Chapter Four

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for the children, which I created.

Reviews are appreciated, though are not mandatory.

The next month…Lisa is sitting in the nursery, rocking Rachel, when she starts to cry. Greg is watching her rock her gently and sing to her. He then watches as she lifts Rachel to her breast, and Rachel latches on hungrily. Greg walks over to them.

"I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who enjoys those." Greg whispered, kissing Lisa's head.

"No, you're not. And for awhile you will have to share."

"I know, but I don't mind. It gives life to my daughter."

"That's right."

"You look so beautiful."

"Thank you." She said, and tilted her head up for a kiss. He gave it to her.

"You and Rachel are the best things that have ever happened to me."

"I'm glad. The same goes for me." Lisa said. Ten minutes later, Lisa finished feeding her, and Rachel went to sleep.

Eleven months later, on Rachel's first birthday, she takes her first steps. Greg and Lisa are talking to Chase, Cameron, and Foreman when Lisa exclaims.

"Rachel is walking!" Lisa yelled. Everyone's head turned to where Rachel is safely on the floor. She is standing up and walking towards Greg, her arms out in front of her. He slowly bends down and she falls into his arms. He scoops her up gently.

"Piano!" She gurgles. It was her first word.

"Yes, piano." Greg said, sitting with her at the piano. He slowly began to play. Rachel calmed down instantly and was soon asleep. Greg took her upstairs, and soon after that, everyone left.

Five years later…Greg gets a phone call, and has been drafted for war. He goes over to fight. For three days, he comes home and visits with his family, two years after the phone call, Rachel is seven. On his last night, he and Lisa make love. It was a very special, if short trip that Greg really enjoyed.

A month later…Lisa gets a call from the Captain of where Greg is stationed. Cameron is over, talking with Lisa. She is silent while she is on the phone.

"What?" Lisa said, and the Captain on the other line spoke.

"Yes, I know. Thank you." Lisa said, and hung up, tears in her eyes.

"What happened?" Allison asked instantly, seeing Lisa's face.

"Greg…he's been taken…he's a prisoner of war." Lisa said, collapsing into a chair, crying.

"Oh god." Is all Cameron said, and wrapped her arms around her step-mom. Then, Rachel came in and Lisa's tears disappeared. She has to be strong in front of her daughter.

"Mom, when is Dad coming home?" Rachel asked, climbing into her mom's lap.

"Sweetie, I don't know. I just don't know." Lisa replied, kissing her daughters head.

"I hope soon."

"I hope so too."

A few days later, Lisa finds out she is pregnant again. Just as she is starting to show, she tells Rachel.

"Rachel, can I talk to you?" Lisa asked, coming into her daughter's room and sitting on the floor next to her.

"Sure." And Rachel moved over and sat in front of Lisa.

"Sweetie, mom has to tell you something."

"Uh huh."

"Sweetie, I'm going to have a baby."

"A baby? Like a little brother or sister?"

"Yes, exactly like a little brother or sister."

"Oh, mom! I'm so excited!"

"I'm so glad. Listen, my tummy is going to grow larger as the baby grows, so I won't be able to move as quickly or play with you as much, once that happens."

"I understand. I will be careful. Can I touch your tummy?"

"Good. Sure you can. There isn't much there now, but there is someone inside of me, growing and changing." Lisa said, as Rachel put her hand on Lisa's slightly larger stomach. Rachel smiles up at her mommy.

Three months later, Lisa goes into a teacher conference with Rachel's third grade teacher. Rachel is eight now.

"Hello Mrs. House. It is wonderful to finally meet you." Rachel's teacher said. Lisa shook her hand and lowered herself gently into a seat.

"Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you."

"When is the baby due?"

"In two months."

"You must be very excited."

"I am."

"It is all Rachel can talk about. She goes around telling her friends 'my mommy is going to have a baby boy or girl. I'm going to be a sister.' And every student looks at her with admiration."

"I'm so glad she is excited."

"Well, other than that topic, Rachel is a great student, very willing to learn. One of the best we have had. The other day, she drew a great picture of a human brain." The teacher said. Lisa laughed.

"She gets that from her father; he was always showing her MRI scans as a young girl."

