Camden was already asleep for the night and I was lounging in the living room when I heard a knock at the door. After the day I've had, I made no real rush to answer it but was surprised to see Gail at the other end.

"Gail…"

She smiled at me, a tentative sort of smile that let me know she was worried about something. Maybe how she was going to break the news about her and Rachel or maybe her worry lay with what I might have done with Camden.

She looked like a woman who had had a long day, yet she wore it well. She had on slim fitting dark jeans with a navy blue military sweater. Her hair was a little tossed like she'd been raking her fingers through it and there was a small red bruise on her left cheek.

"Gail." I said with concern reaching to touch it.

"It's okay," she stopped my hand with hers. I frowned. "Occupational hazard," she said by way of explanation. "Sorry I didn't call. I was out of town on an assignment the past few days; just got back tonight."

I nodded my understanding. "How are you? Ella?"

"Hmmm …" Gail paused at my question, giving it deep consideration. "I'm good. Ella is good." Gail finally decided.

"Where is she?"

"Tonight with Steve before that with Rachel."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Don't play dumb." Gail half laughed. "I know you called the house and Rachel answered." I was busted and my embarrassment showed. "I want to clear up any misunderstandings." Her tone got serious again. "Rachel and I spoke and came to some arrangements about visitations and co-parenting, that's all. I couldn't let the past dictate the future my daughter will have. I won't deny her her mother because of my pride."

I nodded because I completely understood. I also could not have allowed my past to determine what kind of future Camden would have.

"Then I got called on assignment. Rachel stayed at my apartment and took care of Ella for a few days, but under the watchful eyes of Steve and Traci. Like a trial run."

"How did it go?"

"Much like you the first day." Gail smiled with remembrance. "But like any new mom, Rachel will get the hang of it, Ella adores her."

I smiled at that. It was good news all around for my heart and Ella's. "Do you think Steve and Traci would take Camden here and there if I needed backup?" I asked, seizing the segue.

"I don't know," Gail said as if the announcement didn't shock her at all, even though her eyebrows had shot into high arches.

Still she pretended to take it in stride by leaning a nonchalant shoulder against the doorjamb. "So you're in need of day care?" she asked.

"Looks like I will be," I answered. Then I gave in and confessed. "I couldn't do it. I couldn't send him off to be raised by someone else and never see him again."

Gail smiled and her entire expression, her entire body seemed to relax, as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "I didn't think you'd be able to. I hoped you wouldn't be able to."

"So is your offer of helping getting me up to speed as a parent still good?"

"Absolutely," she said without hesitation.

"How about your other offer?"

"What other offer?"

"The whole maybe this thing between us could have a future offer?"

Her smile stretched languidly into a devilish grin.

"Was that an offer?"

"I don't know, was it?" I asked quietly.

Gail pushed off the doorjamb with her shoulder and stepped into the apartment.

"Are you proposing that the four of us actually see if we can make some kind of full relationship work out?" she said, teasing.

I played along. "I know it's an outrageous idea."

"Coming from a woman who knows scalpels not pacifiers? Pretty outrageous, yeah. Think you can handle it?"

"You're the one who keeps telling me I can." I reminded. "Besides, it occurred to me that I was raised in a morgue and despite not knowing much about babies or kids, I didn't come out too badly. Also, the police force has excellent daycare; the kids will always be in good hands."

"True."

"Plus as you so artfully illustrated, there are babysitters too. There are ways to work things out."

"No? Really?" Gail said with elaborate exaggeration since I was repeating her own message back to her.

Then she leaned forward to confide. "And I'm right here if you get in trouble."

"You're here all right," I reiterated with enough breathiness to my voice to make it a double entendre.

She smiled again and stood up straight so she could pull me into her arms and I went willingly wrapping my arms around her waist as she kissed me so deeply it made my toes curl.

Then Gail said, "You made the best choice; for you and for Camden."

