Thank you for being so patient! This was my first semester back in school, and it's been a lot with the boys being in school. I am taking 16 credits, so yeah. But finals are coming in the next few weeks, and then summer. Now I am taking summer classes, but it's 12 credits broken up, so I will have time to post more frequently. I wish I could do more, but I also have to finish my books. I love you, thank you, and I hope you enjoy this! This is the final chapter before the Epilogue. Trust I will get this right!

The soft beeping of machines was the only sound in the room, blending with the quiet breath of newborns nestled nearby.

Golden light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Mercedes' sleeping form. She looked peaceful, even with the bandage above her abdomen and IV lines trailing from her hand.

Sam sat beside her hospital bed, his body still, but his heart beating wildly with a thousand emotions. He gently rocked the clear bassinet that held Isabella Rose Evans wrapped in a pink blanket. Liam and Tristan lay to his right in their bassinets, swaddled in blue and tucked close to their sister.

He hadn't moved much since they'd brought the babies in. He'd held each one, whispered their names, and counted fingers and toes. But nothing felt right—not until Mercedes opened her eyes and saw them all.

The door creaked open, and Sam turned as Mary and Dwight stepped in, followed by Amelia and Percy. Each of them paused, breath catching at the sight of the babies sleeping in a soft cluster near the bed.

"Oh…" Mary whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "They're perfect."

"They look just like her," Amelia said softly, walking over to the bassinets and gently stroking Isabella's cheek. "All that hair…"

"She hasn't woken up yet?" Dwight asked quietly.

Sam shook his head. "Not fully. She's stirred a few times and said my name once. But the meds keep pulling her under. It's been thirty-six hours..."

Percy placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did good, son. All of you did. She will be okay."

Sam nodded, blinking quickly. He turned back to Mercedes just as her fingers twitched and her eyelids fluttered open.

"Hey," he whispered, leaning in. "Mercedes… baby, can you hear me?"

Her eyes slowly opened, dark and dazed. She scanned the ceiling before finding his face. "Sam?"

He smiled, brushing a curl from her face. "Right here."

She shifted slightly, wincing as she tried to move. "Wha… what happened?"

"You're okay," he said quickly. "You're safe. The babies are here, and they're perfect."

Her eyes widened slightly. "The babies? Are they…?"

"They're right here," he said, stepping aside so she could see the three bassinets. "Tristan. Liam. And Isabella."

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at them. "Oh my God…"

"They've been waiting for you," Sam said gently, gripping her hand. "We all have."

She turned to him again, her voice just above a whisper. "Sam… what happened?"

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. He glanced toward their parents, who took the cue and quietly stepped out, giving them space.

Sam took a deep breath. "Mercedes… during the delivery, Tristian came out, and everything was fine; after Liam came out, you started bleeding. A lot. And Isabella wouldn't descend. They rushed you into surgery for a C-section, but even after that, the bleeding wouldn't stop."

Her brows furrowed, fear creeping back in. "But I'm okay, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah. You're okay. But…" He swallowed. "To save you, the doctors had to do a hysterectomy. They tried everything else first, but it was the only way."

Silence stretched between them. Mercedes blinked at him, her lips parting, but no sound came out.

"I know," he said, his voice cracking. "I know that's a lot. And I wish I could take that pain away. But you're here. You're safe. And those babies—our babies—they're healthy, and they're beautiful. And Cody… he's already bragging about being the best big brother."

Her hand flew to her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. "So we can't...have any more?"

"I know it hurts," Sam said, climbing onto the bed beside her and holding her gently. "But you gave life to three incredible little humans. You're already the strongest woman I know. And I promise, you'll never go through any of this alone."

Mercedes sobbed softly into his chest, and Sam just held her, letting her grieve, letting her feel it all.

Their parents stood, choosing to exit the room so the couple could have a moment.

After a long moment, she pulled back and looked over at the bassinet. "Can I… hold one of them?"

"You can hold all of them," Sam said with a smile, wiping her tears.

