"What?!" Danny yelled. "You're in labor?! Here?! Now?!" He put his hand on Michelle's shoulder, mirroring her grip on him.

"I think so," Michelle shuttered, squeezing his shoulder even tighter, getting a handful of his shirt with it as another pain hit her.

"You can't do this, not now, not here. Stop!" he yelled out.

Michelle looked up at him like he was crazy. "I can't!"

"Stop yelling at her, Dad," Gracie scolded him as she came up behind him. "She can't stop it, even I know that."

"Ok!" he said breathing in and out like he was the one in labor. "Everyone just calm down!"

Gracie looked at Michelle and rolled her eyes, "We are calm, Dad. You're the one freaking out."

"I'm not freaking out!" he hollered.

"Can I sit down?" Michelle asked patiently.

"Yes," Gracie replied, nudging her Dad out of the way, "Come over here." She led her over to the couch.

"We should go to the hospital," Danny announced loudly, "not sit down!"

"I don't think I can make it."

"Call 911, Dad."

"And call, Steve," Michelle added. "In that order."

"Holy crap," Danny mumbled, frantically turning his head one direction and then the other. "Where's my phone?!"

Gracie rolled her eyes again at her father, picking it up off the coffee table, holding it up high for him to see. She focused back on Michelle. "What should I do? Do you need something? Are you thirsty?"

"No, honey," she reached out and took her hand, "I'm ok." She gently squeezed it as the two looked at each other. "I'm so sorry Gracie about the other day. Of course you can come over anytime and babysit Ellen, and even the new baby."

Gracie smiled seeing the apology more in her eyes than in her voice. "That's ok. I'm not mad."

Michelle smiled through another contraction as her stomach tightened, "Thank you."

Danny paced back and forth talking to 911, relaying questions and messages to Michelle and Gracie. "How far apart are the contractions?" he asked.

Michelle shook her head, "I don't know, about two minutes maybe a little longer." She was early, but the onset felt normal, just like with the twins.

"Has the babies head begun to crown yet?"

She and Gracie both looked up at him, questioning that question.

"Uh, no Dad," Gracie replied trying not to laugh at him.

"My water hasn't even broke yet," Michelle added.

"Seven," he spoke into the phone and then focused on Michelle, "You're seven months along right?"

She nodded with a worrisome expression, "Yes, seven and a half, or so I thought." She began to worry about what impact this would have on the baby coming out too soon.

Gracie saw right away the changes in her face and in her eyes, squeezing her hand gently. "It's going to be ok. The baby is just excited and wants to come out sooner than expected. I'm excited too," she smiled.

Michelle nodded, suppressing her fear, "You're right. I'm excited too."

"We need to call Uncle Steve."

Michelle looked over at Danny as he continued the one sided conversation with dispatch. She looked back over at Gracie. "Steve needs to be there when it happens. I don't have my phone."

"I'll call him from my phone," Gracie said, getting up and running to her room.

Michelle sat back into the couch as another contraction slowly began to build. She didn't think about the pain but instead she reflected on her life over the past year and how horrible it had been, not knowing how she had made it through. Her thoughts went to Steve, knowing the only reason she did survive was because of him. He stood behind her, next to her, and when she needed it, he stood in front of her, shielding her. She hadn't made it through alone, she'd made it through with him. She put her hand on her stomach and couldn't help but feel the joy over how this year was going to end. They deserved this happiness, she thought. He did just as much as she.

She looked out toward the front door, hearing the ambulance in the distance.

"Steve," she said almost panicked. "I need Steve with me. Danny!" she shouted to him, needing his focus to now be on her husband.

"Here," Gracie said coming toward her with her phone in hand, handing it out to her. "Talk."

Michelle took it from her, "Hello, Steve?!"

"Hey sweetie, is that kid of ours already giving us a hard time?" he smiled, slipping on a pair of shoes as Ellen did the same next to him on the couch. He was doing a good job of hiding his anxiety over the early arrival of the baby.

Michelle started to cry just over hearing the sound of his calm overjoyed voice. "Where are you?"

