CHAPTER TWELVE
HOME

The next morning, I woke up beside Christopher with a wide smile on my face, particularly when I turned to see him still fast asleep. Just as I was about to drift back off, I heard a knock at the door before it swung open.

"Hey, Luke," I said, smiling at the sight of him standing in the doorway.

A groan escaped from Christopher beside me as he stirred awake. "I was wondering if we're still baking for the bake sale after school," Luke asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

"Of course! Is anyone else awake?" I asked, glancing at Christopher, who was rubbing his eyes in an attempt to wake himself up.

"No," Luke replied, still standing there nervously.

"Go and wake them up, and I'll make everyone pancakes," I said, which instantly caused a grin to spread across Luke's face.

"Okay!" Luke exclaimed, before dashing out of the room, accidentally slamming the door behind him. The noise made Christopher groan again, and he buried his head under his pillow.

"Morning," I said softly, crawling over to him. I gently removed the pillow from his face and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

Before I knew it, he had rolled on top of me. "We can't do this now," I said, laughing softly. "The kids are awake, and I need to go make breakfast."

He kissed my neck again. "Nope," he muttered, clearly not interested in getting up.

I shoved him off me. "Get up!" I said firmly.

Christopher rolled over, clearly hoping to drift back to sleep. But I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and when I returned to the bedroom, he was fast asleep again.

"Christopher," I said, standing with my hands on my hips. When he didn't stir, I walked over and pulled the blanket off him.

"Come on, I'm not dealing with the kids by myself," I added, crossing my arms.

He finally opened his eyes and groggily pulled himself out of bed. "Thank you," he muttered, still half-asleep. "I'll see you downstairs."

I smiled at him as I opened the door and made my way onto the landing, where the kids were already heading downstairs.

"Where's Lee Henry?" I asked, glancing at Luke.

"Still in bed. I tried," Luke replied with a shrug before continuing downstairs.

I walked down the corridor and opened Lee Henry's door. "Lee Henry, I'm making breakfast, so you need to get up and have something before school," I said, standing in the doorway.

"Ugh," he groaned, rolling over in bed.

"You have five minutes. Then I'm coming back," I said, closing the door behind me before heading downstairs to find the kids gathered at the kitchen counter, waiting for breakfast.

"Have you all brushed your teeth?" I asked.

"Yes!" they all chorused together.

I walked to the fridge, gathering the ingredients for pancakes, as well as juice and milk for the kids. As I began making the pancakes, Lee Henry eventually stumbled into the kitchen.

"Sleeping beauty finally woke up," I said, which made the kids chuckle. Lee Henry sat down at the table with the others.

As I plated up the blueberry pancakes and started on the next batch, Christopher walked in, his smile warm.

"Smells good," he said, walking over and planting a kiss on my cheek.

I continued cooking, placing pancakes on each of the kids' plates. But as I stood there, I knew I had to tell Christopher about my father before it came out on its own. It had been two months since my father had visited me at the hospital and revealed that he knew he was my father. What surprised me most was that he hadn't told anyone—something I did respect about him.

The only person who knew was Connor, so I knew I had to talk to him before I told Christopher.

"Right, kids, let's get going," Christopher said, snapping me out of my thoughts. We quickly gathered the children and drove them to school before he dropped me off at Med.

"See you later," I said, leaning in to place a quick kiss on his cheek before grabbing my bag and getting out of the car.

As I walked up to the hospital, I spotted Connor waiting for me outside.

"Hey," he greeted me, but I could tell something was bothering me.

"You okay?" he asked, concern evident on his face.

"I haven't told Christopher yet who my dad is," I admitted, the weight of it heavy on my chest.

Connor's eyes widened, and I continued, "I'm not sure what to do. Hank knows I'm his daughter, but I don't know how Christopher will react. It feels like such a huge secret to keep from someone I love."

"I think you should tell him," Connor said thoughtfully. "And I think Herrmann will understand, because, like you said, it's a big secret to keep, and Hank doesn't exactly have the best reputation."

His words made me laugh a little, the tension easing slightly.

"Come on," Connor said, grabbing my hand and leading me inside. We changed into our uniforms before heading out to the ER.

"I'm going to tell him," I said, determination creeping into my voice. "It's the right thing to do. I don't want to lie to him because I love him so much."

Connor smiled, his eyes warm. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that. You know I love you like family, and seeing you with someone who loves you so much—well, it makes me happy for you both."

I punched him lightly in the arm, rolling my eyes. "No more soppiness! We have people to save," I said, making us both laugh before we headed out to the ER.

I smiled back, appreciating her warmth. "Thanks, Nat. It's been... different, but in a good way. I wasn't sure how things would go at first."

She raised an eyebrow. "Different, huh? How so?"

I chuckled, leaning back against the counter. "I suppose it's just learning to share space with someone. You know, figuring out the little quirks that drive you mad and the ones that make it all work. But overall, it's been pretty smooth."

Nat laughed. "I think that's the secret to making a relationship last. Knowing how to handle the quirks."

"Yeah," I agreed, glancing over at the kettle as it began to whistle. "It's all about balance, isn't it? Understanding each other's needs without smothering them."

She nodded thoughtfully, her eyes twinkling. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out. I'd say you're ready for the next step."

I rolled my eyes. "One step at a time, Nat. I'm not rushing anything."

She grinned. "Fair enough. But don't leave it too long. You deserve all the happiness, and I think you've found someone who gets you."

I felt my cheeks flush slightly at her words. "Thanks," I said quietly. "That means a lot."

Just as Nat took a sip of her coffee, the door to the breakroom swung open and in strode Maggie, the charge nurse, her usual confident stride commanding the space.

"What's all this talk of weddings?" Maggie asked, raising an eyebrow and casting a playful glance over at Nat.

"Oh, you know," Nat said with a smirk, "just convincing Mel that marriage is practically around the corner."

I shook my head, laughing. "That's not quite how it went. I was just saying it's a bit early to be thinking about marriage after only a few months of living together."

Maggie's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Only a few months, huh? You know, some people get hitched after a few weeks and make it work. I'm not saying you should, but it's not unheard of."

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the counter. "No rush, Maggie. I'm perfectly content just enjoying the ride."

"Enjoying the ride?" Nat teased, her voice playful. "You sound like you're planning to take the scenic route."

I chuckled. "Maybe I am. After all, the view's pretty great so far."

Maggie leaned back against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "Listen, I've seen couples get it right, and I've seen them get it wrong. And it all comes down to knowing each other's limits and respecting them. But if you're really happy, who's to say?"

Nat shot Maggie a look. "Careful, Maggie, you're starting to sound like a relationship expert now."

Maggie winked. "I'm just saying, you can't ignore the signs. If mels already considering it, it's a good sign. Maybe a little push from me wouldn't hurt."

I raised my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. No need for a full-on intervention just yet."

Maggie smirked. "You'll thank me when you finally do decide to tie the knot. I'll be here with the champagne."

Nat laughed. "You know, I think you're getting ahead of yourself, Maggie. We're still in the 'living together' phase."

"Hey," Maggie said with a grin, "I'm just giving you a little nudge. When you're ready, I'll be first in line to toast to it."

I shook my head, smiling. "You two are relentless."

Maggie patted me on the shoulder. "It's all out of love. And if it ever gets too much, just let me know. I'll talk you down. But, I'd say, enjoy that 'ride' a bit longer."

"Will do," I replied, laughing. "But, I think I'll keep my decisions to myself for now."

Nat nodded sagely. "That's probably the smartest move."

End Of Chapter 12