Sam and I are spending our dinner break together. It's become a fairly regular thing.

"So you finished up Baby Boy's room?" Sam asks before taking a bite of his sandwich.

I nod. "Yeah. It looks adorable. It's sky blue with clouds painted on the ceiling and around the top of the wall. Near the floor are grass and all types of animals."

As promised, Sam helped move Kendall and Scott into their new home. I've been there every spare moment, helping Scott paint the baby's room.

"That sounds adorable." His eyes crinkled as he smiled.

After swallowing what's in my mouth, I sip my drink before responding, "It is, but you know Kendall. Even though she couldn't help us paint, it didn't stop her from popping her head in every ten minutes to advise us of where we missed spots or to critique the animals Scott drew on the wall and painted. Then the three of us finished setting up the nursery with all the fun baby gifts she got from her baby shower before I came into work today."

"I bet that you are exhausted, Mallory."

"I am. I could sleep for a week."

Sam's phone buzzes, and he looks down to check the message. Just then, mine starts ringing.

It's Scott. "Hey Scott, I just left there three hours ago. Do you miss me already?"

"Mallory," Scott sounds scared and excited at the same time.

"It's Kendall. Her water just broke. We're heading to the hospital right now!"

Sam and our eyes meet. "Scott?"

I shake my head, yes.

Sam stands up and collects the rest of his uneaten dinner. "Tell him that I'm heading to the ER. Have him bring Kendall there."

"Is that Doc?" Scott asks.

"Yes."

"I heard him. I will head right to the ER." I hear Kendall in the background scream in pain. "You're going to be there? Right, Mallory?" Scott asks with concern.

I assure him, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Thank God," Scott says with relief. "We'll be there in five."

Scott quickly hangs up. I texted Kathy to let her know the news. We had already put a plan together in case Kendall went into labor while I was at work. After sending the text, I practically ran to the emergency room and saw Sam standing with a clipboard. I know that the doctors don't usually stand there and wait for a patient to show up. They let the nurses do their job and see them in their assigned ER room. My heart melts just a little.

I walk over to him. "Hey."

He looks up at me from the clipboard and smiles at me. "Hey."

"So, do you give all of your patients the royal treatment?" I grin.

He blushes, then smirks at me. "Only my friend's good friends that are now my good friends."

I laugh. "Now, that was a mouthful."

"You're telling me." He winks.

Just then, the door opens, and we turn to see Scott running in. His anxious face relaxes when he sees Sam and me.

Scott's breathing heavily as he approaches us. "Thank goodness you're both here. Can someone help me get Kendall from the car? I'm parked right outside."

"I'll get the wheelchair." I quickly rush over to the wheelchairs and grab one.

Sam calls after me, "I'll make sure Scott gets her registered. That shouldn't take long because Kendall already preregistered."

I nod and give Scott a reassuring smile. "You got this, Scott. I'll be right back."

Rushing out to Scott's car, I hear Kendall screaming the second I exit the hospital and pick up my pace.

"Hey, Ken." I try my best to remain calm for her.

"Mal! Please help me. I need help. The pain is unbearable," Kendall yells.

"Come on, Babe. Breathe with me," I say, keeping myself steady.

"Breathe! Are you fucking kidding me right now?" she hisses at me.

Staying composed, "Ken, look at me. Look into my eyes."

She finally looks into my eyes. "The point of breathing through contractions is to try to get your mind off the pain, Sweetheart."

"Okay. Okay. It's starting to subside." She's breathing heavily, and I can see that her hair is sweaty.

"Okay, Ken. Let's get you inside." I help her into the wheelchair.

"How long till we can expect the next contraction?" I ask.

"Ten minutes down to the second," she breathes her response.

"Great. Let's get going before the next one hits." I wheel her in and see Sam walking back from registration with Scott. They hurry over when they see her.

"You're in good hands, Kendall." I look at Scott while still talking to Kendall.

I tell him, "I'll move the car to a parking spot."

He nods. "Okay. The keys are in it."

Sam looks at me. "I'm taking her straight up to labor and delivery."

"Okay. I'll meet you up there." I squeeze Kendall on her shoulder before I leave to move the car.

She looks up at me with pleading eyes. "Please hurry."

"I will. Go get your epidural, Ken." I smile reassuringly.

