To whomever it was, asking about if I like Grey's Anatomy—yes. Yes, I do. You gave me a brilliant idea for the story. Trust me ;)


"Olivia, you and your squad don't normally get so many cases involving the family, do you?"

"We really don't. We have all things come up over the years, but lately, it's been as if every other case has been about, or else involved me, Sophia, or Amanda." Olivia said in answer to her sister's inquiry. "The one before you was about Sophia and Amanda—they found out they have the same dad."

"Pardon?" Harper said in surprise. "I remember you said that they're related, but that's how? They're sisters?"

"Yes. It was as much a shock to me, as it was to them and Amanda's mother, sister, and stepdad."

"Well, are Amanda and Sophia friends, at least?"

"Oh, yes. They're very close."

"That's good." Harper winced when Zoelle gave her a not-so-subtle nudge in the side. "How did this last case even begin? Dana got your attention on purpose, with Serena, but I came into your life by happenstance."

"You came into my life because you were meant to, alright? This last case began with learning that Bella and Aria had gone missing, and right when we were getting a call about that, Amanda got a call from Sophia, telling us about Serena and Aria."

"Wow."

"That's one word for it." Olivia laughed and then sighed. "We still have to attend Dana's funeral, but for the sake of our family, what with it nearly being the start of Holiday Season, I hope that we don't get another family-related case until after New Year's. The only family things I'll have the emotional energy for are helping my baby sister celebrate her birthday, and making sure she gets through labor and delivery in one piece."

Harper blushed. Already, she realized that even her generosity, Olivia wasn't one to be argued with.

"Sounds good to me." Harper decided. "Is this your place?"

"Yep. What do you think, Harper?"

In Olivia's car, they'd pulled up in front of a cute brownstone on a nice, quiet street. The building was two stories tall, at least, with a broad flight of stairs leading up to the front door. The front windows had planter boxes on them, and the trees around them were all bare, but Harper was sure that come springtime, everything would look delightful after a gardening session.

"I like it." she looked at the house a little bit longer. "Are Alex and Noah home?"

"They are, and Alex is making dinner. Let's get you and Serena inside."

"What about my stuff, and her diaper bag?"

"I'll get it all after you're settled. Come on."

Very carefully, Olivia helped her sister out of the car before she retrieved Serena. The baby was not happy about the cold, but she simmered down immediately when they were in the house, and gathered in the kitchen.

In casual clothes and an apron that greatly showed off her baby bump, Alex greeted Harper, kissed Olivia, and took Serena into her arms.

"Oh, hello, my sweet Serena." Alex cooed to her. "I missed you today! Did you have fun?"

Serena babbled at her mother, gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek, and settled in for a snuggle.

Meanwhile, Noah was dressed in a cute kid-sized apron and standing on a step-stool next to Alex. He had been watching her cook. He was always happy to see Olivia and Serena, but the new person had him scratching his head.

And a feeling a little confused.

"Fia…?" he asked cautiously.

Olivia laughed and picked him up. "No, my boy. This is mama's sister."

Noah's eyes grew wide in amazement and understanding. "Wow!"

"This is Harper." Olivia drew closer to her and helped Noah to put a hand on his new aunt's shoulder. "Ace, can you say Harper?"

Mostly because she'd used his nickname, Noah followed through. "Harper…"

The woman in question bobbed her head and gave him praise. "Very good, Noah!"

He giggled and then deciding he'd had enough, he wiggled out of Olivia's arms and then out of his apron. Giggling more, he dashed out of the kitchen, in the direction of the living room.

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. He didn't lose his clothes again."

Harper let out a guffaw. "What?!"

"Noah is ecstatic about his baby sisters, but ever since we moved in here and started putting Diana's nursery together, Noah's begun to rebel."

"By stripping naked." Harper said in a tone of near disbelief.

"Yep."

Olivia put her hands on her hips as she looked to her fiancée. "Your tone suggests that Noah was naked—again—this afternoon?"

