never let her go,” he added.
“ And did you...?” Mitchell asked. Dave shook his head.
“ There is too much going on right now. I’ll let it rest for a while,” he said with a smile as Taylor and Lydia walked back over to them. Natasha and Rita walked towards them and then Cameron followed.
“ So, what is going to happen now?” Cameron asked. Dave looked at Rita and smiled.
“ I have made arrangements for the necessary tests to be made. We can get her admitted to the hospital tonight,” he said. Rita looked at Natasha and then at Desiree and brushed off a tear. She looked at Taylor who was still walking towards them with her mother and then nodded.
“ Do it,” she said in a whisper before walking away. Dave looked at her and then at the group.
“ I better go after her,” he said before following her outside. Cameron went out after them, probably to discuss how Lydia would get to the hospital.
“ I guess Taylor and I had better get started. It’s a long drive back,” Desiree said. Natasha shook her head.
“ Are you kidding? You leave now, you’ll probably get there at two in the morning,” she said.
“ Well, yeah, but...”
“ Stay the night,” Natasha said cutting her short as she looked at Mitchell who was nodding. “You can stay at our place if you’d like. We have more than enough room,” she said, smiling.
“ So, what do you say?” Mitchell asked just as Taylor and Lydia approached them.
“ Ericson, it looks like we will be heading back home tomorrow because these two won’t take no for an answer,” Desiree said with a smile.
“ Okay,” Taylor said smiling. “I was about to suggest to you we get a motel because I am beat but their offer sounds better,” he said.
The six of them, Natasha, Mitchell, Taylor, Lydia, Desiree and Cameron waited until Dave had calmed Rita down. After that, Dave, Cameron and Rita took Lydia to hospital as the two couples drove to Eric’s and Estelle’s to pick up Alexis. Mitchell advised Taylor to leave his car at the station where he would pick it the next morning, to make the transit to Estelle’s and then back to his place easier. Once they were home, Natasha and Mitchell made dinner and when they sat down, they realized that their new friends were two of the best people they had ever met.
“You know the last time we met people, it was on our honeymoon,” Natasha said after putting Alexis down to sleep.
“ Yeah, the two of us lead a crazy lifestyle. She is lucky she got time off after having Alexis,” Mitchell said.
“ Time off? I would have swapped places with you if you would have asked me,” Natasha said.
“ Actually, maternity leave is not really a leave, per se,” Desiree said as she looked at Mitchell.
“ Of course you would take her side. But Taylor, you are on my side, right?” Mitchell asked. Taylor shook his head.
“ I’m sorry, man. I’m with the ladies on this one,” he said.
“ Oh come on,” Mitchell said.
“ No seriously, babies are a twenty-four-seven commitment. They are usually crying, puking or pooping or sometimes all three. And not forgetting the fact that they sleep for two seconds before screaming for four hours in the night,” Taylor said.
“ Man after my own heart,” Natasha said, laughing.
“ You talk like you’ve been through this. Do you have any kids?” Mitchell asked. Desiree looked at Taylor and smiled.
“ Oh no,” Desiree said.
“ The answer should be not yet,” Taylor said with a smile.
“ Oh, that is so sweet. How long have you guys been together?” Natasha asked.
“ A year and a half,” Desiree said.
“ Have you thought of making an honest man out of him yet?” Mitchell asked.
“ Mitchell, honey. You are prying,” Natasha said.
“ No, it’s okay. But I would also love to hear the answer to that,” Taylor said. Desiree smiled and nodded.
“ Yes, I will make an honest man out of him one day. Just not yet,” she said with a smile. Taylor took her hand in