It was no secret that Alex had been through all kinds of crazy things in her life. She could fill a book. If she wrote one.

But watching someone give birth was not on her list of things she had seen before.

Alex was by zero means a squeamish person, but it was unsettling experience because was also pregnant. This was going to be a long night.

Olivia noticed Alex depart Harper's room for the hallway and followed her. "Babe? How are you?"

Alex gave a nervous laugh. "Please ask me something else."

"This is a hell of a way to start out a marriage, huh? Most couples begin theirs by going on their honeymoon. But not us."

"We're not most couples, are we?"

"We've already celebrated four holidays and a birthday. Underachieving is not in our vocabulary. The twins might even grace us with their presence after midnight. Who knows? Maybe they'll end up sharing a birthday with you and Melissa." Olivia checked her timepiece. "It's in the realm of possibility. My watch says half past eight."

"Oh, my goodness. I didn't realize it was getting on." Alex now seemed a little more surprised than she should have been.

"Alright." Olivia put her hands on her hips. "What's wrong, Allie-cat?"

She gave a small squirm when she felt Diana begin a steady barrage of kicks. "I've never been around someone in labor before."

Olivia softened up. "Talk about a major experience. I've seen a birth, had a baby, and even delivered someone else's. That was a long time ago. When I was a rookie."

Now Alex really did feel surprise. "I never that before."

"It's never come up." Olivia kissed Alex's cheek. "Everything will be fine when it comes to showtime for Diana, and I'll be with you the whole time. Our girl will be perfect because she already is. Just like you. "

Alex blushed. "I am not perfect."

Olivia kissed her again. "But you are an angel."

"And you are laying it on thick."

"Is it working?" Olivia purred.

Alex nodded and exhaled heavily as she felt Diana's kicks lessen. "Yes. Thank you."

"How is Diana now?"

"Aware, as always." Alex placed Olivia's hands on her bump. "Do you feel that?"

Olivia grinned as she felt a thump under one palm. "Yes, I can. It's amazing."

"It is, and I love every second. Will you hold me later?"

This usually meant laying in bed together with little to no clothing while they enjoyed each other's embrace.

But they were then disrupted in the present.

Amanda was calling for them. "Olivia, Alex! Come here!"

When they went back into Harper's room, they found her sitting up in bed, weepy and overemotional. Maisie joined the Cabots as they gathered at the door.

"Harper is in quite a state." she explained in an undertone. "We can't snap her out of it, but..."

"Harper being as focused on the situation as she can be right now is what matters." Olivia realized. "We'll help her come down."

Alex nodded. "Thank you for everything so far. It means a lot. You and Amanda are welcome to help yourselves to anything in our kitchen."

"That is very generous." Maisie returned. "Thank you."

When she and Amanda had gone, Olivia and Alex both sat with Harper again.

"What's on your mind?" Olivia asked her.

"I'm hot and tired." Harper whimpered. "I also really miss my husband."

"We know, and we so wish that he was here to meet the kids."

Alex pushed Harper's hair from her face. "I believe that Xander is watching over you and the children. That's how I know you all were meant to cross our paths to begin with. Every day, we are elated because we met you."

"Yes." Olivia chimed in. "We love you so much and we're incredibly proud of everything you've overcome in your life. You're a fierce warrior. That's what matters right now."

Harper fought her way through another few pain spasms before she mustered up the strength to speak again. "What would mother say if she was here now?"

Olivia fought back tears; she'd been missing their mother fiercely all day long. "Mother would be saying everything that we already have. Probably even more. She would also admonish us for not coming to be with you, first thing this morning."

"But you're here now…" Harper managed. "I couldn't ask for more…"

Olivia pressed a kiss to her sister's brow. "Baby girl, we would stop the world for you."

Alex nodded. "It's true, Harper. What can we do to help you right now?"

Harper blew out an unsteady breath. "I need to put on something else, and to have my hair out of my face. Please?"

"Okay. We can make that work."

And with no small amount of careful maneuvering, the Cabots eased Harper out of her clothes and into looser ones. Neither could help noticing that she relaxed almost immediately after that.

"Okay, Harp." Olivia sat behind her sister with her legs on either side of her for support. "I'm going to do your hair now."

Harper nodded in understanding. "Alright. Thank you."

"Anything for family."

In front of her, Alex extended a hand. "What do you need?"

Harper took Alex's hand. "Just this."

While Alex continued to speak gently to her, Olivia focused on combing out Harper's hair. It was long and thick. Well down to the middle of her back. Olivia smiled to herself as she recalled how her own hair had been the same when she was this age. Maybe she would grow it out again.


Things finally progressed to a point where it was clear that neither Cabot, nor Amanda nor Maisie would be leaving Harper's bedroom for awhile. A small blessing was that Noah and Serena were still asleep.


"What time is it?" Harper cried. "It feels like I've been at this all day."

As it happened, it was fast approaching midnight. Harper had been in labor since mid-morning.

"Don't worry about that. Just focus on the moment." Olivia rubbed her sister's back, sad she couldn't stop the pain. "We're all right here with you."

