Maxi couldn't believe how tiny her baby was. It was perfectly believable that her pregnancy had come to an early end and that the child was a preemie. What was unbelievable was how, against all odds, he'd pulled through and would survive.

"You're a fighter, aren't you," she whispered, her hands pressed against the incubator.

Doctor Reynolds decided to keep him in there a while longer, but they'd taken out the ventilator, and the little baby could breathe on his own.

"Isn't it amazing?" Freider asked, sounding extremely proud. "He's going to be fine. Everything will be alright."

Tears poured down her cheeks as she nodded. It was hard to believe it when for two days, she'd been convinced that her son would die and her life would be over. Instead, she got to have her baby and her family. She would get her happy ending.

Even her mothet-in-law had deemed the occasion important enough to come over and visit and was glancing at her first grandson with misty eyes.

"They're letting you out of the hospital today, aren't they?" Freider asked, checking his watch.

Maxi brushed her tears away. "Yes, they're sending me home."

"Good. Then you can go register the baby."

She turned to him, frowning. It was hard enough that she had to go and leave her baby there. She most definitely didn't want to run errands. "What will you be doing?"

"I've missed a lot of work, you know." But his eyes twinkled, and he smiled. "Plus, someone has to get the nursery ready."

His words and easy attitude calmed her down. Yeah, she'd rather he took care of that. "Okay, I'll do it." She turned back towards the baby. "And you'll officially have a name, Kyle."

"It does seem fitting that he'd be named after your doctor." Freider came next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "And Jacob, after me."

She nodded since she didn't really care about the middle name. There wasn't anything in her family she wanted to use, especially since she felt so far removed from them at the moment. Ever since she'd decided to marry Freider, it felt like her ties to Max and Sophie had weakened, and she knew it was due to their lack of support. She hadn't even called her mother yet, and her heart ached at the realization. It was true that a lot had happened, and she'd barely managed to pull herself together, but it felt wrong. She promised herself she'd call as soon as she got home.

"Well, I'm off. I'll see you at home." He leaned over and kissed her hair, then kissed his mother's cheek and let himself out.

Maxi let out a long breath and focused on baby Kyle again. He looked so innocent while sleeping, his little fists clenched, her arms raised.

"Davyn," Grace suddenly said.

Maxi's heart stuttered. "I beg your pardon?"

Her mother-in-law nodded towards the baby. "My little baby Davyn. He will grow big and strong."

"That's your grandson, and we're naming him Kyle." Maxi wasn't sure if to be freaked out or let this slide as Grace not being all there.

"Yes, I've heard you," she snapped. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't remind me of my little Davyn."

Maxi refused to answer that. She didn't think the baby resembled anyone at the moment, just something really small and frail. And she was terrified that Grace might ask where her big Davyn was at the moment. Fortunately, she didn't, cooing at the baby instead.

"Isn't he cute?"

No, he was extremely ugly, but he was alive and well. Maxi put her hand on the incubator again, wishing she could at least touch her baby.

"I haven't even held him yet," she whispered.

"That's just wrong," Grace declared. "You should definitely hold your baby." Her expression softened as she probably realized that Maxi couldn't. "Or at least spend more time with him. If you want, I can take care of the registration."

Maxi couldn't believe her ears. "Would you do that?"

"Yes. You should be here with your son, not running to city hall or whatnot. I'll take care of everything."

Tears filled Maxi's eyes. "Thank you!" It was the kindest offer she'd received in a long while, and she hoped that her gratitude was obvious in her tone.

Grace gave her a weak smile and headed out. Maxi refocused her attention on Kyle, grateful that she got to spend a few more hours with him. After all, she hated the idea of leaving the hospital without her baby. Her own body felt odd, too, much too empty after being filled with life for so long. Even so, she still felt heavy, and her belly was still so bloated that she looked at least five months pregnant. She hadn't expected that, and it freaked her out, but the nurse explained that it was normal and showed her how to tie a shall around her midsection to help with the withdrawal of the belly.

On top of all that, her breasts were also swollen and painful, and her niples were sore.

She was a mess from top to bottom, but at least the baby was safe. He would be alright.

