As much as Angel hated knowing that Sydney had his own way of making Sarah happy, he hated seeing her sad even more. Their bond was something he'd never understand and probably never really be comfortable with but he'd do anything to see her happy. He almost hated telling her Sofia had had her baby. And he knew when Sofia had come by to visit them and see baby Angel before she went home with her baby just a day after delivering, had to be heart wrenching.

If talking or texting Sydney made her feel a little better or even distracted her for just a little while, Angel was more than willing to deal with it. But she was so obsessed with counting down the hours and the days the baby went without bradys for even Syd. So when Sydney finally showed up at the hospital days later Angel was strangely relieved to see him. "Hey, man. Thanks for coming."

Sydney shook his hand and slapped him on the shoulder. "You kidding me? I'm dying to meet little Angel. I hear he's almost ready to go."

"Yeah, he's gone five days now without his heart rate slowing down. If he can go five more, he's out of here."

Sarah was even more of mess now. Every day that went by she worried it would happen again and they'd have to start the countdown all over again. Though she'd also confessed that she was a little afraid of being home alone with him but the day they could take him home would be the happiest of her life. Just that morning she sort of snapped at him when he saw her massaging the baby's chest and he happened to comment that she didn't need to do that unless his heartbeat slowed. "It's not hurting him if I do. And there's nothing wrong with making sure he stays stimulated."

It wasn't necessarily a snap but he'd certainly heard the attitude. He knew she was just on edge and he wanted nothing more than to find a way to help her relax.

He walked Syd through the motions of scrubbing down before entering the NICU. Since little Angel was breathing on his own and feeding regularly on his own he no longer had as many tubes on him. Except for the wires monitoring his breathing he was almost wire free.

Isabel was holding the baby when they walked in. Romero knelt down next to her smiling as the baby squeezed his fingers. To say Sarah was surprised to see Sydney when they walked in was an understatement. Angel didn't now what to make of it. At first she looked almost horrified then she brought her hands to her face and finally she did was he was hoping Sydney's presence would do, she smiled.

"Hey, Lynni."

She glanced at Angel a little hesitantly but Angel smiled and she hugged him. Romero gave Angel a look. Angel didn't expect Romero to understand although he was sure if Romero was in his position he just might do the same. Sarah's happiness came before anything to him. Even if it meant him having to endure seeing her happy to see another man. So be it. He knew what he and Sarah had and he was done feeling insecure about Syd. He knew now no matter how long he and Sarah were married he'd never li qd never ke her relationship with Syd, but he could deal with it-for Sarah.

Syd was only able to stay for the day and left the next afternoon. Not that Angel was too broken up about it, especially after that first night he said he was beat and was going to bed and Sarah stayed up chatting with Sydney for another hour. Angel didn't even know why he'd gone to bed. It's not he slept a wink until he had her safely in his arms.

Three days later the baby had gone eight full days without a brady. The morning after day eight Angels heart dropped when his phone rang and he saw it was the hospital. They'd just finished having breakfast and were getting ready to head out to the hospital again as was their regular routine now.

Sarah stared at him, looking as terrified as he felt. The cheery voice on the other end confused him. "Are you ready to come pick up a little boy who's asking about his mommy and daddy?"

"What?" he glanced at Sarah who hung on his every word. "I don't understand. It hasn't been-"

"Oh well, the doctor was just here and after a thorough exam he was so impressed he signed off on letting him go home a couple of days early." The emotion overtook him. It felt like they'd waited an eternity for this.

The tears flooded his eyes and Sarah grabbed at his shirt. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Sarah... we get to bring him home today."

Her hands flew to her mouth and just like that she was crying, too. "Really?"

Angel let the hospital know they were on their way and hung up. He was done holding it in. "Really." He hugged her, picking her up and spinning her around, burying his face in her neck.

The second her feet hit the floor she was moving. "Lets go!"

CHAPTER 6.

Welcome home.

Sarah at in the back seat gazing at her beautiful baby boy, snug in his car seat. He was perfect. She could hardly believe he was coming home.

Angel was still muttering up front in the driver seat. "Does every one have to drive like idiots damn it?

Sarah giggled, caressing h>Sarah er baby's cheek. "Too many whippersnappers for you, honey?"

She watched as her usual lead-foot husband who drove like an old man now, glare out the window at the car passing them up. "The speed limit is fifty-five, asshole!"

It made her smile and stared down at her little angel. Yeah, precious cargo will do that to you.

Unsurprisingly, her mother, his parents and Sals's cars were there. A giant wooden stork holding a bundle was staked into his front yard. And a banner hung in front of his garage: Welcome home baby Angel! We've been waiting for you!

Suddenly she was feeling emotional again. Their parents, Sal and Grace, holding their kids came out to meet them.

Angel's mom already had a ton of food in the kitchen. "We won't be here all day," she promised. "but everyone will be stopping by at some point today so I just wanted to make sure you had enough for all of them."

All day long people came through to welcome little Angel home. By the time the day was over they were exhausted. They lay in bed staring at their baby in between them.

"Do we really have to put him in his crib?" Sarah asked kissing the baby's nose.

"Sal said we don't wanna start bad habits. They messed up with little man. He is still sleeping with them. But I think this guy's first night home we can make an exception."

A year and a half later A slap to the face woke Angel. "Hey man!"

His eighteen month old son was trying to climb his face, giggling.

