I could hear my parents arguing in their room. It was muffled and quiet, but I knew what it sounded like. It wasn't the first time I had heard it since moving back home. But the topic was always the same; me.

My dad was all for letting me live the way I wanted, while my Mom wanted to control every aspect now. She acted like I wasn't capable of taking care of myself with a new heart, but Dad constantly reminded her that I was an adult. I knew how to follow a checklist and keep myself safe.

It's not like I wanted to go skydiving or on a slingshot into the sky. I just wanted to live on my own again.

But Mom kept saying that it was their money that paid for my bills and rehabilitation and that I needed to follow their rules for the time being. It was stupid but it was easier to just follow it for the time being. I rolled onto my side and picked up my phone. It was just passing midnight and they were still at it.

I scrolled through my contacts and found the one I wanted, tucking my phone between my ear and the pillow. It rang a few times before a groggy voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi. Did I wake you?"

"No, I'm stuck on the on-call shift for the third day in a row. Is everything okay?" my friend Mason responded with a sigh. I chuckled to myself and shifted in my bed, curling my knees up to my chest. Mason was a surgical intern at the hospital here in town. He was one of the doctors that were in my surgery. He was offered the opportunity to sit it out because of circumstances, but he insisted that he needed to be in the operating room. Just so that he could know that I was alive.

"Why are you up?" Mason asked through a yawn.

"Parents are fighting, plus I keep getting those palpitations," I said quietly.

"Are you tracking them?" Mason asked, sounding more awake.

"Yeah, I think it's just anxiety. I had two drinks tonight too, you know how I get when I drink," I said quietly

Mason grunted. "If the palpitations are still there in the morning, come see me," he said seriously.

I yawned. "Yes, Dr. Ashford," I grumbled.

"Figure out what you want for Friendmas?"

I groaned. "Can you guys stop asking me that? I just want a nice dinner with you guys," I said rubbing my face. Mason laughed on his end of the phone and then sighed.

"But honestly, how are you feeling?"

I sighed and rubbed my hand under my nose. "I'm okay. I met someone tonight and honestly, we talked about my transplant and he didn't speak to me like I was broken, or with pity. He just listened and talked to me like we were talking about the weather. It was really nice, actually."

"Was he hot?"

I snorted and covered my mouth so I didn't alert my parents that I was still awake.

"And if he was?"

"Then you were probably flirting at some point."

"Listen, ducky, I don't flirt with everyone. And he wasn't flirting with me, we were just talking," I defended.

"Hey, I remember what it was like to flirt with you, it could be real subtle," Mason laughed. In high school we dated on and off. It was odd sometimes because we had known each other since we were so young when we became friends, but it felt like it was the right thing to do. That was until Mason discovered that it wasn't a woman's touch that he craved. He was scared to come out to me once he figured it out, but I took it surprisingly well.

It also helped that he started dating a mutual friend and they were well-suited for each other. Better than we ever were romantically.

"Do you remember when we used to go grocery shop sailing?" I asked with a quiet giggle.

"I remember crashing into a chain link fence and needing fourteen stitches in my shoulder," Mason said dryly. I snickered and sighed quietly.

"I remember you needed a nice big ice pack, though," Mason recalled. I groaned into my pillow and laughed. While Mason and Lissa needed stitches, I ran into a tree and got a busted lip and a black eye. No stitches were needed, but my face was swollen for a few days.

"I wish I could still do fun stuff like that," I said quietly.

"You still can, Rose," Mason said, "Getting a heart isn't going to stop that."

"Can you tell my mother that?" I deadpanned.

Mason snorted a laugh and I could hear his chair squeak as he leaned back in it.

"Nah, I'm terrified of Janine still," Mason said, "But I'm sure Eddie would pass the message along."

I snorted another laugh. "How is Eddie? Is he enjoying being a stay-at-home dad?"

"Oh, he's loving it. I'd love it too if I could stay awake long enough to hold my son," Mason said with a smile. I shook my head and rolled onto my back, looking up at the glow-in-the-dark stars that have been stuck up there for the better part of fifteen years. I was surprised they still glowed.

"Well, you'd be stupid to not want to spend time with Jemma," I said quietly. Jemma was Mason and Eddie's adopted son. He was beautiful, but a handful. He was Eddie's godson from his cousin. Mila was sick when she gave birth, and the dad wasn't around. Mason and Eddie had just gotten married a few months before and Mila knew that her time wasn't going to be long. She spent every waking minute with Jemma before she died, and made her wishes clear to everyone. She wanted Jemma to be taken care of by the two.

