Author's Note: It feels like forever since I posted part 3. I'm sorry this has taken me such a long time, the only explanation I can offer is that Maddie and David were having a fight, and refused to come out of their offices. It may get a bit confusing, as I'm telling the story mostly through flashbacks. The flashbacks are in italics, they have dates before them, to make it a bit easier and less confusing for you, the reader. Hope you enjoy the conclusion --- Elyse

Letting Go

Part 4

September 23, 1996 --- 1:48 PM

The light spring rain fell onto David Addison's shoulders as he ran to the red Porsche that was parked just a few feet away. He fumbled with the keys, finally managing to get one into the hole and get himself into the car.

Once there, he sat with his hands on the steering wheel, staring off into no where. It had been five years. Five years since she had collapsed at the restaurant. Such a long time, but the memories were fresh, and blazed like an inferno in David's mind.

October 24, 1990 --- 7:32 PM

"Maddie?! Maddie can you hear me??" David called to the unconscious woman lying on the pavement outside of the restaurant they had just exited. "Dammit, answer me."

Sirens wailed, announcing the presence of an ambulance and what seemed to be over 100 paramedics, all talking at the same time, leaving David in a daze.

He tried his hardest to answer their numerous questions, but mainly stood back as they lifted Maddie's body onto the gurney and put her in the waiting ambulance. He jumped in at the last second, holding her hand close to his face and praying.

Her skin was pale under the scarce lighting in the vehicle, her cheeks seemed to have lost all color and her breathing was shallow, short little gasps.

"Vital signs seem to be normal....sir?"

David glanced up as a paramedic asked him a question. "What?" he croaked out through the tightness in his throat.

"Her allergies, sir?"

David blinked, his mind suddenly going blank. "Uh....oh, she reacts to Penicillin and MSG. When she was a baby she had to drink soy formula. I think that's it."

"Are you certain, sir?"

Wide awake again, David sat up straight, still keeping a hold on Maddie's hand. "Yes, I'm positive. What else do you need to know?"

"Her medical history, if you can help us with that."

David smiled slightly. "Yeah, I can help you with that. What do you need to know?"

"Frankly, Mr. Addison, anything you can give us will help."

David sighed. "About two years ago, she had a miscarriage." Swallowing, he made himself go on, "She was eight months along then." He glanced down at her suddenly, a haunting image coming into his mind.

He shook his head again, "A little while after that, she suffered a concussion on a case. About nine or ten months ago, we were driving back to her parents house when we got car-jacked. The guy shot her and she lost our baby. She was about four or five weeks along."

The paramedic whistled. "You've been through a hell of a lot, Mr. Addison," he said, his eyebrows raised in appreciation.

David merely nodded and stroked Maddie's cheek, kissing her hand, he pressed it to his face. "You've gotta pull outta this one, Blondie," he whispered, his tears spilling over onto her face.

September 23, 1996 --- 1: 50 PM

Shaking his head to clear it of the memory, David started the engine and sped out of the parking lot. Stopping for a red-light, he was overcome by another memory, rather than fight it, he just let it come.

October 25, 1990 --- 2:43 AM

"Come on, Maddie, you can get through this!"

Maddie turned a glare on him. "If you say that one more time, I'm going to bash your head in." Before she could say anymore, another spasm of pain hit her and she groaned, grasping his hand. "You are NEVER touching me again, understand?" she screamed out through the pain.

"Oh dear God, she's breaking my hand. Maddie, honey, you're breaking my hand," David gasped as he tried unsuccessfully to pry her grip on his hand off.

"Better your hand than your neck!"

David grinned up at the doctor. "Is this hostility normal, Doctor?"

The Doctor suddenly frowned. "Mr. Addison, may I see you outside for a moment?"

His smile slipping, David kissed Maddie on the forehead and whispered a soft. "I love you", then walked out of the delivery room behind the doctor.

"Is something wrong?"

Dr. Monroe didn't even attempt to smile. "Mr. Addison, I won't lie to you, I don't like the way she went into labor," he paused and bit his lip, then continued, "With the miscarriages that she has gone through, her body isn't as it normally should be."

"What are you saying?" David asked, unconsciously bringing his hand up and placing it over his heart. "Is she going to be ok?"

Dr. Monroe sighed. "Mr. Addison, she's only eight months pregnant....."

"Answer me, dammit!" David yelled, eliciting a startled look from the doctor.

"Mr. Addison, please. We've got enough trouble without you yelling and getting upset. Ms. Hayes is very close to delivering, and I don't like how the baby is handling it." He paused and tugged on his paper hat. "I would like to do a caesarian."

David ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "You'll have to talk to her about it."

September 23, 1996 --- 2: 01 PM

The sound of honking horns behind him brought David out of his reverie. Wondering how long he had been sitting at the light, he pressed on the gas of the car and tried not to get lost in another memory.

It didn't work.....

October 25, 1990 --- 3:01 AM

"Are you saying that there's a chance that one of them might not make it?" David asked, his grip on Maddie's hand tightening.

