of course anything especially if it involves this angel," Carly gushed about little Lila.
"Would you be her godmother?" Sam requested as she took Carly by the hand.
"Yes, a million times, yes," Carly pulled her into a hug.
Then Carly excused herself as she spotted Jason coming out with the food, and she knew that they needed this time as family.
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Long after Jason and Sam went to bed with Lila in a bassinet in their room; Sam awoke to find Jason wasn't in the bed next to her. It didn't take but a glance to see that Jason was over by the window holding Lila talking to her softly. A part of her wanted to burn this memory in her mind forever and always because she wanted this to be something that was told to Lila over and over.
"Looks like I wasn't the one to not sleep," Sam said as she got out of bed, and went over to Lila and Jason both.
"She woke up for a change, but wasn't ready to go back to sleep just yet," Jason explained as Lila started to fuss a little bit.
"I think she might be hungry," Sam smiled as she went over to the rocking chair while Jason followed behind her.
Settling into the rocker Sam took Lila from Jason, and he got her the nursing pillow putting it under Lila. Then he got the blanket putting it over Sam draping it.
"I saw Carly," Jason mentioned as Sam got ready to feed Lila.
"She thought something happened since the hospital wouldn't say anything about Lila's release," Sam explained as she put Lila in position and Lila was quick to latch on hungrily.
"You ask her to be the godmother," Jason stated more than questioned his wife.
"Yes, I just was so happy; I wanted to share it with her. Although it wasn't long ago we were at odds... Somehow we've become friends somewhat surprisingly," Sam admitted a bit reluctantly.
"Wow, I'm shocked! I thought I'd have to die for that to happen," Jason joked slightly.
"Bite your tongue! I'd find a way to being you back just to kill you myself; if you ever left me alone in this world with Carly. The only way I'm going to survive Carly is with you by my side," Sam replied eyeing him warningly.
"You and Lila are always going to have me no matter what. We are going to get old and grey because for the first time I can see that. I don't know much more than that, but I know we are going to get old and grey together. The only future I have is with our family alone," Jason promised Sam as he went in for a kiss.
Silence settled on them both as neither needed to say anything to fill the space because their love for each other and Lila filled the room and their home. Jason knelt next to Sam as Lila ate away for her midnight feeding. When Lila was finished eating after fifteen minutes; Jason took her placing her in the bassinet. Sam quickly got desent before her and Jason went back to their bed.
"We haven't seen Emily," Sam finally noticed that her sister-in-law hadn't been seen today.
"She's staying with Monica for tonight... Em thinks we need some time alone with Lila," Jason answered her softly as they laid down and Sam put her head on his chest.
"I guess we'll see her tomorrow maybe," Sam sighed missing her friend and sister.
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With Lila home, I feel this story coming to a close in the next few chapters or so. I don't want anyone to be blindsided when the end comes. When I made Lila to be deaf; I thought it would drive the story farther. However even with Lila's deafness I still feel that this story is coming to a close. I don't map out things, so this is surprising to me too. I started writing the chapter after this, and I was like this story is winding down. However I do plan to have a series of one offs; as a farewell to all my readers after the last chapter. It will be called "Pictures of You" which will be Lila growing up. Yes, the title is from the song of the same name, but this won't be a song fic at all I promise you.