Last chapter! Make sure you read the other two prior to this one before reading this.

An hour and half later, Mary came rushing back into the waiting room. She had left because Ruthie was having the baby, or "starting to push" as the nurse said who came to get Mary. Now, she had some big news.

Mary flung the door open, startling Billy who was still entranced by the television. She had a big smile on her face as she searched for Wilson's eyes before speaking. The door hit the wall and he looked up at her.

"She had it! A girl! 8 pounds 10 ounces!"

"Really?" Billy said in amazement.

"Yup," Mary answered as she reached down to hug him. When she let go, Wilson was standing next to her.

"That's great Mare," Wilson said. "How is she?"

"Ruthie? She's glowing."

Wilson smiled and Mary hugged him. She was overjoyed for Ruthie, completely forgetting the fact that Ruthie hadn't even been 13 for that long and she was now a mother.

"Can I see the baby?" Billy asked hopefully.

"Not yet, honey, but soon."

"How soon?"

Mary smiled. "Really soon."

Wilson grabbed her hand and smiled at Mary. "What is she naming her?"

"She's thinking about it." Mary's face went sour. "With Peter…she's thinking about it with Peter. I don't like that kid. I really don't."

"Why not?"

"Because…he wasn't very nice to me. He had no respect or remorse…or apprehension. He should have those things. And his story sounds sketchy."

"How is it 'sketchy'?"

"It just is. He left a lot out. Like, how did he know where to find Ruthie? And where is he staying? I'll tell you one thing; he is not setting foot in my house. Not now, not ever."

Wilson sighed. "But Mary, he is the father. Ruthie could use the help…you could use the help."

"Who said he was sticking around?"

Wilson looked down at the dingy brown carpeting on the floor, unable to have this conversation with Mary. "Not here, not now" was his policy. "Could we talk about something else?" he said before things got too out of hand.

"Like what?" she said sitting down on the couch.

"Oh, I don't know. How about whose going to call your family and give them the big news."

Mary froze. She completely overlooked that aspect of harboring Ruthie during her pregnancy. She didn't want to talk to anyone in her family, except for maybe one person.

"I'll do it if you guys want me to."

"No, I'll do it," Mary offered.

Wilson was shocked. Instantaneously, he wondered what Mary's ulterior motive was for wanting to talk to her family, and what the repercussion would be from this conversation. With that aside, he did have to admit that he was proud of Mary. She was acting civil and very mature, and that didn't happen too often.

"Good for you, Mare."

Mary reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "I'll go do that now." Mary looked Wilson in the eyes and forced a weak smile. "One for the road?" she said.

"Sure," Wilson responded. He kissed Mary's lips lasciviously, and she quickly pulled away from him. "I love you," he said to her as she stood.

Mary nodded. "I know," she said, and walked out the door. Mary wasn't thinking clearly. The only thought that was going through her mind was how she was going to tell the person she was calling the big news. "It's a girl!" she contemplated, but that didn't seem right. It was short and to the point, but it was also informal and rude.

Mary walked out of the hospital and leaned against the brick building. Next to her was a sign that read "erected in 1961." Mary stared at it. '61. The two numbers of the telephone number she had started to dial were 6-1.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" said a chipper voice on the other end.

Mary took a deep breath of Florida air. "Lucy?"

There was no respond on the other end, just dead silence.

"Are you still there?"

"Is this who I think it is?" she questioned.

Mary gulped and licked her lips. Her mouth was bone dry. "It's Mary, your sister."

"You may be Mary, but you are not-"

Mary cut her off. She had anticipated this reaction. "Ruthie had her baby."

"She did?" Lucy said quietly.

"Yeah."

"What did she have?"

Mary smiled. At least Lucy was talking to her a little. "A girl."

There was a pause. "Wow." Another pause. "Well, um, bye."

The line went dead. Mary looked at the LCD screen of her cell phone. "End call, 8:37 PM." Mary sighed heavily. Well, she did it. She called home and nothing bad happened. She even got to talk to Lucy, something that made her hurt worse than it helped. Mary thought about the two girls at the bus stop that morning. How she wished she could be that age again. Then she would be able to run around unfettered and free, with her little sister by her side and a loving family to go home to.

Mary made her way back into the hospital, up four floors, and into the waiting room once again. She looked as if nothing had happened, like she had merely steeped outside to receive from fresh air.

Wilson rushed up to her. "So?"

Mary slumped back down into the uncomfortable couch. "So nothing. I called, I talked, I hung up. No big deal."

Wilson just shook his head at Mary. Just then, a nurse entered the room. "Ruthie can have some visitors now," she told Mary.

Mary, Billy, and Wilson followed the nurse into the new room they had moved Ruthie into. Mary walked in to see Ruthie holding a gorgeous baby girl in her arms and Peter sitting in a chair next to Ruthie.

"Hey," Mary said quietly.

"Hi guys," Ruthie said to the three of them.

Billy clung to Mary and Mary clung to Wilson. They never looked more like a family than they did at that moment.

"That's the baby?" Billy asked Mary.

"Yeah, that's her," Mary said.

"She's so tiny."

"You were that little once," Wilson told his son. "We all were."

"It's amazing," Billy added.

"Yeah," Ruthie said, "it is."

Mary smiled at her sister. "So what did you decide to name her?"

"Natalie. Natalie Elizabeth Camden."

"I like it," Mary said.

The baby cooed in Ruthie's arms. "She likes it, too."

"Can I hold her?" Billy asked Ruthie.

"OK," she responded.

Mary helped Billy climb up on the bed and Ruthie put the baby in Billy's arms. Mary put her hand underneath Billy's to help support the baby's head as Wilson made his way over to Peter.

"Congratulations," he said to him.

"Yeah, I guess," he responded.

Wilson then went over to Ruthie. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

"I'm still in some pain but it's nothing compared to before." Mary was right in what she said about Ruthie before. She really was "glowing".

Wilson bent down and gave Ruthie a hug. "Congratulations Ruthie."

"Thanks," she said smiling.

Mary took the baby from Billy and gave her back to Ruthie. "Well, I've had enough for today," she announced. "I think we're going to go home; it's getting late. Is that OK with you?"

Ruthie nodded. "I'll be just fine. You guys go."

Mary kissed the top of Ruthie's head. "I love you."

"I love you, too, and thanks for everything."

"Anytime. I'll be back tomorrow morning. Good night."

Mary, Wilson, and Billy left the hospital and went home for the night. Mary didn't say much, she just went right to sleep. The next day, Billy stayed home from school and Wilson got the day off from work. They got up a little later than normal and went down to the hospital around 10:30. They took the elevator up to Ruthie's room and went inside. When they walked in, however, the room was empty. This was still Ruthie's room, though. Her file was still in the pocket on the end of the bed. Mary walked toward the pillows and found a piece of paper.

Dear Mary,
I love Natalie with all of my heart, but I just can't take care of her right now. I am too young to be a mother. I'm still a kid myself. Tonight, I had the papers drawn up and gave up custody of Natalie. I want you to take care of her for me. I don't trust her with anyone but you. All you and Wilson have to do is sign the papers and she will be yours to love. One thing I ask is that you raise her as your daughter, not your niece, and treat with as much compassion and respect as you do with Billy.

I went with Peter to live with his aunt in Missouri. I hope that you understand.

Lots of love to you all- especially my daughter,
Ruthie

The End

A/N: The whole custody thing I know nothing about. I made it up. Besides that, did you like it? Cliffhanger-ish I know, but the first chapter of the next story will be up soon. Look for it!

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