Savannah tapped on the door of the tiny apartment, scanning the dimly lit hallway. The door opened, her sigh of relief fading as her gaze fell on the tanned, bare chest of the blond man looming in the doorway.

"Well, look who it is." Dylan gave her a cool look and wheeled around, presenting her with a view of his broad back. "Yo, Brando! Your squeeze is here."

"I have a name," she muttered as she stepped inside, pushing the door shut.

"You sure do," Dylan said under his breath. He dropped onto the couch, propping his feet on the coffee table and guzzling from a shiny beer can.

A combination of smelly gym bag and old food assailed her nostrils, almost making her gag. The pile of dirty socks underneath the kitchen table, along with the litter of empty pizza boxes and fast food bags made Savannah cringe. She'd bet a perusal of the fridge would turn up sour milk and some wilted lettuce or moldy fruit, but little else.

Brandon appeared from the bedroom. "Vanna!"

Vanna met him halfway, leaping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his slim waist. She sighed against his soft lips, sinking into a long, deep kiss, enjoying the shiver that ran through her.

"Do you never quit?" Dylan muttered.

Brandon threw a dirty look in Dylan's direction before refocusing on Savannah. "I missed you. How was the trip?"

"Better than expected." With a touch of apprehension, she'd agreed to the European holiday with Tiffany, and subsequent meet up with Stefan in Paris toward the end of their tour. They'd culminated the trip with several days in Chicago. "But, I missed you too." She sneaked a look from the corner of her eye, noting Dylan's leer. "Want to get out of here?" She glared in his roommate's direction.

"Yeah." His gaze turned in the same direction. "Hey, Dylan, quit being creepy. And why don't you toss your garbage and fumigate those socks too?"

The surly glower from his roommate spoke volumes. "If it bothers you, then clean it." Dylan returned his attention to the drone of the sportscaster on the ancient TV.

Brandon scowled. "I'm not your fucking maid." He latched onto Vanna's hand, snagging his keys and wallet from the counter as they breezed through the exit. "That guy! It's embarrassing to invite anyone over."

"It's foul. I don't know how you stand it." Savannah wrinkled her nose in disgust. "It'll be over soon, though. Where did he match?"

"Boston?" Brandon threw a look at her. "Nate and I are looking for another apartment. Hopefully, we'll find something less slummy, but rent is exorbitant."

"Are you sure Dylan's staying in Boston?"

"What do you know?" He quirked a brow. "Some happy news, perhaps?"

"I overheard something, but, I could be wrong, so..." She shrugged. "Do you want to stay over? Aiden and Emily are working the late shift."

"What about Iona and the rugrat?"

"Iona's in Ireland. Kellan's staying with Jenna and Tom. We have the place to ourselves."

"Enough said. I should've packed a bag."

"I have a drawer of your clothes at my place. If you're stuck, we'll raid Aiden's closet."

"Doesn't he get tired of it? I have a growing pile of stuff to return, but Dylan's a thief... so who knows if half of the stuff will ever find it's way home. Aiden's going to ban me from entering the premises. Or padlock his closet."

"We'll schedule a search and recover mission when Dylan's at work... and fumigate as required. Or, if they look anything like his clothes today," she shuddered, "we might torch them."

Brandon snickered. "Your dad would be thrilled if you burned his clothes."

"I dunno. Dylan's a slob, so Dad might appreciate it. Anyway, he hasn't mentioned his missing clothing." She pursed her lips. "But, that doesn't mean he hasn't noticed. Not much gets by him."

"Don't I know it!" He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Hey! What's that? Did you hurt yourself?" His gentle touch to her shoulder made her smile.

"We made a visit in Chicago before I flew home."

"The tattoo?" He pulled her out of the flow of pedestrian traffic. "Can I see?" Brandon slid her flowing blouse aside, tugging at the adhesive at the edge of the light dressing. He whistled as he peeled it back. "That's incredible!"

"Right? Tiffany knows this amazing tattoo artist, so... I got this and we both got butterflies on our ankles." A happy feeling bubbled to the surface as she remembered the day they'd shared while getting tattooed.

"Mother—daughter butterflies?"

A happy feeling settled over her, remembering the days spent with her mother. "Tiffany designed them. I learned so much about her, spending time at her gallery and seeing her work. And she took me to meet a photographer friend of hers, who gave me some fantastic pointers to improve my work. I remembered him. He took wedding photos for Dad and Emily as a special favor."

"And who was he?" Brandon lifted a brow.

