I'm on such a high right now because I've just finished writing the Epilogue to this story! :D Anyways, one more chapter after this, and then I think that'll be it. Too bad, I had fun with this one. Especially 'cause I could skip most of the dating and get straight to the 'love' part. Sorry for the lack of update on my other story, but I've been kind of focused on this one. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Eenie Meenie Mynie Moe. Who owns Cold Case? Not me. - alright so it doesn't rhyme, but you get the picture right? Good, on with the story.

Chapter 6: We're Gonna Make It After All

Scotty and Lilly spent the rest of that afternoon lounging in his bed, perched on either side of their new daughter and basking in a happy glow. When they got hungry, one of them would run to Scotty's surprisingly well stocked kitchen and get snacks. When Elizabeth got hungry though, that was a whole other adventure. The first time, Lilly had looked on nervously as Scotty prepared infant formula. Just the right amount, at just the right temperature. The second time, she'd nearly exploded the plastic bottle in the microwave before Scotty could hastily explain how to use a pot of warm water to heat the food instead. The third time, because, as Lilly realized that day, babies eat a hell of a lot, everything had gone smoothly.

During the rare hours that their daughter - both of them still got a thrill from hearing the word daughter - slept, Scotty and Lilly had spread themselves on his living room floor, trying to assemble the baby furniture he'd bought the day before. God, was it really just a day before? It seemed like so much longer.

As the sun began to set on one of the most perfect days either of them had ever had, Lilly tossed aside the instructions to assemble a crib, which had been written to sound so ridiculously complicated that they may as well be in Chinese. She glanced over at Scotty, leaning against the wall and snoring softly. When had he fallen asleep? She didn't notice. Lilly took a moment to study the contours of his face, from his dark eyebrows and eyelids that she knew concealed eyes she could drown in, the strong jaw lined with day old stubble, to lips she'd only recently discovered she could spend forever kissing. The man was beautiful; there was no other word for it.

With a small smile, Lilly's eyes traveled further, across the broad sweep of his shoulders and down his muscular arms, to his hands. She frowned. In the excitement and pure sweetness in learning how to take care of her child, she'd almost forgotten to take care of Scotty. How the hell had she let him talk her out of going to the hospital again? And, for goodness sake, how, pray tell, had he managed to convince her to let him build furniture? Mentally, she chastised herself and got to her feet.

She'd been in his apartment long enough to know where everything was kept, so Lilly found the first aid kit hidden away in his bathroom with ease. She made her way back to the living room and crouched down next to Scotty, taking his hand and easing it into her lap. Gently, Lilly cleaned the torn skin on his knuckles and haphazardly wrapped some bandages around it. That would have to do. She would've liked to put some ice on those swollen patches of skin, but she didn't, for fear it would wake him up.

Lilly brought his hand up to hers and kissed his fingertips. Unconsciously, her eyes travelled over to his other hand, taking in the smooth unbroken skin and the paper airplane clenched tightly within it.

Wait, what? Paper airplane?

Lilly studied the object in his hands more closely. It was definitely a paper airplane. Confusion coursed through her and she reached over to pry the inept attempt at origami out of his hands. She unfolded the airplane, spreading the paper out on the floor. A huge grin immediately split her face and she looked up at Scotty with renewed adoration. It was the instructions to the high chair she knew he'd been studying an hour ago, almost unrecognizable with crease lines and crumples. With a sigh, Lilly decided that that was definitely a sign to call it a night. She stood up and slid her arms under his, realizing a bit too late that there was no way she could get him into the bedroom.

Lilly surveyed his living room critically, her eyes resting on the sofa. Well, it was his fault he'd fallen asleep on her anyways, she reasoned. Decision made, she heaved him onto the couch with some difficulty. He didn't wake up, and only then did Lilly realize how tired he was, and how crappy he must have slept the night before. She unzipped his sweatshirt and pushed it off his shoulders, took off his socks too, and decided that if she kept going, well, no matter how beat he was, there was no way he wouldn't wake up. And he needed sleep. With a huge yawn, Lilly realized that sleep sounded wonderfully inviting.

She frowned. Where was she supposed to sleep? Here, with Scotty? Then what about Elizabeth? In the bedroom, with Elizabeth? Well then, what about Scotty? Lilly tiptoed into the bedroom and scooped up her daughter in her arms, blanket and all. She carried her back into the living room, placing her carefully on Scotty's smaller couch. Perfect. For good measure, Lilly piled pillows all around the couch. She'd had enough of a scare when Scotty dropped a box of cereal on the floor earlier that day, thinking Elizabeth had rolled out of bed. "Night Bug." She whispered, feathering a few light kisses over her hairline. Somehow, even after they'd named the baby, 'Bug' still stuck.

Sighing with exhaustion, Lilly eyed the remaining space next to Scotty on the couch. She smiled. Nothing had ever looked so inviting. She snuggled deep into his arms, inhaling the spicy scent that was Scotty and in a few minutes, joined them in a deep sleep.

