Keeley was struggling to break through the haze of painkillers when she felt something warm and familiar. Someone was kissing her. Only her husband would dare kiss her while she was unconscious.

"Aaron?" she managed, her throat thick with medication.

His anxious, relieved face swam into view, but before he could respond, Violet's voice cut through. "I knew it! Daddy is a prince! Mommy woke up!"

The twins scrambled from the doorway, where they stood with Jennica. Keeley hissed, squinting at the bright light. Jennica immediately switched it off, leaving enough light from the gap in the curtains.

"Mommy, Auntie Alice said you were going to die," Violet said gravely, taking Keeley's hand. "You have a lot of boo-boos. Should I kiss it better?"

Keeley looked at Jennica in alarm, but Jennica mouthed, "No, she didn't; your kids have overactive imaginations." Keeley relaxed. That made sense; Violet especially tended to overreact.

"Sure, baby. I'd love for you to kiss it better."

"Me too!" Kaleb insisted.

Aaron intervened. "You guys can't climb on Mommy; she hurt her tummy, leg, and head. Okay?"

They immediately stopped. Violet leaned over to kiss her mother's cheek; Kaleb kissed the hand not attached to an IV.

"Do you feel better now, Mommy?" they asked in perfect unison.

Physically? No. Emotionally? A million times better. She'd genuinely thought she was going to die.

"Lots better," she assured them. "What happened to me? Where's the baby?"

Panic set in. She hadn't thought of the baby, but the absence in her belly was undeniable. What happened to Oliver?

"He's right here!" Aaron said quickly. "I've got him. He was delivered by C-section and is perfectly healthy. You were in a nine-car pileup on the Long Island Expressway. Henry… didn't make it. You're lucky; a broken leg, a concussion, and the C-section—that's it."

She slumped back against the pillows, the pain intense. What a relief. She couldn't bear losing another child.

Then guilt washed over her. Henry was dead. He'd been with Aaron since before they'd reconnected. He was divorced, had two children, and a serious girlfriend.

She would have to reach out to them, plan something thoughtful once she was out of the hospital. The accident wasn't her fault, but Henry wouldn't have been there if he hadn't been driving her to her appointment. She felt terrible.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Keeley held out her arms, and Aaron gently placed the sleeping baby in them. He woke, blinking at his mother with big blue eyes.

"He's beautiful," she whispered, tears welling.

"He is, but I can't decide who he looks like," Aaron said lightly.

"We'll figure that out later."

Jennica cleared her throat. "Hi, best friend here. Glad you're alive. Just wanted to know the kids' situation so I can get Logan and Noah home for naps."

Keeley blinked, surprised. She'd completely forgotten her friend was there. "I'm so sorry, Jen. Aaron can take them home after they're done here. Thank you so much for watching them."

Jennica smiled, squeezing Keeley's hand. "Of course. You'd do the same for me. Call me when you get home, Aaron. We can work out a schedule for the kids when you're at work and Keeley's in the hospital."

"Thank you," Aaron said sincerely. "I really appreciate it. Could I get those booster seats from you? Aiden drove me here, so I need a cab home."

Aiden… Jennica… how many friends had rallied to their aid? A lump formed in Keeley's throat. She felt incredibly loved.

Noah reluctantly waved goodbye as Jennica left with him and the baby. Aaron followed to retrieve the booster seats, promising to return soon.

"Is that our baby?" Kaleb asked, finally showing interest in Oliver. "He's so small."

"You were even smaller," Keeley said, smiling. "You and Violet were over a month early and had to stay in the hospital to get big and strong."

"Noah says he'll marry Violet when they get big," Kaleb replied.

"When did he say that?"

"Today at the park. He didn't want to share a room with me if you couldn't wake up."

Keeley sighed. What conversations were these kids having? Poor Alice. She'd have to apologize for the disruption later. Jennica was only there because Alice couldn't handle them.

Jennica was almost as good with the twins as Keeley and Aaron. Probably because she spent so much time with them, being a frequent visitor to the Hale household, even more so than Robert.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it," she reassured Kaleb. "Noah likes you both."

"He likes Violet better," Kaleb mumbled. "Maybe the baby will like me better. That'll be fair."

"I don't want the baby to like you better!" Violet protested.

The twins began arguing, causing Keeley's head to throb. Light and sound were agony. Though she said nothing, they saw her pained expression and immediately felt remorse.

"Sorry, Mommy!" they chorused.

"Daddy said you hurt your head. Is that why it's dark?"

"Yes, baby. Mommy needs dark and quiet to get better."

"We'll be super quiet," Violet whispered. "Can we get in bed with you if we're super quiet?"

"Okay, just be careful not to touch Mommy's tummy or leg," Keeley said, wincing. Deep breaths hurt her stomach.

They happily complied, carefully avoiding their mother and the baby, crawling onto either side of the bed and nuzzling against her arms. Aaron returned with the booster seats to find them nestled there, a soft smile gracing his face.

He took a picture to commemorate Oliver's birth. It would be a great story to tell someday.

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