Hello again! Once again I have been very slow in updating because I've been finishing the last of my papers but I can now rejoice because it is complete! There will be much celebration and more updating, although I haven't got much left to write. Thanks again for all the continued support - please continue to read and review!

Side Notes: I don't own Grimm *le sigh* but some of this is mine.

Ellie was in the hospital for nearly a week and Monroe visited her twice a day, everyday.

She tried not to moan about being cooped up, but the Blutbad could tell she was a little frustrated and maybe the doctors were being a little over cautious but it probably was for the best and secretly he was glad.

Monroe wasn't the only visitor. Nick came virtually every day, sneaking out of work to come and spend some time with the Godmother. The two of them had struck up an easy going friendship and were getting closer all the time. They chatted about everything and anything and Monroe was pretty sure Ellie was telling Nick stories about their youth, mostly because he'd walked in on them chatting and they'd both gone very quiet and then started laughing. It made his ears burn.

He hadn't pushed the subject of that morning with Steiner or anything that had been said. If she wanted to talk about it, Monroe reckoned, she would bring it up. There was nothing worse than someone demanding you explain something you weren't ready for or ready to deal with. Instead he just spent time with her, often perched on the side of the bed next to her because she insisted. It was comical trying to fit both of them on a single hospital bed but somehow they managed without falling off. Most of the time he just tried to keep her company and distracted. The stitches in Ellie's neck itched constantly after the first few days and it was only the threat of asking Juliette for a cone, the sort they use on dogs, to stop her scratching them that she gave in.

The food wasn't much good either, standard hospital fare, although most of her staff at the bakery kept sending her vast amounts of emergency food parcels filled with cakes and cookies. Ellie managed to eat some, but most of them went to the doctors and nurses or whoever walked past her room. At one point they'd sent a whole 'Get well soon' cake and Ellie had immediately asked for it to be dispatched to paediatrics because in her opinion,

"All children love cake!"

It was so typical of Ellie, Monroe thought as he'd helped take the cake up to the children, even at this point when she was so vulnerable all she wanted to do was help others.

The cake had gone down a storm and when they'd told Ellie, she beamed so beautifully it reminded Monroe of the night sky when it shimmered with stars. Nothing usually elicited such a, there was no other word for it, soppy reaction from him but un-unnervingly he found himself having these thoughts more often.

Nick seemed to notice it too. They went out for a few beers one evening after visiting Ellie and after a couple Nick said,

"She loves you, y'know. You can see it in her face. She has a lovely smile…."

Monroe had ignored him a little, it was probably the beer talking. Probably. Nick was such a lightweight.

But some little nagging voice in his brain told him not to forget that. He had attempted to shut the voice up with more beer and then rum. The result for both of them had been a hangover and when Monroe had turned up at the hospital the next day, Ellie had dissolved into hysterics when she realised what had happened.

"Bless you, you're both such lightweights."

"Are not!" Monroe whispered back, hoarsely, "I think I drunk twice as much as him…. Maybe….. Maybe not."

So while the Blutbad had spent the morning nursing a headache, Ellie reminded him of the time they'd all gotten hold of a bottle of vodka when they were seventeen.

"No wonder I hate the stuff." Monroe added, wondering if it would be possible for a nurse to find him some form of drugs. Powerful ones.

The day after, he'd arrived bearing gifts. Partly by way of apology and partly because, well he wasn't quite sure why… because he wanted to make her smile. The first thing was a bunch a flowers. Sunflowers. The one flower she'd always said she loved most.

When she saw them, her eyes lit up and her mouth opened in surprise. Monroe couldn't help notice how beautiful her mouth was… a perfect little cupid's bow in pale pink that looked so soft …. So kissable…

"Oh my God Eddie. Sunflowers? I can't believe you remembered after all this time!"

"Yeah well my memory is pretty good."

"They're beautiful. I love them."

And she meant it.

Putting the flowers on the chair next to her bed, she patted the sheets motioning him to sit down and as soon as he did, she flung her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

"Thank you so much."

Although the hug had thrown Monroe for a second, he couldn't help pull her close, holding him too his chest and breathing in her soft, sweet scent. Inside him, he realised he could never let her go. When the released each other, he handed her a large bag that somehow she'd not noticed until then. The Godmother looked at him questioningly,

"Should I be worried?"

"Just open it."

Inside there was a large box, tied with ribbon. Pulling it out, Ellie's face wrinkled up in curiosity and she put it on her lap and pulled at the ribbon to undo it. As it fell away she opened the lid carefully, setting it aside and unwrapping the layer of tissue paper on the top.

A beaming smile spread across her face and she gasped.

