Next chapter for my lovelies :) Not entirely pleased with it, but I do have some more drama cooking up! Enjoy!

"This is freaking me out. I don't want to put her in there." Alex frowned.

They had stayed in the hospital one more night due to Aiden's blood pressure spike when Mollie had confronted her. After another night of observation she was finally cleared to leave.

Aiden winced as she gingerly sat down in the wheelchair, "She'll be fine Lex. We can't drive home without her in it."

Alex chewed on his lip, glaring at the top of the line car seat, "I can't do it Aiden. I can't put her in that thing. She's used to us holding her, it's just wrong for her to go in there."

Aiden sighed, "Hand her to me, I'll do it."

After successfully prying their daughter away from him and buckling her into the car seat they made their way to the parking garage. Chris was the only one waiting on them.

"I just wanted to see you off." he smiled at Aiden.

"That was sweet of you." she said.

"That wasn't exactly the face I pictured you making Lex." Chris said noticing his friend's look of concern.

"I guess I'm in shock that we're actually leaving. There was a time I thought we would never get out of there." he answered.

Chris smirked, "I can follow you home if you need me to."

"Would you? I don't want any asshole pushing us down the road or riding to close or whatever. Do you know if Lexus has a five star safety rating or not?"

Chris shrugged, "No idea."

"Wonder if we have side air bags, the manual is in the glove compartment right babe, I'll check it out when we get down there." he muttered to himself.

Chris held in his laughter until Alex had walked to the elevator.

"He's been like that all morning." Aiden laughed.

"I was the same way, so I can't really knock him." Chris said leaning down to kiss her cheek, "How are you doing this morning?"

"Very sore, but very excited too." she smiled.

"Ajay is going to be home today and she wanted to know if it was alright if she came over later to see you." Chris said as they got onto the elevator.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Aiden's going to be tired and we don't know how Savannah's going to do being in a new environment." Alex interjected.

Aiden rolled her eyes, "She's more than welcome to come over Chris."

He ignored Alex's indignant huff, "She didn't even get to see the baby last time because she was so upset."

She squeezed his hand, a silent assurance that she would make sure to keep Alex from being too hard on her. Chris helped Aiden into the backseat beside Savannah who was somehow still asleep through Alex's twenty minute check list and YouTube demonstration to make sure the car seat was securely fastened.

"It's freezing honey. She's in here just fine." Aiden whined, fixing the blanket on her daughter.

Alex glanced up, "I've got the heat on full blast babe."

"Yeah, but the door is open." she countered.

"This is kinda important okay sweetheart? Just be patient." he dismissed.

"Chris can Savannah and I ride with you?" Aiden asked gingerly easing back toward the car door.

Alex growled, "Shit! I'm just making usre this is right! You're not riding with him, he drives like a maniac and there's no room."

Chris scoffed, "I do not! I've had Joey and Kenzie in there before!"

"Ummm...no." Alex answered looking back at the instructions that came with the car seat.

"Alex!" Aiden said crossly.

"Fine!" he yelled back closing the door and getting behind the wheel.

By the time they pulled into the drive Alex's brow was covered in perspiration.

"Finally." Aiden remarked.

She was completely exhausted. Chris came to Aiden's side to help her out. She walked up the stairs into the house.

"If this is what it feels like after you wrestle then I feel sorry for you." she whimpered laying down on the couch.

"Are you comfortable?" Chris asked covering her up.

She nodded, her eyes already closed.

Alex had put Savannah into her swing and was standing over her watching her sway gently back and forth.

"Hey, man I'm gonna head out." Chris called softly.

Alex wiped at his eyes roughly, "Yeah, okay. Thanks for following us home."

"No problem, but can you return the favor and not be so hard on Ajay when she comes over?" he asked.

Alex put his hands on his hips and looked up, his childish side coming out a little, "I'll try really hard, that's the best I can do."

Satisfied whit his answer Chris hurried home to wait for Ajay to arrive.

Bailey stood in her kitchen performing her daily routine of making Riley breakfast and the twins' formula. While she had her children for company and love, she was severely lacking without Petey there. She felt isolated because all of her phone calls to him, Ajay, Alex and Mollie had been ignored. She hadn't heard so much as a peep from anyone.

What was worse was that Riley had begun asking questions. Where was Petey, he was supposed to take her ice skating? Where was Daddy, he usually called her everyday. How could she look her daughter in the face and explain that because of her actions and feeling no one was keeping their prior commitments. It wasn't fair to Riley but how could she explain all of this to a five year old?

She was depressed, but was thankful she had her kids to keep her motivated. Without them she didn't know what she would do. She heard the garage door open while she was changing the twins. Her heart jumped up to her throat.

Was he really home?

"Petey!" Riley yelled from the the kitchen.

"Hey sweetheart, I missed you so much!" he replied.

Bailey couldn't move, she was frozen in place by guilt and happiness. Riley came zooming past her in the living room and ran upstairs.

Petey came around the corner and went to the twins.

He picked Jayden up, "I missed the two of you. Did you miss me?"

