Lona entered Elmer's cubicle, taking in the sight of the fragile man that lay wrapped in bed sheets in front of her. Hook had stitched up his head wound and had explained to her on her arrival that Elmer was going to be kept overnight for observation due to the concussion he had sustained. He had reasoned that it might be a good thing. The young man was exhausted and when she saw Elmer's tired eyes properly for the first time as she walked to his bedside she felt pangs of guilt as she realised that she had probably contributed to that exhaustion herself.

"Why are you here?" He asked her softly, wincing as she ran her fingers over the bandage that covered the wound on his head.

"You scared me half to death. You know that?" She told him quietly, sitting down beside him.

"I have nothing to say to you." He replied, his voice cold. He rolled onto his side so that his back was facing her, recoiling from her touch.

"Elmer don't turn away from me." She pleaded, letting herself run her fingers through his hair.

"You aborted my child!" He snapped angrily. "I can't even look at you." He muttered into his pillow and she could tell that he was crying.

"Elmer please don't do this..."

"I begged you. I begged for her life...for our life together...I told you that I loved you...and you...you...does it hurt?" He asked her quietly.

"No..." Lona whispered softly, wanting to explain that it was her heart that hurt rather than her stomach.

"That's too bad. You deserve to hurt." He told her angrily. "Leave me alone."

Lona looked at him. At his shoulders that were shaking with silent sobs. She placed a hand on his bicep which was more muscle than a person looking at him would think, and leant over him so that her mouth was over his ear.

"I didn't do it." She told him softly, feeling her own tears begin to fall. "When I got in there I couldn't. I'm still pregnant Elmer. I'm still carrying our child."

Elmer turned over once again so that he was facing her. His mouth was open wide.

"What?" He asked, unable to believe it.

"I couldn't do it. I lay on the bed...I was ready...but all I could think about was how much I wanted to feel her move and grow. How much I wanted you to feel her move and to hold her. How much I wanted to finally be pregnant."

"Then why go there Lona? Why put us through that?"

"Because I needed to. I needed to realise what I wanted. I needed to realise that I was ready. I needed to be scared into doing the right thing."

"Does the right thing even involve me?" He asked quietly, unable to bring his eyes to meet hers. "I understand if it doesn't. I'm the hospitals biggest loser. I'm just glad that you're keeping her."

Lona smiled at his words, so full of relief and concern for his child. She took his hand in hers.

"You're a daddy Elmer. We made her. Of course it involves you. I can't do this on my own." She admitted. "And you're not the hospitals biggest loser. Lona Massingale is bearing your child and Lona Massingale cares for you deeply. I've not told you that before and I should have. I'm sorry."

Elmer reached up with a shaky hand and cupped her cheek with his palm.

"So what do we do now?" Elmer asked her not daring to hope for anything more than playing a small part in his child's life.

"We take each day as it comes. We get through this pregnancy and we raise our child...together."

"As in a couple?" He asked quietly.

Lona took a deep breath, unable to believe how much things had changed since Mary had come along.

"Yes Elmer. As in a couple. I nearly terminated our girl today because I was terrified of what people may think...because things are going to change so much when she arrives. I hadn't planned for this...but when I was in that room, after I saw your face, how much you wanted her, how it didn't matter that I'd pushed you away because when you thought that I needed your intervention not just for her sake but for mine you came right away...I realised that the Elmer I once knew has grown up into a man who deserves to be a father. Who deserves to be given the chance that up until now I haven't been ready to give."

"Do you love me Lona?" He asked her softly and the fear in his voice brought tears to his eyes.

"Yes I love you." She replied honestly cupping his cheeks in her palms and kissing his lips softly. "Never more than I do today after seeing you fight for her...and for us."

"I love you too." He told her sincerely, his gaze falling to her stomach. "Always have." He added looking her in the eye, knowing that she saw the truth in his words.

"I know Elmer." She replied softly, running her fingertips over his pale cheek.

Elmer nervously reached out a hand and placed it over the area which housed their child.

"Hey there baby Massingale. It's your daddy..." he whispered, smiling as Hook and Chris entered the room, their fingers entwined.

"It's baby Traff, Elmer." Lona told him with a smile, looking at Chris and reaching out for her friend's hand. Chris took it and squeezed it.

"It is?"

"It is." She replied, then placing her hand over his.

"Hey there baby Traff..." He repeated, looking up at Lona with a shy and somewhat self conscious smile as he spoke to the unborn child. "Your daddy loves you very much. He just wanted you to know that. So does your beautiful mommy. We're looking forward to meeting you."

"We are. Very much." Lona agreed, overcome by affection towards the young man who lay injured but happy on the bed beside her. "Although I'm going to look like a whale before that happens."

Lona sighed, Elmer reaching his free hand up and running it through her hair.

"You're going to look even more beautiful than you already do and I'm going to make sure that you know that." He reassured her. "If this one looks anything like her mommy she is going to be the prettiest little girl in Maine."

"He's right Lona. She is going to be one stunning kid." Hook told the woman, wincing when Chris elbowed him in the ribs playfully. "Until of course we have a daughter and then she will steal baby Traff's crown."

"You wish Hook." Lona replied. "Thank you...both of you for what you did today. You saved me from making the biggest mistake I could have made... for me, for Elmer and for the baby. I've never felt so guilty."

"Don't do that to yourself. You don't need guilt when you're carrying a child. You made the right choice. That's what you've got to focus on." Christine told her, placing a hand on Lona's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

"I'm really going to be a mom now." Lona commented as she felt Elmer's hand give her stomach a reassuring rub.

"Yeah Massingale you are." Hook commented. "You're gonna be amazing." He added, leaning down and kissing her on the top of her head.

"You think so?" She asked warily, rubbing her stomach gently as she thought of the child cocooned safely within her womb.

"A woman of your wisdom and beauty? You're going to be fantastic." Hook replied. "And as for its father...I really don't think you have anything to worry about." Hook added as they all watched Elmer who was rubbing Lona's stomach in circular motions, completely mesmerized by impending fatherhood, with a tear rolling down his cheek.

"I think you're right." Lona agreed, leaning over and kissing Elmer on the top of his head.

And he was; because when Mary Rose Traff was born Elmer knew that she was his biggest achievement in his life and her mother the woman he wanted by his side for the rest of their days. He never wanted to lose either of them and wanted to always do his best by them both. On the day Mary was born he proposed to Lona and the very same day she said yes. They had a lot to thank Mary Jensen for. Finding each other's love and bearing their beautiful daughter had been the biggest gifts of all.

The End.