I am posting this chapter shorter than I wanted to in order to get this next section up for everyone. I am on a trip right now and won't be writing for a few days, so I wanted to at least get this section up. Have your tissues handy...that's all I want to say about this chapter as not to give anything away. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, please keep posting more!


March 12th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch

Jack rolled to his side, his eyes still closed, lost in a dream, when he heard his name as Elizabeth shouted for the second time. Jack swiftly shot out of bed, almost tripping from his legs tangling in the sheets. He ran to the bathroom to find Elizabeth holding onto her stomach, bent over, breathing hard.

"What is it?" he asked, looking at the floor for the familiar red liquid.

"I think it's time," she answered as she straightened.

"It's time? Time for wh...? Wait... it's time? Now?"

"I think so. I'm feeling a lot of pain. And I think my water broke," she added, pointing behind her at the floor.

Jack peered around his wife and saw the clear fluid.

"You need to run down and wake up my mom. We need to go now."

Jack ran to the basement, skipping multiple steps at a time, and then back up to return to Elizabeth.

"She's up and getting dressed. She's going with us, and your dad will stay here for now to watch the kids."

Elizabeth nodded as Jack helped her into the bedroom. With his wife safely resting against the mattress, Jack grabbed the bag she had packed and stored in the closet. He threw it onto the floor, then changed into his jeans and a shirt.

"What do you want to wear?" he asked Elizabeth.

"Umm...just give me your lounge pants," she said, holding out her hand.

Jack picked up a pair and helped Elizabeth into them. He grabbed the bag and helped her down the stairs and out the door.

Jack had Elizabeth and the bag loaded into the Yukon. He was standing next to it when he saw his mom's vehicle approaching. When Charlotte and Frank pulled up and stopped, Grace was just getting into the SUV.

"How are you doing, Sweetie?" Charlotte asked after rushing to the Yukon to check on Elizabeth.

"Scared," she replied. "I've never been through this before," she grinned.

"You'll do perfect," Charlotte assured her, kissing her cheek. "I'll be right behind you. Frank is going to stay here with your dad."

"Thanks, Ma," Jack said as he ran around the SUV. "Thanks, Pops!" he called out just before getting in.

…..

"Help, please," Jack called out as he assisted Elizabeth through the emergency doors.

She was in the middle of another contraction, and they stopped to allow her to breathe through it. Two nurses ran to their side with a wheelchair and eased her into it once the contraction ended.

Elizabeth was placed in a private room and helped onto the bed. Not leaving her side, Jack held her hand as another contraction began. They were only eight minutes apart now and getting stronger. Elizabeth gripped hard onto Jack's hand as a wave of pain washed through her.

With beads of sweat peppering her forehead, she relaxed, her eyes closed, as Jack spoke softly into her ear.

"You're doing great, Beautiful. We'll meet our daughter soon. I love you." As he spoke, he pushed the hair away from his wife's face and brushed his knuckles along her cheek. Jack closed his eyes, pressed his forehead to hers, and then began praying quietly. "Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for this beautiful life we are about to meet. Thank You for keeping Beth and the baby safe. And Lord...thank You for this miraculous blessing you've granted us."

Elizabeth's eyes were closed as she listened to her husband's voice whispering in her ear. His words gave her peace as she rested between contractions. She was nervous, not knowing what to expect. She didn't know what it was like to go through labor. And that, shadowed by the fact that she could suddenly have another abruption at any moment, had her heart racing and her nerves on edge.

Jack could feel her hand trembling as he held it, and he pressed his lips to her knuckles, giving her a lingering kiss. "You can do this," he whispered in her ear. "God is with you. I'm with you."

Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked up at her husband, the significance of Jack being with her went unnoticed to everyone in the room except for the expectant couple. A smile formed across her lips, then another contraction began, and she gripped Jack's hand once more.

…..

Sam, Tom, Rosemary, and Lee had arrived, having left all the kids with Frank and William. They had quietly moved them into the house from their car seats, still asleep, and put them all in makeshift beds in the basement. With the help of Savannah, Luke, and Austin, the men had no worries about having a house full of children.

Charlotte nervously paced while Grace quietly sat in a chair in the corner, wringing her hands. Looking back and forth between the two women, Sam stood and stopped Charlotte.

"Why don't you have a seat over here by Grace. The two of you can pray together for Elizabeth and the baby."

Charlotte did as her daughter-in-law suggested, and the two women began to pray quietly.

…..