"I'll make sure that you'll be alright," she whispered. "I love you so much, even if I never even touched you." It had to be what the tugging in her chest was.

It was strange how she could watch the little body for hours, even if he did nothing but sleep and occasionally twitch. After the shock she'd felt when she was told the baby would die and all the drama with the NICU, it was still hard to come to terms with the reality that he would be alright, that he would grow and walk and talk. Ride a bicycle and read and go to school. Grow up to be a man.

Tears ran down her cheeks again. She hoped to God that he wouldn't end up like his father. But she would take care of that. She'd make him a good person. A kind person. No more darkness and fear.

"He's adorable, isn't he?"

Maxi jumped and turned towards Grace who had returned already. When she checked the clock, she noticed two hours had already passed.

"Yes," she said, wiping her eyes. "I just want him to be healthy."

"He will be," Grace said, her tone laced with superiority. "He comes from a line of strong men."

Maxi couldn't deny that, as much as she wanted to. But Kyle would also be kind, not just strong.

"Here you go." Grace handed her a rolled up piece of paper and then focused her attention on her grandson.

"Thank you so much for taking care of this," Maxi started, unrolling the paper. The next words died in her throat. "Grace, the name..."

"What about it?" The old woman asked with indifference.

Had she done it on purpose? Had she just forgotten what her son wanted? Because the birth certificate said Kyle Davyn Grant.

Fear reduced Maxi's heart to the size of a flea as she kept looking at the letters. What was she going to do? What if Freider thought she'd done this, not his mother? What if he thought it was proof that she still loved Davyn or that the baby was actually his and not her husband's?

Every way in which this could end up going wrong spun inside her head together with potential solutions. She had nothing. Freider was going to flip, and her dream life would be over.

Unless... A sense of steely resolve washed over her, much like it had the last time she'd been in the hospital and decided to take control of her life. This wasn't a big deal. After all, who checked birth certificates? Freider had no reason to check this, and she'd just make sure to fill out any future forms. Let Freider think that Kyle's middle name was Jacob. She'd handle this.

"Nothing," she finally said to Grace. "Thank you for your help."

It would all be fine. She just wished she could take her baby home with her.

♣️

Kyle was kept in the hospital for another week until the doctors were convinced that he was fine. During that week, Maxi thought she would go insane with anticipation and the need to hold her baby. She'd never expected things to get so much worse once she was finally able to take Kyle with her.

She had no idea how to handle a baby, and neither did Freider. Grace couldn't be trusted since her moods were all over the place, and they had Ron complaining about the crying on top of everything.

The baby cried a lot. Since he was so tiny, he didn't have the strength to suckle, and Maxi had to practically milk herself and bottle feed every two or three hours. Her breasts hurt even more, as did every muscle in her body.

The lack of sleep had her feeling groggy every second of every day, and she was sure that she would end up killing the baby through sheer stupidity.

Freider wasn't much better off. Apart from maybe bottle feeding once a day, he was useless and even afraid to hold something so fragile. Maxi was terrified, too, but someone had to lift the baby and do everything that needed to be done.

Feed it, change it, bathe it, put it to sleep... It was an endless cycle, and she felt like she was going insane. Since they planned on moving, they didn't have a proper nursery, just a crib and a changing table stuck into a corner of their room. It meant that she could never sleep properly, never take a break. Her entire life had resumed to her efforts to keep little Kyle alive.

She could tell Freider wasn't doing much better, but she still resented him. He got to go to work, be away from the constant puke, and poop and pee. Burping, crying, collic...

After three weeks of what felt like the cruelest torture, she begged Freider to let her call her mother over. He was probably exhausted, too, because he agreed without needing much convincing. So on one sunny day at the beginning of October, Sophie showed up on their doorstep with a suitcase and a stern expression. Maxi was so relieved to see her and so exhausted that she didn't care if she looked disapproving and just hugged her.

"Oh, cherie, what have you gotten yourself into?" Sophie whispered, hugging her close.

"I'm sorry, I just never thought it would be so hard!"

"Babies aren't easy."

"Tell me about it! How did you handle two at the same time?"

