"Laura."

At the sound of her name, Laura woke up with a start. Freed from the recurring dream at the Opera House she reached for her abdomen and felt nothing.

"Laura," Bill repeated resting his hand on her leg to calm her. "Look who I have with me."

Lifting her head to look at her husband in the dimly lit room, Laura gasped at the sight of a baby in his arms.

"Emma," Laura said breathlessly suddenly flooded with memories of the past thirty-six hours. The long and painful labor that she insisted on doing without pain relief. Bill and Addison encouraging her when it came time to push. The momentary silence that filled the room following Emerson's grand entrance that was quickly replaced with a high pitched screech.

Laura remembered Addison holding up the baby and her husband cutting the cord. When Emma had to be sent away for examination Laura insisted Bill go with her. It was almost all she could recall following the delivery process. Exhausted from over a day of labor she had quickly fallen asleep. Although Laura felt like she had slept for hours, a brief glance at the clock told her that she had been asleep for minutes before Bill returned with their baby.

"She's perfectly healthy," Bill announced with a big grin and teary eyes. " They have to run some tests. Check her out. She might need an iv or to go under some lights. Addie didn't want you to meet her for the first time in NICU."

"I can hold her?" Laura asked in continued disbelief.

"You earned it," Bill said handing over the baby.

"She so tiny."

"Four pounds seven ounces," Bill reported proudly.

"Hello Emerson," Laura greeted nervously kissing her forehead. "I love you. You're such a pretty girl. A strong girl. You're completely fine-"

"She's better than fine," Bill corrected.

"You're Dad's right - you're perfect, " Laura said with a grin. "We have a daughter Bill."

"Yes we do...Mom," Bill replied proudly.

At the mention of her title, Laura thought about Kara and the boys for the first time all day.

"Where are the kids?"

"Waiting impatiently in the lobby to meet their sister with your equally impatient parents."

"It's a good thing we have a bigger house because you are going to have tons of visitors," Laura said sweetly to her peacefully sleeping daughter.

"Her social calendar is busier than ours," Bill noted sitting down next to Laura and placing a kiss on Emma's forehead. "My parents want to make a week long visit. This will probably be our first and last moment alone with her."

"I'm sure no one will care to be awake for late night feedings," Laura assured, her attention fully on Emma.

"You're beautiful," Bill said staring at his wife. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I'm so glad you didn't listen to me."

"So you forgive me for sleeping with you under false pretenses?" Laura teased.

"Not my finest moment," Bill admitted shamefully.

"She's waking up," Laura noticed eagerly brushing her finger soothingly across the girl's face. "Are you going to open those pretty eyes, Emma? Do you have those Adama blues?"

"Probably only for a moment. She has your auburn hair, I think she's going to have your eyes too."

"You think so?"

"I think she could only be so lucky."

"Hi you two- three," Addison corrected entering the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

"Good. Go away," Laura said trying her best to ignore her sister's presence.

"Sorry hun," Addison apologized. "I have to take Emma but hopefully just for a short while. I think there is a really good chance that I'll be bringing her right back. Everything looks really good so far, we just have to make sure."

"If you must," Laura replied, reluctantly handing Emma to her aunt. "Be careful."

"I'll try. I've only held a few hundred babies," Addison muttered. "Come on cutie. I promise I won't give you a shot. I can't promise a nurse won't do it but it won't be me. I'm gunning to be your favorite aunt."

"Go with her," Laura instructed pushing Bill off the bed. "I don't want her brainwashing our baby."

"I'll do what I can," Bill chuckled. "You get some sleep. I'll try to keep the visitors at bay. At least for a little while."

"Sounds good," Laura said resting her head against the pillow. "I love you, Admiral."

"I love you too, Madam President."