The doctor looked into David's eyes. "Yes. That is what I am saying. If we don't do this now, there is a good chance that - - -"

"We get the picture," Maddie cut him off, leaning back into the pillows and covering her stomach with her free hand. "May we have a moment alone?"

Bowing his head, the doctor exited the room.

David immediately turned to Maddie. "Let them do it," he said with pleading eyes.

"What?!" she exclaimed. "This is our child we're talking about, David."

He sat on the side of the bed and took both of her hands. "You don't have to remind me, I was there when.....but Maddie, there can be more children. There is only one of you."

Maddie smiled suddenly, tears filling her eyes. "I love you." Gasping as another spasm of pain hit her, she gripped his hand tighter.

David watched with worried eyes while she dealt with the pain, feeling each contraction down to his very soul. When she leaned back into the pillows a minute or so later, her grip loosening, she managed to smile.

"Maddie, please...." he murmured, encasing her small hand in his two bigger ones. "Let them do this. Please."

She shook her head. "No. It's my body, my life, and that of our child, that we're discussing. I won't do it, David."

Bowing his head, he said quietly, to where it was almost unintelligible. "It's my life too." He picked his head up and looked directly into her eyes. "I love you."

They sat smiling at each other for the next few moments, enjoying the only silence they had had in the pandemonium that had been the night before. When Maddie's regular doctor walked into the room, she stopped, almost herself afraid of what the answer to the life changing question would be.

"Have we come to a decision?" she asked quietly.

David stood and nodded. "We're going to wait."

Dr. Hopkins nodded. "That's what I thought you would want to do. Did Dr. Monroe explain the dangers in doing this? For yourself and the baby."

Maddie nodded, glancing at David. "We know the risks, Doctor."

"Well, then, for my own piece of mind, let me explain once more." She took a breath and went on, "You went into labor unlike anyone I've ever seen, which is a lot of people. You're only eight months pregnant, which means that the baby isn't fully developed yet. After suffering the two miscarriages that you have, your body isn't as it normally should be. Carrying this baby to term could be hazardous to both you and it." She stopped to take another breath, "If we delivered now, it is possible that the baby would not live, or would have defects because of the lack of development, however, it would ensure your health. If you try to carry to term, it could harm your health, severely harm your health, but it would ensure the health of your baby." She looked back and forth from one worried face to the other, her own heart breaking for them. "It's your call. I know it's not an easy decision."

David sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, Maddie's hand still held in his. "Is it possible that she could carry to term and not be harmed by it?"

Dr. Hopkins nodded. "There is a possibility that they would both be fine, but there is also a possibility that they would both be fine if we went ahead and delivered today. There are no guarantees in this, Mr. Addison."

"David," he said absent-mindedly.

"I want to try, doctor," Maddie said, her voice steady beyond belief.

Again, she nodded. "Very well. We'll want to keep you for the next few hours, make sure you're stable. We want those contractions to stop also, I don't suppose you want another month of those, do you?" As the doctor went about getting Maddie ready to go home, David stood in the hall, leaning against the wall.

He had long since stopped smoking. The last time he'd even touched a cigarette, or anything resembling one, was at Walter's bachelor party. But as he stood in the hallway of the hospital, David would have given anything for one.

September 23, 1996 --- 2: 10 PM

David jerked his head up, startled to realize that he was sitting in his driveway. Jumping quickly out of the car, he ran into the house, slamming the door behind him. Dashing up the stairs and into the master bedroom, he blindly threw clothes into a suitcase.

All the while, his mind was racing with the memory....

October 26, 1990 --- 4:46 PM

"David, really, this isn't necessary. Really," Maddie repeated for what felt like that millionth time in the last two seconds.

"The doctor said bed rest. No work, no cases....just bed rest for the next month," he admonished, once again fluffing her pillow.

Maddie gritted her teeth. "David Addison, I swear, if you don't get out of here, I'm going to kill you." She closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillow. "And then I'm going to chop you up into little pieces and feed you to the dog."

David grinned. "Hormones kicking in, eh Maddie? And we don't have a dog." He managed to get out of the room before the telephone hit the door.

It was a few weeks later that Maddie suddenly awoke, a horrible pain tearing through her side. Reaching over, she shook David awake.

Not being able to talk, only being able to gasp with the intensity of the pain, Maddie still managed to get out three words, "David....hospital....NOW."

David stood outside of the little room, staring in through the window as the nurse examined Maddie. He had this unexplainable ball of fear in his stomach that felt like it was rising into his throat and choking him. The nurse motioned him back in and left, placing the chart on the door as she closed it.

He sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand and listening to the steady 'thump thump' of their baby's heart on the fetal monitor. No words were spoken as they waited for the doctor.

September 23, 1996 --- 2: 13 PM

David dashed back out of the house, suitcase in hand, and slammed the door behind him, forgetting to lock it in his haste.

Jumping into the car, David clicked on the radio, trying to think of anything but the stop he still had to make before he could get to her.