"Why does he always slap my face to wake me?" He turned to little Angel and flipped him over, tickling him. His son laughed uncontrollably as Angel continued to push him down every time he tried to get up. At eighteen months, even for a preemie, he already outweighed Sofia's baby girl; he wasn't walking yet, which Valerie told them she should be happy about.

"My God, little Alex started running the moment he learned to walk and there was no stopping him. He's been more of a handful then dealing with two baby girls!"

Handful or not Angel couldn't help but get excited every time he saw him pull himself up to stand holding on to some thing. They'd both learned long ago not to compare him to other babies. He was a preemie and though physically he hardly looked the part anymore he was still technically a little behind but the doctors assured them just like his weight he'd catch up and the signs were all there. He'd be walking any day now. And he had no fear. Unlike Sofia's little Samantha who cried the moment she so much as stumbled. Little Angel could fall and tumble and he'd get right back up with a grunt and even a laugh sometimes.

"Morning, baby," Sarah said.

height="0 Little Angel stopped laughing for a second and turned to Sarah. She pulled him to her kissing his chubby little cheek. Angel watched as his son stared at Sarah with his big green eyes, reaching for her nose. Every one said he looked just like him only with Sarah's eyes. All Angel saw when he looked at his son was Sarah's eyes.

He thought back to the day he was born. How terrified they'd been about losing him. For a while there, both he and Sarah had been hesitant to even consider the thought of another baby. Neither had even talked about it, though at times he knew it made her sad to think that because of their fear little Angel might be an only child, Angel just couldn't imagine going through all that again.

They both laughed a few months ago when Valerie exhaustedly announced she was pregnant again. Then just a few weeks later Sarah missed her period. It was the last thing they were thinking about and since they'd had such a hard time getting pregnant the first time Sarah hadn't even bothered with birth control after having Angel.

Now they were going to find out if it was a boy or a girl. This time they wanted to know. Would they be getting bunk beds or fixing the other room to be fit for a princess?

Sarah poured herself coffee when her phone went off-a text.

Angel walked up from behind her with little Angel in his arms and kissed her temple. Little Angel reached out and grabbed her face with his little hands. She leaned in so he could give her a big sloppy kiss on the forehead.

"Who's that, Syd?" Angel glanced at her phone. "Tell him the Cardinals are going down!"

"Ouww!" Little Angel mimicked his daddy.

"Yeah, tell 'em, son. Chargers are gonna beat their ass. They're going down!"

"Ouuww!"

Sarah laughed texting Sydney back. "I'll let him know," she said giggling.

Ever since they had the baby Syd started coming around more. He and Angel had sort of bonded during football season last year. Angel had even texted Syd a few times. Of course it was only when Syd's team was down or lost to say, "In your face!" or some other cruder remark. They weren't exactly tight and they probably never would be but this was a start and he knew it made Sarah happy.

After the ordeal they'd gone through with her first delivery, both of them couldn't really care less about the new baby's gender. All they wanted was healthy and no drama. Angel had admitted to wanting a little girl next but agreed with Sarah that healthy was first priority.

Their ride home from the doctor visit was a quiet one. The baby was sound asleep in the back seat. Angel reached for Sarah's hand. "What are you thinking about?"

Sarah rested her head against the back of her seat and turned to him. "How blessed I am."

"How blessed we are."

She smiled. "Growing up I could only imagine what it was like to have any siblings. Valerie said the same thing the other day and now we're both part of this huge family that seems to be growing by the minute. I can hardly believe I'll soon have two little boys to chase after."

"Is that gonna be it? Are we done after this?"

Sarah lifted her head away from the seat and turned her body toward him. "I thought you said you wanted a little princess."

"I already have one." He smiled.

Sarah smiled. "So you wouldn't wanna try for a girl?"

Since they were at a train crossing. Angel turned to her squeezing her hand. "Sweetheart, don't get me wrong. I love my son. Hell I'd give my life for him. And that other little guy on the way I already love him, too. But make no mistake about it. The day I married you my life was complete. Anything else now is just icing. Whatever makes you happy, baby. That's all I want."

Sarah smiled the tears filling her eyes and she kissed his hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too, baby."

More than she'd ever know.

Acknowledgments.

First of all I'd like to thank all my wonderful readers from the bottom of my heart. As an author who just wanted to get her stories out there to be read, the response to my series has far exceeded even my wildest expectations. You all have made my dream of being able to do what I love for living possible. I only hope that you continue to enjoy all of my upcoming stories. And for those of you wondering if this is the end of the Morenos, having read Sal's story I'm sure you know the answer to that. ;) 2012 will be an exciting year!

As always I have to thank my family. My husband Mark and my two teens Marky and Megan who have now become accustomed to seeing mom on many days in her pajamas the entire day in front of the computer. I thank you for your patience, understanding and trust that while it may look at times like I'm just facebooking, emailing or tweeting this is all part of my job!

I would also like to thank my critique partner, Tammara Webber who at this point I don't know what I'd do without. Your input, praise and highly constructive criticism are invaluable tools that I've now come to rely on. I struck gold meeting you and I look forward to continuing to work with you in all my as well as your future projects. =) My newest beta reader Judy DeVries who began simply as a reader who enjoyed my books and has helped me enormously in finding discrepancies galore! LOL I've been so blessed to meet some of the sweetest people so willing to help during this journey of mine and Judy is just one of the newest!