A/N: Wow, thank you all for reviewing! kursk: Yep, he'll be explaining the dream in this chapter. muse-of-the-fairies: lol 'Cause they are so fun! (To write, not read!) Chrios: lol See, look at that, you've gone and made me laugh again. You rock! Thanks for being so awesome!

4.19 Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Julia All The Way

----December 25, 2004 (Christmas)----

"D-Dad?" Madison stuttered.

"Madison?" Robert jumped. Blistering hot coffee spurted from the cup and sprayed onto his trembling hand. He let out a small howl of pain.

Madison quickly used the sleeve of her shirt to blot the burning liquid from her Father's hand, then she took the cup from him. "What are you doing here?" She asked, as she led him to vacant seats and sat down.

Robert shook his head. "Maddy..."

"Please, Dad.."

"It's your Mother..She was driving and..and.." He wiped some tears from his eyes. "She was just so angry, she wasn't paying attention to the road. She pulled out to take a turn and didn't even notice the car. It smacked right into the driver's side."

"Oh my God!" Madison gasped, as her heart began to race. "Where is she? Is she okay?!"

"I can take you to her. She wasn't hurt as much as she could have been, because the driver wasn't going 'that' fast. She has a broken wrist though and she won't be able to leave the hospital for a few days." Robert explained.

"Take me too her." Madison replied, without second thought. She stood up, then helped her Father to his feet.

Robert steadied himself against his daughter. "This way.."

----

"Parents of Julia Brown?" A Doctor asked, as he walked into the waiting room.

Amy and Ephram jumped to their feet. "Yes?"

"You daughter is currently in stable condition."

Amy placed a hand to her chest, letting out a sigh of relief.

"But, that could change at any moment. She's very weak. After reviewing her records, I've found that she was born prematurely. Extremely premature, in fact." He paused to examine the faces of his patient's parents. "She shouldn't have been taken out of the hospital so early. Even with the positive signs she was show, we should have kept her for at least a few more months, in case something like this were to happen. Which is why I'm ordering that your daughter stay at the hospital for at least a month."

"But.." Amy breathed.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Brown."

"Abbott. Ms. Abbott." Harold replied, with a glare to the doctor.

"Ms. Abbott." The Doctor corrected. "But she has to stay."

"When can we see her?" Amy asked.

"Now, if you'd like." The Doctor looked at the rest of the family. "Only the immediate family, I'm sorry."

Rose walked over to her daughter and gave her a reassuring hug. "Just go."

"Thanks, Mom." Amy whispered.

"I must warn you, it's not a pretty sight. She's hooked up to many wires, machines, tubes, ect..."

"We want to see our daughter." Ephram replied, sternly.

"Very well.." The Doctor replied.

"Wait." Andy said, standing up with Kelly still in his arms. "What's your name?"

"Lenz." The Doctor replied. "Kennith Lenz."

Ephram wrapped his hand tightly around Amy's. "Please, take us to our daughter."

Doctor Lenz nodded and waved his arm in the right direction, then started out of the waiting room, with Amy and Ephram not far behind.

----

Madison and Robert stopped at the door to room 1025. Madison placed her hand around the door knob and took a deep breath, then gently turned it, until the door creaked open.

"R-Robert?" A muffled voice whispered, from inside the dimly lit room.

"No, Mom, it's me....Madison." Madison replied, as she pulled up a chair and seated herself next to the bed.

"Mad-dison?" Mrs. Kellner stirred.

"Yeah." Madison replied, as she cupped her Mother's frail hand in her own.

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why d-did you come?" Mrs. Kellner asked.

"Because Dad told me you were hurt.." Madison replied, holding back her emotions.

"He called you?"

"I was all ready at the hospital." Madison replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible." Mrs. Kellner paused, examining her daughter's pained face, through her slightly blurred vision. "Why were you h-here?"

Madison winced, remembering why she'd come to the hospital in the first place. "Ephram and Amy's daughter. She-she stopped breathing in he middle of the night."

"Kelly's sister?" Mrs. Kellner asked.

Surprised by her Mother's choice of words, Madison only seemed to nod.

"Madison, I-I..I am so sorry!" Mrs. Kellner breathed, as she gently squeezed her daughter's hand with as much strength as she could muster.

"What?" Madison asked, confusion began to cloud her face.

"I'm sorry, Maddy." Mrs. Kellner repeated. "I was wrong..So wrong." Droplets of hot, salty liquid dribbled down her pale and slightly bruised face. "I can see that Ephram is a good person, but...this just wasn't how things were supposed to turn out for you! You had dreams, Maddy! You wanted things and this wasn't how things were supposed to happen!"

