Meghan had been in the hospital for a month when Nikki appeared at her door. It was the first time Nikki had felt brave enough to go see Meghan on her own. She had been hesitant to see her and let Meghan realize how much of a disappointment she was.

"Squirt," Meghan beamed, "just you today."

"Ty," Nikki smiled.

"Of course Ty is here," Meghan said, "are you coming to sit with me? How is he?"

"We are," Nikki replied, "he's been really fussy for the last couple days. I wanted to get here but he's been so fussy I didn't want to take him out. We hardly get a walk around the neighborhood. I can't believe he's six weeks now."

"How are you feeling," Meghan asked.

"Still exhausted," Nikki replied, "I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and I'll ask. I don't think this is normal. Teddy told me to ask dr Montgomery to check my iron."

"Do you have any help," Meghan asked.

"Not really. Sometimes Teddy or Owen but they have their three and mom comes one night a week but I'm still up to feed him. We're seeing Jeff later," Nikki replied, "I look like crap but he's moved on. He asked if he could bring his girlfriend."

"He did what," Meghan asked.

"He wants to bring his new girlfriend to see me and Tyler," Nikki replied, "at my place."

"What did you say," Meghan asked.

"No," Nikki replied, "I don't want some strange woman around my son. Jeff cheated on me, I don't want Jeff parading a bunch of different women through Ty's life."

"What about when you decide to date again," Meghan asked.

"No one will want me," Nikki said, "but if I ever did they won't meet Tyler for a while. Give me time to know and trust. Brett at school was asking me to have coffee or go to dinner right up until I went on leave."

"Have you seen him since," Meghan asked.

"He saw the photos on Instagram and texted me," Nikki said, "we've texted but he's the other 6th grade math teacher. He's a coworker, we work really well together and are doing our masters. He texted today wanting to bounce ideas for capstone projects off each other because that's next but I honestly haven't had time or energy to think about it. He suggested tomorrow after school."

"Text it can't hurt," Meghan declared, "take Ty and meet your co-worker and use your brain for a bit. You're brilliant and you're probably a bit bored."

"We'll see," Nikki shrugged. She knew Brett was a decent guy but she wasn't ready to date, she needed to figure out how to raise her son alone.

Tyler began to fuss.

"Hungry," Nikki said, "we should find somewhere private."

"How do you feed him," Meghan asked.

"He's breast fed," Nikki said, "I should find somewhere more private and quieter."

"Close the blinds and do it here," Meghan replied, "at home what do you do?"

"It's just Ty and I at home," Nikki said, "in our place wherever I feel like sitting. If we're hanging out upstairs I just go back down for a few minutes."

"I've done it, I get it," Meghan said, "just feed your baby. You don't have to hide. Then when he's full auntie Meghan needs to cuddle with him."

Nikki fed Tyler and changed him before passing him to Meghan.

"Ty auntie Meghan wants to hold you," Nikki said as she passed her baby to her sister.

"And you're going to sit here with me," Meghan commanded, patting the pillow beside her, "shoes off lean back and relax."

"Meg," Nikki said.

"Squirt I can see you're completely exhausted," Meghan said, "so lay here with me, we'll talk like we used to and I'll hold your son to give you a break."

"I can't ask you to do that," Nikki said.

"You're not," Meghan replied, "I'm telling."

"If I'm just laying here I'll let him lay on me. He sleeps best like that anyway," Nikki said.

"Last time other than driving he wasn't touching you," Meghan asked.

"When I showered this morning," Nikki replied,

"Did Teddy watch him," Meghan asked.

"Bouncy seat on the bathroom floor," Nikki said, "like we do every morning."

Nikki had relaxed against the pillow with Meghan and she reached one hand to stroke Tyler's head.

"What are you doing," Meghan asked.

"He falls asleep when I stroke his head after feeding him . He needs a nap," Nikki said.

"It was Faroke's back," Meghan replied, "I'd hold him against my shoulder and rub his back,"

"Can I have him back," Nikki asked, "he's fighting sleep."

"He's fine," Meghan said, "you have to let people help you. I can't do much right now but I can hold a sleeping baby. Nikki, he needs to learn to be okay with people who aren't you. Who does he go to easily for you?"

