Ken and Natalie found out that they were expecting. They didn't want to rush into marriage, so they moved in together. The families were thrilled because of how happy Natalie and Ella were. The joy was interrupted by the news that Perry's father had died at the age of ninety-seven. Paula moved in with Penny and her family since Perry's house was full. Patrick knew his mother would be more comfortable with his sister. Penny was able to help her mother get through her grief to find joy in life little by little again.

Perry and Della made their way into the Parrish house. "Do you think they'll mention not being invited to Maureen's wedding?" Della asked.

"No," Perry answered, "besides, we have seven other children who are married and they weren't invited to those either."

"That makes it sound worse."

"Della, our children made the decision to only invite people they knew. They don't know anyone in the Parrish family."

Perry and Della were standing around talking when Max Perrish walked over, "how's your brood doing?"

"Brood? That's putting it mildly," Perry joked.

"Eight children, thirty grandchildren, and one great-grandchild," Della said.

"Thirty? Well, it would appear that your children have been busy," Max said.

"They decided to do things the way we did. Just keep having children until you're too tired to make anymore," Perry joked.

"Well, I'm glad you're both here. Excuse me," he said before walking away.

Della went to get something to drink for her and Perry. She turned and saw Laura Perrish talking to Perry and smiling. Della snuck up on the two, "oh, of course, Della," Laura said as if she wouldn't be there. "How nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise," Della said as she linked her arm with Perry's, "thank you for inviting us."

"Of course," Laura said, "so how many children do the two of you have?"

"Eight," Perry answered.

"Wow," Laura said in shock.

"We have thirty grandchildren," Della said with a big smile.

"For someone who never expressed an interest in being a family man, you sure have a large one," Laura said to Perry.

"I only expressed an interest when I met the woman I wanted to have a family with," Perry came back with.

Laura's face dropped a bit, "well, you two have a wonderful time," she said before walking away.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said that," Perry said.

"I wish we could be alone," Della said, "I'd have my way with you after that comment."

Perry looked at his wife, "think we can sneak out?"

Della laughed, "possibly, but we're already here. You'll just have to wait." The ceremony was interrupted and then postponed. Of course, there was a murder. Perry talked to Kaitlyn before he and Della left. He sent Ken out to investigate and dig up information before arranging Kaitlyn's bail. Della could tell something was bothering Perry and she knew exactly what it was, "you're thinking of Maureen, aren't you?"

"I know it was years ago, but yes, I am."

"Why don't you call her?"

"I probably will tonight. She stays home at night."

Laura, Max, Kaitlyn, and the young woman's fiance, Garry, all met with Perry and Della the following day. "How did you get through this?" Max asked Perry.

"It was more difficult knowing my own daughter's life was in my hands. That my granddaughters knew they could lose their mother. Della was the only reason I got through it all. She never stopped believing in me. I even quit at one point, but Della threatened to leave me if I didn't help Maureen."

Max and Laura looked at the woman in shock. "I love Perry with all my heart, but never give up on my children. Even the ones who have always preferred him."

"You all need to support one another. That's the only way to get through this."

Ken entered the room, "sorry I'm late. I had to stop and meet with Paul. What did I miss?"

"Just me informing them about how Della and I got through Maureen's trial," Perry said.

"Ah, the one time Della threatened to leave you."

"Yeah," Perry said. "Now, let's talk strategy." Perry and Ken started talking about the case while Della took notes. Perry noticed a change in his wife. He saw her continuously blink her eyes and wince in pain. Then she started slowing down. Perry held up a hand when Ken was talking, "hold up, Ken." He turned to his wife and took her hand, "Della, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she said without looking at him.

"Look at me."

She looked up and her head started to spin, "I'm fine. I think I'm just getting a headache."

"Why don't you go lie down?"

"I can wait."

Ever since her stroke, Perry always worried when Della had a headache. "Perry, we can finish this later," Max said, "I mean, you all have other things to look into."

