"Awe, bye Ella!"

"Be good cupcake."

"My favorite baby is leaving? Oh, a sad day for me, but a happy day for you two. She's such a sweet natured little girl. Good luck!"

"Enjoy her now, they grow up so fast."

The nurses and doctors at the hospital had mixed feelings about Ella going home. They were sad to see their favorite patient go, but overjoyed that she was healthy enough to be released. Duncan and Courtney were elated to be able to bring their daughter home after four long months. Ella had been born in November, when it was extremely cold, and was coming home now in March, now that all of that cold had dissipated and the snow had melted.

They were excited to show Ella her new residency, but even more excited to introduce her to everyone. Both Duncan and Courtney's families, immediate and extended, were clamoring to meet the newest member of their families and to, of course, spoil the little angel rotten. The couple's friends were also looking forward to meeting the baby. Most were married, sans children, or in a relationship and almost desperate to be able to practice for parenthood. Duncan and Courtney didn't mind the idea of practice, eventually; it just meant they had many built-in babysitters.

The couple carefully put Ella in her car seat and Duncan drove incredibly below the speed limit; Courtney was turned around in her seat, staring at Ella as if she took her eyes off of her she would disappear.

When they arrived home Courtney slowly removed Ella from the backseat and the couple, now a small group, walked slowly up the walkway and into the house. The house had been cleaned to the point of obsession. Neither Courtney nor Duncan dared take the chance of having any germ or possible allergen in the house for a fear of Ella getting sicker.

The only possible allergens were the dozens of bouquets that were decorating and crowding the kitchen. The Evers had received congratulation flowers from every single former TDI cast member, a joint one from Chris and Chef, a bouquet made of fruit from Maureen, ones from each of their siblings, and each set of parents had sent one over too. Duncan joked that he and Courtney should quit their jobs and open a florist shop.

Ella had had an exciting morning so far and it had taken its toll; she was fast asleep, her light brown peach fuzz hair a little flyaway. Duncan opened Ella's bedroom door ushering in his two favorite ladies. In the four months Ella had been in the hospital the room had been flooded with more stuff. Kellan had gone crazy with buying his niece pretty much everything he came across, mostly stuffed animals. Lizzy had enlisted Maureen and Katherine as accomplices in many shopping trips; they didn't want Ella to suffer from Courtney's lack of fashion sense. The baby had more clothes now than Duncan and Courtney combined.

The couple had also invested in everything they would need in order to properly take care of their daughter. They had stocked up on formula and bottles along with a couple of pacifiers for when she was a little older. The bottom of one of the hall closets had been cleared of bed linens and replaced with packages of diapers and baby powder. In her bedroom they had also left a small section of carpet by the crib bare because the doctors had informed them that Ella would have to be on oxygen for some time and they needed a place to keep the oxygen equipment. All and all the couple had tried to be as prepared as possible for their new housemate.

Courtney placed Ella into her crib, already missing the contact, and wound the mobile. She just stood at the side of the crib gazing down at her daughter adoringly for awhile. Duncan stood a good couple of feet behind Courtney and marveled at the changes in his wife.

Some of the changes were subtle. Courtney had become more nurturing and seemed to be calmer and less argumentative. She began eating healthy and kept up her exercise regime from when she was still pregnant; the healthier she became the better she felt which led to her being happy and positive. She had gotten used to rising early because the nurses had said Ella was an early bird and she had become a lighter sleeper so that the second Ella made a noise she could be there. Motherhood suited Courtney well and it only made Duncan love her more.

He moved to Courtney and stood behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. She automatically leaned into his embrace. The two stood in silence for a few minutes watching Ella sleep.

"God, she is so perfect," Courtney whispered.

"I know, and we made her."

"It's incredible."

"Ya know," Duncan began sheepishly, "she makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to change the world."

"I know what you mean. I'm going to do everything in my power to be Supermom."

"Please you're already Supermom."

"Awe, glad to know you haven't lost your exceptional flattering skills."

Courtney turned around in Duncan's embrace and kissed him briefly before continuing.

"I have this amazing feeling of completeness. I know it sounds corny, but our house is a home now. We're a true family."

"So you're happy?"

"More than I ever thought was possible."

"Good. I want nothing but happiness for my Queen."

"You're so swee—Queen? Since when have you started calling me Queen? What happened to Princess?"

"I can't, in all good conscious, call you that anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because our family has evolved and Ella is my little Princess. And you," Duncan grinned, "are my Queen now."

"Oh, Ella has already got her Daddy wrapped around her little finger," Courtney beamed. "So what does this new family name hierarchy make you, the court jester?"

"Oh how I've missed your sarcasm," Duncan responded, turning on the baby monitor. "Come on let's get something to eat before she wakes up."

"Okay. Have a good nap Ella. We love you."

"And, of course, welcome home sweet pea."