"Mom, Owen, Teddy and you," Nikki said, "sometimes Nathan."

"Your friends," Meghan asked.

"I haven't seen them much in the last year," Nikki admitted, "I'd go to work and go home sometimes Julie and Sydney can coax me out but it's hard. None of my friends get it. They don't even want kids. Hannah hates kids and calls them leeches."

"That doesn't help," Meghan agreed.

"Now I have to see Jeff tonight," Nikki groaned.

"He should see his son," Meghan replied.

"But he has this new girlfriend that's probably hot," Nikki cried, "I'm still fat, I can't workout yet. I'm completely exhausted and look like it."

"Do your hair, put on some make up," Meghan said, "find something in your closet you feel good in or ask Teddy if she has something you can borrow."

"I have a dress," Nikki said, "I bought it just after I found out and wore it though the fall at school it should fit and I felt cute in it."

"Then wear that," Meghan smiled, "tell me about this masters degree. What's your project?"

"I wanted to do something about games and engagement," Nikki said, "using math games to lower barriers to student participation. But not just card games or dice games. Brett and I do what we call mathamagical adventures which are one or two block long activities that get students using the concept in a real world out of their seats way, we've done escape rooms, scavenger hunts, break outs, shopping or vacation scenarios. We have fun with it, I have two per unit. You haven't told me about your last ten years."

"It's hard to talk about," Meghan said.

"Start with your son," Nikki ugred.

"He wasn't an easy pregnancy. I was sick and miserable," Meghan said, "I wanted mom every day of that to tell me I would be okay and that I was going to be a good mom. I was so scared. I was a soldier and I was afraid of having a baby that I couldn't keep him safe. Farokes father was decent to me; he even let me pick the middle name, which over there to give me that choice was very generous. I didn't love his father, it wasn't love either way, he didn't love me. Some respect maybe but he still was holding me captive. I didn't want to sleep with him. I was a trophy for him, the American trauma surgeon. My red hair and blue eyes stood out. I slowly made friends with the other women. I wasn't allowed to hang out with the men on my own and other than Teddy I was always more comfortable with guys. Abdul, Farokes father, was killed when Faroke was three weeks old. I tried to save him but I couldn't. I didn't have the equipment or Owen. I needed a proper OR and Owen to do that save. I was on my own with an infant. The other women helped me figure it out and taught me how to care for a baby and keep him healthy. But they were never you or mom. I wanted my mom and my sister. There's a lot of what happened I don't know if I'll ever be able to talk about."

"I get that," Nikki said, taking one hand to wipe the tears from Megan's cheek, "I'm sorry you had to do that alone Meg. I wish I could have been there."

"I used to picture us laying on a blanket under the stars somewhere," about two years after I was captured the second august I think, there was this meteor shower Faroke was brand new and I sat outside watching it. I was remembering watching the snow fall with you in my lap with hot cocoa and feeding you marshmallows and Owen pretending he was too cool for it," Meghan said.

"There was one when I was just 17," Nikki said, "so about 8 years ago we were uncamping, me, mom, Owen and Teddy. They were just together and having Allison. Owen and I took a picnic blanket to the soccer field at the campground and watched while mom and Teddy slept. It was the first time he really talked to me. We talked about you and how much we missed you. He was humming some song and I imagined you singing along. It was one of the ones you used to sing when you were home."

"I wonder if it was the same day," Meghan said, "I sat there singing to Faroke trying to get him to sleep and I imagined the two of you."

"The first snow Owen was home and you weren't was weird," Nikki said, "we went out because it was Christmas Eve and they were staying over. Teddy wasn't pleased I woke them up and wouldn't come out with us. They send Allison and Amber to get me for first flakes now."

"Teddy not liking snow, was she sick," Meghan asked.

"Pregnant and had Allison six weeks later," Nikki replied, "we had already all gone to bed late."

"Will you do first flakes with Tyler," Meghan asked.

"Of course," Nikki smiled, "get all five kids out for first flakes."

"The boy's first snow," Meghan said, "Faroke has never seen snow."

"Once you get out of here we need to get Owen and go lay in a field somewhere looking at the stars," Nikki said.

"We can," Meghan replied, "I missed this."

