I notice that Scott is as white as a ghost. "Are you okay, Scott? You look pale."

Sam looks at Scott. "Come on, Scott. Sit down and take some deep breaths. Kendall is going to need you to be strong for her. Okay?"

"Okay. I can do this. It's my family, my wife, and my son. I'll be strong. I only need a minute."

Sam places his hand on Scott's shoulder, reassuringly squeezing it.

"I know you will, Scott," Sam comforts him.

Scott takes a deep breath and gulps his coffee.

"Sam..." I say.

"Yes?"

I motion my head towards the monitor. I see that Kendall's contractions are coming faster.

"Ahhh... yes. We need to check Kendall. Let me call the nurse." Sam smiles.

I speak up, "I'm a nurse."

"I guess that you qualify," he replies with a smirk.

I give him a dirty look. "You guess?"

"I'm kidding. Can you assist me here?" Sam requests.

"Of course," I reply.

I pull up Kendall's knees to give Sam the access he needs to check Kendall's progress.

"How is she, Doc?" Scott asks anxiously.

"She's doing well, Scott. She's ten cm dilated and ready to start pushing. Good call, Mallory." Sam winks at me, and I smile shyly at him.

"Scott, are you ready to welcome your son into the world?" I ask.

"I'm more than ready," he answers confidently, his color returning to his face

"Let's wake up, Mom. Mallory, can you hit the nurse's button, please," Sam requests.

"Sure." I press the button and help Scott wake Kendall.

"Baby, time to wake up. Baby Boy is ready to meet his momma." Scott gently shakes her.

I try to help. "Come on, Kendall. You don't want to miss this."

She stirs. "Mmmmm. Baby boy?"

Kendall's eyes slowly open. She looks from Scott's face to mine. It takes her a minute before she gets her bearings.

"He's ready to meet us, Babe. It's time to push, right Doc?" Scott looks at Sam for confirmation.

Kendall also looks at Sam. His mask is on, and the attending nurse is standing by to assist.

"Yep. It's time to push, Kendall. Scott and Mallory, please hold Kendall's knees for her," he instructs us.

I get on one side, grab her leg right under the knee, and pull it up. Scott is on the other side, mirroring my actions.

Sam looks at Kendall. "Okay, Kendall. I'll let you know when the next contraction comes. When I say go, I need you to bear down and push with all your might."

That's just what Kendall did. She was a trouper and pushed for over forty-five minutes, never giving up, as Sam coached her through each contraction, encouraging her calmly.

"You're doing great, Kendall. Give me one more push, and Baby Boy will be here. Ready, here we go, 1, 2, 3, push Kendall. That's a girl; here come his shoulders. Once they get through, the rest of him will follow quickly. Push..."

"I am pushing, Doc!" Kendall screams.

"I know you are, Kendall, just a little more. There we go, Baby Boy. Here we are.." Sam says in a soothing voice.

I'm so impressed as I watch Sam work.

Scott and I look over Kendall's legs and see a beautiful baby boy. Sam brings him out the rest of the way, and we hear the most beautiful sound in the world. Baby Boy's crying.

Sam asks Scott, "Scott, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"

Scott looked at Kendall, and she nodded encouragingly. "Okay."

Sam hands him the surgical scissors and points to where to cut the cord.

"Good job, Dad."

Sam hands the baby to the attending nurse, and she places him on Kendall's bare chest. The nurse cleans him off, and Kendall and Scott give each other the most loving look.

Scott smiles at me. "Come on, Auntie Mal, come see your nephew."

I walk up to the head of the bed. "Awww... he's perfect, Ken."

Kendall smiles up at me. "Auntie Mal, meet Benjamin Scott Denson."

My hand goes to my chest, and tears fill my eyes, thrilled that they named their son after my Ben. I place my hand on Benjamin's warm head. "Hey, Benjamin, I'm your Auntie Mal."

The nurse remarks, "Okay, Mom and Dad. I need to take little Benjamin to give him his newborn assessment. Come on, big guy. Dad, would you like to join me?"

