That evening.

"Jessica I appreciate you wanting to help, but you have to think of yourself.  You're really pregnant." Sam looks down to her bulging belly.

Jessica chuckles and runs her hand over her bump.
"I'm a month away, I'm fine!  I just want to stay a while and help you out."

"Thank you, Jess.. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Jessica smiles softly and takes his hand.
"You helped me, and now its my turn to return the favor."

***

Three days later.

Sam is still grieving, of course, but having Jessica and the girls there have definitely lifted his spirit.

"Sham!" Julia shouts.

"What, beautiful?"

"Baby n' mama's tum!" Julia rubs her stomach.

"I know!  You're gonna be a gig sister!  How exciting!"

"Me sissyyyy!" She hits her chest.

"Yeah!" Sam chuckles.

"Lunch is ready, guys!"

"Thank you, Jess!  Now this is the last meal you'll cook in this house.  I mean it!"

"Are you kicking me out?" Jessica pouts.

"No but you're way too pregnant for this!  You've helped me out SO much!  You really don't have to do this.  I want you to relax.  Just your company is enough."

Jessica smiles then says, "I'll fight you, Sammy!  I'm used to cooking at nine months pregnant, trust me!" She chuckles.
"I've had three babies with Danny and he doesn't like it when I don't cook!"

Sam scoffs and rolls his eyes.

"But it's okay!  It's good exercise." Jessica giggles.

"You're pregnant, you need to rest."

"Daddy's right, mommy!" Autumn says.

"Oh I'm fine!  Now dig in!" Jessica smiles.

**

"Juju, don't put that in your mouth!  They my toys!" Landon laughs.

"My!  My!" Julia holds his toy to her chest.

"Nooo!  It's mine!  Daddyyyy!" Landon cries.
Lately even the smallest things upset him.

"What's the matter, buddy?"

"She said that's her toy and it's MINE!  Mommy gave it to me!" He sobs.

"Julia?  No ma'am, give it back!" Jessica says.

"Mama noooo!"

Jessica kneels down and speaks to her in a low but stern voice. "His mommy gave it to him, give it back.  It is not yours."

Julia pouted her bottom lip and gave her mother the saddest little eyes as she held the toy out to her.

"There you go!  Such a good girl!" Jessica smiles and rubs her back. "Thank you, Juju.
See Landon?  You got it back, buddy!"

"Thank you, Jessie.."

"You're welcome, baby."

"Yes but you need to learn to share, Landon.  Mommy likes for you to share, right?" Sam says.

"Yeah.. daddy, when's mommy coming home?"

Everyone froze when Landon asked that question.

"Buddy.."

"I miss her and baby sister!"

Sam looked at Jessica and tears immediately filled his eyes.

"She's.. she's not coming back, buddy.  She and baby sister are in Heaven, remember?" Sam says.

"But I miss her so so much!" Landon cries.
"Does she love me?"

"Landon, your mommy loves you more than anything!"

"Then why her leave me?"

"She didn't want to.. she was sick, son.  Mommy was sick, but she's not anymore.. her and baby sister are okay."

"Oh.." Landon lowers his head.

Sam scoops him up and sits on the couch.
Jessica teared up and grabbed Julia.

"We'll leave you guys alone."

"No it's fine.  You girls stay."

Autumn sits beside her father and gives Landon a kiss.

"Lan Lan!" Julia reaches towards him.

"Come sit!  Join the hugs." Sam chuckles softly and pats the seat beside him.

Jessica walks over and sits down.

"No cwy!" Julia says.

"You tell him, Juju!  Say mama wouldn't want you to cry!" Sam says.

"Mama no cwy!" Julia lifts her hands and nods her head.

"No!" Sam laughs.

"BABY!" She shouts and grabs Jessica's belly.

Autumn hops over beside Jessica and starts talking to the baby.

"Baby Theo or Evie!  Wake up!"

Jessica's smile fades as she notices the baby not responding.

"This baby, I swear!"

"What's wrong?" Sam panics.

"The baby never responds when the girls talk.  You always have to poke em!" Jessica chuckles and presses into her stomach.