"But they did, Mom. They did happen this way!" Madison replied, as her voice began to crack. "And you know what, I wouldn't change a thing, if I could do it all over again! I love my daughter!"

"She's beautiful."

"And she needs her Grandma." Madison replied.

"I'm sorry."

"I know." Madison replied. She leaned in, giving her Mother a gentle hug.

"I want to meet with them.."

"What?"

"I want to meet with them." Mrs. Kellner repeated.

"Who?" Madison asked, perplexed.

"Them." Mrs. Kellner replied. "Ephram's family and...and his fiance's too."

"Why?" Madison asked, still confused.

"To make things right." Mrs. Kellner replied, sincerely.

Robert, from the door, let a warm smile spread across his lips.

----

"Oh my God!" Amy gasped, as she entered a small room. Her eyes traveled to the incubator that Julia was in. Just as Doctor Lenz had said, the baby was hooked up to many wires and machines.

Ephram clutched Amy, giving her support. "Breathe." He whispered, as he gently ran a hand through her hair.

"Julia.." Amy whispered, as she walked over to the incubator and placed a hand on what separated herself from her child.

"When will we know more?" Ephram asked.

"When will we know when she's going to be okay?" Amy asked, without taking her eyes off of her daughter.

"When the remaining tests come in." Doctor Lenz replied.

"And that will be?" Ephram asked.

"Most likely, later today."

"Good." Ephram replied. He looked at his tiny daughter. She's so helpless. He thought. He felt a warm brushing feeling, sweep across the back of his neck and he looked around, but nobody was there. He looked at Amy, who was a few feet away, and couldn't have touched him. He shook his head, ignoring the feeling. Then he felt another wave of warmth.

"She's going to be fine.." A faint whisper said, into Ephram's ear.

"What?" Ephram asked, aloud.

"Ephram, are you okay?" Amy asked, noticing Ephram's discomfort.

"What did you just say?"

"I was asking if you were okay."

"Before that."

"Ephram...Nobody said anything, before that." Amy replied, with a worried look.

"You did well, Ephram. I'm proud of you." Another faint whisper said, into Ephram's other ear. This time the voice was clearer.

"Mom." Ephram whispered, as he scanned the room, but didn't see his Mother.

"What are you talking about, Ephram?" Amy asked, confused.

Ephram shook his head. "When we have some time with everyone else, I need to tell you all something."

"Ephram, you're scaring me." Amy replied.

"Don't be, it's something good." Ephram assured.

Doctor Lenz, who had been busy making notes and not hearing the conversation, turned back to the couple. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave now. You may return later today, but as of now, it's very late."

Amy and Ephram turned to the incubator. "We love you, Julia. Merry Christmas, baby."

Doctor Lenz ushered the couple out of the room, letting the door shut and lock behind them.

----

Madison made her way back to the waiting room, balancing two cups of hot coffee in her hands. She wasn't sure of what to make of things. What does she have in mind? She thought, as the Abbotts and Browns came into view; she noticed that Amy and Ephram were not among the group. She crossed the room. "Where are Ephram and Amy?"

"Madison, oh good, you're okay." Rose said. She took the hot coffees from Madison's hands. "Take a seat." She looked down the hall that Doctor Lenz had taken her daughter and soon to be son-in-law down. "The Doctor came, with news. He took Ephram and Amy to see Julia."

"What kind of news?" Madison asked, as she watched Kelly sleep in Andy's arms.

"Julia has to stay in the hospital for at least a month." Andy replied.

"Oh my God! Will she be okay?"

"They don't know yet." Andy replied, with a hint of bitterness in his tone.

Rose, noticing faint dry lines on Madison's cheeks, raised her eyebrows. "Madison, is something wrong? You look as though you've been crying."

Madison bit her lip, not sure how to say what she need to say. "Yes, actually, something's come up."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, concerned.

"When I was going to get the coffee, I ran into my Father."

Andy's expression changed from slightly bitter to a mix of concern. "Why? How?"

"My Mother's in the hospital." She paused, looking at the shocked faces around her. "She was so worked up after she left, she apparently didn't seem a car coming when she made a turn, and it hit her in the side. She's not seriously injured, but she does have a broken wrist along with cuts and bruises."

"Oh my lord!" Rose exclaimed. "Is she okay?" Despite her current dislike for Mrs. Kellner's behavior, she was still a caring person, and knew how much family meant.