"Where is her father? I assumed he would be here."

"Oh, he wants to be, I know it. But he's away, on business."

"I understand. The plague of a working man."

"Yes." Lisa said. She soon left the conference and went home.

Two months later…Allison comes to pick Rachel up from school.

"Allie! What are you doing here?" Rachel asks, climbing into the back seat of the car and buckling up.

"I'm here because mom was taken to the hospital."

"Is she alright?" Rachel asked, worried now.

"Oh, she's fine. It's just time for her to have the baby, that's all."

"You mean my brother or sister is going to be born today?"

Meanwhile, at the hospital…Lisa is in immense pain, more than when she had Rachel.

"Lisa, you are almost dilated. It will be time to push soon." Dr. Loren said, glancing up at her. Lisa was on the verge of tears, but only wanted the baby to be born through natural birth.

"Okay. It's time to push. You've done this before. Come on." Dr. Loren said. A contraction hit and Lisa pushed with all her might.

"Lisa, bigger pushes, come on."

Meanwhile, back in the car with Allie and Rachel…

"Yes." Allie said, smiling at Rachel. Rachel was singing all the way to the hospital. As soon as they entered the hospital, Rachel asked Allie a question.

"Can I see my mom now?"

"No, angel. She's delivering the baby right now, and doesn't want you in there. But I will sit with you until she has delivered your baby brother or sister, and you can go and see them."

"Okay." Rachel said, and happily sat down to read a book.

Back in the delivery room thirty minutes after Allie and Rachel got there…

"Lisa, you have to push. I know how much it hurts, but you have to do it." Dr. Loren was saying. Lisa was just lying on the bed, shaking her head and refusing to push. Dr. Loren then told a nurse to watch her, not pushing is causing immense pain, and she has to fight the urge. Dr. Loren took one look at the poor woman whose husband is a prisoner of war and doesn't know his child is being born, and she desperately wants her husband to be there, before she left to go and find Allie.

"Hello Allie. Can I talk to you?" Dr. Loren said.

"Sure." Allie replied. "What is it?" She said, once they were away from Rachel.

"She's refusing to push the baby out. This birth is more painful than Rachel's was, and she desperately wishes Greg was here, I can tell. And since she's not pushing, she has to resist the urge to do so, and I know she's not going to push. I know what she said about having Rachel in there during the birth, but maybe she could talk to her, get her to push."

"Yes, maybe she could. Rachel!" Allie called. Rachel came over.

"Yes?"

"Mom is having a hard time with the baby; she doesn't want to let it out. We were wondering if you could go in and talk to her."

"Yes." Rachel said instantly.

"Rachel, she is in a lot of pain, so use a quiet voice around her. But we have to get her to have this baby." Dr. Loren said.

"Okay."

"One more thing Rachel, this is a very…messy ordeal, so don't be scared of what you may see." Dr. Loren said, making it very clear.

"I won't."

"Okay. Let's go." Dr. Loren said, and took Rachel's hand and walked her to Lisa's room.

"Remember what I said." Dr. Loren said, before opening the door, and Rachel nodded. Lisa is lying on her back, her legs closed, and her face scrunched in pain. She's breathing very hard and she is really sweaty. Not letting this baby out is torture.

"Mom." Rachel said softly, standing next to the bed. Lisa turned and looked at her.

"Rachel, I asked you not be in here. I don't want you to see me this way, in such a vulnerable state." Lisa said fiercely.

"I know. Just listen to me. Even though dad is not here, and you really want him to be, he can't. You have to get the baby out, for us, for the baby, and for dad. Please, mom." Rachel said, pleading. Lisa was silent for a moment, and then nodded. She moved her legs apart and Dr. Loren sat between them. Rachel grabbed Lisa's hand and held on tight, and Lisa smiled at her daughter. She then gave a tremendous push.

"That's it Lisa. Keep going."

And so, an hour later, they baby is born. Allie came into the room, after knocking.

"Hey Allie." Lisa said. Allie went over and kissed Lisa on the forehead.

"He's so cute." Rachel said, smiling.

"What is his name?" Allie asked.

"William Gregory. Will for short."

"That is a perfect name." Allie said.

