“I have to what?”
“Deliver the baby,” JC repeated.
“I can’t do that! She’s my best friend!”
“Just do it!” Kelly yelled through clenched teeth.
“Um, Kelly? That’s the attitude that got you in this situation in the first place,” Joey said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“Shut up!” Kelly and Lance yelled together.
“Here’s what we gotta do...” JC began to say.
“Get a blanket and get the shorts off!” Kelly screamed. I looked at JC who nodded. I did as instructed.
“Lance, your gonna have to forgive me, but I can’t do this with my eyes closed-” I said, before opening my tightly shut eyes. Within seconds, I said, “What the hell is that?”
Joey began to laugh. “Justin... doesn’t... know... what... that...”
“Shut up!” Kelly yelled, yet again. It seemed to be her favorite phrase of the day. “Joey, give me your hand!” Joey obediently gave her his hand.
JC stood behind me. “It’s okay Justin. It’s the baby’s head. It’s alright. That’s what it's are supposed to look like.”
“AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!” Kelly screamed. She gripped Joey’s hand. This time, he joined in when she screamed.
“What are you yelling for?” Lance asked.
“My hand! I can’t feel my hand!” Joey yelled.
“Okay, all right...” JC said. “Kelly, you need to push this time, okay?” She nodded, sweat pouring down her face.
“Ready? Push!” I instructed.
“Go Kelly go! You can do it! Push to victory! Go!” Joey cheered her on.
In the middle of her push, she began to yell, quickly followed by screaming at Lance. “I swear Lance! If you ever touch me again, I WILL give you a sex change!” She pushed again, followed by, “With no pain killers!”
Joey began to laugh and JC even began to snicker before replying with, “Don’t worry Lance. I was just told that they always say that.”
“I figured,” Lance told him.
“JC? What do I do? What do I do?” I asked worriedly.
“The head is here... well, to the top of the nose at least...” JC said into the phone. “Okay....” He brought the phone down. “Justin, slide two fingers next to the baby’s nose to create an air passage. Be ready to support the baby’s head,” JC relayed.
“You want me... to put...” I said.
“Please, Justin,” Kelly whispered, in a whimper. I nodded.
“Kelly, two more,” JC instructed. She leaned her head back against the back of the couch in exhaustion. “Okay, go for it,” JC said.
Joey, the ever happy cheerleader, started in again. “Go Kelly go! Go Kelly go!” I half expected to see him in a short skirt, doing splits.
As mother and child went through the difficult process, I did my job, which included supporting the baby’s head at the moment. “One more,” Lance said, being supportive. “You can do it.”
Kelly took a deep breath and gave the final push needed. The tiny child slid into my waiting hands, ready with a t-shirt supplied courtesy of merchandise. Kelly leaned her head back and tried to slow her rapid breathing.
“Joey, go get my parents!” Lance yelled to Joey. He ran out the door as JC began to listen to the instructions as to how to clean the baby and cut the cord.
I flipped the bottom of the baby’s foot, under JC’s instruction, to get the child to breathe on it’s own. I sighed as the wail of new life filled the room... and probably the hall and backstage area. “It’s a girl,” I announced to the waiting parents.
JC used the string to tie the cord off. He held up the scissors. “Lance, you want to?” Lance nodded. He took the scissors and cut the cord.
“Donna, that’s not a good....” We heard Chris say as the door swung open and Donna Wright stormed into the room.
“What’s the meaning of stopping the concert like you guys did? Time is money and we’re wasting it!” She opened her mouth to start yelling at us again when she saw Kelly’s flat stomach and the baby in my arms. A look of surprise passed over her. “Where did that come from?” She pointed the the baby.
Chris smiled mischievously. “You see Donna, about a year ago, Lance and Kelly got married. On their wedding night-”
“Okay, Chris, you can stop there. I get the picture,” Donna said with a smile. She went over to stand next to Kelly. “What’s her name?”
“Her name is-” Kelly abruptly stopped and looked at Lance. He had a confused look on his face. “We haven’t decided.”
“Here’s the deal,” JC said as he hung up the phone. “Their sending an ambulance for you two. So, I say, we go out and finish the concert- minus Lance- and just cut it a little short.”
“That will work,” Donna agreed. “I’m going to go announce the concert will resume in about twenty minutes.” As she left the room, Lance’s parents and Joey entered. I handed the baby to Lance. As he looked down into the newborn’s face, his eyes filled with tears.
As his parents stood on either side, he looked up at his dad. “Hey dad... look. I’m a dad.”
Hearing this reminded me of a song, and I began to sing, knowing the others would join me. “Can this be true? Tell me can this be real? How can I put into words how I feel? My life was complete, I thought I was whole, why do I feel like I’m losing control? Never thought that love could feel like this, when you changed my world with just one kiss. How can it be that right here with me, there’s an angel, she’s a miracle...” The others joined me for the chorus, Lance included. “Your love is like a river, peaceful and deep. Your soul is like a secret that I never could keep. When I look into your eyes, I know that it’s true, God must have spent a little more time on you.” I finished my part. “A little more time, yes he did babe.”
