He was waiting with Bryan and Cole when Alison came out. She had a reserved smile. "She's here. Anna did great."

Mike stood. "Is she okay?"

"Anna is. Once they made her water break, it went fast. The baby was showing some distress, so they sped it up. She's so tiny. There is a room full of people. It's all about her right now. I should go back to Anna."

"Can I? I need to see her."

He imagined her alone while everyone worried about the baby.

"Come with me..."

He followed Alison and just as they were reaching the room the door burst open and a team of people were rolling the baby away to the NICU. Tim and Amy followed with a dazed look.

Mike embraced his brother and spoke into his ear. "Dad."

"She's so tiny." He mumbled.

Amy recovered and was stronger than her husband. "She'll be fine. We'll be upstairs, near her."

Alison had slipped into Anna's room and poked her head out. "She's ready for you."

He turned away from his brother and rushed to his daughter.

"Daddy! It's over."

"You were so brave." Emotion altered his voice. He had months to accept his baby girl was having a baby and once she finally had, it hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Daddy, it's okay. As long as she's okay."

There was only one nurse left in the room. He had seen four people leave with the baby and three more leave after he came in.

"Anna, dear we'll get you into the shower. I'm guessing you'll want to go check on baby."

She shook her head. "No, her parents are with her. When can I go home?"

The nurse smile. "Doctor will let us know. Maybe tomorrow."

"Not today?" She whined.

"No dearie, not today."

While she showered, Mike texted Mari and Shelby who needed to know.

Mari responded immediately looking for confirmation both Anna and baby were all right. The nurse moved Anna back to her room and Cole and Bryan joined them.

That boy had waited with him. He was quiet with earbuds in and his leg bounced up and down and it wasn't to a beat. Mike had to face the fact that the kid cared about Anna. The question was just how much?

Her guests had left and Mike was alone with her. He was singing hoping to relax her as she'd been unsettled and finally climbed back in bed. She fought her exhaustion. Tim slipped into the room and waited until Mike had finished his song.

"I forgot how good you sound. How is she?"

"Tired now. How's my niece?" Mike had been thinking about her.

"She's stable." He had tears in his eyes when he whispered, "She's so tiny."

Anna cried, "I'm sorry!"

"For what? She's beautiful." Tim walked to the side of the bed.

"I couldn't keep her safe inside me. When all those doctors were around her, it was so serious. I thought she was dead."

"No! You gave us a miracle. She'll be okay. You should come see her." Tim encouraged.

"I'm too tired. Dad, you go."

Mike wanted to see her. "You'll be okay."

"I'm gonna sleep. You should go home. You've been here all day."

"Are you sure?" He had concerns about leaving her alone.

"Yeah, it's my last night here and I can get up by myself. I'm fine."

He turned to his brother. "I'll come peek when she's fallen asleep."

Once they were alone, he asked, "Baby girl, you can talk to me. Are you worried about the baby?"

"I'm afraid to see her."

"Are you afraid you'll change your mind?"

"No... no, I would never do that. It's just that she's so sick and what if she dies?"

"All the doctors said she should grow stronger."

"But there will be tubes and thing."

"I think so." Mike was a little nervous himself. "You can see her when you're ready. Just rest baby." He leaned over and kissed her forehead and sang a song he sang to her when she was young.

By the time he reached The Point, he was numb and starving. He stopped for a sandwich and planned to eat it on the patio overlooking the water. He walked right through the house unsure if anyone was home.

He was halfway through his panini when he heard the sliding door behind him.

"I thought that was you."

He relaxed at the sound of Mari's voice. "How's Anna and the baby?"

"Anna is tired and feeling guilty. I saw her through the glass. There were tubes and the ventilator mask covered her face. My brother said she was beautiful, but I couldn't see."

"But she will be okay?"

"Tim thinks so. I want to only think of her as my niece, but it hit me. I'm a grandfather. I'm thirty-five and I'm a grandfather. Guys my age are having their first baby."

"Your brother became a father and you're an uncle. Focus on that."

She held his hand. "Where's your father?"

Mike wanted to kiss her, but he needed a hug and some comfort. His emotions were raw.

"They're visiting with some friends."