"No," Della said, "I'm fine. I'll just grab some Tylenol." The woman stood but collapsed. Luckily, Perry caught her.

"Ken, call...," Perry began, but the investigator had already picked up the phone. Perry sat Della in the chair and looked at her. "Della, can you hear me?"

"Yes," the woman whispered.

"Do you feel any numbness?"

"No," she said.

"Your face isn't drooping."

"Perry, is there something we can do?" Max asked.

"Thank you, but I just need to get her to a doctor. Seven years ago, Della had a minor stroke. I just want to make sure she's not having another one."

"Perry," Della said in pain, "it's just a headache."

"You nearly fainted. We need to make sure." Perry kept looking at Della but spoke to his client's family, "once we know what's going on, we'll get back to the case."

"Perry, if this is too much...," Max started.

"As long as it's just a headache, it's not."

The paramedics arrived and got Della ready for transport. Within an hour of her arrival, the tests revealed that Della was suffering from a migraine and had not had another stroke. Perry had Ken bring his work to the hospital. Della was asleep from the medication, and Perry was not going to leave her. Max and Laura quietly entered the room, "Perry," Max said softly to alert the lawyer to their presence. The man turned around, "how is she?" Max whispered.

"Migraine," Perry whispered back, "she'll be out for a while."

"There's nothing else?"

"No, thankfully," Perry said.

The couple could see the relief on the lawyer's face, "good."

"Are you working on Kaitlyn's case?" Laura asked.

"Yes," he answered.

"Perry, we can find another attorney."

"Absolutely not," he said, "besides, Della would be furious if I resigned. She's asleep right now and everything looks good. I've been in enough hospital rooms with Della to know how quickly I get bored while she's sleeping."

"Enough hospital rooms?"

"Well, there are the times she gave birth, during her first pregnancy she ended up in the hospital due to stress. Two years after the boys were born, she broke her knee. Three years later she battled breast cancer. Six years after that she had double pneumonia in both lungs. Plus, Maureen had been kidnapped and when she was thrown off a cliff, Della jumped in after her. Two years later she was shot one night while shopping with Violet and Maggie. Two years after that, she was in a car accident with the boys. It was a deliberate crash by the shooter who was the son of the man who kidnapped Maureen. Oh, six weeks before Maureen was arrested, Della broke her hip. Her stroke was the following year."

"How many times have you been in the hospital?" Max asked. He and his wife were shocked by what Perry had just told them.

"I was in '85 after a mild heart attack. Then I was hospitalized for knee surgery and weight loss surgery."

"How is she still here?" Laura asked.

"She's the toughest person I know," Perry said, "she nearly died the last time she gave birth."

"Love," Max said, "that's how she's survived all these years. I have to admit that no one loves anyone as much as you and Della love each other."

Perry smiled, "so we've been told."

"Well, we'll leave you. We're glad she's going to be alright," Max said before ushering his wife out of the room.

Della slept through the night. The next day, she was discharged. The woman was still a bit off from the medication but insisted on going to the office. Perry held onto his wife as he led her from the car to the office. "You gave them my entire medical history?"

"Well, they asked what I meant when I mentioned spending a lot of time in hospitals with you."

"You could have just said I was accident-prone."

"Only two were accidents."

"Fine, I'm a great target."

"You were only a target three times. You were mainly in the hospital to give birth or because of illness." Della glared at her husband, "guess it doesn't matter," he said when he saw the look on her face. "I'm sorry I told them."

"It's not a big deal," Della said. "I just don't need Laura to think I'm weak."

"What does it matter what she thinks?"

"She still has feelings for you."

"That's ridiculous."

"Laura Robertson did too."

"Well, she's crazy."

"Seems to come with the name Laura."

Perry cleared his client. Later that year, Natalie and Ken welcomed a baby girl. They named her Everly Antonia after pops who had passed away about ten years ago from old age. Nicky was touched by the gesture. Everly was in honor of Philip whose middle name was Everett.