December 20th.
36 weeks pregnant.

"Bill, please!  I'm not asking for anything for Christmas.  I don't want clothes, or video games.  This is all I want.  Please."

"Why would you want me to spend that much money for you to have a 3d ultrasound on a baby you're not keeping?"

"Because then I can keep it for the rest of my life.  I want something to remember her by.  Please, Bill." Jessica says as tears begin rolling down her cheeks.

Bill sighs. "Fine."

"Oh my gosh, thank you!" Jessica hugs him tightly. "They can see me today, I already called!"

"You can't call and make appointments for yourself, you're twelve!"

"I used my grown up voice."

"Yeah well no one can take you today, Jessica."

"It's okay, I've handled everything!  Sarah's and her mom can take me.  All you have to do is call and make the payment."

"Oh that's all?"

"Mhm.. Bill, I know it may seem silly, but this is all I want.  It means more to me than you'll ever know. Thank you so much!  This has made my Christmas." Jessica smiles to him with tears in her eyes.

**

A few hours later.

"Are you excited , honey?" Catherine smiles.

"I'm so excited! I just can't wait to see her little face!  I am worried though.."

"Why Jess?" Sarah asks.

"What if she looks like him?"

"Oh.. well she probably won't."

"I hope not.."

"Jess, can I just say you're officially massive?"

"Sarah!" Catherine says.

"It's okay, Mrs. Paulson.  I've really grown these last couple of weeks.  The doctor says I can have her at any time.  But I think it'll still be a little while.  I hope it's a little longer at least." Jessica looks down and gently rubs her belly. "I want to spend as much time with her as I can."

Catherine gives Jessica a soft smile. She could see how in love Jessica was with her daughter. Catherine hated thinking about the day Jessica would have to say goodbye to her baby.

**

Jessica laid back with her belly exposed.  A smile was spread across her face as the ultrasound tech, prepped her for her scan.

"Holy crap!  Mom, look how it just sticks up!"

"Sarah!  Jessica, you're really not that big, honey.  You should have seen me when I was pregnant with Sarah. Now she was a huge baby!"

Jessica laughs making her belly bounce.

"With the hugest head! My God!"

"Ooh! Big headed babies scare me." Jessica says with a scared look in her eyes.

"Your baby will have a nice normal sized head I'm sure!"

Jessica chuckles. "Thanks."

"Alright, are we ready to see this little girl?" The woman asks ready to start Jessica's scan.

"Yes!" Jessica responds with a big beautiful smile.

**

"Okay, here we go. You're lucky she's still so high. We'll definitely be able to get a good picture of her."

"Yay!"

Jessica gasped the moment she say her baby. She looked so beautiful.

"There she is."

"Woah! Jessica she's so cute!" Sarah says with excitement.

Jessica immediately starts crying.
"She's the most beautiful little person I have ever laid my eyes on. I've never seen anyone or anything more beautiful."

Sarah smiles and says, "I think she looks just like you, Jess."

"Do you think so?" Jessica looks to Sarah.

"Yes! Don't you, mom?"

"Just like you, Jessica."

"Aw.. thank you so much.
.. Hi Isla. Mommy thinks you're just gorgeous.."

Just then the baby smiles once again and kicks her legs.

Jessica giggles.
"Yeah, you're gorgeous!  You like hearing that, don't you?"

"She's really beating you up." Sarah says placing her hand on her stomach.

"Heh! It's just little love taps.."

**

Jessica returned home and went straight to Bill and Suzanne.

"Look at the baby!" She smiles and hands them the pictures. "Doesn't she look like me? Sarah and her mom say she looks just like me."

Bill cracks the smallest smile. "She's cute."

"I can't believe you made Bill spend that much money Jessica."

"I had to do this. I wanted pictures of her. Suzanne, I'm not going to let you ruin today for me. It was a great day and I just want to eat and get into bed."

"There's food in the kitchen." Bill says.

Jessica sighed and instantly regretted not stopping for food when Catherine asked.

"I'm really craving meat you guys."

"We don't eat meat."

"Yes but Isla and I do."

"Who is Isla?"

"Uh.."

"Jessica? Did you name her?"

"That's just what I call her. I don't want to call my baby an it."

