A/N: Today is my birthday but y'all are getting the birthday present! A new chapter... YAY! I put the finishing touches on this baby earlier today. I was going to wait until tomorrow to post but then thought... why wait?!

To my fabulous beta Mrs. Waatp... thank you for being my best friend & biggest cheerleader. You're the bestest! xx

HariboJunkie... I hope that I was able to get this chapter out quick enough.

As always, I appreciate each and every one of you and welcome your reviews. I love hearing from all of you.

o~O~o
Chapter 40
Viruses and Visitors
o~O~o

Surprisingly Beca actually slept well in the slightly squeaky hospital bed. She was glad she wasn't sharing the room with someone else; the squeaks were quite loud and she wasn't sure she wanted to have a conversation about it with someone she barely knew. Having to explain that it was the bed making 'those' sounds, and not her ass would have made sharing the room very uncomfortable.

She laid in bed as she listened to the faint sounds of women laboring, followed by tiny but, lusty cries as brand new babies took their first breaths. She counted six new people joining the world since her little one had been born.

One of her nurses had come through long after everyone had left and had asked to take the baby to do the second round of newborn checks. Beca ached to be with her daughter the second she left until she was placed back in her arms a short while later. Holding her baby in her arms made her finally feel complete and made her time on the planet seem worthwhile.

She was quite overwhelmed by her feelings.

She was completely and utterly in love with her daughter and wave after wave of every emotion hit her like a warm breeze, followed by a thunderstorm in her gut and then

onto a unicorn playing a harp. She really wanted to tell someone her feelings but the someone who should have been by her side, simply wasn't there.

She'd laid the baby in her bassinet and had closed her eyes to sleep. At first, she dozed, waking up every couple of minutes to check on her. She finally managed a ten minute stint before sitting up in a rush and looking over to the empty crib.

Panic immediately surrounded her until she heard a soft murmuring in the dark corner of the room. She blinked a couple of times, hoping it was Jesse and not a nurse who might think she was an unfit mother for sleeping through her daughter's first few hours.

She wasn't surprised when she saw that it was Luke, holding the baby so tenderly and looking at her so lovingly and quietly whispering into her ear.

'... see where the problem lies little one?" He murmured, tucking a kiss onto the top of her tiny head. "The Queen won't be able to make you a proper Princess because you were born here but I guarantee you, we'll find a way to make sure you wear a crown nonetheless. You deserve the world little one."

Beca smiled. She had no idea what Luke was talking about but pulled her knees up to her chest, as far as they would go around her softening belly, and laid her head on her knees to listen to her best friend talk to her baby.

"And when you are old enough, Uncle Luke will take you to England and you can ride the donkey's on the beach and eat fish and chips and we'll go to visit all the places that make England great. Uncle Luke will show you his corner of the world. And if she's good, we'll take your Mommy too."

"That sounds great." Beca whispered into the dark room and watched Luke spin around.

"Oh, I thought you were asleep. Sorry."

"No need to apologize dude." Beca said as Luke walked towards her, expertly holding the baby to his chest as he bent down to kiss Beca's cheek.

"I didn't mean to pick her up. It was her idea." Luke said, nodding down towards the newborn.

"Her idea, huh?"

"Yes, indeed. I came in here to bring you some tea and she called me over with her tiny voice..." Luke explained before putting on a fake child falsetto voice. "'Uncle Luke, I need a cuddle as Mommy has fallen asleep. Pick me up Uncle Luke!' I heard it clear as day."

"Oh really?" Beca laughed, holding out her arms for the baby.

"Yes. Absolutely."

"Well, I have a miracle for a child then. One who talks at less than twelve hours old."

"I guess so!" Luke grinned.

"Amazing that she managed to speak before she learned where her butthole is."

"Amazing that this beautiful child has a mother who mentions ugly things in her presence." Luke smirked. "And you can sit there with your arms waving about for the baby, but she's mine for the next few minutes. You'll have to get used to sharing her."

"Thank you Luke."

"What for?"

"For loving my daughter the way I do."

"Well, just look at how perfect she is." Luke said, moving the blanket away from the baby's face. "I didn't know tiny little people could have such long, beautiful eyelashes. They are just like yours."

"And how do you know what my eyelashes look like?" Beca joked.

"I know everything there is to know about you. My memory is long, very long. And I already love this little girl more than my signed Jimi Hendrix guitar." He looked down at his Goddaughter again. "Which she can have, along with all of my worldly possessions, right now. I no longer care about any of it."

