Vanessa sat in the exam room of her doctor's office in an itchy paper gown. She needed a checkup anyway and Lin was insisting she took to her doctor about her feelings. It was all so overwhelming. The babies coming and the schedule, plus Lin now in his final week as Hamilton. She knew he was feeling torn about dedicating time to press interviews, fans, and making sure he was home.

Vanessa was feeling guilty she was keeping him from his work and he was doing so much at home. She couldn't lift the babies herself so it mostly fell on him. Luckily Beatriz was around as well as their parents. Still, she felt she should be doing more.

The doctor came in and started with some small talk. She did a physical exam and everything looked normal. Her c-section incision was healing well and she was told she could get direct water on it. Vanessa let out a breath of relief. A bath would feel very nice.

"And how have you been feeling mentally?" She asked as she typed in notes.

Vanessa sighed. "Not great," she admitted. "Since the babies came I've just been down. I'm so tired and I just can't shake this sadness. It wasn't like this with Lia."

"Every pregnancy is different," she acknowledged. "And this is very common."

She asked some more questions about how she'd been feeling and what kind of help she had. The doctor prescribed an antidepressant in a small dose. Vanessa felt somewhat defeated. It felt weak to have to resort to medication. Shouldn't she be able to handle this herself?

As if reading her mind the doctor chimed in, "This is not a weakness or failure on your part at all. It's a chemical imbalance we can treat. I'm glad you came."

They finished up the exam and scheduled a follow up for one month. She encouraged Vanessa to walk to improve her mood.

Vanessa thanked her then got dressed. As she left the office she pulled out her phone and texted Lin, who was eager to hear how it went. She headed to the pharmacy where her medication had been called in. Conveniently it was next to a Starbucks so she treated herself to a latte.

Lin was out, of course, but Lia was home with Beatriz. Both had a baby in various stages of feeding.

"Hi, Mom," Lia said cheerfully. "How did it go?"

"Oh, it went fine," she said, waving her paper bag. "Got some meds."

Vanessa thought it was sweet how concerned Lia was with her. She'd gotten lucky in the kid department.

On cue, Stella started to bawl In Beatriz's arms. The kid cried constantly and sometimes seemed inconsolable. After speaking more with her pediatrician they thought it was colic. There was nothing physically wrong. It was just draining to listen to it and not be able to do anything about it.

Vanessa didn't want to stress out the help so she sat down and had Beatriz pass her daughter over. They were using trial and error to soothe her. She seemed to like the essential oil diffuser and laying on her father's chest while he sang. Alas, he was not here.

After a few minutes Beatriz helped her take Stella to the nursery. She turned on the diffuser and then reclined on the rocker. Exhausted, she began to feel herself drift off and thankfully so did Stella.

—-

Lin had felt that he was stretching himself so thin lately. He was leaving earlier, getting home later, and then trying to stay up with the twins as much as he could to let Vanessa rest. He was grateful it seemed her doctor's appointment had gone over well, at least enough to alleviate some of the guilt and stress V had been feeling. It was poor timing, to say the least, but he knew he just had to make it through the 9th.

He was a pretty high energy and positive person, but even Lin could get worn down. However, he knew he owed it to the cast and the fans to leave Hamilton with a bang, which was the reason he was on The Today Show wearing his infamous sweater.

"This week marks the last week of your chapter in Hamilton, how are you feeling?" Savannah Guthrie prompted him.

"It's very... surreal." Lin tried to put into words the answer to the most frequently asked question he had been getting lately, "Hamilton was just an idea that I couldn't let go of and alongside Tommy Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Alex Lacamoire, we were able to turn it into something bigger than I think any of us ever imagined it would be. To have not only been able to see the idea come to fruition, but play Hamilton and have it turn into what it is.. you can't ask for anything more.."

"To say that Hamilton has been successful is an understatement. Sixteen Tony nominations, eleven wins, two of which included Best Original Score and Best Musical, which you originally won in 2008 for your original musical, In The Heights. I saw the show twice and found myself captured by the music. Darit was the main topic of my conversations about it for weeks," Savannah went on, "What do you hope to leave with Hamilton?"

