"You comfortable?" Karen whispered.

"Yeah", Haley said.

"Sorry if I'm a cover hog. I guess it's all those years of sleeping alone. I wake up in the mornings wrapped up and poor Andy is shivering in his boxers, especially during the winter."

"I'm okay."

The two women closed their eyes and as soon as they were near sleep, it started again. Jamarah wailed loudly from her bassinet just a few feet away from the bed. Haley groaned out loud.

"Why won't she sleep for more than ten minutes?" the new mother asked aloud. "It's my turn. I'll get her."

Haley rose from her spot and picked up her crying child.

"Is she wet?" Karen asked.

"No."

"Muddy?"

Haley managed to grin.

"No. Her diaper is fine and she can't be hungry. I just fed her. Oh Karen, I am so sorry…"

"Don't apologize. Babies cry. I remember Lucas like it was yesterday."

Haley walked the floor with the baby and sang to her in an attempt to quiet her down. The screaming only persisted.

"Nothing's working. I don't know what's wrong with her."

There was a knock on the door and Brooke let herself in.

"Everything okay?" she yawned.

"Yeah, we're fine. Someone's just extremely fussy tonight."

"Fussy? I just came here to make sure you two weren't lighting her on fire. That's what it sounds like."

"Sorry, Brooke."

A sleepy Lucas entered the room.

"You guys need some help?" he yawned.

"We're fine, honey", Karen sighed. "Go back to bed."

Taylor joined the group.

"Don't worry. Big sister to the rescue", she threw her hands up as she reached for Jamarah.

"It's okay", Haley intercepted. "She's just being fussy. Get some sleep. I'll quiet her down."

"Sis, you've been saying that for three hours now."

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Sorry. Tay, I'm trying, alright?" she snapped.

"Let me take her…"

"No, Taylor, I've got it."

Now it was Taylor's turn to be exasperated.

"Obviously you don't. Look, Hay it's certain things she likes…"

"Well, I will figure it out."

"Don't be so defensive. I'm just trying to help…"

"Well, don't!"

"Haley…"

"She's my daughter, Taylor!"

"I know that. But I did take care of her for six weeks. I think I can handle it. You want to learn, that's fine but can your lessons start tomorrow, maybe? Everybody in this apartment, no the building, hell the city, would like to get some sleep. Let me just take her."

Taylor reached for Jamarah but Haley swatted her hand away.

"I've got her, Tay!"

"I don't think you do."

"Shut up and mind your own business."

"Jamma is my business!"

"Okay, okay, okay! Everubody just stop!" Karen commanded. "Jamarah is a baby and babies cry. It's not the end of the world. Haley has it. Taylor, go back to bed. Lucas and Brooke, you have a very early flight. Try to get some sleep in the meantime."

"But Karen…"

"No buts. I mean it! Everybody out of this room!"

Reluctantly, everyone followed orders, even Nathan who had been quietly observing from the corner. Karen closed the door as Haley cradled the baby.

"I'm really sorry about this", she apologized again.

"It's okay, Haley."

Haley patted her daughter's back.

"I know you're thinking I should just give her to Taylor so she can shut up and we can all go to sleep."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. I can tell you're thinking it."

"Haley…"

"She's my baby, Karen."

"Honey, I know that. We all know that."

"I'm her mom. It's my job to take care of her. Maybe I couldn't do it before but I can do it now and I will too."

"I know. It's okay."

Haley was almost in tears herself. It had been hours and the baby was no closer to settling down. Her frustration was growing but so was her determination. Karen watched wordlessly as the stubborn young mother bounced the little girl around until finally she was sleeping. Haley was so tired herself she could have fallen asleep standing up but she held out until Lillian had been out for almost half an hour. Creeping over to the bassinet, she slowly and carefully deposited her daughter into it. 5-4-3-2…1. Haley tiptoed backwards and it started all over again. With all her medical woes, no one could say Jamarah's lungs didn't work.

"Haley…"

"It's okay, Karen. I've got her", Haley sighed as they went back to square one.

Haley continued to rock the baby who was content to be held as long as they were standing and in some type of motion. When she was semi content, Haley walked to the kitchen. Maybe she hadn't given her enough formula before. Maybe a bottle would do the trick.

Haley, exhausted and blinking away sleep, opened the refrigerator to retrieve the prepared bottle. Balancing a baby in one hand, she warmed it up like Taylor and Karen had shown her. She struggled to put a few drops on her arm to test the milk's temperature.

"You alright?"

She jumped when she heard Nathan. Getting used to living with her ex, even if it only was for a few days, would take some major getting used to. She tried not to look at him standing there arms folded, clad in only workout pants that hung a little too low past his hip joints. He'd always had a nice body but it was evident he hadn't missed too many days at the gym over the years.

"I'm fine."

"Need some help?"

"No…actually yes", she sighed. "If you could just grab that bottle and towel…"

"No problem", he handed it to her when she was settled.

"Thanks."

"Is she always up this late?" he chuckled as his daughter stared at him with her one blue eye.

Haley looked at their daughter sadly.

"I…I don't know. I guess she cries a lot. I…I had the depression thing when she was born so Taylor spent most of the time taking care of her."

"Oh. Um, that's cool, of Taylor, I mean."

"Yeah, it's just that I'm not very good at this whole mothering thing yet."

"Doesn't look that way to me", he blurted out softly.

What was more beautiful than her in her Cookie Monster nightgown, blondish auburn curls pulled in a messy bun, sans make up, holding their little girl?

"Thanks", she blushed in the dim light.

"Can I hold her? I mean, if you don't mind…"

Haley nodded as she carefully handed over the baby. Nathan awkwardly cradled her and they both giggled softly as some of the milk spilled out of Lillian's mouth. Haley gingerly wiped the child's face as they stood there holding her. It was a perfect, serene moment, then it started again. The child was not happy and didn't mind letting her parents and everyone else in New York know it.

"I'm sorry", Haley sighed. "I'm just gonna take her back to my room…"

"Okay", he nodded. "Uh, if you need some help…"

"We'll be fine. I'm just sorry you can't sleep."

"I'll be okay."

Haley took Lillian back to the room but no amount of cradling, feeding, singing or walking would bring comfort to her little angel.

"Haley…"

"Karen, it's okay. I've got her."

"Haley, honey, maybe…"

Tears welled in Haley's eyes.

"I know what you're going to say but I just can't, alright? You know how that makes me feel as a mother that I can't quiet my own child? It makes me feel like a failure, Karen."

"You're not a failure, Haley and there is no harm in asking for a little help sometimes."

Haley gave way to fatigue and tears.

"I just want to be her mother", she sobbed. "I want to do this so badly. I want to make it up to her for not being there before."

"I know you do, honey. It's okay."

Sighing and tears streaming down her face, she walked a few feet down the hall to Taylor's room. She knocked softly once and her older sister answered. Without words, she handed her the crying child.

"Hey you", Taylor cooed. "Hey, little one. How's my Jamma? Huh? Why is Auntie's big girl making all the fuss?"

After a few strokes to the cheek and some baby talk, Lillian was cooing in her aunt's arms.

"Thanks", Haley mouthed, shaking.

"Haley bub, it'll be okay. I'm not trying to take your place. Really. It'll just take a few days for her to get used to you."

Haley nodded and kissed her daughter one last time before retreating back to her room and sobbing in her bed. Karen held her as she cried herself to sleep.