I had some help

Forty-four

The group ate their breakfast in the hospital room, enveloped in a quiet yet not uncomfortable silence. As they nibbled on their food, Katie suddenly looked at Alex with a puzzled expression.

"Wait, I just realized." Katie began, her brow furrowing slightly. "How did you manage to get in here?"

Alex burst into laughter, causing both Morgan and Katie to exchange bemused glances before looking back at her, waiting for an explanation.

"Well," Alex chuckled, composing herself. "I told the receptionist I was your sister, but since I'm married now and have a different last name, I almost showed her my ID. Luckily, she stopped me before I did and just told me to stay calm and led me straight here."

Morgan and Katie joined in Alex's laughter, the tension easing as they shared a moment of light-heartedness. For a moment, it seemed like the animosity Katie had harbored towards Alex had faded, even if just a little.

Around 10, Alex went home to change before heading back to her office. Morgan had suggested she stay home, but Alex missed being at the office and the rhythm of her work.

She was sitting in her office, finishing her final emails to news companies, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Alex called out to the person on the other side of the door.

Bailey walked into her office, and she smiled at him. "Hey, whatcha doin' here?" Alex asked.

"Just checking in. I heard y'all played at your old high school. How was that?" He asked, sitting in one of her chairs.

"Fine, glad to be back at work." Alex said, quickly finishing up writing her email before she closed her computer.

"You and Morgan together?" Bailey asked, looking at her with a curious glint in his eye.

"Nope. But I helped deliver his kid." Alex said, laughing, making Bailey chuckle in disbelief.

"What?" Bailey asked, still laughing.

"Morgan texted me that Katie was in labor, so I drove to the hospital at 1:30 and stayed until 10. I also told the receptionist I was Katie's sister." Alex explained, recounting her fun events from the previous day.

"Damn, but that doesn't explain how you delivered a baby." Bailey said, laughing harder.

Alex smirked, enjoying the incredulity on Bailey's face. "Morgan left so that Katie and I could talk and get more comfortable with each other, which was fine. But while he was gone, she started delivering, so I got a doctor to the room and had to suit up to deliver my 'sister's' kid."

Bailey shook his head in amazement, still laughing. "You always end up in the wildest situations."

"Tell me about it." Alex said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "It was surreal, but everything worked out in the end."

"How are they doing?" Bailey asked.

"Well, I think delivering her baby got me some bonus points with her, so she doesn't completely hate my guts." Alex answered with a small chuckle.

"Well, that's good." Bailey said, laughing with Alex.

"Yeah, I mean, Morgan was excited, but I could tell he always wanted to be a father, like you did." Alex said, looking down and losing eye contact with Bailey.

Alex looked down, memories of her and Bailey at the hospital flooding her mind. "I'm so sorry, there's no heartbeat." Was all Alex could think of.

"Alex, come back to me. I know you're lost in thought. Come back to me." Bailey said as he kneeled next to her, grabbing her hands and trying to pull her out of her trance.

Alex blinked, her eyes refocusing on Bailey. She squeezed his hands, feeling the warmth and support he offered. "I'm sorry." She whispered, her voice shaky. "I just... it still hurts sometimes."

Bailey nodded, his expression filled with understanding. "I know it does. And it's okay to feel that way. We went through a lot together, and those memories don't just disappear."

Alex took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. "It's just seeing Morgan so happy with his son... it brought everything back."

Bailey gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. "It's natural, Alex. But remember, we've all grown from those experiences. And even though it was painful, it made us stronger."

Alex managed a small smile, grateful for his presence. "Thank you, Bailey. For always being there for me."

"Always." He replied softly, his eyes holding hers with a promise of unwavering support.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared past and the comfort of their continued friendship creating a sense of peace. Despite the complexities of their history, there was a deep understanding and connection between them that transcended their past hardships.

After a moment, Alex took another deep breath. "Bailey, I told my family about the miscarriages."

Bailey looked at her, surprise and concern etched on his face. "You did? How did they take it?"

Alex sighed, looking down at their joined hands. "It was hard. Really hard. But it felt like a weight was finally lifted. They were supportive, but it was emotional for everyone. It was during a lunch we had with Morgan's family too. I told them about the one with you and the one I had in high school."

Bailey's eyes softened with empathy. "I'm proud of you, Alex. That's a huge step. It takes a lot of courage to open up about something so painful."

Alex nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "It was time. I couldn't keep it bottled up anymore. They needed to know, and I needed to share it with them."

Later that evening, after the emotional lunch where Alex and Morgan shared their heartbreaking news, Alex's parents, Amelia and Jack, found themselves alone in their living room. The weight of the revelations hung heavily in the air.

Jack sat on the edge of the couch, his head in his hands. "I had no idea, Amelia. Our little girl went through all that pain, and we never knew."

Amelia, seated next to him, nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "She was just a teenager, Jack. To think she went through something so traumatic... and then again, just in the last years."

Jack looked up, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Why didn't she come to us? We could have helped her, supported her."

Amelia reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Maybe she thought she was protecting us. Or maybe she felt like she had to handle it on her own. You know how strong-willed she is."

Jack sighed, his heart aching. "But she's our daughter. She shouldn't have to face these things alone."

Amelia wiped away her tears, taking a deep breath. "We need to be there for her now, Jack. We need to let her know that she can always come to us, no matter what."

Jack nodded, his grip on Amelia's hand tightening. "Absolutely. We'll support her in any way we can. And we'll let her know how much we love her, and that we're here for her."

Amelia looked into Jack's eyes, her expression resolute. "And Morgan too. He's been through this with her, and he deserves our support as well."

Jack sucked in a breath before he agreed. "We'll make sure they all know they're not alone in this."