"It's not your baby!"

"But right now she is!"

"Jessica, go upstairs."

"I'm hungry!"

"Go upstairs!" Suzanne shouts.

Jessica walks upstairs in tears.

Once getting to her room she sits on the bed and looks at Isla's pictures.

"I wish things were different baby. I'm so sorry."

The baby kicks her side and Jessica cries a little harder.

"Oh Isla.. you know I can't do it, don't you?
  You know I'm not going to be able to give you away. Even though it's best for you.. I just need you. You're my family. I just have to figure out how to make this work. Maybe.. maybe if I talk to them. I'll do whatever they ask of me.. I'll take care of you all alone. I just need to keep you, Isla. My heart can't take you not being with me forever."

Jessica then feels tightness in her belly followed by a sharp pain.

"Ow!" Jessica tenses up and panics.  She then walks as quick as she can to the living room.

"Suzanne!"

"Jessica, I asked up to go upstairs."

"No, I think I had a contraction!"

"You're just hungry."

"Please listen to me!" Jessica shouts. "My stomach got hard and it hurt really really bad."

"Suzanne, go get Jessica some water.  Jessica sit down and relax." Bill says. "My sister told me a little about what to expect.  These are braxton hicks contractions."

"What does that mean?"

"It's just your body getting ready for the real thing.  It causes mild discomfort-"

"That was not mild discomfort, that was just horrible pain!"

"They can be pretty painful.  But it's normal.  We'll just have to keep an eye on it.  If the pains become consistent then we'll have to head to the hospital."

Jessica nods her head and starts crying.

"Hey.. it'll be okay." Bill reached over and took Jessica's hand.

"I can't do this.  I didn't even know what those things were.  I don't know how to have a baby.  How am I supposed to get through this?"

"Your body already knows how to have a baby.  It'll be okay."

"Why are you being nice to me now?"

"I feel bad that you're in pain.  I don't try to be mean.. I just.. it's grown up life that made me this way."

Jessica looks to the kitchen before whispering. "Suzanne is always mean."

"She is." Bill chuckles softly.
".. Hey where do you want your food from?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna go get you some meat!"

"Really?" Jessica smiles.

"Yeah."

"Can I please have a patty melt from Whataburger?"

"Sure."

"Thank you so much!  I'm sorry, it's just that this baby doesn't like vegan food.  When I eat it I get sick."

"It's okay.  I'll be back soon."

"Okay." Jessica smiles.

**

"Here you go.  Hope you and baby enjoy it."

"Thank you so much!"

Suzanne gives Bill a mean look and he takes a seat on the couch.

"Have you had any more contractions?"

"No.  She's just moving around a lot so it hurts.  But no more pains."

"Well that's good, right?"

"Yeah.. I really want her to stay in there as long as possible."

"Really?  I thought you'd be dying to have your body back to yourself."

Jessica nods her head. "No." She says softly.

"Wow.."

Jessica continued eating and once she was finished she looked down to the baby's picture.

"Can I ask you two something?"

"Sure."

Suzanne sighs and puts her book down. "Yeah?"

"I'm a really good girl.  I've never done anything bad.  Ever.  I do well in school, and I do a lot around the house."

"Okay?"

"I'm responsible, right?"

"I'd say you're responsible." Bill says.

"I know I can do even more!
.. Can I please keep the baby?"

"What?" Suzanne says.

"I-I just can't imagine giving her away.  I can't do it.  As much as I want her to have a better life.. I know in my heart I can give her a great life too.  I'm her mommy.  It'll just be a little harder, but I know I'll eventually get there."

"Jessica.." Bill starts.

"No!  Absolutely not!  You are a child, and we've said before you're not here to stay." Suzanne yells.

"Suzanne, enough.  Jessica.." Bill sighs.
"Jess.. you cannot keep the baby."

"But I promise you I'll take care of her!"

"What about school?  We can't stay home and watch her for you."

"I can be home schooled."

"No.  Jessica, I know this is hard, and we're sorry.  You cannot keep this baby."

Jessica cries and cradles her bump.  She rocks gently as though she's trying to soothe herself and her baby. "I love her so much."

"Then let her go, sweetie."