The late afternoon sun shone into the hospital room, and although she knew she was waking up, she wasn't ready to open her eyes. She rolled onto her side and reached out to grab the pillow. It's time to wake up, she thought. Lucy had been dreaming about how it all began when she first fell in love with Ian. She sighed softly; it felt good just to lie there and pretend to be asleep. It was no use, though, a soft noise, like a cat's mewing was forcing her to open her eyes.

He heard a soft sound and remembered his dreams from the night before. They had been punctuated with the nightmares of the last year, but the dreams always ended with his beautiful Lucy, loving him as no one had ever loved him before. He enjoyed the pleasant dream for a few minutes more, but finally gave in and woke to face the day.

"Good morning, sunshine!" boomed a very loud voice. Chris was exceptionally chipper as he laughed at Ian, all squashed into a convertible chair. Those chairs were definitely not meant for pleasant slumber. "Someone has been waiting for you to wake up!"

"Shhhh! Not so loud, you'll wake Lucy!" whispered Ian.

"Too late, old man, she's already up," quipped Chris. "And just in the nick of time, too," Chris pointed out.

Ian looked over at Lucy and smiled at her before he stood and gently lifted his newborn daughter from the bassinet. As her mewing cries turned to whimpering, he said, "Ahh, I see you're awake now, ain't you, little one? You're ma's ready to see her beautiful girl." He beamed at his daughter as he put the little girl into Lucy's waiting arms. Lucy smiled at Ian, her eyes filled with tears of joy. She had never felt so happy or fulfilled as she did watching her big strong husband croon to the tiny baby in his arms.

"When are you going to tell everyone her name?" asked Chris, anxious to share the news he had promised to keep to himself.

"Soon, Chris," Lucy said as her eyes filled with tears. She looked first at her daughter and then at Ian. "I think we need to tell Scott before we tell anyone else… even the children."

Ian said, "I agree… but that is her name."

"Yes it is… I've been dreaming about our life… our lives… together… and I know that is the name she is supposed to have," Lucy answered.

Ian smiled and said, "That's funny, I've been dreaming the very same thing. Do you think the universe had something to do with it?"

"I'm quite sure that it has everything to do with it. Her name is going to mean so much to him… and Serena and Christina. I realized just how much the moment I woke up and heard her crying." Lucy said before gazing on her baby, "You are a very special little girl—Caroline Grainne Thornhart."

Ian's face lit up with a broad smile as he said, "Good morning, little Caroline, your brother and sisters will be here to meet you very soon." He leaned over and gently caressed his daughter's head, before kissing Lucy on the lips and whispering, "Thank you, love."

Lucy leaned her forehead against Ian's for a moment, and breathed, "I love you, Ian Thornhart."