"They'll be here in a few minutes.. let me get clothes for you girls."

Autumn followed her mother, holding Julia's hand and trying her best to keep her calm.

Danny heard them in the hall so he opened the door and threw Jessica's and the baby's things out before slamming it shut.

"Come on, girls.  What clothes do you want to wear?" She asks ignoring Danny.

"I'm okay with whatever.  What do you want to wear, Juju?"

"Pincess!"

"You want your princess dress, baby?"

"Ya!" She nods.

"Say please, Julia!" Autumn says.

"Peeeeesh!"

Jessica giggles and get Julia's things.
She also had to pack things to keep her entertained.

Soon everything was ready and she and the girls walked downstairs.  Jessica kept a tight grip on the railing as she carried Julia and her bags.
Autumn wanted to help her mother out with more, but they were just too heavy for her.

The Uber driver saw this heavily pregnant woman and quickly jumped out to help her.

"Oh ma'am, you shouldn't be carrying all this!"

"It's okay, I'm fine!  Oh shoot!  I need her car seat." Jessica cries.

"Ma'am, it's okay!  Is it in the apartment? I have kids, I've installed plenty!" He smiles.

"No, it's in my car.  I think my keys are in the bag." Jessica says as yet another contraction hits her.

"You're in labor?"

"Yes!  My husband and I got in a fight and he won't take me to the hospital!" Jessica bawls.

"Oh my gosh!" The gentleman's heart broke for Jessica.

"Okay ma'am, listen.  You're okay, I'm gonna help you and get you girls there safely, okay?"

Jessica breathes deeply and nods her head.
"Thank you."

"You're very welcome. Now let's get the car seat and we'll head over!"

"Thank you so much!" Jessica sobs.

"It's not a problem, ma'am. Really."

Jessica sat in the car while he quickly put the car seat in.  After buckling Julia in they were off.

Jessica held onto the handle above her head as she moaned in pain.  She didn't want to scare her girls, but the contractions were now super intense and there was pretty much no time between them.

"Ohhhh!  Oh my gosh, this baby's coming!" She sobs.

"We're almost there, sweetheart, just breathe with me.  In.. and out.. innnn.. and out!"

Jessica breathed with him and soon calmed down.
"Thank you so much!  I'm sorry to put you under this much stress."

"No worries, ma'am!  I'm so sorry you're in this situation right now.  You seem like a lovely woman and you and your girls don't deserve to be treated this way."

Jessica nodded her head as she took a deep breath.

"My husband.. he's a great man.. I swear. He just has a temper."

"I don't want to get into your personal life, but ma'am.. this isn't just a temper. You deserve better."

Jessica looked at him then turned to look out the window.

**

Finally they arrived.
The driver took all the bags out and the car seat as well.
A nurse met them outside and helped Jessica into a wheelchair.

Once they got to the front desk the woman looked at the driver and asked, "Are you the father?"

"No ma'am, I'm the Uber driver."

The woman looked so upset when hearing that.
"The Uber driver?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Wow.. okay, let's get her back there."

The man took all of her things to the back, Julia demanded to sit on Jessica's lap, and Autumn walked beside her.

Jessica was in tears.  The pain was unbearable, but it wasn't as bad as the pain Danny has caused her.
The fact that he would miss the birth of their child hurt her more than anything.

"Here you go, ma'am.  Um.. if you need anything.."

"You've done more than enough.  Thank you so so much.  I really appreciate your help."

"It's not a problem, ma'am."

"What is your name?"

"Alex!"

"Alex." Jessica smiles.
"I'm Jessica."

"Jessica?  Well good luck, Jessica.  I hope you have a fast and safe delivery." Alex shakes her hand.

"Thank you."

The man nods and leaves the room.
He felt horrible just leaving her there, but it wasn't his place to stay.

Soon after arriving and changing into her hospital gown, they came in to check Jessica.

"Seven centimeters!  It won't be long."

"Thank you.."

"We have a surprise for big sisters!" The woman smiles at the girls.
All of the nurses felt bad so they wanted to do as much as they could for them.  Including giving them a bigger room at no extra charge.

A nurse then walked in with a bunch of coloring books, crayons, and a couple teddy bears dressed as doctors.

"YAY!" Julia clapped her hands.

"Aww!  Thank you so much!" Jessica says with tears in her eyes.

"No problem!  Just some big sister gifts, that's all!"

"Bih sissy!" Julia kicks her legs and points to herself.

"Aw!  Are you excited for the baby?"