The next morning Scotty woke up with a wide yawn. He curled his arm more tightly around Lilly and smiled. There was no temporary amnesia this morning. There was just nothing to forget. Everything was so wonderful, life was making a smile appear on his face from the moment he awoke. He stretched, realizing too late that it would wake the sleeping beauty in his arms. A second later, she was fixing him with a blue-eyed stare.

"Sorry." He murmured sheepishly, as she pouted at him. "Go back to sleep, I ain't stoppin' you." He added defensively.

She smacked his arm lightly. "How am I supposed to sleep with you looking at me like that?" She protested.

Before Scotty could come back with a retort, and ask her exactly how his half asleep look was bothering her, his eyes caught sight of the pile of baby furniture half built from yesterday. He frowned. The mess from yesterday was cleaned up and neatly packed back into cardboard boxes and carefully arranged. "What, uh, happened over there?" He asked.

"Oh." Lilly replied nonchalantly. "Elizabeth woke up at four in the morning, and I changed her. Then I couldn't sleep so I cleaned."

Scotty frowned again. "Are we plannin' on gettin' that bed up, or is she sleepin' on the couch forever?" He asked, leaning over to kiss the top of Lilly's head.

She shrugged. "I figured we could just build it at my house." She smirked at the happy smile on his face. "Boxes are easier to move than furniture, you know?" She added with a quick peck to his cheek before sitting up and climbing over him, off of the couch.

"We're really doin' this today?" Scotty asked, still barely daring to believe it. He linked his arms behind his head and watched as Lilly sauntered into his kitchen and grabbed a box of cereal. She perched on the end of the couch, eating cereal by the handful and tilting the box toward him in a wordless offer to share. He could most definitely get used to waking up to this.

"Yes." Lilly nodded. "After the hospital."

Scotty put on a pout that was only half fake. "I feel fine." He protested, waving his bandaged hand in the air as proof.

"You're welcome for that, by the way." Lilly added sarcastically. "What is it with you and hospitals?" She asked curiously.

Scotty just shrugged. "Don't like 'em, that's all."

Lilly decided to let it go. After all, they had tomorrow and the day after, and thousands of days after for stories like that. "Well too bad. I'm driving, let's go."

She made a move for the door, but Scotty grabbed her hand from his place on the couch. "I wanna pack." He said with a grin. "I can't wait to move in with you. We can swing by on the way to your place."

Lilly let him draw her into his lap with a huge sigh. "You know how long it takes to pack?" She asked incredulously. "We're talking all your stuff here…"

Scotty stood up, glanced at the baby to make sure she was still sleeping, and led Lilly down the hall silently. He pulled her along by the hand, heading to his closet. Flicking on the light, he waited for Lilly's inevitable reaction.

Upon seeing the inside of his closet, her eyes widened and she looked at him, aghast. "You didn't unpack." She stated matter-of-factly, studying the suitcases he was living out of on his closet floor.

"I did." He corrected, not letting go of her hand. "I was gonna move closer to the precinct. Had an apartment picked out an all… then you came along." He finished with another bright smile.

"I came along." Lilly repeated, squeezing his hand. She thought for a second. Scotty had a point really. It wouldn't take long to rearrange his clothes into transporting order, pack up the necessary cutlery and toiletries that Scotty hadn't already covered, and call a moving van for his limited furniture. The thought of him moving in sooner rather than later warmed her heart and prompted her to agree. "Okay." She said softly.

"Okay what?"

Lilly leaned up to kiss him. "We'll move you out of your place first."

"Knew you'd see it my way." Scotty said with a chuckle. "I'll go get some boxes for the kitchen stuff." He began, but Lilly cut him off with a hand on his chest.

"Actually, you'll rest that hand and take care of our girl, while I pack." She corrected.

An hour later, all of Scotty's kitchenware was packed away in boxes and stacked near the front door. Lilly wiped the sweat from her brow and looked to the kitchen floor where Scotty was introducing Elizabeth to all the toys he had saved in his house as last resorts for whatever sister called him up and reminded him of the family reunions, where all his nieces and nephews would be expecting gifts.

"I think she likes this one." Scotty called to Lilly, waving a purple hippo up at her with an amused laugh. "Yeah, she does." He added, more to himself than anyone else. He winced as he shifted Elizabeth in his arms. He would never admit it to Lilly, but his hand was really starting to ache, and there was no way he'd be able to drive later on, or lift boxes.

"You look like you're having fun down there." Lilly commented, a hand on her hip and dirt smudged on her nose.

"What you ain't havin' fun?" Scotty asked.

"I'm doing all the heavy lifting here." Lilly retorted darkly, but the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth gave her away. If this was the rest of her life, then damn, it was good. She turned around with a smile and started climbing up the stairs. "I'm going to get your clothes." She called. "And then we can leave."

"Mommy's going to get my clothes." Scotty whispered jovially into his daughter's ear. "Then we're goin' home. Yeah, we are."

