By morning, the blizzard had stopped, though Ralph and Melissa's friends and family stayed at the hospital until the roads had cleared.

Bert had woken up from his coffee crash, though his mouth still tasted like dirt, so Bert resolved to never drink coffee again. He drank from the bottled water Cedric had got for him, then dropped the bottle into the recycling.

Bert looked over at Ralph's family, then at Schaeffer and Broo, and at the Sneers and Sophia. He felt so lonely and out-of-place, and maybe a little useless.

Lisa and Bentley approached Bert, as they noticed how glum he looked.

"Want something to eat, Bert?" Bentley asked, offering him some apple slices and a chocolate bar. "Sorry, they didn't have anything with peanut butter. Nurse Peck says there's too many patients with peanut allergies."

"Thanks, little buddy," Bert said, accepting the snacks and patting Bentley's shoulder. Lisa gave him some more water. "Thanks, Lisa. You're really good friends."

"So are you, Bert," Lisa said, sitting down next to him. "It was really nice of you to try and make us feel better last night."

"I don't think I did a very good job," Bert sighed. "It's not like I can make Melissa and the baby better."

"Aw, Bert!" Lisa gave Bert a kiss on the cheek, as Bentley made a disgusted face. "You can't fix everything. Bentley and I are trying to think positive, like you told us."

Bert smiled weakly.

Meanwhile, Cyril sat next to Cedric and Sophia, but he wasn't listening to their quiet conversation. He was watching them, though, and noted the way Cedric looked at Sophia. Cyril still wasn't sure if Sophia was a good match for his son, but a lot of people would have said the same thing about him and Cedric's mother Sarah.

Sarah was a bunch of things that Cyril wasn't: sweet and honest, like Cedric, but with a more obvious confidence than Cedric. Cedric had started to gain more confidence over the past couple of years, though Cyril guiltily noted that it might have happened sooner if he hadn't been so hard on Cedric for most of Cedric's life. Sarah wouldn't have approved of how Cyril often treated their son, especially when Cyril was more hostile towards Cedric's friendship with the Raccoons.

Cedric's name had been chosen by Sarah; she'd found it in a book about a mother and son who were very close. The kid in the book had a rich grandfather who didn't like the mother as his daughter-in-law; that was a bit ironic in multiple ways.

Cyril's mother hadn't liked Sarah, seeing her as a gold-digger because she was from a poor family. Actually, growing up without much money had made Sarah quite frugal, which Cyril respected.

Cedric's middle name Sidney had also come from Sarah. It was her maiden name, and as she had no brothers, she wanted to keep it in the family.

It had been such a shock to lose Sarah. She'd been so young, only in her thirties, and unlike Cyril, she didn't even smoke. She'd been completely healthy.

Cyril rubbed his eyes, and he sniffled a bit.

"Pop?" Cedric said, gently nudging him. He still had some concern for his father, as Cyril was really acting out of character.

"I'm alright, son," Cyril mumbled listlessly.

"Are you sad about Melissa and the baby, Mr Sneer?" Sophia asked kindly. "We don't mind if you are. Everyone is sad."

She offered Cyril a tissue, but he waved her away.

"It's just the hospital smell," Cyril insisted. "I don't care for it."

Hospitals did tend to have a strong smell of disinfectant, but Cyril was lying about it bothering him. All of his smoking had dulled his sense of smell.

Even once the snow had been cleared and everyone could go home, Ralph decided to stay at the hospital. He didn't want to leave Melissa and Kit.

Cedric decided to give Bert a ride back to the Raccoondominium and Sophia a ride back to the train station. Cyril didn't really want his limo being used like a taxi, but he wasn't in the mood to object, or try to charge fare to Bert and Sophia. He also didn't object to Broo coming along, not giving any protests about that shaggy little sheepdog puppy getting hair in the car.

This time, Cedric was behind the wheel, as his father was obviously in no condition to drive. Both Bert and Cyril stared out the windows on the passenger seats of the car. Sophia was quiet, too, being able to read the room (or car, in this case). Broo curled up between Bert and Sophia, and they petted him.

They stopped at the Raccoondominium first, and Bert shuffled out of the car, cradling Broo.

Cedric followed his friend, as he could tell Bert was very upset. Cedric worried that maybe his reunion with Sophia had caused him to neglect Bert.

"Are you going to be okay, Bert?"

"I'm fine, Ced!" Bert said, forcing a brave face.

Cedric had a feeling Bert wasn't being honest, but he didn't want to push Bert too hard by pressuring him for the truth.

"Alright," Cedric said quietly. "See you later, Bert."

After Cedric left, Bert looked around the empty Raccondominium and sighed. Everything had been so happy, hopeful, and active at this time yesterday, and now...

Broo whined, as though he sensed Bert's mood.

"I know, little buddy," Bert said dully. "It's sad."

Broo licked Bert's paw, and Bert felt a little better.