"I even went to the hospital just to check on them a few weeks back.. and there!" Jessica takes a sigh of relief.

"Stop scaring mommy!" Jessica says to her bump.

Julia babbles to her baby brother or sister before laying on top and giggling at the kicks coming from within.

Sam and Jessica couldn't help but smile.
"So you've guys decided on names?"

"Well kinda.. if it's a girl it'll be Evangeline but she needs a middle name.  For a boy I want Theodore.. and Danny decided on Daniel for his middle name."

"You don't like Daniel?" Sam laughs.

"Not that I don't like it buttt.. I don't want that to be his name." Jessica pouts.

"You know what I wanted to name our son?  If we had one together!"

"What?"

"Alexander."

Jessica gasps and her eyes immediately tear up.
"Alexander!  Oh I love it!"

Sam chuckles.
"You can have it if you want.." He shrugs.
"Just don't tell Danny I was the one that suggested it!"

"Hah! Right? I don't know.. he's pretty set on Daniel.."

"Well it's not a bad name."

"No.. I just wanted something different.. but it's okay!"

Jessica then flinches and takes a sharp breath in.
"Ooh!"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just a little cramp. Plus they're sticking their little foot in my ribs!"

"Ouch! I think they're telling you you need to rest, mommy."

"Heh! Maybe so.."

Julia giggles uncontrollably at the movement coming from her mother's stomach.

"Now this little nugget wants to be a wiggle worm!" Jessica chuckles. "I think it's because you're squishing them, love." She pats Julia's back.

Sam smiles softly with a sadness in his eyes.
"Do you mind if I-" Sam lifts his hand.

"Not at all! Go ahead."

He places his hand on her stomach and loses it.

"Aw Sam!" Jessica places her hand on his cheek and lays his head on her shoulder.

Sam relaxes onto her and continues crying.

"No cwy, Sham! No cwy!" Julia softly caresses his cheek.

Sam chuckles softly as Julia climbs over and kisses him.

"No Cwy!"

"I'll try, Juju."

Julia smiles and wiggles between her mother and Sam. She then looks up to the both of them and giggles.

**

That night Jessica soaked in the bathtub to soothe her aching muscles.

"Now you're calm again!  Why do you like to scare mommy?" Jessica softly rubs her bare belly.

"You are the calmest baby I have ever had stay in Hotel Mommy." Jessica giggles.

"Let's see how you feel about this.  Your big brother used to love it!"

Jessica takes her phone and plays music by her belly.
The baby doesn't move a muscle so Jessica immediately freaks out.

Jessica shakes her stomach causing the baby to kick her like crazy.

"Jesus!  Why must you do this?" Jessica laughs.
She then sighs and softly rubs her belly.

"I'm sorry to wake you.. go ahead and go back to sleep..  mama just worries way too much, huh?"

The baby continues to kick making Jessica laugh.
"Ow!  Now you're getting your revenge, huh?  Well I guess that's what I deserve!" She chuckles.

***

After staying with Sam for over a week, Jessica has decided to go back home and wait for her baby to arrive.

"Jess, let me drive you."

"I'm fine, Sammy!  I promise." Jessica smiles.
"It's not a long drive.  I'll call you when I get there, okay?"

"Okay.  Please be careful!"

"I will.  You take care of yourself and call me if you need anything, alright?"

"I will.  Thank you for everything."

"Of course!  I'm always here, Sam."

Sam smiles softly and hugs her once again.

What Jessica didn't share with Sam is that she's been having light contractions all morning.
Jessica wasn't worried about it, the drive wasn't too long and the contractions weren't very close together.  She knew she would be fine.

**

An hour into the drive.

Jessica tightened her grip on the steering wheel and took deep breaths.  The pains came about every fifteen minutes and we're getting stronger each time.

"Are you okay, Momma?" Autumn asks.

"Yeah honey, I'm okay!  The baby is just uh.. they're in a weird position.  But I'm good.. I promise!" She says breathlessly.

Jessica was sweating and had the air on high.

"Brrrr!" Julia says from her car seat.

Jessica couldn't help but laugh.
"You cold, Juju?"

"Yesh!"

