Daphne headed down the hallway, straight for the door marked "Women" and pushed it open. For a few moments, she could only stand and let the tears stream down her cheeks; a mixture of happiness and her own scattered emotions. It was strange how something like the birth of a child could affect her so profoundly.
After crying all of the tears she was sure that she had, Daphne emerged from the bathroom minutes later, her face damp from the water she'd splashed on her tear-streaked cheeks and made her way back to the elevator. For once she was grateful that she was alone in the sparse hallway, with no one to see her like this. One emotional breakdown was enough for the time being. It was best to head home where she could get back to her normal routine and try not to think about her uncertain future.
But as she passed Sheryl's room once more, she couldn't resist taking another peek. Quietly she pushed the door open and smiled at the sight of her friend who was sound asleep. Elizabeth of course, was nowhere in sight, most likely having been taken to the nursery by the nurse to take a nap after her first meal. It might have been a silly thought but Daphne was touched beyond measure that she had been there to witness a baby's first meal.
Through the tiny glass window she could see the brown stuffed bear with the blue bow sitting among bouquets of flowers and gifts. She prayed that Elizabeth would love the bear as much as the other gifts and she hoped that Sheryl would one day tell Elizabeth about the wonderful woman for whom her daughter was named.
She brushed new tears away and walked down the hallway to the elevator. But she wanted so much to see the sweet baby one more time. It was wrong, being so obsessed over a child who wasn't hers, but she couldn't help herself. And without giving it another thought, she headed to the nursery. However, as she neared the large glass windows in the corner of the hallway, Daphne gasped in pleasant surprise.
For there, standing with his back to her, looking into the window… was Niles.