Hours passed, and Elizabeth's contractions grew more painful, frequent, and longer. She was getting tired, and Jack wanted so badly to help her. He wanted to take the pain on himself, to shoulder the difficult parts so his wife could simply revel in the beauty of the impending arrival of their daughter. His heart ached for Elizabeth with each contraction, but at the same time, he reminded himself that Elizabeth experiencing this pain meant she was getting her wish. She would finally deliver a child as a mother was meant to do.

Their nurse Lillian was charting Elizabeth's vitals when she stopped and laid her hand on Elizabeth's. "I know you weren't interested in an epidural, but it really will help with the pain, sweetie."

Elizabeth shook her head, "No. This is our last baby, and I've never had a normal birth."

"Elizabeth, getting a little management on your pain will not make your experience less normal. It's up to you, but I have three children and tried making it through my first one without any help. I regretted that shortly after, but it was too late to get one then. Your body is going through so much, and you're not done yet. It's okay to ask for help."

"Beth, please. If it will ease some of your pain, then why not do it?" Jack pleaded.

Just as Elizabeth was about to speak, another contraction flowed through her. She clenched Jack's hand, squeezing it to the point that Jack felt pain, but he didn't flinch. She breathed through it, and once it was over, she laid back and nodded. "Okay," she said.

"Okay, what, Beth?" Jack asked.

"I'll get the epidural."

"Are you sure?" Jack questioned.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. These are getting worse."

"Okay, I'll put in an order for one, and he should be in soon."

"Thank you, Lillian," Jack said as the nurse walked away.

A few minutes later, Dr. Shepherd returned. After checking Elizabeth, the doctor pulled the sheet down and stood. "She's progressing nicely, and I believe that you will be welcoming your little girl into the world sometime this afternoon."

"Thank you, Doctor," Jack said, not relinquishing Elizabeth's hand.

"I'll send the anesthesiologist in for your epidural, then I'll be back in about an hour to check on you again."

Elizabeth nodded, then watched as the doctor left the room. Jack was wiping her forehead with a damp rag as she lifted her eyes to his.

"What is it, Beautiful?" Jack asked, cupping the side of her face with his hand.

"What if something goes wrong and the doctor isn't in here?"

"We will be monitoring you closely," Lillian said as she walked back in. "I will not be leaving your side." Her smile warmed the room and eased Elizabeth's nerves.

"Thank you, Lillian," Jack said, then returned his attention to Elizabeth.

…..

"It's been a few hours with no updates," Grace said as she paced the room. She stepped into the hall and looked left, then right.

Charlotte walked up behind her and laid her hands on Grace's shoulders, "Everything is just fine, Dear. If something was wrong, someone would have come to tell us. This is good."

Grace turned around to face Charlotte. "You're right. I just need to relax."

"I'll see what I can find out," Sam said. She stood and left the room to go to the nurse's station. A few minutes later, she returned with an update. "Elizabeth and the baby are fine. She's progressing as she should, and they are giving her an epidural right now."

A collective release of breaths could be heard from the women in the room as they relaxed from the excellent news.

…..

Elizabeth was sitting on the bed with her legs hanging over the edge. She held tightly onto Jack's hand while the anesthesiologist inserted the large needle for the epidural. As the needle went in, Elizabeth squeezed her husband's hand briefly until the pain quickly subsided.

Jack rubbed her back across the shoulders as they waited for the epidural to take effect. When the anesthesiologist was finished, Elizabeth turned and laid back on the bed. She closed her eyes and relaxed, taking advantage of the break between contractions. Jack continued talking softly to her, encouraging her, loving her. He pushed her hair back again, tucking it behind her ear. With her eyes still closed, Elizabeth focused on Jack's hands: where they touched her, the sensations they created on her skin. She listened to her own breathing, mixed with Jack's voice until another contraction began.

With the epidural doing its job, Elizabeth barely felt a thing. She laid back and let the contraction work through her body. The doctor stepped back into the room and checked Elizabeth one more time.

"Wow, you're progressing very quickly," he stated. "It won't be long now."

Jack stood and leaned over Elizabeth, his face only inches from hers. "Did you hear that, baby? Not long until we meet our baby girl."

Elizabeth's eyes were open as she stared into her husband's face. She smiled and reached up with her free hand and touched his cheek. "Our baby girl."

Jack nodded and could feel the tears beginning to pool in his eyes. He wiped them away before they stained his cheeks, then pressed his lips to Elizabeth's.

…..