Mike stood and pulled her to her feet the momentum caused her to fall into him. He wrapped his arms around her to stop her from moving away. He buried his face in her hair and felt calmer. It had been an emotional day. He wasn't a stranger to intense situations. It was his job to stay calm and ease other people's emotions, but this was about his family. He had heard the doctors, but that baby was so tiny. He understood Anna guilt even though it was beyond her control.

With Mari's body press to his, he felt the tension fall away. His muscles were more relaxed than they had been all day. He loosened his hold so he could cup her soft chin. She met him halfway and their lips were searching each other's. He honestly thought he could kiss her all day. Had he ever felt that way before? Maybe he did in high school, with his first girlfriend. She was a good girl, so they never went further than kissing and a bit of petting. They kissed a lot. He didn't remember why they broke up, but he found his way to Shelby and she was interested in a lot more than kissing.

When their lips finally separated, he said, "I want to take you out on a date."

She giggled. "I thought last night was a date."

He smiled. "Well then, I want to take you on a second one. Would you be comfortable sitting in a restaurant?"

Mari felt as if she could go anywhere with Mike. She felt safe with him. If he was her boyfriend, she never would have been trapped. At the first whiff of smoke, he would have woken her and led her to safety.

"I feel safe with you." He smiled with his mouth, but not his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I couldn't keep Anna safe and I can't help the baby. I feel helpless. Add on the stuff going on with my job and only with you do I feel like it will be okay."

"Anna will be okay. I know it. She has a father who loves her. I know how important that is for a girl growing up."

"Your dad really loves you."

She never doubted her father's love, but she wasn't confident in her ability to recognize real love. She had failed to see the truth with Charlie. That fact caused her to doubt any feelings that she might be having.

Mike tried to stifle a yawn. Dusk had fallen around them. "Come inside. You need to relax."

"As much as I hate to decline your offer, I think I need a shower and my bed."

He pulled her into him and kissed her. She wasn't ready for a goodnight kiss. When she heard the pipes groan, she went upstairs. She sat at her computer but wasn't working. She was waiting, because it was her turn to support him.

When Mike finally emerged from the bathroom, he stood at her office door. "Goodnight."

She was bold. "Let me keep you company while you fall asleep."

A smile spread across his face which made it to his eyes.

"Go get comfortable. I'll be just a minute."

She went into the bathroom that reeked of Mike. Knowing he had just shaved gave her pulsing feeling down below. She had no intention of satisfying that feeling. As attracted as she was to him, they really weren't anything. They were friends, but they were just barely dating. The biggest reasons were her scarred shoulder and his stay being temporary. Now that Anna had the baby it would be just a matter of time before they left.

She brushed her teeth hoping for another kiss and closed her bedroom door before entering his room. The soft glow of the bedside lamp, gave the room a comfortable feel. She glanced in the corner and saw his guitar. If he wasn't so tired she would have asked him to play for her.

He drew back the light summer covers as she shut the door and laid down next to him. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her as she settled her head on his shoulder.

She took in his scent and brushed her fingertips along his smooth jaw. She wanted to reach up and kiss him, but didn't want to give him the wrong idea. Instead, she asked quietly, "When will she leave the hospital?"

"Tomorrow is the plan."

"She should stay here with you, if she wants to."

"I could ask, but your father."

"He won't care. He'll like her. Melissa too."

"What about our stolen moments?"

Mari smiled, was that how he described their kisses? "You asked me on date. You need to tell her."

"That we're dating. I haven't dated since high school," Mike said with a mirthful voice.

Hadn't Anna told her about a woman? She didn't ask, because she didn't want to open the door for questions towards her.

Before she couldn't even think of a response, his breathing became deeper. She listened to his rhythmic breaths with an occasional whistle or snort. He wasn't a full-blown snorer. Charlie always was when he drank too much. The first time she was with Charlie was a night they drank too much.

There were a lot of those nights. She had never seen Mike have more than two drinks even with all the pressures he had been under. She kept comparing the two men.

She had planned to go back to her own bed, but she liked the feel of his arm around her. She felt safe and cared for, which was something she hadn't felt in a very long time until Mike walked into her life. She was sleeping beauty and his kiss woke her and brought her back to the land of the living.

Her eyes grew heavy as she drifted into blissful sleep without the glow of the nightlight. The darkness wasn't frightening with Mike by her side. She knew he would always save her.