"Ellen and I are leaving for the hospital right now. We'll meet you there."

"I need you with me when the baby comes."

"I'll be there. Do you want me to come to Danny's?"

She looked up seeing the Paramedics come through the door with a gurney. "No, go to the hospital. I'll hold it in for you," she smiled through her tears.

"Ok," Steve laughed as he stood up, taking Ellen's hand. He could hear the strain in his wife's voice over her dilemma, needing to calm her. "I love you, Michelle," he said tenderly. "You've given me everything I could have ever hoped for in this life, and then some. Thank you."

She smiled as fresh tears filled her eyes, feeling that joy again as her fears subsided. "I love you too."

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Michelle opened her eyes, waking from a much-needed nap. The first thing she saw was Ellen laying on the small sofa across from her hospital bed, sound asleep, the next was Steve, sitting in a rocking chair holding their son, having a one-sided conversation with him.

"Sometimes," he spoke softly, "we all go out in the kayaks and then go snorkeling. That might be a couple of years down the road for you, but I promise you will love it. That will be around the time that we'll start throwing the football you're going to get for Christmas this year." He smiled as he brought the baby in his arms up to his lips and kissed his forehead. "We're going to have a great time, Buddy. I'm going to teach you everything about being a man and you're mom and sister are going to teach you about everything else." The baby held steady staring up at the voice as if listening. "You're mom is not only the most beautiful and the smartest woman in the world, but she's also the bravest. Do you know she even saved my life once. I'll tell you all about it someday. Maybe on the day you leave for the Naval Academy."

Michelle couldn't help but chuckle over that. "What if he decides to be a Marine or an Army Ranger," she teased.

Steve looked over at her and smiled. "Aww, Michelle, that's the most horrible thing you've ever said to me."

She giggled, reaching her hand out to him. "Come here and let me see my boy."

He stood up holding the baby easily with one arm. Michelle lowered the bed and scooted over as he threw a leg up on it, keeping one planted on the floor. She slid her hand under his arm that held their son. "How's he doing?"

"Good. We were just having some father and son one on one time."

"Look at how cute he is," Michelle gushed. "Hi sweetie," she said to him. "I can't believe you're still awake. Are you hungry? I bet you are."

Steve shifted while Michelle unbuttoned her nightshirt. He carefully handed the baby to her as she laid him next to her breast, placing her nipple close to his mouth. He latched on right away and began suckling.

"Wow!" Michelle chuckled. "He's got that down."

"That's my boy," Steve grinned proudly, stroking his hand over the baby's head. He put his other arm around Michelle's shoulders, "How you feeling?"

"Ok. Better after that nap."

"The nurse came in a little while ago and was asking about a name."

She agreed, it was past time to decided. "What do you think? I like John."

He nodded, "I like John too," pleased that she was onboard with naming his first-born son after his father.

"John Steven McGarrett then."

He liked that even better. "I thought maybe you would want to give him Greg as a middle name, after your Great Uncle."

"No. The next one we can name Greg."

He liked the sound of that even more. "The next one? You want to do this again?"

She leaned over and kissed him. "And again, and again, and again."

"Let's get this one out of diapers first."

"That's a good idea," she agreed. "Remember Elie and Ellen, trying to juggle those diapers and feedings?"

They both fell silent being reminded of Elie and her absence in this monumental family event.

Michelle looked up at him with half a smile. "She was so looking forward to this baby."

"I know. She would have been like a second mother to him."

She laid her head on his shoulder as they both watched their son nurse. "John needs to know her, even though he never got a chance to meet her, he needs to know his sister."

Steve kissed her on the forehead, "He will. We'll make sure of it."

John made a whimper as he pulled away from her breast.

"I think he's all done already," Michelle said. "Do you want to burp him?"

"Sure, it's been a while but I think I can manage." He took him from her and laid him on his shoulder, gently tapping his back.

"Did you talk to Danny," she asked him as she buttoned up her shirt.

"Yes, all is forgiven. He wasn't really mad, just more irked at the idea that you didn't trust Gracie anymore. And he was avoiding me because he was afraid he'd say something he'd regret. He also wanted to say thank you for not delivering in his family room."