"Bailey. A fashion photographer."

Brandon nodded as he entwined their fingers and tugged her into motion. "The trip went well, then."

"I had serious doubts, but, I'm glad I went. I mean, who'd turn down weeks of touring Italy and France! But any trip with Tiffany would have been good, you know?" She searched his face, hoping he understood her inability to explain the emotions coursing through her.

"You discovered who your mother is. That's a big deal. I'm happy you're forging a connection."

"I'm sorry," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm yapping on about my fantastic travels, but you haven't said much about yours! How was Montana?"

Brandon shrugged. "Nothing new, though it was great to see the guys. Rory is dying to meet you, but it's not a good idea."

A frisson of disappointment lingered in her belly at those words, but she'd learned her lesson in New York. _Don't expect too much, too soon._ "And your mom?"

"Intolerable."

"What did she do?"

"Spent the entire time criticizing and ordering me around like I'm five."

"That doesn't sound like much fun," she said. "Did you tell her about me?"

His lips twisted. "Piper told Jeremy on her last visit."

"But not your mother?" Savannah exhaled a long slow breath at the slight shake of his head. "So Jeremy hates me? He thinks I'm a little tramp, just like Piper does?"

"No! How could anyone assume that?"

"How? I'd bet Piper didn't provide a flattering picture."

"She focused on my cradle-robbing."

"Oh, so much better!" Her stomach lurched.

"It is for you," he said. "I can handle his concerns. But, enough about my depressing family. Tell me about the amazing things you did on your holiday. "

She shook her head. "More about Montana first."

"Just the usual small town stuff. Drank beer, played pool, went to the beach, and spent time with Mia."

"Ahh, the little monster Piper bitched about."

"Piper's a spoiled drama queen, especially compared to the meagre attention Mia gets." His expression softened. "I worry about Mia, but not much I can do, aside from spending time with her when I visit."

"I'd love to meet her." Savannah peered at him. "And your friends. But," she squeezed his hand, "it's too soon."

"It's not that. I've met your family and friends... well, except for the infamous Justin," Brandon said, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly.

She wrinkled her nose. "Don't be jealous. He's my friend."

"He's your ex-boyfriend." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "But, I trust you."

She smiled and nodded, pushing down her disappointment. His resistance to telling his family or allowing her to meet his friends burned. But, she'd remain patient and hope he changed his mind.

✯ ✯ ✯

Over the next week, they reconnected, and soon, it felt like they'd never been apart. Often he visited her home, to avoid hanging out around Dylan. This morning, they'd spent hours kayaking, enjoying the sunny day before the start of his shift.

"You're an angel." Brandon rubbed at the stubble on his jaw, shifting on his perch at the counter. "This morning was fun. We should do it again."

Savannah set the plate in front of Brandon. "I told you it would only take a few minutes!" She brushed her windswept hair back from her face, hoping her cheeks weren't sunburned. "And, I enjoyed our adventure too."

"Your dad and Emily will get tired of feeding me!" He sliced into the steak with a sigh, digging in with apparent satisfaction at the sumptuous meal.

"Half of the time, they're the ones inviting you. Look at how often you were here while I was away." She slid onto the stool beside him, sipping a glass of water. "You've been adopted."

"I'm a lucky guy." He grinned, obviously pleased at the easy and natural routine that had developed. "Or they've taken pity on me. Did they tell you they allowed me and Nate stay over a few nights? The apartment was so bad after I got home—"

"Aiden!" Emily's voice rang down the hall. "Aiden! I need you! Right NOW!"

Brandon frowned at Savannah. "That doesn't sound good."

"No." Savannah leaped from her seat and dashed into the hallway, stopping short at the sight of her stepmother.

Emily hunched over with one palm flattened against the wall, the other resting on her lower back as a puddle formed around her feet.

"Ohhhh!" Vanna slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Move." Brandon grasped her shoulders as he slipped by. "Are you in pain?"

"My back aches." Emily peered downward. "And my water broke. Where's Aiden?" She grimaced. "Another one..."

Brandon pressed a hand against the small of her back. "Does the pressure help?"

Emily nodded and sucked in a breath before forcing it out between clenched teeth. "Our baby girl is eager to join us."

"Dad took Kellan to the park. I'll call." Vanna fumbled for her phone as Brandon supported Emily, leading her toward the bedroom.

Savannah trailed down the hall, looking away as she skirted the puddle in the middle of the floor. "Answer... answer!" When Aiden's voice mail picked up, she hit disconnect and redialed his number.

