Susan Harris grimaced as another light contraction made it's way through her body. She and Mike had made their way to the hospital after she had found out that the baby was coming. Where are they? she thought as she waited for her mother and stepfather. Of all the times to be late, this isn't a good one. She turned slightly as she heard the door to the room open.

"I got your mom on her cell. She told me that she and Paul will be here as soon as they can," Mike said.

"How long should that be?" Susan asked with a bit of apprehension.

"Probably no more than ten minutes."

"Good. I need my mom here. Did you get my dad on the phone?"

"No, I got someone named Carolina. She told me that she would call your dad and tell him. She said that they probably wouldn't be here for the birth but should be here sometime tomorrow."

"Good. I want them here."

"Isn't that a bit of a crowd?"

"Mike, they're my most immediate family," Susan laughed. "They should be here."

"Okay, I just think it's a bit of a strain to see upwards of ten people after you've just had a baby," Mike said as he sat down in a chair beside the bed.

"Oh? And you would know this, how again?" Susan joked. Mike just glared.

"Tell me why I like you at all again," he sighed as he took her hand.

"Because I'm charming, sweet, and smart," she said with a cocky grin "And…I don't know why else."

"Just be glad that love can't be explained," he smiled before he kissed her hand lightly.

"Mike, can we talk about us after I've had the kid?" Susan smirked.

"Sure, just don't try to avoid it," he challenged.

"I won't. Besides, you already know how I feel, so there isn't really much left to say, is there?"

"Oh, no. There's plenty left to say."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that we have to talk about to make a life together."

"What do you mean?" Susan asked confused.

"Well, I'm not saying immediately, but in the long run, I would like to marry you and adopt the kid."

"Mike, I-" Susan started before another contraction made it's way through her. "Ow."

"Are you all right?" he asked, worried.

"Yeah, just a contraction. No big deal," she smiled, failing in her effort to convince him she wasn't in pain.

"Susan, we can talk about this late-" Mike said before the door opening cut him off.

"Su! There you are. I was so worried," Julie said as she rushed to her daughter's side. Paul, a little calmer, walked into the room behind her.

"Relax, Mom, I'm fine," Susan said she tried to calm down her nervous mother.

"Have you seen Cassie and Ben?" Paul asked as he looked around the room.

"Yeah. Ben wasn't feeling well, so he and Cassie went to the cafeteria to get some food," Mike said, rising so Julie could have a seat by her daughter.

"All right, have you gotten in contact with your father?" Julie asked as she unconsciously picked up Susan's hand.

"Yeah. He, Tulia, Carolina, and Rosa should be here by tomorrow," Susan said.

"Good. Hey, Su, do you need Mike here? I need his help to find the cafeteria," Paul said as he motioned towards the door.

"Um, no, I actually need to talk to Mom about some…girl stuff," Susan said as she waved them towards the door. "You two go. I'll be fine."

"You're sure?" Mike asked as he waked to the door with Paul.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Go. Poor Ben must be giving Cassie the time of her life."

"Okay. See you later."

"Bye," Susan said as they left.

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"So, Mr. Smith, why did you really need me out of that room?" Mike asked as they walked along the halls of the hospital.

"What do you mean, Mike?" Paul said, trying to sound innocent.

"I'm not stupid. What is it you need to talk to me about?" Mike asked.

"Well, I suppose there's no need to be subtle about it. I just wanted to know…you and Susan are together now, right?"

Mike nodded yes.

"I just need to know that you won't hurt her. Su may not be my biological daughter, but she is my wife's child. I don't want anyone hurting her."

"Mr. Smith, I can assure you that all my intentions toward Susan are completely honest. I won't hurt her."

"Good. Then we're fine. But seriously, where is the cafeteria?" Paul asked as Mike just laughed.

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"Mom, is something wrong?" Susan asked as she saw the look on her mother's face.

"No, honey. I'm just…apprehensive," Julie replied.

"About?"

"Lots of things. Being a grandmother, seeing my child in pain, and…seeing you with another man. I just, I worry is all."

"Mom, are you taking about Mike?"

"Yes, honey. I'm sorry. I don't mean to talk that way, I just can't help but worry."

"Mom, it's fine. Mike is a good man. Unlike the way it was with Tim, I know that I can trust him."

"You're sure, honey?"

"Mom, aren't I always?" Susan asked.

"Yes, you are," Julie said before grimacing as another, stronger contraction caused her daughter to cry out in pain.