Beca looked thoughtfully at Luke for the longest time as he snuggled her daughter in his arms. She knew her best friend was in her life for the long haul but the way he'd taken to her daughter was beyond anything she could have hoped for. He was so sweet in the way he gently stroked her cheek and kept tucking the blanket around her, unable to keep still.

"Dude..." Beca suddenly asked, breaking the spell. "It's oh-so-dark-thirty. Why are you even here?"

"Well, I thought you might need the company. Knowing you the way I do, I knew you'd have a hundred different emotions running through you and you wouldn't be able to express them so you'd either start talking to yourself or worrying. So I thought I'd show up with Starbucks and sit with you for a bit."

Beca's eyebrows shot into her hairline. How did Luke know so much about her feelings when her husband couldn't even say thank you to her for birthing his daughter?

"Actually, that's a lie." Luke continued. "I missed the Princess and needed a cuddle."

"You're so weird." Beca said. "But seriously, thank you for coming."

"Do you want to sleep for a bit?" Luke asked.

"She'll probably need to feed in a little while?"

"Oh, I can do that if you want to sleep."

"Um, Luke? I'm breastfeeding. I'm not bottle fee-"

"-oh, yes, um, *cough*. I can't help with that."

"Dude! You've gone bright red. Is that because I said the word breast?"

"Is there anything I can get you?" Luke asked, ignoring Beca's question.

"Actually there is."

"Sure thing." Luke said, finally placing Lila back in her bassinet beside Beca's bed. "What can I get you?"

"Well..." Beca said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "... I need some pads."

"What pads?" Luke asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Pads... for my gushing vag-"

"-Oh no, you... no. I can't ask for those."

"Why not? I do need them."

"No, you don't. You just want me to go and embarrass myself in front of the nurses."

"No, really, I do need them."

"I hate you right now."

Beca put on the same childish voice that Luke used for Lila. "Uncle Luke, Mommy needs you to-"

"-Stop! I'll get you some front bottom pads. Just don't-"

"-Some what?" Beca exclaimed before immediately looking over to see if her enthusiasm had woken up the sleeping baby.

"You need front bottom pads. I'll go and ask for them."

"Are you seriously expecting me to forget about what you called my-"

"-Yes, yes I am. Because I am not sure I am going to recover from the images running through my mind right now."

"Thinking about my vag huh?"

"No! No, I'm not. At all. I don't think... I mean, no." Luke stuttered, his face turning crimson. "Get some sleep and stop being a dick."

Beca smirked, having enjoyed the last minute or so. She was tired and could use a nap. "I'll see if the baby will nurse for a little bit and then perhaps you can keep watch while I take a quick nap."

"That sounds good. I'll step out while you do that."

"You don't have to do that."

"You sure?"

"Unless it makes you uncomfortable?"

"No. Not really. Just think Jesse should be doing this instead of me."

"But you are here and you are the first person to share this with me." Beca said, reaching for Luke's hand. "And to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way."

o~O~o

When Beca woke a few hours later, Luke was nowhere to be seen. As Beca looked around the room, hoping he was still there, she noticed a hot, double cupped Starbucks by her bed. 'Decaf' was scribbled on the outside and knew she'd just missed Luke. She reached for Lila who was just stirring and held her on her lap while she nursed. She hoped she was doing it right but the baby seemed to latch on easily enough.

She drank the coffee Luke had left her and wondered if Jesse would show up at all.

To her surprise, he arrived a couple of hours later, sending her a quick text to let her know she was in the line at the gift shop and he'd be up to see her soon. Beca didn't fail to notice that he didn't ask after Lila. She also wasn't quite prepared for Jesse to look the way he did when he turned up at the hospital room.

When Jesse walked into the room, Beca noticed that he looked terrible and immediately worried that he was hungover. Her mind went into overdrive and she was quite prepared to read him the riot act that he couldn't act that way when he was responsible for another person. But the more time went by the worse and worse he looked and he did look like he wanted to be there but at the same time, he looked like he was the one that should be in the hospital bed instead of Beca.

Jesse's cheeks were flush like he was running a fever, there was a loud rattle in his chest and he sounded very wheezy. When he kissed Beca's cheek she noticed his skin was clammy and warm. Beca asked him if he was feeling alright, but as always, he insisted that he was fine. It wasn't long before he started sweating and the horrible, nagging cough that he'd had for months made a return… which worried Beca even more.