"I'm sorry, baby.  I'll turn it down."

"Tanks!"

Jessica smiles softly as she rubs her hand on her belly.  "Just wait until we're home, baby.  Please!"

**

Jessica is now about ten minutes from the house and her contractions are five minutes apart.

"Mommy?"

"Yeah baby?" Jessica answers breathing in and out.

"Are you having the baby?"

Jessica bursts into tears and nods her head. "I think so!"

"Oh my gosh!  What are we doing? We have to call Danny!"

"I didn't want him to worry!  But we're almost home and we can head to the hospital!  Everything will be fine!"

"I'm gonna be a big sister again!"

"Yeah!" Jessica chuckles through her tears.

**

Jessica stopped the car and laid her head back as she moaned in pain.
"Ah! Owww.. oh my gosh!" She whines.

"I'll get Danny!"

"No baby! I don't want you going up by yourself!"

"Momma, you can't climb all those stairs right now!"

"I'll call him..
Shit! It's dead!" Jessica cries and throws her phone.

"Oh no! Mommy, please let me go up and get him!"

"No! No, let this contraction pass and then we'll go.." Jessica speaks in a breathless voice.

...

"Okay, let's hurry!"
Jessica quickly jumps out of the car and grabs Julia from her car seat.

"Let me take her up the stairs!"

"No Autumn, you might fall. I'm okay, let's just go quickly!"

Autumn was so worried for her mother. She just wanted to get to Danny as quickly as possible.

Jessica stopped on the stairs when the contraction hit. As soon as it was over she continued walking to the apartment.

"Danny, open up!" Jessica cries as she knocks on the door.

Danny opens the door and by the look on his face he was pissed.

"Baby? What's wrong?"

"Ann called.."

"What happened?!" Jessica panics.

"I don't know, Jess. You tell me."

"What? Danny, I don't have time for this! The baby's coming!"

"I don't care! Jessica, I asked her how your mom was doing.. she said she's fine and hasn't been sick. Who were you with?"

"What?! Daniel! Please! I'm having the baby, we need to get to the hospital!"

"SHUT UP!" He shouts scaring both Julia and Autumn.

"I know damn well you were with Sam! Did he fuck you to get over his dead wife?"

Autumn covers her ears as a look of fear spreads across her face.

"Danny!" Jessica says as yet another contraction hits her.

"I'm not taking you to the hospital. How do I even know if that baby is mine?"

"Daniel!" Jessica sobs. "Please! I don't have anyone else!"

"Why don't you call Sam?"

"Danny, he just lost his wife! I was only making sure he was okay!"

"You lied to me, Jess."

"Because I knew you wouldn't understand! Danny, Pleeeeease! Take me to the hospital! This baby is coming!"

Danny slowly nods his head.
"Fuck you, Jessica." He then turns and walks to the bedroom.

Jessica sobs then looks down to Autumn who was in tears. "It's okay! We're fine, baby!"

Jessica lightly bounces Julia who was also in tears.
She then puts Julia down and walks over to charge her phone. Julia following behind with her arms reaching up towards her.

"What are we going to do? You can't drive! And it'll take too long for my daddy to get here!"

"It's okay, Autumn. I'm gonna let this charge and then.." Jessica breathes out. "I'm gonna call an Uber and they'll take us to the hospital. I don't want you girls here right now. I'll see if one of your friend's mom's can watch you two."

"No! I'm staying with you, mommy!"

Autumn cries and wipes her cheeks.
Jessica wraps her arm around her daughter and rubs her back. "It'll be okay, Princess!" Jessica smiles, trying to calm her down.
"Look at me!"

Autumn sniffles and looks her in the eyes.
"You're going to meet your new little brother or sister soon! That's exciting, right?"

Autumn nods.

"Yeah! So perk up, sissy!" Jessica says in a shaky voice.

"Okay.. I'm gonna be there with you, momma. You aren't gonna do this alone!" She nods and holds her mother's cheek.

Jessica smiles softly then hugs her daughter tight.
"Thank you, baby!"

"I love you, momma!" Autumn says in a tearful voice.

"I love you more, Autumn Rae!"