"You were good children. And your father helped." Sophie pulled away, her eyes misty with tears. "Let me meet my grandson."

Feeling more relief than she had in months, Maxi led her mother up the stairs and into her room, where the baby lay in the crib. Freider had suggested that Sophie sleep there with her for the time being so that they could handle the baby. Maxi was more than happy with his suggestion because this ensured that he wouldn't get any ideas. They hadn't had sex in a long time, and she'd rather they kept it that way.

Sophie dropped her suitcase and headed for the crib. Her face lit up instantly as she caught sight of the baby.

"Hello, Kyle," she said, her voice warm and tender. "I'm your Grandmaman. It's so great to meet you!"

"He's supposed to be sleeping, but--"

Sophie didn't seem to need explanations. She picked up the baby and cradled him in her arms, singing a low melody under her breath. Kyle nestled there immediately, his baby blue eyes focused on her with wonder.

Maxi lingered, unsure what to do with herself now that she no longer had to hover over Kyle.

"When is he supposed to eat?" Sophie asked.

"In about two hours, I think."

Her mother hummed, rocking the baby up and down. "You go take a nap. I'll stay with him and bring him up when he needs food. Do you have a stroller?"

"Yes, it's in the garage." Brand new and unused. She hadn't had the chance to take it out since returning from the hospital.

"I'll take him for a stroll then."

"Um, is it safe?"

Sophie glanced at her, and there was both amusement and sadness in her gaze. "As a matter of fact, taking a baby out for fresh air is the best thing you can do for them."

"Oh." She hadn't known that. She'd been secretly afraid he'd catch a bug or something, and his life would be in danger again. She wondered if she should share with Sophie that Kyle had almost died at birth, but she decided not to. "I'll show you--"

Sophie shook her head. "I'll figure it out. How hard could it be to find a stroller in a garage? You just lay down, and I'll handle everything."

Even if she had so much to say, Maxi listened. She walked to the bed and laid down, keeping her eyes on her mother. She'd put Kyle back in the crib while she searched the drawers of the changing station for appropriate clothes. With great dexterity and much faster than Maxi herself ever could, she chose overalls for the baby and dressed him.

"Um, how's Max?" she asked, trying not to appear ready to dump her responsibility on her mother.

"He's great," Sophie answered, her tone cheerful. "He's still in Texas. There was oil under his land, and now he's organizing and developing a new business."

"New business? I thought he'd just sell it for huge profit. Less of a headache."

Sophie smiled, and she was obviously proud. "Oh no. He wants to build a refinery and do the work himself."

It sounded exhausting, but Maxi guessed her twin didn't have a baby to look after, so he had the luxury of time. A tiny sliver of envy made its way to the forefront as her long forgotten dreams emerged. There was no room for Julliard in her future now. She hadn't done anything even remotely artistic in months, and she was sure all her dexterity on the keyboard was gone. The sadness tasted bitter on her tongue, and it took a great deal of effort to push it back.

She had her family. She had her future right there.

"Sleep, cherie. It will be fine." Sophie picked up the baby and was out the door.

For a few moments, Maxi strained her hearing, waiting for something to go wrong. For Kyle to cry, for her mother to return and claim that she couldn't do this and that she needed help. Or worse, point out that she was the mother and it was her job to walk the baby and take care of him.

She shouldn't be lying around. She should be responsible for her own child.

But the clock ticked on, and everything was silent. Maxi finally relaxed into the mattress and even dared pull a cover over herself. Her eyelids were heavy, and when nothing seemed to go wrong, she allowed herself to fall asleep and feel relieved that her mother was there for her.

End of Part VI

♣️♣️♣️

Who is surprised that Maxi is bad at being a parent? No one? Come on! Someone?

Anyway, more baby Kyle here for you all to enjoy. A good deal of intrigue given by the wrong middle name (was Grace aware of what she was doing? Also, I'm sure that Maxi just ignoring the problem will turn out great), and you get to see Sophie again and hear about what Max is up to. Someone is being industrious.

The final part is upon us as Davyn's story comes to a close. Stick around for some quick chapters which show what your favorite people will be up to in the coming years.