“Am I too late?” Ruby asked as she came bursting through the door into the delivery suite. She dropped her jacket and her coat onto the chair and hurried to her friend’s side.

“Does it look like you’re too late?” Ella panted breathlessly as another contraction took hold and she gripped the mattress beneath her and tried to push as hard as she could.

“That’s it, Ella,” Nora said as she held her daughter's hand tightly.

“Mom, I don’t know if I can do this,” Ella said as she looked at her mother, feeling completely exhausted. “I’m not ready.”

“Of course, you’re ready,” Nora assured her as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel. “You’re nearly there.”

“No, Mom,” Ella cried as another contraction hit and she pushed as hard as she could, then flopped back on the pillow, completely drained of energy. “I mean I am not ready to be a mom. I don’t want to do this alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Nora replied and gave her a smile. “You have your family and…”

“I swear,” Ella stopped her mid-sentence. “If you tell me that family takes care of family right now, I will scream.”

“Ella,” Ruby said as she took her other hand. “You’re going to make a wonderful mother; you have been looking after me my whole life. A baby will be a piece of cake after all the trouble I have been in.”

Ella looked at her friend and smiled. She knew Ruby was right, but still, she was beyond terrified.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Okay, Ella,” Ashley, the midwife said from the bottom of the bed. “We’re nearly there.”

“You said that twenty minutes ago,” Ella groaned.

“Well, I mean it this time,” the midwife laughed. “On this next contraction, I want you to push with everything you have. It’s time to get this little one out.”

As another contraction took hold, Ella gripped the mattress beneath her and pushed with every ounce of energy she had.

“That’s it, Ella,” the midwife said as she stared between Ella’s legs. “I can see the head.”

“I want to see!” Ruby exclaimed as she moved down to the end of the bed, next to the midwife. “Oh shit, Ella, how are you doing this. That’s not a pretty sight.”

“NOT HELPING, RUBY!” Ella growled through her teeth, as she pushed again.

“ITS HEAD IS OUT!” Ruby screamed as suddenly tears filled her eyes. “Ella, its head is out.”

“One more big push,” the midwife said. This time, Ella grabbed both her knees and pushed with all her might, before she flopped back on the bed.

Suddenly, the sound of a baby crying filled the room.

“He’s a boy,” Ruby cried as the tears streamed down her face. “You did it, Ella; you did it.”

 “Ella,” the midwife said as she lifted up the baby and set him on Ella’s chest. “Meet your son.”

“Hi, Max,” Ella sobbed as she wrapped him in her arms and held him close. “I’m your mommy.”

“Ella,” Nora sniffed through her tears. “He is perfect, just like his mother.”

“He is, isn’t he,” Ella replied, and she stared down at this scrunched up little person, covered in crap, screaming at the top of his lungs, and all she could think was just how beautiful he was.

“I’m so proud of you, Sweetheart,” Nora said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead. “You did amazingly.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ella said, but still she couldn’t take her eyes from this little bundle in her arms.

“Look at the camera,” Ruby said as she lifted her phone and started taking photos.

“I’m going to take the baby and clean him up a little,” the nurse that was also in the room, said as she reached for Max and took him from Ella. “While Ashley takes care of you.”

The whole time, Ella never took her eyes from her son. He was perfect. He was long, with blonde, fuzzy hair and a perfect little nose. Everything about him was perfect.

“Here you go, Mom,” the nurse said finally as she handed a cleaner and calmer, Max, back to Ella, all snuggled up in a blanket.

“He is so perfect,” Ruby said as she kissed her friend on the forehead. “You were awesome, Ella.”

“Thanks, Ruby,” Ella said before she turned to her mother and smile. “Do you want to hold your grandson, Grandma?”

“I would love to,” Nora said as she took the baby from Ella’s arms. She watched him as he lay peacefully in her mother’s arms, and Ella couldn’t help but think of Nate. Max looked so much like him. She wondered what he would do if he knew he had a son, but she quickly pushed that thought from her mind.

Nate didn’t matter anymore. From now on, it was all about her and Max. She closed her eyes and lay her head back on the pillow; she was beyond exhausted.

Ella woke and was surprised to find herself in a different room. She had no idea how long she had been asleep, but she felt like she had been hit by a steamroller. She pushed herself up in the bed and was about to ring for the nurse when the door opened, and a nurse appeared pushing a glass crib with Max inside.

“You’re awake,” the nurse said the minute she saw Ella.

