'Nigel, I…' Nigel knelt with baited breath and watched Alexis's eyes glaze over. And even years later he would say how his heart stopped beating, and he could've declared himself legally dead, when he saw her dazzling smile, and heard her say the six most beautiful words he would ever hear in his life – until the day she said I do. 'Yes. Yes! A thousand times yes!'

He pulled the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. When it was safely nestled on her left hand, he kissed it softly, and then stood to lift her off her feet, twirling her round and round, kissing her everywhere, until they were both laughing excitedly. When he finally let her feet touch the ground, he bent down to capture her lips again in his. 'Oh, how I love you, my sweet, sweet girl.'

She was silent a moment, and when she spoke again she was resigned; quiet. 'Boston.'

'What?'

'I want to live in Boston.' Her words were simple and sincere.

'But… but why?'

'Because you want to live in Boston. It shouldn't take long for me to move all my things.'

'Would you really? What about the firm? Your friends -?'

'The firm?' she scoffed. 'They've been underpaying me for years. And friends? The only real friends I have lives in a small town in Ontario with three children and her high school sweetheart, and in Boston. I'll be closer to her there than I'd ever be here.'

'Are you sure?'

'Am I right?'

'Well, yes, but…' He could just imagine the look on the morgue staffs' faces when they returned, engaged. Looking for a home in the city. His city. 'Are you sure?'

She smiled. 'There's only one other thing I've ever been this sure about. And he's standing right in front of me.'

Epilogue

'Just a little more, Alexis, love. A little more and you're there…!' Face pale, Nigel squeezed her hand as she screamed.

'And… we're out! Congratulations – it's a boy!' After cleaning and swaddling the infant in a soft blanket, the doctor handed him to Nigel.

'Let me see,' Alexis said tiredly, eyes shining towards her husband and child. 'Oh, Nigel, he's beautiful… he's got your nose!'

'Poor little blighter,' he laughed gently, stepping carefully to place the baby in her arms. 'But he has your eyes.'

She blushed and smiled down at the bundle in her arms. 'He's darling, isn't he, Nigel?'

'Yes, he is.' Stunned with disbelief, Nigel ran his fingers through his hair, careful not to catch the wedding band in the strands. 'He's beautiful. You're beautiful… so this is why people practice medicine!'

'Go fetch everyone. I want them to meet him.'

A few moments later, death was reunited with birth as the morgue staff crammed themselves into the small single room. Lily gushed with adoration; Jordan and Garrett clapped Nigel on the back; Bug looked nervous, because he thought kids didn't like him. It wasn't until Alexis was practically dozing that the group began to thin and finally disappear to leave the little family alone for the first time since before the Alexis went into labour.

Alexis chuckled and sighed contentedly, eyelids drooping. 'I want to watch him sleep, but I don't think I could stay away myself. '

Beaming with pride, Nigel sat on the side of the bed. 'You're tired, love. How 'bout I watch you both sleep?'

'But you've been up longer than I have.'

'I couldn't sleep if they sedated me. Besides, I'm not the one who did all the work – I had the easy job… and that was nine months ago.'

'Alright, Nigel. But promise me you'll get some sleep?'

'We'll see about that. Good night, my dear.'

She smiled up at him in response. Glancing out the window where the sun was rising over the city, she replied, 'Good morning, Nigel…' And, looking back down into the little blue bundle in her arms, she whispered, 'Good morning, Arthur Franklin Townsend...'