They say that perfection in this Earth doesn't exist. It's true, to some extent. Because when you hold a baby, when they open their beautiful eyes and look at you with such love, such devotion, like you're their whole world, it is perfection.

It's the same feeling I had with Angela.

As my son's beautiful eyes met mine, I just knew that all the hell I had lived through was worth it. Everything had been worth it.

"He's perfect," Alex said as he held us close to him.

"He is," I agreed. My heart beat quickly, excited about the new life I had brought into this world.

He wrapped his little hand around my index finger, making me laugh. It had been like that for the past two hours, nothing but happiness. Despite being born four weeks early, our son was healthy. They were keeping a close eye on him, but there seemed to be no complications.

"Thanks Moretti," I said, reaching up and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. Except for losing your mind when my water broke," he chuckled shaking his head. Luke and Alex had completely lost their cool when they realized that I was in labor.

Nothing is funnier than watching two grown men freaking out.

"I can't believe I did that," he complained. "I swear, I didn't think I'd lose my shit like that, I don't know what happened."

"I'm happy, Alex."

I looked at him in the eyes, hoping that he could see how truly happy I felt. Anyone would have turned back time and changed the things I went through in a heartbeat, but I learned from everything. I grew. I learned how to be myself again and how to breathe. I was living now, not just existing.

The only thing I would change, would be bringing Angie back. Even then, I knew that she was proud of us, seeing that we were indeed the family that she wanted.

Alex had asked that they allow us to spend some time alone with the baby so that I could rest. We were on just a couple of hours of sleep and we both knew that we wouldn't be getting much sleep anymore for at least a year. He didn't seem tired at all, though. He was much too excited to feel anything else.

I, on the other hand, felt weak. The chills that I felt were also overwhelming and as soon as Alex took the baby, I covered myself with sheets. I was freezing and had already asked him to turn the room temperature up and didn't want to bother him. Besides, knowing Alex, all that would accomplish is to worry him.

My Angie.

How I wish you were here.

I closed my eyes, and I saw her; her curly hair a mess, her bright emerald eyes shining, and her precious smile adorning her face. I felt my heart thump against my chest, so loud I thought Alex would hear it. And then I heard her precious voice. I was going crazy, I knew that. Imagining her voice, hearing her when I knew she wasn't here anymore.

I love you, mommy.

I opened my tear-filled eyes. Alex was still holding our son against his chest. Our angel. The son that was going to finish healing us. Soon, the baby started fussing again. Our little one had a big appetite already. Alex chuckled, giving him a kiss.

"He's so impatient," he murmured. "Just like his mom."

"I'm so not impatient," I said. I placed our son to my breast and he latched on immediately. It had taken some practice at first; it's not as easy as they make it seem in movies or on TV.

I memorized everything about the moment. The way his little hand settled on my chest, the way his little eyes would flutter open.

God, I loved his eyes. Just like his father's.

I memorized the look of love Alex had. He was mesmerized by our bundle of joy. Everything we had lived through was to bring us here, to this very moment.

Life is so precious.

And I was holding it in my very hands.

I watched Eileen, who had basically just torn her fucking body in two, hold our son. She had just fed him and now she was watching him sleep. The smile that graced her face was as pure as it was beautiful.

I sneaked another picture on my phone without her noticing. She was pale, and so tired but didn't want to miss a single second with our little boy, who had yet to be named.

"Let me lay him down," I murmured. She nodded, handing me over our little boy. I placed a kiss on his forehead. He had his mom's nose. He was perfect. And each time his eyes opened Eileen's smile would only widen. She said he had my eyes.

"We need a name," she said, scooting over on the bed so that I could lie down next to her. I placed a kiss on her forehead, tilting her chin up so that I could kiss her.

"You were so strong today, Eileen," I said, looking into the eyes that were emotionless before, now so much joy was in them. I was going to make sure it never went away. "I hope you know how proud I am of you."

I took her hand in mine, careful not to mess with the IVs, and just held it. The feel of her skin with mine was always beyond perfect.

"You should tell all the people we have waiting to come in," she whispered.

"Will you be able to rest with everyone in here?"

She gave me a small smile and shook her head. I didn't think so either. Nevertheless, I went out to get her family, our family, who didn't wait before running inside Eileen's hospital room.

Soon they surrounded the small hospital crib that held our baby. Eileen had nodded off, and thank God everyone was considerate enough to not be loud, until Luke spoke up.