But the song on the radio didn't help to calm him, or get his mind off of what he was driving toward, it just succeeded in saddening him even more.

==Last night I had a crazy dream==

==A wish was granted just for me==
==It could be for anything==
==I didn't ask for money==

==Or a mansion in Malibu==
==I simply wished, for one more day with you==

==One more day==

==One more time==

==One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied==
==But then again, I know what it would do==
==Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you==

==First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl==
==Then I'd unplug the telephone==
==And keep the TV off==
==I'd hold you every second, say a million 'I love you's==
==That's what I'd do with one more day with you==
==One more day==

==One more time==

==One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied==
==But then again, I know what it would do==
==Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you==

November 12, 1990 --- Around 4:00 AM

The doctor breezed into the room in a whirl of white, chart in her hand and a small frown creasing her normally pretty face. "Well, I can't say I'm happy to see you two back in here, but I also can't say that I'm surprised."

She sighed. "What you felt tonight were slight labor pains, we've got you hooked to a monitor that will help tell us when the serious contractions start. While we're waiting on that, I'm going to run some tests, see what I can do to make you more comfortable."

David stopped the doctor a little ways down the hall. "Is...is everything..." he trailed off, not knowing how to finish his sentence.

She shook her head grimly. "To be honest, Mr. Addison, we should have delivered that baby a few weeks ago when she first went into labor. She's still about three or four weeks away from her due date, and the baby doesn't seem to be handling labor very well."

Seeing his face fall, Dr. Hopkins smiled her reassurance. "We're going to do everything possible, Mr. Addison. Your baby just seems to be comfortable and doesn't want to leave anytime soon." She patted him on the shoulder and hurried down the hall.

David nodded to the empty hall, leaning his forehead against the cool metal of the door frame. He had no idea how long he'd been standing like that; out in the hall with his head pressed against the wall, when a gasp and the screaming of his name was heard.

Without hesitation of any kind, David ran down the hall and into the hospital room. Maddie was sitting up in the bed, a mix of terror and pain written across her face.

As David called out for the doctor, the earlier ball of fear expanded, until it was as if it was cutting off his air completely. He heard without hearing, saw without seeing, felt without feeling. But the words that slipped past her lips as they wheeled her out of the hospital room into emergency surgery would stay with him until the day he died.

"I love you, David."

September 23, 1996 --- 2:18 PM

It seemed the traffic was worse than usual. Bumper to bumper; move an inch, wait an hour, move another inch. It was a unique world of torture for David, every song on every station reminded him of her, until, finally, he turned it off completely, letting the silence wash over him.

November 12, 1990 --- 6:00 AM

Her last words haunted him for what was, in reality, a couple of hours, but to him seemed like days. The doctors and nurses came and went, each time making his heart quicken with fear and anticipation.

Each time, there was no news.

Various things ran through his mind while he stood there. Various points of their relationship; fights, makeups, cases, kisses. All of them had been burned into his memory and seemed to flood him now.

The doctor came out four hours after he went in. The green scrubs stained an almost unnatural red from all of the blood.

David stood slowly, only needing to look into the doctor's eyes to see that all was not well and happily ever after wasn't a part of the near future. He rubbed his sweaty palms on the sides of his pants nervously, and watched as the doctor pulled off his rubber gloves.

"Mr. Addison, I'm sorry," were the first words out of his mouth and David looked at the floor for a moment, trying to control his emotions. But the doctor continued, "We are doing our best to stabilize her breathing, but she's so little...."

He jerked his head up. "You mean...."

The doctor nodded. "Your daughter was rushed to the neo-natal unit as quickly as possible." He shook his head. "As I said, we're concerned about her breathing, and we want you to know that there is no guarantee in this."

David nodded sadly. "How's Maddie?"

"She's drugged heavily for pain, so she'll be out of it for a little while, other than that, she should be fine."

"May I see her?" he asked, not really caring what the doctor's reply would be.

"Of course. You can also visit your daughter, just tell them the last name. Mr. Addison, I'm not promising anything, but we have every reason to be optimistic about her health." With that, the surgeon turned and walked down the hall without a second glance.

September 23, 1996 --- 2: 25 PM

David banged his hand on the steering wheel and inadvertently hit the horn, making him jump. Laughing at himself, he ran his hand through his quickly thinning hair.

He ran through his memories mentally, trying to find a happy one, but he kept coming back to the birth of his daughter.

November 12, 1990 --- 6:04 AM

The room was cold and impersonal. David liked it better that way, that meant that the occupant wasn't planning a long stay.

He walked in hesitantly, as if expecting something to jump out at him. Once inside, he shut the door quietly, leaving it open a crack in case he needed to call for help.

She looked so small, lying in the hospital bed. Her small frame looking almost frail now that she didn't carry their child. Her face was pale, from loss of blood, David speculated. He looked around the room, taking in the many machines she seemed to be hooked up to.

The heart monitor beeped every few seconds, indicating the life that it monitored. He ran his finger along her cheek and then brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. Leaning down, David kissed her lightly on the lips. "I'll be back," he whispered, fleetingly wondering whether she could hear him or not.