Grace paced, Charlotte prayed, and Rosemary twisted the fabric of her shirt so tightly that it had almost torn. Lee and Tom sat back in their chairs, remaining silent, waiting for any word on Elizabeth.

Charlotte's phone rang, and she hurriedly reached into her purse to grab it. It was Frank, hoping to get an update for him and William. The kids were all awake now and currently eating breakfast. When the conversation was finished, Charlotte dropped her phone back into her purse, then folded her hands on her lap.

Sam returned to the room, having checked for any news she could get. "Elizabeth and the baby are doing fine. She received her epidural, and she's progressing quickly. She could be having the baby soon."

Grace dropped into the nearest chair and laid her face in her hands. Charlotte moved to her side and put her arm around her. "Elizabeth will be fine. This pregnancy has been wonderful, as will the delivery."

Grace looked at the older woman, seeing in her eyes that Charlotte truly believed what she'd said. Feeling a peaceful relief wash over her, Grace sat back in her seat and patted Charlotte's leg. "Thank you, Char. I just need to see her."

"I know. We'll see her soon."

The women began to quietly pray together as they sat hand in hand. The rest of the family bowed their heads and listened as the women spoke.

…..

Elizabeth was breathing through another contraction. They were close together and getting more intense. The doctor was in the room again, checking Elizabeth's progression.

"This baby wants out. Are you ready to meet your daughter?"

Elizabeth nodded and tried to smile between breaths. Jack squeezed her hand as his heart began to race. A lot of commotion was happening in the room between the nurses and the doctor. Knowing Elizabeth's history, they were preparing for anything that could happen.

With Jack on one side and a nurse on the other, they instructed him to hold Elizabeth's leg with his free arm, as he held her hand with the other. With preparations complete, the doctor in place, and another contraction beginning, Elizabeth was instructed to start pushing.

She clenched onto Jack's hand as she began to bear down. After several long seconds, she fell back into her pillow and sucked in a deep breath. She rested while she could between each contraction and each command from the doctor to push. Jack's encouragement gave her the strength to continue and the fact that soon they would be meeting their miracle.

Elizabeth was exhausted. Jack wished with his whole being that he could trade places with her and take over, but what he could do was continue to hold her hand and talk to her. Over an hour had passed since the first push, and his wife looked as if she had nothing left. Jack brushed the stray hairs back, squeezed her hand, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and said, "Just one more time, Baby, I can see her head."

Elizabeth leaned forward and pushed. She pushed with every last ounce of energy that remained in her. Then she found, deep down inside, just a little more. Elizabeth fell back into her pillow as the sound of a baby's scream pierced the air and filled the room.

Jack's hands snapped to his mouth as he watched the doctor hold up his daughter, and an unexpected flood of emotions took over him, and the tears flowed. Jack quickly bent over his wife, kissing her lips and wiping her tears and sweat away. "You did it, Beautiful. You did it," he said softly in her ear. "She's here."

Elizabeth was crying uncontrollably from the sight of her daughter mixed with exhaustion. Jack put his arm behind her and kissed her forehead as the doctor laid their baby on Elizabeth. She moved her arms around her daughter and began to cry harder.

"Want to cut the cord, Daddy?" the doctor asked, holding the scissors out for him.

Jack nodded, took the scissors, and cut where he was instructed. He'd heard Lee talk about having done this with each of his kids, but Jack wasn't expecting how much the tiny act would affect him as his tears grew more intense once more. A nurse took the baby to a table, where they cleaned, weighed, measured, and checked her from head to toe. Jack was with his daughter, holding her tiny hand while the medical team did their job on her and his wife. She quieted down when she heard her daddy's voice, and she stared at him as a pediatric doctor listened to her heart.

"Would you like to hold your daughter?" a nurse asked Jack once they were finished.

Jack, wide-eyed, smiled and nodded. As Jack looked down at the tiny baby in his hands, another wave of emotions flooded through his body like a typhoon. His tears flowed like a wild river, his body shook, and his hands trembled as he held his daughter to his chest. His sobs could be heard throughout the room. Lowering his hands so he could look at her once more, Jack began memorizing her features.

She had ten perfect fingers and toes, long legs, Elizabeth's nose, and a head full of hair. He wiped his eyes and cheeks against his shoulders to clear his vision, held the baby in one hand, and gently took hold of his daughter's tiny hand in his big one. The size difference amazed him. Thinking back to the twins when they were born, he tried to visualize their little hands in comparison to his.

