A/N: Last chapter, guys. Sorry it took so long – too much schoolwork in my hands right now. Anyway, I have a new one coming up… angsty and based on the SMACked spoilers for season4 so far.
So there. Thank you for letting Dylan and his new baby sister Mara in your computers every update. And I thank you very much for staying with me.
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"Why don't the two of you get into the photo?" he suggested the parents. Mac and Stella sidled beside their son and daughter and they all smiled for the camera. But before Don could take the picture, he said, "Mara's awake."
And surely, her green eyes were wide open, staring at her big brother. She turned her head to the right and saw two familiar faces and one new face. Her face started to scrunch up. "Mommy, Mommy…" Dylan started to say.
Stella stroked her daughter's cheek and it seemed to calm her down. "You scared her, Don," she teased. When Mara settled comfortably in Dylan's arms, she said, "Take the picture already."
"Okay, s'long as this shot becomes the picture on the Taylor family greeting card," he said, holding the camera and taking a perfect picture… two pairs of hazel and two pairs of green eyes looking back at him.
"Oh my… it's not really greeting card material, being dressed in a hospital gown," Stella said, taking a look at the picture.
"Don't worry, we can PhotoShop it out, put you in a Valentino gown, if you like," Mac joked. Stella just glared at her. Don thought it was a great shot, so he took it.
"Hey!" the both of them said, Mac moving to snatch the camera from Don.
On the other hand, Dylan was oblivious to the outside world. He gave his little sister an Eskimo kiss, something that went unnoticed by the adults. Mara just blinked back; a newborn couldn't smile yet but inside, she was happy. They were silent… just like that for a few moments, sharing a brother-sister moment.
Soon after, the three adults noticed Dylan being unusually quiet. When they looked at him, Mac was just in time to snap a frame of Dylan kissing Mara on the tip of the nose. Stella placed her head on her husband's shoulder and just smiled proudly.
Unfortunately, Don was called in. He stayed with the Taylors for an hour before he had to leave. "I'll be back with the horde later today, okay?" he said before disappearing behind the door.
That's when Stella decided to call Andrea Moore. The time difference between New York and LA told her that Andrea would probably be on last class. She dialed the number she knew by heart and waited for the usual professional, "Professor Moore," reply.
"Andrea?" Stella started.
"Hey!" Andrea said, all professionalism gone. "I just finished a class. Good thing you caught me. All's good at your end?"
She smiled, walking over to the window. "Yeah… extremely well. Dylan's enjoying school. Mac and I are happy." She paused as if gauging how to tell her. "And… Mara's doing very well."
There was a pregnant silence on the other side. And then a loud and shrill cry flew through from Andrea's end. It was Stella's turn to veer away from the handset. "Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious!" Andrea practically screamed. Mac could even hear it from where he was sitting with their son. Dylan chuckled. "When? How? Oh of course I know how. Uh… her name? Weight? My goodness, Stella…" she babbled.
"Whoa there, Andrea," Stella laughed. Andrea had the tendency to babble (a Taylor inside joke: to turn into Danny) when she's overly stressed or extremely excited. It was pretty clear that this time, she was thrilled to hear the news. "Okay… one by one. She was born just a couple of hours ago. I'm sorry I hadn't called sooner. I was dead to the world for a few hours and I'm just so overwhelmed right now."
"That's okay, Stella," said Andrea. "I'm hyperventilating over here and I'm not even at your side yet."
They laughed. "We named her – no, actually Mac named her Mary Alexandra. I nicknamed her Mara. She's 6.3 lbs. Very cute."
"Of course!" Andrea replied. "You and Mac make pretty babies."
"You know, you're not the first one to tell me that," Stella giggled.
"Oh I bet. Hey… everybody here sends their congratulations to all y'all," she said. Stella heard a few familiar voices from the other end. "I'm assuming that I am entitled to pictures."
From where Stella was seated, by the window, overlooking the parking lot, she spotted a familiar department-issued SUV and unmarked squad car. They were at the seventh floor and it was a bit cloudy but she could not mistake the eight figures alighting from the vehicles. Three people from the squad car (two guys and a girl) and the remaining five from the SUV (three doctors, a CSI and a lab technician).
"I'll have Mac send the pictures," she replied. Walking over back to the bed.
"No hurry," Andrea answered. "Listen, I'll let you rest and I'll tell Joel and Margot the great news and we'll talk more."
"Okay, I'll hold on to that," Stella said. "We'll be having some company in a few minutes anyway. Extend my love to Joel and Margot, okay? Bye."
"Bye and congratulations," Andrea said before clicking off.