He carefully picked up Isabella, supporting her tiny head with both hands and slowly lowered her into Mercedes' arms.

The moment her daughter touched her chest, Mercedes gasped—her breath catching in her throat like she'd just found something she didn't know she'd lost. Isabella wriggled slightly, letting out a soft coo, her tiny fist resting against her mother's chest.

"Hi, baby girl," Mercedes whispered, voice trembling. "I'm your mommy."

The room spun for a second, her heart splitting open at the quiet, miraculous weight of the child resting in her arms. Her arms ached, her body ached, her soul ached—but in that instant, something inside her stitched itself back together.

Sam's eyes glistened as he watched them. "She's been waiting to hear that."

Mercedes looked up at him, her cheek brushing against Isabella's head. "She's so small."

"You carried her," Sam said, his voice tight with emotion. "You carried all three of them. And you're still here. That's a miracle."

Mercedes kissed her daughter's head gently, then looked over at the bassinet, tears flowing freely now. "Can I see the boys too?"

Without hesitation, Sam retrieved Liam, then Tristan, carefully placing one on each side of her as she slightly adjusted with a soft wince.

With all three babies nestled against her, Mercedes looked down at them in wonder. "They're perfect. They look so much like you."

Sam chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I was about to say they look just like you."

Mercedes laughed through her tears. "We're really parents to four kids now."

Sam reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek. "Yeah. We are."

Her smile faded just a little, her voice softening. "I can't have any more…are you sure you still..."

Sam took her hand in his. "You gave me everything I never thought I'd have. Cody. These three. You. I don't need anything else."

She stared at him, her heart full and broken all at once. "But what if I wanted more one day?"

He kissed the back of her hand. "Then we'll adopt again. But baby… I just want you safe. I want you here. And I want to spend every day loving the family we have. No matter what it looks like."

Mercedes didn't respond right away. Her gaze fell to her children, and reality started to settle in—loss, yes… but also love in its purest form. They were here. She was here. And she still had so much to live for.

The room had fallen quiet again, soft coos from the babies the only sound as Mercedes leaned against Sam's shoulder, her heart full and still aching.

She pressed a kiss to Isabella's forehead, then to Liam and Tristan, silently thanking God for bringing them into the world — and keeping her in it.

The door creaked open, and Sam looked up just in time to see Mary, Dwight, Amelia, and Percy Sr. walk in, this time with Cody holding Amelia's hand. His eyes lit up the moment he saw Mercedes sitting upright in the bed.

"Mommy!" Cody cried, letting go of Amelia and sprinting toward her.

Mercedes's arms opened instantly. She was careful of the babies still cradled against her as Sam helped settle Cody beside her.

"Hey, baby," she whispered as Cody threw his arms around her, pressing his little face into her shoulder.

"I missed you so much," he said, his voice muffled by her hospital gown. "I was so scared, Mommy."

"I know, baby. I know," she whispered, kissing the top of his curly head. "But I'm okay. I'm right here."

Cody pulled back just enough to look at her, his big brown eyes shining. "Auntie Quinn told me you were bringing my brothers and sister. And you did! You brought three!"

Mercedes chuckled through her tears, shifting so he could see the babies better. "Yep. That's Tristan, that's Liam, and this little lady here is Isabella."

Cody's mouth dropped open in awe. "They're so little!"

"They were waiting to meet their big brother," Sam added gently, reaching over to ruffle Cody's curls. "And trust me, they already love you."

Mary stepped closer, a proud smile tugging at her lips. "You scared us all, sweet girl. But you did it."

Dwight nodded beside her, his voice deep but gentle. "You're a fighter, Mercedes. You've always been one."

Mercedes smiled faintly. "Didn't have much choice."

Amelia pulled up a chair and took her daughter's hand. "You had every reason to give up. But you didn't. And now look at you." Her eyes dropped to the babies, her voice trembling. "You brought life into this world… even when you were losing so much."

Mercedes blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I was so worried."