“How long was I asleep?” Ella asked.

“Oh, a little over an hour,” the nurse replied. “We have a little man here who is hungry and wants his mom.”

Ella watched as the nurse lifted Max from the crib and placed him in her arms.

“Don’t get too disheartened if he doesn’t pick it up straight away,” the nurse said as she helped Ella settle Max to her breast. “Sometimes it takes time, but he will get there eventually.”

When Max latched on straight away, Ella smiled up at the nurse.

“That’s a clever boy you have there,” the nurse said and gave her a smile. “I will leave you two alone.”

When the nurse left the room, Ella looked down at her little boy as her heart burst with love. She had never imagined she could love something or someone as much as she loved her son.

“We’re alone at last,” she whispered to him as he suckled happily. “It’s just you and me now, Max, but I am going to be the momma you deserve. We are going to have a wonderful life; I promise you.”

As Ella stared down at her little boy, she couldn’t help but think about Nate. She wondered what he would think of Max. What kind of father would he have made?

You need to stop this; she chastised herself in her head. It was one night, and it doesn’t matter how wonderful it was, he was a cheater, and you don’t need someone like that in your life, neither does Max.

Just as Max was finished feeding, the door to Ella’s room burst open, and her two brothers came thundering in, followed by her mom, Ruby, and Brady, then finally her father.

Ella’s dad finally came around to the idea of her having a baby, and he even was excited about being a Grandpa, but inside Ella knew he was disappointed with her. He would never admit it, nor would Ella ever say that to him, but she knew it in her heart every time he looked at her.

“Where is my nephew?” Brandon, Ella’s eldest brother, said as he made his way up to his sister, then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before he turned his attention to the little bundle sleeping peacefully in her arms. “Welcome to the family kid. Thank God you don’t look like your uncle, Ben.”

“Shut it, Asshole,” Ben said as he too kissed Ella and then turned his attention to the baby. “Hey kid, I’m your Uncle Ben. You need me to kick anyone’s ass; you let me know.”

“Really, Benjamin,” Nora sighed. “The first thing you teach your nephew is bad language.”

Ella laughed as her mother kissed her on the cheek, then finally, her eyes met her father’s.

“Hey, Dad,” Ella said as she gave her father a nervous smile. “Do you want to meet your grandson?”

“I thought you would never ask,” Henry croaked as his voice cracked with emotion. Ella handed Max to her father when he reached the bed.

“This is Max Henry Cassidy,” she said as her father stared down at the little boy in his arms.

“Hey, Max,” Henry said as he blinked back tears of pride. “I’m your grandpa. You come from a long line of Cassidy’s, so you wear the name proudly, Son, and know your old grandpa will always be here for you.”

Finally, he looked up at Ella.

“You did really well, Sweetheart,” Henry said, and Ella could only see the pride in his eyes. “He is a beauty, just like his mother. I’m real proud of you both.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Ella whispered as she blinked back the tears.

“So, do you think we have another firefighter, Dad?” Brandon asked as Henry stared down at his grandson in his arms.

“No,” Henry replied without taking his eyes from Max. “This little man is made for better things; he’s a special one. He is going to change the world.”

“Oh, Henry,” Nora said as she was overcome with emotion. She blew her nose in her tissue.

“I want one of these,” Brady said as he slipped his arm around Ruby.

Despite having her doubts initially, Ella really liked Brady. Though she was still stunned, that Ruby had finally settled down and with someone that wasn’t a complete loser. Brady was a nice, hardworking guy and Ella knew he loved Ruby more than anything. Ella was happy for her friend.

“Well if you distract everyone,” Ruby said as she walked over to Ella and kissed her. “I will steal this one because I don’t think I could do what this girl did. She was beyond amazing.”

“You don’t mean that,” Ella laughed as she took her friend’s hand. “Besides, it wasn’t that bad.”

“You know I was there,” Ruby said as she gave her friend a questioning look. “It looked like you were being tortured. No wonder my mother hates me.”

“Okay, it was hard,” Ella replied with a laugh. “But so worth it. I mean, look at him.”

“He is pretty damn awesome,” Ruby said as she looked over at Max asleep in his grandpa’s arms. Then she looked over at Brady. “Okay, maybe we can have one. Someday.”

Nora and Henry insisted Ella and Max came home to their house for a few days, at least until Ella had gotten some proper rest, and as much as Ella didn’t want to admit it, she was happy they had. She was beyond terrified she would do something wrong with Max. He was so small and tiny; she was afraid she would break him.

