Five months later...

Max felt a surge as he left the hospital at six-thirty. It was Monday after a week on-call. He and Olivia had hardly seen each other and when they did, they argued at two am over who should be sleeping. They each thought the other should.

When he stepped inside the apartment, Olivia looked up at him. She looked awful, but beautiful at the same time. Her hair hadn't been washed in days and her black shirt was stained. She smiled at him and he knew all was forgiven.

His eyes strayed from her to their son asleep on her lap. He was born perfect. Max had examined him thoroughly.

"He won't let you put him down?"

She shook her head. "He wakes up every time."

Max bent down and brush his lips across Olivia's before picking up the sleeping baby. He whispered into his ear. "I missed you." Olivia smiled. He turned to her. "I missed you too. I worried I'd come home and you would be gone."

Olivia laughed. "It'll take a lot more than an overtired argument to get rid of me. You're stuck with us."

"But you were on your own for days while I was on call."

Olivia laughed. "First of all, why would I want to do it alone all the time when I have you some of the time. Second, I had help. Your mother has been over a lot. Lilli hung out all day Saturday. My brother and Ainsley stopped by on Sunday afternoon. This guy gets lots of visitors."

Max paced around with the sleeping baby. He never wanted to put him down. "Did we spoil him already?"

"No. Honor said it's normal. He's still a newborn."

Max smiled at Olivia talking to his friend's wife. "Eli Michael Steele, we love you."

Olivia smiled. "Are you hungry? I ate but there is still some of Lilli's lasagna."

"Yeah, I'll get it in a minute. I can't believe how much I miss him."

Olivia smiled. "So much has changed in a year."

Max chuckled, causing his son to stir. "You were dating the cracker."

"You were, you know, but we made a mess every time we saw each other."

"Until Jayden. Having you step into my world opened my eyes."

Olivia smiled. "Here we are. A family."

Eli squawked. "When does he eat?"

"This time of night anytime, all the time, non-stop."

"I'll change him." Max walked into the nursery.

He had fought the sweet room too. Max wasn't proud of his behavior, but he was trying to make up for it. He had one last stubborn streak to break. As he laid his son on the changing table, he squawked again. He had babies smaller than him in the OR. When he undid his diaper, Max checked for hernias. Satisfied he completed the change and dressed him.

"Your mommy's got the good stuff." He reluctantly passed him back to Olivia. As he stepped to the fridge, he said, "Trish called me. She has an interview at Children's. I offered for her to spend the night if she needs a place."

"She won't get much rest. I thought she wanted to stay in Connecticut."

"I think she wants a clean slate after the divorce. They had been together since high school, so the hurt runs deep."

"I loved you at thirteen. I get it."

Max sat down to eat. "This is so good. My brother was smart to marry Lilli the way she cooks."

"He loved her long before he tasted her cooking. I thought you were anti-marriage thanks to your friend and her divorce."

"No. I'm not so much anymore." He took a bite and swallowed. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately."

"You have?" Olivia looked stricken like he told her he shit his pants.

He laughed at his thoughts. "Liv, you are the strongest person I know. If I didn't know it before, the way you brought Eli into the world proved it. God, you were beautiful and amazing."

"I swore at you."

He laughed. "Well, the rest of the time was amazing. I want to be a real family."

"Are you serious? Do you mean it?"

He nodded. "I'm not my brother who bought a ring months before he needed it. Also, I'm not one for romantic gestures, but I want to marry you. I love you and now I know I was stupid. We can survive anything as a team."

Olivia smiled. "Is this a negotiation?"

Max laughed. "What do you have to negotiate about, isn't this what you've wanted since you kissed me in the basement?"

She laughed. "Not quite. That's the day I learned I loved lemon."

"Me too. What do you want then?"

"Not right away, but I want another baby."

He smiled. "A girl as beautiful as her mother?"

"Or to follow the Steele family tradition with two boys, but only two. I still have dreams of using my inheritance to help the homeless."

"You will succeed if you ever start sleeping again."

Olivia muted her laugh. "He's out, but he'll wake if I move him."

Max looked at her. If he were an artist, he would want to capture the image. The baby snuggled into her with one breast exposed. "Let me deal with him. You should shower and change."

"Can you smell me?" She sniffed. "I smell like sour milk."

"Go. He and I will survive without you somehow." Olivia smiled. He had seen so many Olivias through the years, but they never stopped his heart like the mother. "Don't worry. You've been dirtier."

"Max!" She startled the baby, and he cried. She put him to her breast, and he fell back to sleep.

Max sat down next to her and she slid his little body over. He whispered softly. "Take your time. You deserve some pampering."

"I'd rather curl up with you."

He groaned. "I'd rather make love to you, but you're still healing down there."

"Don't remind me." She had a few stitches. Max watched his little mouth like a fish. The best mistake he ever made.

On Thursday after work, he got home before Trish arrived. Olivia greeted him showered and dressed in real clothes. She typically wore flannel pants or sweats and a tee shirt.

He kissed her. "Did you have a good day?"

She passed Eli to him. "I had a nap."

"And a shower."

She nodded. "Your mother came this afternoon. Mine is jealous. She's coming this weekend, but they're staying at your house."

Kurt and Anita had come the first weekend after Eli was born, but he was four weeks old.

"It smells good."