Michelle chuckled, "There was a minute there that I was getting rather concerned. More so because I thought John was premature and it frightened me."

"It scared me too, but I can't believe both you and the doctor were a month wrong about how far along you were."

"It was because of my time in Iraq and the aftermath. It took a heavy toll on my body. He was amazed that John even survived the first trimester." She smiled at him; "He's a trooper, just like his Dad."

"Yes he is, he's a…"

He stopped mid sentence as they both busted up over the loud burp coming from their tiny son.

"That's my boy," Steve boasted proudly.

"He really is your son, isn't he?"

They snuggled close on the small bed, admiring their creation as he slept soundly, now tucked securely in his father's arm.

"You know what?" Michelle said.

"What?"

"I was dreading Christmas. I know we couldn't ignore it like we did Thanksgiving because of Ellen, but I just wanted to get it over with."

"And now?"

She smiled, "Now I feel that maybe John coming early is more of a blessing than we both hoped for."

Steve smiled, pulling her closer with the arm that was around her shoulder, pleased to hear those words coming from her. "I wouldn't put it past Elie to have something to do with it. She always did know how to make people happy."

"You're probably right," Michelle chuckled as tears sprang to life in her eyes. "It wouldn't be doing her life justice if we were sad all the time." She buried her head not wanting to cry but unable to hold it back. "I'm sorry," she sniffed.

"Hey!" Steve said gently shaking her. "Listen to me. Don't ever apologize for mourning Elie, you have every right to feel what you're feeling. I know we both have dealt with our emotions in different ways and even went as far as shutting out the other, but I want you to lean on me, don't hide from me. You can tell me if you're sad and miss her. I might not be able to make the sadness go away but at least I can offer a shoulder to cry on. I'll need it too, from you."

She looked up at him, taking his comforting words to heart. "I love you," she whispered softly before thanking him with a kiss.

He rested his head on hers as she settled back on his shoulder. "We'll be ok," he told her. "I always knew we would be."

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Steve felt a gentle shaking as he slowly woke up.

"Daddy, wake up!" Ellen whispered loudly, repeating it over and over until his eyes opened and the loud whisper turned to an excited squeal. "Wake up! Santa came!"

He smiled at her expression that was beyond enthusiastic, almost animated as her eyes shined brightly. He hadn't seen that look on her in a long time, wishing he had a camera on him at that second. The day had arrived that he had been dreading, but after the birth of John and he and Michelle's close bond that had returned, this day turned into one that he was looking forward to instead.

"Santa didn't come last night," he teased her. "I'm going back to sleep." He closed his eyes.

"Daddy!" she shook him again. "I promise, promise, promise he came!" she pulled on his arm. "Just come see the presents under the Christmas tree."

"Ok, ok," he moaned, "let's go see."

He looked over his shoulder seeing the empty space next to him, assuming Michelle was downstairs already with John.

He and Ellen came down together as he stopped on the bottom step, "Holy cow! Look at all those presents! How did they get in our house?"

Ellen squeezed his hand, jumping off the last step. "Santa Clause brought them! I told you so!"

"Who are they for?" he asked as she dragged him by the hand toward the tree.

"Me, I think." She plopped down on her knees in front of the pile. "Look and see Daddy if any are for me?"

"Merry Christmas," Michelle said as she came in the family room.

"Merry Christmas, Mommy!" Ellen screeched, clapping happily. "Look at all these presents!"

She set a cup of hot chocolate on the coffee table for Ellen and a cup of coffee next to it for Steve, bending over and giving him a kiss as he knelt next to his daughter. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," he replied, accepting her gesture with a smile. "Where's John?"

"I'll get him. He's all fed and ready to open presents."

"Are any for me, Daddy!"

His attention went back to Ellen as he reached under the tree and pulled out a gift for her. "Hey, look here," he pointed at the nametag. "What does that say?"

"Ellen!" she shouted and clapped her hands. "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know, you better open it and see." He handed it to her as Michelle came back in holding John. She tossed a pillow on the floor and sat down next to them while Ellen tore open the present.