He walked out of the room with a glance back, almost afraid that she would be gone. Wearily leaning against the wall next to the elevators, David pressed the button and closed his eyes, waiting for the ding that would signal an arrival.

He rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, his heart beating a rapid staccato in his chest. Hurrying down the hall to the neo-natal unit, he stopped and glanced through the window, his eyes coming to rest on the only basket that was occupied at the moment.

He slowly walked through the door, not sure of what to expect. David bent over the basket taking in the infant that teetered on the brink of life and death.

She was so tiny, much smaller than David had expected her to be. He had seen premature infants on television, but never in real life. And he had certainly never expected to have one.

Machines monitored just about everything that David could imagine, and he swallowed back tears. Machines kept you alive, sometimes when all you wanted to do was die.

He shook his head, clearing it.

Light brown hair adorned the baby's head and as David watched, she opened her eyes, revealing a color between green and blue.

David felt instant love and devotion to the little life that he had helped to create. Tentatively, he reached out and touched her hand, marveling at the way her finger automatically clenched around his.

The machines didn't bother him any longer. Now, they were the only thing that kept him believing that there was a chance they would all make it through all of this.

"Mr. Addison?"

He jumped slightly at the soft calling of his name. "Yeah, that's me."

"Mr. Addison, Ms. Hayes is awake and asking for you," the nurse explained, smiling at the scene that father and daughter made. "She looks like her daddy," she observed.

"You think so?" David asked, smiling slightly and glancing down at the infant.

The nurse nodded. "She will once she's older, anyway."

David gently disengaged his daughters finger from his own. "Yeah, maybe. Her mother ought to be thrilled about that." He laughed quietly.

"Speaking of her mother....."

"Yeah, I'm going. Thank you." With one last look at the now slumbering infant, he headed back to the elevator.

September 23, 1996 --- 2:32 PM

David pulled up in front of the school, his heart racing, and jerked the emergency brake into place. Jumping out, he rushed into the front office.

"Mr. Addison..."

"Yes. I need - - -"

The secretary shook her head and smiled, she pointed to a bench in the corner. "She fell asleep waiting for you, I didn't have the heart to wake her up."

David grinned, "Yeah, she can sleep through anything." He walked over to the bench and gently lifted the little girl into his arms, cradling her against his chest. "Thank you, Ms. Johnson."

"Good luck, Mr. Addison," she said to his retreating form.

November 12, 1990 --- 6: 31 AM

Maddie slowly turned her head as David entered the room. "Hi," she whispered with as much a smile as she could muster.

"Hi," he replied, a mirroring smile on his face. "You scared me for a while."

"I'm sorry."

Seating himself on the edge of the bed, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. "She's beautiful," he whispered with a grin.

"A girl?" Maddie asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes, a girl," David said, smirking. "She looks like me."

Maddie grinned. "Maybe she'll grow out of it."

The smile slipped from David's face and his grip on her hand tightened. "We're not out of the danger zone yet, there is still a chance---"

"Don't say it, David. Let's be optimistic about this, ok?" Maddie pleaded.

Nodding slowly, he kissed her hand again. "We need a name," he reminded her.

"Grace," Maddie said suddenly. "Grace Addison."

David smiled. "Do I get a say in this?"

"I'm sorry, I've always loved that name....what do you think?" she asked, running her fingers lightly over his knuckles.

"I like Grace....but we need a middle name. Or a first, depending."

"Kelly?" Maddie asked, a smile lighting up her eyes.

David made a face,."That was my line." He was silent for a few seconds, and then; "Kathryn Grace?"

Maddie looked thoughtful. "I was just thinking Catherine Elizabeth."

It hit them both at the same time, and they smiled, each reading the other's thoughts. They spoke in unison, "Katherine Elizabeth Grace."

Maddie shifted and winced in pain. David looked worried. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"A little." She yawned. "I guess I'm a little sleepy too."

A nurse walked into the room. "Mr. Addison? They want you up in Neo-natal ASAP."

David turned to Maddie, "I---"

"Go!" she all but yelled it at him.

David was out the door before she could blink.

September 23, 1996 --- 2:34 PM

If you've never tried, getting a sleeping five year old buckled into a car isn't the easiest thing in the world, and so David's frustration with the seat belt grew. When he finally managed to get it buckled, he rushed to the other side of the car and dove in, revving the engine and speeding out of the parking lot.

November 12, 1990 --- 6:34 AM

David rushed into the small room that held his daughter, coming to a halt when he saw that it was exactly like he had left it. "Doctor? They wanted me up here as soon as possible?"

Doctor Hopkins turned and looked at David, a huge smile plastered on her face. "I just thought that you'd like to know that your daughter is breathing on her own, and doing wonderfully."

He sighed. "So she's going to be ok?"

"We're not totally cleared yet, but there is a 99% chance that you will walk out of here with both a healthy baby, and a healthy mother." Gently picking up the baby, Michelle held her out toward David. "Would you like to hold her?"

