A/N: Multitudes of people (well, okay, two) asked for this story. But it's dedicated it to CK because she needs a story right about now.
A Rose by Any Other Name . . .
Aggie carefully placed the baby in Milt's brawny arms and tucked in the ends of the blanket. "There. All set," she whispered to the judge. "And try not to sneeze or anything."
Hardcastle snorted, quietly, and whispered back, "I've held a baby before, ya know." He inspected the round, creased face of the infant he held so tenderly. "But it's sure been a while. Too long, maybe."
His wife smiled at him, then gently touched the tiny knit cap the baby was wearing. "I never thought I'd have grandchildren, Milt. Just one more thing you've given me."
The judge made a derisive noise, then grimaced as the baby stirred slightly. "Oops," he whispered.
Aggie gently swatted him on the shoulder and hissed back, "Big oaf."
The front door closed quietly, then McCormick trod down the den steps and looked an inquiry. "Everything under control in here?"
"Yeah, we're great. Ya know, she -" the judge aimed a thumb at his wife, "was actually cooing a while ago. Too bad you missed it."
"I seem to remember," said Aggie distantly, "someone using the word 'snugglebuggie' at some point. Now who could it have been?"
Mark grinned at the whole family group. "So, have you decided what you want to be called? Gramps, Gramma, Aggie, Milt, Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle, Your Majesty, what?" The grin softened as he looked at his firstborn child in his best friend's arms.
"I thought the kids sort of picked the names themselves." Aggie folded her arms and half closed her eyes in consideration of the issue. "My nieces call their grandmother Gigi because they couldn't say grandmother.
"Anybody ever tell you that you obsess about stuff, McCormick? We gotta a few months before the kid even tries to start talking." Hardcastle wrinkled his brow. "We called my great-grandmother Gaggy 'cause we couldn't say that either."
Both of the other grown-ups in the room seemed to understand what he meant, and nodded in agreement.
"But the other set of grandparents," Mark said, "have already called dibs on Grandpa and Grandmom. I don't exactly know how they got to pick first," he frowned briefly, "but there we are."
"Well, if you come right down to it, we're not even exactly grandparents. I mean, not blood relatives or anything." The judge swayed gently side to side as his precious burden moved an arm slightly. "It's real nice of you both to want us included, but -"
"Hold it a minute," Aggie interrupted quietly. "I'm finally a grandmother for the first time – and maybe the only time -" she looked a question at McCormick.
"Give me a break here! The kid's only a week old!" He was finding it easier and easier to keep his voice to a hoarse whisper.
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, this is my grandchild and I'm not giving that up. If you two want to argue over what the requirements are for grandparenting, give me the baby and take the fussing outside." She extended her arms, but Hardcastle ignored her.
"Okay, I'm not gonna argue about that without either of ya. I'm just saying we got time to figure it out." The judge eased himself onto the sofa and squirmed until he was comfortable. "Besides, you -" he looked over his shoulder, "still haven't started calling me Milt yet. I've told ya you can, ya know. More than once."
"Yeah, well, I notice you still call me McCormick," was the immediate answer.
The baby yawned suddenly and Aggie swooped. "Come to Grandma Aggie," she said holding out her arms. "Time to go visit with Mama."
Hardcastle handed over their grandchild and watched the twosome out of the den and into the hall leading to the front door. "Well, that seems to be decided. She's Grandma Aggie so I guess I'll be Grandpa Milt." He cocked at eye at the man beside him. "That okay with you, Mark?"
Mark grinned at him and started up the steps toward the kitchen. "Yeah, that'll work. Milt."
finis