Another wave of emotions hit him as he began to cry once more. He bent over her, praying and thanking God for his little girl's safe arrival and for keeping his wife safe. Jack turned toward Elizabeth and held the baby for her to see. Elizabeth had been watching Jack, her own eyes filled with tears, and she reached out to touch the little girl's hand.

"She's beautiful," Elizabeth said in a hoarse voice.

"She's perfect, just like you," Jack replied. He bent down and kissed Elizabeth's forehead, then kissed his daughter. "Here," he said as he returned the baby to her mother's arms.

Jack remained at Elizabeth's side, never taking his eyes off their new baby, as Elizabeth attempted to nurse her for the first time. The lactation nurse was there, guiding Elizabeth and the baby until she latched on. Once the baby girl had eaten for a few minutes, the nurse left the couple to be alone.

"What name do you think?" Jack asked as he softly brushed his finger down his daughter's arm.

"I think either would work for her. I love them both. You decide," Elizabeth replied.

Jack thought for a moment while watching his daughter nurse. Going back and forth between the two names they had decided on, trying to pick the best one, it became evident to him which it should be.

"I've got it," he said as he ran his hand across the top of her head, feeling her soft, silky hair.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, looking up at her husband.

"Brianna Rose," he answered, locking eyes with Elizabeth.

"It's perfect."

Jack bent down and kissed Elizabeth. It was gentle and soft but, at the same time, filled with a fiery passion.

"Do you want to go update the family?" Elizabeth asked him.

"Sure," he said, reluctant to leave. He kissed both of his girls, then headed to the door. "I'll only be gone a few minutes."

Elizabeth smiled. "Okay."

Jack hurried down the hall to find his family. The first waiting room he came across was empty, so he started toward the next one. Seeing his brother standing outside the door, Jack's tears began again, and he could not stop them.

Tom began to step inside the room when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see Jack walking toward him, tears flowing. He swiftly moved to his brother, fear flooding through him.

"What's wrong, Jack?"

Hearing this from inside the waiting room, everyone stood and froze, waiting to hear Jack's response.

"She's perfect," was all Jack could muster before wrapping his brother in a very tight hug.

The brothers remained in an embrace, in the middle of the hallway, for what felt like eternity. The rest of the family filed out of the room, encircling Jack, each one moving in, one after another, hugging him tightly.

"And Elizabeth?" Grace asked when it was her turn.

"She's perfect, too. She's nursing Brianna already."

"Brianna?" Charlotte asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Yes. We named her Brianna Rose," Jack said smiling, searching for Rosemary's face. When he finally found her in the sea of family that surrounded him, tears had already spilled over and were sliding down her cheeks. "Elizabeth wanted her named after her best friend and the person responsible for us meeting."

"It's lovely," Sam said, followed by everyone else's agreement.

"Do you have any photos?" Grace asked.

"Oh, shoot. No. I didn't even think of it. I'll get some and show you next time I see y'all. I need to get back to Beth and Brianna now." Jack said as he backed from the group.

Charlotte rushed to her son, hugging him one more time. "Tell Beth congratulations for us, please."

Jack cupped his mother's face and kissed her cheek. "I will, Ma."

He turned and hurried down the hall back to their room. When he entered, he stopped and watched Elizabeth move their daughter to her shoulder and begin to gently pat her back.

"I forgot to take a picture of her," Jack said as he crossed the room.

"We were a little preoccupied," she grinned.

"Hey, Brianna," Jack whispered as he bent down to get a better look at his daughter's face. He removed his phone from his pocket, took a few photos of her, and texted them to his family. "There, everyone can see her now," he said as he put his phone away. He grabbed a nearby chair, dragged it to the bedside, and sat down. "How are you feeling?" he asked Elizabeth.

"I feel wonderful," she answered, smiling at her husband.

"Are you hurting?" Jack touched his finger to her arm and made circles across her skin.

"Not much. I assume I will later, though, when the epidural has worn off."

"You did such a great job, Elizabeth. You were amazing."

"I couldn't have done it without you, Cowboy."

"You did all the heavy lifting this time, Beth. It was all you."

Jack watched his wife as she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. He could see on her face that she was exhausted. A buzzing in his pocket drew Jack's attention away, and he pulled his phone out. It was a text from his brother.

We're all heading home to give Pops and William a break from the kids. We'll stop by later.

Okay, Brother. Thank you for everything.

Love you and congrats!