David hesitantly took the infant from the doctor, awkwardly holding her at first, he slowly became used to the life that he held in his hands. "Hey there, baby," he whispered to his slumbering daughter, the love shining in his eyes enough to bring tears to the doctor's.

"If you would like, you can take her down to her mommy a little later when she's up to it," Doctor Hopkins said as she took the infant from her father.

"I'd love to," David replied, reluctantly handing back the baby. He watched as the doctor placed his daughter back into the crib.

It was a short week later that Maddie and David were able to escort Katherine Elizabeth Grace Addison out of the hospital and to the waiting nursery at home.

Maddie quietly closed the nursery door and leaned against it, her eyes closed. She jumped slightly as David wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck from behind.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi yourself," she said back, leading him away from the door and the sleeping baby on the other side. "I finally got her to sleep."

"The kitchen is clean," He replied, pulling her in the direction of their bedroom.

As he was unbuttoning her nightshirt, Maddie stopped him. "David? We need to talk." She pulled him to the bed and they sat. Maddie was silent for a while, and then; "I've been thinking, David....and I know that we talked about children---"

He stopped her. "I think I know what you're going to say, Maddie, and I agree with you." He picked up her hand and ran his finger over her engagement ring. "I was terrified; terrified for you, terrified for her....I would rather not have to go through it again."

Maddie leaned over and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you," she whispered.

Bemused, David smiled at her. "For what?"

"Being you." she said simply, pulling him on top of her and clicking off the bedside lamp.

September 23, 1996 --- 2:37 PM

The traffic was no better than it had been going to the school to pick her up. In fact, if anything, it was worse.

Sitting in the bumper to bumper traffic, David looked over at the little girl in the seat opposite him. Long hair was braided and curled into a bun that, during the day, had come loose and now hung halfway down her back.

He reached out and touched her head. There was no description for her hair. The best that David or Maddie could come up with was auburn, and even that wasn't right.

Katie shifted in the seat as the car jerked forward. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and looked up at her father. "Daddy?"

Grinning suddenly, David looked over at her. Eyes as clear and blue as the sky stared back at him. "You were expecting someone else?"

She giggled before becoming serious. "Daddy, is mommy OK?"

Swallowing a lump in his throat, David answered her with what he hoped was the truth, "Mommy's going to be fine."

December 21, 1991 --- 5:43 PM

"Oh my God, David. She said something."

David raced into the living room. "Really?"

"No, I'm lying to you. Yes really," Maddie answered, grinning, "She said, 'Kate'," she finished proudly, looking up at her newly acquired husband.

David sat on the sofa, next to his wife and daughter. "Just like a woman," he muttered, "saying her own name before ours. I've been trying forever to get her to say daddy."

The one year old turned to her father, a small grin on her face. "Dada," she said, giggling.

Maddie leaned back into the couch, laughter overcoming her. David stared in amazement at the little girl. "Well, it's official, she's got your sense of humor."

September 23, 1996 --- 2:39 PM

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"Can we listen to the radio?" asked Katie.

David switched on the radio and lost himself in another thought as the music swept over him.

April 3, 1993 --- 2:32 PM

"I just don't understand how you can spill coffee INTO a radio, Maddie, that's all," David said as he got off onto the interstate.

"I explained how it happened, didn't I?" Maddie said irritably from the passenger side of the BMW. "Anyway, I'll have the damn thing fixed, ok?"

"Yeah, Daddy, she'll have the damn thing fixed, OK?" Katie asked from the backseat, an indignant look not unlike her mother's adorning the three year old's face.

He rolled his eyes, "You've corrupted our child."

Maddie grimaced and turned around in her seat. She patted the little girl's knee, "Katie, honey, remember what we said about that word?"

Katie's response was a grin and a nod. "Yes, Mommy," she said.

Maddie sighed. "Well, at least she's honest."

David laughed and began to sing, the silence was beginning to get to him. "You will come to a place, where the only thing you feel, are loaded guns in your face---"

"David!"

"Daddy!"

"What?" he asked innocently.

"You're making a lot of noise," Katie answered with the honesty only the young posses.

David glared at Maddie as she laughed and eyed his daughter in the rearview mirror. "OK, Ms. Smarty Pants---"

"I'm wearing a dress, Daddy."

Maddie laughed harder and David had to smile. "You fill up the silence, then."

She was quiet a moment, the crease in her forehead showed how hard she was thinking. "Daddy? What are those things in the middle of the road? The big yellow bumps?"

Thinking for a minute, David finally answered. "Those? Those are Shnookies," he said matter of factly.

"Snookies?" both Maddie and Katie asked.

"No, SHNOOKIES," he sighed, "they travel for thousands of miles, in a straight line, to get to Shnookdom."

Katie's eyes had gone wide and she was staring out the window at the yellow 'Shnookies'. "Why do they do that, Daddy? Where do they come from?"