"I am leaving the role for now, but I'm not leaving the show. It's my show; I'll be checking in often. Javier Muñoz is going to continue to be incredible on stage, but now I get to officially pass the baton on and just be another spectator in awe of the cast and crew."

"What do you think it will be like going to see it for the first time once you're done?"

"I already have plans to go and see it with my daughter. She's seen it a few times, at this point, and I haven't been able to experience that with her. Plus, I hear it's a pretty good show, so being in the audience with a cocktail and watching it with her sounds very full circle."

"And speaking of your children, you have had quite the exciting year. Most recently you and your fiancé, Vanessa Nadal, welcomed twins, Sebastian and Stella, last month."

The photo that Lin had posted on twitter when he announced the twins' births appeared on the screen to the awe of the reporter and audience. It was a black and white photo that he had snapped when Lia had met the twins for the first time. Vanessa, holding a newborn Stella in her arms, was radiating with a wide smile aimed at Lia who was holding Sebastian. Lia's back was facing the camera, of course, but the look on Lin's face as he saw the photo popped up told everyone the entire story: the man loved his family.

"What a gorgeous photo of such a precious moment!" Savannah commented. After Lin thanked her she continued, "I know sleep was pretty non-existent in the newborn phase with my kids, and I can't even imagine it times two! What is life like at home like with newborn twins?"

Lin chuckled, "Life is great. Vanessa is an absolute rockstar though, and we are just thrilled that the twins are here, even through the sleepless nights and adjustments. Being a father is the greatest and most terrifying thing that I have ever done, and I couldn't have a better person to go on the journey with."

"And how's big sister Emilia enjoying it?"

"Lia's incredible!" Lin boasted about his daughter with pride, "She is such a natural with the twins."

Savannah smiled as the audience awed at the gushing father, "And she must think you're the coolest dad ever?"

"Absolutely not," Lin said with a laugh, "I think you'll seldom find a teenager who finds their parents cool. But we have a great relationship and she's an amazing kid."

"Will she miss you in Hamilton?"

"She's spent a lot of time at the theatre and has become close with a lot of the cast and crew, so it really did become almost like a second home for her, " Lin responded carefully. He always tried to be aware when talking about his kids, "I think she'll miss me playing Hamilton, but as a family, we're all pretty ready to not have my schedule revolve around the show. It takes up a large chunk of my nights and weekends, and I'm looking forward to getting more downtime at home."

"Any plans for that first night in?"

"As you said, we have newborns so they are pretty much running the show right now," He said with a laugh as the parents in the room clapped in agreement, "But I think it will definitely be a quiet night in for the five of us.... well the quietness will depend on how happy Seb and Stella are."

"Well, it sounds like you won't get too much time to rest because it was also recently announced you'll be starring opposite Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns! I mean, do you ever stop?" Savannah asked with a wide grin.

"It's my homage to Hamilton; going at a non-stop pace the rest of my life," He knew the comment would garner a great response from the fans, "It's a project I'm really stoked about though. It's definitely a departure from Hamilton, but who didn't grow up loving Mary Poppins? To be even a thread in its universe is unreal."

"And will the whole family be moving across the pond?"

"That's the plan!" Lin said enthusiastically, "I found out about the project about a month or so after Vanessa knew she was pregnant, and we spoke about it as a family and decided to go for it. We are all lifelong New Yorkers, but it will be nice to get away from the city for a few months and start this next chapter of our lives."

"And we've seen from twitter snippets of the English accent you seem to be perfecting,"

A clip that Lin had posted recently of him saying the names of various items in his house in a Cockney accent, garnering laughs from everyone in the studio.

Lin gave a boastful laugh, "I'm not sure about perfecting, but I have been working with an incredible dialect coach, Sandra Butterworth, and I'll stand by the caveat that if my accent is great it's all her and if my accent sucks, it's all me!"