Percy stepped beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay to be scared. What matters is you're not alone. Not today, not ever."

Mary chimed in, her voice warm and motherly. "You've got a village, baby. These kids? They're already loved more than they'll ever know. And you are surrounded by people who will lift you up every time you feel like you're falling."

Mercedes looked around the room, the weight of all that love slowly settling over her. It felt like a blanket — warm, heavy, secure.

"I lost something," she said softly, her voice cracking. "I can't ever have more kids. And I know I should just be grateful I'm alive, and I am… but part of me still feels broken."

Sam squeezed her hand tightly, but this time, Dwight stepped forward. The typically reserved man knelt beside the bed so he was eye-level with her.

"You brought our legacy into this world," he said gently. "And no one—no one—gets to define your womanhood or your worth by what you can or can't do anymore. You're not broken. You're whole. You're a mother to four beautiful kids, and you're loved by a man who would burn the world down to keep you safe."

Cody nodded firmly. "And I'll protect you too, Mommy. Like Daddy."

Mercedes let out a watery laugh. "Oh, baby…"

"You didn't lose everything," Amelia added. "You gained a family. A big, loud, messy, beautiful family."

Sam kissed the side of her head. "You're not doing this alone."

She looked down at her babies, her heart so full it ached. "Okay," she whispered. "Okay."

Mary reached for Dwight's hand, her own eyes glistening. "Let's get her settled; give her time with her babies."

Amelia smiled, brushing Mercedes's hair back one more time. "We'll be right outside if you need anything."

As the family began to file out, Cody stayed right where he was, snuggling up beside her. He rested his tiny head against her shoulder, one hand resting gently on Isabella's blanket.

Sam leaned in and kissed Mercedes's temple again. "We've got you. All of us."

Mercedes nodded, finally letting the peace settle in.

She wasn't alone.

She never would be again.

The house smelled like baby lotion and chocolate chip cookies—an oddly comforting combination that somehow suited their new normal.

Soft lullabies played from the Bluetooth speaker tucked into the corner of the living room.

At the same time, late afternoon sunlight spilled in through the open curtains.

Mercedes sat in her favorite recliner, a light pink blanket draped over her lap and a sleepy Liam cradled against her chest. Her voice, smooth as honey, danced through the air as she sang to him.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…"

His tiny eyes blinked slowly, soothed by the vibration of her voice and the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Every once in a while, Mercedes paused to wipe at her cheeks, overwhelmed by the weight of joy and healing that had taken root in her soul.

Across the room, Santana sat cross-legged on the plush rug with Cody. He held up a flashcard, eyes shining.

"That says a giraffe!" he declared proudly.

Santana nodded with a grin. "You're too smart for Kindergarten. We might have to skip you straight to third grade."

Cody giggled and leaned into her. "Miss Hayward says I'm a genius."

"She's not wrong," Mercedes called out with a soft laugh.

Sam had just shifted Tristan into a more comfortable position on the sectional couch. He carefully held a bottle to his mouth while rhythmically bouncing his knee.

"You're drinking like a champ, little dude," Sam murmured. "Slow down, we've got all day."

Kitty, surprisingly gentle, held Isabella in her arms. The baby was wide-eyed and alert, clutching one of Kitty's fingers like she'd claimed her favorite person. Kitty smirked.

"Okay, so she's totally giving me a side eye already. I think she's got your whole 'I don't play' attitude."

Mercedes shook her head. "That means she'll rule the world by age five."

"She's a Jones," Santana added proudly. "She was born to rule."

Just then, the front door swung open with a burst of energy. Quinn, Blaine, and Sebastian stepped inside, all grinning and holding up papers like they'd just won the lottery.

"WE WON!" Blaine shouted, nearly tripping over a diaper bag in his excitement.

Everyone turned.

Mercedes blinked. "Wait… what?"

Quinn clapped her hands. "Judge Sylvester denied Biff's appeal. Her ruling stands."

Sebastian flopped into the armchair with a dramatic sigh of victory. "And our favorite medical monsters? Oh, they're toast."