"They come from the ocean, like turtles, because if they don't, the fish will eat them up. They do it because it's the only place that Shnookies are excepted. They're shunned---"

"Shunned, Daddy?" Katie asked, confusion in her voice and on her face.

"None of the other creatures will talk to them," he corrected with a smile. "So they travel for miles and miles to be with their own kind."

"Aren't they afraid they'll be squished?" Katie asked, horror evident in her voice.

David's forehead creased as he thought about how to respond to that. "No. You see, the yellow shells protect them."

"Wow," Katie voiced, pushing her nose against the window to get a better look at the middle of the road. "You're awful smart, Daddy," the little girl said, her breath fogging the window.

David grinned at Maddie and picked up her hand from her leg, bringing it to his mouth to kiss her palm. She smiled back at him and leaned her head back into the seat, listening to their daughter's chatter.

September 23, 1996 --- 3:23 PM

David pulled up to the front of the apartment building and stopped, not bothering to turn the engine off. "OK, I'm going to go see Mommy, you're going to stay with Aunt Terri for a little while."

Katie turned to him, a frown on her face. "I want to see Mommy too, Daddy."

He sighed. "I know you do, sweetie, but it will be boring. You'll be stuck sitting for what may be hours. You don't want to have to do that, do you?"

Thinking for a minute, she finally shook her head. "No, I guess not. But you'll call, right?"

Without so much as a blink, David nodded. "Every five minutes, if you want."

Katie giggled. "You'd be broke in no time, Daddy."

"Calling from a pay phone, yes, I would," he answered with a chuckle. He looked up at the front of the apartment building, seeing Terri standing there he said, "Give me a kiss and let me go see Mommy."

Katie dutifully leaned over and kissed her father quickly. "Give Mommy a big kiss for me, OK? I love you, Daddy." With that, she jumped out of the car and ran to where her 'Aunt' Terri was standing, giving her a hug.

With a wave, David pulled back onto the street, making his way to Maddie and praying that she was ok as their last conversation swept through his memory.

September 23, 1996 --- 8:02 AM

"Katie! Hurry or you'll miss the bus!" Maddie called up the stairs of their house. "Katherine Elizabeth, are you listening to me?" she yelled.

Katie came bounding down the stairs. "Yes, Mommy, I heard you." Giving her mother a quick kiss and a brief hug, she flew to the front door.

"Hey, beautiful, where are you going?" David asked from the doorway of the kitchen.

She turned. "School, Daddy," the five year old said impatiently.

"I'm wounded, get over here and give your old man a hug and kiss before you go," He raised his eyebrows as he clutched his chest in mock horror. "Or are you too big for that anymore?"

Giggling, she threw herself at her father. "Bye Daddy."

"Bye Angel," he said, watching her walk out the front door as the bus honked. His smile faded as he turned and faced his wife. "We going to go back to the conversation we were having before?"

Maddie sighed and pushed past him and into the kitchen. "Strange, I'm finished with that." She filled her coffee cup.

David followed her in and roughly turned her around, pinning her against the counter. "Well I'm not," he said angrily.

He let her go and stalked about the room, looking like a caged tiger. "I want to know what you talk about. Do you meet him, Maddie? Do you talk about me?"

Maddie turned and faced him, sneering. "You're so vain, Addison." Her sneer disappearing, she rubbed her temples, trying to rid herself of the oncoming headache. "You think I'm meeting anyone looking like this?" She gestured down at herself.

Fire flashed in David's eyes. "So he comes here."

"I can't believe you!" Finally losing her temper, Maddie walked across the room to stand before him. "I can't believe what you are insinuating, and I can't believe that you believe that."

"I'm only going by evidence, Maddie," David said, the anger on his face intensifying. "Tell me, Ms. Hayes, is that baby going to have the last name of Addison or Crawford? Or do you even know? How long has this been going on, Maddie?" As he said this, he pointed to her swollen midsection. "I know it's been a while, but I'm sure you can remember who you've been screwing, Maddie."

The crack of her hand across his cheek was deafening, and Maddie found that she wanted to do it again. And again and again and again. She wanted to hit him over and over until he told her he was sorry. She wanted to beat an apology out of him.

Instead, she burst into tears and said. "I hate you, David Addison." As she walked out of the room, she said over her shoulder, "Your bags will be waiting by the front door, don't bother coming back, I'll tell the lawyer to call you."

September 23, 1996 --- 3:43 PM

Stopped at a red-light, he once again prayed she would be ok. That she'd forgive him.

September 23, 1996 --- 8:23 AM

He had stormed out of the house and gone to work, snapping at anyone and everyone there. All of the staff went to great lengths to avoid him all day.

At a quarter to two, his phone had buzzed and Agnes' tentative voice came over the line. "Call for you on line two, Mr. Addison."

He answered with a rough, "Yeah?"

"Addison?"

"Well, if it ain't the space cowboy, how's it going, Luke? Seen my wife lately?" he growled into the phone, anger flooding him again.

"Listen, you asshole, I don't want to discuss this with you. Hell, I don't even want to TALK to you," Sam spat.

