MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL

MATERNITY WARD

365 WEST 32nd STREET

MANHATTAN

1:30 PM


Somehow—Olivia wasn't sure—the universe decided to smile on them after the madness. It had been an unspoken worry of hers that they would end up trapped inside.

The storm had blown itself out by daybreak, but by late morning, the roads were finally manageable. Even for emergency response vehicles.

When one finally arrived, Harper and the twins were loaded in first. Olivia tagged along to be with her sister. Alex and Maisie followed behind in Alex's car with Noah and Serena. The hospital was not that far awhile, but it still felt like the longest ride of Olivia's life.


Word spread quickly through the grapevine about the Baileys. Those who could manage a trip to the hospital arrived by early afternoon. Sophia and Casey arrived with Melissa and flower shop Novaks first. Carisi showed up not long after, with Jesse. Neither of them had seen Amanda for some time now. Trevor turned up last.

"Olivia, Alex?" the man called. "How is she?"

The Cabots crossed the crowded waiting room to where the Langans were standing in one corner, having a shared embrace upon reuniting.

"Harper is perfect." Olivia told her friend happily. "So are the babies."

Alex nodded and then gestured to Maisie. "A large part of everything working out so successfully is thanks to your wife."

"Maze has always been steadfast under pressure." Trevor said in praise. "We would totally do these last twenty-four hours over again."

"Us, too." both Cabots chimed in unison.

"Family of Harper Bailey?" a voice called into the room.

The waiting room occupants turned to see a nurse in the doorway. She appeared pleased.

Olivia moved to the forefront of the throng. "Yes?"

"Harper is very tired, but she said that she wants to see all of you." the nurse informed them. "Visiting is welcome as long as things are kept brief."

Harper was in bed, exhausted, but happy. It was the little things that mattered at the moment.

Her children were healthy, clean, dressed warmly, and so aware of the world already. They were also fast asleep.

Harper missed her husband quite desperately. The ache was constant. But... she had two pieces of Xander Senior here with her on earth, in her arms, living and breathing. More things that mattered in the moment.

Xander Jude and Zoelle Caroline Margaret. One longed-for miracle. One complete surprise. Both dearly loved. Each part of her. Each part of their father.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Olivia asked as she walked up to the door.

"More tired than I've ever been in my life. Elated." Harper answered. "Who all is with you?"

"Alex and the children, Amanda, Melissa, Casey, Dominick and Jesse, the Langans, and Violet and Senior. Are you sociable?"

"Yes." Harper decided. "Tell them to come in. Will you sit by me, please?"

Olivia nodded and then motioned for everyone to follow her. She took the spot beside Harper's bed. It was with fleeting sadness that she realized if things had been any different, Xander Senior would have been in the chair. Or the original Serena Benson. But the situation was what it was.

So she would just watch.

"Your children are beautiful." Violet told Harper. "Congratulations. Augustín and I are all call away if you want anything. The Watering Can is three blocks over."

"I'll bear that in mind. Thank you."

Harper then caught sight of Melissa hanging back with Abigail Novak.

She beckoned to her. "Will you please come here?"

Melissa crossed the room and spoke shyly. "Hi, Auntie Harper."

"Hi. It's your birthday today, right?"

Melissa nodded. "Yes, and I'm four!"

"That's a big number." Harper said knowingly. "It's also Nana Allie's birthday."

Melissa's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. "Woah…"

"It's even the birthday of baby Junior, and baby Zoelle. They're finally here."

Melissa registered the magnitude of these words at once. "Please can I see them?"

"Yes, you may. Thanks for asking so nicely." Harper told her. "I bet Abigail can help you up."

The girl did, and she even made sure that Melissa was comfortable.

She was in awe over Junior and Zoelle. "They're so small..."

"Definitely. They also know that you're here."

Hearing this blew Melissa's mind. "They do?"

Harper nodded. "Yep. They're dozing, but they can hear you. How about you talk to them?"

"I can do that."