"Which part," Nikki asked, "I was 14 when you were captured and 13 the last time I saw you."

"I know," Meghan said, "I always imagined being able to sit and talk to you like this. The hospital I didn't imagine."

"This hospital has some of my best and worst memories," Nikki said.

"Best memory here," Meghan asked.

"Tyler was born here," Nikki said, "and you came home."

"Worst," Meghan asked.

"Being told I wouldn't ever dance again after my accident," Nikki said, "I know how much being trapped in this specific room sucks. You know Owen's office is next door if you pound on the wall behind your bed."

"That's why I'm in this room he can listen in on us," Meghan asked.

"I was trapped here for three months. I'd get upset or start crying and he always appeared," Nikki said, "Teddy is the sucker who will give you the WiFi password. She did when Tyler was born."

"Who has better snacks," Meghan asked.

"She has chocolate Owen has chips, what are in the mood for? I have some snacks in my bag and I'm good at sharing," Nikki replied, "what's happening with Nathan?"

"I don't know," Meghan said, "I've never stopped loving him and trying to get back to him as much as you, mom and Owen but he was dating dr Grey."

"And he broke up with Dr. Grey for you," Nikki said, "the night of my accident it was Nathan that kept me alive. My heart stopped twice and Nathan saved me. There was this voice the whole time I was out, she's not there, come back squirt, you won't find her there, stay with us."

"You think it was him," Meghan asked, "we don't know what gets through when you're under."

"I don't know," Nikki said, "I know they had him talk to me though the rest of the surgery and when they took the fixators out Owen and Nathan sat and talked to me through the whole surgery."

"Nate was his best friend before he was my boyfriend," Meghan replied.

"He's still around a lot," Nikki said, "he offered to babysit."

"Does he," Meghan asked.

"For Owen and Teddy if mom or I can't," Nikki replied, "I was going to take him up on it tomorrow so I could get a hair cut but he's not answering his phone."

"He's disappeared," Meghan said, "I asked for time to think and he's gone."

"He does that goes off the grid for a few days," Nikki said, "usually when he misses you. I'll text later. I'm sure I can bring Tyler with me but a couple hours baby free for the first time was sounding good."

"I missed you," Meghan said for the millionth time.

"I missed you two," Nikki said.

They lay there in silence just being together, each with one hand on Tyler's back. Nikki smiled seeing her son asleep. It was the first time he had fallen asleep in someone else's arms. He would settle for her mom, Teddy and Owen but only slept for her.

Owen was standing just out of sight when Teddy found him. He smiled seeing his sisters stretched out in Megan's bed with Nikki's son. He noticed how much they looked alike now Megan's hair a few shades darker Nikki having never lost the fiery red they had all had as children.

"What are you doing out here," Teddy asked.

"They're bonding," Owen said, "Meghan told her about Faroke's dad and how he came to be."

"What are they doing," Teddy asked.

"What they did when Nikki was a kid," Owen smiled, "they're both laying on the bed talking. I think Nikki is relaxing. I know Meghan has Ty, she convinced Nikki that it's okay for Ty to be snuggled and held by someone else. When we would come home from school or on leave the first night Meghan would lay on Nikki's bed with her talking and giggling until Nikki fell asleep, like their own little slumber party. They've stopped talking. I know both were tired and they could have fallen asleep."

"Go be with your sisters," Teddy said, giving him a shove.

"You coming," Owen asked.

"No you need to be the three of you," Teddy said.

Owen took the two steps to the door seeing his sisters asleep he knocked softly.

"Owl," Nikki said.

"Come join us Eeyore," Meghan called.

"He's making the Owl face," Nikki giggled, "he's no fun when he does that."

"I thought that was just his face," Meghan laughed.

"That's the my sisters are stressing me out so I'm going to look like a nocturnal bird face," Nikki said.

"We called him Major Diamond when he got like that," Meghan said, "dumb dumb also works."

"You two don't change," Owen chuckled.

"We have," Nikki said.

"Someone has to move their feet," Owen said.

"Put your back against the footboard, shoes off and don't kick us or the baby," Meghan said.

Owen got settled facing his sisters, Nikki sat up and took Tyler from Meghan. Meghan propped herself on the pillows so she was upright.