"Hi, honey—"

"Come home! Now! Hurry up! There's a big icky puddle on the floor!" Savannah followed Brandon into the bedroom.

"Is Emily okay?" Aiden sounded breathless. "Kel! Come on, buddy! Time to visit Auntie Jenna."

"Brandon's here, but it's happening!"

"I'm on my way. Can I talk to Em?"

Savannah extended the phone to Emily. "It's Dad."

Emily accepted the phone. "Aiden... only a couple of minutes. I need you." She smiled, her eyes shiny. "I love you."

"Vanna, can you find dry clothes?" Brandon motioned to the closet. "I'm timing, Emily. You can relax."

"I'm fine. Aiden's on his way, and it's not my first baby." Emily offered him a faint smile. "I've even delivered a few."

Savannah hurried into the closet, finding a summer-weight maternity dress and the hospital bag. She returned to find Emily leaning against the wall while Brandon talked her through another contraction and rubbed her back.

"Anything I can do?" Vanna asked.

Brandon shook his head, turning his back as Emily peeled her sundress over her head.

"You don't have to look away, Brandon." A smile fleeted across Emily's face. "I'm not shy. And you're probably seeing more of me in the photo." She slid the clean dress over her head.

Savannah smothered a laugh as Brandon looked up, a rueful grin appearing as he realized he stood under the large framed boudoir photo of Emily mounted above the fireplace.

Emily rubbed her belly, ambling across the room and back.

Savannah paced back and forth on her own path, glancing at her watch every few seconds. "Where's Dad?" She wished she had something productive and helpful to do, but Brandon seemed to have it covered.

"Someone else needs to relax more than I do." Emily laughed softly before a furrow appeared between her brows.

Footsteps resounded in the hallway, and a moment later, Aiden dashed into the room. "How you doing, Em?" He strode across the floor to join his wife, cupping her cheeks in his palms as he pressed a kiss to her brow.

"The contractions are two minutes apart." Brandon glanced at his watch. "And thirty to forty-five seconds each."

"Showtime," Aiden said. "Vanna, can you take the bag and grab my car keys? You're driving."

"On it." Savannah scooped up the bag and hurried out the door, tugging Brandon along with her.

"I'll deal with the mess." Brandon pointed at the puddle on the floor.

"Thank you." Savannah grimaced. "How can you stomach it?"

He snorted. "You should see what we deal with at work. If you get me a mop..."

"There's one in the laundry room."

"Find the keys." He winked and gave her a gentle push. "That baby isn't planning to wait."

✯ ✯ ✯

After parking the car, Savannah rushed upstairs to the delivery unit, making a quick stop to inquire on Emily's room number. At the entrance of the suite, she took a deep breath before opening the door. She peered around the corner and froze.

Her dad sat on the bed behind Emily, supporting her while she groaned. "You're doing amazing." Aiden brushed her stepmother's sweaty hair back, not moving an inch.

Emily leaned against him, panting. "Kellan didn't take this long!"

The midwife at the end of the bed patted Emily's calf. "Almost there."

Tears pricked at Vanna's eyes as Emily smiled at Aiden, accepting his kiss.

"You made it." Her dad spotted her hanging out by the door. "Come in."

"I don't know. Maybe this isn't such a good idea." She'd begged to be included, but now she felt faint, her knees trembling as the drama unfolded.

"Hold Emily's hand." Aiden beckoned as Emily tensed up. "Breathe, Em! You can do this."

Savannah moved across the room, offering her hand to her stepmother.

"You're crowning!" the midwife said from her position at the end of the bed. "Aiden, you know what to do."

"Sweetie, let's sit you up." Aiden helped his wife reposition, remaining on the bed as her support.

"You can push when you're ready," said the midwife.

Aiden grasped Emily's hand, totally focused on his wife. "Ready, Em?"

"Get this baby out of me!" She panted and then let out another long low groan.

"Hang in there. You've got this, Em."

Emily gritted her teeth and clenched her eyes closed, her face scrunching in pain.

"Oh," Savannah said. Complete fascination warred with absolute terror as the baby's head appeared. "Wow!"

"One more good one. Push... now!"

Emily gasped for breath, then bore down with a groan, her chin pressed to her chest.

Savannah peered at the tiny red infant making her entrance, a loud squall emitting from the baby after a few seconds of silence. The midwife rubbed the little girl with a towel before placing her across Emily's chest.

"She looks great. Pinking up and a fantastic set of lungs."

