6 am-

As soon as Jessica's water broke Dorthy drove her to the hospital. She was four centimeters dilated when she arrived. They checked her in and put her in a room. Her doctor arrived shortly after she did and checked up on her ever few hours. Her contractions were intense, but she knew it would only get worse. For now, until they became more regular, Jessica tried to rest. While she was resting Dorthy wanted to call everyone to let them know.

"Guess who's coming today!" Dorthy says

"No way... she's in labor?" Jane exclaims

"Yes! Jessie is having a baby!"

"Oh my gosh! Should I come? I can't believe this. I thought this baby would never come."
Jane says with excitement

Dorthy was so excited she couldn't hold it in. She was screaming inside. "Wait Just a bit. I'll call you when she gets her epidural." Dorthy says

"She is doing it naturally though."

"Jane, Jessica will not be able to do this naturally. I'm just waiting for her to give the doctors to go head." She says with a chuckle

"How is she?"

"Miserable."

"Poor Jessie! Send her my best and keep us updated!"

"I will!"

//-//

"Jess, I brought you some more ice chips." Dorthy says

Jessica was hunched over on the bed swaying her hips back and forth. She looks up and gives Dorthy a death stare.

Her mother widens her eyes and walks to her side. "You're doing really well, Jessica."

Jessica groans and tries to push through the pain. It was ten now, and she was only four centimeters dilated.

When the contraction was over Jessica got back into bed and began to cry.

"Jessica, what's wrong?" Dorthy asks

"I can't do it mom... I have to get the epidural." Jessica had her heart set on having a natural birth, no drugs, nothing. But after being in labor for only a few hours, she realized she wouldn't be able to take it. She knew the after math would be enough pain, so she wanted to save herself from some of it. She felt so guilt for giving in, but it was only a matter of time.

"Okay, Baby... that's fine. But you should wait a bit, okay?"

"How long should I wait?"

"Until you really can't take it anymore. Once you get it you can't move."

Jessica listens to her mother. "Okay... I'll wait."

"You're so strong, Jessica. I know you can do this."

"Thank you." She mumbles

//-//

Around lunch time Jessica was still going strong without the epidural. Her contractions were becoming more intense. She tried her hardest to keep on going until she knew she couldn't do it any longer.

Jessica wanted to see her family so of course they got there as soon as possible to be with her. They had been waiting all day for a call. Ann wasn't able to come until later in the day because school just started, but Jane and Sarah made their way over.

When they arrive Jessica was just recovering from another contraction. She had been yelling and screaming. Tears rolled down her face. She was slowly falling apart. She had so much swimming through her mind that she was too overwhelmed. She didn't tell anyone how she really felt. She just tried to get through it.

Dorthy helps her back into bed and calms her down. She puts a cold towel on her forehead and gives her more ice.

Sarah and Jane come in happy and giddy but Jessica wasn't feeling it.

"Hey baby mama! Are you ready?" Jane asks

Jessica sighs and throws her head back.

"She's still going. Six centimeters!" Dorthy exclaims

"Geez, for this baby being so late, she's moving fast now!" Sarah says

"Thanks for coming, guys." Jessica says

"Of course! George would have come, but I don't think this is his thing." Jane says

Jessica giggles then checks her phone. "Zoe is suppose to be here but she was in Stillwater. She caught in traffic. I hope she gets here soon."

"Don't worry, she'll be here." Dorthy reassures her

It was really important for Zoe to be there. Jessica wanted her mother and Danny's mother there when the baby was born. They were the only two that would be aloud in during the birth. Jessica was starting to think she wouldn't be able to make it in time. She was progressing quickly.

//-//

Around two Jessica decided to get the epidural. She was still six centimeters, but was too drained to keep going.

Her doctor came in to begin.

Jessica leaned over and Dorthy held her as they began.

"It will be real quick Jessica. A little pinch then you won't feel a thing." The doctor says

Jessica breathes heavily in her mother's arms. The anticipation was killing her.

"It's okay... you got this." Dorthy says to her.

Jessica feels the pinch and holds onto Dorthy tight until it's over.

It a matter of minutes it was all done. They nurses helped Jessica into bed and made sure she was comfortable.

A few contractions passed. Jessica watched the monitor and chuckles.

"Look, another! I can't feel a thing!" Jessica says

"Feeling better?"

Jessica looks down at her stomach and nods. "Yes... I feel guilty not being able to push through it, but I couldn't..."

