John's POV
"Rise and shine Peggles!" I lightly tapped Peggy's shoulder and she snuggled closer into Sally. Sally just laughed. She was on her phone trying not to move in fear of waking up Peggy.

"Peggy, baby. Wake up, you're getting discharged in an hour. I'm sure Henrietta and Madison would like us home." Peggy stirred but flipped over and sat up.

"Alright. I'll get up. I'm ready to go home. Hi John."

"Hey Hoe. How do you feel? Tired?"

"Not really. I'm just ready to get out of this bed and back to my children."

"They probably miss you. I miss Phillip. My house better not be burned down." Peggy laughed and smiled. That was my goal: make Peggy smile. "I need to wake up Alex."

I walked over to the couch and saw Alex cocooned in the blanket. I kissed his forehead before shaking him. "Babygirl, wake up. We're taking Angelica home today." His eyes flickered open and his kissed me.

"Good morning, my dearest."

The door opened and Angie came in. She had a thing of coffee in her hand and look like she had ran. "Good morning guys. Pegs they're letting you discharge early. You're free to go."

"Yes! Get me out of here. I'm sick of hospitals." I laughed and started packing the overnight bag Alex and I had brought.

I had found a onesie with dots on it a target and decides to have Angelica wear it today. I started changing her and she stirred. She started to cry when I was buttoning up the onesie and I quickly finished and picked her up. I rocked her and kissed her.

"Ssh. Angelica it's okay. I'm all done." She cried a little more but slowly calmed. "There you go." She looked at me and smiled a super tiny smile.

"Angelica, you're going to your home today. You'll love it. Especially your nursery. And grandpa's going to be there." Alex rubbed my shoulders as I held Angelica.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Washington?"

"No. Your dad. He flew up. He said he wanted to meet his granddaughter and see Phillip again." I smiled. My dad is still Senator and plans on running for a long time. He likes his job quite frankly. Because of his job, he hasn't had time to come up and see us.

"Well then let's go." We told Peggy bye and they let us take Angelica home. It was a silent drive as she was very quiet. "Huh. I guess Angelica doesn't have your big mouth." I earned a slap from Alex.

"Hey!" I laughed as we pulled into our driveway. Phillip must've seen us pull in as he ran to the car.

"Papa! Dada!" He jumped into my arms and hugged me super tight. "Miss you."

"Aww. Pip. I missed you too. We had to stay with your sister."

"An-lica here!" He face lit up. He started looking around for her and Alex walked up to us holding the carseat.

"Let's go inside Pip. You can see her inside. Come on." I let him down and he ran back inside.

We carried her inside and saw my dad sitting with Phillip on the couch. My dad was running his hands through Pip's hair as he talked about Angelica.

"Jack, your son does not stop talking. He also really loves his sister already. He reminds me of you." My dad chuckled a little as he bounced the knee Phillip was on.

"Dada, can I hold An-lica?" His little phrases were so cute.

"Of course. Here, let's place a pillow under your arm and you need to be gentle okay Pip." He nodded and Alex gently placed Angelica in his arms. "Look at you bring such a good big brother Pip."

"I wuv her! I your big brother An-lica." I took a seat beside my dad and hugged him.

"Hey dad. Thanks for coming up."

"I wouldn't miss seeing my granddaughter for the world. She's a beauty. Reminds me of your mother." My dad frowned a little. My mom was always a rough topic for him.
Let me tell you the story about her.

My mom was only my mother biologically. My sister was a result of a teenage pregnancy. My dad's girlfriend at the time broke up with him once she found out she was pregnant. He took the baby under his custody and thus born my sister. My mom later adopted her once she was married.

Now a little while after my sister, my dad met my mom. I still remember the story.

They met at an ice cream shop one summer. My mom was working an extra job because she wanted the money. My dad came in and they immediately clicked. They then got married three years later.

Everything changed however when she was diagnosed with yellow fever. I was 9 when it happened. When I was 10, she passed away. My dad loved her more than anything and wanted to be the best father possible for us, it's what she would've wanted. We buried her in Mepkin Abbey, a place where her relatives are buried.

"She does have her beauty. I miss her."

"I miss her too John. She's in a better place now and she isn't sick there. She's probably smiling at us right now. Enough with the sadness. What's her name?"

"Angelica. We named her after one of our closet friends."

"It's pretty. Suits her." I nodded and let him hold her. He smirked and rubbed his thumb across her cheek softly. "Her eyes are like yours John. And the freckles."

"Her freckles are cute aren't they. How long are you in town for?"

"Five days. I needed a break so I figured why not see you guys?"

"Aww thanks. Alex, have you told my dad hi?"

"No. Hello Henry." My dad chuckled and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder.

"Dad. You've been married to my son for what two years now? Please, call me dad." He nodded and I got up.

"Well, I'm making shrimp and grits for dinner. I should get cooking." I stood up and walked to the kitchen. Alex and my dad started talking about probably politics. I smiled. My family.
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So, now we know the story of John's mother. The whole Laurens family is buried in Mepkin Abbey in Monks Corner in Charleston, SC. I've been there and it's nothing really special but it's cool. Au revoir my beautiful turtles.🐢❤