Savannah reached out a tentative hand. "Can I touch her?"

"Yes." Aiden grinned as he caressed the top of the baby's head with one finger. "Meet your sister."

A tear tracked down Emily's cheek. "Aiden. Look at our baby girl."

"You did great, Mommy. She's perfect."

Savannah couldn't keep the smile from spreading across her face. "That was so freaky, but amazing!" The baby wrapped her tiny hand around Savannah's index finger, a strong grip for someone who'd only appeared in the world moments earlier. "She's tiny."

"Does Dad want to cut the cord?"

"Absolutely." Aiden slid from behind Emily, settling her against the pillows before accepting the scissors. He snipped between the clamps, and allowed one of the nurses to wrap and carry the baby to the warmer for her first exam.

Aiden kissed Emily, running the back of his hand over her cheek before advancing toward the bustling group around the baby.

"How is she?" Emily propped herself up and peered across the room at the clear plastic warmer.

"She's perfect." Aiden received the swaddled infant from the nurse. "She's a beauty, just like her mother." He sat on the side of the bed, tucking an arm around Emily as she cuddled the bundle against her chest.

Perching on the other side, Savannah peeked down at the tiny face. The dark serious eyes of the baby stared at her. "Do you think she knows who I am?"

"Definitely." Aiden beamed at her. "She'll know your voice because you're around so often. And you talked to the belly."

"That I did." The first time she'd talked to Emily's growing belly, she'd felt silly, but Aiden did it all the time, asserting that babies could hear before they were born. He believed talking increased the level of bonding and was adamant his daughter would recognize his voice.

"What are we naming her?" Savannah brushed a fingertip over the soft down of hair, anticipation building as Aiden and Emily exchanged looks.

Emily peered down at the tiny baby with a gentle smile. "Meet Cierra Marin Hamilton."

"You used my name!"

"A beautiful name, for a beautiful girl," Emily said. "Do you want to hold her?"

"Yes!" Savannah cuddled her precious new sibling. Having a younger sister was something she'd dreamed of, and now, that dream had come true.

✯ ✯ ✯

Savannah hurried into the ER, searching for Brandon amongst the melee. She flagged down a young woman she didn't recognize, though her lab coat signified she was a medical student. "Dr. Reynolds around?"

"I'm sorry, but you'll to wait over there. Have you checked in with the triage nurse?"

"I'm not a patient. I'll wait in the doctor's lounge. Could you tell Dr. Reynolds where to find me?" She knew he was on shift, so he couldn't be far away.

"The lounge is for doctors." The young woman narrowed her eyes. "Sorry, you'll have to wait there." She pointed at the family room.

"How are you?" Will Kavanagh appeared from one of the exam rooms and pulled Vanna into a hug. "Savannah is Dr. Hamilton's daughter," he said to the medical student. "How's it going upstairs?"

"I have a completely adorable baby sister!"

"I'll pop in when I have my break. Congratulations, Vanna." He hugged her again. "I have a patient waiting, so..." He waved and hurried down the hall.

"I'll just..." Savannah motioned toward the lounge, and turned away from the glaring young woman.

"Vanna!" Brandon appeared behind her as she pushed into the lounge.

"Hey! You done with the trauma?"

"The patient is off to surgery, but I can't be long." Leaning in, he captured her lips in a kiss. "These shifts are murder. I can't wait until I'm done for the day, but I have another three hours. How are things with Emily?"

"I have a baby sister! I almost ran out of there it was so scary. How do you watch stuff like that?"

He shrugged. "You get used to it. It's like... I don't know how to explain it. You almost disassociate and concentrate on the patient, not how you feel. Does that make sense? It's about them, never about you."

"It does." She nodded.

"So, a girl?"

"Yes! She's sweet. You should visit after your shift. Then if you want to come over, I'll make you," she glanced at the clock with a frown, "breakfast? The time really flew by in the delivery suite."

Brandon snickered. "Bet Emily didn't think so. But, I'll come by once I've finished my shift. I'll text when I'm on my way." He bent down to claim another long kiss. "I'd better get to work, or I'll be hearing about it."

"See you soon, then." Savannah bit back the words that wanted to escape. For some reason, whenever she said goodbye to this man, she wanted to blurt out _I love you_. But she simply couldn't. Not after New York and their long discussion. Worst thing would be to appear clingy or needy. That would surely send him running, just when things were progressing.

With a happy smile, she strode toward the stairs, intent on having another cuddle with her baby sister before they kicked her out and sent her home.