Jack put his phone away and looked at Elizabeth. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was even. Jack stood and leaned over his wife, seeing that she was asleep. He slowly and carefully lifted Brianna off Elizabeth's shoulder and cradled his daughter in his arm. With a slow, soft bouncing, Jack carried his daughter to the window. The soft light that filtered through the vertical blinds illuminated the baby's face with a warm glow. Jack touched Brianna's cheek with his index finger and gingerly moved it across her chin.

He sat down in the padded chair near the window, and in a low voice, he began to sing to his daughter.

"Momma's looks, momma's eyes
Her old man's fightin' side
Stubborn heart, gypsy soul
Tell me where does the time go?

Gonna dance with my daughter
Spin her around under the lights
'Cause I'm just a father
Making the most of this moment in time
Before she lets me go, I'll hold her close
Caught in this race against time
Right now, all I want is to dance with my daughter tonight

Greatest gift in the world
Is a new baby girl
Feels like God took a chance
Placing her here in my hands"

Lillian, their nurse, started to walk into the room, but when she heard Jack singing, she stopped and slowly backed out.

"What is it?" another nurse asked.

Lillian motioned toward Jack, and the second nurse moved next to Lillian to see what was happening. The two remained in the doorway, their arms locked, as they listened to the man sing to his newborn daughter.

"And dance with my daughter
Spin her around under the lights
'Cause I'm just a father
Making the most of this moment in time
Before she lets me go, I'll hold her close
Caught in this race against time
Right now, all I want is to dance with my daughter
Sent straight from heaven, came down, and I caught her
For now, all I want is to dance with my daughter tonight"

Two more nurses had joined, and when Jack's voice fell silent, the four women quickly moved from the doorway to keep from being seen.

"You had an audience," Elizabeth said.

Jack stood and crossed the room to his wife. "What, Baby?"

"You had an audience." Elizabeth pointed toward the door, but Jack saw no one there. "They're gone now, but Lillian and three other nurses were listening to you," Elizabeth grinned.

"Apparently...so were you," Jack stated, then kissed his wife. "Do you have room on there for us?"

Elizabeth slid over, making room for Jack to lay beside her. Brianna remained asleep as he lay down, then he placed her in his wife's arms. Jack rolled onto his side, one arm behind Elizabeth's neck, the other across her stomach. He rested his head against her shoulder, and she rested her head against Jack's. Brianna was nestled between them in the crook of Elizabeth's arm, and the three took a much-needed nap.

…..

Grace, William, Charlotte, and Frank returned to the hospital that afternoon in hopes of meeting their new granddaughter. When they entered the hall, they saw Jack standing outside their room, waiting for them. With a quick wave from Jack, his parents and in-laws joined him in the hall.

"The nurse is in with Beth right now, just checking everything. She'll be done shortly," Jack informed them.

"And Brianna?" Charlotte asked.

"She's in there, asleep in the bassinette."

Lillian opened the door and stepped out of the room. "She's ready for visitors," she said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Lillian," Jack said, then walked into the room.

The parents followed him in and immediately moved to the bassinette to see their granddaughter in person.

"Oh my, she's beautiful," Grace said as she gently touched the little girl's hand.

"She sure is," Charlotte added.

After getting a look at Brianna, William walked to his daughter's bedside. "How are you feeling, Beth," he asked, then bent down to kiss her cheek.

"I feel good, Daddy. Really, really good."

"You look terrific," William said as he smiled at his daughter. "Brianna is beautiful."

"Thank you, Daddy," Elizabeth said, reaching her hand out for his.

As he stood, William held his daughter's hand and listened to Grace and Charlotte gush over their newest granddaughter. Grace was holding her now and walking toward the chair by the window.

"Did you call Julie and Viola?" Elizabeth asked her father.

"Yes. We called them first thing this morning and again when the baby was born. They said to tell you that they'd call you after you got home and settled."

"Okay. Good. Thank you."

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" Charlotte asked, then leaned down and kissed Elizabeth's cheek.

"I feel good," she answered with a smile. "This was definitely much different than with the twins."

"I told you not to worry," Charlotte laid her hand on her daughter-in-law's cheek. "You experienced it all, didn't you?"

"Yes, everything." The smile on Elizabeth's face said it all. She now knew the overwhelming joy and love that overtakes a mother at the moment her child is born.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed, his wife's hand in his. They watched their family interact, passing their daughter from one grandparent to the other, simply lost in the enjoyment of a new little one. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, then leaned to kiss her.

"It's over," he smiled, brushing his hand over her hair.

"No, Cowboy, it's just beginning," she smiled back.