Definitely not a hangover.

Beca growled internally. With a new baby, it was a really crappy time for Jesse to get sick with the damn man flu. She needed Jesse to her help with the baby, the dogs, the house and help take care of her for a change, after all, she had just pushed a baby the size of a small watermelon out of a hole the size of lemon.

Her vag hurt… like a mac truck had plowed through it then proceeded to ram in it continuously. Her boobs were leaky and were more than twice the size they were the day before. Her nipples were a different color and no longer looked like her own. Her tummy, while still swollen, looked like a blob of jello. She no longer recognized her body… it was like a bad episode of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Beca was slightly indignant that no one had told her what her body might look like post baby and even if they did, this was not what Beca was expecting.

With all of that going on, was it really too much to ask that he be around to help her for a change? Beca didn't think so, but par for the course, she was going to be left taking care of everyone and everything. She was crazy to think that having a baby would change her day to day to do list.

Mentally, she tried to prepare herself for the days and weeks to come.

When Beca's nurse, Laura, came in to check on her and the baby she heard Jesse's cough. She immediately asked if he was a smoker. When he said that he was, after all he couldn't deny it, he smelled like the bottom of an ashtray, Laura counseled him on the effects of smoking on his health and on those he loved. It wasn't anything that he hadn't heard before. He had tried quitting but he couldn't give up all of his vices… even if it was to better his health.

After giving Jesse the third degree about smoking, Laura told Jesse that it sounded like he had a chest cold. She then suggested that he go down to the emergency room for a breathing treatment and a chest x-ray. Once again, Jesse insisted that he was fine and that the late nights and long hours in the studio were catching up to him.

Laura insisted that if Jesse didn't go and get himself checked out that he would have to wear an assortment of very fashionable hospital garb. Which meant that he'd have to don a gown, sterile scrubs, gloves and a mask when he was in the room with Beca and the baby to minimize the risk of spreading airborne illnesses.

After the threat of being kicked out of Beca's room, receiving many dirty looks from Laura and listening to her mumbled comments, Jesse decided to don the garb. He looked ridiculous but wearing it meant that he could visit his wife and daughter and more importantly he wanted to make sure that when MawMaw and Amy visited that they didn't shove the baby in their handbag and leave. He wasn't sure that he could actually trust either around the baby. Beca even snuck a few pictures because no one would believe that he had actually done what he was told to do.

Beca's parents and MawMaw showed up a little later… bearing gifts. They had stopped at Beca's favorite cafe for lunch and dessert. Beca was excited to eat something that was not hospital food.

They immediately wondered why Jesse was "wearing doctor clothes". Beca filled them in on Laura's suggestion. MawMaw gave Jesse the evil eye. If he was smart he would have gotten up to go get checked right then. But it wasn't until Anne urged him, with a little more care than he'd been expecting, that he finally decided to get himself checked out. She also suggested that he go home afterwards for a long, hot shower to break up all the chest congestion and take a much needed nap. For once in his life, Jesse didn't argue. He kissed the top of Beca's head, promised he'd call when he knew what, if anything, was wrong and then he left.

o~O~o

When Jesse returned and he finally had some time alone with Beca and the baby, Beca asked him about the baby's name. She watched as Jesse put his "doctor clothes" back on and washed his hands before picking the baby up. He gazed at her and said, "On our wedding day, I made a promise to your mom, so as long as Anne or Kathryn is somewhere in her name I'm ok with whatever name you choose."

"Do you like the name Lila… or would you prefer something else?"

Jesse played with the baby's tiny fingers and smiled. "It's a very nice name… different. She seems like she's going to be one of a kind, perhaps she needs a one of kind type of name."

"I think you're right." Beca smiled. It was nice to see Jesse interacting with the baby… well interacting as much as one could with a baby that wasn't yet twenty fours old.

"So… what are you thinking?" Jesse asked Beca.

"Lila Kathryn…"

Jesse nodded. "It's perfect… I love it."

Beca breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally come to an agreement and just like that, it seemed that the great name debate of 2015 had finally come to an end. It was official, the baby's name was Lila Kathryn and Beca could finally let the nurse know to bring the paperwork for the birth certificate in.

As far as Beca was concerned, all was finally right in their little world.

Standing up, Jesse walked over to the side of the bed. "I'm gonna head out."

"But you just got here."

"Yeah, I know but I have a four fifteen appointment to get the results of my chest x-ray."