After a warning about keeping her hands to herself, Melissa moved closer to the babies and began to speak to them. She was utterly mesmerized.

In turn, everyone observed the babies and paid Harper kind compliments.

Trevor and Maisie left first. They had been apart from each other and their children since before the storm began. Plus, Maisie was worn out. She just wanted to sleep.

Olivia was also feeling it. She had also been up all night. Her most consuming thought just then was how she regretted that her mother could not be there to meet her newest grandchildren. It took everything she had to not let it make her profoundly sad.

The lieutenant didn't notice much else until she heard her name being said.

"Hey, Liv."

"What's up?" Olivia stood and stretched.

"Let me tag you out a minute. Violet and Senior want to talk to you and Alex in the hallway." Amanda tapped Olivia on the shoulder. "Go on. They're waiting."

Curious, Olivia headed out. She found Alex with Violet and Senior, a few feet away. Carisi even passed her as he headed into Harper's room. Did he know about what was afoot?

Olivia asked her family, "Is there something the matter?"

Alex shook her head. "Nope. Our friends have actually proposed a very nice idea."

Senior took the reigns. "We did the math and realized that you two must have been up all night with Harper. Are we correct?"

"Right on the nose." Olivia replied. "I'm not even sure when we last slept."

"That's what Alex deduced." Violet told her. "Augustín and I have decided that we're going to have to take the kids off your hands for awhile. Sleep for as long as you like. Do what you need to feel human again. Come over for dinner, cake, and presents at six."

She sounded so pleasant but authoritative that Olivia didn't dare say no.

"Alright." Olivia told her. "We will come around this evening. Thank you for doing this."

Violet gave Olivia's arm a gentle squeeze. "We're family."

To no one in particular, Alex murmured, "Now there's time to wrap Melissa's birthday present."

"Just like we wrapped yours!"

"Pardon?" said Alex in polite confusion.

Olivia laughed. "You really are tired, wife of mine. That's the second time today that you forgot your birthday."

"Whoops…"

Olivia wrapped an arm around Alex's waist to keep her steady while she spoke to their friends. "Are the kids with Casey, Sophia, and Melissa in the waiting room?"

"Yes. The others are spending the day with us because the roads aren't entirely safe yet." Violet motioned towards Harper's room. "You'll find out soon enough what Amanda and Dominick are doing. I have a feeling that neither of them have the willpower to keep things from you for long."

"That's also right on the nose. Your sense of perception is very sharp."

Violet gave another wink. "Where do you think that Cassandra gets it from?"

Senior jumped in before the went down a rabbit hole. "Let's go say good-bye and then find the kids, okay?"

Everyone agreed that this was a good idea.

Meanwhile, Harper was quite surprised when Amanda came for a visit.

"Hi, Amanda." she said.

"How are you?" Amanda sat in the chair Olivia had been occupying earlier. "Be honest."

Harper's face fell as her guard dropped. "I'm exhausted. My body feels all kinds of weird."

"Everything you're feeling is perfectly normal." Amanda soothed. "It's all normal."

"A-are you sure?"

"Yes. Harper, I was in your shoes after I had Jesse. The only regular help I had at one point was from the nurses." Amanda sighed as she chose her next words carefully. "We are still family, even if we aren't directly related."

"I agree." said Harper. "Your friendship means a lot to me."

Amanda went one step more. "Then I was hoping—if you'd have me—that I could stay and just help out with whatever you need."

Harper's bottom lip wobbled. "You would do that?"

"Yes. I care about you, and I do love you the way that I love Sophia. That'll never change."

Harper's lip wobbled even more; she felt like she was going to cry. "Will you please hold one of the babies? Does it make me a bad mom that I can't manage both of them just now?"

"All it means is that you are one tired mama." Amanda reassured her. "I know a lot of people are going to say this, but please take it from someone who more than understands your position—it's okay to ask for help. It really is."

Amanda disinfected her hands thoroughly and then lifted Zoelle from Harper's arms into hers. She hadn't held her yet.