"Look what I got," Ellen said in awe, showing her the box of beads for making bracelets and necklaces. "Look at all the colors, Mommy?" she exclaimed. "I can make a necklace for each color."

"Those are beautiful." Michelle smiled at her daughter's excitement as Steve handed her another gift. Like him she was already enjoying the day more than she thought she would.

They had tried to begin a morning tradition the past Christmas when the girls were old enough to really enjoy their first Christmas. They opened presents and then Steve made an elaborate breakfast with the kids while she began preparing the turkey for dinner. The year before had been the best either could remember in their lifetime and both decided then that's how it would start out every year. She felt that familiar pain in her heart, knowing it would never be the same without Elie though. She looked at Ellen as she tore through another present, wishing with all her heart that Elie could be there with them. She looked away and fought back the tears that were beginning to form. 'Stop,' she scolded herself, 'don't ruin this for Ellen.'

Steve reached under the tree and found one for Michelle as requested by his daughter. She took the gift to her mother, standing proudly in front of her. "Here Mommy, this one is for you."

Michelle smiled, handing John to Steve and took the package as Ellen waited with anticipation for her to open it, knowing exactly what was inside.

"For me?" she smiled. "This is so exciting," she grinned.

Steve watched her, knowing too what was in the package. Ellen had brought the idea to him. It was a sweet gesture on his daughter's part, hoping his wife thought so too.

She unwrapped it and opened up the homemade card of three stick people drawn on a piece of paper. Their hands and feet were larger than normal, with colored toes and fingernails. She knew right away what it was, but Ellen explained it anyway.

She pointed at the fingernails, "See the toes and fingernails? We can go and get them painted. You and me." She smiled proudly at her mother over the gift, hoping she would be excited about it too.

Michelle stared at the picture knowing the three stick figures represented she, Ellen and Elie. They had all three gone a couple of times but more often than not, it was she and Elie that would go while Ellen was more interested in going kayaking or snorkeling with her father.

"Michelle?" Steve asked after she hadn't responded, hoping she wouldn't disappoint her daughter over this, knowing for a fact she was thinking of Elie at that second.

"You see, Mommy," Ellen explained, pointing to each figure on the paper. "This is me, and you and Elie. Elie used to like going," she looked up at her, "but I'll go with you since Elie can't anymore, if you want to?" She picked up the gift card that Steve had bought for her. "This means it's for free."

Michelle looked at her with tears in her eyes, "This is wonderful. I think we should make a whole day out of it, lunch, shopping and getting our nails done."

Ellen smiled brightly, "It's for toes too, see," she pointed at the colored toes on the picture.

Michelle reached out and hugged her. Ellen stepped forward and put her arms around her mother's neck, hugging her back tightly. "I love it. I love it so much, thank you." She looked over at Steve who smiled at her, he wasn't pleased so much over the acceptance of the gift as he was over the embrace of the two of them.

"You two sound like you have a fun day ahead of you. I think that would be a perfect day for John and I to hang out."

"You can't do anything with him, he's just a baby," Ellen giggled.

"We can watch football and nap on the couch."

Michelle leaned over and kissed the top of John's head, "Sounds like the perfect bonding day for father and son."

They opened a few more presents each when Ellen crawled under the tree and reached in the back, pulling out a small box that looked as if it had been wrapped by a four year old.

"Oh my," Michelle smiled, "and who is that for?"

"Elie," Ellen replied matter-of-factly. "I made it for her so she would have a present too."

Steve and Michelle looked at each other, both overcome by the innocence of Ellen's generosity and insightfulness. They had both wanted to keep Elie's memory and presence alive for days exactly like this one, yet it was Ellen who had the forthright to include her sister in the tradition of opening Christmas presents.

"Who should open it?" Ellen asked, holding it out to both of her parents, not realizing the impact it had made on them.

Steve swallowed down the lump in his throat, reaching out and taking the gift from her. He handed it over to his wife. "I think Mommy should open it."

