"Clement," Tommy echoed with a scowl, obviously not approving of that idea. "Over my dead body."

Before he could say another word, a familiar voice answered on the other end of the phone, sounding just a little bit flustered. "Hello' Lena" Did Jaz have the baby yet' We're on pins and needles here!"

Giggling at both male reactions, Lena rolled her eyes. "Yes, they had the baby," she promised her brother. "Healthy, as far as I know. But guess what? You're gonna be an uncle again in a few hours!"

"A baby girl, right?" Jon inquired, knowing the other couple had been expecting a girl, but that sometimes tests were wrong. But before she could answer, he was talking again. "What' How" When" Where are you?" he asked, before juggling the phone, his voice muffled. "Emmy, please let Dada talk to your Aunty Lena a minute."

"Yeah, a baby girl," she confirmed for her brother, glancing at Tommy with a smile as Jon negotiated with his eldest for ownership of the phone. "We're on our way to the hospital now. We'll call when he arrives, okay' Just let Humphrey know we won't be there for the party - this kinda takes priority, you know" Oh, and can you call Des and Dru" I know she'll be all princessed up and ready to go to that ball thing, but she'll want to know."

"Will do!" Jon replied, seeming to win the battle for the phone, at least, temporarily. "Let us know if you can have visitors, too. Vicki and I would like to visit, if we can," he told her, though if all went well, she probably wouldn't be kept in the hospital too long. "Love you, Midget, and tell Tommy to take good care of you and the baby!"

"Oh, we'll let you know, promise," she laughed into the phone. "Love you, birthday boy! Have a good time at the party!"

Jon laughed at the reminder that it was his birthday, too, realizing he was going to have to share the day with a couple more family members from now on. "Will do! See you soon!" he exclaimed. "Hey, everyone! Lena is having the baby!" he was heard sharing the news with someone on the other end of the phone to the sound of excited cheers before the line went dead.

"I think we can safely say that you're gonna get put on speaker phone if the party's still going by the time we're done," Lena warned her husband fondly. The city walls were looming over them by this point - it was only a matter of minutes to get to the hospital.

Tommy winced, despite the hint of amusement in his eyes. "Thanks for the warning. Should I wear earplugs?" he teased, knowing he was probably going to be greeted with a lot of excited shouting on the other end of the phone when he called.

"Probably," she giggled, pausing once more to gently ride out the contraction that was making itself known. "You know," she said, when it had come to an end, "now I know what this back ache is, I keep wondering why I didn't notice it earlier."

"Who'd have thought you and Jaz would go into labor the same day?" he mused aloud, with a small shrug. They were only a few minutes from the hospital now and looked like they'd make it - they'd better make it! "You okay, Midge" Not gonna pop the baby out here in the car, are you?" he asked, a little worriedly.

"Figures we would," Lena smiled. "We're virtually sisters these days." She let out a slow breath, reaching over to pat his knee reassuringly. "I'm fine," she promised him. "They're getting closer together and longer, but not so close that I'm absolutely desperate to push. We've got time, baby."

"Are you telling me or him?" he asked, with an amused smirk. "You two always were close, weren't you?" he asked, unsure of the answer, though he'd thought it was true, at least, when they were younger. As for himself and Jack, well, Tommy couldn't have had a better friend than Jack. They were as good as brothers, even if they weren't related. "You know, we should probably be naming the baby after Jack, not Robby," he remarked, a thoughtful frown on his face. He'd had a lot of time to reflect on things since arriving in Rhy'Din, and though he missed his old friend, their friendship really didn't come anywhere near as close to that of him and Jack.

Lena smiled softly, thinking back to her childhood. "I guess we were," she mused. "We were always on the fringes, but we kept in touch. It helped we grew up so close to each other, too." She turned her head, studying Tommy as he spoke. They'd been toying with naming their son after Robby, but it didn't surprise her that his mind seemed to be changing. "Let's see what he looks like when he gets here," she suggested gently. "Maybe a name'll just jump out as fitting him."

"Maybe," Tommy admitted, though he wasn't too sure himself. Why was he trying to honor a deceased friend who hadn't really been all that much of a friend to begin with, when Jack was the one who'd always been there for him' But there was no more time to think about that now, as they'd arrived at the hospital and he was pulling into the lot to find a parking spot.

"Whaddya know, we made it," she teased him affectionately as he searched for a parking space, relieved that they'd made it to the hospital. "Think they'll put us in with Jack and Jaz afterward if we ask really nicely?"

"Toss some of that Granger money around, and it's probably a sure bet," he replied with another grin as he put the car into park and pocketed the keys. "Stay right there," he instructed, before getting out of the car and going around to help her.