"Just be careful, the twins may end up with English accents!"

"My daughter is very convinced that is going to happen because I've been using the accent a lot at home, to my family's displeasure, but as I told Lia there are worse things than a pair of Puerto Rican Brits, so I guess we'll see what happens,"

"Well, we are all on bated breath to see whatever it is that you do next!" Savannah gushed, "Thank you so much for not only today, but for sharing your idea and vision with the world. Hamilton has revolutionized theatre, and we can only imagine what you'll do from here!"

Lin smiled, thanking her and the audience. He lived a crazy life, but it was the dream. Well, at least part of it.

____

When Lin got home that night, it was a little past midnight. Each night that passed, led to more emotions creeping in and the response, especially from the fans at the stagedoor, grew more passionately. The fans were one of the best parts of his job, and with only three more nights left he wanted to take in every second while he could.

He found Vanessa lying awake in their bed, reading a book.

"Hey you," He leaned in to kiss her, which she welcomed. He always was turned on when she was wearing her glasses.

"Hey," She set the book aside, enjoying the kisses she had missed. "How was the show?"

"Good," Lin sat on their bed, "Much to Chris' enjoyment, I teared up during One Last Time,"

Vanessa covered her mouth as she tried to mask her giggle, "That's no comparison to the mess that I'll be on your last night," She was looking forward to having Lin around more, but she also knew how much of his heart was in the show. It was also because of the show that she found her way back to him after so many years. That night changed everything.

"How are you feeling?" Lin asked, as he took her hand and played with her engagement ring. She didn't seem as down as she had been lately.

"Okay," Vanessa admitted honestly, "I don't feel totally like myself, but I think hearing the doctor and you validate my feelings helped. I have the medicine and I know what I'm going through is not going to change over night, but I'm working on it."

"I'm really glad to hear that, V." He leaned in and kissed his fiancé's cheek softly. "I wish I could have been there,"

"You're here, now."

"I know," He said with a sigh as he laid back into the bed, "But with everything going on lately, I just feel like I'm missing out on so much."

"That's because you're the most caring person I know," Vanessa ran her fingers through his hair, "But you're not Superman, Lin."

"I just don't want you or the kids to resent me." He said honestly, "We are packing up our lives and leaving because of me."

"Hey," Vanessa laid back and turned her head on its side, looking into his eyes, "We're doing this because of us. I'm not that insecure 19 year old who felt threatened by some bimbo anymore." The comment as the two thought to the girl, who neither could even recall her name, brought a small smile to Lin's face. "I love you. I'm in this with you. And the kids? They're all obsessed with you, as they should be."

"But if you wanted me to give it all up, I would." And he meant it. He couldn't believe he almost let his arrogance and ego make him lose out on the love of his life. He would never make that mistake again

"I know, but I don't want that. There is nothing else I want more than to see you achieve all of your dreams."

"You're the dream though. This. Us. Our family. That's it." His lips met her cheek as Vanessa curled up into him.

"You're incredibly sweet, but I think this would be about the time Lia would make fun of us for being insanely cheesy."

"Just call me, Parmesan," Vanessa playfully slapped him, as they laughed boastfully. She hadn't laughed so freely in days. He always had that effect on her; it was one of the reasons she loved him.

"Why don't you go check on the kids now, and then I'll take the first wake up?"

"Sexier words have never been spoken," They both laughed as she kissed him one last time, she held onto his shirt for a few beats before letting him go with a grin.

He first stopped in the nursery. They had chosen lighter shades of blues and greys, with accents of greenery to brighten up the room. There were bookshelves lined with children's books and a rocking chair in the corner that Vanessa had fallen in love with during a late night online shopping haul. Lin loved the serene feeling of the room, and he especially loved the two occupants that were in their cribs. Only a projection of animals softly lit the walls, but he could clearly see that Sebastian was wide awake, thankfully not doing anything to wake up his sister.