"Oh… wow…this is…."

Inside was a soft cake, sprinkled with icing sugar and a selection of golden brown shapes, lebkuchen, traditional gingerbread. The smell was heavenly; rich, fruity, spicy and sweet.

"Is this… stollen? And…. lebkuchen?"

Monroe nodded, watching as she broken off a piece of the German gingerbread, her eyes as wide as a child's at Christmas.

"I know Stollen is for Christmas but my mum heard from yours that you were in hospital… she remembered you loved it."

"Really? That's so sweet of her." Ellie snapped off another bit of the lebkuchen, savouring its richly spiced smell. She shook the box at Monroe, indicating he could have some and when he refused she just shook the box more violently until he gave in. He had to admit it was one of his favourite things.

"I didn't think your mum would remember I loved her gingerbread though… I haven't had some in ages…. It was your grandmother's recipe right?"

"Yeah…." Monroe paused, looking straight into her eyes, "Except that I asked her to make it… I remembered how much you adored it, and how when she made it you and I would sit in the kitchen and steal warm pieces off the tray when it came out the oven."

There was a pause, as if Ellie was trying to put something into words but couldn't.

Instead she kissed him.

She tasted like the gingerbread and it made Monroe melt. He squeezed her hand tightly and returned her kiss with a little force, desire rising inside him.

There was a cough and a chuckle behind them.

They broke apart and Monroe whipped round to see Nick stood in the doorway.

"Oh please don't let me stop you!" He laughed, "Although maybe you should wait until you get outside, after all this is a hospital."

Ellie laughed and patted the foot of the bed,

"Sorry, it's my fault! Here have some gingerbread."

"Thanks…" Nick perched on the bed and took a piece out the box, "You look a lot better, I hear you're going home tomorrow."

"Yeah, I finally get out on good behaviour!" Then she noticed Monroe's face, which had suddenly grown a look of surprised indignation, "Sorry Eddie, I hadn't got round to telling you, they only told me just before you arrived… which reminds me … will you pick me up tomorrow please? They want someone to collect me, they must think I'm a child." and she pouted, eyes twinkling.

Monroe nodded, trying to be serious, and squeezed her hand.

"No problems. Would you like dinner as well?" he added jokingly.

"Oooh that would be great!"

"Me too please, as long as you're not cooking it!" added Nick.

Monroe pushed him off the bed. It was like they'd all resorted to being children.

Happy and safe together. The terrors of the past all but forgotten.

… …

Some time later, when her two visitors from the morning had vanished, Ellie found herself receiving two more, accompanied by one of the doctors.

The two men in suits knocked on the door, their faces serious.

"Eleanor-May Thomas?"

"Yes, can I help?"

The two men entered and pulled up chairs, opening a briefcase. In the background, Ellie noticed one of the senior doctors lurking in case of trouble. She wondered what on earth these men were doing here. It frightened her a little and she wished Nick or Monroe was still here. Especially Monroe.

"My name is Chris Walder and this is my associate, John Ashcroft, we work for Hadfield and Combes, who represent the estate of the late Cindy Steiner." Ellie blinked, trying to make sense of everything. The other man smiled,

"Don't worry, it's not as serious as it sounds. We're here about Mrs Steiner's will, we understand you were a very good friend of hers."

Ellie nodded, as Chris Walder pulled some papers out of the case and shuffled them before adding softly,

"Mrs Thomas we know you were the Godmother of her son, Toby Steiner."

"Yes, I looked after him a lot. He's a lovely kid." Toby had spent enough time with her in the past when Cindy and Tom were fighting or busy that they were already close, maybe it was because Toby was so much like Cindy that they got on so well.

"Were you also aware that Mrs Steiner has named you as the legal guardian of her son?"

"What?" Ellie gasped, trying to take this in… legal guardian? Cindy had never mentioned it. Ever. The two men smiled and John continued,

"Obviously this is news to you but as it seems Thomas Steiner has left no mention of a guardian in his will, it appears that as long as both you and Toby agree, he will come to live with you now and you will be his legal guardian and all that entails."

"Do you understand?" added his associate.

Ellie nodded, lost for words. She bit her lip to try and stop herself from crying. Toby was coming to live with her. Ellie already loved him like a son. And now… now he would be.

She'd spent her whole life trying to make Cindy's dreams come true and now Cindy had fulfilled the only wish Ellie had ever had. Happiness engulfed her and a small tear of joy escaped from her as she whispered to herself…

"I'm going to be a mother."

Well now I reckon I have 2 chapters left to write, or maybe just one, depending on how things pan out! Please keep reviewing. Xxx