"And that's perfectly fine, love. Mommy and baby are doing great. That's all that matters."

Jessica looks around then back at her mother. "Nothing feels right." She says randomly. Jessica had been holding in so many feelings and they were just now starting to come out.

"How come?" She says

"I should have my husband here... he should be here with me, waiting to meet his daughter. I don't know how I'm going to feel when she's born. I'll be holding her and getting to see her for the first time. He won't be here to see any of it. I'm just so scared. In the beginning I was, then it got better and things were falling into place. But I'm back at square one. I'm scared to death about having her. I'm going to be doing it without him."

"Don't ever think he's not here. He's always by your side, Jessie. He's your guardian angel. You'll never be alone. When you meet her he'll be meeting her as well."

Dorthy hugs Jessica tightly as she cries into her arms. The moment was here. Jessica was in labor and Hours away from meeting her baby, without Danny. Though today was going to be a beautiful day, it was also going to be heartbreaking. Jessica was beginning to have so many doubts.

//-//

For a while Jane and Sarah waited in the waiting room. Ann arrives around four. Jessica was resting so they wanted to let her have some quite time. They all sensed that Jessica was going through a lot emotionally and it was best to leave her with Dorthy.

Ann was later than expected because she needed to get a babysitter. Now that she was her she was hysterical. She couldn't believe the baby was finally coming.

"Is the baby here yet?" She says running to Jane and Sarah

They shake their heads. "No, she was progressing pretty quick in the beginning but now she's stuck."

"How far?" Ann says sitting down

"Eight." Sarah adds

"So she's pretty close!"

They both nod then sigh with exhaustion. They had been there most of the day. Of course they had no plan of leaving.

"We are all ready for this baby to come. She's kept us waiting too long." Jane huffs

"Jessie is having a baby! Ahhh!" Ann says clapping her hands

Then Dorthy comes out to see everyone. Jessica was asleep so she thought she'd update everyone.

"No baby?" Jane asks

Dorthy shakes her head. "Nope. Maybe she'll progress during her nap." Dorthy chuckles

She sits down in a chair and slouches. She rubs her temples and yawns.

"Maybe you need a nap too." Ann says

"I've been here for twelve hours." Dorthy chuckles

"Is Jessica doing okay? She seemed a bit... I don't know... off." Sarah asks

"She's really missing Danny right now. I think it's hard not having him."

They all become sad thinking about Danny's absence.

"I can't imagine how I would have felt if jimmy wasn't there for the kids births... gosh I feel terrible."

"It must be hard for her." Sarah says

"It is... but I think she'll be okay. Especially when the baby comes." Dorthy gives them a soft smile then stands back up.

"I'm going to go back with her in case she wakes up. I don't want her alone."

They all nod. "Okay, update us."

"We will. Hey, keep an eye out for Zoe. She still isn't here."

"Okay, no problem."

//-//

Seven-

"Jessica, you are at exactly ten centimeters. Are you ready to start pushing?" The doctor says looking at her with wide eyes.

Inside Jessica wanted to scream in panic. This was the moment she had been preparing for for months. It was here now. None of it felt real. Jessica didn't feel ready what so ever.

Jessica didn't answer. She just looked at her mother then back at the doctor.

"I don't think I'm ready..." she says with hesitation

"Of course you are, Jessica. You are more than ready." Dorthy says holding her hand.

"Your baby is ready to see you, ma'am. Aren't you ready to see her?" A nurse asks

The doctor knew exactly what was going on. He excused the nurses so they could begin preparing the room for delivery.

"You take a few minutes to take some breaths and relax. We'll start getting ready. Okay, Jessica?" The doctor says with a smile

Jessica holds back her tears and nods.

"Jessica, listen to me... you can't panic right now. Everything is going to be just fine. You need to keep telling yourself that. You're so close to meeting her, honey. You're going to be a mommy." Dorthy says with tears rolling down her cheek

Jessica leans onto her mother and cries. Her body was trembling with fear. She wanted Danny so badly.

//-//

Meanwhile in the waiting room-

"Oh my god! She's ten centimeters! She's getting ready to push soon!" Jane says holding up her phone.

They all begin to scream and jump in the air.

"Yes! Finally! She's coming!"

//-//

In the room-

"Jessica I just for off the phone with Zoe. She's too far... the traffic is terrible." Dorthy says with discouragement.

Zoe had tried her hardest to make it to Jessica before delivery but wasn't able too. It would be another few hours.

