"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"Manny's Moment"

Antonio's grandparents were so excited to welcome their great grandson home from the hospital. They had been busily preparing the house down to the last detail. They set up a little place for Manuel in Antonio's room. There was a perfect little nook where his crib fit. Abuela made a small mobile to put above the crib. It had little knitted birds & clouds which she handmade over the past month. Abuelo hung it over the crib. The wall next to Manny's crib had his first sonagram along with some of Antonio's baby & boyhood pictures. Abuelo & Abuela stood in front of the special space they created looking it up & down to make sure it was perfect. They held each other tight & smiled at each other & before they knew it, Antonio came through the door with the baby bag slung over his shoulder & the baby carrier in his other arm.

Abuela: Ellos estan aqui! (They're here!)

Abuelo & Abuela rushed to the door to welcome their boys home. Abuelo grabbed the baby bag from Antonio's arms while Abuela peeked into the carrier. Antonio was so overjoyed to be bringing his baby boy home & he shared in this joyous moment with his grandparents. Antonio followed his grandparents as they led him into his room. He stood at the entrance holding Manny while they walked into the room showing Antonio the little nook they made for Manny. Antonio couldn't help but cry from all the emotion. Abuela & Abuelo looked at each other with confusion.

Abuela: a el no le gusta...

Abuela took Manny from Antonio's arms as Abuelo put his arm around Antonio. After a minute, Antonio composed himself & hugged both of his grandparents & expressed that he was crying happy tears & that he loved their surprise.

Antonio: No, le amo. Es perfecto...

Antonio sat on his bed watching his grandparents hold & talk to Manny. They were telling him all about his new home & how he looked so much like his dad, Antonio. Antonio couldn't have asked for anything more.

Meanwhile, Serena went to a check up for Miranda. Miranda was still not where the doctor had wanted her to be. Although Miranda was gaining weight & eating from the bottle, she was still having difficulty breathing on her own. Serena went in the hospital feeling hopeful. Nurse Dana popped her head into Miranda's room to have Serena sign a few documents.

Nurse: Hey kiddo...
Serena: Oh hey, nurse Dana.
Nurse Dana: How are you?
Serena: A little discouraged today... I'm not gonna lie. I thought Miranda would be home with me by now.
Nurse Dana: I know. Hang in there. She'll be home before you know it...

There was a jacket on the counter in the room that caught Serena's eye. She signed the last document & handed the clipboard back to Nurse Dana.

Serena: Um, one more thing... Do you happen to know whose jacket that is?

Nurse Dana walked over to retrieve the jacket. She held it up & it dawned on her whose it was.

Nurse Dana: It belongs to the young man who's been visiting Miranda almost every day.
Serena: Oh I don't think it's Antonio's.
Nurse Dana: It's not.
Serena: Oh... then who's is it? I thought you said Antonio's been visiting Miranda.
Nurse Dana: My apologies, hon'. I actually never mentioned Antonio's name. It was actually Brian who's been coming in.
Serena: Brian?
Nurse Dana: Yes, he's the one who's been coming in every day.
Serena: Every day?
Nurse Dana: Yes, just about.

Nurse Dana was getting paged on the intercom & suddenly had to go...

Nurse Dana: Sorry hon', I gotta go. We've been training new nurses & I think they need me.
Serena: Of course. Don't let me keep you. Thank you, again...

Nurse Dana smiled & quickly left. Serena say there holding Miranda & looked at the jacket again. After about an hour, Serena left the hospital & had to leave her daughter again. Her heart broke a little every time she had to leave. She always expected to leave with Miranda, but never did. She didn't leave empty handed this time. She gripped on to Brian's jacket as she walked to her car. It smelled like him. It smelled like his hair & it was a scent Serena actually missed. She knew it wasn't Antonio's jacket, because Brian was a lot taller than Antonio & his build was bit bigger too. Their styles were also a lot different. Antonio was more of a jean jacket guy. Brian wore hoodies.

She decided she'd drop it off at Brian's. She hadn't seen him in a while & hoped it wouldn't be awkward. She drove towards his apartment anyways & thought she'd roll with the punches in how to start the conversation.

She came to the apartment, parked her car & headed upstairs to the apartment. She walked up the stairs & tried to recall how to get there. She had been there once or twice before back when Summer & Dylan were a thing. She reached the apartment door & struck up the confidence to knock on the door.