From down the hall he heard some clunking, followed by a quiet curse and more loud noises. "Lil, you okay?" He yelled toward his bedroom. When she didn't respond, he continued tickling his daughter. She's fine. He decided. Lilly can handle a couple of suitcases.

Lilly carried one suitcase in each of her hands. Near the door, she stumbled a little. Obviously, she'd underestimated how difficult maneuvering two full sized suitcases out the narrow doorway would be. Before she knew it, she stepped on something pointy and was careening forward. Both suitcases dropped out of her arms as she threw them out to break her fall. Lilly fell over the two steps down into Scotty's living room with a small cry of surprise and before she knew it, she was sprawled on his living room floor. Scotty quickly scooted over by her side.

"What the hell happened?" He asked, helping her upright with his one good hand while balancing Elizabeth over his shoulder. Lilly leaned against with wall with a small grimace.

"I think I twisted my ankle." She said. Then she started to laugh. "This is…" She began, but she was overcome by giggles once again. Lilly laughed until tears appeared in her eyes and she leaned against Scotty's shoulder for support. "… perfect."

"What are we gonna do?" Scotty asked, finding himself starting to laugh with her. He wasn't sure what was funny, but if Lilly was happy, well then so was he.

Lilly tried to stand up and then gave up. Her right ankle was definitely twisted. "Well, now we've both gotta go to the hospital." She said, "And we have no way to get there."

"I could carry you." Scotty offered, but he trailed off at the raise of Lilly's eyebrows and the quick glance toward his injured hand.

"You can barely handle our 10 pound baby." She said with a chuckle. In an instant, she knew what she'd have to do, and she was relieved to find that it didn't scare her as much as she thought it would. "I'm calling Boss." She said defiantly, reaching over to the coffee table for the phone.

She silenced Scotty's confused look and the desire to say something with a finger over his lips. Boss would understand. Boss knew. Boss could help them. She'd explain to Scotty later. With her other hand, Lilly pressed her Boss's speed dial and held the phone to her ear.

"Lil?" Detective Stillman asked. He hadn't expected her or Scotty to be in work today. The only thing he didn't know was whether she'd made the right choice and was currently with Scotty, or if she was wallowing at home. "You okay?" He asked with trepidation.

"Yes and no." She said, and John felt a rush of relief. He could tell just by the happiness in her voice that she was more okay than not, despite what she was saying.

"You chose right?" He asked with a smile, leaning back in his desk chair. He didn't need an answer from her because he already knew, but it was nice to hear her confirm it, sounding happier than he'd ever heard her. "Then what's the problem?" He pressed, upon hearing her cheerful laugh and Scotty's equally buoyant voice in the background.

"Well…" She began. "Me and Scotty, we need to go to the hospital. He probably broke his hand and we were gonna move in together and then I tried to move his damn suitcases on my own and I fell over…" Her eyes trailed to the offending object. "… a plastic ABC building block, and I think I twisted my ankle and I can't drive and…" Stillman cut her off her ramblings with a quiet chuckle.

"I'll be right there."

Lieutenant Stillman pushed open the door to Scotty's apartment 20 minutes later, feeling his heart warm at the sight of his two young detectives sitting on the floor, a beautiful baby spread out across their laps. "Well aren't you guys adorable?" He asked, alerting them to his presence.

He studied the room around him. Most of Scotty's cupboards had been thrown open, their contents emptied into cardboard boxes stacked precariously by the door, along with every type of child furniture available on the market. Two suitcases lay discarded in the hallway as well as a floor full of baby toys.

"Hey Boss." Scotty said sheepishly. "Thanks for comin'." He got up and placed Elizabeth in her car seat, the one that acts as a carrier outside the car, which he'd managed to put together mostly because it came in one piece. He stood up quickly.

"Valens." Boss nodded. "Looks like you guys need some help." He said, studying Lilly on the floor. With Scotty's help, the two of them lifted her up, acting as her crutches. It took them two tries to help her hop out the door.

Scotty then went back in the apartment to pick up the car seat, throw a few plush toys in with his daughter, and run back outside. The four of them managed to get down the parking lot and Lilly climbed into the backseat gingerly. Scotty strapped in the car seat between him and Lilly, buckling himself in on the other side as John got in the front seat and pulled away from the parking lot.

"So." The older detective began as he navigated the way to the hospital. "You two are movin' in together, huh?"

Lilly reached for Scotty's hand. "We are." She confirmed confidently. Her smile faltered a bit as she added, "Is this gonna be okay, with IAB and all?"

"You let me worry about that." John said, meeting both their eyes through the rearview mirror.

When they reached the hospital, Scotty immediately left through the side door in search of a wheelchair for Lilly, leaving Boss's car idling by the front door.

"Don't screw this up, Rush." He said slowly and carefully, watching Lilly retuck the blanket around her daughter.

"Boss?" She asked hesitantly.

"I mean… don't ever let 'em go." He smiled at her, "For anything."

She nodded. "Yes, Boss."

ONLY ONE CHAPTER TO GO! Might as well leave a review right? I mean it won't hurt anyone... Love you guys.