"Hello, little princess." Amanda cooed softly to the baby. "I'm your Auntie Amanda. I love you, your mama, and your brother so much. Any time one of you needs help, just say the word, okay? I'll be there. So will your Uncle Dominick. That's a promise."

In response, the baby let out an almighty yawn as she fell into a deep sleep. Joining the world hard worn Zoelle out.

As Harper watched them, a sudden thought occurred to her.

"Wait. What about Jesse, though?"

Amanda looked at Harper again. "I saw Jesse before I came in here because Dominick brought her, but she's too little yet to really miss me for long."

"Then she won't really know the difference if you stay?"

"No, but I plan on making it up to her. Dominick also knows what's up." Amanda went on. "The choice remains yours. I understand if you say no."

Harper did the best deep thinking that her exhausted, sleep-deprived brain would allow. "Alright. I have two conditions."

Amanda sat up straighter. "Name 'em."

"First, I want you to make sure you find something to eat. Second, please try to sleep. That's it."

"I promise I can meet those conditions." Amanda said candidly.

"And you'll really help with… everything?"

"Yes. That is also a promise. I've been through all of it before." Amanda replied without missing a beat. "Please don't think that I'm trying to replace your husband. I would hate for you to have that impression."

Harper showed Amanda gentleness. "But I don't. I'm actually really touched. Thank you. Stay. Please."

Amanda smiled warmly at her. "Okay. I will."

Just as they settled on this, Carisi entered the room. He had Jesse in one arm, and a full duffle bag slung over the opposite shoulder. Checking in on the occupants of room 103 was their last stop.

"How are you, Harper?" he asked her.

"I don't know how to answer that, other than that I'm incredibly pleased that my children are in the world… and also that I've never been so tired before."

"That is a perfectly good answer."

"Thank you, Dominick."

Amanda looked to her beau. "Harper said that she would like for me to stay."

"Alright, then." Carisi set the bag down on a countertop in the room. "That's got clean things for you from the stash you keep at Blue's house."

"Oh. Thanks, babe." Amanda beckoned to him. "Please come closer so I can say good-bye to Jesse."

He did this, and Harper watched the family have their farewells with each other. Amanda was just as quick to settle back in when they had gone. She was ready for the long haul.

The Cabots popped in, moments later.

Olivia spoke first. "We're going home, Harp. The Novaks and Sophia are going to look after the kids for us."

"Perfect."

"I'm going to stay with Harper for awhile." Amanda told her.

"You have a kind heart, Amanda. I'll see you around."

Amanda just nodded; it was all she could do to keep from looking back at Zoelle again.

Alex waved good-bye as they left. "See you."


Back at the Cabot house, both of them were sighing in relief when they sat on their bed, dressed in pajamas and ready for sleep. They were both exhausted.

All of the events that had surrounded Harper were finally hitting them like a freight train.

It was finally time to just be still. The effects of being up all night were also hitting them.

But Alex appeared to be thinking hard about something.

"What's the story with Amanda?" she finally asked after a few minutes.

Olivia had to think for a minute about what she was driving at. "You mean, why did Amanda choose to stay with Harper?"

"Yes. That."

"Jesse's biological father has never met her. It's my understanding that he knows about her, but has never shown interest. Amanda also had a very traumatic labor."

"Oh, my God…"

"Mhm. Amanda and Jesse both almost died." Olivia ran her fingers through her hair. "They weren't allowed any visitors for the first twelve hours while they recovered. I was there the second that stretch was up, and I got to see Amanda hold Jesse for the first time."

"Wow." Alex put her glasses on her bedside table. "Our friend has really been through a lot."

"And then some. Right now, Amanda probably feels like she's paying it forward."

"That's great." Alex approved. "She really does have a kind heart."

"Don't I know it." Olivia crawled under her blankets and turned off her lamp. "Now come to bed. Please."

Alex followed suit with her own lamp, and welcomed her own blankets like a wave of warmth. Even her bones felt weary.

She and Olivia were asleep in five minutes.