You've got this, was what he said as he reluctantly left her. He wanted to stay. He secretly wished Kristi was unavailable and then she'd have no choice, but to let him be there to support her. He remembered when the twins were born and how strong and courageous she was.

It surprised the kids when he picked them up. He explained that it was time for Mommy's baby to be born. They asked when, but luckily not how.

"Why do you have Mommy's car?" Nick asked.

"Because Mommy couldn't drive it to the hospital. So for dinner, you can choose McDonald's or Mario's."

In unison, they both said, "Mario's."

While waiting for their pizza, he listened to Sophie talk and texted Leo to let him know he would need the next two days off. The twins had school the next day so he could work, but he had other plans. He couldn't get his mind off Megan. He remembered how grueling childbirth was for her and how helpless he felt. He didn't expect an update, but sure wished he'd get one.

After dinner, he took them home to pack some things. Megan hadn't been prepared to not be coming home after work. He smiled. He was always the neater one - breakfast dishes were still on the table.

Sophie said, "Daddy I can't find my purple dress. Mommy said I couldn't wear it today because I had art. She said tomorrow!"

He peeked in her room, the room that was once his, and saw the unmade bed and two laundry baskets full of unfolded clothes.

"Hey Soph, come check in here."

He made the bed and ran his fingers across the pillow where her head had been. He stopped himself from smelling it - maybe if he were alone.

He went to the kitchen to clean up and checked to make sure the kids had everything. He wondered about all the things Megan took home from work, but left them at her house. He knew enough that her school issued laptop shouldn't be left in the car.

They were just getting back into the car, when his phone chimed. He saw a text from Kristi and couldn't believe there was a picture of Megan looking wonderfully disheveled holding her baby.

"Wow! Already. I've got a picture of your sister."

He handed his phone back and let them look. Sophie spoke first. "She's so little."

"You were little like that once."

"Can we see mommy and the baby," Nick asked.

"Not tonight, maybe after school tomorrow."

He remembered how she labored all night with the twins and pushed forever. Obviously this little one wanted to come out fast. He took the phone back and looked one more time at the picture. She looked happy and beautiful. Kristi had texted the time of birth and her name. He smiled, because they had considered Abigail for Sophie, but Megan really liked Sophie even though he was leaning toward Abbie.

"Hey guys. She says her name is Abigail Jane."

It took longer to get them settled, because they were excited. Just sleeping at his house on a school day was exciting. Once they were asleep, he texted John to see if he wanted to come up. He added, Becks too if there.

It didn't take long, and they were at his back door. He put his finger over his lips and pointed to the twins' closed door. Truthfully their backpack strewn on the floor announced their presence too. He took out his phone and showed them the picture.

"Oh, my! When?" Becka asked.

"Tonight."

"But she wasn't absent today, I've been checking every day."

Peter told them the story, as he knew it. "Can one of you give me a ride to the lab in the morning so I can get my car?"

Becka said, "I will. In fact, I can just bring them to school for you."

After they left, he texted Megan, Congrats looks like you did great! He wasn't expecting a response.

She replied, Thanks. It was awful until it wasn't. She's perfect.

He stopped himself because what he wanted to text was, you're perfect.

He had a taste of what Megan's mornings must be like, although he didn't even need to get ready for work himself. He just put on old jeans and a tee shirt. He had a lot to accomplish in not much time.

Once he had his car, he drove to Home Depot to pick up supplies. He crossed the causeway and pulled into The Landing for a cup of coffee.

Rick asked, "Day off?"

"Yup, did you hear?" When Rick shook his head, he pulled out his phone and showed him.

"Well, look at her. You alright with this?"

"I'm fine. I have a little surprise I'm working on today. I might see you later if I have time for lunch."

"If it's slow enough, I might leave Alice and walk over to see. I'll bring you lunch. I want to know what you're up to."

Peter went straight to work. First task was to move the bookcase that had been covering the hole for over seven years. Then he went to work putting up the new plasterboard and sealing the seams.

A knock on the door interrupted him. It wasn't lunchtime yet. He answered to find Kristi smiling at him.

"What are you up to, Bren?"

He rolled his eyes and smiled. "Just a long overdue project." He stepped aside for her to come in. "I'd like it to be a surprise."

Peter could tell she was surveying his work. "What happened that this hole was never fixed?"

Peter knew she was fishing, but answered truthfully. "The twins happened."

"I've got a list of things to bring to the hospital."

"As we found out looking for Sophie's dress, there are clean clothes in the baskets in her room. How did it really go?"

"It was incredible. She was in labor all day. The pains were in her back, so she thought she had strained it. She was almost fully dilated when she got upstairs."

No wonder she was crushing his hand. He had been longing to hold her hand again, but not like that. Still, he would have allowed her to continue, if he could have stayed.