Alex became sheepish. "Nothing I couldn't handle, but yes."

Olivia dropped her hands and sighed. "I'm going to go double-check to make sure that Noah still has clothes on, and then go to the car."

"The car?"

"I need to get Harper's things, and… we went shopping."

Alex opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out, so she just sighed again. Olivia kissed her on the cheek and exited the kitchen.

"Your sister is not as girly as I am," Alex told Harper. "But when it comes to shopping, all bets are off."

"I got a taste of that while we were out." Harper approached Alex and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "Hey, thanks for having me over tonight. I really appreciate it."

"You're very welcome. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you probably don't be alone right now because these last few days have been a real trip."

"You've got that right. I also have some things I need help sorting out."

"We'll get to all of that, I promise." Alex quickly turned down the temperature and readjusted her hold on Serena before smiling at Harper. "Do you want to see a tour of the house first?"

Harper lit up. "I would love to!"


After dinner, the family hung out together in the living room. Olivia and Alex wanted to talk to Harper about a few things, but they wanted to do it without Noah or Serena underfoot. Thankfully, the baby was easy to please. She had a full stomach, and was in a clean diaper and fresh clothes for sleeping. She was almost asleep, so it would be any minute now. Being curled up on Olivia's chest and listening to her heartbeat was also helping.

Noah, on the other hand, was a different story. He was also full from dinner, and in a clean diaper and sleeping outfit, but he was beating around the bush by playing Knock Down The Block Tower with himself. Repeatedly.

Olivia and Alex were sitting together on the couch. While Olivia was occupied with Serena, Alex was knitting, and Harper had been on the floor, playing with Noah, but she soon grew distracted.

Alex put her knitting aside to look at her. "Everything okay?"

Harper nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's just now that I know there are two of them in there, I've already been able to tell whose got what kind of personality."

Unable to resist, Olivia joined in the conversation. "Tell us about Xander. What's he like?"

"Quiet. Blessedly quiet, just like his daddy was. He only seems to kick when he's annoyed."

"And what about Zoelle? When does she kick?"

"Whenever she pleases, especially if I slow down to give anything a good and proper think through."

"Has she caught you at it again?"

"Yeah—I'm trying to think of a middle name or two for her, since she and her brother could come any time between Christmas Eve, or the first week of January."

Alex chirped. "Melissa and I share a birthday; January fifth. It would be fun if they came then, and Melissa would be in orbit because she loves babies."

Harper patted her burgeoning belly, a tad nervous. "The babies are more than welcome to stay in there—what furniture and supplies I do have are mostly in storage because I just don't have the room for two of everything. I need to move…"

"Focus, both of you." Olivia said firmly. "Let's focus on one thing at a time, huh? Family names first."

"Okay, then what's Noah's middle name?" Harper wanted to know.

"It's James, like the disciple who followed Jesus. Diana's middle name is Pearl, because that's one of mine and Alex's favorite gemstones, and Serena's middle name is Diamond, because Dana said that she was as precious to her as a real one."

"Those are such lovely names." Harper complimented. "What's about Sophia?"

"Her middle name is Rose."

Harper tittered. "Was this before, or after you knew about the rose allergy?"

"Well before, but luckily, she loves her name."

"That's good. What was mom's middle name?"

"She actually didn't have one."

"Well, alright. We know that my middle name is Atticus, and yours is Margaret, right?"

"Correct." Olivia confirmed.

"What does it mean?"

"Actually, now that I'm remembering it, Margaret means pearl, too."

Harper smiled in amusement and then looked over at Alex. "What's your story?"

"My middle name is Caroline, and I like it because my mother was an Anna Caroline, and it's a pretty name. We didn't pass it down to Diana because we wanted her to be original."

There was a twinkle in her eyes as she recalled the night that she and Olivia had chosen Diana's full name because they'd had fun, but then her thoughts took a turn as she remembered something else. From yesteryear. Olivia smiled compassionately at her.

"You're thinking about Doctor Grey, huh?"

