The dining room was busy but not crowded. Both the residents and the staff knew Bobby, but there was widespread curiosity about the little girl and the petite, obviously pregnant woman who had accompanied him on his visit this week. Occasionally he would visit on the weekends, in addition to, or sometimes instead of, his usual Wednesday evening visit, but he always came alone. Not today, though. Throughout the meal, people stopped by and Frances happily introduced her little granddaughter and the lovely girl who had married her son and now carried another grandchild for her.

When one of the nurses came by and set a paper cup of medicine beside Frances' plate, Maggie tipped her head to look at the cup. "What's that, Gramma?"

Frances smiled at her. "I have to take medicine to try to keep me well, sweetheart. Sometimes it doesn't work. But sometimes, like today, it does."

"What happens when it doesn' work?"

Alex automatically laid a hand on Bobby's leg and squeezed. He forced himself to remain settled as his mother explained, "Then I say strange things and do things I normally wouldn't do. That's when no one can come to visit me."

"No one?"

"No one, except for Daddy. Always listen to Daddy, Maggie. I never want you to see me when I am having a bad time."

Maggie looked thoughtful and Goren groaned to himself, expecting more innocently painful questions, but, to his surprise, Maggie simply said, "Okay, Gramma."

Goren sighed, relieved to be spared the ordeal of listening to his mother explain how she had locked her eight-year-old son in a closet to protect him from the demons and forgot about him. Nearly eight hours later, Bill had found him and let him out, laughing about it. But Bobby had not been amused; he had been terrified.

Another nurse came by as Frances took her medicine, smiling at Maggie. "Well, hello there. What's your name?"

"Maggie."

"My name is Wendy."

Maggie smiled. "I have a Aunt Wendy."

"What a lucky aunt she is to have a niece like you. How old are you?"

She held up two fingers and her father reached over and raised up a third. Maggie grinned at him. "This many," she told Wendy.

"How many is that?"

"Three!"

Wendy laughed. "She's delightful."

Frances was beaming. "There's no denying that she's Bobby's girl."

Wendy gently touched Maggie's cheek and walked away. Frances welcomed the interruptions, pleased to show off her family to anyone who wanted to stop by. Eames thought it was wonderful seeing Frances so happy, so...normal. But she didn't quite understand her husband's reaction. He was very quiet. He tended to Maggie as she ate--cutting her food for her, handing her the cup of milk by her plate and making sure she didn't spill it--but he was unusually quiet, brooding almost. His quiet withdrawl unnerved her.

Eames distracted Frances' attention from Bobby by engaging her in comparisons between Maggie and Bobby when he was a little boy. They both laughed often and Frances seemed genuinely delighted. Occasionally, Goren would look up and smile, but he seemed very uncomfortable. Twice he subtly reached toward her and rested his hand on her belly, smiling briefly when the baby obliged with a kick, which he always seemed to do when his daddy's hand rested above him. Eames glanced toward him both times and met his eyes, but she could not interpret his look and she wondered why he was seeking contact. Both times she laid her hand over his but he didn't leave it there for long.

For her part, Frances marvelled at how attentive Bobby was to his daughter. Bill had never been so interested in either of his sons. Once Bill, Jr., entered puberty, showing a strong interest in his father's lifestyle, Bill had taken him under his wing and effectively turned the boy into a younger version of himself, much to her dismay. But Bobby, no matter what he did, could never gain his father's approval. Bill was always much too harsh with the boy, finding fault with, and punishing him for, almost everything he did. But she avoided talking about Bill Goren with Alex. If she wanted to know, she would ask, but unless she asked, Frances was not going to revive those memories for her son. She simply put her effort into enjoying Alex's company and watching her favorite son--the only son she had left after Bill took her eldest away from her--dote on his little girl. In everything he did, Bobby put his father to shame and that actually warmed Frances' heart, to know that Bill had not destroyed her son's spirit. Bobby had risen above his father's abuse, and he had become a devoted father and husband. He had always been a devoted son. Her heart swelled with pride for her youngest child.

After dinner, Frances took Alex's arm as Bobby lifted Maggie into his arms, and they went for a walk out on the grounds, with the approval of the charge nurse on the wing Frances lived on. Maggie squeezed her father tightly and said, "Can I go walk with Gramma, Daddy?"

"Of course, mouse."