When the Sneers arrived home, they were greeted by the sight of the Pigs being chased by Snag. They all were covered in what appeared to be both pancake batter and dog kibble. Upon seeing Cyril and Cedric, the pigs and the dog all froze. Normally, Cyril might have yelled at the pigs or at least given some stinging quip or alliterative insult, but he just didn't have the energy this morning.

In unison, the pigs cried, "Boss, we can explain!"

Floyd, the youngest and most childish of his brothers, added, "Snag started it! He wouldn't-"

"Forget it," Cyril grumbled. "I'd rather not know." He stormed upstairs and slammed the door of his office.

The oldest pig, Lloyd asked, "Master Cedric, what's wrong with the boss?"

"He's upset about Ralph and Melissa's baby," Cedric said. "I don't think he wants to admit it, but I know he is." Cedric knew the same thing could be said about Bert, and he worried for both his father and his best friend.

"Is the baby going to be okay?" Floyd asked innocently.

Cedric sighed. "I'm not sure."

Actually, Melissa and Kit improved over the next few days. Melissa's fever broke, and she was able to join Ralph in the neo-natal intensive care to visit their daughter, though Melissa was still weak and sore, and she needed to lean on Ralph for support. When they were in the NICU, the couple had to wear these sterile smocks.

Poor Kit looked so helpless in that incubator. Her eyes still had that blindfold on them, and she still had the ventilator, and the IV line.

"She's so small," Melissa whispered tearfully. She reached out to hold Kit's tiny paw, the paw without the IV stuck in it.

"But she's already gained a couple of ounces," Ralph said, trying to stay optimistic.

"I wish I could hold her," Melissa said, pressing her paw against the glass of the incubator.

"You might be able to, soon," Ralph went on, kissing Melissa's forehead. "That's what the doctor told me."

Melissa continued to hold the baby's hand, and she hummed the most popular song from when she, Ralph, Bert, Cedric, Sophia and Schaeffer had their band. "Hang on, Hold On."

Kit was a fighter, that was for sure. One thing that troubled Melissa about a premature baby was all of the needles and IVs Kit was given. Kit obviously didn't like the needles, either, because she would kick at the doctor or nurse who would try to give her a needle. Melissa wasn't sure if this was a good sign or a bad sign. As much as it pained Melissa to see her baby poked with needles, she knew Kit needed them for blood tests and for receiving medicine or just vital fluids.

Melissa hid her face in Ralph's shoulder as Ralph rubbed her back.

More quickly than expected, Kit no longer needed the ventilator. She only needed it for three days, and she could be taken out of the incubator for small periods of time. Kit even started to cry. Given that Kit had been too weak to cry when she was first born, now the sounds of Kit's mewling was music to Ralph and Melissa's ears.

The NICU doctor had remarked on how well she was progressing-though he warned Melissa and Ralph that Kit could be in the hospital for at least two months, and she might have some issues as she grew.

Melissa and Ralph decided not to worry too much about the future. Here and now, they could finally hold their little girl. Melissa tried to put some clothes on Kit for the occasion, a set of purple sleepers. These would have perfectly fit your average newborn, but they were too big for Kit. Even the diapers Kit wore were too big for her, and these were special diapers from the hospital that had been made just for premature babies.

Kit was able to wear a little knitted hat that Melissa's mother had made (Melissa's parents couldn't make it because they were in Saskatchewan and also dealing with a blizzard, which meant they couldn't fly out to see their daughter and granddaughter).

"She's still so small," Melissa lamented again, "small enough for doll clothes."

"She'll grow into the regular clothes soon," Ralph said. "The doctor said she's gaining weight more quickly than he expected."

As Melissa gazed at her baby, Kit opened her eyes gazed right back. Melissa was so glad to be able to see her daughter's eyes.

"Hi, sweetie," Melissa whispered. "I'm your mommy!"

Then Kit turned her head to look at Ralph.

"She's so alert!" Melissa marveled, as Ralph kissed his daughter's tiny paw. The doctor had warned Melissa that there was a chance Kit might be blind, so it was a relief that Kit did have at least some vision.

The baby grabbed her dad's thumb, another encouraging sign. The family stayed that way for a while, with Melissa holding Kit and Ralph gently resting his paws on Melissa's shoulders.

Ralph took some nice photos of Melissa lovingly cradling Kit, the picture perfect mommy. Another mom in the nursery helpfully took a picture of Ralph, Melissa, and Kit together. Then, Melissa wanted to take her own pictures of her baby, and of Ralph with the baby. It seemed as though it had been forever since Melissa had photographed anything, and she was anxious to get back to it.

Bert was slumped on the couch. He tried to keep busy with his paper route, and the other work on the newspaper, and by taking Broo for a walk. In fact, he'd walked Broo so much that the puppy had tired out. Now the two napped on the couch, with Broo curled up on Bert's chest.

Then, Bert and Broo woke up as the phone rang. Bert picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Bert!" It was Ralph, and he sounded so cheerful that Bert perked up himself.

"Hiya, Ralphie-boy! How's Melissa and Kit?"

"They're doing really well," Ralph said. "Melissa wants to see you."

"She does?" Bert was surprised to hear that.