"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "I know what you are thinking." Everyone looked at him confused and I raised an eyebrow. What the fuck is going to come out of his mouth? "You are all thinking, 'Lucas, you should do the honors of carrying that baby.' I am, after all, the favorite uncle. But, I, being the generous person that I am, would like to hand over that honor to Raymond."

Raymond widened his eyes at the boy who clearly didn't dislike him as much as he tried to appear.

"Do it," Lucas said. "Before I change my mind."

When Nicole saw that Raymond hesitated, she picked up my son and set him in his arms.

"You need to start practicing," she said with a smile. Ah, she was going to break the news to him. "We're having one of our own in a few months."

Raymond stared at his grandson, not really registering what Nicole said.

"We're adopting an older child," he stated. "I don't understand why I would need to practice...carrying...a new...born"

He raised his eyes to meet Nicole's. Raymond laughed when he realized what Nicole meant and hugged her. Us men can be very fucking slow when it comes to this stuff.

Luke walked up to me with the fucking smile he always has when he's going to say something inappropriate. I sighed, knowing good and well that I was going need some ear cleaning when he was done saying what he felt the need to say.

"Guess the old man can still shoot, huh?"

"You're fucking disgusting," I muttered. Everyone took turns holding the baby, or rather fought over who would hold him next.

Marty was beyond happy and I was glad he was here to share this moment with us. He was such an important part of both our lives. Addie, who usually was forced to be anywhere near Eileen and Luke, had taken the longest time with the baby.

An hour or so passed, in which we all talked about the future, thinking how our lives were changing at such quick pace. Regardless, I knew that each and everyone of us looked forward to all the changes. We looked forward to watching each other grow up. And I looked forward to see Luke settle down.

Eileen woke up, and though she tried to smile she looked fucking drained. I sat next to her once again, and as soon as she leaned against me, a cold feeling settled in the pit of my gut. Something wasn't right.

"Hey," I said, making everyone turn their attention towards me, "you guys should step out, please."

They all frowned, but Marty immediately walked out followed by the rest. Luke laid the baby down and touched Eileen's forehead. I saw him swallow. He knew. Our dream was turning into a nightmare.

"Get me a fucking nurse in here," I said, too afraid to let go of her.

Within seconds there was several nurses in the room. Eileen seemed too lightheaded to even know what was going on. Her heart rate had increased dramatically, and her skin was clammy to the touch.

Soon a doctor was rushed in and the words surgery and source of bleeding were flying out of everybody's mouth. I was in shock as I watched her bed being lowered and how the doctor started shouting orders around. While everyone moved, for me the world ceased to spin. Finally, I was able to speak up.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked a nurse. She gave me a compassionate look and stopped what she was doing.

"We are taking her up to surgery. She seems to be having a hemorrhage. Go to the waiting room, son. We'll let you know as soon as we stop the bleeding."

"Will she be okay?" I asked as they began wheeling her out, not giving me the chance to even say goodbye to her. The lump in my throat only grew when she sighed, placing a hand over my shoulder.

"We'll do the best we can," the nurse said. "Your son will be in the nursery, you can see him as soon as you've calmed down."

I nodded in understanding. How the fuck did things end up like this?

"She'll be okay," Luke said. His voice betrayed his words. He was just as terrified.

Our son was only hours old, and his mom was in surgery. We hadn't even chosen a name. Things couldn't end this way. There's no fucking way.

He slept soundly, like an angel.

All playfulness was gone from Luke's behavior, and I knew that the family that waited outside was petrified. Things had taken such a turn in just a matter of hours.

"Get it together," Luke whispered. He was speaking more to himself than me, though I took those words as my advice.

They didn't know the source of the bleed. There could have been endless reasons, from her uterus not contracting anymore after the baby was born, to a tear in her cervix. At this point, it didn't matter to me. I just needed her to fucking live.

"I know your sister is watching over your mom," I whispered, "She has to be okay."

The seconds felt like hours. It was fucking heartbreaking knowing that Eileen wasn't able to hold our son when he needed her the most, when she wanted to the most.

The best day in our lives had somehow turned into the worst. And by the look on the doctor's face...

"Mr. Moretti, will you come with us?"

A/N: One. Last. Cliffhanger.

Read the Epilogue.

Thank you so much for all the support.

-Luz❤