"It's gotta be good for something, right?" she laughed, saluting as he ordered her to stay put. "Aye, aye, captain." Undoing her seatbelt, she watched him walk around the car and open her door, offering him an innocent smile. "Permission to disembark, captain?"

"Permission granted," he replied, as he helped her from the car. He already had grabbed her bag and had it slung over one shoulder, his tall self reaching inside the car to help her to her feet, taking things as slowly and easily as was necessary. "Think you can make it?" he asked, wondering if he should go for a wheelchair.

The look she gave him was reminiscent of the look Jaz had been giving Jack over the last few months every time he got a little too zealous about making sure she looked after herself. "Moonbeam, I'm having a baby," she reminded him affectionately. "My legs didn't suddenly stop working. I refuse to be wheeled around like an invalid. We'll just ....take it slow, that's all."

"As you wish, my lady," he replied with a grin, before helping her from the car. They were only a few feet from the door anyway, having parked in maternity parking. Once inside, he knew the doctors and nurses would take over, but he'd be there every step of the way. "You know I love you, right?" he asked, as if needing her to know before all hell broke loose, and she said things she didn't mean while in the throes of labor.

Holding to his arm as he guided her toward the doors in between contractions, Lena leaned gratefully against him as they walked. "I know," she promised him softly, lifting her head to kiss his cheek. "I love you back. And we're gonna get through this in no time, you wait and see."

"Never thought I'd be a dad," he murmured. "It's kind of scary." He was frowning a little at the weight of responsibility for this new life they were about to welcome into the world. When had he become an adult, anyway?

"Scary good," she assured him, smiling as they passed through the doors and into the hospital. "You're gonna be an amazing dad, Tommy. To all our kids, not just this one." Because Lena was sure she wanted more than just one child. She wanted to fill their house with laughter.

"They're gonna all learn to surf. I can promise you that!" he replied with a grin, not one to remain too serious or fearful for very long. He very slowly lead her down the hall to the nurse's station to check in, where he'd entrust her to the care of the doctors and nurses.

Across the way, Lena grinned back, offering a softer smile to Jack. "How'd it go?" she asked them curiously, dropping her bags off the bed as she got more comfortable.

"Was there any doubt?" Tommy teased back with a grin. He would have helped with the bags, but his arms were still too full of baby. He found a spot on the bed and settled himself beside Lena, a little too enamored of his young to relinquish hold on him just yet.

Jack was doing the same, it seemed, his daughter cradled in his arms, resting as peacefully as an angel. "Took longer than I expected," he admitted. Of the four of them, he'd been the most worried about the whole birthing process. It seemed like a lot of pain and trouble, but at least, they had this little angel to show for it.

"Oh boy, did it take a long time," Jaz agreed with a faint groan under her chuckle. "You guys got lucky, though ....can't have been, what, four hours since Jack called you?" She leaned comfortably against Jack, one finger enclosed in a tiny fist that was all Lena and Tommy could see of the new Granger over there.

Lena rolled her eyes. "Seems like he was in a hurry to join you guys," she admitted, nestling close to Tommy. "We called Jon, so you can bet everyone at the party knows you guys successfully popped her out."

Jack rolled his eyes a little at that. "They're not bringing the party here, are there?" he asked. Though he appreciated the fact that the Grangers had accepted and welcomed him as one of the family, Jasmin had had a rough time of it and needed her rest. There would be time for family visits later.

Lena laughed, shaking her head. "I'm gonna suggest we tell Jon that no one's allowed to visit until tomorrow afternoon," she told them, looking around for agreement or disagreement. "That way, we get Jon and Vicki, and maybe Des and Piper, and no one else tomorrow."

"That sounds like a plan," Jack replied, agreeably. "Would you like to meet her?" he asked, regarding the bundle in his arms, as eager to meet Tommy and Lena's son, as they were to meet their daughter.

"I'd love to," Lena laughed softly, glancing at Tommy. "I think maybe Jaz and I should swap husbands for a minute, though. You guys look way too cute with your kiddies to let go just yet."

Across the room, Jasmin laughed with her. "Yeah, I think that's fair," she agreed. "They can coo over each other's firstborn while we're asleep later."

"Like you said, you've had him nine months," Tommy reminded his wife. "I haven't had him more than an hour!"

Jack chuckled quietly in agreement, touching a kiss to Jasmin's hair before slipping gently off the bed to swap places with Tommy.

"Moonbeam, if I could, I'd let you nurse him," Lena assured her husband with a kiss to his cheek. "Shoo, go and show Nicky off to his Aunty Jaz."

Smiling fondly at Jack's kiss to her hair, Jasmin blinked as she caught the name from across the room. "Nicky, huh' As in Nicholas?" she asked curiously.

"You could if you'd agree to bottles!" Tommy pointed out, kissing Lena's cheek, before slipping off the bed and meeting Jack halfway to briefly ogle his new niece. "Congratulations, Dad," he told his best friend as they met halfway.