"YA!" Julia nods.

"You're too sweet!"

"Ya!"

The woman laughs then turns to Jessica.
"Jess honey, is there anyone you'd like to call?  Maybe your mom or a friend?"

"Umm.. No.  There isn't anyone I want to call.  Thank you for asking though."

"Okay hun.  Well I can stay in here if-"

"No, I'm okay.  Really.  But um.. when I start pushing.. I'm afraid I'll scare the baby."

"We'll have one of our nurses take her into the next room, it's not a problem!"

"Thank you so much." Jessica says in a shaky voice.

"You're welcome!"

The nurse leaves the three girls alone.

"Mommy, why didn't you ask them to call grandma?" Autumn asks.

"Because.. I don't want her to know Danny's not here."

"Why not?"

"I just don't.  I'll call her after the baby's born.  Why don't you go play with your sister?"

"No.  I'm staying with you."

Jessica smiles softly and holds her hand.
"I love you."

"I love you too."

**

Two hours later.

"Ahh!  Owwww.. shit.."

"Breathe momma.. in and out like Alex said!  Remember?"

Jessica nods her head and breathes with Autumn.

"Thank you, baby."

"You're welcome!  Did I help?" Autumn smiles.

"You did!  I don't know what I'd do without you, baby love."

Autumn smiles and kisses her hand that she held in hers.

"Maybe you're almost done!"

"I hope so.. I just want to rest and have all my babies here with me."

Autumn smiles and says, "Soon, momma!"

**

"Press right here?"

"Yeah baby.  Just like the nurse said."

"Okay.."

"Oh that feels so much better, Autumn!  You're such a good girl!  Thank you!"

"You're welcome!" Autumn smiled as she pressed into her mother's back.

"Sissy!" Julia shouted from the playpen she was in.

"Wait, Juju!  I'm helping mommy!"

Jessica chuckles and says, "Okay it's past.  Thank you again, lovely!"

"No problem, mommy!" She smiles then walks over to see what her baby sister wanted.

A few minutes later.

"I'll be right back, momma. I have to use the restroom."

"Okay honey. You go on, I'll be fine." Jessica smiles softly as she leans forward with her palms pressed against the wall.

She was having very bad back labor so she tried to stay standing. Plus this was better with helping bring the baby down.

Autumn locked the bathroom door and took her mother's phone out of her pocket.
She stood there waiting and waiting as the phone rang.

"Hello?"

Autumn gasps.
"Daddy!"

"Autumn! Everything okay, baby girl?"

"No! Mommy's in labor!"

"Oh wow, she is?! Well that's exciting Auttie!"

"Yes but it's just me, mommy and Juju here!"

"Where's Danny?"

"Auntie Ann accidentally told him grandma Dottie wasn't sick, and he got mad at mommy! He didn't want to drive her so we took an Uber."

"What?! Are you kidding me?! That bastard!"

"Daddy! Swear!"

"I'm sorry Autumn but this is crazy! You just don't do that! Yeah she lied, but she's fucking pregnant!
Sorry, another swear." Sam sighs.
"I'm on my way!"

"Mommy didn't want to call anyone.. I think she's embarrassed."

"Well I'm going anyway! I won't let her do this without someone there to help her through the pain of childbirth! Ugh, that makes me so mad! I'll be there as soon as possible, Autumn."

"Okay daddy. Be careful!"

"I will, Princess. Be strong for mommy, alright?"

"I have been! I helped her through contractions!" Autumn smiles probably.

"Good job, baby girl!"

"Thanks!" Autumn says as Jessica shouts.

"AGGHHH!"

Autumn gasps and widens her eyes.
"I better get back to momma! She needs me!"

"Okay, I'll let you go! See you soon."

"Alright, Bye Bye!"

Autumn walked out and Jessica was now back on the bed and on all fours with her head pressed into the pillows.

"Mama!  Mama!" Julia cried.
"MAMA!" She screamed on the top of her lungs.

"Hang on, sweetie!"

"Juju, mommy can't get you right now, she's busy!" Autumn spoke softly to her baby sister.

Jessica slowly gets out of the bed then leans forward and sways her hips as she breathes in and out.

Once the pain passed, Jessica slowly walked over and lifted Julia onto her hip.
She then sits down on the bed and places her right beside her.

"Baby!" Julia smiles and pokes her belly.

"Yeah, baby!  The baby wants to come out!"

"Come out?!" Julia lifts her little hands.

"Yep!  Pretty fun, huh?"