"Can I hold him?" Rachel asked.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but no. He's asleep."

"It's okay. I can touch him, can't I?"

"Yes, you can. Just be gentle."

"Don't worry, I will." Rachel said, and gently reached her hand out and stroked his cheek.

"Hi Will. I'm your sister Rachel." She whispered, grinning from ear to ear. That was the start of a beautiful sister and brother bond.

Three months later…Lisa is sitting in the rocking chair in Will's room. She can hear Rachel come in through the front door and set her backpack down.

"Mom, I'm home." Rachel called. Lisa didn't answer, because she is away in a world with her baby boy, who is fast asleep. Rachel climbs the stairs and comes softly into Will's room. Lisa looks up.

"Hey sweetie." Lisa whispered to her, smiling.

"Hey Mom, how is he?"

"He's good, fast asleep, but he'll probably want to be fed once he wakes up."

"Oh." Rachel said, watching her baby brother sleep. They just stay like that, when, twenty minutes later, Will wakes up, struggles, and then let out a piercing cry.

"That is his hungry cry." Lisa says.

"I'll go then." Rachel said. Rachel had never seen her feed Will. Lisa hadn't felt comfortable before, in front of Rachel, so she'd always ask her to leave.

"Rachel, actually, I want you to stay." Lisa said. Rachel froze and turned to her mom.

"Really, you do?"

"Yes. It's an important and natural part of having a baby, and I feel comfortable enough to have you witness it." Lisa said.

"Okay." Rachel replied hesitantly, and then sat down next to Lisa. Lisa lowered her gown and undid her nursing bra. Rachel was staring wide-eyed at her. Lisa then slowly lifted Will, and waited for him to grab on. His hands were small next to her full breasts, but they gripped fiercely on the side of each breast. He sucked hard. Lisa smiled at her daughter.

"It's so beautiful." Rachel whispered.

"Isn't it? I'm giving him food and life, just through this simple procedure."

"Does it hurt?" Rachel cautiously asked.

"It did at first. But I learned with you to put hot towels on and it will make it much easier, for when I am unable to feed him. And I'm just used to the feeling."

"But now it doesn't hurt?"

"No, it doesn't."

"Oh." Rachel said. Soon, Will was done; Lisa burped him, and covered back up. Lisa put him to sleep in his cradle and tucked the monitor into her robe pocket.

Two years later…Lisa decides to have 'the talk' with Rachel. She asks Rachel to come into her room. Lisa is lying on her bed with a book, when Rachel knocks softly on the door.

"Come in." Lisa called. Rachel softly opened the door and climbed onto the bed next to Lisa. Lisa closed her book and set it on the nightstand.

"You wanted to talk to me, Mom?"

"Yes. And I want you to listen intently, but don't feel shy to ask questions, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good." Lisa said, and was ready to begin. "I know I may have waited too long for this talk, but oh well. I can't do anything, with having Will and all."

Rachel nods.

"Okay. Since you are fast approaching the age where you will notice changes in your body, I want to start by telling you what you will notice." And Lisa continued to describe the changes her body will go through, including her first menstruation, and concluded with sex.

A month later…Rachel is at school and Will is at daycare, and Lisa is in the kitchen with a knife. She's weighing it in her hands and feeling the smoothness of the blade. Then, she carefully holds the knife, then grips it tightly and plunges it into her stomach. She falls back against the counter, feeling the blood flow from the wound. She's breathing heavily.

Fifteen minutes later, Allie comes in the door carrying a package that was on the front porch.

"Lisa! Lisa!" She called, set the package down in the living room and proceeded to the kitchen. That is when she saw Lisa on the ground, her shirt stained with blood and the knife sticking out.

"Lisa! Oh my god!" Allie screamed, and flew down next to her. She has a pulse, but it's weak. Allie whips out her cell phone and dials 911. Ten minutes later, Lisa is in the ambulance and it's on its way to the hospital. Allie called her boyfriend, Rob, who went over to Lisa's to be there when Rachel got home and to go and pick up Will.

At the hospital, Lisa was rushed into surgery, the knife removed, and she was put into the ICU overnight, just to be safe. As soon as Lisa was in the ICU and sleeping due to the drugs in her system, Allie called Rob.

