Page 124 of Begin Again, Part 2

The examination room door opened, and Eden came out, bouncing Aiden on her hip.

Liam's heart lurched from his throat back to his chest, as a giant wave of relief thrashed his body, threatening to knock him off his feet as he watched mother and son blow kisses at each other. If he didn't know better, he would have assumed they'd come in for a routine check-up. That was how normal and happy they looked. The horror they'd gone through merely a few minutes ago was already a memory he hoped would soon fade with time.

Eden looked up and dazzled him with one of her radiant smiles, and he knew then they were okay. She wasn't furious or disappointed with him for failing her when she needed him the most.

He opened his arms, and she walked into them. And for the briefest two minutes, he held them tight, refusing to let them go even when Aiden began to squirm and complain.

"He's okay," Eden said as she gently tapped his back. "You can let go now."

"No! I need another minute." Liam only held her tighter. "I love you both so much. I don't know what I would have done if something happened to our boy."

"He's okay," she assured him again. "But he'll be out soon from the medication. It's been a long day for him."

"And you," he kissed her nose and took Aiden from her. "Let's go home."

"Yeah, let's do that," Eden agreed as she laced her hand with his, and he led them to the dispensary to refill their son's prescription.

Aiden was out like a light even before they left the hospital, but Liam refused to put him in his car seat, insisting on holding him for the entire ride home.

"You know he'll be okay, right?" Eden said for the millionth time.

Liam nodded. "I know. I just want to hold him and never let him go. And when we get home, I want to hold you, too."

"That sounds nice," Eden said and rested her head on his shoulder. "I can do with some holding right now. I was so scared."

"Me too," he admitted. "I don't think I've ever been so terrified in my life, and from now on, I don't want anyone near Aiden. I'm getting him a sterilised bubble, like the one from that Bubble Boy movie."

Eden giggled. "He can't live in a bubble. He needs human contact."

"Either that or I die before I'm thirty. You choose, Princess."

"That's an unfair choice," she mumbled through her loud yawn.

"Guess it's settled then. I'm placing the order as soon as we get home," Liam decided, his arms tightening around Aiden when he remembered his horror earlier. He never wanted to go through something so unbelievably crippling again.

His big-ticket purchase and any cuddling he may have had in mind would have to wait. When they got home, his folks and sisters had made themselves comfortable in his living room.

"There he is!" Lois squealed, rushing to his side when they closed the door behind them. Instantly, the room was a hive of activity as they all exchanged pleasantries and introductions with Brenda. While Clarke asked the nanny a million questions to make sure she was qualified to look after his grandson, Lois hugged Eden again, kissed Liam on the cheek, and demanded to hold Aiden.

Liam didn't want to hand his son over, but his mom made it clear she didn't drive from Glen Eagles just to sit and fold her arms. She wanted to hold her grandson, and she wanted to hold him now. "I've raised three children, you included Liam. I believe I'm more than qualified to hold my grandson!"

"Mom, I know that," Liam grunted as he carefully placed a still-sleeping Aiden in her arms. "But I told you he's not feeling well."

And their little family squabble was Brenda's cue to make herself scarce.

"I'll be upstairs," she told Eden as she excused herself.

They both watched her trudge up the glass staircase, looking dejected.

"I'll talk to her," Eden volunteered. "She hasn't been the same since we left the aquarium."

Liam agreed. "She took it hard."

He pulled her in for a quick kiss before she dashed after Brenda.

"You seem much happier than you were the last time I saw you," Lois sighed while snuggling Aiden to her chest.

"I am," Liam confessed, a huge grin lighting up his face. "I don't think I've ever been so happy, Mom. I love her."

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