Harper sat up just as a peculiar sensation hit her; it was almost primal. "I have to push! Someone tell me I can!"

Maisie performed a quick check. "You can, Harper!"

"When?"

"On my mark! Three, two, one—go!"

Harper bore down with everything she had.

While Maisie monitored the birth, and Olivia and Amanda were at her side for support, Alex was on standby. She had been tasked with cleaning the babies up. Keeping Diana calm was also on her list of things to do because she was acting like the sky was falling. Again.

It was all enough to keep Alex occupied.

But...

"Come on, Harper," Maisie was saying. "Just one more push and the baby will be out!"

"Then tell me when!"

Maisie gave the command mere moments later, and Harper bore down again. She had never been in so much pain before. It blew her mind that she was literally going to have to do it again very soon.

However, her heart went light when the sound of a crying baby filled the air.

"Who is that?" Harper fell back into Olivia's arms. "My son, or my daughter?"

Maisie held up the squalling baby. "Harper, your son is here. Say hello."

Harper could only weep with emotion, so Olivia worked on soothing her again. They didn't have long before it would be time for the second round.

Maisie beckoned to Alex. "I need your help in cutting the umbilical cord. Olivia and Amanda are busy."

Surprised, Alex joined her friend. "Okay. Show me how."

Alex did as Maisie showed her, and she soon found herself holding a newborn baby. Her nephew. She took care of Junior Bailey very lovingly and even talked to him. They were family.

Amanda chose this moment to check on them. "How are you?"

Alex gave her a smile. "I'm enthralled by this new life."

"Here." Amanda pulled Alex and Junior to the side. "I found some clean swaddling in the nursery."

Amanda helped Alex swap out the now-grimy bath towel for a clean, softer blanket.

But the detective soon grew interrupted.

"Amanda!" called Olivia. "We need you!"

She hurried back, so Alex was on her own with Junior again.

"Hello, little one." Alex cooed softly to the baby as she continued to make him comfortable. "I'm so happy to meet you. Yes, I am. I'm your Auntie Alex."

Like any newborn baby, Junior Bailey was outraged by the cold air of the world and the grime he was covered in. Alex's tone helped him to relax. It was very comforting.

Olivia called to her wife again after awhile, bringing her back to reality. "Zoelle is here! We need your help!"

Five minutes later, Alex had cut the second umbilical cord, shown Zoelle to her mother, and gotten to work on cleaning her up. The amount of responsibility was not lost on her. Details of this night would make for a great story in a few years' time. Alex became so enamored with both Junior and Zoelle that she seemed lost in her own world again.

Olivia noticed her wife's behavior from across the room, once more, and she suddenly wanted nothing more than just to be with her.

Amanda seemed to be reading her boss' mind.

"Go be with your wife." she gave Olivia a gentle shove in Alex's direction. "I'll help Harper now."

Grateful, Olivia thanked her and moved to where Alex was.

"Tell me what you're thinking." she prompted.

Alex tore her gaze away from the babies to beam at Olivia. "I'm doing a lot better than I was."

"That's great." Olivia kissed her. "You were a little nervous earlier."

"All of that left when Maisie put Junior in my arms." Alex chirped. "Zoelle mellowed me out. Even Diana is taking a page out of her book."

Olivia quickly adjusted Zoelle's blanket when she noticed it slipping. "Was she acting like the sky was falling again?"

"Yes, and she's asleep for the moment. Will you please go check on our other kids?"

Olivia didn't need telling twice—she had also been thinking of her middle children. Sophia, too, for that matter. She'd send her an update in a little while.

To Olivia's immense relief, Noah and Serena were both miraculously still asleep.

She reported this to Alex on her return. "The kids are sleeping. Safe and sound."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I don't have the energy to deal with either of them, and I wasn't the one who gave birth. How is Harper?"

Olivia looked over at the bed. While the grand event was over, Maisie worked on disposing the afterbirth and the soiled bed sheets into heavy duty trash bags. Calling over to the hospital to tell them of what had occurred was up next. Amanda was doing her best to convince Harper that having a nap would be okay. Something told Olivia that this particular task would take awhile. Harper was known to be stubborn.

So the lieutenant turned back to her wife. "Amanda is convincing Harper to count sheep. Maisie is cleaning up. I'll send updates to the rest of the family soon. Right now, I just need to know if you're down for looking after two newborns."

"That's a yes." Alex confirmed. "Why don't you take one of the babies now?"

Olivia ended up holding Junior. He relaxed completely when she hummed softly to him. All was right in his world. He fell asleep fast.

This was paradise.

Olivia spared a look at the time displayed on her watch. It was ten past two in the morning. Things had taken so long that she was genuinely surprised. Her heart then did a flip when a certain thought crossed her mind.

"Alexandra." she said gently.

The other woman turned at the sound of her name. "Yes?"

"It's finally after midnight. Do you know what that means?"

Alex's heart skipped a beat. "I do."

Olivia gave her yet one more kiss. "Happy birthday."