"Congratulations to you, too," Jack replied with a proud grin.

"I never said flat out no to bottles," Lena protested with a smile as the men wandered toward one another with their babies in hand. Her eyes returned to Jaz, noting how tired her cousin looked. "Yeah, Nicholas," she nodded. "Nicholas John, with an h."

Jasmin's eyes flickered toward Jack briefly, her brow rising in a curious arch, and Lena nodded. "That's a lovely name," Jaz smiled, nodding in return. "We kinda went seasonal, too."

Jack's brows lifted, as well, as Lena introduced her son to them both. "John?" he echoed, curiously, assuming they were naming the boy for Lena's brother.

"Yeah, because it sounds a little better than Nicholas Jack, don't you think?" Tommy said, unable to help teasing his friend just a little, moving past to show off the newest Granger by just a few hours to his Aunt Jasmin.

"Wait ..." Jack said, the wheels in his head obviously turning.

"C'mere, let me see my sort of niece," Lena told Jack, patting the bed beside her with a welcoming smile. It was a nicer way of telling him to sit down before he fell down. "And why shouldn't we name him after the important men in our lives" We just got lucky that you both have very similar names." She thought that perhaps Jack might take it a little more easily if he knew Tommy's first son was named after both him and her brother.

"Sort of?" Jack echoed, blinking, still trying to sort out the name thing. Despite the fact that they weren't siblings by blood, Jack had always considered Tommy the brother he'd never had. Now he felt a little bad they hadn't named their daughter after Lena, but there was always next time. Her question explained it - Little Saint Nick was named after both himself and her brother. "I'm just ....I don't know what to say," he told her, as he moved closer so that she could get to see her newest cousin.

"You don't have to say anything," Lena assured him, inching closer to get her first look at the baby girl nestled in Jack's arms. "Oh, isn't she beautiful?" And now she had Jack close enough to murmur, she could ask after Jasmin, too. "Was it a hard birth?"

Jack didn't want Jasmin to overhear his answer to that question, but across the room Tommy and Jasmin were too wrapped up in their own conversation to notice. "I think it was hard on her," he replied quietly. "But don't worry. I'll take good care of her," he promised, adding just as quietly, "I thought you were gonna name him after Robby."

With her arm wrapped around Jack's shoulders, Lena could lean in close as she answered him just as quietly. "Robby doesn't mean as much to him as you do," she told her friend affectionately. "I don't think Robby compares." She kissed his cheek affectionately, looking down at the little bundle in his arms. "So what did you decide on for this little treasure" Please tell me it wasn't Ivy."

Jack's brows arched upwards again as he took that in, more than a little surprised to hear it. He knew how much Robby had meant to Tommy and it surprised him to hear Lena tell him that he meant more. He only hoped she wasn't just saying that to be nice. He blushed a little at the kiss, a soft smile touching his face as he turned his gaze to the little angel in his arms. "No, not Ivy. We named her Noelle Anna."

"That's a pretty name," she complimented him, glancing across the room to where Tommy and Jaz were, no doubt, having a similar sort of conversation. "Fits the little princess you're holding, too," Lena added, stroking her fingertip against little Noelle's soft cheek. "You know Humph's gonna want to cuddle her as soon as he claps eyes on her, right?"

"I think it's you he wants to talk to," Tommy pointed out, but there would be time for that later. "I'm gonna call Jon and share the news," he told the other couple, fishing his cell phone out of his pocket. "Anything you want me to say?"

With Lena distracted with her first attempt at feeding their son, Jasmin grinned over at Tommy, Noelle still firmly ensconced in Jack's arms. "Tell them no visitors until after noon, and to bring leftovers," she said cheerfully. "Lots of leftovers from tonight. Screw the diet, I'm already hungry."

Tommy laughed at Jasmin's remark. Hospital food wasn't the best, and they were missing the big holiday dinner. "I'll make sure to tell them to bring plenty of goodies," he promised as he stepped out into the hall to make the phone call, leaving Lena alone to feed their son and the other couple to bond with their daughter.

"And tell Vicki not to spike the punch!" was called after him as he slipped out, though if anyone was going to spike their drinks, it was likely to be the Old Man himself. He was a firm believer in celebrating the season, and bottled milk if you were breastfeeding.

Jack chuckled at Jasmin's warning, knowing there was no danger of any of them overindulging tonight, not so long as they were staying in the maternity ward. "Best Christmas present ever, Mrs. Granger," he told her quietly. If it was strange that he had taken her last name instead of his own, no one had ever made any mention of it.

"Second best," Jaz murmured back to him with a smile of her own, her arms wrapped about his shoulders as she rested her cheek against his. "I got you at Christmas, too." Her lips brushed his cheek tenderly. "I think this is my favorite time of year."