He kissed them both and finally looked at Bailey, "I need to get them packed because I want to take them with me to go visit my mom for a little while."

"B-Both of them?" she stuttered.

"Yes, and Alex wants Riley to come stay with him for a few days." he said with no emotion.

"He couldn't call and ask himself?" Bailey asked tearing up as she pulled Ajay Marie's shirt over her head.

He chuckled under his breath, "He doesn't want to talk to you Bay, nobody does. Didn't really figure that into your plan did you?"

"Petey, don't be so mean, I told you how sorry I was. I don't want to lose you." she cried.

"You're a joke you know that? Don't be mean? How can I even hold a candle next to you and what you've done? You know you'll never have Alex, so you're thinkning you're gonna settle for second best yet again? To be honest you might not even have that option anymore, so think before you speak okay?" he shot back.

"I do love you, I swear I do. I wouldn't have had kids with you if I didn't. I'm just confused..." she sobbed.

"Confused, delusional, deranged, a liar, you're a lot of things right now Bay and none of them include me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to not have you in my life even after everything you did? I feel about you the way you feel about Alex. Even now, I can't let go, you don't know how infuriating and embarrassing that is. You brought me to my knees and now I'm begging you to not ruin our life. Think long and hard about what you want because this is it. I'm leaving to decide what I want, whether I want to take you back or not and you should do the same."

He went upstairs to get the twins all packed up while Bailey remained on the couch crying. She was losing everything.

When had she stopped loving Petey as much as she had in the beginning? When had she become this person?

He came back downstairs with two bags and Riley right behind him. She went to her mother and jumped into her arms.

"I love you mommy. Petey said that I'm a big sister again! Daddy and A-Ten have a baby now too!" she said excitedly.

"When did she have the baby?" Bailey asked as more tears sprung up.

He picked up both car seats and went to the garage without answering her question. He buckled them all in.

"Petey wait please, just wait. You can't just take them. They've never been away from me." she cried going to the passenger door to look at her kids.

"We all might have to get used to being apart from one another. You can thank yourself for that. We need to get on the road. Say goodbye so we can leave." he said sternly.

She leaned down to kiss both twins and covered them up better.

"Riley give Mommy a kiss." she cried trying to hold it together in front of her

She pecked her lips and hugged her neck.

"See ya when we see ya I guess." he muttered before she closed the door.

She hugged herself watching them pull out of the snowy drive. How was she ever going to survive now? She went back in the house and sat in Riley's room with Jayden and Ajay Marie's favorite stuffed animals and broke down. She was completely alone now. She didn't even have her kids with her anymore. An even deeper, darker depression was settling in now and she knew she wouldn't be able to endure by herself.

Alex went to the door after hearing the doorbell. Ajay was on the doorstep looking like she wanted to take off back to her car at any second.

He stepped aside with no greeting whatsoever. She hesitantly stepped inside.

"Aiden's in the living room. Good thing Savannah was up for her bottle, you know newborns and doorbells don't really mix." he added rudely.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly.

"Whatever." he dismissed, going back into his game room.

Ajay looked around at the house seeing touches of Aiden everywhere. She knew she would have never been able to visit Alex if Aiden hadn't made it. She slowly went into the living room. Aiden was sitting cross legged on the couch with Savannah on her shoulder.

"Oh my goodness, hi!" Aiden beamed.

Ajay smiled back, "Hey, you look like you've got the hang of everything."

She was thrilled inside that Aiden was able to be a mother.

Aiden had her cheek pressed against Savannah's, "She's the sweetest little thing. She never cries, she's always happy."

Ajay smiled shyly, "Can I see her?"

"Sure." Aiden said.

She sat down beside Aiden who handed off the baby to her best friend. The little girl blinked her beautiful eyes at Ajay as she stared up at her. She smoothed her hand over the crown of her head, her soft dark hair caressing her fingertips. The baby closed her eyes like she would fall asleep.

"She loves that." Aiden smiled, "I think she likes her Aunt Ajay."

"She's precious Aiden." Ajay whispered through her tears.

"I'm so thankful everyday that I get to spend with her and Alex." Aiden said.

"Yeah, especially when it was almost my fault that you didn't get to." Ajay frowned, "I'm so sorry, I wish I could make it up to you somehow."

"It's over with now. I want you to stop beating yourself up." she told her.

"I can't, I just can't. When I think I can forgive myself I think about..." she paused biting her lip.

"Ajay don't." Aiden pleaded.

"About the day you came over after I got released from the hospital...and I was so hurtful and mean to you. I didn't even care that you were crying and sick. I WANTED you to be. I wanted you to hurt because in my stupid fucked up head you had hurt me." she was crying uncontrollably now.

She got up to place the sleeping baby in her bouncer and went back to fall into Aiden's arms. She held her so she could let go of her emotions, so she could let go of some of her guilt.

"I was never mad at you, I just missed you." Aiden said quietly.

"What did you do when you were by yourself?" Ajay asked.

"Slept and cried mostly, but I don't want to talk about that." Aiden said shaking her head.