Michelle took the small package and quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her robe. "I would love to." She looked at her daughter. "This was a wonderful thing you did, Ellen." She saw right away the gleam of pleasure in her eyes over the praise. "You made this all by yourself?" Michelle asked as she carefully opened the box.

"Yes. I know she likes stuff for Susie."

Michelle pulled out a small band of red ribbon that had pieces of toy jewelry glued to it. Michelle held it up, admiring the artwork. "You did this all by yourself?"

"That's beautiful," Steve smiled, putting a hand on Ellen's shoulder. He had no idea what the ribbon was for, but it was the thought that had him choked up.

She smiled proudly, "It's for Susie's hair. Elie liked putting stuff in her hair."

Michelle ever so gently ran her fingers over the ribbon. "This is wonderful, Ellen." She pursed her lips not wanting to cry but knew how much Elie would have loved that gift from her sister.

She carefully set it back in the box and pushed herself up off the floor.

"Where are you going?" Steve asked uneasily as she walked away from them. The expression on her face set off alarms in his head, being reminded of emotional moments like this one when she would run away and hide in seclusion.

"I'll be just a minute," she replied with a small whimper.

He held John and looked over his shoulder as she disappeared around the corner of the kitchen. He focused back on Ellen who looked at him with the same knowing thoughts in her head.

"Did I make Mommy mad?"

"No, honey," Steve forced a smile for her, but couldn't help but feel a familiar wave of anger wash over him, wondering how Michelle could do this today of all days. "Let's see if you have anything else under the tree."

They both looked over toward the direction she had left, hearing her come back in the room.

She smiled at both of them, holding Susie in her hand. "I think we should put that ribbon on her and see how it fits."

Ellen's face lit up brighter than the Christmas tree, while Steve's anger quickly diminished and was replaced by a warm, relieved greeting for his wife.

She handed the doll to Ellen to do the honors as she sat back down next to her husband. She glanced over at him, pleased with the loving look she was getting in return. "What," she teased him, "did you think I was going to run away and hide?" She snuggled up closer to him, "My life is here with my family."

"Look," Ellen said, holding up Susie for them to admire with the red ribbon tied around her long, yellow sting hair.

"Beautiful," Michelle replied enthusiastically. She took the doll and set her in her lap, holding her close. "I know Elie is looking down from heaven right now and she's so happy with her present."

"I think Susie should be here every Christmas and every birthday," Ellen suggested.

"I think you are absolutely right," Michelle agreed. "She belongs in the house with her family. Elie would have loved that."

"I'll build her a shelf to sit on," Steve added.

Michelle slipped her arm through his and pointed to a corner of the room. "Right over there, and I think later today we should go visit Elie at the waterfall. What do you two think?"

"Yes!" Ellen said wholeheartedly.

"I think that's a perfect idea," Steve replied. "I think that should be our new family tradition on Christmas."
"Me too," Michelle agreed. "I'll pack a lunch."

"Can Susie come too?" Ellen asked.

"Of course," Michelle replied, reaching out and pulling her down on her lap as she tickled her. The sound of their laughter filled the room.

Steve recognized that sensation as it slowly grew inside of him, not having the privilege of experiencing it for some time. It wrapped around him, making him feel safe and secure. It came from the closeness of his family.

They'd made it, he thought. After all they had been through, against all the odds, they'd made it. He attributed their success to one person and one person only. She'd fought the fight like a true soldier. He respected her now more than he did that night she'd come down that hill. All this time he'd strived to be her hero, realizing then at that very moment, that she was his. His respect and love for her had no boundaries and no end.

Michelle looked at her husband as he mouthed the words 'I love you'. His warm smile was the cure for her once broken heart, repeating the phrase back to him that had been and always would be the core of their survival.

"I love you, too."

The End

As always, THANK YOU ALL for being so loyal and patient, but most of all thank you for taking the time to read my stories! The reviews have been extra kind and so motivating to read. Believe it or not they've got me out of a slump a time or two, so thank you again!

Not sure when I'll be starting up a new one. I have a couple of ideas, but need to develop the plot a little more. Stay tuned…

Aloha !