Mia spent half the night with a low grade fever and Gideon wanted to take her to the emergency room. She smiled and reassured him she didn't need to go. When they went to the doctor she would let them know that she didn't feel well. He hovered over her most of the night, hardly getting any sleep himself. All his attention was focused on her and it made her fall in love with him a little bit more. When he did manage to fall, she stayed awake and studied the man sleeping next to her. She wondered how any mother wouldn't love a son like Gideon. Mia couldn't imagine not having a mother who loved her unconditionally. She could sense that the woman was a force to be reckoned with and that she was going to cause problems for them. She wasn't going to let that happen.

She also secretly wondered if Ethan was back in Seattle. She needed to know so she could be prepared in case she saw him when she went back home. Mia knew Gideon would protect her but she didn't trust Ethan to heed the warnings to stay away from her whether if that warning came Christian or Gideon. She no longer felt anything for Ethan but she wasn't about to let her guard down. She was in a good place in her life and she wanted it to stay that way.

She made her way down to the kitchen where Gideon wore an apron over his blue dress shirt and navy suit pants while cooking breakfast. She stood and watched for a few seconds trying not to giggle. He turned when he heard her giggle.

"What is so funny, little one?"

"That apron you have on. It's cute on you."

"It is isn't."

She giggled again as she took a seat at the bar. He already placed a glass of orange juice there for her.

"Are you feeling better?"

"A little bit. I don't feel as bad as I did yesterday." She said. "I saw they delivered the trees. Can we decorate them tonight if I feel like?"

"We can or I can have someone decorate for us."

She frowned. "They our trees and I want to do it. I don't want strangers coming into my home."

He came and set a plate in front of her. It had French toast with a side of fruit. He kissed the top of her head while pouring a cup of coffee.

"Are you ready for today?"

"Yes. I'm hoping I won't have to where this brace any longer."

"I hope so too baby. I know you don't like it."

Mia smiled at him and went on eating her breakfast. They had an hour before he had to leave so Gideon went to his office and she tried to figure out where she wanted the tree. Gideon found her in their bedroom moving a chair.

"Mia what are you doing?" he asked rushing into the room.

"I'm trying to move this chair. I want to put the tree there so when we're in bed we can see it."

"You could have waited and asked me instead of doing it yourself."

"I know Gideon but it's just a chair."

"A heavy chair. I just don't want you hurting yourself."

She sat on the bed with a sigh. "Are you ever going to let me do anything for myself?"

"I know it's hard for you but I don't want anything happening to you. I can help you move it." He knelt in front of her and took her hands. "Little one, your arm is fractured, you have a brace on your leg you basically have to wear the whole time you are awake. I know you get frustrated you can't do things and I understand that. I do but at the same time I need you to understand how I feel. The last thing I want you to do is get hurt again. This is the second break for your wrist and I rather it be the last."

She skimmed his face with her hand. "I know and I'm sorry but I get so tired of not being able to do the things I used to be able to do."

"I understand but let me help you when I can." She nodded and bent to kiss him, then pressed her forehead to his. "Now is that where you want our tree?"

"Yes please."

"Ok. I will have Angus move it up here while we were gone. Do you know where you want the one for the living room "

"I want it in front if the windows to the right of the fireplace, centered in the middle."

"I'll have Angus arrange that one too. The bags of decoration are in the spare room down stairs."

"Good. Is it time to go?"

"It is. That is why I came looking for you."

She grabbed her purse and went into the closet for her jacket and scarf. After Gideon helped her they went down to the waiting car, hopeful that the doctors will tell her good news.

Mia and Gideon sit in an exam room waiting on Dr. Everett's partner, Dr. Parsons. They had taken x-rays a soon as she was called to the back and now they were waiting. He knew she was nervous and he had to admit he was too. He decided to talk to her to calm her down.

"Are you ready to back home for a visit?"

"I'm ready to see the smiles on the kids' faces. It makes me happy to see them happy even for just a little while. Some of those kids have been in that hospital for months and have to go through so much. No child should have to do that."

"Your right."

A knock sounded on the door and Dr. Parsons walked in. "Mia, Gideon, how are you both?"

"We're both well." Mia said.

"I have a chance to look at your x-rays and your wrist seems to be healing right on schedule. You need about four more weeks with the cast, then we will take x-rays again. By then you should be able to wear just a brace for a few weeks. Now for your leg, are you having any pain?"

"It still hurts when I walk for long periods of time and after physical therapy."

"Where exactly does it hurt?"

"My hip."

"I think it's her ankle and radiates up her leg." Gideon says.

