The LaMontagnes were the last to arrive to the gathering that night. Mostly because Will was back to feeling extra nervous. But JJ had sympathy for her husband. And patience.

JJ showed him nothing but those two virtues as they and their sons trekked from the parking lot to the front of the restaurant.

"Everything is going to be fine." she said reassuringly. "I promise that we haven't mistaken the day, or the time. Do you still have the present that you picked for your baby sister?"

Will held on even tighter to a wrapped present he was carrying. Inside the box was a fairy tale treasury, and a stuffed unicorn. Straight up the littlest Rainer's alley.

"Yep." Will said confidently. "I have it."

"Wonderful. Now just be cool. All your sisters want to do is love you and be friends."

Henry spoke suddenly the restaurant front came into view and they spotted a familiar face. "Michael, there's Aunt Emily! Let's go see her!"

Emily watched from inside as Henry and Michael ran to her. Their parents were in the dust.

"Hi!" she hugged her nephews and helped them undo their jackets. "How are you?"

Michael gave her another hug; he and his brother hadn't seen her since her change of address. "I'm happy!"

"Good. That makes me happy to hear."

Emily let Michael hold her hand when he reached for it, but then she turned to Henry.

"Is there any reason that you're wearing a hat inside?" she asked.

Henry pulled his winter hat off. "Surprise!"

Emily had a moment of surprised pause. The boy's hair was a new color. Turquoise. It was even the same shade that Amaya's happened to be.

"Henry, I love it!" Emily told him in truth.

He made a noisy exhale of relief. "Thanks! Will nana like it? I know her hair is the same color…"

"Nana is really going to love it." Emily took one of Henry's hands in her free one. "She's in a different room. I think we should wait for your parents before we go."

"Don't worry." came JJ's voice. "We're here."

She and Will joined them from the front entrance.

Pleased, Emily brought the LaMontagnes to the private room. Everybody noticed them immediately. A hush fell.

Virginia met her brother halfway. "Will, come with me."

So he followed her to where Phoenix, Lilith, and AJ were waiting. Every eye was on them.

"Allow me to introduce you." Virginia told him. "Say hi to Phoenix, Lilith, and Jubilation. Our sisters."

Will got out a greeting but was almost immediately enveloped in a joint hug from Phoenix and Lilith. He was their brother. The man was also proof that their mothers' evasiveness about her past had not been without reason.

But all that mattered was that he was here.

Will was also charmed by Dagmar and Valentine, and they, him. Everything was perfect.

But then came time meet the youngest Rainer. She had climbed up on to Virginia's lap.

Will knelt in front of them, asking AJ, "Do you know who I am?"

"Will. My big brother." the little girl pointed to herself. "AJ."

"It's great to meet you." Will showed her the parcel he'd been carrying. "This is for you. Do you want to open it?"

AJ nodded vigorously and clapped her hands together. "I do!"

Will set the parcel on AJ's lap, and she tore into it at top speed. Her squeals of joy over the gifts inside were palpable.

"Thank you!" AJ held her arms out wide. "Thank you!"

Will moved forward and indulged his baby sister in a hug. AJ sank into the affection. Just as she had approved of Emily, so too did she approve of her big brother. Yet again… everything was quite perfect.

The twins joined them. Both of them, as well as Will, Virginia, and AJ were lost in their own world. United. Happy.

At last.

Amaya's heart was full. All five of her children were together and getting along. She had no doubt that Will would be friends with all of his younger sisters before the night was out. They were already reciprocating his offer for friendship. No one could have asked for more.

JJ was almost on the same plane of joy. Everything she had wanted for her husband was unfolding. And it was giving her the courage to try to not be so frosty towards her father.

Positively everything felt surreal.

Emily broke the quiet. "Will, there's another set of introductions I think you should make."

He understood what Emily meant and so addressed his offspring. "Please come here. I want to introduce you to my mama."

Amaya quickly wiped her face and knelt down to be level with her grandsons when they stood in front of her.

She produced a small stuffed frog from one pocket. There would be no shortage of gifts tonight.

"Your daddy told me that you like frogs." she told Michael. "Is that right?"

Michael nodded. "Very a lot yes."

Amaya held the frog out to him. "This little guy needs a friend."

When Michael realized she meant him, he took the frog in his arms immediately and then hugged his grandmother.

She reciprocated the affection. Michael gave pleasant hugs.

After the little boy pulled away, Amaya pulled from her other pocket a different trinket. It was a wooden star puzzle.

"Henry," Amaya said to her oldest grandson. "I heard tell that you like math and puzzles. Do you have this yet?"

Henry approached her. "No. It looks cool."

"Then it's all for you."

Henry took the puzzle and thanked her, but spoke tentatively. "Nana… My parents helped me color my hair. Now it matches yours."

Amaya held Henry's free hand. "Indeed, it does. And you know something? I totally love it."

Henry gave a nervous laugh. "Okay. I was worried you wouldn't."

"No need to worry. And you know..." Amaya's tone dropped to a conspiratorial one. "Your new aunties have cool hair. They're all at the present table with gifts for you. Michael, too."

Both of her grandsons hugged her and all but ran to the present table. Others joined to watch.

But Emily stood beside Amaya when she rose to her feet again.

"How are you?" she said in a kind tone.

Amaya sighed happily. "I'm on Cloud Nine. My babies are all together. And... every adult child of mine has a baby or two of their own."

"Did you ever imagine getting to this point?"

"No, especially because I spent almost the entirety of my son's life until recently thinking that he was dead. But now he's a married man. And a father."

Amaya fixed Emily with a scrutinizing look that she had ever only seen on Virginia and Zion. It took everything in her power to flinch. Or blink.

"Emelise," Amaya said seriously. "Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?"

She nodded. "These days? Absolutely."

"Outstanding. It's always been my belief that it was in the grand scheme of whichever higher power to pray to that Virginia was meant to have sought out Fitzhugh all those years back."

"She never would have met either of my parents, otherwise." Emily reflected. "I know that she adores my parents. Both feel the same way about her."

Amaya took this in stride. "Virginia also wouldn't have learned your name."

Emily realized with a jolt that she was correct. "Definitely true."

"And... What I find incredible is that you also chose to keep close the woman who would eventually come to make a life with Will."

"Yeah, sometimes she and I still pinch ourselves about that." Emily laughed.

"Just what have you two been through together?"

Emily didn't miss a beat. "Life. Death. Life again."

"Well... All the same... Every of those choices in your past led to you being in the right place at the right time for my girl to recognize you. From photographs at your parents' house." Amaya sighed. "That is just way too surreal."

"Don't we know it." Emily laughed.

"Just like how I know I can't remember the last time I saw my daughter so happy as she is when she's with you." Amaya smiled at her friend. "Emelise, you brought her back to life."

Again, Emily didn't miss a beat. "Virginia is the absolute love of my life."

Amaya opened her mouth to respond to this, but was cut off.

"Emily!" Valentine called out. "Some of these have your name on them!"

Startled, Emily looked to Amaya. "Presents? For me?"

"Of course. There are presents for you and JJ, too. We're a gift-giving family. It's always been that way." Amaya gave Emily a gentle push in the direction of the others. "Go. They're waiting."

Emily didn't need telling twice. She was quick to join the rest of her family.

Amaya left quietly.

One reason was to pass word to the waiter about getting menus. People were surely ready for food by now. Another reason was just to have another good cry. What a night this was going be.

It was also a pleasant break from the real world.