Page 51 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

"I spoke to Abby, and she, well?—"

"Marry us," Abby said and she clasped her hands together under her chin and I chuckled.

"Both of you?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

Abby nodded as Will said, "It's a package deal, unfortunately. If you want me, you have to accept that Abby wants you in her life and really looks up to you."

Will's words were the most amazing thing I'd ever heard. I'd gone from being hated by her to being loved like a sister or aunt, and it was the best feeling ever.

"Of course…" I reached out and squeezed Abby's hand as Will slid the ring on my finger. I could see every ounce of apprehension or hesitance that Abby felt had vanished. She looked at me as a friend now, not an enemy, and one day I hoped she'd see me as so much more. Will and I had done everything we could to nurture her sensitive heart and it had paid off.

I yawned again, feeling sleep pulling at me. I'd been in labor since the wee hours of the morning, and now after lunch, I needed sleep.

Abby asked a nurse to show her to the NICU and Will held my hand, staying by my side like a dutiful doting partner, and I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep where I dreamt of my wedding day and what it would look like.

EPILOGUE: WILL

Baby Will looked squished when Beth buckled him into his car seat, but the nurse assured me it was how it was supposed to be. Abby hovered, watching everything we did with curiosity and pride. She was already in love as much as Beth and I were. Never had a little boy made such an impression so quickly.

"I get to ride beside him?" Abby asked and Beth looked up at me.

"You'll have to fight his mother for that position," I chuckled, and Beth scowled playfully.

"Yes, you can ride next to him," Beth told her, and then she pressed her palm against my chest and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. "Let's call the car…"

The nurse, standing by the door, beamed at us. Beth had been here every day from morning to night after they released her. She didn't skip a beat, and though she was technically on maternity leave now, the firm was looking forward to her using that same diligence the instant she returned as my senior analyst.

"It's already waiting," I said, and I leaned down to pick up Will's car seat. I'd gone over the entire checklist of things—car seat base installed, crib assembled, bassinet by the bed, bottles and diapers and wipes…I hoped I had managed to do everything the right way. It'd been almost two decades since I had an infant, and even then, Kate had done most of this stuff.

"You're such a good dad," Beth said, praising me. She hooked her arm around my bicep and the nurse showed us out.

"You know, it's really good that Rachel found a roommate. I really hope that works out for her." When her sister told us that one of her coworkers would take Beth's place only days ago, it took a huge weight off of Beth's shoulders, especially given how early she delivered and the fact that she should've had months left to prepare for Baby Will's arrival. I knew she felt so much better about moving in with me, though we still had to actually pack her things and help her move.

"Yeah, I guess they really get along well, so I don't feel as bad moving away now." Beth rested her head on my shoulder as we walked into the elevators, and I saw a hint of some heavy emotion on Abby's face as we turned and watched her walk in.

So much had changed in our lives so quickly, it wasn't hard to imagine why Abby might be struggling. She was faced with graduation around the corner, the welcome of a brand-new baby brother when she, herself, was heading to college soon. And she had to face the fact that I was moving on with a new woman, while she was still clinging to the pain of losing her mother and the need to find healing from it.

I had already cleared it with Beth and she knew my plan, but Abby had no idea yet. I knew there was one way we could help her heart find the closure she needed even when she wasn't able to articulate what it was she needed. It would be good for me too, though the closure I sought after Kate's death happened months ago, early into my relationship with Beth.

"It's such a nice day," Beth said, breathing in the fresh air. She'd been stuck indoors this entire time as a warm frontpushed through, ushering warmer temperatures into the city. She smiled up at the sky as I wrestled with Will's car seat in the back of the limo and it was Abby who actually managed to lock it in place properly. She sat on the seat with her back against the driver's partition wall, and Beth and I sat at the back of the limo. I let my eyes roam around the bigger interior and wondered how celebrities traveled with their infants, and it brought a smile of satisfaction to my face.

Maybe I'd go back to driving myself and my family around, just for the experience of the closeness and intimacy I'd have with them.

The driver took off when we were all settled, and Abby stared down at Baby Will in his seat. He was quiet, having nursed not too long before we packed up to go. I knew he'd get hungry again soon, but we had one stop to make before I'd even consider letting him cross the threshold of my home, only because I knew what it would mean to Abby to do so.

I gave my driver specific instructions before he even came to pick us up, and he followed them to a T. When the car pulled into the cemetery Abby didn't even look up. She was mesmerized by Baby Will, fawning over him and wrapping his tiny fingers around her thumb. When we stopped, she did look up though, and she looked confused.

"Where are we?" she asked, and the driver opened the door.

"Get the car seat," I told her, and Beth slid out first. I followed her and for a second marveled at how beautiful she looked, even in her post-baby body. Her curves were thicker, and her smile was brighter, and I loved every inch of her even more. "God you're beautiful," I whispered against her ear.

She smiled as she pulled away and reached for Will's seat.

"Ready?" she asked, and Abby shook her head.

"Why are we here, Dad?" Abby looked sad and confused. I walked over to her and pulled her in for a hug and she was stiff.

"Because, I think it's only fair that we introduce Baby Will to Mom." I pulled back and held her by her arms and smiled. "Don't you?"

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