"Yaaay!" She claps making Jessica and Autumn giggle.

Julia then climbs on top of her mother and lays on her belly.

"Is it cuddle time?"

"Nap!"

"Oh it's nappy time, huh?"

"Yeah.."

"You silly girl!" Jessica chuckles as she rubs her back.

**

One hour later.

Jessica's doctor walked in and smiled.  Julia was cuddled into her mother's side sleeping, and Autumn sat beside her holding her hand.

"Well look at mommy of the century!"

"Heh!  I don't know about that.." Jessica says breathing in and out.

"I mean it!  Wow.."

"Thank you.."

"Now, let's check on how you're progressing."

Jessica spreads her legs and relaxed her head back onto the pillow.

"Alright, nine centimeters!  I won't travel too far." He chuckles.

"Oh my!  Okay.." Jessica takes a deep breath.
"I'll send a few nurses to come in and help you prepare for delivery.

"Okay, thank you."

"The baby's almost here, mommy!" Autumn smiles.
"You're doing so good!"

"Thank you, love!  Are you sure you want to stay?  It's a little scary!"

Autumn nods. "I want to stay!  I'm not leaving you alone."

Jessica cries softly.
"I am so blessed to have such an incredible little girl like you."

Autumn smiles and says, "I'm blessed to have such an incredible momma like you."

"My baby girl!" Jessica kisses her cheek and gives her a hug.

The team of nurses came in and immediately got Jessica ready to start pushing.

"Oh she's sleepin!  I'll try not to wake her!" The nurse said as Jessica kisses Julia's head before handing her over.

"My baby girl..
Thank you so much for watching her!"

"It's No problem!  There's a tv in there so if she wakes up we'll just watch some cartoons!"

"She'll love that!" Jessica says breathing in and out.
"Ow!"

"Another ones coming?" Autumn asks hopping up on the stool they put beside Jessica's bed.

"Yeah.. Ouch!  This ones a big one." Jessica whines.

Autumn looks at the monitor and says, "Oh yeah!  It's huge!  Oh mommy, I'm so sorry!"

"OW!!  It's okay, love.. ohhhh.. OH IT HURTS!" Jessica shouts.

"Keep breathing, mommy!  You've got this!"

Jessica started to sob as she heard her daughter.
There were so many emotions that filled her body.
She was angry at Danny, angry at herself for lying to him, she was sad because again, all she could think about was Simba, and on top of all that, she was in the worst pain imaginable.

"Okay Jessica, we're gonna do a few practice pushes, alright?"

"Alright.."

"Okay, pull your legs back, deep breath in and push down into your bottom."

Jessica takes a deep breath and pushes hard.

Autumn watched in fear. She was so worried for her mother.

After that first push, Jessica relaxes and places her hand on Autumn.

"You okay, baby girl?"

Autumn nods. "I'm okay!  I just feel bad that you have to do this."

Jessica couldn't help but laugh.
"You're so darling!" She places her palm on Autumn's cheek.
"I'm okay, baby.  This pain won't last forever.. and we'll get a baby out of it!  It's all worth it." Jessica smiles softly.

"That's true.  Now come on, I want to meet the baby!  Puuush!"

Jessica chuckles and pulls her legs back, now with the help of Autumn.

After fifteen minutes of pushing, they called the doctor in.
Autumn kept checking the door for Sam, but he had yet to arrive.

"Autumn, who are you looking for?" Jessica asks.

"Uhhh.. the doctor!  Where is he?"

"He's on his way, baby."

"Okay.." Autumn then looked down making Jessica laugh.

"Sorry!  I just wanted to see if I could see the head."

"It's fine, baby girl!  Go ahead.  Can you see anything?  Probably not." Jessica pouts.
She felt like she had been pushing forever but nothing had happened.

"You can see the very very top of the head!  It's cute." She giggles.

"Aw!" Jessica smiles softly.

**

A few minutes later the doctor walked in.
Jessica was in the middle of a contraction and she could feel her baby moving further and further down.

"I have to push!  Please, please can I push?"

"Yes, go ahead!"

Jessica took a deep breath in and pushed hard.
She grunted as she used everything she had to bring this baby down.

"Good job, sweetie!  Bear down, Bear down!"

Jessica took a breath and continued pushing.

"Good!  Now relax and wait for the next contraction.
Any final guesses to the gender?" Dr. Irwin asked.

"I think it's a girl." Autumn smiled.
"What do you think, mommy?"