"Your mother. She brought a pot of soup and bread. When is she getting here?"

Max smiled. "Liv, we were only ever friends. I never ever thought of her that way."

As Eli fussed a little, Max patted his back, and he burped. "Do you feel better?" He was talking to Eli when the buzzer went off. He released the door and waited for Trish to come off the elevator.

"Oh my God, look at you. I mean I've seen you with babies, but never like this."

"It's the best thing in the world. Come meet Olivia."

When they stepped in, Max reached out his hand and Livvy came to his side. "This is Trish."

"Welcome. I've heard a lot about you."

Trish smiled. "You are all Max talks about. You and Eli. He's gorgeous."

Max said, "Do you want to hold him?"

"Let me wash my hands first."

Olivia said, "It was a long drive. The bathroom is in here." Olivia whispered. "She's cute. She looks twenty, not thirty."

Her freckles made her look younger. "She is a skilled surgeon." When their guest appeared, he asked, "Do you want a drink? No six am for you."

"Sure. We can toast to your good fortune."

"Sorry things didn't work out. I know how hard you tried."

"It's ironic. You were convinced it couldn't be done and you're doing it. Guess who's having a baby?"

"The new guy from Boston?"

"No, but he's not as funny as you. My ex."

"Your ex! You poor thing." Olivia frowned.

"He told you?" Max didn't hide his surprise.

"Thought it should come from him. She was pregnant before we filed.

"The snake." Max had been insensitive, but he never cheated.

"Come eat. Max's mother made the soup."

"Is he a good baby?"

"As long as we hold him." Olivia's face glowed.

"I'll try putting him down so we can eat. Unless you want to?" Max smiled.

"I can wait." Trish smiled.

Max put him in a fancy swinging cradle. So far it had proven to be a waste of money. By some miracle, Eli was content long enough for Max to eat most of his soup. He was starting to be awake more. As Max held his son up to his face, he bursted with delight. "He smiled at me!"

Trish said, "Sure it wasn't gas?"

"No. He really did."

Olivia laughed. "I thought he might have earlier." She pouted. "But it was at my breast not my face."

Trish rolled her eyes. "Already a male who knows what he wants."

"Hey, my son has good taste. He knows a good thing when he sees it."

Olivia frowned. "Stop, I feel like a cow."

"Liv, you are gorgeous and amazing. Definitely not a cow."

Trish shook her head. "I don't know you. In fact, this is the first time we haven't been in the hospital."

"You two never grabbed a drink?"

"Liv, we worked and slept. I had no life, unless I saw you."

Olivia smiled. "Look what that got you."

"Everything a man could ask for." Max was luckier than he deserved.

On Saturday, their small apartment was crowded with visitors again. He stood by as Anita held Eli. His mother had stayed home to give her sister-in-law some time with their grandson.

Max looked at Zach. "Do you want to go for a drive?" His brother nodded.

Once out of the apartment, Zach asked, "Are you okay? Your life changed fast."

"I'm great. Better than great. Being a father is unlike anything I've ever experienced."

"You looked overwhelmed."

"Livvy and I don't have much time alone, so it gets overwhelming. I need your help. I want to buy a ring."

Zach slapped him on his back. "It's about time. I used to wish Livvy was my sister. Finally, my dream will come true."

"There were a large swath of years I thought you dreamed about her differently."

"I don't know why I never went there. I didn't even know you did."

Max laughed. "I did. I definitely did."

"How are you going to do it?"

"I thought I would ask her in the worst way ever to go along with my reputation."

"Seriously?"

"Yup. I could present the ring on a dirty diaper and she wouldn't say no. I'm not sure why she loves a joker like me."

"I feel the same way about Lilli."

Max smiled. "The Steele bros are lucky."

When they returned to the apartment two and a half hours later, their uncle frowned. "Where did you two disappear to?"

Max shrugged. "Just out. Here Liv, I brought you a treat."

He handed her a brown paper bag. Inside was a pint of lemon gelato with a ring box secured on top. She had a smile when she took the bag, but it faded when she looked inside. He felt sick. If had he blown it Zach would never let him live it down.

She looked up at him. "Did you mean for two things to be inside?"

He nodded. "You know me. I can't wrap so you know."

She smiled. "Can I look at it?"

He winked. "Only if you want it."

He didn't notice that they had caught the others' attention. Lilli walked over to him and handed him Eli. "What are you up to superhero?"

Holding his son calmed him. To his amazement, Olivia got the ring on her finger while still inside the bag. She smiled. "I'll keep it. I love it."

His heart soared. Anita finally said, "What's in the bag?"

Olivia stood up and kissed Max. "Yes." She whispered. Then she turned to her mother and thrust her hand out. "This!"

Confusion and excitement erupted. Max stepped away with Eli into the nursery. It was Olivia's spotlight. She earned it with her patience and persistence. He sat in the rocking chair and told Eli the story of his stubborn father.

Uncle Kurt appeared. "It took you long enough."

"Liv and I, we do things our own way."

"You aren't very romantic are you?"

"Nope, and she doesn't care."

"You're wrong." Both men turned to see Olivia. "That was strangely romantic. For years, we hid right in front of everyone. His proposal was exactly the way we loved each other for over a decade."

He smiled. "I love you, Liv."

She winked. "I know Max."

Tears anyone? Please vote ⭐️⭐️⭐️