Beca looked a little disappointed but understood. "Let me know what you find out?"

"Sure." He said as he kissed the top of her head and laid the baby in her arms. "I'll be back later. Want me to bring you some dinner?"

"That would be nice." Beca said smiling.

"Chinese ok?"

"Perfect. Thank you."

Later never came. Jesse didn't bring dinner and he never called. Beca silently wondered if he had been admitted to the hospital after getting the results of his chest x-ray. Beca was officially worried, especially since Jesse wasn't answering his phone. Text messages went unread and calls went straight to voicemail.

Not again.

The next time Laura came in to check on Beca, she noticed that Beca was out of sorts. After asking what was wrong and if there was anything she could, Beca asked Laura if there was a way to get the results of Jesse's tests. Laura said that she could definitely check but didn't make any promises.

Beca anxiously waited for Laura to return. She knew there was a chance that Laura would have nothing to report but remained hopeful that Jesse just had a spring cold brought on by allergies and that he went home to get some rest. Everything had to be ok.

After doing some digging, Laura went back to Beca with a full report. She found out that Jesse was diagnosed with a pretty nasty sinus infection, double ear infection and pneumonia. He had been given several steroid shots, multiple prescriptions and a portable breathing machine. Laura also told Beca that Jesse was being sent to a specialist for further testing due to some questionable spots on his lungs.

Beca didn't know what to do or what to feel. She hoped that he was at home resting but had the distinct feeling that he wasn't. Jesse wasn't exactly one that followed doctor's orders and he was even less likely to follow them since Beca wasn't home to pressure him to do so.

She was pretty sure that the news he received had probably driven him straight to the nearest bar and into the bottom of a whiskey bottle. The thought made Beca sick to her stomach.

What was going to become of their family and their future? Beca didn't know and quite frankly, she was scared to ask or entertain the ideas that were floating around in her head. Her emotions were all over the map.

Beca jumped when her phone rang. As she reached for it she prayed that it was Jesse. Her heart clenched when she realized it was Casey, Jesse's younger brother. He and Jesse weren't as close as they used to be but they still remained in touch.

Beca suddenly found herself wondering if Casey was calling because Jesse couldn't. If she thought about it too much longer she'd miss the call. Her hands shook as she swiped the screen to accept the call.

As Casey said 'hello' Beca immediately noticed that he sounded excited. He told Beca that Jesse had called him the night before to let him know that the baby had arrived. He said the Jesse even remembered all of the baby's stats, which was surprising.

Maybe things would be ok after all.

When Casey asked Beca if she was up for visitors she jumped at the chance to see them. Casey, Amber and Willow were coming to meet Lila. Beca couldn't wait, it had been over a month since she had last seen them.

Beca put a clean diaper on the baby before she lotioned her up and dressed her in a cute little sleeper with a matching headband… or a 'baby brain squeezer' as Amy had called it.

About thirty minutes later there was a light tap on the door and Beca could see Amber as she peeked around it. "Everyone decent in here?" Amber asked with a giggle.

"Come on in." Beca said tucking her boob back into her bra.

Amber was at the side of the bed in a millisecond oh'ing and ah'ing over the baby. Casey sat Willow on the end of the bed near Beca's feet, and immediately remarked about how beautiful Lila was.

Willow pointed and said "Bay beeee!" Then clapped her tiny hands. She was so proud of herself.

"You wanna see the baby?" Beca asked her as she reached out to take her hand and bring Willow toward her. "Her name is Lila. Lila Kathryn. Can you say Lila?"

"BAY BEEEEEE!" Willow squealed, taking Beca's hand.

"Well, that's close enough!" Beca laughed.

Amber smiled. "You gonna sit in Aunt Beca's lap?"

"Bucket!" Willow said crawling closer to Beca. As much and as hard as Amber and Casey had tried to get Willow to say Beca, it always came out Bucket. It was a term of endearment that Beca loved.

"Careful Willow… gentle. Aunt Beca has owies." Casey reminded.

Beca smiled as she watched Willow's little face light up. She gently touched Lila's face. One day she hoped that would be Lila looking at her baby brother or sister the same way. "Looks like Willow needs a brother or sister." Beca said.

Amber winked. "We're working on it."

"Oh my gosh, babe… look at her long eyelashes!" Casey said nudging Amber in the side.

"Models would kill for those lashes!" Amber agreed. As a licensed cosmetologist she knew that first hand. "Beca… she's gorgeous!"