Sam carefully handed Tristan off to Quinn, who stood wringing the sanitizer off her hands and then opened her arms to take the baby.

Sam raised his eyebrows in an expression of alert. "What happened?"

Blaine pulled out the official document and gave it a proud shake. "Will and Terri were convicted on multiple counts: medical fraud, gross negligence, fraudulent concealment, emotional distress, witness intimidation, and our personal favorite, financial exploitation."

"They were implanting patients with the wrong sperm and embryos—on purpose," Quinn added, kissing Tristian's cheek. "And they tried to bury it by paying people hush money—only a fraction of what they deserved."

"They intimidated anyone who spoke up," Sebastian said. "But the judge wasn't having it."

Mercedes stared her, throat tight. "What's the sentence?"

"Eighteen years," Blaine replied. "Federal prison. No parole for at least fifteen. Medical licenses were revoked permanently. They'll never step foot in a clinic again."

"And," Quinn grinned, "Judge Sylvester ordered full restitution to every victim—with interest."

Mercedes let out a shaky breath, emotion building in her chest. "So… it's over?"

Sam stepped beside her, his hand finding hers. "It's over, baby. They can't hurt you—or anyone else—ever again."

Mercedes kissed Liam's forehead, letting the relief wash over her. "Thank God…"

"But wait, there's more," Sebastian said, pulling another manila folder from his bag with a dramatic flourish. "The real cherry on top."

He handed it to Sam, who blinked in confusion. "What's this?"

"Open it."

Sam did—and then stilled.

Mercedes noticed instantly. "What is it?"

Sam's voice was thick with emotion as he read aloud. "This certifies that Samuel Evans is the legal adoptive father of Cody James Jones."

Mercedes gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "Oh my God… it's official?"

"Just came through this morning," Sebastian said, grinning. "You're a real family now."

Cody, overhearing, ran over from Santana. "What does that mean?"

Sam crouched to his level. "It means I'm your dad, kiddo. For real. Forever."

Cody stared wide-eyed. "So I can still call you Daddy?"

"You can call me anything you want," Sam smiled, pulling him into a hug. "I'm just glad I get to be your dad."

Mercedes wiped a tear from her cheek, overwhelmed again. "You've always been his dad."

The moment was warm, thick with emotion, and beautiful. But as always with this crew, Blaine broke the silence.

"Now that that's settled," he said, clapping his hands, "it's time to talk wedding."

Mercedes blinked. "Wait, what?"

Quinn stepped forward. "You're engaged, you've got four kids, and justice has been served. It's time."

Kitty nodded. "We all agree. You need a beautiful ceremony, good food, a ridiculous playlist, and like… at least three outfit changes."

Sam chuckled. "Mercedes wanted something simple."

"Small," Mercedes corrected. "Something soulful. Maybe even at the B … if I can get it going."

Quinn gasped. "You're going to do it?!"

Mercedes nodded. "We started construction already; it's just a matter of keeping it going."

"You're going to build that dream," Sam said, kissing her hand. "And I'm going to be right there with you."

"Speaking of…" Mercedes turned to him. "Aren't you supposed to be flying to Silicon Valley next week?"

Sam smiled. "Nope. Not anymore. I talked to my board. I'm stepping back from the day-to-day. I'll stay involved at the top level, but the team's ready to take over."

Mercedes blinked. "You're serious?"

"I've built the company. It's time to build this. You, me, Cody, the babies… this is what matters now. With the B & B, it's going to be a lot for you. So, I want to be a full-time dad. Four kids. One queen."

She smiled so wide her cheeks ached. "You're insane."

"Insanely in love," he winked.

"You are such a cornball," she laughed.

"But I'm your cornball," he teased.

They leaned into each other, heads touching. The baby nestled between them, and Cody now snuggled into Mercedes' other side.

Around them, their chosen family smiled, teased, planned, and dreamed—proof that love always finds its way home in all its messy, healing glory.