JC took over, setting the phone down. “In all of creation, all things great and small, you are the one that surpasses them all. More precious than any diamond or pearl, they broke the mold when you came in this world. I’m trying hard to figure out, just how I ever did without, the warmth of your smile, the heart of a child, that’s deep inside, leaves me purified.” We continued with the song, having Kelly, Lance, and his mom in tears at the end. As the echo of our voices slowly died away and silence replaced us in the room, my cell phone rang. I reached over and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Justin!” Alex greeted me brightly.
“Hi Alex.”
“What’s wrong?” She asked me, concern showing in her voice.
“Nothing. I’m still a little stunned over what I just did.”
“What did you do?”
“Well.... you know how Kelly is, well, was, pregnant, right?”
“Umm... yeah.”
“I just delivered the baby.”
Alex began to laugh hysterically. “Yeah, right. Like I’m going to believe that one.”
“Really, I did!” I covered the phone. “She doesn’t believe me.” Just then, some paramedics ran into the room, the loud noise of the door banging the wall scaring the baby. She opened her mouth and began to cry once again.
“Um, Justin... what’s that?” Alex slowly asked.
“It’s a baby Alex.” I paused. “Kelly and Lance’s. We’re in the dressing room at the concert site. I told you, I’m not lying.”
“Why are you there? And not at a hospital?” Alex’s stunned voice asked.
“Because, there was no time.” The paramedics left the room with Kelly on a stretcher, her holding the baby, Lance beside her holding her hand. “Listen Alex, I have to go finish the concert. I’ll have to call you back later.”
“Okay...” She sadly replied. “Talk to you later.”
“Bye Alex,” I replied, hanging up the phone. Myself, Joey, JC, and Chris went out to finish the concert, eventually having to explain why we had to have a break, why Lance wasn’t with us, and why the concert was being cut a little short.
“Hey Orlando!” Chris yelled into the microphone. “How’s everyone doing?” The audience cheered. “We want you all to know that we love you and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here performing for you tonight!” Everyone cheered again. “Unfortunately, Lance is having a small problem....”
“He’s a daddy!” I yelled. This caused half of the audience to cheer, and half of them booed.
“That’s right. Our Lance is now a dad. Earlier in the show, his wife went into labor, causing us to stop the concert. Justin had to deliver the baby...” The audience cheered for me. “And now, he is at the hospital with her.” The audience continued their yelling. “That’s why we’re gonna finish up here with our last two songs, because we’ve gotta go to the hospital and see how they are doing.” The music for ‘Here We Go’ began, and we sang and danced our hearts out. We had our normal audience screaming match between the ‘yes yes yes here we go’ and the ‘ ‘N Sync has got the flow!’ JC seemed pretty much alone on the right side of the stage without Lance next to him, but somehow, that side of the audience won anyway. Finally, the music stopped and while the lights were still down, JC and myself began to sing.
“It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you, but when we are apart I feel it too and no matter what I do, I feel the pain, with or without you...” The music started and we all began to dance. Minutes later, the song ended, the others running off the stage, but I stayed out for an extra few seconds. “Good night Orlando! We love you!” I yelled, getting much screaming in response. Then I ran off stage, finding JC standing by a back exit, trying to get me to hurry to the limo.
The two of us ran through the door and jumped in the limo, closing the door behind us. As the driver took us through the streets of Orlando, I began to nervously tap my foot and tap my fingertips on the door handle.
“Hey Justin... man, you okay?” Joey asked, looking at me.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I absently replied.
“You sure?” He asked again. I just nodded. “Your not fine.” I nodded. “Are you listening to me?” I nodded. “So.... Justin, your the biggest moron on the planet and you deserve Kelly...” I nodded. “Justin are you the real father of the baby that you just delivered?” I snapped out of the state I was in.
“What?” I asked, not quite sure what Joey had been saying. The others looked at me with a concerned look, raised eyebrows, and an amused smirk. “Okay, so maybe I’m not fine.”
“Why not? There’s nothing to worry about,” JC reassured me.
I just shrugged. “She’s my best friend. I can’t help but worry about her.”
Chris got ready to say something, but the driver stopped in front of the hospital. JC opened the door and jumped out, the three of us following close behind. We literally ran into the front doors and up to the receptionists desk. “Where’s the obstetrical ward?” I asked quickly.
“The what?” She asked, confused, most likely because of how fast I had asked.
“Obstetrical ward,” JC repeated.
“Go down that hallway, make a right through the double doors,” She pointed down a hall and we were gone. “Walk!” She yelled after us.
We slowed our running to a quick walk, reaching the end of the hall in record time. I turned to look for the double doors, instead finding Lance anxiously pacing outside the nursery windows. “Lance, dude, what’s wrong?” I asked.
He looked up at us. “Kelly’s having some tests run, and, I, well....”
“Worried?” I supplied. Lance nodded. “Me too.” He gave me a small smile. “And the baby?”
