Lester's Pov

I walked around the hospital aimlessly, turning this corner and that. Eden filled my mind, some of the key times we had been together like meeting her for the first time, holding her during the storms, the almost kiss in the kitchen, our first kiss. God how I loved that woman. I loved to see her smile when we started seeing each other, they way she held onto me when I would drag her up on to a dance floor, the touches she would give me when I would lay beside her ever night and when I placed the necklace I had bought her around her neck. I needed her.

My legs felt like they could no longer hold up my body, so I sat in the first chair that I came too. Looking around for the first time, I saw I had found myself sitting next to the front door of the hospital. I sat there and watched as people filed in and out of the hospital and wondered if they too were going through their own personal hell.

"You just gotta have a little faith" the words of the nurse came back to me when I was up in the nursery. That thought led me to some of the darkest times I had spent with Eden. I had gone to L. A. on assignment for Ranger, but also to get Eden back. She hated me then and when we were in the conference room of her office after being told she would have to work for me she asked me a question.

"Do you believe in God Lester?" she asked shocking me. This came out of left field but I answered her honestly.

"When I was younger my Grandmother used to take us to church, but I haven't been back in years" I told her

"As I grew up Church was a big part of our lives" she said " While I went through the bullying and being told how ugly and fat I was , I would sit in my mothers chair by the window and wonder if God would allow me to have a man that would love me and accept me. I thought you were the answer to those prayers I had said long ago, but I guess you aren't"

Her words had gutted me at that time and still do. I sat there thinking over her words and nurse Sandy's. Feeling like it couldn't hurt, I placed my elbows on my knees and did something I hadn't done since before I left home. I prayed.

"God" I started "I don't know if you'll listen to me, its been quiet a few years since I've had a talk with you, but this isn't for me. I love Eden and need her in my life. Please don't take her, if you need to take someone please take me, I'll go. She just gave birth to two beautiful babies and finally got the life she had always wanted and they need her more than they will need me. I have no idea what to do with the babies and they need their Mom. Eden's prayed for this, for someone to love her and accept her. Please don't take that away from her now, that she's gotten it"

As I sat there pleading for Eden's life, I felt someone come and sit down next to me. They placed their arm around me and sat there in silence as we both just thought over the situation.

"Lester" I heard and knew immediately it was Stephanie that was beside me " The Doctor wants to talk with you" she said

"Is she...?"

"I don't know, she wants to talk to you"

Steph and I made our way back upstairs and was led into a small room. Dr. Mitchell was waiting and so was what looked like all of RangeMan. A lump formed in my chest seeing all my family there in support for me. I sucked back the tears I had let go and stepped further into the room.

"Brother don't hold them back on our account" I heard and all the rest of the men nodded their heard in unison

"Mr. Santos" the Doctor said peeling from the crowd and coming up to me

"Is she...?" I asked. I couldn't say dead, it just wouldn't come from my mouth. I had dealt with a lot of death in my military career, but this death would shatter me.

"No she isn't dead" she said and a breath I had been holding escaped me. Happy grumbling could be heard through the room.

"What happened?"

"When Eden gave birth she started to hemorrhage and bleed out. The labor was hard on her body. We went in and stopped the bleeding, but she has lost a lot of blood. We have sedated her and are giving her bags of blood and meds. The next twenty four to forty eight hours are critical"

The news that she was alive and had a good possibility of being ok knocked the wind out of me. Bobby came over and placed a chair behind me and forced me to sit.

"Can I see her?" I asked

"She is in recovery right now, but soon we will be moving her to a private room. Once she is settled we will come get you and you can stay with her. I'm allowing the babies to be brought in to see if them being in the room will allow her to recover quicker and for you to bond as a family" she said

"Thank you" I told her and she nodded laying a hand on my shoulder as she left the room. Low cheers came from the guys as Steph hugged me crying in relief.

An hour later a nurse came into the room and got me. I followed her down the hall and into a room that Eden was laying in. When I reached her bedside I noticed how pale she was. I took her hand and kissed hit letting the tears flow again.

"I thought I had lost you. I love you so much" I cried kissing her pale hand. I looked up and saw her face, the apple of her cheeks had a little bit of blush to then as the blood went into her body. I leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"Everyones here and waiting to come see you. You've got to wake up and get better to see them and for the babies. They are beautiful Eden and they need their mom"

Speaking of the babies the door to the room opened and Nurse Sandy walked in pushing one of the babies as a second nurse pushed the other one in to the room.

"Hi Daddy" Sandy said as she scooped Maleah up and deposited her into my arms. Maleah looked up at me for a second and I swear I saw a tiny smile when she did. Nurse Sandy handed me a little bottle filled with milk.

"Its time for her to be fed. This is formula and is already pre-measured for you so she will eat it all. I am sure when mom is feeling better she will probably breast feed, but if not then you will be a pro at it by the time she is up to par"

I placed the nipple to Maleah mouth and she greedily started to suck on it "Whoa she's doing it" I said a smile splitting my face.

"Uh huh" Sandy said "just be sure every now and then to burp her so her little tummy wont hurt her"

"Burp?"

Sandy laughed " Place a towel over your shoulder and place her on it, be sure to always hold her head and pat her back until you hear her burp"

"Oh ok thank you"

"And don't forget LJ, he is hungry as well" she said and started to leave

"Uhhh do me a favor" I said as LJ started to cry "Can you go tell my friends that they can come back now if they want, its gonna be all hands on deck" I said as LJ kept crying for a bottle and Maleah hadn't even ate half of hers yet.

Sandy smiled "Sure you got it, oh and we will be rotating in and out in case you need something" she said and she walked out the door. I looked over at my son as Maleah sucked on her bottle.

"Hold on buddy one of your Uncles or Aunt Steph will be here in a minute" I told him. I looked over at Eden and told her that she needed to wake up and soon as I continued to feed Maleah and listen as LJ cried.