As a Broadway performer, Lin knew how important sleep was. He would often sing its praises in interviews when asked how he could keep up with his rigorous schedule. He'd bet all of his earnings from Hamilton that the sleep schedule of a Broadway star had nothing on one of a parent of two newborns. It was early afternoon when Lin arrived home from a full morning of press junket, and he only had a few hours before he had to get back to the theatre. Lin had only been back on stage for a couple of nights, and he didn't know how he was going to make it through the end of his run.

Lin and Vanessa were grateful not only to both sets of grandparents, but also to Beatriz who had agreed to stay with the Miranda-Nadal household until they left for London. Once Lin finished with Hamilton, the plan was for Lin to leave in August to get settled and to get into prep mode before filming began. Vanessa and the kids would follow in September to give a few more weeks for any last minute hiccups that would come with moving the families lives' across the pond. Only the beginnings of preparing to leave had begun, and between that, child rearing, and nights on Broadway, the two parents were running on empty.

To say he was excited to get in his bed would be an understatement. He had made the rounds and had found Vanessa taking a nap, and the twins shockingly both sleeping as Beatriz was cooking. When he reached Lia's room, he wasn't shocked to find the fifteen year old laying in her bed with her nose in a book.

He stopped in the doorway, smiling. Although Lin and Vanessa really did get lucky in the kid department when it came to Lia, she had gone above and beyond any expectations they had had. She was amazing with the babies, extremely attentive with Vanessa, and hadn't complained or given any lip about it. He was really damn proud.

"You going to come in or just stare at me?"

Lin smiled. It wouldn't be Lia without a sarcastic comment here and there. "What'cha reading?"

"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," Lia dog earred the page she was on before she closed the book, "Figured the series will get me in the England zone,"

"Elementary, my dear Watson," Lin recited the phrase of the famous detective in the Cockney accent he had been working on for the movie.

"Work in progress," Lia said with a shrug and a sly smile, as Lin sat on her bed with a laugh.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lia,"

"I do what I can," Lia replied, "How'd the interviews go?"

"Good. How were things here?"

"Fine. The twins mostly slept, and Beatriz was making pasteles."

"How about mom?"

Lia's eyes shifted away from his, and Lin knew what that meant.  "What's up, mija?"

Lia let out a loud sigh, as she leaned her head against her shoulder. She thought about the right words to say, "She's just sad, dad. I haven't seen her like this before,"

"Did anything happen?"

"She's just sad," Lia shook her head, "Even when she's not crying or she smiles about something, it feels so forced."

"You heard what your abuela said," Lin said, rubbing her knee gently, "Mom's gone through a lot, not only with the birth, but the pregnancy."

"Yeah, I know," Lia brushed off the boilerplate language she felt she was getting. She looked up as she tried to keep the tears from spilling over, "Something's just off."

The normally optimistic man felt pretty lost. He adamantly believed that parenting was the hardest job he would ever have. As drained as he felt keeping up with newborns, taking care of Lia didn't just stop either. No matter how independent she was, she was still a kid who needed reassurance. And trying to reassure his daughter, while simultaneously being concerned for Vanessa, was challenging. 

"I think we just have to give mom some time to adjust,"

"It's been almost two weeks since the twins were born," Lia pointed out, her voice cracking.  Even though Lia was a typical teenager, Vanessa really was her best friend. She hated seeing her mom in such a sad state.

"You're right," Lin admitted, "And I didn't mean to brush you off. I'll talk with mom, and we will figure this out."

The look on Lia's face didn't seem like she was convinced by her father's words.

"We will," Lin reiterated, "I'm not exactly sure how we will, but what your mom is going through is completely normal." He emphasized as he wiped away the stray tears falling on Lia's cheeks. Between his exhaustion and new schedule, he realized he hadn't been as attuned into his home life as he thought. He knew Vanessa was struggling, but didn't know that it had gotten to the point that it was affecting Lia so much. To say he felt like shit was an understatement.

"You've been in the apartment a lot lately. Make some plans and just be back by curfew,"

"Dad, I-"

"Nope," Lin cut her off, "I'm making the executive decision. I know you're worried and I now realize that's why you have been staying home. But mom and I are adults, so you go be a teenager, and let me figure out the rest."

Lia's tears were finally at bay, "You're talking to me like I'm a kid,"

"That's because you are one," Lin gave a soft smile, "You are, by far, the greatest and most caring fifteen year old I have ever met. But you're fifteen. It's not your job to take care of everything and everybody."

"I guess.." Lia said in a doubtful tone.