"I talked to her and she's in pain, but she'll be out of the hospital in a few days....With a cast."

"Thank goodness." Rose replied. She studied Madison's face. "But something's still not right."

"She..uh..she wants to meet with you."

"What?"

"She wants to meet with you. All of you." Madison replied.

"All of us?" Andy asked.

Madison nodded. "You, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Abbott."

"Are you sure?" Harold was, with skepticism.

"She was very adamant about it." Madison replied.

"What are we talking about?" Ephram asked, as he walked up with Amy.

"Who's very adamant about what?" Amy asked, perplexed.

Madison turned to her roommates and sucked in a deep breath, before beginning to explain the series of events that lead up until that moment, for the second time today.

----10 Minutes Later----

After a fair amount of deep discussion, it was agreed that Madison would visit her Mother later today and let her know that the Abbotts and Browns had accepted her request to meet with them. There was a small lapse, where nobody said a word.

Harold, deciding to break the silence, turned to Ephram. "Ephram, I've been meaning to ask you something...."

Ephram looked up. "Yes, Mr. Abbott?"

"How did you find out about Julia?"

A murmur spread across the group, as everyone laid their eyes on Ephram.

"I've been meaning to tell you this.." Ephram replied. He bit his lip, not knowing how to say this. "It sounds crazy, but it was a dream.."

"A dream?" Andy cut in.

"Let him finish!" Rose scolded. She gave an approving nod, to Ephram.

"Yes, a dream. I was waiting in the living room, all dressed up, and then...and then..." His voice began to crack. "Mom appeared."

Andy's eyes became wide.

"We hugged and she told me that she was proud of me, but she couldn't stay very long. I pleaded with her, but she left anyway. But before she completely left, she told me, 'Check the baby, Ephram.' I was so confused and I asked her what she meant, but she only repeated herself and said, 'She doesn't sound right.' I asked who she was talking about and she told me that Julia didn't sound right, then she left and I woke up. But I swear I heard her whisper, 'Check the baby, Ephram.' Without second thought, I ran to the girls' room and there she was, with a pale blue face.." Ephram said, as tears dribbled down his face.

"'Mom.'" Amy replied.

"What?" Rose asked.

"No, not you. 'Mom.' That's what you meant then you were saying, 'Mom.'" Amy said, as she locked eyes with her lover.

----Flashback----

A Paramedic made his way onto the porch and gave a sorrowful look to Ephram.

"Wh-what's going on?" Ephram asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I'm sorry Mr. Brown, but..."

Amy spun around, as crocodile tears sped down her cheeks. "Don't you dare say it! Don't even think it! My daughter...she's-she's..."

"No, Miss. She's not.." The Paramedic replied, staying calm. "But she's not awake and we need to keep her on oxygen. Her lungs failed her...If you had found her just minutes later, she'd probably be gone."

----Flashback----

"The Paramedic said that if Ephram had found her just a few minutes later, she would've d-died.." Amy said, choking at the last word.

"She always did say that she'd always look out for the family." Andy said.

Ephram looked at his Father, a bit surprised by the comment. "You believe me?"

"Of course I believe you, Ephram. Your Mother would do anything to protect anything that was dear to you or your sister." Andy replied.

Rose smiled warmly at the teenager. "We all believe you." She nudged Harold, who nodded as well.

Ephram looked up at the ceiling. "Thank you, Mom." He felt another warm feel wash over him.

"Merry Christmas, son." A soft, faint voice whispered into Ephram's ear.

----December 27, 2004----

Rose, Andy, and Harold stood before room 1025.

"Are you really sure we should be doing this?" Harold asked. "After what happened at dinner."

"Yes." Rose assured her husband. "We have to try and work things out, for the children's' sake."

"I hope you're right." Andy added, as Rose opened the door.

Rose stepped inside, looking around the dim room. "Hello? Mrs. Kellner?"

Robert walked out from behind the curtain, that went around the bed. "She's in the restroom, she'll be out in a minute."

Rose gave her best smile and held out her hand, shaking Robert's.

"Thank you for coming." Robert said.

"No, thank you. It means a great deal to us, that everything be worked out." Rose replied.

Mrs. Kellner emerged from the restroom, wearing dark blue jeans and a gray sweater. She walked over to the group and held out her healthy hand, shaking each person's hand. "Thank you all for coming and I'm very sorry to hear about Julia, I hope she's well soon."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kellner."

"Please, call me May." May motioned to a few vacant chairs. "Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Rose took a seat, along with her husband and Andy.

"First of all, I'd like to apologize for my behavior at dinner, the other night." May began, with a sorrowful expression.