"Yeah." Alex nodded and gave her fiancée's hand a squeeze. "May made five years, but I still miss her."

"Babe, I don't blame you. She was a special person." Olivia lifted the now fully-asleep Serena off her chest. "Why don't you go put Stardust in her crib?"

Alex decided that this was a good idea, so she stood and took Serena in her arms.

Then she turned to Harper. The younger woman was a cross between stricken an apologetic. Alex alleviated her fears.

"Harper, I'm not mad, I promise—back during the witness protection years, I lived in Seattle, and there was a doctor at the local hospital I became drinking buddies with because the bar where she hung out was near our place. Everyone called her Lexie for short."

"And you cared about her?"

"Like a sister, after I got to know her. Long story short: I had a husband and a stepson for the brief period I was in Seattle, and my stepson had to go to the hospital for something. Doctor Grey was amongst those who took care of him."

Harper stared. "I don't know if you get weirder and weirder, or more interesting. Or both."

"Hopefully, the second one." the blond sighed. "Things didn't work out, and we divorced, which is just as well because I was moved again almost right after things were finalized."

"I take it that you still kept in contact with Lexie after?"

"I did." Alex grew sad again. "She was young, and I really liked her. She had a promising career ahead of her, too."

Harper was hanging on to every word. "What happened to her?"

"There was a freak accident, and she didn't survive the aftermath."

"Oh, Alex, I'm really sorry. That's just awful." Harper sympathized. "Was she an Alexandra Caroline, too?"

"She was, and one of things we first bonded over was having the same name."

Harper pointed to the top part of her belly. "Zoelle means alive, and I've decided now that her middle names will be Caroline Margaret, to honor both of my new sisters, and to pay tribute to a friend you lost along the way."

"Thank you." said Alex as Olivia nodded; both were deeply moved. "That's incredibly sweet."

"Zoelle Caroline Margaret Bailey is going to have a lot to live up to, just like her br—Noah, are you sleepy?"

"NO!"

The little boy had been enjoying his blocks as a stalling tactic to delay going to bed, but sleep was finally getting the best of him. He was nodding off, but every time his head fell, it head snapped back up, waking him.

He was beginning to get mad at himself.

"Come here, buddy." Harper beckoned to him. "Come cuddle with auntie."

Caving, Noah crawled over and leaned against Harper. He rested his cheek on her shoulder and leaned into her, even closing his eyes, something that took very little coaxing. Harper hugged her nephew close and began stroking his hair.

Harper looked back up at Olivia and Alex. "Well, I guess all stubborn streaks have to end at some point."

"Yes, they do." Olivia laughed. "I'll put him in his bed in a little while."

"And I," said Alex, already turning away. "Will go upstairs with Stardust now. Excuse me."

When she left, Noah almost fell completely forward as he gave another sleepy nod, so Harper pulled him into what was left of her lap and began rocking him gently back and forth.

"Rest, little friend." she whispered to him. "It's okay."

Noah was finally out like a light.

"Wow." Olivia marveled. "How many tricks do you have up your sleeve?"

Harper winked. "Oh, a lot."

Olivia just shook her head. "I'm going to check on Alex and Serena, alright?"

"Okay. Go on and go."

"I'll come back for Noah, and after that, there are things that Alex and I want to talk with you about."

"Getting out of Treetop Arms?"

"That's one thing, yes." Olivia nodded. "Remember—Alex and I just want to help, and tonight is about that, and taking care of you."

Harper grinned. "I'm looking forward to that. Now, really: go on and go."

Olivia was the one to wink now. "I'll back soon."

Once she left, Harper looked back down at Noah. Even though he was fast asleep, he'd moved over so that Xander and Zoelle could have room to move. In realizing this, both twins had settled down, and were even pushing against her and each other a little bit less than they had been. Harper also found that it was easier to breathe.

"You're a good boy, Noah." she give him a kiss on the top of his head. "I love you."

Noah just beamed in his sleep, and snuggled closer, already dreaming of happy things.