David snorted. "I always said you weren't too bright, don't you know what a telephone is for, Crawford?"

"I wouldn't have called if Maddie hadn't asked me --- begged --- me to. She passed out while I was on the phone with her this afternoon," he explained.

All of David's senses went on alert and he sat up, his anger forgotten. "Passed out?" he asked, not really wanting the answer.

Sam sighed. "We're at the hospital, David, and she asked for you. You hear me, dumbass? She asked for you, not me." And with that, he hung up.

After an urgent call to Terri, he had run out of the office.

September 23, 1996 --- 4:56 PM

David pulled into the parking garage and hunted around for a place to park. His frustration grew as he went up level after level, row after row of cars. Finally squeezing the Porsche into a space on the fifth level, he jumped out and sprinted to the elevator, the suitcase forgotten in the backseat.

He didn't stop running until he reached the station in the emergency room. Out of breath, he wheezed. "I'm looking for my wife."

The nurse smiled at him softly. "What is your wife's name, sir?" she asked gently.

"Madolyn, Madolyn Addison. Or Hayes, I don't know which one she used." He began to babble, "We had a fight, so she might have used her maiden name. The fight was so stupid, and then she goes and passes out....this is what happened last time. What I was afraid of happening this time---"

"They moved her upstairs, Mr. Addison. To the maternity ward." The nurse interrupted, "Just ask at the nurses station."

David nodded and ran to the elevator.

~ ~ ~

Tentatively, David poked his head into the room he had been directed to. Sam's head jerked up from the chair beside the bed and David thought he saw relief in his eyes. "Where the hell have you been, Addison?" he asked quietly.

David ignored him for a moment, walking over to the bed and pressing a kiss to his sleeping wife's forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Turning to Sam, he said, "I had to pick up Katie and drop her with Terri."

Sam frowned. "She's been out for about fifteen minutes, the doctor gave her something for it. The pain, I mean. They said the baby was in distress, and that they wanted to do an emergency delivery, but she refused to do anything until you got here."

David brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. "Will you please go get the doctor?" he asked Sam, his voice barely a whisper.

Sam nodded and walked out of the room, returning moments later with Dr. Hopkins. "Mr. Addison, glad you could make it."

"I'm sorry, there was traffic, and Katie...."

"I understand. Luckily, Mr. Crawford here was near by when she collapsed." Not missing the anger in David's eyes, she went on, "We think that an emergency caesarian is in order, and with your consent, we can do it now."

"Her due date is two weeks from now," David voiced, concern in his voice.

"Both she and the baby ought to be fine, I wouldn't say that if I wasn't sure," she said truthfully.

Exchanging a glance with Sam, David nodded. "Do it then."

~ ~ ~

Maddie struggled towards consciousness. The pain started in her stomach and ended in her head. She felt like she ached all over.

She slowly opened her eyes and immediately closed them again, trying to shut out the blinding white light. Tears slipped from her closed eyelids as she remembered what had transpired before her memory went blank.

Without opening her eyes, Maddie brought her hand down to her stomach, only to jerk it back at the dizzying pain it caused. Where her stomach had once been protruding, there was nothing.

She slowly became aware of a pressure on her right hand and opened her eyes carefully. David sat in the chair by the bed, his hand resting atop hers. He slept, his head cocked to one side, a gentle snoring the only noise he made.

Glancing about the room, she noticed it's other occupant. Sam was in the other chair that sat in the corner. He too, was sleeping, though he emitted no noise at all.

Smiling softly, she watched her husband sleep. His hair was disheveled, his clothes crooked, and he was the best thing she'd seen in a while.

After their fight, she wasn't sure he'd even come. But she should have known better. His eyes suddenly opened and deep green met clear blue.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hey yourself," she answered. "You missed all the action yesterday."

He nodded. "You can tell me about it later."

They spoke at the same time, "Maddie about yesterday---"

"Look, David, I---"

Laughing nervously, David stroked her hand. "You first."

She was about to speak when the door to the room opened and a nurse popped in. "Ah, the patient is awake!"

Sam jerked out of sleep and jumped up. "Maddie?" he asked, looking around the room.

The nurse giggled. "If the men would wait outside....I'll examine the patient, and then you can see your beautiful baby."

Maddie grinned. "Boy or girl?" she asked.

"Girl," David and Sam answered at the same time.

The nurse looked at them with a curious expression. "Which one of you is the proud papa?" she asked, eyeing both of them and smiling.

"Guilty," David said with a grin.

"Ah. Well, if you'd like, you can go collect your daughter and bring her to meet her mama." The nurse turned to Maddie and took her stethoscope from around her neck. "Now," she spoke without turning, "if you two would kindly go..."

David and Sam exited the room together. David shut the door and turned to Sam, running his hand through his hair. "Look---"

"Let's walk while we talk, OK? My legs are killing me from sleeping in that damn chair the whole night." David nodded his acceptance and they walked through the halls.

"Thank you," David said.

"You're thanking me?" Sam said, obviously surprised.