After parking the car, I went to the maternity floor. Sam texted me Kendall's room number.

I saw him walking out as I approached the room. "Hey, how's Kendall doing."

"She's progressing well. The anesthesiologist is in there now to give her the epidural. So, she should be much more relaxed."

Without even thinking, I take hold of Sam's hand. "Thank you."

He looks down at his hand and smiles at me.

I quickly drop it. "Sorry."

"What could you possibly be sorry for?" He questions me with his brows furled.

"Um... you're working, Sam. I shouldn't be getting so personal with you here. We're professional colleagues," I explain my reaction.

"I'm not worried about it." Again, with the sexy smirk.

Wait! Sexy? No, nope, cute smirk. His smirk is cute. Why the hell is my face warming up?

"Are you okay? You look flushed." Sam looks concerned.

"I'm fine. Just nervous for Kendall," I lie.

"Don't be nervous. I hear that Kendall's doctor is pretty amazing." Damn, that smirk again.

I raise my brow. "Is that so? Any way that you could introduce us?"

Our friendly banter is interrupted when the anesthesiologist exits Kendall's room. We say a warm hello.

I look back at Sam. "I'm going to head in."

"Sounds good. I'll see you in a couple of minutes. I have a few patients to check in on."

"Okay." I turn and enter Kendall's room. "I heard that there is a party going on in here."

"Did you bring food?" Scott and I both look at Kendall in surprise. "What? Please don't blame me; it's Baby Boy."

Scott laughs, "Who will you blame when Baby Boy no longer resides in your belly?"

Her eyes go wide. "I hope I stop eating so much after our son is born."

"Oh, look, honey. Another contraction is coming," Scott announces nonchalantly.

We stand and watch the contraction begin, hit the peak, and then watch it go down.

"Sorry, Mal. I replaced you as my BFF with my new best friend, epidural."

I put my hands on my hips. "Is that so?"

"Yep," she retorts.

Scott looks over at me and shrugs.

"The epidural has a nice relaxing effect," I explain.

"Ahhh... It's better than the screaming version of Kendall," he says with a scowl.

I chuckle, "Kendall, honey. Try to get some sleep. You'll need all of your energy for Baby Boy's arrival."

"Okay." Kendall shuts her eyes and is softly snoring in five minutes.

Scott and I sit and watch, amazed, as another contraction hits the monitor, and Kendall doesn't move.

I turn to Scott. "Remind me if I'm ever lucky enough to have a baby; that number one on my list is an epidural."

"Deal," Scott replies.

"Deal," Scott and I turn to see Sam enter the room.

"Oh, good, you got her to rest. Why don't you two grab a quick coffee? I promise that I'll stay with her. If anything changes, I'll text Mallory immediately," Sam encourages us.

I grabbed Scott's hand. "Let's go, Daddy."

"Okay, that sounded weird. Don't ever call me Daddy again."

Sam and I chuckle.

"Go," Sam demands.

"Yes, sir," I reply.

Sam raises his eyebrow, and I pull Scott out of the door.

"I'm going to be a father, Mal! How crazy is that?" Scott says, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I nudge him with my shoulder. "Pretty damn crazy."

I push the up button, and we wait for the elevator to arrive. When it does, we enter the elevator and press eight for the cafe's floor.

I get two cups. "I'll grab Sam a coffee, too, since we rudely forgot to ask him."

Scott smacks his forehead with his hand. "Oh, shit. I wasn't even thinking."

I place a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure he understands our thoughts are on Kendall and Baby Boy right now."

We purchase our coffees and head back to Kendall's floor. When we return, we hear some nurses talking at the nurse's station. Their conversation caught my ear when they mentioned Dr. Daniels, causing me to walk slowly.

A nurse I know says, "I've never seen Dr. Daniels give so much personal attention to one of his patients before. I wonder what's so special about Mrs. Denson?"

I smile as I quicken my pace to catch up to Scott.

"How's our girl doing?" I ask Sam as I hand him his coffee.

He smiles. "Thank you. Kendall is doing great, and so is Baby Boy. Her contractions are getting closer. The nurse was just in here, and Kendall's effaced cervix is about 8 cm dilated. Two more centimeters, and we'll have to wake sleeping beauty to deliver him."

I glance at Scott. "You okay, Scott? You look pale."