Neither of them had an issue with it, but it was hard in the beginning. Their mothers were there a few nights to help get them on track. Neither of them had ever taken care of a baby longer than a few nights.

"I'll have to come and see the little monster again soon," I said.

"Please, take him. If Eddie and I can have two hours together without a puking baby, I think we'd be in love with you."

I laughed loudly and stretched in my bed. "When's your next day off?"

"When I'm done this shift."

"How about I pick up the little man tomorrow around noon? I'll take him for a few hours. Maybe a baby will give my mother something else to focus on."

"Are you serious? Because if you aren't, that's a cruel joke," Mason demanded.

"I am very serious," I said.

"Oh, you are my favourite person," Mason enthused. I smiled to myself and pulled my phone away to check the time.

"I should get going if I'm going to be rested enough to watch the little man," I said with a yawn.

"Yeah, you're going to need it," Mason said yawning as well, "But remember what I said about the palpitations."

"I know, I know. Goodnight Mase," I said before hanging up. I plugged my phone in and rolled onto my stomach, sticking my hands between my hip bones and the mattress. It was the most comfortable position to sleep in, but it always fucked up my back.

I closed my eyes and was thankful that I couldn't hear my parents fighting anymore. It was quiet finally. I closed my eyes and breathed silently when the door creaked open slowly. I could see Dad's head poke through the door. He couldn't see my eyes open, but I could see that he had a sad smile on his face.

"What's wrong?" I mumbled into the mattress.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about how much I used to come and check on you as a kid, sleeping in the same position. You grew up so fast."

"Dad, I'm twenty-four," I said quietly. Dad sighed and came in, leaning over me and resting a hand on the mattress while he kissed my temple.

"Doesn't matter. You'll always be my baby. I just hate seeing you grow up so fast," he said as he pulled back, "How about I make pancake disaster in the morning?"

"Won't Mom throw a fit?"

Dad shrugged. "I think she's backed in submission of guilt. She forgets that you're an adult. Good night, little bird," he said before closing the door. I smiled and tucked back into bed, rubbing my face on the edge of the blanket.

I smirked as I shook my hair over Jemma's face, laughing as he squealed. He loved to grab at my hair and I knew that it tickled his face. He was such a happy boy, he made babies look like a breeze.

"Hello. Hello, hello, hello," I said softly as I shook my hair over his face again. Eddie and Mason had one of those flat prams that looked like a playpen on wheels. It worked in my favour right now so I could lean over him.

"We need to stop meeting like this."

I looked up and raised my brows at Dimitri.

"What?"

"At random places, except this time, you're the one with the baby," Dimitri said with a laugh.

I chuckled and nodded with a shrug. "True," I said. Dimitri stepped closer and looked into the stroller.

"Awe," he said softly.

"My godson. Well, sort of. He hasn't been officially baptized yet. His adopted father is technically his godfather, but that won't work, so I got the lovely duty of being this sweet boy's god-mom," I explained and leaned back over the stroller, tickling my fingers over Jemma's stomach.

"How old?"

"Six months," I said.

Dimitri nodded and rubbed the back of his head with a chuckle. "I feel awkward."

"Why?" I asked as I sat on the bench, pushing the stroller back and forth gently.

"Well, I saw you when I was in the shop and thought I'd come say hi, but now all I can think about is asking you on a date," Dimitri said with a small chuckle.

"Oh," I said with mild surprise. I smiled to myself and tilted my head to the side. "I hope you don't plan on asking me like that. It wouldn't be a good first impression."

Dimitri barked a laugh and smiled as he shook his head, sitting down on the bench beside me.

"I didn't intend on blurting it out like that," Dimitri said. I smirked at him and shrugged.

"It's fine, I like it when someone is forward," I said peering into the stroller when Jemma started to fuss. He started teething and I felt horrible for him. His teeth were starting to cut through in the front and I forgot his toy at Eddie's. I took my bracelet off and reached into the stroller, running my finger against his lips until he opened his mouth. He latched onto my finger with his little hands and gummed at my finger.

"Does that feel better, buddy?" I whispered with a pinched brow. I rubbed my finger against the swollen gum and smiled softly when Jemma gripped my finger tighter.