"Don't rub it in." He sighed. "If it weren't for you...." He let the sentence trail off. "I don't know what I'd do...if I lost her."

They stopped at the window looking over the babies. Sam finally spoke. "I know that we have never gotten along, and for a good reason, I suppose. But Maddie was my best friend for a long time...when I had a problem, I went to her....I guess that hasn't changed."

"I was horrible to her this morning," David admitted.

"You were a real jerk," Sam added, agreeing.

David laughed. "Yeah." He scanned the names of the babies. "That's her." He pointed to a basket with the name 'Addison' printed on it.

"Congratulations, Addison," Sam said quietly.

~ ~ ~

David and Sam reached the door and Sam opened it. "Hey, this is your job, not mine." He patted David on the shoulder. "Tell Maddie I'll call."

As he was walking away, David called out, "Thanks, Luke."

Without turning, Sam raised his hand and continued down the hall. David laughed and looked down at the baby he held in his arms. "Come on, let's introduce you to Mama."

Doctor Hopkins was standing by the bed with Maddie when he entered. "Another girl, eh Mr. Addison?" she asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

David grinned and nodded. "Another girl," he said, handing the baby carefully to her mother. "And another beautiful one, too."

"Hey baby," Maddie whispered, tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. "She's perfect, Addison."

"Yeah, she looks like you," he said, leaning over and trailing a finger down the infant's cheek. "But hey, maybe she'll grow out of it, right?"

Maddie's smile widened. "Right. What were we fighting about this morning, David?" she asked, stroking the blonde hair on the tiny head. "I can't seem to remember."

"Couldn't have been terribly important, I can't remember." He swallowed, "I do, however, remember being a jerk. And for that, I am truly sorry."

"You're forgiven, for now."

David laughed. "She's not perfect, you know," he said, gesturing to the baby. "She has no name," he added, when Maddie threw him a perplexed look.

"I can't believe we never discussed names. You'd think, after doing this once, we'd have learned," Maddie said, shaking her head slightly.

"Alexa," David said. "Alexa Hope Hayes Addison." When Maddie looked at him, amusement on her face, he grinned. "Hey, you named the last one." He stroked Alexa's cheek. "This one is mine."

Maddie's laughter awakened the baby, and instead of the blue of most babies, deep green eyes met blue, not for the first time that day. "David, she's got your eyes."

"Sure looks like it," he agreed.

"What will I do with another YOU?"

"Double the fun, Blondie, double the fun." David said, kissing her hair.

EPILOGUE

Pictures capture a lot of things. Almost too many to name, but there is one that sits atop the mantel of a fireplace in Los Angeles. It's more of a picture frame, really. It holds seven pictures.

The first shows two people, a man and a woman, in a hospital room, holding up a brown haired infant wrapped in a pink blanket.

The second contains a man asleep on a couch, his brown hair neatly combed, wearing a suit. A little girl is sprawled across his chest, also asleep, gripping his blue tie in her hand. She is wearing a black velvet dress with a blue sash. Charlotte's Web can be seen sitting on top of the coffee table to the right.

The third is of a woman, holding the same little girl from the second picture. She looks to be explaining something, the woman is listening attentively. They are both turned with their profiles to the camera, and the woman is obviously pregnant.

The fourth shows both the man and woman, locked in an embrace, the woman wearing a wedding dress, the man in a tux. It is in the very middle of the frame, as if the others revolve around it.

The fifth contains the woman, the man, and the little girl. They are all sitting on a hospital bed, and the woman is holding up a blonde baby wrapped in a pink blanket, much like the first.

The sixth is of a young woman of about twelve, her brown hair pulled back into a braid and a riding helmet atop her head. She holds a horse's reins in her left hand and the horse's head protrudes over her left shoulder. She smirks at the camera and her blue eyes seem to mock the photographer.

The seventh and final picture is of a blonde haired girl of about seven, her green eyes sparkling with barely suppressed laughter. She is strikingly beautiful. The man stands behind her, his hands on her shoulders, the woman stands next to the man, her head leaning on his shoulder and her hand draped casually on the brown haired girl standing in front of her.

As I believe I said, pictures can capture many things. Happiness, sadness, disappointment and excitement. As for this montage of photos, they all captured something different. But as different as these photographs are, they all capture the same thing; The Addison Family.

Did Maddie and David live happily ever after? Maybe, but that really isn't my decision, is it? I suppose I'll leave it up to you. To quote one of the best movies of the nineties; The point is, my readers, that they lived.

Thanks go to: Wow, where do I even start? Here goes: Aubrey, You are a wonderful person and without you, this would not be possible --- Adina, It's finally finished, and this time, you can pick your own ending, happy or otherwise! --- Heather, It's five o'clock in the AM...where are you?? --- Diane, for late night chats and helpful comments --- Dana, yours was the first fic I ever read, thank you so much for it. --- And finally, Lizzie, the best feedback I've ever gotten has come from you. --- Thank you one and all, without all of you, this would not be what it is --- Elyse