"Yes, please." He gives Kendall a sweet kiss on her forehead and then follows the nurse to the bassinet.

I take Kendall's hand. "You did it, Ken!"

"I did. Didn't I?" Kendall says proudly.

I kiss her forehead. "You sure did."

"Okay, Kendall. I had to repair a little tear, but everything looks perfect." Sam informs Kendall.

She smiles at Sam. "Thank you, Doc."

"You're very welcome, and congratulations on your beautiful baby boy," Sam says before he gets up and goes over to the sink.

He removes his gloves and places them in the trash. While he's washing his hands, I walk over and put my hand on his back.

He looks over at me and grins.

"Thank you for everything. Your calmness and soft-spoken words to Kendall during the birth were incredible," I say, smiling widely.

"She did all of the work. I just had to catch the little guy," he replies coyly.

"You know that's not true." I grin.

I can't help but beam with the happiness and joy I'm feeling at this fantastic moment.

"Here we go. May I introduce Mr. Benjamin Scott Denson, who weighs 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 21 inches long. He passed his assessment with flying colors," Scott says like the proud papa he is.

I smile at him. Sam steps forward as Scott places Benjamin in Kendall's waiting arms.

He shakes Scott's hand. "Congratulations on your son, Scott."

Scott responds, "Thank you for everything. I owe you big time, man."

Sam smiles. "Let's hope you still like me after you get my bill."

They share a hearty laugh.

"Oh, and it won't be on the bill, but add a beer to it."

Scott doesn't hesitate. "You got it."

Sam pats Scott on the back. "Alright, I'll leave you all to bond with the new addition to your family."

Sam's eyes meet mine. He smiles sweetly before leaving the room.

I knock on Kendall's front door before opening it and going inside. She has been home with Benny Boy (Benjamin's new nickname) for two weeks. I've been impressed by how quickly Kendall has adapted to motherhood.

"Hello!" I call out.

"In here," Kendall answers.

I go into the kitchen and see Kendall getting things out for the lunch I just brought to share with her. Benny Boy is sleeping in a carrier in front of her.

"Hey," I quietly say so I don't wake him.

Kendall greets me with a warm hug. "Hi. Thank you for bringing lunch," she says appreciatively.

"It's my pleasure." I take out the lunch I prepared for us: Turkey and Swiss on wheat, potato salad, and fruit salad.

"There are no onions in the potato salad," I tell Kendall. She's nursing, and onions don't sit well in Benny's tummy.

"Yum. You are the best!" Kendall licks her lips.

"Awe, I bet you say that to everyone who delivers you food." I grin.

"You're right. I do," she admits.

We fill our plates and begin to eat.

"So, I've started looking at places. I think it's time to move out of my parents' house," I inform Kendall.

"I think that's a great idea." She gently places her hand on mine and smiles.

"Yeah, I think so too. Sam had mentioned a place near his home for sale," I let inform her.

"Really?" she responds.

"Yep." I grin.

"How do you feel about being so close to Sam?" she asks.

I'm baffled by her question. "I feel fine. Why wouldn't I?"

Kendall takes a moment before answering. I know her so well. She's weighing her words, which is never a good thing.

She's about to be brutally honest with me. "Mallory, you know Sam's in love with you, right?"

What!?! I was not expecting that little bomb she just dropped onto my lap.

"We're friends, Kendall. Quit reading so much into it," I shoot back, feeling the anger build up in my chest.

I bite my sandwich to keep myself from saying something I'll regret later.

"Mal, Babe, the man is 100% head over heels, in complete love with you."

I cover my ears. "Please stop, Kendall. I don't want to hear this. You're ruining everything. I can't see Sam in that way. I just can't."

"Mal." She reaches over and moves my hand away from my ear. "Don't let the grief of losing Ben blind you to what you could have with Sam."

"Are you kidding me, Kendall? Ben has only been gone for ten months. What the hell?" I stand up, grab my purse, and rush out of the house to my car. I can hear Kendall calling my name. Nope, nope, nope— Damn you, Kendall.