Halloween.
33 weeks pregnant.

Jessica was putting away some new clothes they've received for baby girl. As of right now the nursery is a mixture of Simba's things and this new baby's.
Jessica wanted to keep a few of his decorations but still make it special for her baby girl.

As Jessica put away her clothes she came across his baby Simba outfit he would have worn on his first Halloween.

Tears immediately filled Jessica's eyes.
She placed a kiss on the outfit before holding it to her chest.

Jessica took a deep breath and said, "Happy Halloween, baby boy."

She then put it away and walked back to her room.

Once getting there Jessica took a deep breath and said, "Oh baby girl, you're making it hard for mama to get around! You're just so big already." Jessica says rubbing her stomach.

The baby responds with big kicks.

"Heh! You are so cute!
..Daddy and I need to figure out what your name is going to be, don't we?
You'll be here so soon, little one!"

Just then Jessica was interrupted.
"Mommy! I'm ready to go trick or treating with my baby brother!"

"Alright baby girl we're comin."

"Is Danny going to be there too?"

"Yep! It's the whole gang tonight." Jessica smiles.

"Yay!"

**

Soon the three of them met up with Sam, Megan and Landon. Sam and Danny weren't exactly close, but they both out their differences aside for Autumn.

"Jessica, I love your shirt!" Megan smiled.

"Oh thank you!" Jessica giggled.

"My mommy doesn't actually eat little kids, Megan." Autumn tells Megan.

"Oh okay, good!" She plays along. "I thought I was gonna have to hide Landon!"

"Noooo!" Autumn laughs.

**

Going from house to house was a bit difficult for Jessica, but seeing how happy Autumn was with her little brother made it all worthwhile.

As they were walking up to one of the homes, Jessica turned to the side and there he was.  A baby about Simba's age.  In his mother's arms wearing the costume her son was supposed to wear.

Jessica suddenly broke down in tears.

"Jessie, are you okay?" Sam asks.

"Simba." She points.

Danny looks at the baby then back at Jessica.
"Honey—"

"He's wearing his costume.. look at him!  He even looks like my Simba."

The baby turned to Jessica and smiled while waving his hands.

"Oh my gosh!  Hi.." Jessica smiled through her tears as she waved her hand.

She then walked over to the woman and said, "Your baby is so cute.. he looks so much like my son."

"Aw thank you!  Does he really?"

"Yes.. how old is he?"

"Six months next week."

"That's exactly how old my Simba will be.."

The woman gave Jessica a confused look.
Jessica was obviously heavily pregnant.  How could she possibly have a baby her son's age?

Jessica the slowly reached over and caressed the back of the baby's hand.

"My son was stillborn and.. your son looks just like him, I'm sorry if this is weird.. I just had to come over."

"No!  It's not a problem!  I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you.." Jessica said in a whisper.

Just then the baby reached for Jessica.

"He never reaches for anyone.  You must be special!" The woman smiled.

"Would you like to hold him?"

Jessica's eyes slightly widened. "Could I?"

"Sure!  You seem harmless." The woman smiled.

Jessica took the baby in her arms and he just laid on Jessica.  For a moment Jessica felt like this was real.  This was her baby Simba.  Tears fell and she never wanted to let go, but finally she did."

"Bye Bye, handsome."

"Andrew." The woman smiled. "His name is Andrew."

"Goodbye, Andrew."

The baby smiled and babbled to Jessica.

Jessica smiled then looked at the mother and said, "Thank you so much.  You have no idea how much that helped me."

"Of course!  Again, I am so sorry for you loss.. I can't imagine.... God bless you."

"Thank you.."

Obviously Jessica knew this wasn't her son.
But holding that little boy made her feel something so special.

***

One week later.

Jessica made Autumn's favorite for dinner.  She also had a cake made in honor of baby Simba's half birthday.

"This is so cool, mommy!  Simba's eating lots of cake in Heaven, I just know it!"

"I'm sure he is, baby girl." Jessica smiles.
"It's crazy to think that last year he was in my tummy." Jessica says looking down with her hand on her bump.

"And now baby sister is in your tummy!"

"I know!  Mommy's just constantly pregnant!" She giggles.

Just then Danny walks in.
"Danny, Mommy!  We need to name baby sister.  I can't just keep calling her baby sister!"

Jessica giggles.
"Well do you two have any names in mind?  I do but I'll save it for last!" She smiles.

"I like Evelyn!" Autumn says.

"Oh that's so cute!  Danny?" Jessica gives him a soft smile.

"I have a couple.."

"Well tell us!" Jessica laughs.

"Penelope and Julia."

"Oh those are both so cute!  Especially Julia!  It's so sweet."

"I thought so too." Danny chuckles.

"Do you guys wanna hear mine?!" She smiles sweetly.

"Yeah!  Let's hear them, mommy!"

"Okay!  Summer." Jessica smiles.

"Summer?" Danny laughs.

"Yeah!  It's cute!"

"You already named a child Autumn, Jess."

"So?  I like it." Jessica's smile started to fade.
Danny hurt her feelings.

"I don't know.  I don't like it."

"You don't?" She pouts.

"I love it, mommy!  I think my baby sister would love it too!"

"Thank you, Autumn!"

"You're welcome!  Now, let's sing happy birthday to Simba!"

"Yeah.." Jessica gives her a small smile.

**

Later that evening.

Jessica walked into the baby's nursery.
Every night she would hold his toy and press the paw, wishing to hear his heartbeat, but hearing nothing but static.
Tonight was different.  Tonight she heard something magical.

"Bum bum-Bum bum"

Jessica's eyes went wide.  She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Oh baby!  Your heart!  What happened?!
Oh my goodness.. You fixed it for mommy on your six month birthday, didn't you?" Jessica smiled through her tears.