"Hey Rob."

"Allie. Hey."

"How are Rachel and Will?"

"They are fine, they just want to know what happened to Lisa. What do I tell them?"

"Um…tell them that she was in an accident while working in the kitchen. I will tell them more tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Oh, Rob?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring them over tomorrow afternoon so they can see her."

"Alright, I will."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

"Bye." Allie said, and went back to sit at Lisa's side.

The next afternoon…Allie and Lisa are talking when there is a knock at the door. Allie goes over and goes out into the hall.

"Hey Rob." She says, and kisses his cheek. Then she bends down to Will and Rachel's level.

"Okay, Mom is in a lot of pain, so don't hug her, okay?" Allie said, and they both nod. Then Allie takes both of them in.

"Rachel. Will." Lisa says, smiling at her children.

"Mommy, we are sorry you got hurt." Will said, coming cautiously up to her.

"It's alright. I will be better soon." She said.

"I'm glad." Rachel said.

Three years later…Rachel is sitting in her room, trying to write a song. She's tapping the keys on her electric piano, when she gets an idea for a song. She goes down to talk to Lisa, who is in the kitchen feeding Will.

"Hey mom"

"Hey sweetie." Lisa said, while wiping food from Will's chin.

"Do you have any stories about you and Dad?"

"What kind of stories?"

"One that means a lot to you?"

"Well, there was this one time, he was watching you play in the yard, and he was struck with such emotion over you, and he turned to me and said 'Honey, I'm scared. Of the future.' And I told him 'Honey, look at me. We all fall down; it's the getting back up that really counts. We live and we learn, to help someone up when it's there turn. In life, there's only one guarantee. Your feet won't always be on the ground, we all fall down.' He just smiled and laughed."

"That is a great story, mom. Thanks."

"You're welcome." She replied. Will was tugging at her arm to go and play on the play structure, so Lisa looked apologetically at Rachel, who just nodded and went to make herself a sandwich. As she was making it, she saw Will fall from the monkey bars. Lisa went over and bent down next him. Rachel could hear what she was saying.

"Will, you know the monkey bar rules." And she kissed his bruise. "You don't have to skip a bar each time, to make it to the other side." And Lisa picked him up from the sand and tied his shoelace that read, Superman. It is in that moment that Rachel knows the song she is going to write, taking inspiration from her mother. She began to write in her room, eating a sandwich, but only got one lyric and the chorus down. A few weeks later…Rachel comes home in tears, on Valentine's Day. She turns up to her room. Lisa softly knocks on the door.

"Go away." Came Rachel's voice. Lisa spoke softly through the door.

"I know what you are going through. You heart feels like it's broken in two. But baby, I'm here for you." Rachel softly opened the door, Lisa went in, and wrapped her arms around her, stroking her hair. "It's okay to cry." Lisa said softly.

"He broke my heart."

"I know. But you will move on, find someone better. You always do. I found your dad."

"I know you did. I love you mom."

"I love you too." Lisa replied, staring into her daughters piercing blue eyes that are identical to Greg's. Lisa leaves a few minutes later, and goes to the sanctuary that is her room, but used to be Greg's as well. She grabs his photo off of the desk and collapses onto the floor next to her bed, crying heavily. The photo is of Greg in uniform, standing in the bedroom doorway, the sun in his face, lighting him up. She is there for thirty minutes, and doesn't even here Rachel come in. Rachel sits down next to Lisa and let her mom collapse into her arms.

"Your heart is more injured than mine right now, and will be for much longer." Rachel whispered to her mom. You helped me, now I'll help you. I know how much you hurt, and how much you miss him. I feel it too."

"Sweetie, I know. But I just love him so much, and I cry everyday without him. I just want to see him again."

"I know. It will be alright." Rachel said softly.

"I know, sweetie. I just wish he was here. I mean, he hasn't even met his son, doesn't even know he exists, and hasn't seen you since you were seven."

"I know. If he is alive somewhere, I'm sure he wishes he could see me, you, and meet Will, when he finds out he exists. But if he isn't…he sees us and watches us all the time from above."

"I know it's true. Thank you, sweetie."