“She’s doing great,” Lance smiled his first real smile since they had been rushed out of the dressing room. “She’s already had her tests and she’s fine.”
I slowly wandered to the nursery window. “Can I go in and see her?” I quietly asked, looking at the row of babies.
“Sure, come on,” Lance replied, leading me through the double doors, JC, Joey, and Chris following close behind.
“So, he’s back... and has the other’s....” A nurse said, standing at our entrance.
“Guys, this is Laura. She works under Kelly’s office. Laura, this is Justin- he’s Kelly’s best friend, and yeah, he was the one who delivered the baby- JC, Joey, and Chris.”
“Nice to meet you guys,” She said with a smile.
“Is it okay if I take them in and let them see her?” Lance asked, motioning towards the nursery.
“Yeah.” She reached behind her and pulled out four hospital gown things to cover our clothes. Lance had on set of scrubs, because he was in there so much. “Just be sure to put these on.”
We put the gowns on. I looked down at myself and kinda laughed. “Hey Lance. Know what the difference between me and you is right now?” He shook his head. “I make these things look good!” JC, Joey, and Chris began to laugh as Lance gave me a confused look, as if to say, ‘where the heck did that come from?’
“You sure do....” A voice mumbled behind me. I turned to see Laura, who quickly turned a deep shade of red and went back to her paperwork.
Lance lead us into the nursery, where he walked straight to a baby at the end of a row, picking her up. He walked over to us. “Here she is.”
“Can I hold her?” I asked. Lance handed me the baby. I stared down into her face for a moment before wandering over to a rocking chair and sitting down. I began to rock with her in my arms, softly humming. I ran my index finger down over the arch of her nose, then across her small lips. I smiled as she made a face.
Lance came over to stand beside me. “You want one, don’t you?” I slowly nodded. “But Alex....” I just shrugged.
“I don’t understand why she doesn’t want kids... I mean, heck, look at her... she’s a miracle,” I said, referring to the changed words in the song when we sang to the baby in the dressing room.
Lance patted my shoulder. “Lance, Kelly’s back in her room.” He looked up to see Laura in the doorway.
“Room?”
“269.” Lance raised his eyebrows as Joey began to snicker. I ignored them, paying attention only to the baby in my arms. “Give me a break. Guys, grow up!” Laura told them. Lance left the room, only to return a few moments later.
“Justin? She’s asking for you.”
I passed the baby to JC, who took my place in the chair. Lance took me to her room, where I promptly stood next to the bed. “Kelly?” She weakly opened her eyes. “How you feeling?” Lance left the room for some reason.
She yawned. “Tired.”
“I can imagine.”
“Oh, no you can’t,” She said with a smile. She reached up and set her hand on top of mine. “Thanks Justin.”
“For what?” I asked.
“Everything. Being my friend all these years, helping out today. I know that delivering a baby most likely wasn’t on your list of things to do.”
I grinned. “I’m not only your friend, but I’m your best friend. I’d do anything for you.”
“Look who I found,” Lance softly said, coming into the room, holding the baby. JC, Joey, and Chris were behind him.
Kelly smiled lovingly up at Lance, who handed her the baby. “So, we got a name yet?” Chris asked.
Kelly shook her head, a thoughtful look passing over her. Soon, she sat up a little straighter and smiled. “I got it!”
“What?” Lance asked.
“Harmony.”
“I don’t get it... I mean, it is pretty and everything.... but I don’t get it,” Lance said, slightly confused.
“Well, I’ve always liked the name, but, the first real thing she heard was you five singing. In five part HARMONY....”
Lance slowly nodded, then smiled. “I like it.”
“So do I,” I softly said.
Just then, a slightly frantic Briley ran into the room. “Oh my God, Kelly, are you okay?”
“Briley,” She weakly said. She smiled. “Yeah, I’m great!”
She sighed from relief. “I was so worried when I showed up at the concert venue and Donna told me that you all were here. But, then, since Kelly was almost nine months, I figured this should be the first place I check.”
“Didn’t Donna also tell you why we were here?” JC asked.
“Nope. Well, actually, she tried to, but I ran out too fast to listen.”
I smiled. “Wanna hear something amazing?”
“Why not?” She asked, looking down at Harmony.
“I delivered her.”
“No way!” Briley exclaimed.
I nodded. “Yup.”
“No way!” Briley said again.
I nodded. “Yup.”
“Wow....” Briley paused for a second, looked around at the group, then up at JC. “You know, this is so ironic that this happened now.”
“Why?” Joey asked.
“Well.... I kinda have some news of my own....” Briley said slowly. JC looked down at her. Briley surveyed the room once more. “Well, JC....” She paused. “I’m pregnant.”
The room was quiet before we all started laughing. “That is so unfunny!” JC exclaimed through his laughter.
“JC... I’m serious.”
We continued to laugh, but one by one stopped when we saw the seriousness on Briley’s face. “Your serious?” I asked.
“Yes!” She exclaimed. JC stared at her in surprise. The next thing any of us knew, he had fainted and was on the ground at our feet.