Jessica threw her head back and began to cry, again. "Danny would want her here! I need her here too!" Jessica yells

"She'll be here soon Jessica. But we can't wait for her. Your little girl is ready, and she's ready now." Dorthy says sternly

"... Jessica, breathe honey!" Dorthy says holding onto her hand.

The nurses grab Jessica's legs and hold them back as she gets into position. Everyone was ready. Now they were just waiting on Jessica.

The doctor goes over how everything will go. They do a few practice rounds before her next contraction. They were very close.

Dorthy held back one of Jessica's legs with one arm and held her hand with the other. Jessica didn't let go of her mother's hand. She held onto it with everything she had.

"Okay Jessica, you have a contraction coming. Just like we practiced. I'm going to count to ten and you are going to push. When I tell you to stop, you need to stop." The doctor says

Jessica closes her eyes and bites her lip. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks. She tried her hardest to breathe but it felt impossible.

"On three. One... two... three... push Jessica."

Jessica leans over and pushes as hard as she can.

"Eight... nine... ten."

Jessica stops and let's out a deep breath.

"Beautiful, Jessica. We are going to do that again, are you ready?"

He counts to three and Jessica begins to push again.

This goes on for another ten minutes.

"I can't!" Jessica yells

"Yes you can! Just like before, push!" The doctor says

"Fuck, listen to me! I can't!" Jessica screams

"Jessica, you did it before. You're so much closer!" Dorthy says

"You just need to breathe. It's almost over." The nurse says

Then, something hits Jessica. She goes Into complete panic mode. Jessica pulls her legs away from everyone and closes them. They were shocked that she did so. She was so close and wasting so much time.

"I can't have this baby! She won't have a dad! No one understands. He should be here. I can't do this without Danny! Mom, I need Danny!" Jessica sobs

The doctors stop what they are doing. They don't even try to fight with her.

Dorthy's heart broke for her daughter. She could see in her eyes how scared she was.

"Jessica... I'm sorry but he isn't here... you can't have Danny."

Jessica throws her head back and cries. "Why did he leave me like this? None of this is fair... he needs to be here. This is his daughter."

"If I could bring him back here I would, Jessica. I'd trade my life to bring him back... but, god has different plans for you. You need to think about your baby girl that is so close to being in your arms. She's ready to meet her mommy... if you keep doing this you could put the both of you at risk... please Jessica, just push. I know you can do it. So does Danny... so does your dad... they're all cheering you on. Everyone is ready, Jess. You can't be scared anymore. There is nothing to be scared of. You'll never be alone."

As Dorthy calms Jessica down everyone slowly gets back into position. They separate her legs slowly and everyone takes a hold of her, including Dorthy.

Jessica cries softly

"You're so close, Jessica... do this for Danny. Push for him. He's waiting to see his baby too."

Jessica closes her eyes and puts her mother's hand on her cheek. She looks around then back at her doctor.

"Jessica, it's all okay... your baby is right here.  Now, I need a few more good pushes. Can you do that for me?" He asks softly

Jessica bites her lip and nods. "Yes" She mumbles

"You got this, honey." A nurse says

When the doctor gives her the go head, she begins to push again.

//-//

"Alright Jessica, this is it! One last big push!" The doctor yells

Jessica pushes as hard as she can. She leans forward and screams as her daughter makes her way into this world. Jessica was in pain, but it was all worth it.

"Come on, Jessica!" Dorthy says

As Jessica feels her daughter she puts her hands down by where the doctors are. She takes one last push then holds her baby in her hands. The doctor assist her as the baby comes out then puts the baby on Jessica's bare chest.

Jessica stops and leans back. She breathes heavily then opens her eyes. Her eyes directly hit her beautiful baby girl who was taking her first breaths on earth. Jessica cried with tears of joy. She had come all this way and now she had her daughter in her arms. Everything was worth it, and she wouldn't have changed a thing. Jessica fell in love instantly. She didn't think it was possible to fall in love with someone so quickly. Her heart was full in only a matter of seconds.

The nurses cleaned the baby off in Jessica's arms. Jessica just kept staring at her. She was lost for words. Everyone in the room was in tears as well.

"Look at your little girl, Jessica. Look how beautiful she is...."

Jessica caresses the baby's chubby cheek and smiles. She kisses the top of her head over and over.

"I love you so much... you're my world." Jessica whispers

She then looks up to the sky and whispers to herself. "Thank you, Danny."

//-//