"Of course," Ralph said, also sounding surprised that Bert would say such a thing. "Can you come and see her today?"

"Sure!" Then Bert thought of something he could bring. "Are there any rules about bringin' toys to the NICU babies?"

"No," Ralph replied, "not that I know of."

"Great! I got a present for Kit!"

Bert uneasily followed Ralph to Melissa's room. Ralph was cheerful, even whistling. Bert felt anxious, as he didn't know what exactly he was going to see.

To Bert's relief, Melissa was sitting up in bed, reading The Evergreen Standard. Cedric was helping Bert with the paper since Melissa's hospitalization and Ralph was spending most of his time with her and Kit. When Melissa heard them come in, she lowered her paper and beamed.

"Hi, Bert! I've missed you!"

Bert approached Melissa and nearly hugged her, but then he stopped. He knew Melissa had needed an operation, and was probably still sore. He didn't want to hurt her more.

"Hi, Melissa," Bert said, settling for holding Melissa's paws. "Got a special delivery!"

Bert had the bag he normally used for his paper route, and he took out some "Get Well" cards from everyone they knew (there was even one from Broo, covered in paw prints), and his own gift.

"It's for Kit," Bert said. "I woulda brought you something, too, but I know peanut butter's not allowed in the hospital."

"That's okay," Melissa said, unwrapping the gift. "Aw, cute!"

It was a little stuffed raccoon with a pink ribbon around its neck, with an "It's a Girl" tag.

"I was going to wait for your baby shower," Bert said, "but...ya know. I got two, just in case you had a boy."

"Thanks, Bert," Melissa said, and she kissed him. "I'll give it to her right now!"

Bert still felt a little out-of-place, seeing as he wasn't allowed in the NICU. He stayed in the cafeteria until Ralph joined him.

"I'm sorry you can't visit Kit with us," Ralph said, "but I've got the next best thing!"

He showed Bert some of the pictures of Kit, and of himself holding Kit, Melissa holding Kit, and of both parents with Kit.

"She sure inherited her mom and dad's good looks!" Bert said, though he was a little unnerved by that one picture of Kit in the incubator. "The diaper looks a bit big for her."

"It was the closest one they had to her size," Ralph explained, trying not to sound worried. "But she's growing every day!"

That evening, Melissa encouraged Ralph to go home, as she could tell he really needed to sleep. Eventually, Ralph gave in and went home, but then Melissa started to wish he had stayed. Melissa decided to visit Kit again.

In the intensive care nursery, Melissa was surrounded by others, but she still felt lonely. All of the other parents were focused on their own babies, and none of them were in a chatty mood. There was one empty incubator in the nursery...but that baby had not gone home.

This really shook up Melissa, even though she had been assured that Kit was getting stronger. She had a good appetite and had quickly gained weight, though she still wasn't the weight that a healthy newborn ought to be.

The stuffed raccoon was in the incubator, at Kit's feet. She noted to herself that the toy and the baby were about the same size. Kit really was like a doll.

"The toy is from your Uncle Bert," Melissa told Kit. "He really wants to meet you. Everyone wants to meet you."

Melissa started to sing another song, "Come on Home."

"Come on home, where love is waiting..."

This was a short song, but Melissa couldn't finish it. She started to silently cry,

That same night, Cyril also sang. It was his usual lullaby for Cedric.

Cedric fell asleep pretty fast, but Cyril stayed in his room for a long time after his son had drifted off. It brought a lot of memories back.

Cyril had actually sung this lullaby to Cedric from the time Cedric was a newborn. Right after Cedric came home from the hospital, Cyril would stay with his new son and watch him sleep, making sure nothing went wrong. Babies were so fragile.

If things had happened differently, Cyril could have had both his wife and his son. Then again, there was also the chance Cedric could have been lost along with his mother. Cyril didn't like to think about that.

Cyril had told Cedric about his mother before, when Cyril nearly married Lady Baden-Baden, but he hadn't gone into a lot of detail about how she died. Cedric was a sensitive kid, and Cyril worried he might feel guilty over the circumstances of his mother's death. Cyril hadn't even shown Cedric that photo album of Sarah's pregnancy and the pictures of newborn Cedric. That was more for Cyril's own sake than Cedric's. Seeing Cedric as a delicate newborn again was too painful. Cyril had owned wallets that were bigger than Cedric had been at birth.

Cyril knew Ralph and Melissa must be in pain right now. All that uncertainty and anxiety over their child...Cyril had more empathy than he was willing to admit to most people.

The day after that, Melissa was cleared to go home, but Kit would have to stay for a while longer. Melissa waited in her room for Ralph to pick her up. Once Ralph got here, they would visit with Kit together before going home.

Melissa stared out the window, with the view still as snowy as a Christmas card. Her due date was supposed to be at the start of spring, a time of new life. Melissa liked taking pictures of blossoming trees, and she hoped that was something she could share with her daughter.

Upon hearing someone enter the room, Melissa expectantly turned around.

To her surprise, it wasn't Ralph. It was Cyril Sneer.