Willow reached out to touch the baby again. At the same time, Casey and Amber both said, "Gentle Willow… soft."

"Thanks…" Beca smiled proudly. She knew she couldn't continue to be greedy. Casey and Amber had not only come to see the baby but she knew they expected to love and cuddle her.

As Beca passed Lila to Casey. "Soo… where's my big brother?" He asked as he sat in the chair next to the bed.

"He's at home."

"Home? Newsflash Becs… you just had a baby. Shouldn't he be here loving all over this little beauty?" Casey asked as he eyed his new little niece.

Beca nodded as she pulled Willow closer. "He should but he's sick with pneumonia and a sinus infection." Beca said filling them in about Jesse's latest ailment, leaving out the part about the suspicious spots on Jesse's lung.

"Has he been here at all?" Amber wondered out loud.

"Well… he and the band had a gig night before last and he didn't come home. I tried calling and texting for hours when I realized that this was the real thing but he wasn't answering calls or responding to texts."

"So, let me get this straight…" Casey starts. "You're heavily pregnant with his baby, days past your due date, essentially a ticking time bomb and he doesn't respond to your calls or texts and he doesn't come home."

"Yep... that about covers it."

"I don't mean to pry, but are you two ok?" Casey asked cautiously.

Beca nodded. "As far as I know, we are."

"Then what the fuck is wrong with him?" He asked as he covered the baby's ears. "Sorry lil' princess, that was a bad word and Uncle Casey shouldn't have said it."

Beca laughed as she watched Casey cover Lila's little virgin ears. "After everything we've been through he still doesn't realize that when he doesn't respond, I worry and I immediately think the worst."

"Mommy! Book. Book!" Willow called out, prompting Amber to reach into her purse for a coloring book and some crayons for her daughter.

"Beca… I'm sorry. I'm not sure why he's doing this."

"Case, it's ok. We'll get through it just like we've gotten through everything else."

"No… it's not ok. Don't make excuses for him. You're his wife, Beca. Lila is his daughter. You're priorities not options… The two of you should be his number one."

Beca nodded in agreement. "Well… he made here right before Miss Priss arrived. In the end, he made it, which is all that matters."

Casey rolled his eyes and pursed his lips in disgust. He had absolutely no idea what was going through Jesse's head. "And the pneumonia? How long has that been going on?"

"Just found out about it earlier today."

"So, I'm guessing that he didn't tell you what was going on?"

"No, I suspect that he was feeling a lot worse that he let on."

"Asshole!" Casey muttered. "He doesn't deserve you."

Without looking up from her book, Willow mumbled "sasshole".

Beca looked at Casey with huge eyes then put her hand over her mouth to try to disguise her smile and laugh.

Amber rubbed Casey's leg. "Babe… language."

"Sorry." Casey mumbled. "Willow… that's a bad word. Don't say it again … ok?"

Willow shrugged. "Ok Daddy." Then went back to her book.

Casey rolled his eyes and sighed. "No symptoms before yesterday?"

Beca took a deep breath. "Not exactly…"

Casey was now sitting up straighter and eyeballing Beca. "Go on…"

"He's had a persistent, nagging cough for months now. He's had bronchitis a few times in the last several months. I've been after him to quit smoking and get himself checked out but he has always insisted that he was 'fine'." Beca said throwing up some air quotes.

"If that's fine then I'd hate to see the alternative." Casey said. "Does he not remember everything that Bambi went through… and by her own hand no less? I mean… come on. How stupid does one have to be?"

There was nothing Beca could say to disagree with Casey, though the bit about Bambi hit home. "When my nurse was in here this morning she suggested that he go downstairs for a chest x-ray and a breathing treatment."

"How bad did he fight not going?"

"Well… he again said he was fine but I didn't believe him. He stayed until my parents got here and finally decided to go after my mom strongly urged him."

"Doesn't surprise me. I'm guessing that's when they found the pneumonia?" Casey stood up, handing off the baby to Amber.

"Yes. He didn't call me about it, even though I asked him to. I had to get my nurse to do some digging."

"Jesus… I'll never understand him. Why doesn't he communicate with you? And why doesn't he take care of himself?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Beca told him.

Willow crawled up into Amber's lap to get a closer look at the baby. "Shhh momma… bay bee seeping." Willow said as she put her finger to her little lips.

"Yeah, sweet girl… she is sleeping." Amber said pulling Willow closer.

