"Embrace yourselves, 'cause here we are!" Norm said loudly from the entrance to Diane's room.
Sam glanced at Diane and got a smile and a nod.
"Come on in guys!" Sam said cheerfully.
In came Norm, carrying a 6 pack, Cliff with some sort of gift, Woody with balloons and Carla with a filled bag. Possibly clothes.
Woody was the first to embrace Diane tightly, meanwhile Norm and Cliff padded Sam on the shoulder. Carla stood in the back, observing.
"Be careful there, Wood. She's holding a baby," Norman said referring to Woody hugging Diane.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Malone. I hope I didn't harm her or anything," Woody said concerned.
"Don't worry, Woody. You didn't," she smiled looking at Grace.
"Now, let's see the little beast," Norm said and moved closer.
"Wow, Mrs. Malone, she looks just like you," Woody said.
This made Carla move forward and push Woody aside.
"Ew, I knew it! I knew it, I knew, I knew it! That's why you wouldn't tell me anything!" Carla pointed at Sam, who was chuckling.
"Now, now, that's not entirely true. I do see a certain Mayday in her," Cliff noticed.
"Where? It's all covered with blond hair," Carla grumped.
"Nevertheless, she's a beautiful girl," Norm said calmly looking at Diane with a wide smile which was instantly returned .
"No doubt there," Cliff said clapping Sam.
"Mrs. Malone, can I hold her?" Woody asked.
"Of course, Woody," Diane smiled, handing Grace over.
This made the boy from Indiana smile big and made him appear innocent as ever. After a few minutes with small talking and smiles, Norm cleared his throat.
"Now, Wood, I think it's my turn to hold the little one, huh?"
"Sure, Mr. Peterson," Woody said passing Grace on to Norm.
"'Beast' is obviously the wrong word to use for this little angel," Norm said as he admired a sleepy Grace.
Besides him stood Cliff with a smirk on his face.
"You might use 'gracefully' better," Cliff chuckled. And so did Norm.
"Maybe Grace is the proper word," Norm laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, enough talking! Let me hold her," Carla said.
As soon as Grace was in Carla's arm, she suddenly wasn't so sleepy anymore. Instead the little girl starting pouting like she had done earlier.
"She likes you," Sam commented.
"Nah, I don't think that's it," Carla tried to reassure herself and everyone.
"She does, Carla," Diane said from the bed, nodding towards Grace, who's pouting got more intense.
"Oh yeah? Well…I must admit- she does have a certain charm."
"There ya go," Sam smiled.
"Still, that has nothing to do with her looks," Carla underlined, making both parents chuckle.
"If you say so," Diane murmured.
"Here, why don't you hold her, wimp," Carla said handing Grace over to Cliff "While the rest of us hand over gifts."
"Oh, you shouldn't-"
"Shut it and be grateful, Blondie," Carla said, handing her the first gift.
"Clothes. How nice," Diane smiled.
"It's has been taken very good care off. Especially considering the children who have worn it."
"But what about Jessie? Couldn't she use it?"
"I have lots at home. I won't need it."
"Well, thank you, Carla," Diane smiled.
"You're welcome," Carla nodded.
"Here you go, dad," Norm said handing Sam the 6 pack.
"Norm, you know that I don't drink."
"Really? I just thought- well more for myself then, I guess."
Everyone looked confused at Norm.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I brought you a lovely bottle of soda," he said and pulled a soda up from a bag.
"Thank you, Norm."
"Anytime, dad."
"Woody, can you hold her for a sec," Cliff said and gave Grace to him followed by grabbing his gift.
"And here, Sam," Cliff said handing him the gift "are some notebooks where you can notice the girl's first activities. Like words or such."
"Cliff, aren't those the ones you carry around on your route?" Norm asked.
"Well, not in a literal sense. These are perfect copies. Very hard to get nowadays."
"They demanded money for them, huh?"
"Well, Norm, as an experienced mailman, I should be able to get them for free! You see, it's a little known fact-"
"That we don't care," Carla murmured.
"I'd say that's a pretty known fact by now," Norm said.
"It's not, when he doesn't know it," Carla said referring to Cliff.
"Thanks, Cliff," Sam said to end the discussion.
Cliff smiled proudly while Carla snorted.
"You wanna hold her, Sam?" Woody asked.
"Yeah, sure," Sam said holding his arms out to receive a yet again sleepy Grace.
"You look quite natural there, Sam," Carla smiled, as Sam rocked Grace in his arms.
"He does," Diane said admiring them.
"When are you returning home?" Norm asked.
"We're plan on checking out sometime tomorrow if Diane feels ready."
"Should we expect you at Cheers?"
"I don't think so. We'd like to go home for a day or two first. Just to settle down, you know."
"Understandable."
"We'll make sure to throw you a nice little welcome back party," Cliff smiled.
"Yeah, I got lots of these at home we can use," Woody said pulling in the balloons, he had attached to the bed.
"We're looking forward to it," Diane assured.
Sam moved in direction of the bed.
"I think it's your time to hold her, don't you?" Sam asked.
"Actually, I loved what a positive effect Carla had on her," Diane said and looked at the little Italian American.
"Me?" she responded surprised.
"Well, you are an experienced woman there, Carla," Cliff said.
"A real pro," Norm agreed.
"Then let me hold her again if that makes her happy. I'd sure get if she prefer me to her babbling mother," Carla said as she received her from Sam.
Diane scoffed from the bed, crossing her arms.
"One thing's for sure. This proves that Blondie is in fact…natural blonde. But you know what, that's fine with me. Then we don't share hair color."
"You've missed teasing me these last couple of days, haven't you?" Diane smiled from the bed.
"Yeah, yeah," Carla snorted.
The gang stayed for a few more hours and enjoyed the presence of their new, little member.
Though Grace fell asleep an hour later, they stayed and had good old fun. Bringing back some good, amusing memories from old days. Carla kept doing her snarky comments, but Diane accepted it. For now at least. She could only hope Cliff would receive some soon so that she could be let off the hook for just a bit. Sam joined Diane on the bed, sitting on its edge, holding her hand. Every so often, he would turn his head and receive a smile.
Even though they would have stayed longer, Norm had run out of beers, and the gang decided to take off, wishing the parents the best of luck and looked forward to their homecoming.
"I have to admit, Diane," Sam said after they had left. "I can't wait 'til we get back and introduce everyone to Grace."
"Believe me, Sam, I can't wait either."