“How much longer?” Nick asked anxiously. “This waiting around is driving me insane!” He paced back and forth in the waiting room of the hospital.

Just as Nick was losing his patience, a young nurse entered the room.

“It’s okay now, she’s settled in, you may go back.”

Nick rushed past the nurse nearly knocking her over. He bolted into the room to find Jess laying peacefully in the bed. He quickly walked up the side of the bed, taking her hands in his and kissed her forehead.

“It’s okay now, I’m here,” Nick softly spoke.

Jess giggled a little. “Nick, you worry too much. Honestly, I’m okay.”

After she uttered her last sentance, her face knotted in pain, she tightened the grip on Nick’s hands until the pain passed.

“They’re getting closer, aren’t they?” Nick asked.

Jess shook her head yes. “Closer and stronger now,” she stated quietly.

Nick placed his hand on her swollen stomach. He looked at Jess and smiled. “I still can’t believe this is actually happening! I mean, all the shit that’s happened to us over the past two years with the accident and all I’m still in shock to think we’re gonna have a baby!” Nick stated excitedly.

“Well, that’s what happens when you fool around, Nick,” Jess joked. She spotted the worried look that crossed over Nick’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I dunno, I just hope I’m a good father, you know?” Nick mumbled.

Jess took his chin in her hand. “Nick, you will be the best father ever put on this earth!”

As Nick kissed Jess on the forehead, a doctor and a nurse entered the room. The nurse quickly set about tearing down part of the bed Jess was on and attached poles on either side of the bed.

The doctor looked at Jess and Nick and smiled. “Let’s have a baby.”

Nick panicked. “It’s time already?”

The nurse put her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Are you going to be okay, Mr. Carter? If you don’t think you can take this, you will have to go and wait out in the lobby with the family because I don’t need you fainting on us during this and I’m sure Jessica doesn’t need that either,” the nurse asked.

Nick swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

Fine? Oh god I feel awful, I’ve never been this scared in my life. Hell, standing out onstage with total equipment failure sounds like a hell of a better idea to me right now than this! Nick rushed the thoughts in his brain. He looked at Jess who was showing concern in her eyes.

“Mr. Carter, just stand up here by her shoulders, okay, you can coach her through this and you’ll be fine,” the nurse ordered as she patted Jess on the shoulder while she spoke.

“Okay, Jess, I want you to wait to push until I tell you it’s time,” Dr. Johnson instructed.

Jess licked her lips and nodded quickly. She fought the intense urge to push while the doctor was doing something to her that she didn’t really appreciate.

“Alright, Jess, PUSH NOW!” Dr. Johnson ordered.

Nick fought off the wave of nausea he felt at that moment and time. His knees felt like rubber. “Push Jess, comeon!” Nick was shocked at how shakey his voice sounded, obviously his nervousness was beginning to surface.

After nearly two hours of Nick coaching Jess, she was starting to tire and wanted to give up. She burst into tears and it was up to Nick to set her back on the path again. He rested his forehead on hers.

“Honey, just a little bit more and you’ll be done,” Nick softly spoke.

“I can’t anymore, I’m too tired!” Jess weakly exclaimed.

“I know, but I promise, if you give us six more pushes, it will be overwith and you can rest then.”

Jessica’s eyes shifted back and forth, trying to grasp what Nick had just told her.

“SIX MORE!”

“Okay, okay, how about three really big ones?” Nick tried to compromise.

“Three big ones?” Jess whispered.

“Three and that’s it, okay?” Nick smiled.

Jess nodded and pulled herself up to a half laying, half sitting position. She took in a deep breath and grabbed the poles and pushed with all she had in her.

“Okay Jess, hold on a second, let me suction the baby’s mouth and nose,” Dr. Johnson requested as he held the head that was halfway out.

Nick was afraid to look down over the sheets at the baby just yet, but the nurse pointed to the mirror that had been set up at the foot of the bed behind the doctor so that Jessica could watch the delivery.

“See the baby, guys?”

“Okay, Jessica, one more big push and you’ll be done,” the doctor excitedly exclaimed.

Jess did as he ordered and the baby slipped out into his hands and immediately began to cry. The emotions in the room ran high and both Nick and Jessica were crying.

“You have a beautiful daughter! Congratulations!”

Nick kissed Jessica tenderly on the lips. “You did good, she’s beautiful.”

The nurse wrapped the baby up in a pink blanket once she was cleaned up. She handed the baby carefully to Nick and it appeared that the infant was lost in his arms. Nick held the baby gently, but seemed pretty comfortable with her.

Jess looked at the two of them together, Nick beaming with joy.

“So?” She questioned.

“Huh?” Nick looked up at Jess, dazed.

“Names? What are we going to name her?”

“I dunno, what do you like?”

Jess sighed and laughed. “Nick, we talked about this for months, you don’t know now?”

“Abigail Jane Carter, Abbey for short,” Nick questioned.

Jess smiled. “Abbey it is.”