"Hey," Lin picked her chin up so that she had no other choice but to look at him, "I'm taking you seriously. Even if mom was more of herself, we've had a lot of changes happen since the twins arrived. I should have been paying closer attention, and that's on me,"

"I didn't say anything to make you feel bad,"

"Mija, you never have to worry about saying something to me because you're worried about my feelings. I mean, yeah, I appreciate it if you don't call me an asshole to my face, but even if I've been called worse,"

He was grateful for the smile that appeared on his daughter's face at his levity, "Now, go on. When is another time that I'm ever going to insist that you go hang out with your friend who is a guy," He couldn't bring himself to vocalize the exact term for what he suspected was Ayden's place in Lia's life. He always thought he would be cooler than that, but it garnered a laugh from Lia.

"You're ridiculous,"

"Just 'cause I love you, kid," He leaned over and pressed a kiss against Lia's temple before getting off the bed, "You good?"

Lia nodded, not feeling completely better, but good enough that she had voiced her concerns.

"Alright, just let Beatriz know where you end up deciding to go, okay?"

"I will. Love you, dad."

"I love you too, Lia." He gave her one last smile before leaving her room and shutting the door behind him. He put his face in his hands, finally allowing himself to fall a bit into his emotions now that he was alone. He knew he had to speak with Vanessa and they had to come to a resolution to get her help.

—-

Later that day, Lin startled awake on the couch with Sebastian asleep on his chest. He quickly realized he had an infant on him and gently rubbed his back. As he listened in to what was happening in the kitchen he realized it was Vanessa getting something to eat.

Slowly, he stood up with his son, carefully rearranging him so he wouldn't wake. It would be feeding time again soon.

Vanessa was peering inside the fridge, hunting for something that would satisfy a craving. "I'll get you something, babe," he told her. "What do you want?"

Vanessa shut the door and sighed. "I don't know," she admitted. Lin walked closer and got a good look at his fiancé. Her hair hadn't been washed for days, her robe had dried spit up on it, and he was pretty sure there was a bit of drool caked to her chin. She looked like a zombie.

"How about I make you some tea?" He offered. Vanessa leaned on the counter with her elbows and rubbed her hands over her face. Lin rubbed her back and could tell she was in a bad place. "I'll go put Seb down and I'll be right back."

Lin prayed his son would stay asleep because his mother really needed him right now. Luck was on his side, as he didn't stir when Lin placed him in his crib. Stella was fast asleep in the other.

Lin closed the door and hurried back. Vanessa was now softly crying. Lin gently grabbed her upper arm and turned her towards him. He enveloped her in a warm hug and she started crying harder into his chest.

Lin just held her as she cried, heartbroken that she was having such a hard time. Anyone who'd ever met Vanessa knew she was tough as nails. Post-partum depression was a real thing and it was hitting her hard.

"It's okay," he gently cooed. "Let's go sit down."

Lin led her to the couch where she leaned into him. "I'm such a failure,"'she told him.

"You are absolutely not a failure," he told her firmly. "This is a medical condition."

"But why is it happening to me?" She asked him, wiping under her eyes. "I'm never like this."

"Hormones do crazy things," he reminded her. "It happens to a lot of people."

"I'm so embarrassed," she confessed. "I'm a fucking lawyer. I should be able to handle my shit."

"You had a c-section with twins," he reminded her. "Following months of bed rest. It's not surprising you're having a hard time."

Lin rubbed at her back as she started to compose herself. He was worried about her and so was Lia. It was time to try something else.

"V, I think maybe we should take you to see a doctor," he proposed gently. "Get you some medication and maybe a psychiatrist?"

He'd talked to his mom and she'd encouraged Lin to coax her towards it. Vanessa sometimes had a hard time accepting help.

"I don't know Lin," she replied. "I think it'll pass."

"There's no reason to continue like this," he reasoned. "We might as well look into it. It won't hurt anything."

She nodded as he kissed her temple. "Good," he whispered. "Now let's get you into the shower and get some fresh clothes. That'll help. And I'll make you grilled cheese with tomato soup?"

She sat up and looked at her best friend, offering a small hopeful smile. Lin kissed her forehead and then stood, leading her down the hall. He found her some fresh clothes as she started the shower.

Lin left the pile on the counter and closed the door, relieved that she'd agreed to get some help. As he walked down the hall, he realized he was so tired that he could probably sleep for a day straight. However, life called. Hamilton and hundreds of fans called.

Lin let out a sigh and headed to the kitchen, pushing himself to continue on for his family.