…..

March 13th, 2015 – University Hospital

Elizabeth was sitting in the bed, Brianna in her arms, when Jack slowly opened the door and peeked in. "Are you ready for some visitors?"

Elizabeth smiled and nodded, anxious to see her other children.

Jack opened the door wide, and Grace and William entered with Blake, Colton, and Peyton. They had been instructed to remain quiet, and the three almost tiptoed across the floor.

Jack lifted Peyton onto the edge of the bed, followed by Colton. He led Blake to the other side and lifted him as well. The three children sat and stared at their little sister. Each one slowly reached out and touched her arm, followed by quiet little giggles. Their eyes were wide with wonderment, their lips curled into permanent smiles, and their minds filled with questions they would be allowed to ask later.

"Do you want to hold your sister?" Elizabeth asked.

Each child rapidly nodded, and Jack helped Blake to the floor. Going to the other side, he lowered the twins, then took Brianna from Elizabeth's arms.

Peyton climbed into the chair with Colton beside her, and Jack carefully placed Brianna on their laps. He held Peyton's hand under the baby's head with instructions not to move it.

"My baby sister," Peyton whispered, her voice and hands trembling. It was the quietest any of them had ever heard the little girl speak, and Jack and Elizabeth had to chuckle. She looked at Jack and tried to say the baby's name. "Bree - aaa - na?"

"Bree - ahh - na," Jack corrected.

"Breeee - ahhhh - na," Peyton exaggerated.

The twins carefully touched their sister's cheeks, lifted her hand, felt her soft hair, and counted to ten on her toes. They were in awe of her small size. After several minutes, Jack took Brianna, helped the twins off the chair, and waited for Blake to sit down. Jack lowered his daughter into his son's arms, again with instructions to support her head. Blake was frozen, unmoving as he stared at his sister.

Jack knelt before the boy, thinking Blake was about to cry. "What's wrong, Blake?"

"I don't want to break her," he said, barely audible.

Jack grinned and took his son's free hand. "You won't break her, Blake. Here, watch this."

Jack moved Blake's hand to Brianna's and placed the little boy's finger in her palm. Brianna curled her fingers around his, and Blake's eyes grew larger than ever. Jack stood and moved back so everyone could see, and Blake lifted the baby girl to his lips and kissed her cheek.

"Hi, Brianna," he said quietly. Her fingers were still wrapped around one of his, and he ever so slightly bounced her hand up and down while he talked. "My name is Jackson Blake, and I'm your big brother. I'll take good care of you. I won't let anything happen to you. I love you." Blake leaned down and kissed her cheek.

There wasn't a dry eye amongst the adults in the room as they watched Blake with his little sister. He talked sweetly with her, letting her know he would help watch after her, pick her up when she fell down, and teach her how to ride a pony when she was bigger.

The little boy looked up at his daddy with a big grin. "She's the neatest," he said for everyone to hear. "I love her already."

Jack knelt in front of Blake and looked from Brianna's face to his son's. "She kind of looks like you."

"Really?" he asked, his eyes growing wide again.

The twins were standing next to the chair, and upon hearing this, Peyton looked at her sister closer. "Does she look like me, too, Daddy?"

Jack looked at Brianna, then Peyton, then Colton, then back at the baby. "She actually looks a bit like all of you."

The three children got excited about that fact but remembered to keep their voices down because they were in a quiet place. They spent the afternoon at the hospital with their parents, each child taking turns holding their sister, except when Elizabeth nursed her and Jack changed her diaper.

As soon as Jack noticed that Elizabeth was showing signs of tiredness, they said their goodbyes to everyone, and the Thatchers took the children home. When Jack returned to the room after walking his family out and helping load the kids, he leaned in the doorway and watched his wife with their daughter.

Elizabeth held Brianna in her arms close to her face and hummed a lullaby to the baby girl. Jack thought her voice sounded like an angel's, and he didn't want to interrupt her. He remained in the doorway until Elizabeth noticed him and waved for him to come to her.

He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Elizabeth handed the baby to him, and he pulled the blanket back to get a better look at her face and hands. Jack kissed Brianna's cheek, then held her fingers between his, brushing his thumb across her tiny knuckles.

Elizabeth watched him, her heart overflowing with love for this man. He began to hum the same lullaby to their daughter. Brianna had been staring at Jack, and once he began to hum, she closed her eyes and was soon asleep. His soothing voice had the same effect on Elizabeth, who was also quickly lost in a deep, sweet slumber.