Waiting room, University of Michigan Hospital
Jack walked out and smiled. Kayla was next to Ben, her hand in the crook of his arm, her head on his shoulder, both of them sleeping.
He touched Ben's other shoulder and he jerked awake. "Dad? How's Mom?"
Kayla sat up and took a moment to focus.
"She's having an ultrasound now. Hopefully they will figure out the pain." Jack sat down and sighed. He was exhausted.
"Dad, want me to take you home?" Kayla offered. "Ben can stay here with Mom."
"No, I'm going to stay. Thank you though."
"Have you eaten?" she asked, concerned.
"I'm not hungry."
Ben stood and stretched. "I am. Let's all go to the cafeteria and at least get coffee."
His kids stared at him and he knew they wouldn't let him off the hook. "Fine."
Kayla took his arm and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Kay. And you, Ben. Thank you for being here. I know your families are probably missing you."
"You stay, we stay," Ben told him as they started walking.
Jack's eyes filled with tears and he couldn't stop the result. "Guys, I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll meet you there."
"Dad," Kayla said, hugging him. "Its okay. She's going to be okay."
Ben joined the hug and they just took comfort from each other for a few moments.
Jack wiped his eyes and blew his nose, leaning against the wall. "She's everything to me. I know you both understand to some extent but...thirty years with her...it's just not enough, you know? I don't know what I'd do if…"
"She's going to be fine. I know it," Kayla said again. "She is so strong and healthy. She's going to be around for a long time."
Two hours later, Elizabeth's hospital room
Ben and Kayla joined Jack and Elizabeth to hear what the doctor had to say.
"Well, Mrs. Thornton. It appears you have gallstones."
"Gallstones? Those cause this much trouble?" Jack asked.
"I'm afraid so. The symptoms often mimic the symptoms of heart issues."
"So what does she need to do?" Kayla asked.
"Eat a bland diet for the next few days at least. Nothing greasy or heavy. We will set up an appointment for a surgical consult and then set up a time and date for the removal of the gallbladder."
"Surgery?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"Yes, ma'am. It's a very routine surgery and in most cases can be done as outpatient. Come in early in the morning and leave by early afternoon. About a two week recovery with minimal pain."
She nodded and closed her eyes.
The doctor left shortly after, promising her release within the next few hours since her pain had diminished to almost nothing.
Kayla and Ben kissed her forehead and then on her insistence, left to go back to their families.
Hospital NICU, Up North
Matt took a picture of Livy sitting in the rocking chair holding all three babies, a huge smile on her face. Then the nurse nearby took a picture with him kneeling beside the chair. Their first family Christmas.
As far as Amber and Beckett went, Amber wasn't gaining as much weight as Wes but she was eating, maintaining body temperature and breathing fine. She was originally scheduled to come home on New Year's or the day after but the plan was to send her home the day after Christmas.
Beckett was still on oxygen and quite small so it would be at least a week until he was able to come home.
"Honey," Livy said, looking at him in the eyes. "Mom isn't going to be able to come and help. I think I'm going to call your parents. I am positive I can handle two babies but when Beck comes home, I'm going to need someone."
"I'm sure Mom would come but she needs to work. What if we asked Rosemary Coulter to come over a few days a week?"
"Really? She's so much sometimes. I'd almost rather do it myself."
"I know but she might be our only option unless Kay can come up and bring Harlow for a little bit."
The nurse took them into a quiet, private room. Livy was able to finally nurse Beckett and Amber together and Matt gave Wes a bottle.
"Merry Christmas, babies," she whispered as they ate. "I can't wait until you're all home." It was a scary thought but a wonderful one too.
U of M hospital
Jack showed Elizabeth the picture of Matt, Livy and all the babies. "Beautiful," she said with a tired smile. "I'm sorry I won't be able to help them like I planned."
"It will be okay. I'm sure they will think of something. Maybe Clara. Rosie lives near them. Maybe even Kayla can go up."
The nurse walked in a moment later with paperwork for them to sign for Elizabeth to go home. She gave them instructions and asked them to schedule a follow-up with her own doctor.
When the nurse left, Elizabeth swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Honey, can you get me my clothes?" she asked Jack.
He grabbed the plastic bag where her clothes were and emptied it on the bed.
Jack helped her a bit and then just stared at her. "Jack?" He shook his head as his eyes filled with tears. "Honey? Are you okay?"
He nodded and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her, so relieved and thankful that she was okay. "I was so scared, Elizabeth." He kissed her cheek and temple and forehead, resting his against hers. "I was so scared I was going to lose you."
She nodded and lifted her hand, gently touching his cheek. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere for a long time, Jack."
"Promise."
"I promise."
He gave her a long, loving kiss and smiled. "Wanna go home?"
"Yes. Very much."
Kayla laid in bed with both of her kids and slept until Harlow woke her up. "Mama."
"Yes, baby?"
"I'm hungry. Really hungry!" she said dramatically.
"You are? Didn't you have breakfast with Daddy?"
"Yep. But I'm still hungry. Coley is too."
"Coley is sleeping, Lolo. Let's go make some lunch."
As Harlow ate her grilled cheese sandwich a while later, she thought of something. "Mama? Is Grammy sick?"
"She was but she's doing lots better. In fact, Papa just texted me and said they just got home."
"Can we see her?"
"Not today but maybe tomorrow we can see her after she rests."
