Lindsay was stumbling around in the dark, attempting to locate the lights. Three weeks at Don and Stella's place and she hadn't yet mastered it yet. Danny had left a while ago, while she was still sleeping. Fortunately for her, she had been just barely awake and had remembered feeling his soft lips brush against her cheek. Than he had whispered, "Good night, Linds, sweet dreams."
She could hear the baby whimpering quietly from her crib, but Lindsay still hadn't succeeded in finding the light. Instead she stubbed her toe on the coffee table, tripped over a bag of diapers and slammed her head into the kitchen table. She could feel blood trickling down her forehead and she growled as she got to her feet again.
She felt her way back to the bedroom where she located the crib. She scooped the baby out and curled up with her on the bed. "Ssh." She crooned. "Jordan… Mamma's going to be home today. She's going to hold you and feed you." Lindsay yawned as she talked to the baby.
Jordan's fists balled up tighter as her eyes began to drift shut.
"Mamma's… coming…" Lindsay fell into a peaceful sleep, the warmth of Jordan Ann curled up against her.
Stella's eyes opened to reveal the most beautiful man in the world flopped on the chair by the window. His arms hung over the sides and his hair was sticking straight up on one side only. His head was back, mouth wide open and he was snoring slightly. Yes, that was her man.
She struggled to sit up before swinging her legs over the side. Days of not being allowed to move in the Intensive Care Unit had taken their toll on her. All she wanted was to see Jordan and to hold her. And she also simply wanted to be home, safe and sound in her own bed, in her husband's arms.
She winced with each step as she made her way to the small closet that her bag had been placed in. She opened it up and dug out a pair of pants and a tee. Yeah, that would do it. She'd be ready and waiting to get out of there.
After changing, she made her way back to the edge of the bed. She perched on it and watched patiently as Don finally started to come to.
"Long night, Darling?" She grinned as he fought to get his bearings.
Don finally realized where he was and who was speaking. "Stella..? Stella!" He smiled as he knelt in front of the bed. "Stel…"
She nodded, placing her hand over his mouth. "Check me out of here, Don." She held her arms out to him.
He stood, picking her up as he did. "Let's go home, baby."
Jane Parson, Sheldon Hawkes, Mac, and a couple of the techs from the lab all showed up around noon at the Flack residence where Danny and Lindsay were decorating for the big homecoming and the official baby shower. The two had decorated the apartment entirely including setting up all "some assembly required" items.
Jane gasped when she saw the baby asleep in a swing that Danny had picked up. "She looks just like them!" The swing wasn't moving, so Jane had easy access to Jordan's fingers and toes.
As they all talked over the baby, Mac held his hands up. "I want everyone to remember that even though this is your first time seeing the baby, Stella and Don have only had one chance to see her and barely the opportunity to hold her."
Everyone nodded their understanding as they continued to talk and finish up the last minute preparations.
It wasn't long before they heard a key in the door and everyone took a seat somewhere, quietly waiting.
Don peeked his head around the door and smiled. "I knew it." He shouted. Laughing he pushed the door open all the way and escorted his wife in.
Everyone present hugged Don and Stella as they came through the door.
Danny, however, slipped away from them, approaching the sleeping princess. With care, and tenderness, he picked her up and slid his arms protectively around her. He had promised Don and Stella he would take care of her. The way he saw it, it was his duty to bring her to her mother's arms.
He walked over to the group, which parted graciously for him. He made eye contact with Stella and a big grin spread across his face. His glasses were fogged from holding the baby too close to his face and his hair was frazzled from the errands that Lindsay had him running all that morning after work.
Stella returned the smile as he reached her and placed her child into her arms ceremoniously. The smile faded as he studied the child and kissed her on her cheek. "I think I had far too much fun." He whispered with a chuckle into Stella's ear.
She giggled as Don took her arm.
"Let us par-tay!" He grinned as Danny assisted him in getting Stella to a comfortable chair where she could easily talk to everyone.
The day wore slowly on as everyone congratulated Don and Stella on the baby's birth. Lindsay threatened Stella, telling her she had better be back to work soon or she'd be feeling like the only girl there. At that comment, Jane growled, than laughed, unable to hold it back with Lindsay's apologetic stuttering.
Gradually, all present left, all except Mac and Danny. Stella leaned toward the couch, passing Jordan to an eager Mac. He grabbed a couch pillow and leaned casually with her safely cradled in her arms.
Stella slowly turned her attention from Mac and her precious daughter to where Danny and Don were talking. They were leaning against the kitchen counter, their backs toward the living room. She stood and eased her way across the room where she draped her arms over their shoulders.
"Hey, boys."
The both turned and smiled at her.
"Danny," She began. "I just wanted to thank you for taking care of her. You, and Lindsay too. Knowing you had her helped me relax more after my surgery. I knew she'd be safe." Stella put her other arm around him and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Danny."
He grinned. "My pleasure, Stel, I had a blast. Now I need to get me a girl and have my own baby."
Don laughed uncontrollably, causing them to look at him, Mac included.
"What the hell, Flack?" Danny tipped his head slightly.
"No, just… well, you already seem to have a girl. You just spent three weeks at my place, probably in my bed, with Lindsay Monroe!"
"I did not!" He protested. "Not in your bed anyway." His face turned a deep red and he smiled sheepishly.
Stella smiled at the two of them. "Continue on with whatever conversation it was I interrupted." She backed away, shaking her head as she returned to her chair.
Finally, everyone had left Stella and Don alone to enjoy their baby in their own apartment.
Stella gathered Jordan in her arms and cuddled up next to Don on the couch. As much as it still hurt her to move too much since the surgery, right now she didn't care. She had a family. Finally, after years of searching and finding only loneliness, she belonged. She turned her face up toward Don who was already looking at her. "I'm happy, Don."
"Me too, my Love." He leaned down and kissed her as his arms slipped around her and Jordan.
The family fell asleep as the sun sank below the city skyline.