"You're welcome. Look, mom, I wrote this song, and I really want to hear it."

"Okay." Lisa says, and walks out of the room, still carrying the picture, and follows Rachel to her room. Rachel sits in front of her piano and starts playing. Then, she starts singing in her beautiful voice.

She says, you know the monkey bar rules, as she kisses away his playground bruise.
You don't have to skip a bar each time, to make it to the other side.
She picked him up from out of the sand, then tied the shoelace that read, superman.

Chorus
We all fall down, it's the getting back up that really counts.
We live and we learn, to help someone up when it's their turn.
In life there's only one guarantee, your feet won't always be on the ground.
'Cause we all fall down

She says I know what you're going through, as she talks to the door of her daughters room.
Your heart feels like it's broken in two, but baby, I'm here for you.
The door opened and she stepped inside. She put her arms around her and said, it's ok to cry.

Repeats chorus

He's forty-five and his job is gone, cleans out his desk and he heads on home.
Sees his kids out playing in the yard, it's been a while since he's been hit so hard.
He's as scared as a man can be. He tells his wife and she says, honey, look at me.

Repeats chorus.

We all fall down.
But you got to get back up.

Lisa has tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Honey, that is beautiful. You took some of what I said."

"I did, because you are my hero, my biggest inspiration."

"Thank you." Lisa said, and hugged her daughter tightly.

Two years later…Rachel is sixteen and Will is eight. Lisa gets called out to do medical service for the war. She has to break the news to Rachel and Will when they arrive from school. Lisa is sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of coffee between her hands, when Rachel and Will come in.

"Hey mom." Rachel says, coming over and sitting in the chair next to Lisa. Immediately, she can tell something is wrong.

"Mom, what is it? Is it dad?" Rachel asks as Will sits at the table too. Lisa shakes her head.

"No. It's not dad. My babies, I have to leave for a few months…I am going over to where the war is taking place to do medical assistance."

"Can't we come too?"

"No. It is too dangerous, especially for Will. And I don't want to send my two children over to a place of such destruction."

"Mom, then why do you get to go over there?"

"Because I am an adult, I am a doctor, and my country needs me." Lisa said fiercely.

"I'm sorry babies, it just came as such a surprise, and I don't want to leave you. But you will be staying with Allie until I return. I promise I will write as much as I can, and you can write me whenever you need me."

"Promise?" Rachel asked.

"I can promise I will get your letter, but not when I will read it. I will be very busy. But be patient, I will reply."

"Okay."

"When do you leave?" Will asked.

"Tomorrow morning, really early. You guys will still be in bed when I leave. Allie is coming over later to stay the night with you. If you want, I can wake you up to say goodbye before I go."

"Yes!" Both children said.

"Okay."

At two am, Lisa comes into Rachel's room and wakes her up, and then goes to Will's room and wakes him up. They trek downstairs. Lisa is standing there with a duffel bag and is wearing jeans, durable sneakers, a sweatshirt, and a white tank top.

"Okay, I have to go. I love you guys." Lisa said, and hugged both of them at the same time. Then, she took one aside at a time, and spoke. She talked to Will first.

"Will, you are my superman. I will miss you so much, but will write as much as I can. I won't be able to call, but I will think of you everyday."

"I will miss you, mom!" Will said, and hugged her hard.

"I will miss you too. I will see you soon, I promise." She said, kissed his forehead, and then beckoned Rachel over. Rachel burst into tears and Lisa hugged her, humming softly in her ear.

"Rachel, it is okay."

"No, it's not okay. I don't want you to go over there. I'm afraid you won't come back, like dad." She said through her tears.

"Sweetie, I promise you, I will come back. I can't leave you guys and god knows it. I will be back."

"You can't promise that."

"I can, because I will be safe, in order to make it back to you. I love you."

"I love you too, and I will miss you, so much."

"I know." Lisa said, and hugged Rachel one last time. Rachel took off upstairs to her room, slamming the door before Lisa left. Lisa just tried not to cry in front of Will, said goodbye to Allie, and got into the cab. Rachel watched her go from her bedroom window, tears streaming down her cheeks. And then Lisa and the cab were out of sight.