"Oh Simba, honey.. Thank you!" She cried.

***

One week later.

Throughout this entire pregnancy Jessica has had a fear of losing her baby girl.
She was afraid of having a baby shower, and once again not being able to use everything she received.

Another thing; she didn't want to go past thirty eight weeks.
In fact, thirty eight weeks scared the living daylights out of her.

Jessica wanted to be induced as soon as the baby was able to survive on her own.  After discussing it with Danny and with her doctor, they all agreed on Thursday December 5th.  That was the day Jessica was going to be induced.

In the meantime Jessica got as much ready for her little girl as she could.
In the back of her mind there was always a thought that would never leave.
What if she lost this baby?
Jessica tried keeping those thoughts to herself, because when she would share her feelings with Danny, he would get so mad.

Before she would say things like, "If we take her home" or "If she's okay"
He wanted her to be positive.  But Jessica was terrified.  She just wanted to hear her baby cry.

Today Jessica is going to be packing her hospital bag. Next week is Thanksgiving, then the week after that Jessica would like to just relax before the baby comes. She wanted to get this done today.

"Danny?"

"Yeah, Boo?"

"Have you seen my hospital bag?"

"Uh.. Yeah.."

"Where is it?"

"It's still in the car from when you had Simba.  I didn't want you to see it."

"Aw.." Jessica's eyes watered.

"I can go grab it."

"Thank you.."

Danny brought it in and handed it to Jessica.
Seeing it brought back memories of that horrible yet wonderful day.

"Thanks.. I'm gonna go through it in the nursery."

"You want me to go with you?"

"No.. no, I'd rather be alone."

"Alright, honey. I'm here if you need me."

Jessica walked through to the nursery and sat down on the ground.

For a few minutes she just stared at the bag.
Finally opening it, she found the gown she was supposed to deliver him in.
It was a beautiful blue gown with white print.
When Jessica found out her son was stillborn, she didn't care to wear it.  Instead she wore a regular plain hospital gown.

The next thing that was in there were lactation cookies.
Then some socks that at the very bottom said, "I'm going to be a mommy today!" Then around the ankles it said, "Baby Boy."

Jessica cried seeing those socks.  It was something she found and was so excited to wear.
They were still in the package.

Next she pulled out some of his little onesies and pacifiers.
Seeing all of this was extremely hard on Jessica, but her baby girl soon became a distraction.

"I'm sorry, mommy will calm down.  Just settle down in there, Princess.." Jessica gently rubbed her bump to soothe the baby girl.

"Just be still, please.. you know it scares mommy when you move too much.."

***

The next day Jessica's sisters invited her out to eat.
What she didn't know was that it was a surprise baby shower with all of her friends and family.

"Surprise!"

"You guys!" Jessica covered her moth and began crying.
"You didn't have to do this!"

"We wanted to, Jess!  You and this little princess deserve it." Jane smiles and rubs her belly.

"Thank you so much."

**

The shower was a success.  Danny and Jessica received so many cute things for their baby girl.

Once the party started to die down Sam pulled Jessica aside and handed her a small gift.

"Oh Sam, you've already given us so much!"

"But this is a special one.  I didn't want to give it to you earlier because.. well you'll see, just open it." He smiles.

Jessica opens the present and smiles.
Tears immediately start to fall.

"Oh Sam!  This is so sweet!  Thank you so much for this.. she was handpicked by her big brother.  I know she was!"

"She definitely was, Jess." Sam smiles softly.

Jessica wraps her arms around him and lets her tears out.

"Thank you for being so amazing, Sam.
I'm very thankful for our friendship."

***

December 4th.

"Goodnight, Princess."

"Goodnight! Next time I see you, baby sister will be here!"

"Yep! Isn't that exciting? She'll be here so soon!"

"I can't wait!
.. Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"What's her name?"

"Her name!" Jessica chuckles.
"Danny and I still haven't decided on one yet."

"Well once you see her I'm sure you'll know." Autumn smiles sweetly.

"You're right! Now you get some rest.
Danny and I will be leaving early in the morning.
Grandma Dottie is going to watch you then take you to daddy's."

"Okay! Goodnight, mommy. Goodnight, baby sister!" Autumn kisses her belly.

Jessica smiles. "Goodnight, Princess."

***

The next morning Jessica was filled with nerves.
Her stomach was in knots.

"Danny, I'm so nervous.  All night I had horrible dreams about having her and she.. she wasn't breathing.."

"Oh baby, everything is going to be okay, I know it!"

Jessica wipes her cheeks and picks up a small dress.
"I know I need to stay calm but, it's just so hard."

"I understand, honey."

"..Look at this.. her Christmas dress.  I bought the other day."

"She's going to look beautiful in it, babe." Danny smiles.

".. if she's here."

"What did I say about that?  No more!  Okay?"

"I'm sorry.."

Danny walks over, wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head.

"I love you.. everything is going to be okay."

"I love you too.."

"You ready to meet our princess?"

Jessica looks up and smiles softly. "Yes.  Oh wait!"

"What's wrong?"

"Can you grab Simba?  I know you think it's weird but I don't care.  I want it."

"Sure, let me grab it."

"Thank you, honey."

Soon they were off.
The level of panic was so high for Jessica.
Today she is thirty eight weeks.  The exact week she lost Simba.  She wanted to be induced sooner but this is what the doctor felt was best.
Now all she could do was pray.

As Danny drove, Jessica held her belly in her hands.
She closed her eyes as she spoke to her son.

"Watch over your baby sister, Simba.
Make sure she makes it here safely.
I pray she's happy and healthy.
I just want her in my arms ."