"Why hers tired?" Willow asked.

"Cuz being a baby is hard work."

"Ohhhh." Willow said nodding her head. "I not tired, I a big girl."

"You are." Amber said kissing Willow on the top of her head.

Beca giggled and watched Willow with Lila. She hoped that one day Willow and Lila would be best friends and playmates. It wasn't too much to ask for, they were cousins after all.

Amber whispered something to Willow then handed her a gift bag to give Beca. Casey lifted her up onto the bed so that she would have a front row seat as she watched Beca unwrap the gift.

"Is this for me?" Beca asked her.

Willow shook her head. "For bay beee." She said clapping her hands. "Open it."

"Ok… let's see what's in here." Beca said reaching into the bag.

Inside the gift bag was a beautiful cream colored chenille bunny with long, floppy ears, embroidered on the pink satin ribbon around her neck, was the name Izzy. The name was kind of ironic as Isabella had been a name that she and Jesse had briefly discussed for the baby but ultimately dismissed because of its popularity. Also in the bag was a matching cream colored chenille blanket with cream colored satin trim and a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit.

"We hope you like it." Amber said. "Willow adores hers."

Beca hugged the bunny to her chest. "I love it and I know Lila will too. Thank you Willow."

"Welcome." Said with a big smile.

"I hope you don't mind that Willow and I named the bunny." Amber said. "She saw the bunny and immediately said 'Ithy' which means Izzy or some version of it."

"I don't mind at all and I'm sure that Lila won't mind either." Beca said. "Izzy is a great name for a bunny."

Amber looked relieved. "I would have had Lila's name or her monogram embroidered on the corner of the blanket but we didn't know her name until Casey called."

Beca smiled. "We didn't decide on her name until this morning. Lila's name was a great debate."

"Because my brother is an asshole and likes hooker names."

Beca laughed. "You know him so well."

Casey nodded in acknowledgment before looking over at Amber. "Babe, it's getting late. We should really go."

"Yeah we should, it's past Willow's bedtime." She said as she placed Lila back in Beca's waiting arms.

"I know we've had our differences, but y'all are always welcome at the house." Beca told them. "You don't need an invite. You're family and we need to make sure these girls grow up together."

"We certainly do." Casey said as he kissed Beca on the cheek. "We'll see you soon."

"Absolutely. Bye Willow." Beca said in a tiny baby voice while waving Lila's hand, making Willow smile. "Thanks for coming."

Beca honestly didn't know what had gotten into Jesse. She thought he'd be over the moon once the baby was born but she couldn't have been more wrong. She wasn't sure if it was his nerves or his fear of becoming a father that had him acting so distant and hoped that once they were home, in their own environment that Jesse would finally come around.

o~O~o

After morning rounds on Tuesday, Dr. Kaiser said that Beca and Lila were ready to go home that afternoon. That statement was music to Beca's ears. She missed her little fur babies, her house and her bed. Beca packed and spoke to her mom on the phone as she waited for the discharge papers.

Anne told Beca that she was at work and that the court docket was light so she would be leaving the courthouse by two at the latest. Beca knew without Anne saying it that her mom and dad as well as her MawMaw would be at the house to welcome them home for the first time. Secretly, she hoped that meant that they would also be bringing dinner.

When the came time for Beca and Lila to go home, Luke, always dependable, was there to take them, arriving thirty minutes after Beca had called him in tears. Beca was pretty upset that Jesse had chosen to go MIA knowing full well that they were being discharged at twelve thirty. He promised that he would be there to take them home.

Luke arrived at the hospital in Beca's brand new Range Rover because he didn't have a car seat in his car. He knew she wouldn't mind him driving her SUV but made a mental note to purchase a car seat for his car so that when, not if, this happened again he wouldn't have to waste time going to get Beca's vehicle.

After loading the bags into the back of the SUV and making sure that Beca and the baby were buckled up in the back seat, Luke started the engine and gingerly pulled away from the hospital. As he merged onto the main drag, Beca noticed that Luke was driving like a blue haired, white knuckled old lady. Cars were passing them left and right.

"You can drive normally you know?" Beca said through a giggle.

Luke carefully met her eyes in the rearview mirror. "There's precious cargo in the car, I'm not taking any chances."

Beca smiled as she looked into the face of her daughter and wondered if Jesse would have driven the same way. She quietly wondered where he was and what he was doing. What could have been more important than coming to the hospital to take their daughter home?