"So what am I doing to do about Alex? Think he'll ever forgive me?" Ajay changed the subject.

"I think he will he's jsut so stubborn about some things, you know?" Aiden said, "Do you want to try and talk to him some while i'm here with you?"

She took a deep breath, "It's now or never right?"

"Alex?" Aiden called.

"Yeah?" he called fromt he other room.

"Will you please come here?" She asked.

He came in stretching and yawning moments later. He peeked over at Savannah with a smile before sitting down, "What's up?"

"I wanted to try and work through our problems if you don't mind."

Alex rolled his eyes, "And if I do?"

Aiden pouted, "Please don't be mean. Just listen for me okay?"

He clenched his jaw and gripped the seat railings, "Fine."

"Alex you know how sorry I am. If I could take it all back I would in a heartbeat. I'm so ashamed of the way I acted and treated her. I'll always regret this mistake the most, I'm sure of it, but I have to be able to forgive myself the way Cookie has forgiven me. If I don't my marriage and children will suffer. I've been a wreck the entire time I was at Grans, and I know I've got to move forward." she said really hoping she would be able to get through to him.

He shrugged his shoulders with a sarcastic smirk, "So because Aiden fogave you, you took your little time out and shit, I'm supposed to be okay with everything too?"

Ajay's face showed her doubt but she was determined more than anything, "Alex, I don't want to argue and fight with you. It kills me that we aren't joking around and annoying each other the way we used to. I miss you."

"I don't like being a dick to you either but I don't want Aiden to be hurt again or suffer because I wasn't cautious. i protect them the same way Chris protects you, Joey, and Kenzie." he said.

"I know you want to protect them, I know that. Just tell me what I have to do to make this right?" she begged.

Alex closed his eyes, his hand coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose, "You didn't see the effect your choice had on Aiden those last few months. YOu didn't come home and fine her blacked out, you didn't beg her to eat knowing it would make her sick later, you didn't go to sleep terrified that she or the baby wouldnt make it through the night. You weren't flying to Orlando thinnking that everything was taken care of, that she was safe and would be able to make it because she had her best friend with her. You weren't lied to Ajay."

"I didn't tell you the truth either Alex." Aiden interjected on Ajay's behalf.

"That's not the point, you shouldn't have hgad to tell me anything. She needs to understand why i'm not letting this go." he said.

Aiden looked over at Ajay who was crying again.

She took her hand to comfort her.

"He's right. I do need to hear this." she sniffled.

Alex blew out a breath, "I miss you too ya punk. I'm not exactly over all of this yet but i'm working on it okay? That's the best I can do right now."

Aiden broke into a smile and carefully go up to sit in his lap and hug him.

"I love you!" she said excitedly, "Thank you for putting forth the effort and being sweet."

"Yeah, yeah. I got a reputation to maintain babe, people cant hear you saying I'm sweet." he teased, kissing her again.

"Thank you Alex. That's more than what I expected." Ajay said wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

Savannah let out a tiny wail, waking up from her short nap.

"Can I?" Ajay asked going to the seat.

She carefully picked up the baby and sat down on the couch.

"Does she smile like this all the time?" Ajay laughed.

"Pretty much. She looks like me and has Aiden's personality, which is probably a good thing. I was a pretty annoying kid from what I heard." Alex replied.

"You're an annoying adult too." Ajay shot back before she realized, "Sorry, old habits die hard."

Alex chuckled, "It's okay. I missed our usual back and forth comebacks."

Ajay smiled down at Savannah, "You need a nickname little baby. Savannah's too long and you aren't a part of the crew until i've given you a nickname. What could your's be? My baby is Mackenzie, but we call her Kenzie...I've got it! You can be Lexie!"

"Aww, I never thought of that! Like her daddy, Lex and Lexie, I love it!" Aiden squealed.

"I like Savannah." Alex disagreed, "Its proper and distinguished and regal sounding."

"Lexie's cute too though, it's girly just like her." Aiden argued.

"Lets ask the baby then." Ajay suggested, "Sweet baby angel, do you want us to call you Savannah, your given name where Mommy's from?"

They waited for a response.

"She stuck out her tongue." Ajay announced, "What about Lexie, do you like that name?"

Savannah let out a tiny squeak as she kicked her legs.

Aiden laughed, "The baby has spoken."

Alex shook his head, "You disappointed daddy already."
"Alex!" Aiden said hitting him in the chest, "Don't say that!"

"I'm just kidding, seriously I'm kidding. Lexie's fine with me, I think its cute too."

"I'll be right back I've got to grab my phone." Ajay said handing Lexie to Aiden

As she walked back to the living room she put Chris on speaker phone.

"Okay, Chris and I have been wanting to ask both of you a question." Ajay said, lighting up.

"We were going to do it sooner, but we didn't get the chance." He explained on the other line.

"We talked about this and both of you were the only ones that we felt comfortable asking." Ajay said.

"What is it?" Aiden questioned, looking between Ajay and Alex.

"Will you be Kenzie's godparents?"