March 2nd, 2004

The snow was coming down hard in New York. Two feet already. Alex had been busy for the past week and a half at work. Cold weather always brought on a lot of house fires. One couple used a hot plate to heat up their room and lost three children when it set their home ablaze.

"Maybe I should quit." Alex said as she put cat food in the dish. Derek looked up startled from Lilah's high chair, spoon of rice cereal stopped in midair.

"What?" He asked.

"Maybe I should stop being a firefighter and be a stay at home mom." Alex said.

"Why on Earth would you want that?" Derek asked.

"I don't get to see much of Lilah." Alex said.

"She's right here, Alex. You see plenty of her." Derek said. "You're an amazing firefighter and you're an amazing mother."

"You're just saying that." She giggled turning on the washer.

"No. I'm not, Alex." Derek smiled, "Lilah is very lucky to have such a strong mother to be her role model." Alex looked at him and then at Lilah.

"You had to play that card didn't you?" She asked. Derek nodded.

"Yup." He laughed. "Don't leave your job unless it's what you truly want to do and you won't regret anything."

"Well, I don't want to leave work." Alex said sitting down and looked at her daughter, "Maybe cut down on my hours."

"I could handle that." He said, "Some alone time with my sexy fiance." Alex giggled.

"You're engaged to someone else, Derek?" She asked.

"Funny." Derek said. "Lilah bean is ready for a nap."

"Good." Alex picked her daughter up as she started to nod off.

* * *

"Oh god." Alex groaned loudly collapsing on Derek's sweaty chest. He was breathing in deeply and chuckled.

"God, you're a lot more wild after having Lilah." He whispered.

"I have to be." She kissed his chest as she climbed off of him.

"I like it." Derek said holding her close. She chuckled as she cuddled. "Are you tired?" She nodded as she closed her eyes.

"May I sleep?" She asked. Derek chuckled.
"Sleep while you can. Lilah will be awake soon enough." He said.

"Good." Alex mumbled. She was already asleep. Derek smiled softly. God, he loved this woman so much. He was so glad that he finally admitted his love to her the day Lilah was born. She was worth it.

March 16th, 2004

Something was drawing Derek out of sleep. Something loud was drawing him out from his sleep. He wanted to fight it because he had been on shift for so long, but something was calling his name. He slowly came to the screaming of Lilah and Alex calling his name. He grunted slightly.

"Damn it, Derek. Wake up." She threw her pillow at him. He grunted and opened his eyes. Alex was bouncing the screaming Lilah in her arms.

"What?" He mumbled.

"Lilah is spiking a fever." Alex said. Lilah's screams got louder. "Wake up!" Derek sat up and looked at Lilah.

"How high?" He asked.

"I haven't really had a chance to find out, Derek. I need some of your help." Alex said bouncing the baby, "She's screaming, Derek."

"I can hear." Derek got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. He grabbed the thermometer and gave it to Alex.

"Thanks." She muttered as she put the thermometer in Lilah's ear. Derek sat on the tub's edge and started the water. The thermometer beeped and Alex looked at it, "It's 103."

"Well, give me her, Alex. Go get a bottle of water and put some of her Children's Tylenol in it." Derek took Lilah and began to get himself and her underdressed. "Why couldn't you get sick tomorrow night when I've had some sleep in me?" He got into the tub and splashed water on Lilah. He had too much experience with sick babies growing up where he did.

"Here." Alex walked in with the bottle. Derek took it and fed Lilah.

"Why don't you try top get some sleep?" Derek asked.

"You need help." Alex said. Derek shook his head.

"No I don't." He said, "We'll be fine. Go sleep." Alex looked at him slightly hurt.

"Okay." Alex whispered. She walked back into the bedroom. She crawled back into bed and closed her eyes. She could hear Derek softly sing to Lilah. Alex soon drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Alex slowly opened her eyes. Everything was quiet. She sat up and looked around. Derek and Lilah weren't here. She slid out of bed and wrapped her bathrobe around her. She walked downstairs and went into the living.

She stopped and smiled when she saw Derek and Lilah. He was sound asleep on the couch and Lilah was cuddled up against his neck. Both looked pretty content. Alex smiled softly. They looked so happy together. Derek opened one of his eyes.

"I thought I heard you come downstairs." He whispered.

"How is she feeling?" Alex asked as she looked at her daughter.

"Her fever broke a few hours ago and we just dozed off." Derek wrapped his arms around Lilah and sat up. The baby yawned slightly and opened her eyes.

"Good morning, Darling girl." Alex leaned down and kissed her forehead, "You think she can handle some food?"

"Just a little mommy milk. Don't want to upset her stomach and make her throw up all over you." Derek said. Alex grimaced.

"Maybe some mashed bananas and apple juice then." She said.

"That sounds better." Derek chuckled as he handed Lilah over to Alex. The baby fussed slightly but then settled into her arms. Alex smiled weakly.

"Come on, Darling." She whispered, "Let's go eat." She didn't like how Lilah was beginning to get fussy around her. it made Alex wonder what she was doing wrong. Lilah preferred Derek. Things like that happened with babies...Right?

* * *

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