"You're good with him," Dimitri commented.

"Surprisingly. Kids scare the crap out of me. But this little guy makes kids look easy. Do you have any? Kids, I mean," I said looking up at him.

Dimitri shook his head. "No. I am a very proud uncle though. Two nieces and a nephew."

"Spoiled," I chuckled.

"Did your mother give you grief last night?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. But I had to listen to my parents fight for two hours. My dad managed to knock her down a few pegs for now. But, if it weren't for them keeping me up, I never would have gotten the opportunity to take this little guy for a few hours."

Dimitri smiled and hummed in response. "How so?"

"I ended up calling Jemma's other father and he practically pawned him off on me," I chuckled, rubbing absently at my chest. I took a slow deep breath and cleared my throat.

"Are you alright?" Dimitri asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Actually, can I ask a really random favour?"

"Um, sure?"

"I need you to drive me somewhere, in my car. Actually, I need you to drive me to Jemma's house. I need to see his dad. I've been having palpitations and he said if they didn't go away, to go and see him. They've come back and I don't want to risk driving."

I knew that it was abrupt and I barely knew him, but I felt that I could trust him. Plus, all the people that use the wrapping service have to give their home addresses. The wrapping service was a third-party company and they would use a portion of the money collected and buy toys for children. The address was so that each person got a card saying thank you after the holiday.

"Of course," Dimitri said standing up. I nodded and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I dialled Mason's number, sighing to myself as it rang.

"Hello?" Mason asked a little breathlessly.

"Am I interrupting sex?" I asked.

"No, rearranging. Why?"

"A friend of mine is driving Jemma and I to your house. The palpitations came back and I'm just a little anxious," I explained. "Or should I go straight to the hospital?"

"No, come here first," Mason said, "Who is driving? Lissa?"

"Um, no, his name is Dimitri."

"Oh? I don't think we've met."

"You haven't. He is evidently who I told you about last night," I said quietly, glancing at Dimitri as we walked.

"Oh…well, share your location with me just to be safe," Mason said before hanging up.

Mason's face gave nothing away as he listened to my heart, moving the stethoscope over my chest.

"Any dizziness?"

"A little, when I got out of the shower."

"Any headaches?"

"No," I said quietly.

Mason nodded and pulled the stethoscope from my chest, reaching into the bag beside him and pulling out a blood pressure cuff. He put it on me and tightened it, pressing the cold metal to the juncture of my elbow.

I glanced at Eddie who bounced Jemma gently, holding the teething toy to his mouth while Dimitri sat at the other end of the dining table.

"Any flu-like symptoms, chills, aches, abdominal pain?"

"No, just a bit of palpitation," I said. Mason nodded and took the cuff off and set it back in the bag before feeling around my neck.

"I think it's simply anxiety. PTSD even," Mason said after a moment.

"Really?"

Mason nodded. "Yeah, I mean, you went through something very traumatic, mentally and physically. It's not uncommon for people to experience anxiety around the anniversary of a car accident. Add that to a transplant and your whole life going through an upheaval, anxiety isn't surprising. You don't show any symptoms of heart failure and your dizziness getting out of the shower could be related to your iron deficiency. You're okay," Mason said resting his hands on my shoulders.

I nodded and sighed a breath of relief. "Thank you. I'm sorry for being so paranoid."

"Don't be. I did tell you to come and see me if it didn't go away. Plus, the first year is always the hardest emotionally," Mason said and sat down at the table. I nodded and ran my hand through my hair, slouching down in the chair.

"Do not tell my mother," I grumbled as I put my hands over my face.

"Didn't plan on it. Not going to rattle that cage."

I chuckled and pulled my hands away from my face.

"I thought doctors having medical equipment at home was just a t.v. thing."

Mason smirked. "The hospital was getting rid of a lot of equipment because the brands were in their contracts anymore. They had to purge them, so I was able to take a few things. It comes in handy," Mason explained as he packed his things back into the bag.

I nodded and then looked at Dimitri sheepishly. "Still want to ask me on that date?" I chuckled.

"I've already been to a check-up, might as well take you out for a nice dinner," Dimitri smiled as he rested his head on his fist, elbow balancing perfectly on the table.

I smiled and felt a blush creep up my face as I stood up. "I can still take Jemma for the rest of the afternoon," I offered.

