Note: Thank you for the reviews. They are so encouraging. And thank you Mariel for all your help.

That night, Danny had trouble sleeping—which wasn't unusual. What was unusual was that he couldn't get Maddie McGrath out of his head. His mind kept wandering back to when he'd first met her his second year of law school.

"Are you sure you don't mind, man?" Jason asked as he nervously paced around the apartment.

"Mind what?" an extremely hung over Danny asked in a annoyed tone as he tried to shield his eyes with a pillow from the sun streaming into the living room.

"She's coming this morning. Maddie will be here any minute. She's officially moving in with a friend of hers who lives in a dorm, but she'll basically be here all the time. We just don't want our parents to know since we've only been together for two months. I know I kind of sprung it on you—,"

"It's your apartment, man. I'm just renting a room. You can have whoever you want here," Danny replied in a sleep-filled voice.

"I know, but I want you to like her. And I know you will. She's great. We had the most amazing summer together clerking in D.C. And now she's decided to go to law school here. It's just…amazing."

Danny took the pillow off his face and squinted to look at his best friend. "You really are gone. You know that? You're beyond saving. We have a year of law school to get through. A year of hooking up before we have to grow up, and you want to tie yourself down. She must be 'amazing'," he said as he opened an aspirin bottle, took four out, and washed them down with his morning concoction of vodka and orange juice.

"Danny, man, that stuff is lethal. It's 10 in the morning," Jason said pointing to his drink.

"It's the breakfast of champions, my friend."

"Could you at least put it away while Maddie's here?"

Danny rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you're dating a prude. That will piss me off. Am I all of the sudden going to have to follow rules to live here?"

"She's not a prude at all. But I'd like you to make a good first impression. And more often than not, I'd like you to try to take your 'dates' home to their place and not your bedroom."

Danny rose from his laying position on the sofa and rubbed his eyes. "You said nothing would change, man."

"It won't change. I'm just saying—since Maddie will be here—maybe you'll keep it quiet."

Danny smirked. "What? Are you afraid she'll find out what sex should really sound like?" he asked laughing.

"Very funny. No. I'm more concerned about what she'll think of your inability to sustain one relationship. I want her to like you, Danny."

"Don't worry. All women like me until I date them," he said as he yawned and leaned back on the couch. "And since I don't plan on dating your girlfriend, she shouldn't have a problem with me."

Just as he finished that statement, they heard a knock at the door. "That's her," Jason said excitedly.

Danny watched as Jason opened the door and greeted Maddie privately before guiding her into the apartment. He stood up from the sofa and smiled his most charming smile as Jason introduced them.

"Maddie McGrath, this is Danny Taylor."

Maddie smiled and extended her hand to Danny's. "It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you," she said enthusiastically.

"I could say the same," Danny responded finally letting go of her hand. "Sounds like you two had quite a summer, if you're willing to come here for this guy." Jason hadn't done her justice, Danny thought. She was absolutely beautiful.

"I applied to NYU, but I didn't really have a reason to come until I met Jason. It's a little overwhelming to think about moving to Manhattan and not knowing a soul. I just hope you're okay with this. I don't want to impose," she said as she looked at Danny with concern.

"No imposition at all. I've known Jason since our freshman year, and I've never seen him this happy. So, our apartment—or rather his apartment—is your apartment," Danny said graciously.

And with that, Maddie became an integral part of their day-to-day lives. The three of them became inseparable friends. They ate together and studied together. Maddie was even assigned to Danny's mock court work group. And since she was a runner, Jason suggested she run with Danny since he didn't want her running alone. It was on these run, that Maddie and Danny became even closer, but Danny was very careful to never

over-step any boundaries with her because his friendship with Jason was the closest thing to family he'd had in a long time and Maddie was now a part of that family.

Just as Danny drifted off to sleep, his telephone rang. He groaned as he turned toward his nightstand and grabbed his phone with his eyes still closed. "Taylor," he mumbled.

"Danny, there's something really wrong!" a panicked voice responded.

"Sylvia?" he said as he sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes open. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I think…I think I'm having contractions, but it's way too early. I just started my third trimester."

"Have you called your doctor?" Danny asked in a worried tone.

"Yes. He said to get to the hospital right away. My sister is on her way over to stay with Nicky. An ambulance is coming to get me, but Danny…I'm really scared."

Danny nodded before answering. "I'll meet you at the hospital. Where are they taking you?"

Sylvia gave him the information and Danny quickly got dressed and headed to the hospital. After several hours of trying to stop the contractions, Sylvia's water broke so the doctor had to deliver the baby. Danny called Rafael to let him know what was going on.

"Yeah," Raffi answered in a frustrated tone. He was still at the locked down treatment facility.

"Hey. It's Danny. I…um…I have some news for you."

"How is she?" he asked in a panicked tone. Danny had called the facility earlier, but could only leave Raffi a message because telephone privileges weren't allowed until morning.

"She's hanging in there. They couldn't stop the contractions. They had to deliver the baby by cesarean. You have a little girl, Raffi. She's really small, but the doctors say her breath sounds are good."

