"Decide on a name yet?" 

I was so distracted watching Jackson and Ayden argue over when they thought the baby would be born that I didn't hear Nate's question. 

"Sorry what?"

Nate crossed his arms over his chest. "A name. Did you guys pick one yet? I mean, I know its a girl and all...but there are girl versions of my name." He grinned so wide I could almost see his wisdom teeth. If he had any. "We already got little Nate named after me. Feels right to have a girl named after me, too."

"Nate, there are no girl versions of your name." 

"Sure there are!"

"What are they then?" 

He scrunched up his face as he pondered my question. "Well, there's Natalya. Or...Nathan-ella."

I laughed and shook my head. "Okay, I'll admit that Natalya is a little close—and I mean very little—but Nathan-ella isn't a real name. And if I offer those up to Danielle, she's going to be pissed. And she'll ask me who suggested it." 

His eyes narrowed. "You would throw me under the but like that? I thought we were closer than that." 

"You know as well as I do that when it comes to these women, you would throw me under the bus if you had to with Karma." 

Nate winced and glanced towards the table where Karma was sitting with the girls. "Yeah. True. I love my woman, but she has a helluva temper." The bell attached to the front door of the bar chimed and Nate looked over my shoulder with a frown. "Uh, Ry, I think your dad's here." 

I turned towards the entrance. He was right. Damian Hale was here. 

"Hey, dad," I said in greeting, clapping him on the back when I met him halfway. "I'm glad you could make it." 

He arched a brow. "Worried I wouldn't show?" 

I shook my head. "No, dad. I just know how work can sometimes interfere with your personal life. It's happened to me plenty of times."

He smiled warmly. "I do have a meeting later, but I made time for this. I didn't want to miss it." He looked around the bar. "So where's the Lady of the Hour?"

I pointed to where Danielle was sitting with the girls. "Right over there." 

Dad and I walked over to the table. Nate had just stolen Lanie's pink pin when Danielle turned around, saw us, and jumped in her seat.

"Mr. Hale," she breathed. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." 

He chuckled and glanced from me back to her. "It's good to see you, Danielle. You're looking beautiful today." 

"Thank you. Would you like a plate? I can make one—"

"I can get it," he interrupted before handing her a gift bag. "This is for you."

"Thank you," she murmured when she took it. "I'll set it with the other presents."

"Can you open it now? I'm afraid I have a meeting I can't ignore and I would like to be here when you opened it." 

I had to admit that I was a little nervous about the gift. My dad wasn't the best gift giver after all. For my fifteenth birthday, he hired an accountant to teach me the world of financing.

Not really what you wanted at fifteen.

Danielle smiled up at him and set the bag on the table in front of her. "Of course I can open it now." 

She reached inside and pulled out the tissue paper before pulling out a small blue velvet box. At first I thought it was a bracelet or something for the baby once she got older.

Boy was I wrong.

When Danielle opened the box, our eyes met. She was even more shocked than I was.

My voice was barely audible. "Dad..."

"Mr. Hale, I can't accept this."

With emotion clearly overwhelming him as well, my dad cleared his throat.

"I want your daughter—my granddaughter—to have it." He looked over at me. "I know how close Everly and you were. And I know how much it affected you when she died. I know the chain is long, but I figured you can give it to your daughter at the right age. At the right time."

Danielle pulled the necklace out of the box and studied it for several moments.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she got to her feet. She walked right up to my dad and pulled him against her in a tight embrace.

"Thank you so much for this gift."

***

Once I finally got all the presents into our condo, I stopped to take a breath. I was pretty fit and worked out often, but carrying some of these gifts was a fucking chore. And the amount of them...Let's just say they wouldn't all fit in Danielle's Nissan Rogue. We also had to fill up Karma's Altima, too. 

Now they were scattered in our living room. So much for watching the game in here tomorrow. I was just going to have to go to Nate's to watch it. 

Even though all of this was a little overwhelming for me, it was still one of the best days of my life. And Danielle had an amazing time. I honestly haven't seen her as happy as she was today. I haven't ever been happier. 

Now if only I could get my mom and dad to get along.

Danielle's voice caught my attention as it drifted out of our bedroom. "Hey, babe?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Can you make me a sandwich?" 

A corner of my mouth lifted and I headed for the kitchen. "Of course. Tuna on rye?" 

It's what she's been craving lately. I'm just glad she's over the peanut butter and pineapple sandwiches she was making. I shuttered at the memory. 

"Yeah," she called. "Extra tuna this time!"

"You got it." 

I pulled the tuna out of the fridge and set two pieces of rye bread on a plate. just as I grabbed a bread knife from the drawer, my cell phone rang. Pulling it from my pocket I saw Jackson's name on the screen. I hit the accept button and positioned the phone between my ear and shoulder. 

"Hey, Jay."

"Ryan," he answered in greeting. "Just wanted to give you a ring to say once more that we had a great time. I'm really happy for you guys." 

"Thanks, Jackson."

"How's your better half faring after a day like today? Overwhelmed?" 

I snickered and spread some more tuna on the bread. "She's doing well actually. Probably better than me. I keep staring at the mountain of presents in our living room and I feel like I'm gonna throw up. And it's not because I'm not excited and grateful for the presents. It's—"

"Because you don't think you have enough space in your condo for them all." 

"Exactly!"

"I thought you two were looking for a house? Is that still not the plan?" 

"No, it is." I returned the tuna to the fridge and grabbed a napkin. "Its just...a lot. All of this is a lot. Honestly, the closer we get to her due date, the more real it's becoming."

"Which is bad?"

"Its a good thing," I murmured. "A very good thing. But I still have my...fears. Normal shit. I mean, this is going to change everything and its a huge responsibility." I sighed as I cut her sandwich in half. "I just want to be a good dad for my daughter."

"Hold on," Jackson said before telling Harper something. Most likely he covered the receiver of the phone with his hand because I had no idea what it was. Next thing I heard was the sound of their sliding door to their balcony opening and closing.

"Ry, you have nothing to worry about. I know you're worried about turning out like our dad, but you won't. You're a good husband, a great brother, and you'll be an even better father."

"Thanks, Jay. I appreciate it."

Danielle came put of our bedroom with a smile. "Is my food ready?"

"It sure is."

"Tell her I said hi," Jackson drawled.

When I relayed the message, she came around the counter and leaned forward to say into the receiver, "Hey back, Jackson!" She gave me a quick kiss before grabbing her sandwich. "This looks perfect."

"So do you." The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them. I forgot that Jackson was still—

"You are a total sap," my brother chortled.

Danielle on the other hand gave me a sultry look. "Keep saying stuff like that to me, Ryan Hale, and there will be something—"

She stopped abruptly and her face paled. She was unsteady on her feet. She reached for the counter just as I reached for her.

"Dani? What is it?"

She looked at me but couldn't seem to form words.

"Ryan? What's going on? Is everything alright?"

I couldn't seem to answer Jackson right now, either. I couldn't even hold onto my phone and it dropped to the floor. I barely caught Danielle when her eyes who started rolling to the back of her head and she passed out. My heart felt like it was going to explode when I landed on my knees with her in my arms.

"Baby? Wake up...come on..."

Jackson was still on the phone...I reached down and grabbed it.

"Jackson," I croaked. "Call...call 9-1-1. Now!"