Peter watched as Kristi collected clothes for Megan and a bunch of baby clothes. She picked up her charger and a book on the Cold War from next to her bed.

Kristi left and Peter realized that he hadn't texted Megan to tell her he'd bring the kids after school. He wanted to call her, but didn't want to intrude.

Back to work, the entire wall needed putty and sanding. He didn't think he would get to the painting. He was still hard at work when there was another knock on the door.

"Delivery service!" Rick smiled. Standing behind him was Alex. Peter and Alex were friends and even played poker together, but Alex built beautiful homes and this house was far from beautiful.

"I was coming in when Rick was on his way out. I thought I'd see what you're up to."

It would embarrass Megan for Alex to see inside her house, but he couldn't be rude. "I never finished that wall before the twins and then I wasn't living here anymore."

"Looks like you've been busy." Alex took the putty knife to smooth off a few spots that Peter had left not professional.

"I always hoped I could hire you to put on an upstairs. If..." He stopped talking because he didn't want to say what he was thinking out loud.

Rick said, "When you move back in, you can hire Alex."

"Rick, I thought you were on team Megan not team Peter."

"Oh no, there is no team Peter, I've always been on team Megan and Peter. Most everyone is."

"Me too. If I hadn't believed that you two belong together, I would have made a move on her a long time ago. Hey, don't look at me that way. I can appreciate your good taste. Now as long as the footings are good, I see no problem going up. I could fit a nice master and at least two bedrooms or three smaller ones. You have to make your move. I have an opening this fall."

"Don't get your hopes up"

Both Megan and Peter knew Alex from The Landing. When he worked jobs on The Point, he ate two meals a day there with often a cup of coffee in between. He worked elsewhere, but typically had at least one project going on The Point. He was so embedded in the community most people forgot that he wasn't a resident.

The putty didn't dry enough to sand. He would have to finish another day. He did a few odds repairs and had just enough time to clean up and change before school let out. The twins ran to him. He had a response from Megan that said, Great. He also had a picture from Kristi of Megan feeding the baby. The vision stirred things within him he'd been suppressing for a very long time.

He let Nick and Sophie go in the room first as he stood back and took pictures of them seeing their sister for the first time. Megan was smiling. He would describe her as glowing and Peter had a stab of pain wishing that he had given her another baby. Unfortunately, that was not to be, so he was determined to love her baby, like she was his own.

Finally he went closer to get a look at the new arrival. She was beautiful. She looked like Sophie and Megan.

"May I?"

Without answering she handed the baby over. With the twins there was always one for each of them. He rested the tiny body in his arms and a flood of memories and feelings came back to him. She was peacefully sleeping with her little heart-shaped lips moving slightly.

"Is she getting the hang of life on the outside?"

Megan chuckled. "She seems to be. I have a lot more experience this time."

That was an understatement. They had two babies and barely knew what they were doing at first. Luckily they were fast learners. She scrunched up her face and Peter knew it only meant one thing. He put her down and started to unswaddle her.

Megan said, "I can do that."

"No, talk to them. I think I remember how."

He changed her diaper, cleaning her well. He swaddled her up again and with her back in his arms; he leaned down and kissed her forehead. He saw Megan watching him, but she didn't say anything.

"When are you going home? Do you need a ride?"

"Tomorrow sometime. Kristi said she would, but there's no school. So..."

"We can come get you. Right, guys?"

"Yes," the twins answered in unison.

Abigail cried and so he passed her back. He suddenly felt like he should give her privacy to nurse which seemed strange given their past. The twins full of questions surrounded her. He listened and occupied himself looking around the room. He should have bought something. On the tray pushed away from the bed was the form for the birth certificate. It was not filled in yet. He wanted to put his name down for her. Instead, he left her room.

Down in the lobby was a gift shop. He decided on an It's a Girl! balloon and a pink stuffed bunny. It looked similar to one that Sophie loved. Nick had one in blue.

On the way back up, he ran into Ed. After greeting each other, they rode the elevator together.

"Congrats on your new granddaughter."

Peter again stayed back and let Ed enter and greet the four of them. It looked like she was done feeding. He called Sophie and Nick over and whispered, "Give these to mommy."

Nick took the balloon, and Sophie had the bunny. They both said, "Here mommy."

"Oh, thank you!" She hugged them. Looking over their heads, her eyes met his, and she smiled. Jesus, he felt that smile right to his - well all over.

He pulled the twins away with the promise of another meal out so Megan could visit with her father. He wanted to tell her he meant what he said about listing him as the father, but couldn't with Ed there. Instead, he texted her from the parking garage.

He took them to Denny's because they loved breakfast for dinner. Then back to his house where they went to tell everyone on the first floor all about their baby.

Becka asked, "You okay with all this?"

"Yes, I'm fine. She looks like Sophie."

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up and then crash and burn again."

"I'll be fine." He and Megan were friends, and hopefully she would realize that friendship would never be enough.