"I should hope so." Harold replied, in a cold manner.

"Harold!" Rose snapped, furiously.

"No, no. I deserve that." May defended. "I'm so ashamed of my actions! I was just so angry, which isn't a good excuse at all. I didn't want this for Maddy. She was so bright and full of hope and then this happened....It shouldn't have."

"But it did." Harold replied.

"Yes, that's what Maddy said." May brushed away a forming tear. "I want to support her. She's my daughter. As I've found out, anger doesn't get you anywhere, except for maybe in the hospital." She held up her wrist, covered in a cast. "When I was in that crash, all I could think about was Maddy and the baby, which I thought I would never see again. I was so terrified! When the doctor told me that I would be all right, I knew I had to make things right. I don't want to live the rest of my life, blocking my daughter out of it....Even if what she did, isn't how I wanted things to be for her." She looked at the somber faces, waiting for a reply.

"This isn't how we wanted things to turn out either." Andy spoke up. "I had dreams for Ephram, too. I thought he was going to be a musical prodigy. He's so gifted and he's had such a hard life....He didn't deserve any of this. At least, that was what I thought. I tried to hide his mistakes from him, but that was wrong. It only created more problems. But all of these things, they 'mistakes', were actually blessings in disguise! I'm not proud of how I handled things, but I do love my granddaughters, and I can't imagine life without them."

"Andy's right. I never wanted this for Amy either, but it's what happened. I wanted her to go to some amazing college, where she could eventually get whatever her heart desired. But things just didn't happen that way, no matter how much I wished them to. But now that I've held Julia in my arms, I couldn't imagine my world without her. Although I don't approve of how they're living, I don't believe they'd make the same mistake again. They're trying to make the best of what they have and for that, I admire all three of them. I-I trust them to make the right choices, although they technically aren't adults yet, they all ready are." Harold spoke, calmly.

May blinked back drops of salty liquid. "I want to be in Maddy and Kelly's lives. I want things to be okay between everyone." She gave a nervous laugh. "There isn't anything like a brush with death, to set your mind straight, is there?"

Andy, who had definitely had his own experiences with death, nodded in silent agreement.

"We have a proposition." Robert spoke up.

Harold's eyebrows rose. "A proposition?"

"Yes." Robert took a seat next to his wife. "We want to merge the families."

"What?" Rose, Harold, and Andy asked in unison.

"It doesn't seem right to have such a large separation, especially if the kids are going to be living together." May explained.

"Do you mean, acting like one, huge family?" Andy asked.

"Yes." May answered. "I can understand if you don't approve of this, but hear us out first. We all want to be in the lives of our grandchild, and children and the sisters will be raised together. So it seems silly if they're separated by their grandparents, on their Mothers' sides."

"Do you mean you want to accept Julia into your family and you want us to accept Kelly into ours?" Harold asked, slowly catching on.

"Yes."

Harold and Rose exchanged looks.

Harold opened his mouth. "But that's...."

"A brilliant idea!" Rose finished, as she stood up. "I think it's a marvelous idea! Don't you all think so? It would make family get togethers much easier and the girls would be treated equal, no matter how you look at it!"

"I don't know.." Harold said, with a hesitant tone.

"Harold, please! Give this a chance. They're trying to come up with a good solution to everything and I agree with them." Rose said.

Harold let out a sigh. "I suppose I could go along with this." He said.

May smiled. "Oh, thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me!"

Rose stood up, walking over to the woman who was clearly struggling with a million emotions, and held out her hand.

May, with a bit of a confused expression, shook Rose's hand.

"Welcome to the family." Rose replied, with complete sincerity.

"Thank you." May choked, as her tired eyes overflowed with tears. I'm finally making things right.

----

Amy and Ephram stood in front of the incubator, containing their daughter, with their arms wrapped around one another for support. Both were anxiously awaiting the news from Doctor Lenz, about their daughter's test results.

The door swung open and Doctor Lenz walked in. "Mr. Brown, Ms. Abbott." He noted, as he flipped through the pages on his clip board.

"Well?" Amy asked, impatiently. She clung tighter to the love of her life.

Doctor Lenz adjusted his glasses and looked directly at the couple. "It appears there won't be any long term effects on your daughter, if we perform the correct treatments on her, over the next few weeks. However, I still insist that she be kept here for at least a month, for observation."

"Thank God!" Amy breathed, as she turned back to her daughter and placed her hands on the outside of the incubator. "You're going to be all right, baby girl. You're gonna be all right!"