"And Sylvia?"

"She's sleeping. She'll be fine. She'll be here for at least three days. Your daughter will probably be here for a couple of weeks. They want her to weigh a little more before they let her go. It's was scary for a few hours, but I think everything is going to be okay."

Danny listened as he heard Raffi sigh deeply and then clear his throat. Danny could tell he was crying.

"They're going to be okay, Raffi. That's the important thing," he said softly.

Raffi took a deep breath and then answered, "I know. It's just…I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I screwed it up again, Danny. I mean what if I don't get to put my arms around my little girl for ten years like it was with Nicky. I can't…I can't live like this, Danny."

"Listen to me, Raffi. We're going to get you out of there. You'll see your daughter soon. Just have a little faith, okay?"

"Thank you. I don't know how I can thank you enough. You've been a rock for Sylvia and Nicky. And the lawyer you got me is really great. I'm not sure why you're doing this for me, but—"

"We're family, right?" Danny answered reassuringly. "Just hang there. Listen to Maddie. She'll do the best she can for you, and you'll be home soon. In the meantime, I'll do whatever I can to help Sylvia."

Rafael got choked up again. "Kiss my daughter for me, okay?"

"Will do. I'll call you later today."

They said goodbye to each other, and then Danny took a deep breath as he hung up the phone.

He went home after that to take a shower and change clothes. Part of him wanted to collapse into bed and sleep for the rest of the weekend, but he didn't allow himself that luxury. Instead, he returned to the hospital to see if Sylvia was awake. When he got there, he found Nicky and her sister visiting Sylvia. Deciding to give them time alone with Sylvia, he headed to the nursery.

As Danny stepped off the elevator, he was surprised to find Maddie looking in the nursery window at baby Angelina Alvarez.

"You know Nicky would probably be the better character witness. I'm thinking this little one won't be able to help with your case anytime soon," he said with a smile as he walked toward her.

Maddie glanced at Danny as he stopped next to her and looked in the window. "I met with Rafael today. He told me the good news. I stopped in to check on Sylvia and couldn't help myself. I had to come down to see baby Angelina. That's a beautiful name."

Danny nodded. "It was my mother's name," he responded sadly before continuing, "It's very nice of you to come, but you don't have to—"

"I'm doing this because it's you, Danny. When I take a case like this, I need to feel committed. They can't just be names on a deposition. If I fight for someone, then I have to know him. This is all a part of getting to know Rafael and his circumstances," she said as she nodded toward the baby in the window.

"If I haven't told you enough, I'll tell you again—thank you for taking his case. We're lucky to have you on his side."

"You're welcome. I just wish I could get him out to see his daughter, but I don't think it will be possible."

"I talked to him earlier. He was pretty broken up about not being here."

Maddie nodded. "How are you doing?" she asked as she turned to look at him.

Danny met her gaze and shrugged. "Me? I'm fine."

"You look exhausted. Were you here all night?"

"Yeah. I went home for a couple of hours and just came back."

"Sylvia's lucky to have you."

He shrugged again. "I don't know how much help I was. I just didn't want her to be alone."

Maddie stared at him for a few moments and then shook her head. "You really are a completely different person now," she said without even thinking.

Danny smirked as he looked down at floor. "I guess I was pretty awful back then," he replied in an ashamed tone.

"No. That's not what I mean. I mean…you weren't awful. I knew that deep down you were the person you are now, but you just never showed that side of yourself. I can tell you are in a really good place right now."

"You think? I haven't slept in two days. I can't stay focused at work because I'm thinking about what I have to do to help Raffi. But I have to do well at my job so I can keep it because I promised Sylvia that I would help her pay the bills while Raffi's gone. Two months ago, I had no commitments other than my job. Two months ago, I was probably in a good place. Now I am hanging on by a thread and I'm terrified of letting my brother's family down," he said while running his hand over his face and hair. He didn't plan on venting like that, but he couldn't help it.

"You're not alone, Danny. This isn't all on you. You have to think about yourself or you will burn out," she responded as she grasped his arm reassuringly.

"How do you suggest I do that?" he asked in a slightly frustrated tone.

"For starters, go home. Sylvia is in good hands here. Her sister has Nicky covered. I'm working on Raffi's case. Go home right now and get some sleep. Tomorrow is Sunday. You can stop by here to visit Sylvia in the morning on your way to my place."

"Your place?" Danny asked with confused frown.

"Tomorrow, we're cramming for a certain bar exam you have in two weeks, remember?."

"No way, McGrath. Not now…with the baby…and Sylvia in the hospital."

"Yes, now. There's nothing you can do for her here. There's nothing you can do for the baby. You need one weekend to rejuvenate. And there's nothing more relaxing than studying torte reform," she countered as her lips curved into a smile.

Danny laughed for the first time all day. "I guess you have a point there."

"My place. Tomorrow. Noon sharp. I'll even provide you with brain food for a day full of studying."

"That's an offer I can't refuse," Danny replied feeling slightly relieved to have someone else take control for a while.

"Nope, you can't," she said as they turned back to the window to watch tiny baby.