"Hey, papito," Lin said soothingly as he scooped up his son using the childhood nickname his own father had bestowed on him, "Were you waiting for daddy to get home?" He sat back in the rocking chair. The two just rocked back and forth slowly, a wave of calmness engulfed in the room.

"Kendrick Lamar!" Well, until Lia came barreling down the hall, almost missing him in the nursery, before shining the bright light of her phone directly at him.

"The rapper?"

"You met Kendrick Lamar tonight!" Lia said in the same fierce whisper, as Lin could now see the photo was of him and the aforementioned rapper that his daughter had found on twitter.

"Yeah," Lin said, still confused, as he kept rocking to keep his son happy. Lin had met many celebrities through his run on Hamilton. Lia knew that.

"Everyone on twitter is saying he was going to play you songs he hasn't released yet,"

"Yeah, but I had the stage door and then I had to come home,"

"Dad!" Lia shrieked, not at full volume, but definitely loud enough for her brother to stir around which led Lin's eyes directly to Stella who had an affinity for waking up and staying awake through the night.

"Emilia, if your sister wakes up you're grounded until you're 40." Lin said adamantly before carefully getting up from the rocking chair and adjusting Sebastian in his arms. Lia wasn't ending the conversation, and he wasn't risking whatever little sleep he was going to get once Sebastian, hopefully, fell asleep soon.

"I just don't get why you, the man who is obsessed with rap, would say no to Kendrick Lamar when he comes to your show and wants to show you his music?!" Lia asked in disbelief, at a lowered tone, as she followed Lin out of the nursery and into their living room.

"Because I'm also an exhausted father of three who wanted to come home to his fiancé and kids?"

"But it's Kendrick Lamar!" Lia groaned out, throwing her hands up. How could her father be this clueless?!

"I know who he is," Lin remarked with a smirk, as he sat on the couch, thankful his son was still unbothered by his sister's antics, "Can you please grab some formula for this little guy?"

"I just don't get it," Lia went into the kitchen to grab the formula from the fridge, "You have the chance to chill with one of the greatest rappers out there, and you choose to come home for diapers and spit up," How could her dad be so clueless?!

"Don't forget the teenage daughter who clearly can't get enough of me,"

Lia rolled her eyes, her voice laced with annoyance, "Dad," She said simply as she handed him the bottle.

"Emilia, you know what I'm most excited for once I finish Hamilton?"

"Sleep?" Lia quipped with folded arms.

"Well yes, but no." Lin looked down at his son who was already chowing down, before he looked up to find the annoyed glare of his daughter as he gave her a huge smile, "I'm getting my time back. I get to go on dates with mom and read the twins bedtime stories." Lin wouldn't say it to Lia, not wanting her to constantly feel jaded of her childhood, but he was really looking forward to all of the moments he had missed with her that he would now get with the twins. "I'll get to hang out with you on the weekends and watch movies without having to jump up in the middle of them,"

"And I'm excited about it too," Lia commented as she sat next to her dad on the couch, "But a few hours of you listening to music was really going to change all of that?"

"No," Lin shook his head, "But I want to be here. There are going to be many more nights and events that I get to do really awesome celebrity things, but the twins are only going to be this little for so long. You're going to be off at college in three years," Lia smirked with raised eyebrows. Just the thought of being in college and leaving home made her stomach turn a bit. She would take her time to get there, "This is where I want to be,"

"Alright, dad" Lia resolved, as she snuggled under a throw blanket and leaned her head on her father's shoulder as he wrapped his free arm around her while keeping the bottle steady for his son. The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, the only sound was Sebastian guzzling down his formula.

"But next time, just ask if your daughter can be a substitute for you. I can't freestyle, but I can rap Guns and Ships even better than Daveed,"

Lin laughed out loud as he kissed her temple. Modesty wasn't a trait that ran in the Miranda family, but there was no denying it: she was his, "Of course, Lia,"

The End

A/N: Thanks so much for reading and voting! The sequel is already in the works. 😊