Emmeline held her squirming baby girl in her arms, thinking how her round head and the little tuft of dark hair looked just like Nicholas. He was beaming, thrilled that he got the little girl he wanted. She was perfect; ten fingers, ten toes, and a little button nose. Despite being two weeks early, she was only a little small, weighing just over five pounds. Nicholas reached down and picked up his daughter's hand. The baby instinctively wrapped her tiny fingers around his thumb. One look at him and Emmeline could tell he was completely in love. So was she. The feeling was overwhelming.

"So, what do you think?" asked Nicholas barely able to take his eyes off his baby girl cradled in her exhausted Mother's arms. The baby girl's big dark eyes rested unfocused on her mother's face, unaware of the firestorm that was trying to force their way into her perfect little world. The new Mom and Dad could hear the commotion rise outside their closed hospital room door, and couldn't quite ignore it anymore. Emmeline looked anxiously up at Nicholas.

"I guess we better get this over with." She picked up her daughter's other hand and asked, "Are you ready little one to meet your Grandma? Don't worry if you're not. I've lived with her for 17 years, and on still not ready for her!"

Nicholas opened the door, and for a moment the noise from the hall stopped.

"Would you all like to meet your new granddaughter?" Nicholas asked, his chest visibly puffed up. Within seconds the room was filled with two full set of anxious grandparents.

"Why on earth wouldn't you let us in?" asked Dorothy, her hand resting on her hip. "I have half a mind to sue those doctors, keeping me away from my own child while he was having a baby."

"They kept me out too you know," said Amy, her voice trailed off as she laid eyes for the first time on her granddaughter. "Oh...," her face softened, "She's so beautiful."

"Mom, can't you simply enjoy the fact that you're a Grandparent for even just a minute?" asked Nicholas. Emmeline could see how much he wanted his Mom to approve of his daughter, and hoped that she could see it too. They had been so close before, hopefully, some of that sentiment still existed deep inside Dorothy. Emmeline made a promise to herself to make sure she always did what was right for her daughter, not to let disappointment and anger ever get in the way of her being a good mother. This baby was now her world, and she was prepared to make it the best world she could.

"She looks like you Emmeline, all pink and chubby," said Amy softly, approaching the bed where her daughter and grandchild lay. "She even has your mole." It was on the side of the baby's cheek in exactly the same place that Emmeline had hers. Amy sighed.

"Isn't she is wonderful. I can't believe she's mine," said Emmeline dreamily, as she caressed her baby's face.

"I can't believe it either," retorted Dorothy, pulling out a few strands hair. It seemed to be a regular habit these days.

"Mom," begged Nicholas. "Can we please put all your garbage aside for a moment?"

Dorothy sniffed as she gazed at her son picking up his daughter, cradling her in his arms for the first time. She walked alongside him and put her arm around his waist. "The baby is cute, of course it is. Too bad it's not a boy, just like you." Nicholas shot her a look of disgust. "But," she continued drawing the word out. A giddy smile crossed her lips, "she is your daughter, and that makes her perfect. I have so many plans for this child. She will be just like you Nicholas."

"What have you decided to call her?" asked Amy, reaching for the baby. Dorothy interfered, waving her hand aside; hurt registered in Amy's eyes.

"I don't think we've decided yet," said Nicholas, looking to Emmeline for confirmation. There had been several names on the list, but they hadn't made a final decision. After all, they had thought that they had a couple more weeks. There were so many things still left to be done.

"We'll have her name soon." She was stuck between Abby and Marrisa. Nicholas kept suggesting Beatrice. Emmeline was hoping he was just kidding.

"Emmeline, the child needs a name." Dorothy's condescending tone was unmistakable. "This just goes to prove that you are too young for this. You don't understand the responsibility that you have just taken on."

"Well, we'll just have to figure it out. Besides, since when do any new parents know what they are doing when they first start out?" asked Emmeline, sick of hearing this yet again. Her stomach did a little flip, and first she thought it was because of the birth, but then it dawned on her, something was up.

"I think we best tell them our plan, Aaron." Dorothy grabbed her husband's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes shifted towards the window. "I'm not sure this is the right thing."

"Better to not let her get attached," said Dorothy defiantly.

"Mom, Dad, what are you talking about?" asked Nicholas, stepping closer to Emmeline.

"We've decided that we would like to help you two out. We think it would be best for the child if she had more suitable parents; ones who aren't babies themselves," she turned her attention straight at her son, "I'm sorry Nicholas, but you are a baby. So we, your Dad and I, are willing to take custody of the child."

A stunned silence echoed off the walls.

"Get out!" shouted Emmeline, reaching to take the baby from Nicholas' protective arms.

"See, this is what I'm talking about, she doesn't have the maturity to handle the situation," explained Dorothy, concrete in her definition of helping.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Amy, finally jumping to Emmeline's aid. "You can't expect any mother just to hand over her baby without a fight. Besides, if anyone should have custody of this child it should be Emmeline's parents. But it doesn't matter, she'll live under our roof, and we can guide and lead her. She's not doing this on her own."

"I wouldn't trust you to raise my granddaughter! Look what you've done with your own child." Dorothy's tone was decidedly derisive. "Besides, she can visit the baby, it would be good for the child to see Emmeline from time to time. Besides, Nicholas will be around, until he goes off to college, that is. Really, we're trying to help. Emmeline can get her studies done, she can have a life. We've thought this over, and this is for the best." Dorothy pulled at strands of hair from the back of her head.

Amy looked horrified.

"Get them out Nicholas!" screamed Emmeline, placing her hands over the baby's ears.

"Now, I'm not totally unreasonable," continued Dorothy, ignoring the chaos she was causing. "You can name the child. And soon too, preferably, that way the documentation signing over custody can be properly filled out." She crossed her arms looking pleased with herself.

"You want to know her name?!" yelled Emmeline, through halted sobs, "Her name is Emmeline Hope, after the Mother who will raise her, who will be there every single day of her life! I'll be the one to wipe her tears! I'll be the one to put her to bed! I'll be the one crying as I drop her off to her first day of school. Me! Got it! Now GET OUT!"

"But, don't you understand what I am doing for you? This is a chance for you to have your life back. I don't mind, really."

"Dorothy, go," said Nicholas, his icy tone cooling the room by several degrees.

Dorothy huffed as her husband started to gently drag her by the arm out the door, her heels clicking hard on the gray travertine floors as she left.

"Can you believe that dreadful woman? No offense Nicholas dear. Now let's have a good look at that precious baby of ours," said Amy, reaching out to take the baby from Emmeline, who held on tighter to her sweet bundle wrapped in a pink blanket.

"This is my baby, mom. Not yours, not hers, Nicholas and mine,"

"I understand; we'll just be around to guide you. Tell you when to feed her, when to let her sleep, that sort of thing."

"No, you don't get it, Emmeline is mine. I get to decide when she sleeps, and what to feed her."

"Mr. and Mrs. Hope," the nurse interfered, "I think little Emmeline has had enough excitement for one day, perhaps you could let them all rest, and you can talk later."

"Maybe you're right." Amy leaned over and kissed Emmeline on the forehead, then ran a hand over her little grand baby's head. "She is beautiful; you two make a good-looking baby. Come on Grandpa, let's let them be for now."

When they were safely out of earshot, Emmeline asked, "What are we going to do? They won't let is be you know; they all feel like they have more right to our daughter than we do."

"We'll just have to prove them wrong, Millie belongs to us."

"Millie?" she asked.

"We'll you both can't be called Emmeline; we'll all be confused! So we'll call her Millie for Short. Do you like it?"

She smiled, "Millie it is."