He kissed her cheek and set her down. She scampered to her grandmother's side and placed her little hand into Frances'. Alex whispered something into Frances' ear; the older woman kissed her cheek and nodded. She fell back to her husband's side and slipped her hand into his. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Are you okay, Bobby?"

"Sure."

"You seem very...quiet."

He sighed, "This place doesn't hold the best memories for me, Alex. I am always...on edge here."

She could understand that, and his constant vigilance, looking for any hint that his mother's mind might be slipping away, must be exhausting, even for him. She squeezed his hand and rested her head against his arm.

He sighed softly, looking from Alex to his mother and Maggie, who were conversing animatedly about the pond in the distance, where about two dozen ducks were readying themselves for the night. Frances was telling Maggie about Gerard, a mallard duck with a broken wing that Frances had fed through the summer while he healed. Gerard would waddle right up to her and he recently began accepting his scraps from her hand.

Goren looked down at the top of his wife's head, where he planted a loving kiss. He was so overwhelmed by the day's events he had no idea what to do with his restless energy. Seeing his wife and his mother laughing and talking...watching his mother's mutually adoring interactions with Maggie...he couldn't suppress a shudder of pure emotion that coursed up his spine and spread down his arms. Alex looked at him, concerned. He leaned down and kissed her softly. His senses were simply on overload and his body didn't know what to do when it wasn't accompanied by agitation. He had never quite felt like this before and he had no idea how to reassure her. She was not believing him when he said he was all right.

-----------------------------------------

They were saying good night when the night shift nurse came into the room with Frances' bedtime medication. Frances gathered Maggie into her lap and hugged her close. "I hope Daddy will bring you and Mommy back to see me."

"He will," Maggie promised. "An' my new baby, too!"

Frances laughed. "Of course your new baby, too."

"All I gotta do is ask an' Daddy will bring me."

Frances gently stroked Maggie's cheek. "Then you make sure to ask, and Daddy will call to make sure I am feeling good. Remember, if I'm not feeling well, I don't want you coming to see me. So don't be mad at Daddy if he tells you no."

Alex choked back a laugh and Goren looked at her. She just smiled and shrugged. Tell her no...right. Like he ever tells her no, she thought fondly. Maggie crawled down from her grandmother's lap after hugging her tightly and kissing her. She ran over to her father and held her arms up toward him. With a soft smile, he obliged and lifted her up so she could settle against his chest with her head under his chin. She yawned and reached up to absently bury her hand in his hair.

Alex hugged her mother-in-law. "Thank you for a wonderful visit," Frances said into her ear as she held Alex against her. "Make sure Bobby brings you back."

"We'll come back," Alex promised. "Even if Bobby doesn't come with us."

"Always call; make sure it's a good day," Frances said, pleased that Alex actually wanted to come back. "I will be thrilled to see you anytime."

Frances finally turned toward her son. Her eyes became moist at the sight of him holding his little girl so comfortably and naturally, like he did it all the time. She had no doubt that was the case. It was such a joy for her to finally watch with her own eyes as he interacted with this little girl he so adored.

She had not missed how out of sorts he had been today, and she understood why, but she hoped that because it had been such a good visit, he would be inclined to bring them back. "Robert," she said softly. "I hope you will bring these girls back to see me."

He smiled at his mother, and his eyes were warm. "I don't think I'll have a choice. None of you will let me get away with not bringing them to visit."

She smiled back at him and he walked over to her, leaning down to kiss her. Again, she noticed how natural his movements were with the child in his arms. Again, her heart swelled with love and pride for this gentle, loving son she had raised. "I love you, Bobby."

"I love you, too, Mom. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"I can talk to Maggie when you call, can't I?"

"Of course."

With a soft sigh, Frances smiled. "Drive carefully, son."

"I will. Good night, Mom."

Alex placed another gentle kiss on Frances' cheek as she said good night. Bobby bent his knees so his mother could kiss Maggie, who had fallen asleep.

After they left, Frances smiled at the nurse. "That's Bobby's family, Sue."

Sue returned her smile. She knew Bobby; they all did. And she was happy to see he had such a beautiful family, though she was surprised she had not seen them before. Oh, well...she often missed these visits, working at night. She set the cup of medicine into Frances' hand and gave her a glass of water. "He has a beautiful family, Frances," she said.

"Yes, he does," she replied. And she looked forward, very much, to seeing them--her family--again.