The three hours Nathan was in surgery felt like eight to Elizabeth. But once Dr. Yost came out and told her, his parents and hers that it went well and he should recover fully, the relief was overwhelming.

After her tears subsided, Elizabeth called Charlotte and Bill who were watching the kids at the house and told them. Then they needed to wait again for him to be moved from recovery to the ICU.

Finally, another two hours passed and they allowed one person at a time in his room. Elizabeth followed the nurse to room 455 and paused. She was nervous.

"Its okay, Mrs. Grant. He'll know you're here. Just hold his hand and talk to him."

Elizabeth nodded and walked in, taking the chair next to him. "Hi, sweetheart. Its me." She took his hand and threaded their fingers together. "The doctor said it went great. You'll make a full recovery. Its such a relief."

The nurse checked his meds and fluids and then left them.

Elizabeth stood slowly and pressed her lips to his cheek and then lips. "I love you so much, Nathan." She touched her lips to his again and felt them twitch.

"Mmm," he groaned, his crooked smile appearing. "What a great way to wake up," he teased.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"I don't know. I guess...pain," he winced. "Oh...ow…"

Elizabeth pushed the button to call the nurses. They came rushing in a few moments later.

"Mr. Grant? How are you doing?" one asked while the others tested reflexes and made notes based on his answers.

After checking him over, they gave him some painkillers and he relaxed.

Elizabeth stayed with him a bit longer and then switched with his mom so she could go talk to the kids.

Charlotte put her on speaker so everyone could hear at the same time. That also meant everyone could talk at the same time too.

"Okay, guys!" she said loudly. "Evie first because she's oldest. "How are you, sweetie?"

"I'm fine, Aunt Beth. How's Uncle Nathan?"

"He's in a bit of pain but they gave him medicine so he's resting."

Allie was next. "Aunt Beth? When can he come home?"

"A couple days probably."

Julian got on. "Aunt Beth, tell him we love him. Please?"

"Of course I will, hon. Kendra? How are you, sweetie?"

Elizabeth heard sniffling. "I don't know. I miss you and Uncle Nathan."

"We miss you too, Ken. I will be home tonight to tuck you all in."

"Okay."

"Momma! Give Daddy a big hug for me," JJ told her.

"Promise, sweetheart. See you all soon, okay?"

Three days later Elizabeth helped Nathan out of the Tahoe once they arrived home.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking in on my own, Beth."

"Maybe I just wanted an excuse to put my arms around you."

"You don't need an excuse for that."

"Then hush, husband, and I'm going to help you. No fighting me. Dr. Yost was very strict."

"I'm a doctor too."

"You are not a medical doctor, sweetheart."

"Technicalities."

Nathan swayed a bit as they walked up the front steps. "Whoa. Let's stop for a second."

"Dizzy?"

"Yeah."

"Daddy!" JJ yelled and then he stopped short, staring up at him. Nathan knew he looked a bit scary with his swollen eyes and bandaged head.

"Hi, JJ. I missed you."

JJ threw his arms around Nathan's waist. "I missed you too. Are you all better?"

"I will be. I just need to rest a lot."

All the rest of the kids met them in the living room and gave him hugs.

"Dad?" Allie said, leaning against his shoulder.

"Yeah, Al?"

"I missed you."

He slowly moved his arm up and around her shoulders. "I missed you too."

"Your phone has been ringing and buzzing all day, Dad," Allie told him.

He started to get up. "Freeze!" Elizabeth told him. "I'll get it for you."

"Its good to move around, babe."

"Humor me," she told him as she walked to the kitchen island. She saw 10 missed calls and 12 text messages. "Nathan? Who's Becki?"

He frowned and reached for his phone. The phone rang again. "Becki?"

Elizabeth watched him as he stood up slowly and walked out of the room.

"Al? Do you know Becki?"

"No. Maybe she's a patient?"

"On his personal cell phone?"

"I don't know."

Elizabeth tried to push the feeling of distrust and jealousy out of her mind and just wait for him to tell her.

"I just need to talk to you. Its important."

"Becks, I just had surgery. I can't go anywhere right now."

"What kind of surgery?"

"Brain."

"Is the cancer back?"

"No. Its a long story. Just tell me whatever it is now."

"Its not something to just say over…"

"Rebecca! Please."

"You have a son."

"Excuse me?"

"His name is Campbell and he's three."

"What? I have a...is this a joke?"

"No. Nathan, I need you to take care of him."

"What? I don't understand why you never told me about him."

"You had cancer. You were in treatment. It really wasn't the time."

"You seemed to think breaking up with me during said treatment was okay. Why not throw a kid in the mix too?"

"Nathan. I have breast cancer. Stage 3. I need help with Campbell. I have no one else."

Nathan did not come out of the master for dinner. Elizabeth assumed he was resting but she wondered if the call from Becki had also played a part.

Around 10 pm she went into their room. He was sitting up in bed, leaning against the headboard.

"Babe, its time for your pain meds. I brought you a sandwich."

"No thank you."

She sat next to him on his side and looked close. His eyes were bloodshot with dark puffy circles and he had tears on his face.

"Remember our vows, Nate?"

"Best day of my life," he said, a smile gracing his lips.

"I promised to cherish you. In sickness or in health. No matter what. You are struggling with something and I'm guessing it isn't just the brain surgery you had."

"Babe, I'm not sure you will keep those vows once I tell you this."

"Then you would be very wrong." She sat patiently and waited. He took a bite and then swallowed his pills. "Who's Becki?"

"Rebecca Stewart, an old girlfriend. We broke up during my cancer treatment."

"Okay. I already don't like her."