"When was the last time the three of us sat like this all on one bed," Meghan asked.

"When Owen killed my snowman," Nikki teased, "it was a full on hit and run and he was more worried about his truck. Don't give me the twig excuse you killed my snowman."

"That was funny," Meghan laughed.

"The three of us," Nikki said, "I don't have a lot of memories of this. The tree picture from Megs last leave is my favorite one."

"I know," Owen said, "we'll make some. You have that picture up don't you."

"When I get out of here," Meghan promised.

"Soon," Owen said.

"Do you think they could redecorate," Nikki asked, "It looks the same as when I was imprisoned in here."

"I can't believe we all have kids," Meghan said, "and from all accounts one unplanned."

"Two," Owen said, "Daniel wasn't planned. Teddy wants me to look at permanent options she's done having kids."

"Listen to your wife," Meghan said.

"Your son," Owen asked.

"I was 'married' to his father about six months after I was captured. It was a way to protect me like dressing me in local clothing and covering my hair. I've had to wear a burka I wore a hijab to blend in," Meghan said, "I didn't want to. I missed jeans and leaving my hair down, curling it. I was well treated but always a captive. They treated me well as long as I didn't try to run. Abdul had certain expectations of me and wanted me to have his baby. I was a trophy to him, pale, red hair, blue eyes, American, a surgeon. I've done all sorts of things outside of trauma now. I delivered a bunch of babies. I delivered Faroke on my own with a locally trained midwife. Abdul died three weeks after Faroke was born, he chose the first name but let me pick the middle name. After Abdul's death I gave Faroke my last name knowing he would need it to get home one day. I never loved Abdul and he never loved me. We tolerated each other. I was always too loud, too temperamental, too American. But they respected me for my skills and my knowledge. They treated me well and kept me alive because of my skills as a surgeon."

"Meg," Nikki said, taking her older sister's hand with her free one. Owen reached out and took meghans other hand, he would have completed the circle but Nikki was using her other arm to support Tyler against her shoulder. He reached over and put one hand on Tyler's back to close the circle his hand over Nikkis.

"This, thinking of the two of you is what got me through," Meghan said, "that you were here with mom waiting for me. I prayed you didn't give up."

"They told us you were gone about two years after you were captured," Owen said, "mom found your letters."

"Did you read them," Meghan asked.

"Every time I missed you and needed to hear your voice," Nikki replied, "a lot this last year. There's always been this little spider thread of hope."

"We never totally gave up," Owen said, "I always called a couple times a month they thought I was crazy but I wasn't giving up."

It was Evelyn's turn to stand in the door and listen to her three each with their own hurts and scars together putting each other back together.

"Is there room for one more," Evelyn asked.

"Mom," Meghan said, "Eyore make room for mom."

"You and squirt are taking up all the room," Owen chuckled.

They all shuffled around so Evelyn had a spot on the bed as well.

"Finally the four of us," Evelyn beamed.

"Five," Nikki chimed in.

"He's so peaceful darling how did you get him so calm," Evelyn asked, knowing Tyler had been very fussy and challenging for Nikki the last couple weeks.

"Some time with auntie Meghan," Nikki said, "she has baby calming magic."

"She did when you were a baby too," Evelyn said, "if you wouldn't settle for me she could always get you to settle."

Ty began to wave his arms.

"Are you waking up little man," Nikki asked.

"He's been out a couple hours now," Meghan said.

"He should be in a good mood," Nikki said.

Tyler opened his eyes. Nikki leaned down and kissed his tiny cheeks. With the baby's bare feet pointing to Owen he took the opportunity to tickle Ty's toes. Tyler smiled.

"He's smiling," Nikki said, "mom it's a real smile. Owen do that again."

"He knows his moms happy," Evelyn said, "that's a real smile. You'll see those all the time now. Soon he'll laugh."

"We're all together again," Nikki beamed.

"We are," Owen agreed, "Nikki can Tyler have some uncle Owen time?"

"I guess," Nikki replied letting Owen take Tyler.

"Come here little man," Owen said taking Tyler.

"Five grandchildren," Evelyn said.

"They'll grow up close," Nikki said, "I worried mine would always be too young to know their cousins because of the age gap."