April 8th, 20 weeks

"Happy halfway mark, Jessica!" Her doctor says walking into the room. Jessica sat up and waved hello.

Jessica gives her a soft smile and places her hand on her stomach that was now beginning to show. This was Jessica's first appointment in a few weeks now that her doctor had weened her off of weekly visits. Jessica's anxiety concerning the baby's health had diminished. She was feeling a lot more confident and happy. She was embracing her pregnancy.

"How are you feeling?" She says

"I'm feeling okay. I'm noticing lots of changes, but nothing big."

"Let me guess, trouble sleeping?" She asks

Jessica sighs in exhaustion "Yes"

"She's been snoring though. I can hear her through the walls!" Dorthy says in a joking way

Jessica's face becomes red. She laughs it off.

"Well, that's normal.... would you like to find out the gender today?" She says

Jessica shakes her head. "No, not yet. I'm waiting for my mother in law to come into town." She says

By this time everyone knew about Jessica's pregnancy. To be expected, everyone was over the moon excited. It was very emotional, especially for Zoe. She decided to come into town very soon. Jessica wanted her mother and Zoe to be with her when she found out the gender.

"Alright. Have you felt any kicks yet?" The doctor asks

Jessica shakes her head "No"

The doctor was quite for a moment. She didn't say anything, but Jessica quickly became nervous.

"Is that bad? Should I be feeling kicks?" Jessica says

The doctor quickly calms Jessica down, "No, every baby is different." Her doctor reassures her

"Yes, it's fine, Jessica. You'll feel the little peanut kick sooner than later." Dorthy smiles

//-//

After Jessica's appointment Dorthy treated her to lunch in the city. Jessica was still a bit shaken up, worrying about her baby not kicking yet. She searched and searched on her phone to see if it was normal. But everything told her it was normal. Still, nothing put her mind at rest.

While they were eating Dorthy caught Jessica poking her small belly then pressing her hand onto it, hoping for a single feeling it kick.

Dorthy couldn't help but chuckle. "Jessica, darling, your baby will kick soon. Don't poke! What if it's sleeping?" Dorthy smiles

Jessica puts her hands to her side and sighs. "I can't help but worry." She says softly

"I Can't stress enough how fine your baby is. You worry too much."

"I have a right to." She says

She nods slowly, and her smile fades. "I know" she mumbles

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't worry, you're right."

"Don't apologize, Jess. I get it. I think out of all your siblings, you were the one who gave me the most scares when I was pregnant." She chuckles

"Really? How so?"

"You didn't kick for months. Your father kept telling me everything was fine but it took We a while to believe him. Finally, you did. I remember sitting at work, I felt a kick, and I started to cry. I had been sick to my stomach for months because with your sisters, I always felt little flutters earlier on. Everyone is different. Maybe your little baby takes after you? Always giving mom a scare!" Dorthy chuckles

Jessica looks down then back up and Dorthy. "Mom, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while." She says

"What is it, love?"

"I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. Over the last few months you've dropped everything to be there for me. Thank you for everything you've done. I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for you."

"Aww, Jessica! I'm your mother, you don't need to thank me. I'm proud of how far you've come Jessica. Things haven't been easy but you're so strong, Jess."

//-//

A week later-

"Hey Jessica, how are you today?" Heather says walking into the conference room with Jessica.

"I'm doing well, just a little exhausted today." She says

"It's only the beginning! It looks like it's growing!" She exclaims looking at her stomach

"Yes, and quickly." She says sitting down.

Heather sits down next to her and all of her co-workers slowly begin to come into the room.

As the meeting is about to begin Sam comes running in. He had been late. Jessica didn't make any eye contact with him until she realized that he was sitting next to her. There weren't any more chairs left.

Jessica ignored his presence and payed attention during the meeting.

//-//

Time went on and Jessica had sat in her chair, taking notes.

"How long is this meeting?" Heather whispers

Jessica shrugs her shoulder "I don't-"

Then, Jessica stops. She felt a weird feeling in her stomach. It was out of the ordinary. But heather quickly noticed that something happened.

"Jessica, are you okay?" She asks

Jessica sits there with wide eyes and moves her hands around her stomach.

Then, she feels it again. By this time a few people sitting around Jessica had heard Heather ask if everything was okay, so their attention was focused on Jessica. Sam's was as well.

"Jess?" Sam asks

She quickly grabs heathers hand and places it on her stomach.

"Heather, does that feel like a kick?" She asks

Heather was a mom herself. Jessica thought she'd be able to make out the feeling.

They wait a moment then heather feels a kick. "Yeah, it feels like one to me. A strong one."

Jessica sighs with relief and starts to smile. This feeling was so incredible. She loved every second of it. Before Jessica knew it she began to cry.

"My baby is kicking!" She cries

Heather nods "Yes it is!" She giggles

"I've never felt this before! I've been waiting for the baby to kick all week!"

Now, the meeting had stopped, everyone was looking at Jessica.

"Aww, Jessica! Isn't it incredible?" Heather says

"Yes! It is!" She says as she cries tears of joy.

//-//

Immediately after work Jessica drove home to tell Dorthy. She was over the moon excited. The kicking had been going on for a while. Jessica couldn't take her hands off her stomach.

"Mom! Mom!" Jessica says running into the apartment.

Dorthy was on the couch reading. She jumped up, startled, when Jessica came in.

"What is it, is everything okay?" She asks running over to Jessica.

Jessica hand both hands on her stomach. She grabbed her mother's hand and placed it where one of them used to be.

Dorthy immediately felt a kick. "Oh Jessica, the baby is kicking!" She says softly

Jessica tears up "Finally, it's kicking." She whispers

"Good, strong kicks too."

"I did what you did while I was at work... I started to cry." Jessica giggles

"Jess!" Dorthy chuckles giving her a hug.

"This is the best feeling ever... I didn't think it would be this amazing."

//-//

Only a few days later Zoe had landed in New York. Jessica was excited to see her, it had been a while since they last saw each other.

When Zoe saw Jessica at the airport she immediately began to cry. She held Jessica in her arms for a bit when they first reunited.

Jessica was luckily able to get back to the doctors so they could find out the gender.

No one could wait another minute they were so excited. Directly after picking Zoe up from the airport they drove to the office.

"Jessica, I'm so excited!" Zoe says

Jessica nods "I am too."

Both mothers held onto one of Jessica's hands As the doctor put the gel on and began.

"Let's hope your baby isn't crossing their legs!" She says moving the doppler around.

"Let's hope."

"What do you all think it is? I'll tell you if you're right or wrong." The doctor smirks

Jessica looks up at Dorthy and Zoe and smiles. "I'm not sure... a boy maybe?" Jessica says

"I say girl." Dorthy says

"Me too" Zoe agrees

"Well, Mom, you're wrong. Grandmas, you're right. It is in fact a girl." The doctor says happily

"You're kidding!" Dorthy says

"Oh my god... I'm having a girl!" Jessica cries

"Yes! You're having a girl! A little baby girl!" Zoe says jumping in the air

they both hug Jessica and cry. It was an emotional moment. Jessica wasn't just crying tears of joy, but tears of sadness. She only wished that Danny was here to experience this with her and celebrate.

"I'm so happy for you, Jessica! Everyone is going to be so excited!" Dorthy says

"Jessica, I know Danny is smiling right now." Zoe whispers to her

Jessica wipes her tears and looks up at the ceiling.

"I can only hope."

...

"We are having a baby girl, Danny." She says to herself

//-//