"I hope so. I keep worrying that he'll end up looking like an old Raggedy Ann doll I used to have. I loved her, but I dropped her in a mud puddle once, and I accidently yanked off one of her arms and when her button eye fell off I tried to glue it and staple it back on."

Gail laughed, a throaty sexy laugh. "I don't think it'll get that bad. You made it through these past three days on your own with her, didn't you?"

"I did," I said, not having thought about that milestone until she had pointed it out.

"And did you drop Camden in a mud puddle or yank of his arms or glue and staple his eye?"

"No, but I did give him milk that wasn't warm enough and he spit it at me."

"So he let you know what you did wrong and no harm was done."

"That's what I need, someone who can put a positive spin on my slipups."

"Happily at your service," Gail said. Then in a serious tone that let me know she meant it, she added. "Happily at your service from here on."

Gail kissed me again, her lips parted, her tongue coming to do an arousing dance with mine and I melted in her arms.

But even as she began to stir all the things inside me that she'd awakened nights before, I couldn't help marveling at the change my life had taken in such a short time. At the fact that in only a matter of a few days I was suddenly on a completely different course. With a beautiful baby of my own and a woman more incredible than I'd imagined existed.

And while I was sorry for the loss of Camden's parents and how they had flung me onto this course against my will, I wanted to thank them. I owed them more than words could say. Because I honestly did love Camden and I believe that Gail and I really did have a chance for a future together.

A wonderful future full of kids and family and a woman who made my pulse race like no one ever had before. A wonderful future unlike any I'd through I would ever have.

Epilogue

"Push, Holly …come on sweetheart, you can do it," Gail cried. "Just one more time. Come on, love!"

I squeezed her hand and bore down with a cry as our baby worked to be born. I couldn't believe how quickly the last two years had passed. Gail and I had been married on a glorious summer day on the lawns of the house Gail had built. The day had been filled with family and friends and each and every day our love had grown stronger.

Our beautiful children were getting so big. Ella was starting preschool soon and was excited about all the possibilities that came with it. Camden was a ball of energy, who in my pregnant state I could barely keep up with.

Initially I had been worried about how a three parent relationship would work with Rachel, but Gail had made it a non-issue and had effectively created a harmonious relationship on both sides, with Rachel and me developing a friendship of our own.

But at the moment, that last thing on my mind. "Come on Holly, one more big push," Dr. Williams instructed.

"You can do it, Holly. One more big push and we'll hold our baby in our arms," Gail exclaimed. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to mine in a quick excited kiss. "Come on, darling."

I did as they asked and felt our baby slip into the world, into Gail's awaiting hands. "It's a boy," she cried, her voice filled with such awe, such absolute wonder that tears of joy sprang to my eyes. And at that moment I heard our baby's first cry … a squall of displeasure that was music to my ears.

"A hearty eight pounds six ounces," Dr. Williams announced. "Ten fingers and ten toes; he's a fine boy." He quickly cleaned the baby up, then wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to Gail.

Gently, Gail placed the baby boy in my arms. I looked at our son, my heart so full I could hardly speak. "He's beautiful, isn't he?"

Gail's eyes sparkled with tears and I had never loved her more. "He's a handsome little guy," she replied. "But right now he's a nameless baby," she teased.

It had been a running joke between us, the fact that I couldn't seem to decide on a name for the baby I carried. "I've been thinking," I said as I gazed into the blue eyes of the infant in my arms.

"If you don't mind … I think I'd like to call him Stewart…."

Tears once again gleamed in Gail's eyes, but she smiled. "Your last name for his first name. I like it." She wiped at her tears and laughed self-consciously. "Our little Stewart and we'll teach him about values and giving and love." She leaned down and kissed me. "Oh, yes … love. I love you, Holly, and Stewart is a fine name for our son."

I knew my heart would never be more full. As I held our new baby in my arms, the woman I loved leaned down and kissed me … a slow, sweet kiss that promised forever.

The End

AN: Thanks for reading. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for loving this couple as much as I do.