"Mom, I think it's getting worse," Susan said in a strained voice.

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Susan leaned back and breathed as she pushed for the last time and heard the sound of a baby crying. Oh my God, she thought as she heard voices, but couldn't hear what they were saying. It's really her. My baby's really here, she thought as she held the squirming newborn in her hands.

"Well, can I take her?" Susan heard the nurse say.

"What?"

"I said, may I take the baby? We have to clean her up a little, and you need to rest," the nurse said gently as she lightly pried the baby from Susan's arms.

"Oh, yes, of course. But bring her back," Susan said before she saw and felt her world go blank.

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Susan looked around her and stared at the place she found herself. It was so…beautiful. A blazing emerald meadow stretched for what seemed to be miles until it ended in the mountains. A brook ran through the meadow and several billowing trees grew alongside it. The whole place seemed too beautiful to be real. Susan felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to come face to face with her grandfather. Unable to speak, she merely threw her arms around him and listened as he whispered in her ear how much he loved her and how he…and God…would always be with her. Then the scene faded into a flash of white light, and she was back in the hospital room.

"Ugh, what…what happened?" she asked as she opened her eyes slowly.

"Baby, are you okay?" her mother asked as she ran a hand along Susan's face.

"I'm fine, Mom. What happened?"

"You passed out in the delivery room."

"I…I what?"

"You passed out."

"Wonderful. I'll never hear the end of this," Susan groaned before she remembered why she had been there in the first place. "My baby! Where's my baby?"

"Relax, Su, she's right here," Mike's voice said beside her said as he handed her the newborn he had been holding for the past half hour. "Just as beautiful as her mother."

Susan would have blushed at that, but she was simply too tired. "She's so…"

"Yeah, I know," Mike said as he put his hand over Susan's left one. It was then that she felt the light pressure on her ring finger.

"Mike, what's this?" she asked as she handed Julie the baby and surveyed the jeweled ring on her finger.

"It's an…engagement ring," Mike said, holding his breath slightly. "I just…wanted to surprise you. I wasn't planning on asking you until later, but…if you don't want it, you don't have to keep it."

"Well, as much as I hate people surprising me…since it's already there, I might as well keep it," she smiled as Mike's face took on an expression of shock and joy.

"I thought for sure that you would give it back," Mike breathed.

"Do you want me to?" Susan smirked lightly.

"No," Mike said before he bent down slightly to kiss her. "Never."

"Um, I hate to interrupt you two, but Susan needs to name the baby," Julie laughed.

"I already know exactly what to call her," Susan said as she took the bundle back. "Mom, Mike, meet Rebecca Harris-McLoughlin…one day," she said with a pointed look at Mike, who just grinned.

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Susan sighed as she dropped her bag on the floor of the apartment she shared with Lena. Two months has passed since she had the baby and she had been longing to come home. Breathing in deeply, she walked to her old room and saw I was just the same, minus of course the bassinet and various other baby things in her room.

"I can't believe how sweet she is," Lena crooned as she walked up with the baby in her arms. "Yes, I know, Mommy was wrong about Mike. She should have listened to Aunt Lena."

Susan just rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes, Becca. Mommy should have listened to Aunt Lena," she said with a pointed stare at Lena, who was wringing the ring on her own left hand. "And Mommy's very glad she did."

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Mike inhaled and took in the sweet smell of chicken and apple pie. He sighed contentedly as he looked around at the people he now held near. Sam and his fiancé Lena. Keith and his fiancé Tana. Mr. Reynolds. Amanda and her boyfriend Aaron. Paul and Julie Smith and their whole family. Cassie, Ben, and their baby, James. His mother and father. Ramon and his family. And most of all his wife of two months, Susan, and their daughter, Rebecca. Yes, my daughter, he thought as he remembered the adoption process.

"Hey, something wrong?" Susan asked as she walked over to him.

"What? Oh, nothing. Just being thankful for all I have this Christmas," he said with a smile.

"Me too. I never thought I could be this happy," she sighed as she grabbed his hand.

"Well, God works in mysterious ways, my dear," he said.

"Yeah, I just never thought that he would work out something this perfect for m-" she said before se was cut off by a kiss. "What was that for?" she grinned as she glanced up at her husband.

"Mistletoe," he said, pointing up.

"Not again," she grinned.

"Yes, again," Mike laughed before he kissed her again.

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The End