It had been four months since Ella had been born and she had yet to leave the hospital, but everyday she grew a little stronger, a little healthier. The hospital staff had been genuinely surprised that she had survived the night and everyday since. They proudly told the cautious parents that their daughter was a fighter.

A day didn't pass when either Duncan or Courtney, usually both, didn't not come to visit it their baby. Ella had her own private room, courtesy of her grandparents: Scott and Cindy Powell. A few days after Ella's birth, as Courtney lay in her hospital gown feeling sick and disgusting, the hospital phone that sat next to her bed on a makeshift nightstand rang. Normally she would've had Duncan answer it, but he had made a quick run to McDonald's because he couldn't stand the hospital food and hadn't returned yet.

Courtney had leaned over and grabbed the phone and had slowly brought to her ear.

"Hello."

There was a pause. "Courtney?"

She had thought she would never hear his voice again. Two years prior he had made it perfectly clear that she had been excommunicated from her family when she had married Duncan. Hurtful words had been exchanged from both parties, but Courtney had gotten over it and still kept in touch via e-mail with her parents. Not that they ever responded.

"Daddy?"

"Hello sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Her father's question sounded sincere, but she had been caught by surprise and hadn't known how to answer.

"Excuse me?"

"Your mother and I are just calling to check in on you sweetheart. And our granddaughter of course."

"Um, sorry, I'm just surprised to hear from you."

Scott Powell had sighed almost inaudibly from the other end of the phone.

"I know your mother and I hurt you, but we would like to start making amends for the way we treated you, and Duncan, all those years ago."

"This isn't like one of those little cuts I'd get when I'd fall off my bike as a kid Dad. A Band-Aid isn't going to fix what you did to my family," Courtney had said, placing special emphasis on the words "my family." "It's going to take a long time for our relationship to recover and it will never be the same."

"Your mother and I understand and we weren't expecting forgiveness; we certainly don't deserve it. Honey, we are in this for the long haul, we both want our daughter back and our family whole again."

Courtney didn't waver. "You get one opportunity. Don't mess up."

"We'll make you proud," Scott had coughed to cover his emotions. "I can't believe my little girl now has her own little girl."

"Who told you?"

"I know we never responded, but we read all your e-mails, so we knew you were pregnant, but Duncan called once Ella, a beautiful name sweetie, was born. He thought we should know, regardless of his personal feelings towards us."

"Oh, I see. Well, she's gorgeous, but right now we are just praying for her. There's nothing else the doctors can do, survival is up to Ella now."

"Yes, Duncan mentioned she was sick," Scott had interrupted. "Your mother and I would like to help out with the expenses and, when the hospital says it is okay, pay for Ella to be in a private room, so that the two of you can have as much time with her as you want."

"Dad we're not accepting any money from you."

"I'm not giving the money to you; I'm giving it to my only grandchild."

"Dad—"

"End of discussion. I have to go now, but take care and stay strong. I will be in touch soon. You don't need to say it back, but I love you."

"Thank you."

"Say 'hello' to your husband for me and your mother."

"I will. Good-bye Dad."

"Goodbye sweetie."

And that had been that. The beginning of the healing process for the Powell's brought on by a little miracle.

Today though, Duncan was going to relish in his alone time with his daughter. After practically living in the hospital for the past four months, Gwen had told Courtney that she needed to get out, if just for dinner. The former Goth girl had been able to convince her to come to dinner and a movie with her, Trent, LeShawna, Harold, and Cody and to let Duncan worry for the night (not that he didn't worry every night).

So, Duncan sat in their private room finally allowed to hold his daughter without a doctor or nurse looking over his shoulder to monitor the baby's safety. He sat in the surprisingly plush chair and just held his Ella, wires and impossibly small hands and feet and all. He just sat there and stared at her in complete awe.

He couldn't believe he had helped make this perfect person. He wasn't sure how to be a father, but the first time he held her he had promised himself that he would be the best father in the whole damn universe. He couldn't help but think of the future. He would thrill in her first words and steps, enjoy teaching her how to ride a bike and check all of her homework. He would be pained as she grew-up and became closer to Courtney and grew farther apart from him. He wouldn't help matters by running off possible suitors and threatening boyfriends.

He had never felt love like this so quickly, so all consuming. Duncan would die or kill for Ella without hesitation and he had known that the second her little finger, in those first precious and uncertain hours of her life, wrapped around his own. Currently he held Ella lightly against his chest, stroking her soft skin and humming softly. She yawned and stretched her little limbs opening her blue eyes, his color Duncan admired for the millionth time, to look at him.

"Hi Ella. Do you remember me? I'm your daddy. How're you today?"

Ella simply stared back in response.

"Good to hear. Mommy sends her love, but Gwen, um Auntie Gwen to you…maybe…we'll see. Anyway, Mommy went out for awhile to unwind because otherwise she would drive Daddy insane. No one wants that, huh?"

Ella gurgled slightly.

"So where did we leave off last time? We talked about all three of your ridiculous uncles, but to recap, Uncle David is married to Aunt Katherine and their daughter is your older cousin Julia. Uncle Andrew will probably never get married, but he's been reunited with Sherry for awhile now, so you never know. Finally, Uncle Kellan has Lizzy and he's the one that makes those funny faces at you that you don't find funny at all."

Duncan paused to make sure Ella was following.

"I guess that just leaves Mommy, huh? Where and how do I begin to explain your Mommy? Well, she's incredible to start. She's exotically gorgeous, sickeningly smart, funny, but with a dry sense of humor. She has a huge heart, but can be ruthless when necessary. She's an insanely driven overachiever, but since we found out about you coming along she's mellowed out. A little bit."

He gently rocked her back and forth for a minute before continuing.

"I hope you achieve a million times more in this world than your Mom and I put together. You're gonna be an amazing person. I got a good feeling about you kid."

Silently, Duncan continued to rock his daughter enjoying their bonding moment.

"I love you my Ella. I think I gotta think of a new name for your Mom. Well, she's always been my Princess, but I think it's about time she gets moved up to Queen. What do you think? "

Ella blinked several times with her wide blue eyes.

"It's settled then. Courtney is now my Queen and you, my Ella, will be my little Princess. How does that sound?"

She gurgled happily. Duncan leaned down and kissed her head.

"Good. I love you Princess."