"Nah, it's okay. He's going to go down soon. I hope the rest of his tooth pops through while he sleeps," Eddie said as he rocked side to side.

"Yeah, I rubbed my finger against his gums earlier and he seemed to like it," I said.

"Oh, he loves that," Mason chuckled. I smirked and patted his shoulder as I walked past, canting my head at Dimitri. He stood up too and followed me to the door, putting his coat and shoes on too.

"Need me to bring anything next week?" I asked.

"Cranberry sauce?" Eddie piped up.

"You got it," I said as I pulled my boots on. Eddie smirked and lifted Jemma's hand, waving it at me. Jemma pouted and looked at Eddie, small cries creeping out of his mouth. I frowned and went to him, taking him out of Eddie's arms.

"Oh, buddy. You're killing the ovaries," I said quietly, kissing his plump cheek. Jemma burrowed his face against my chest and I groaned quietly.

"Killing me," I whispered to Eddie. He smirked and rubbed the back of Jemma's head softly. After a moment I kissed Jemma's head and handed him back to Eddie and practically bolted out the door. I took my keys back from Dimitri and got in the driver's seat, sighing quietly as I put the keys in the ignition.

Dimitri was smirking at me and I raised my brows.

"What?"

"The ovaries?"

I laughed and shook my head. "What, sometimes I get baby fever. I'm twenty-four, it's not surprising," I said as I back out of the driveway and started driving back toward the mall.

"Thank you again for doing this," I said after a few minutes.

"Of course," he said, "Thank you for trusting me even though you barely know me. I could have been a crazy stalker and kidnapped that adorable baby."

I chuckled. "I shared my location with Eddie and Mason before I left the mall."

"Smart," Dimitri chuckled. I smirked and rested my elbow on the door, resting my head on my hand.

"So, what is your favourite holiday?" I asked.

"That is a random question."

"Think of it as a pre-date palette taster," I chuckled.

"Christmas," Dimitri said, "Even after losing my best friend. What is your favourite food?"

I pursed my lips. "Pizza. What is the best Christmas gift have you ever gotten?"

Dimitri hummed quietly and drummed his fingers on the door. "My duster."

"Your what?" I asked with a laugh. Dimitri gestured at himself.

"My coat. It's a duster," Dimitri explained with a smirk, "What about you? What was yours?"

I thought that one over. There were so many ideas that I could think of but I finally settled on one.

"Meeko," I said with a grin, "My husky."

"You have a husky?"

"Yeah. He's a good boy. My parents got him for me a few years ago. He's such a beautiful dog and has the sweetest eyes. He doesn't bark, but he yells," I chuckled.

"That is a very stereotypical Christmas gift," Dimitri pointed out. I shrugged and thought of another question, tapping my hands on the steering wheel.

"Oh! What do you do for a living?"

"I own a gym," Dimitri said. I nodded and wagged my brows at him.

"So you get to watch girls work out all day?"

Dimitri chuckled and shook his head. "No."

I laughed and sighed, yawing as we stopped at a red light.

"What did you do before now?"

"I used to work as a security guard at a bank. But after the accident, I went through so much recovery that they ended my contract, but they kept my benefits running for four months after that."

I turned into the parking lot and Dimitri directed me to where his car was. I parked beside it and grinned at him.

"Should we keep going, or save the rest of the questions for our date?" Dimitri asked.

I shrugged. "Depends on how long you're going to make me wait?"

"How does Friday night sound?"

I twirled my hair over my fingers and nodded. "I guess that isn't too long. Still gives a chance to run if you think I'm crazy."

Dimitri grinned at me. "I don't plan on it."

I nodded and smiled at him, admiring the way his eyes crinkled in the corners and the slight dimple in his cheek.

"Friday then," I said softly. Dimitri nodded and leaned over, kissing my cheek softly.

"You should probably tell me where to pick you up."

I scoffed a laugh and held my hand out to him. Dimitri set his phone in my hand and I typed my number into his phone, sending myself a quick message so I had his number.

"I'll text you the address," I said with a smile. Dimitri nodded and got out of the car, closing the door gently. I pretended look be busy with my phone as he got in his car and left, but once he left I dropped my phone in my lap and grinned, resting my head against the headrest.

My all-time favourite character has entered the fic, my baby Meeko! He is a very sweet 7-year-old husky, and with the personality he has, I thought it would be entertaining.