However, as the days past, Ella’s fears soon past too. She was a natural. Of course, it helped that Max was such a good baby.

Before she knew it, two weeks had passed, and it was time for her and Max to go home to her apartment.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer, Sweetheart,” Nora asked as Ella packed up her belongings. “You know we could do up one of the rooms as a nursery for Max.”

“Mom, I have loved being here, I really have,” Ella said with a smile. “But I need to learn to do this alone. It’s just Max and me now, and I’m completely fine with that.”

“How will you manage with working and a baby,” Nora asked, and Ella knew her mother was worried.

“I have Carly working in the shop now,” Ella replied. “And she is awesome. She is running things while I am off. She is going to stay on when I go back to work, so I will only have to work part-time.”

“But who will take care of Max while you’re working?” Nora replied.

“I will get a nanny,” Ella shrugged.

“You will do no such thing,” Nora said in her best mothering voice. “No grandchild of mine will be reared by strangers. I will take care of him for you when you go back to work, and that’s the end of it.”

“But what about your groups and the charity work you do?” Ella asked, surprised by her mother’s offer. “You love doing all that stuff.”

“But I love my grandson more,” Nora replied with a smile. “Please Ella, at least let me do this.”

“You really want to mind him when I go back to work?” Ella asked.

“It’s just for a few years,” Nora replied. “Before we know it, he will be in school and will have grown up far too fast. Let me do this.”

“If this is what you want,” Ella replied as her heart brimmed with love for her mother. “Then, yes, I would love to have you take care of him for me, because let’s face it. You’re the only one I would really trust anyway.”

“That’s settled,” Nora said with a huge grin, and she hugged Ella.

“If you two ladies have finished solving the world’s troubles,” Henry said as he appeared at the door. “I have the car packed up with Max’s things, though how a two-week-old has so much stuff already, is beyond me, but we really should be going if you want to miss the rush hour traffic.”

“Okay, Dad,” Ella said as she hugged her mom once more

“That’s everything,” Brandon said as he brought in the last load from the car. “You’re officially home.”

“Thanks, Bran,” Ella said as she kissed her brother’s cheek. “I’m grateful for the help.”

“Anything for this little man,” Brandon said as he looked down at Max sleeping in her arms. “He really is perfect, Ella. If there is ever anything you or he needs, you know I’m just a call away.”

“I know,” Ella said and gave him a grateful smile.

“I should be hitting the road,” Brandon said as hE kissed Max on the head once more. “I have a hot date with Brandy.”

“Brandon and Brandy!” Ella exclaimed with a laugh. “Really?”

“Don’t you start too,” Brandon rolled his eyes. “I got enough shit from Ben about it.”

“Okay,” Ella laughed as she kissed her brother once before he turned and headed for the door. “I will see you on Sunday at the house.”

“See you then,” he said as he disappeared out the door.

“I don’t know where I got that boy from,” Henry said with a laugh from the doorway of the nursery. “Him or his brother.”

“They are good men,” Ella said as she walked towards her father. “You should be proud of them.”

“I’m proud of all my children,” Henry said, surprising Ella before he added. “Look, I know I was less than thrilled about you getting pregnant. The truth is, I wanted so much more for you, but seeing how you have handled things, and how you are with Max. I have never been prouder in my life.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Ella said as she smiled at her dad. “How about I lie Max down, and make some tea for you and me?”

“Sounds good to me,” Henry said as he reached for Max. “But let me settle him. I am gonna miss having you both at the house, so I need to make the most of it while I am here.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Ella said before she turned and headed towards the kitchen.

Ten minutes later they were both sitting at the table with their tea and a plate of homemade cookies; Nora had packed in a box for Ella.

“So,” Henry said as he sipped his tea. “Are you sure you don’t want to move back home permanently? I know your mother would be happy, and we could help you with little Max.”

“I need to do this on my own, Dad,” Ella replied as she reached for his hand. “But I’m very grateful for everything you and Mom had done for Max and me.”

“Do you really have to be on your own?” Henry said surprising Ella. “Are you sure that Max’s father wouldn’t want to be involved?”

“Max’s father was a mistake,” Ella replied. She had never told her parents much about Nate other than he was no longer in the picture. “We’re better off without him.”

“Are you sure?” Henry asked giving his daughter a questioning look.

“I am, Dad,” Ella replied.

“Then we will talk no more about it,” Henry promised her. “I give you my word.”