Stella collected her little girl from her son and sat on the bed. "We've got company," she informed the two. Soon, there was a soft knock on the door together with shuffles of feet and garbled voices. "Come in," she said.
A burst of greetings filled the small private room. Lindsey and Jennifer Angell said their congratulations at the same time. Sheldon and Sid and Adam were armed with teddy bears, "We're supposed to throw you a baby shower; the idea was one bear per person from the lab," Sheldon explained. Don and Danny were all smiles, two pairs of blue eyes gazing at the little bundle staring back at them. Peyton was standing in one corner, holding a basket of fruit and flowers, smiling.
The sudden barrage of noise was a shock to little Mara. She scrunched her eyes shut and let out a wail and started to thrash her arms around. The crowd quieted right away as Stella tried to calm her daughter down.
"Must've been too much for her," Lindsey said, making her way beside Stella and taking a closer look at the new little Taylor. "Aw… there now, baby girl." But Mara kept on crying.
Adam dug into one of the bags he was carrying and produced a small brown teddy bear. "Here, maybe this could help," he suggested and handed Lindsey the toy. She held it near the crying baby, making cooing noises of her own.
The two blue-eyed men in the room made their way near the window. Danny might not always get the news first but he's always ready. A few shots here and there, "Something to add to the photo album," he whispered to Don. Dylan clambered up the taller detective and snuggled.
Sid clapped Mac on the shoulder and said, "I have some cigars here for you, if you want to smoke one with me later." Angell snatched another bear from Adam's bag and joined Lindsey in calming the baby down. "She's beautiful, very Stella."
Mac chuckled. Even then, Sid's flirting with Stella. "I might take you up on those cigars later, Sid," he replied. "And yes, she is beautiful." From the corner of his eye, he spotted Peyton, standing in a corner, quietly watching the scenes in front of her. Her eyes were moist, her expression not of jealously but of happiness.
From the day they knew that what they had was no match to what he has with Stella, Peyton has realized that she was powerless to do anything to change that. She remained friends with both and now, she was standing in Stella's hospital room being a witness to the joy between Mac and Stella.
Finally, the little baby girl calmed down and reached out to touch the soft toys above her. Dylan took it as a sign to scold the crowd. "Next time, don't be too noisy!" he said from Don's arms.
"Now, that," said Sid, "is very Mac Taylor." The whole room erupted in laughter and both Dylan and Mac blushed.
"Peyton," Stella said suddenly when the laughter died down. The woman in question looked up and smiled. "Would you like to hold Mara?" Stella offered with a genuine smile. She must admit that Peyton's past with Mac was bittersweet for her yet she knew that Mac was loved by this woman… and for that, she's eternally grateful.
The people in the room waited for Peyton's reaction. Her smile widened and she said, "I'll be glad to." She walked over to the bed. Lindsey stood aside as Stella placed Mara in Peyton's outstretched arms. "Hello there, little lass," she cooed lovingly.
"Oh this is priceless," Lindsey mumbled, making her way to Danny's camera and snatching it from him. "Stella, Peyton, over here!" she called out to them as she took a picture – Mara in Peyton's arms beside Stella. Mac stood there, stunned, as well as glad. He was happy on how things turned out between the two women he adored.
Not long after, everyone in the room had that chance to hold the baby and by the time Don handed her back to Stella, Mara was already asleep. During that hour and a half, the sheriff called to congratulate the two. The Feehily family and the Berringers also called up saying that they'll try to drop by after school. And also, they will try to bring other classmates and parents with them. Miss Simmons said that Dylan could miss school tomorrow to be with his baby sister. She'll be swinging by as well.
When Dylan started to yawn, they all decided to call it a night. Since they all went to the hospital together, Adam, Lindsey, Sheldon, Sid and Peyton left together. Peyton told Stella that she'd be there tomorrow afternoon. Don, Danny and Angell left thirty minutes after.
When things are quiet again, Mac began to reflect about the long day he had today. One moment, they were driving home from Dylan's school – the next, he's holding his new baby daughter. Dylan's sleeping form was snuggled tightly against his mom's side, exhausted from a day in the hospital. Stella was gazing at him with pure love in her eyes as he placed their Mara back to her crib to sleep.
He walked back to sit beside her, kissing her softly. "I don't think I'll ever tire of loving you, Stella," he admitted. "Thank you for Dylan and Mara."
Stella swallowed back the tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you for giving me a family, Mac," she whispered. "I'll always love you. All three of you." She rested Mac's chest, his steady heartbeat lulling her to sleep.
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Serien – I have to have Don in every story. Especially if it's with kids.
Mo – I was touched by that scene too. It's so nice to see big brothers taking care of their little sisters.
MJ – hmm, let's see if I can make more of these and have Maggie in them.