Max and Kimberly welcomed twin boys, Tony and Timothy. That very same day, Vince and Cassie welcomed twin girls Amber and Audrey. Three months later, Bella gave birth to a baby girl named Emily. The families were all complete. Perry was in Las Vegas with Ken for the fights. When he walked into his hotel room, he found a young girl asleep on his couch. It was Melanie Benson, and she was there to get help for her father, David Benson, who had just been arrested for murder. At first, Perry turned her down. He changed his mind for a variety of reasons. One was that she reminded him an awful lot of Maureen. Perry agreed to represent Melanie's father and agreed to let her stay with him. Of course, he had to fly in someone to help him organize everything. Della arrived as room service was leaving. Perry walked out after he had heard his wife's voice. He gave her a kiss and realized she wasn't alone. "Why is Ellie with you?"
"Well, Natalie has finals and her parents are working."
"Della, we have practically a hundred people in our family."
"Grama," Ellie said as she hugged Della's legs.
Perry picked up his great-granddaughter and placed her on a chair at the table, "why don't you help Melanie eat some of this?"
Perry pulled his wife aside, "until her father's out on bail, we're going to have to keep an eye on her."
"Alright, she seems very sweet."
"You think so," he smiled, "she reminds me a lot of Maureen."
"Oh boy am I in trouble," Della said.
Melanie looked at Ellie, "so, they're your grandparents?"
"Great-grandparents," Ellie said, "mommy's grandparents. They're the best."
"So, kid, what'll you have?"
"Some of everything," she said. Melanie put some food on a plate and placed it in front of the five-year-old. "Thanks," she said.
Once Perry returned from speaking with Ken, Melanie went to her room and Ellie stayed with Perry. Della returned after speaking with the deceased private secretary. "Where's Melanie?"
"In her room, going deaf."
Della chuckled, "I guess it's been a while since we've had a teenager blaring terrible music."
"I do not miss those days."
Della went to get the teen. She opened the door before turning back to Perry, "you won't believe this, but she's sound asleep."
"Oh, I believe it."
Unfortunately, Melanie's dad didn't make bail and the girl's mother was unreachable. Perry and Della took Melanie back with them. Perry left to talk to a possible suspect, and Melanie snuck out to follow him. Perry caught her and took her back to the room. "What on Earth? I thought she was in her room?"
"Nope, looks like another one got away from you."
"Haha," Della said sarcastically. Perry sent the thirteen-year-old to her room. "You're right," Della said, "she does remind me of Maureen."
"Yep, just as defiant."
"Maybe more," Della said.
The next day, Melanie snuck out again. Perry wasn't happy. However, he did manage to clear Melanie's father. The teen was leaving the courthouse with her father but went back to Perry. She thanked him and hugged him. Then, she knelt in front of Ellie, "so long, kid. It was fun."
Ellie hugged the girl, "bye, Melanie." After the hug, Melanie left. Then Ken and Della walked out. "Grandpa!"
Perry jolted and looked at the little girl, "yes?"
"I'm hungwy," she said.
Perry chuckled, "like great-grandmother, like great-granddaughter."
He stood and picked up the little girl. The four went back to the room and ordered room service. After dinner, Perry and Ken went to the sitting area. Della started clearing the table. Ellie was still eating. Suddenly, Della heard a strange sound. She turned and noticed that Ellie was having trouble breathing. "Ella," the woman rushed to her granddaughter.
Perry heard the fear in Della's voice, "what's wrong?" he asked as he joined them. "Ken, call an ambulance."
The two saw the fear on the little girl's face, "it's going to be alright, sweetheart," Della said. She went in the ambulance with Ellie while Perry and Ken followed. Della refused to leave her granddaughter. The girl had gone into anaphylactic shock. The paramedics used an epi-pen, but it was decided she should still go to the hospital. Della sat on the bed, holding Ella.
Perry and Ken joined them. "I didn't know she had a food allergy," Ken said.
"If she does, her mother doesn't know either," Perry said.
"Did you call Natalie?" Della asked.
"I called and talked to Nicky. Natalie's finishing up her last final. He's going to tell her when she gets home."
The doctor walked into the room, "how are you feeling, Ella?"
"Sleepy," she said.
"Did you figure out what she's allergic to?" Perry asked.
"Ella, what did you eat right before you got sick?"
"A mint," she said.
"A mint?" the little girl described what she had eaten. "Sounds to me like she had an aspirin. Mrs. Mason, you said that she had been eating the same food for the past few days. If that's true, then it wasn't the food she was eating. Do you or your husband carry aspirin?"
Della pulled the bottle out of her purse. The lid was off and it was empty. The pills had spilled into her purse. Della took one out and showed it to Ellie, "that's it," the little girl said.
Della became very upset. She had no idea that the lid wasn't on the bottle or that any had fallen out of her purse. Ken went to call Nicky to update him. They all took Ella back to the hotel. Della threw away all of the aspirin she could find. "Natalie is going to be furious with me," Della said.
"Why?" Perry asked.
"Why? Because I landed her daughter in the hospital from anaphylactic shock."
"Della, you didn't know that the aspirin had spilled out."
There was a knock at the door. Perry answered it, "Natalie," he was surprised to see his granddaughter.
"I know my dad said that she's fine, but I had to see her. Where is she?"
"She's sleeping," Perry said.
Della hesitantly walked up to Natalie, "I am so sorry," Della said.
"For what?"
"Well, it's my fault she got the aspirin."
"You didn't know it had spilled out or that she was allergic. Cut yourself some slack. I'm going to look in on her."
Natalie walked away and Perry looked at his wife, "told you so."
When Natalie walked out, Della and Perry said goodnight before turning in. Natalie and Ken sat for a bit and talked. The woman needed to calm down and talking to Ken really helped.
