The first thing she heard was the beeping of a monitor… then her senses returned to her and her hands touched her deflated stomach. Her eyes opened slowly and she saw that she was in the hospital and that it was late at night… or early in the morning.

She remembered going into labor and then collapsing… how much time had passed since then she didn't know, but she did know that she was no longer carrying her baby…

"Mrs. Meyers," a voice said from the door. A nurse walked in and smiled at her. "I'm Abby, your recovery nurse." She walked over and checked the bags hanging next to Taylor.

"My baby," she said weakly. "Where's my baby?" she questioned. The nurse sat down next to her.

"You're son's in the NICU," she said gently. Taylor smiled a little… she had another son. "Do you remember what happened?" Taylor shook her head 'no.' "The doctor will be in here shortly to talk to you," she said as she rose. "You're a very lucky woman."

Moments later, Dr. Coburn entered. "Good to see you awake Taylor," she said.

"What happened? Is my son going to be alright?" she asked nervously. The doctor sat with her.

"He was very small when we delivered him by C-section last night, and has gained a little bit of weight since then. His lungs are weak and we have him on a vent." Tears came to her eyes at the thought of her baby in an incubator. "Taylor… you had a viral infection and we had to perform an emergency hysterectomy."

'Oh God,' she thought. A hysterectomy? "So that's it?" she asked as more tears gathered and fell.

"I'm sorry Taylor, but you were bleeding internally and there was no way we could have saved your uterus without loosing you too. Your body knew your baby was in danger and wanted to get him out… you should be thinking of the more positive aspect of all this… your son will be just fine in a few weeks at the rate he's going."

"Where's my husband?" she asked carefully. "Does he know?"

"He's been in the waiting room since we brought you up here yesterday… I'll send him up if you'd like." Taylor nodded her head slowly and the doctor left.

She felt empty inside… like she was letting herself and Eric down, not being able to have anymore children… but she had three at home and a new one in the NICU. As long as they were safe, she would be too…

Eric entered her room and felt an enormous weight lift from his shoulders as he saw her looking out the window. She turned and they locked eyes. Taylor could see that he had been crying, and she knew that he NEVER cried.

"Thank God," he said as he went to her and hugged her as best he could. They just stayed like that, frozen in each other's embrace, for what seemed like a small lifetime. Taylor felt his lips on her forehead as he pulled away and sat next to her. "You really scared me for a minute," he said as he held her hand.

"I scared myself," she said softly. "The doctors said I had an infection… that's why I went into labor."

"I know… that's what they told me downstairs… they told me about your surgery too," he said softly.

Taylor felt his thumb run along her hand as she gained her composure. "I... I can't have any more kids," she whispered. Eric leaned his forehead against hers.

"I know… but it's okay. You're here… alive. I thought I lost you once before. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you again… You're fine; the baby's going to be okay. That's all that really matters," he said.

Taylor couldn't find any words to try and convince him otherwise, and she knew he was right.

"Have you seen him?" she asked as he broke away. Eric nodded his head and removed a Polaroid picture the nurses had taken of him. He showed it to her and she nearly broke into tears. He was so very tiny… and the tubes and wires…

"He doesn't have a name yet," he said. Taylor wiped her eyes and took the picture. She could see that he had light hair like hers.

"What do you want to name him?"

Eric grinned. "Lucas… he did seem like he was in a hurry to get here." Taylor grinned. She had known Lucas was a racecar driver, and in a strange way she knew Eric was trying to make light of everything that had happened…

"Lucas Meyers," she repeated.

"Lucas Wesley Meyers," he countered. Taylor smiled and nodded. After a moment she sniffed back more tears.

"Lucas it is then." Taylor smiled as her eyes began to get heavy. She closed them, knowing that when she woke up her family was going to be alright.

Later that week, Taylor was walking around as best she could, stopping everyday to see Lucas. The doctors said that he was developing just fine, and that they should be able to take him home in a few weeks. Today was going to be the first time she actually got to hold him in her arms.

Eric had taken his vacation time from the guardians and the SPD project in order to help his wife recover, and to help his children. He walked down the corridors of the hospital with Sky, Ani, and Collin as they watched Taylor hold the littlest member of the family.

"When he's coming home?" Ani asked as she saw her mama rock the baby.

"When you guys are through with school he should be home," Eric said.

"What about mama?" Sky asked.

"She's coming home tonight."

Collin squirmed in his arms and he readjusted him. "Mama," he said. Eric, Sky, and Ani all stared at him for a moment. Collin hadn't uttered a word yet…

Eric was beaming with pride. "Yeah buddy. That's mama," he said.

Ani knocked on the window slightly and Taylor looked up and grinned at her firstborn. She seemed like she was trying to say something.

"Could they come in?" she asked the nurse. The young woman smiled. Taylor had been put in a private room, seeing as she was the Commander of the Guardian's wife, and she nodded.

The nurse opened the door. "You all can go in for a few minutes if you'd like," she said softly. Eric thanked her and they walked in quietly.

"Mama!" Collin said loudly. Taylor's eyes widened at her son's first word. She looked at Eric surprised, but he just smiled.

"He only said it a minute ago," he said. Taylor just grinned as Eric placed Collin on the floor. All three children cautiously made their way towards their mother.

"Hi guys," she said. Ani and Sky both kissed her cheeks and she kissed Collin's head. "I missed you all."

"We missed you too," Ani said as she gazed at her brother. "He's sleeping," she told Collin. Collin sucked his thumb and carefully looked on. Sky stood back and remembered the day he had first seen him.

"Is Lucky going to be okay?" he asked quietly. Taylor smiled at the nickname Sky had given him. Out of all her children, she knew Sky would always be their protector… always looking out for them.

"Lucky's going to be just fine," she assured him. "And I'll be coming home with you guys, so we can get his room ready." She looked at Eric who was just grinning.

"Would you like to hold him?" the nurse said to Eric. Eric nodded and she carefully placed the baby in his arms. Collin took the opportunity and climbed into Taylor's lap. She hugged him to her and he smiled.

Sky stood by his mother's side and she hugged him to her. Ani on the other hand was looking at all the wires and machines, fascinated by them. Taylor knew she would be the brains of the outfit as she grew… her only girl… her oldest.

At that moment, she knew her family was truly complete… and as soon as Lucas was brought home, things would definitely change…