He smiled. "I love you." He leaned up to kiss her, which she allowed but then she pushed him back.

"Continue."

"Apparently when we broke up, she was pregnant."

Elizabeth tried not to show any emotion. "You didn't know?"

"She just told me."

Elizabeth stood and held up a finger. "I need a moment."

"Beth, what's on your mind?"

"Don't ask me that. I'm not a patient anymore, Nathan. I'm your wife."

"Babe, come here." He patted next to him. "There's more."

"What? Twins? Did she take that from me too?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"It was supposed to be us, Nathan. I don't know...maybe its selfish but...I wanted to carry your first child."

"Its not twins and you're not selfish. She needs me to help her, Beth."

"Money?"

"No. She has breast cancer. Stage 3. I need to take care of him during her treatment."

"A boy?"

"Campbell."

"When is he coming?"

"Saturday." She nodded. Nathan tucked her hair behind her ear and gave her a slow, deep kiss. "And just so you know...you are the first woman that I will share this experience with. All of it. You will be the first to carry my child intentionally made from the deepest of love."

"I love you," she whispered. "I'm sure I will love this little boy too." He held her quietly for a bit and then she laughed. "We really do have a plethora of kids, don't we?"

He laughed too. "Yeah."

They heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," Elizabeth said.

JJ and Julian came in with their pillows. "Can we sleep in here?" Julian asked. "Please, Dad?"

"You called me dad. You can absolutely sleep in here. For tonight only."

"Pushover," Elizabeth teased.

"I'm good with that."

A few minutes later, all three girls were begging too. "Please? We missed you," Kendra told him.

"There's plenty of room. Sure."

When they woke up the next morning, JJ had squeezed in between his parents.

"Hi, Daddy," he whispered, smiling with his adorable dimples.

"Hi, buddy. What are you doing up here?"

JJ snuggled closer. "I wanted you. I was scared when you were gone."

Elizabeth opened her eyes and listened quietly.

"I'm sorry you were scared, JJ."

"Can I stay home with you today? I can help you get better."

"Sorry," Nathan chuckled. "You need to go to school. As do the rest of you," he told the other kids who were waking up.

"Can't we stay home, Dad?" Julian asked.

"Nope. Now up. Evie you are on breakfast duty. If anyone needs a shower, get to it."

Once all the kids were out of the room, Elizabeth moved closer to Nathan and gave him a kiss. "Good morning, handsome. Good job with the kids."

"Thank you."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Not hungry really."

"You have to eat to take your meds, babe."

"Toast, I guess. I can get it."

"Nope. I will get it. You go shower."

"Don't you have class today, Beth?"

"I'm going to stay home with you."

"Nope. Sorry. My parents are here. If the kids need to go to school, so do you."

"You're a tough cookie today, Nathan Grant."

As the day went by, Nathan battled with headaches and dizziness which caused nausea. He kept most of it at bay with medication and sleep. However, the house was too quiet. He wandered slowly downstairs to see his parents but he found Grace instead.

"Grace? This is a surprise."

"Its my turn." She smiled at him and assisted him in sitting at the island. "I've been itching to try this recipe."

"It smells good."

"Its chili, not too spicy."

"Is that cornbread?"

"It is."

Elizabeth walked in then. "You're up," she said, giving him a kiss. "How are you feeling?"

"Like some chili and cornbread."

Elizabeth gave Grace a hug. "Is Dad here?"

"No. He will be here later after work."

"Maybe we should talk to them about our newest situation," Nathan suggested.

"Are you sure? I mean…"

"Yeah. Get some perspective?"

"Okay. Sure."

The kids all found a movie to watch after dinner so Nathan, Elizabeth and William and Grace had decaf in the dining room.

"So, we got some news yesterday," Elizabeth began.

"You're pregnant?!" Grace guessed.

"No. I'm not, Mom. Um...Nathan's son Campbell is going to come live with us for awhile."

"You have a son?" William asked.

"Apparently," Nathan admitted. "About four years ago I was in a serious relationship. When I was diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment, she decided she couldn't deal with it and broke up with me."

"Ugh. I already don't like her," Grace admitted.

"That's what I said," Elizabeth mentioned.

"She was pregnant and decided because of my illness that it wasn't the right time to tell me."

"And she waited until now?"

Nathan nodded at William. "She's in a bind. She has stage 3 breast cancer and no family."

"Oh dear," Grace sighed. "Of course he needs you, Nathan. Where does she live?"

"Hope Valley, Ohio. I may have mentioned that she should have her treatment at McLaren in Lansing."

"I'm sorry, Nathan, but where is she staying during treatment?" Elizabeth wondered.

Nathan grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. "Not here. I wouldn't do that to you. I do think we need to find a rental house or apartment for her."

Elizabeth felt that jealousy creep back in, or rather, fill her and threaten to burst out. She got up and left, heading to the kitchen to think.

"Beth?"

"Nathan, does she just want your money? Is that why she called you?"

"No. Look, I know this is hard…"

"Hard? We've been married about what, five weeks? We just moved here so there are boxes everywhere. We have five kids who are struggling with different stages of grief. You just had brain surgery and now there's a sweet little boy who doesn't know us, getting thrown in along with his ill mother? Yes, this is hard!" She regretted yelling but she couldn't help it.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too but I don't know how to handle this!"

"Together. We will handle it together. Right?"

She stepped into his space and wrapped her arms around him, holding tight. "Of course and I know you didn't plan this. Its just a lot, you know?"

"I know."

"I love you, Nathan. I'm just going to need a bit to figure out how to do this."

He nodded but both of them knew that in three days, three year old Campbell was going to need them to be ready.