"Okay. I wanna draw her a picture."
"Sounds good, Lolo."
"Me too," Coley said, coming up to Kayla and leaning against her.
"Hi, sweetheart. Are you hungry?"
He shrugged and held his arms up to her. She picked him up and held him close. "How are you feeling, Coley?"
"My eyes hurt."
"I'm sorry they hurt. Why don't I tuck you in your room again where it's nice and dark and then I'll give you some Motrin?"
He nodded.
"I'll be right back, Lolo."
"K, Mama."
Kayla tucked Cole in bed and put his glasses on his nightstand. Then she put a cool wash cloth over his eyes and gave him some Motrin.
"I'll check on you in a bit, okay, bud?"
"Ok."
"Love you, Coley."
"Love you, Mama."
Kayla went out into the kitchen and pulled out the ingredients for the tater tot casserole she was making for dinner. She heard Harlow getting the crayons and paper out of the craft drawer so she called Drew as she cooked.
"Hi, Kay."
"Hi, hon. How's lunch?"
"Good. We ordered in pizza for the staff today so I'm eating that."
"Ooo, what kind?"
"Hawaiian on one and the other is Philly cheesesteak."
"Yum!"
He chuckled. "What are you having?"
"Lolo had grilled cheese."
"What about Coley and you?"
"I'm not sure what I'm going to eat. Maybe a salad. Coley's eyes are bugging him so he's laying down in his room."
"Poor kid. I thought we were over his headaches."
"Me too."
"So, not to change the subject but I think now that we have Cole settled with us, we need to make a weekly date night."
"Really? That would be nice. I've missed just us."
"Yeah and my hygienist, Carrie, has a boy between Coley and Lolo so she offered to babysit for us."
"Cool. Carrie is a sweetheart. That sounds like a good plan."
"Great. So this Saturday, you, me and dinner and a movie out."
"I can't wait."
"Me either. I gotta get back. I'll be home in a few hours. Love you."
"Love you too."
Kayla smiled, excited about time alone with Drew. She loved being with just him but they had stopped date night to get Coley settled. It was definitely time.
It felt so nice to be in her own bed again. Elizabeth felt a bit weak but her pain was gone. Her diet for now was chicken broth, rice, and applesauce. She was almost afraid to eat anything else.
"I got presents!" Jack announced, bringing in an armload from under the tree. They had been at the hospital for Christmas morning so the presents had been waiting until now.
She sat up and smiled, leaning back against the headboard. "That's quite a few presents for just us. What were we thinking?"
"I was thinking how much I love you and like to see your beautiful face light up when you open presents."
She blushed and smiled. "You're a silly man, Jack."
"Just telling the truth, love." He sat next to her and handed her a small box. "This one first." He watched her open the box from Lion's Jewelers and then snap it shut. "Don't you like it?"
"Jack! I cannot believe you bought this for me. How can we possibly afford it?"
"Listen, it's almost our thirtieth anniversary. I've been saving up the money since our twenty fifth. This is the ring I've always wanted to buy for you. When we could only afford a gold band for our wedding, I promised you one day I would give you a diamond."
"I told you it wasn't necessary. Jack, this band is from your heart to mine. It means everything to me."
"And this ring will look perfect right next to it."
He took the large teardrop diamond ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. "Here's to another thirty years, sweetheart. I love you."
A tear escaped her eye as she looked from the gorgeous ring up to her handsome husband's face. "I love you too. It's so beautiful. Thank you."
The day after Christmas, Up North
Matt drove Livy and Wes up to the hospital to finally bring Amber home. Halfway through, they stopped to nurse Wes and walk around a little bit.
Finally they arrived at the hospital and Matt grabbed Wes' car seat and the empty car seat for Amber and they walked inside the now familiar doors and hallways leading to the NICU.
Livy wished they could just take Beck home too. She wanted all their babies in one place. Without that, home felt incomplete.
"Hello, Flynn family," the nurse, Mary, at the desk greeted. "Amber is ready to go home today."
"That's great. How is Beck doing?" Livy asked.
"He's doing good. We took him off oxygen last night and his breathing is doing okay. Now we just need him to gain a bit more weight and keep his temp up."
"Can I see him?" Livy asked.
"Of course you can. It's almost time to feed him. Would you like to nurse him?"
"Of course." Livy was making a lot of milk these days so she could pretty much nurse when needed.
Matt followed a different nurse to get Amber prepared to go while Livy and Mary went to see Beckett after washing up.
Livy's heart melted when she saw Beck. It was wonderful to see his whole adorable face without the oxygen cannula.
"Hi, baby boy. How are you today?" He turned his head toward her but didn't seem to focus. She had noticed that in him from the beginning. "Do you think he needs a vision test?"
"I can ask the doctors. Some preemies end up with hearing or vision problems."
"Please do. I want him checked out."
"I will mention it, yes."
Livy picked him up like an expert. "You are going to come home soon, my love. I promise. You just need to get stronger."
She sang softly as he nursed, rocking and stroking his tiny arms and legs, using her fingertip to touch his cheeks.
"I love you, Beckett Matthew Flynn. To the moon and back."
She really didn't want to leave him behind. It hurt so much that he would be all alone and she couldn't come up whenever she wanted to see him.
That helped make up her mind. She was going to ask Lee and Rosie for help in watching the babies and somehow getting her to Beckett.