"It's a lot of pressure for next year," he admitted with a slightly shy smile. A few years ago, they'd decided to get married on Christmas, unable to wait any longer, and he'd thought it the most magical day of his life, until today.

"Maybe we can get Milo to knock Luna up so she gives birth at Christmas next year," she muttered impishly, snickering at the thought of what Lena would do to her if their dogs started breeding.

"I'm not sure what kind of puppies those would make!" Jack said with a chuckle. As if it wasn't enough to add two kids to the chaos of Kings Cove, he couldn't imagine what it would be like if they added a litter of puppies. "You know, we should really call Lucas, too, and let him know what?s going on before he hears it secondhand."

She blinked, tired enough that it hadn't occurred to her to let the young man who'd been virtually running the shop single-handed for the last week know that there were now two newborns at the Cove. "You're right, we should," she nodded. "I don't think the Storms are at the big house tonight, not with a newborn tiring all of them out."

"I'll call him when Tommy gets back," Jack volunteered, not wanting the boy to find out via the Granger grapevine. Whether he liked it or not, he was part of their family now, and it was likely he and Fliss might even get recruited to babysit once in a while when they had time.

She smiled, yawning quietly against his ear. "I'm sorry, baby," she apologized with a rueful quirk to her smile. "It's been a very long day." After all, their birth had taken the better part of eight hours, most of the day, in fact. She was justified in yawning.

"Why don't you get some rest?" he suggested. "I can handle the little miss for a while." And if he couldn't there were always the nurses. He touched a gentle kiss to her forehead, murmuring quietly, "Love you."

She smiled wearily, nuzzling a tender kiss to his lips. "I'll tag you when she wakes up again," she promised, full of good intentions even if she didn't have a hope of keeping that particular one. "Love you, Jack. Always."

"Gonna hold you to that, Jasmin," he replied with a soft smile. He would have tucked the blankets around her if his hands weren't already occupied holding their newborn daughter. He leaned back in the chair, turning to gaze on little Noelle and started singing to her softly the song that bore her name.

Settling down beneath the blankets, Jaz turned onto her side to watch him with their baby girl, a soft smile on her face as Jack's caroling lullaby worked its magic on both his girls.

Across the room, Lena smiled at the gentle little sight, rocking Nicky on her shoulder as she patted his back. She wasn't ready to sleep yet herself, but it was good to see the way Jack and Jasmin took care of each other. They'd both been alone too long before she had thrown them together.

It wasn't long before Tommy returned, and though Jack had promised to call Lucas, it could wait a little bit longer. He was too absorbed with his girls right now to leave them, just to make a phone call. Tommy opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it when he noticed Jasmin resting, and Jack singing a Christmas carol to lull both mother and daughter to sleep. He crept quietly back to Lena's bed and reclaimed his place beside her. "Jon says congrats and let them know if there's anything we need," he whispered.

"How drunk is he?" Lena whispered back with a wry grin. She knew Jon would be enjoying the party; he always did, and now he had something more to celebrate as well. She eased Nicky down from her shoulder, wiping his mouth as he settled to sleep once again.

"Not so drunk that he'll forget to share the good news," Tommy replied with a sigh. Of the four of them, it seemed childbirth had been hardest on Jasmin, but he knew Lena was tired, too. "You should get some rest, too," he reminded her. "I'm not going anywhere, Midget. Promise. I'll be right here when you wake up."

Stubborn though she could be at times, Lena wasn't so stubborn as to disregard good advice when she heard it. She smiled ruefully. "I should, you're right," she admitted. "Catching an hour or two now means I'll be better able to help out later." She brushed a kiss to his lips, gently handing their son back into his arms. "No waving him off the roof to show the world we did it," she teased affectionately.

Tommy chuckled at her warning. "I'll try to contain myself," he told her as he took baby Nicholas back into his arms. Tommy had learned not to question miracles, big or small, and this was one miracle he wasn't about to forget anytime soon. "Just wait, Nicky, my boy. You're gonna be the only kid in kindergarten who knows how to surf."

"Oh, he might have a little competition," Jack remarked from across the room, and Tommy laughed, having almost forgotten that they weren't alone.

"No fighting," Lena laughed softly, easing herself down beneath her own blankets. "They're both going to be wonderful, whatever they can do." She waggled a finger at the two new fathers, closing her eyes with a smile.

"They already are," Tommy remarked, with a smile first for Lena and then for Jack. "Congratulations, Jacky. She's beautiful."

"Congratulations yourself," Jack countered with a warm smile, a proud and happy father.

Was there any better way to celebrate Christmas than this"

((We couldn't resist a couple of Christmas babies! Huge thanks to my partner in crime, and Happy Christmas to all!))