"I don't know.. I'll say boy!"

"Well, one of you is right!"

Autumn thought that was so funny!  She cracked up and asked, "Do you know what it is, Doctor?"

"I do!" He smiles.

"Cool!"

Jessica smiles softly as her breathing changes.
"Ohh!  It's coming again.."

"Okay, legs back, deep breath in and chin to your chest.  Curl down and focus on getting this baby out!"

Jessica pushed and pushed for about another thirty minutes until finally her baby was starting to crown.

"Oh my gosh I really see the head now, mommy!" Autumn kisses Jessica's forehead.

Jessica blows her a kiss while pushing.

"AHHHH!  IT BURNS!" She screams.

"It's okay, just keep pushing, Jessica!  You're okay and you're doing beautifully!"

Autumn looked down and her eyes went wide.
She thought her mother was going to rip in half.

"I can't!" Jessica sobs.

"Yes you can mommy, Push!"

Hearing her daughter gave her the strength to keep on pushing.

The doctor then told her to stop to avoid tearing.
That's when Jessica lost it.

"Mommy, you're okay.  The baby's almost out!"

"I know.. I'm just sad!" Jessica covers her face as tears roll down her cheeks.

"About what?  Danny?" Autumn rubs her arm.

"About him.. and about Simba.. I just keep thinking of him.. and seeing his little face.."

"Mommy he's still with us!  We can see him or touch him, but he's still with us, and he's with us right now as we speak!  He wants us to meet our new baby brother or sister! So keep pushing, momma. You're the strongest woman I know.. and you can do it!"

"How did I get so lucky when I had you?"

"I don't know!" Autumn giggles and shrugs her shoulders.

Jessica giggles and puckers her lips.
Autumn kisses her then pulls on her leg.

"Come on! Get this baby out!"

"Yes ma'am!" Jessica chuckles.

**

"Good! Push, push, push! Deep breath in and push again! Harder, harder, harder! Beautiful, Jessica!"

"Mommy the head is out! I see their face!" Autumn says with excitement.

"Aww!"

"They're so cute! Hurry so you can see too!"

"Okay!" Jessica laughs.

"Would you like to feel the head, Autumn?"

Autumn gasps and nods.
"Yes!"

She reaches down and smiles as she strokes the baby's hair. "I'm touching the baby, mommy!"

"That's so cool, Princess!"

"Yeah! Push!"

Jessica chuckles.
She then begins pushing again while Autumn softly stokes the baby's cheek.

"Oh my gosh that's a good push, momma! Do it again, the baby's almost out!"

Jessica did what her daughter said and the baby's shoulders slid out.
Jessica let out a painful moan just a second before the baby rolled to their side and tore her up pretty badly.

Autumn's eyes widen. She gasps and covers her mouth.

"AHHHHH! FUUUUUCK!" Jessica screams.

"Oh my gosh! She ripped! How are you gonna did that?!" Autumn asked the doctor with wide eyes.

"We'll fix her up, sweetie. Don't you worry." The nurse patted her back and smiled.

Another nurse moved Jessica's gown down so the baby could be laid on her bare chest.

"Last push, Jessica!"

"Ah! AHHHH!"
Suddenly Jessica felt weight leave her body.
They laid the baby on her chest and the newborn cried loudly.

"Oh my gosh! Mommy, what is it?!" Autumn asks.

Jessica moves her arm and looks down.
Jessica cries harder and says, "It's a baby boy!"

"Aw! A boy! You were right, momma!"

"I have another boy! Oh listen to him! He's crying! Oh he's crying so loud, he sounds so healthy!"

"He is healthy, momma!"

"He is.. his hair is blonde." Jessica giggles softly as she caresses the little bit of hair he had on his head.

"He looks like you, Mommy!"

"He kinda does, huh?" Jessica smiles up to Autumn.

"Yeah!  He's cute!"

"He is..
His lips.. he has Simba's lips.  They were the most kissable little lips.." Jessica cries softly as she kisses his mouth.

"Oh.. oh my gosh! Hello, Theodore!" Jessica smiles and plays with his tiny hand.

"Theodore Da— No.. Theodore Alexander." She smiles.

"The name my daddy picked!" Autumn smiles.

"Yeah.. It's perfect." Jessica says as tears roll down her cheeks.

"Just like him." Autumn smiles down to her new baby brother.

Just like when Julia was born, Jessica looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Simba." She said.
Jessica felt his presence so strong in that room.  She knew he was giving her the strength to go through this without Danny.