"Actually you're right Gideon." Dr. Parsons says. "Remember when you had your accident, you had broken your leg in two places. Those have healed nicely but the problem on your x-ray shows a problem we didn't catch. You had a very fine hairline fracture to your ankle. Your leg was in a cast but the ankle didn't heal right. That is what is causing your pain and like Gideon says it radiates up your leg causing you to limp. We can two things: we can leave it alone and you will always have some pain and the limp or we can go in and repair it."

"That means surgery, possible another cast and then another brace." She whispered.

"Yes. We can schedule surgery for the beginning of the year and the cast would be on for 6 to 8 weeks and then a brace for another 4."

Mia looked at Gideon with tears in her eyes. He knew the last thing she wanted was another surgery and casts. He took her hand.

"Why wasn't this found when she had the accident?"

"The only reason I can come up with is that she came in with severe injuries that were life threatening and this was over looked. I know this isn't what you want to hear but it can be repaired."

"Do I have to let you know right now what I want to do?"

"No talk it over with Gideon. We can schedule it when you choose do it."

"I would like to think about it."

"That's fine. Do you still have pain medicine?"

"Yes. I only take it when I absolutely need it."

"If you're in pain and you don't want to take it, then take Tylenol."

"You won't have to wear the leg brace but you will have to wear an ankle brace. Same as before. Wear it as soon as you get up and take it off at night when you go to bed. You can take if off it you take a nap. Just don't walk for too long without it. I would like to see you in a month if you haven't decided by then.

He fitted her with the ankle brace and it felt a lot better than wearing the whole leg brace. She didn't like the idea of having surgery again. Gideon took her to lunch at an Italian bistro where they were seated in a booth in the back. He sat next to her after their drinks were ordered, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Talk to me little one. What are you thinking?"

"I don't want to have surgery but I also don't want to have a limp. It hurts when I walk too much. It doesn't feel like the pain comes from my ankle. I don't like taking pain pills you know that."

"I know sweetie and I'll support any decision you make but I think you should have the surgery, not that I care if you have a limp or not. I know when you're in pain and when you're not."

"I was thinking the same thing."

The waitress came and they ordered food. They decided to change the subject and talk about something else.

"What do you want for Christmas little one?"

"Wow. I don't know. I really haven't thought about it. I just want to be with you."

"You have me."

"What do you want?"

"I already have what I want."

Mia smiled and then kissed him. "You have me baby, always. But seriously, what do you want?"

"I don't know. No one has ever asked me that. If I get anything, it's usually ties, bottles of scotch, or watches."

"Is that why you have several watches in your top drawer?" He nodded. "And that is another reason you wear a different watch every week."

"Most of those watched come from my sister. She insist that I need the newest cool looking watch."

Mia giggled and Gideon rolled his eyes. "That is so cute. It was always hard to buy Christian presents, he has everything he could possible want, so I always bought him things that would make him laugh. One year I bought him a slinky. Everyone laughed."

"I bet he did."

They finished their lunch and made their way to her next appointment hoping for better news. She didn't want to hear any more depressing news. After checking in they were shown into a room. They have to wait long before Dr. Wielding came in.

"Hello Mia how are you doing today?"

"I'm good for the most part."

"Gideon."

"Dr. Wielding."

"Why did you say for the most part?"

"I didn't get good news from Dr. Parsons and I don't feel all that well. I mean I woke up yesterday real sick but today I feel better than yesterday."

"Do you think you have a cold?"

"I think that is what it is."

"I'll check to see what is wrong but first are you still bleeding?"

"No that has stopped completely."

"Good. No pain or discomfort where the incision is?"

"None."

"Good. I would like to do an ultrasound to make sure that your uterus has healed completely."

"Okay."

They followed her to a room where the machine is. She got on the table and laid down, pulling her pants down. Dr. Wielding examined her scar.

"Oh yes. This healed up nicely. The scar will hardly be noticeable."

After getting Mia and the machine ready she did the ultrasound. She studied the images closely before she turned it off.

"I can barely see the where I sewed up your uterus. That's great news." She wiped off the gel and had Mia sit up. "Do you have any questions?"

"My main question is will I be able to have a baby?"

"I don't see any reason why not but I do caution you to wait at least a year. Give your uterus the extra time because when you're pregnant, your uterus grows."

"Can I intimate relations?"

"Yes. You can start. Have you thought about birth control?"

"I would like the shot if that is possible."

"Have you had a regular period since you lost your baby?"

"Yes."

Mia gave her the date and then she was told she could have the shot, which will be repeating every three months. She was given information on the shot and set up an appointment for her next one. They went home and after a nap, they begun to decorate the trees and then the penthouse. By the time they were done, Gideon's home looked like a winter wonderland and Mia had a smile on her face. The worry and frustration that she had earlier was gone. He wished he could put that smile on her face every day.