"Which technique can help make students more familiar and comfortable with the assessment process thus enhancing the validity of the score interpretation?" Nick read off the flashcard as I chewed on a piece of popcorn.

"Instruction in generic test-taking skills." I answered and he nodded and placed the card on the back of the deck.

"Which comprehensive individual achievement test battery is available in two parallel forms?"

"Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement." I answered and he smiled.

"Good job, babe." I smiled as he leaned over my body and kissed me.

A few seconds later, my father walks through the front door while pushing a giant box along the wood floor.

"Hey, what are you kids up to?" He asked, stopping for a breath of air.

I sat up slightly and leaned against the arm of the couch, my feet laying on Nick's lap. "Studying for our psychology test. Is that the crib?"

My dad looks down at the box with heavy breaths and sweat dripping down his forehead. "Yes it is. Finally got delivered today."

"Finally! I'm due any day now. We need that crib set up." I rubbed my baby bump exhaustively.

He nodded in agreement.

"I'm making dinner soon. What are you craving tonight?" My dad asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

I thought for a second. "Spaghetti?"

He smiled and nodded. "Coming right up, princess." He told me before starting to push the box down the hall along the hardwood floor.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes. "Okay, next question."

Nick shook his head with a smile. "You're tired. We're taking a break."

I shook my head. "No no, I'm not tired. I want to be ready for this test."

"Babe, you're on maternity leave. You're not even going to be taking the test for a few months." He reminded me as he set down the stack of flashcards on the coffee table.

"Exactly. I won't have any time after the baby is born so I need to study now." I explained. "Now quiz me"

He chuckled and shook his head. "No, we're taking a break."

I groaned and plopped my head back on the armrest. He set the cards down on the coffee table and pushed my feet off of his lap.

"Take a nap. I'll wake you when dinner is ready." He reached his hand out to me and I reluctantly took it.

"Fine." I told him as he pulled me up from the couch.

I waddled my way up the stairs as Nick went to help my dad with the crib. Walking down the hallway, I felt a strong pulse in my stomach. It felt like a cramp but stronger. I stopped in my tracks and reached my hand out to lean against the wall. Taking a deep breath, shaking my head and praying to whatever higher power to please end these braxton hicks. When I made it to my bedroom, I sat on the edge of my bed and chugged the glass of water I had left over from last night before laying down.

My nap was short lived when I woke up ten minutes later to more cramps. This time it was more painful than any of the other braxton hicks I've experienced before. Anxiety started rushing through my veins.

"Nick!" I yelled, taking deep breaths in between. "Nick!"

Nick came running into the room in a panic. His eyes ran up and down my body, evaluating the urgency of the situation.

"What happened?" He asked, running to my side.

"I think I'm having contractions." I told him before another surge of cramps rushed over me and I groaned.

"Are you sure? Remember last time when you had braxton hicks and we went to the hospital-"

"Nick, honey, I think I know my body a little more than you do. I'm sure!" I told him urgently.

His eyes grew wide. "Okay...okay. So uh-let's go to the hospital?"

We looked at each other with anxiety and realization. "Yeah.,.yes. I think the baby is coming." I laughed lightly. "The baby is coming."

Nicked smiled at me and sighed happily with overwhelming panic. "I'll get the hospital bag."

~ ~ ~

"GAH!" I screamed and squeezed Nick's hand. He bent over in pain with a groan.

    "Babe you're crushing my hand." He told me politely and I glared at him.

    "I'm pushing a baby out of my vagina and you're worried about your HAND?" I exclaimed.

    "You're right." He nodded with a grimace. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. AH!" He groaned as I squeezed his hand again.

    My dad came back into my hospital room a few seconds later with a bag of ice. "Hey. How's it going in here?"

    "Oh, we're having a blast." Nick told him.

    "Shut up, Nick. It feels like someone is cutting my insides with a machete." I yelled and Nick removed the smile from his face. "Is that ice for me?"

    "Actually it's for Nick's hand." My dad said as he handed the bag to Nick. He took it gratefully and pulled his hand away from me.

    "Are you kidding me? I'm STARVING and all you guys can do is think about Nick's HAND?" I yelled exhaustedly.

    "You have a cup of ice right here, sweetie." My dad reminded me as he picked it up from the side table and handed it to me.

    "I want real food." I waved him off and placed the back of my hand on my forehead.

    "I know, honey." He told me as he rubbed the back of my head.

    We heard the door open and my OB/GYN walked in. She smiled at us.

    "How are you doing, Dylan?" She asked as she glanced at her clipboard.

    "Absolutely awful." I told her honestly.

    She chuckled and I rolled my eyes at her. She placed her clipboard on the side table and grabbed a pair of gloves from the little cardboard box. He pulled them on and sat down on the swivel stool chair. I felt her inject her fingers inside of me and I wanted to slap her.

    "Oh." She said,

    "What 'oh'?" I said, looking down at her.

    "Looks like you're 10 centimeters already." She told me and my eyes widened.

    "What?"

    "You won't have time for an epidural. You need to start pushing."

    "WHAT?" I exclaimed again as she stood up and threw away her gloves.

    "I'm sorry, Dylan. You're progressing faster than I had anticipated. We won't have time for the epidural to kick in. I'm going to go get the nurse."

    She said before walking out the door. I dropped my head against the pillow, cussing at her in my head.

    "Hope you have a strong hand, Nick." My dad said with a little chuckle.

    Nick chuckled nervously.

~ ~ ~

A feeling of relief and exhaustion washed over me as I heard the scream of a baby. I looked over at Nick who was watching the nurse in awe. I panted with heavy eyes, thanking the higher powers that it was over.

"It's a boy." Nick told me with an ecstatic smile.

"Really?" I felt my eyes swell with tears again.

He nodded as the nurse walked over to me with a little bundled up blue blanket. She placed it in my arms and inside was my baby. My beautiful baby boy. His eyes were closed and he had little blots of goo around his face but I didn't care. He was perfect. My heart swelled with an overwhelming feeling of unconditional love. All my fears that I would end up like my mother, washed away. I loved him.

"What's his name?" The nurse asked.

"Yeah, what's his name?" My dad asked, looking down at my son with love.

I looked up at Nick and he nodded with a smile. "Thomas." I told my dad.

His eyebrows raised and a smile grew across his face. "After me?" I nodded and I noticed he started to tear up.

    "I'll leave you guys alone. I'll be back in about 10 minutes to take Thomas back for a check-up." The nurse told me and I nodded, my eyes never leaving my son's face.

    The room soon cleared out all the doctors and nurses and left just me, my dad, and Nick. Nick looked down at my son with nothing but pure love and that made my heart swell.

    Throughout my entire pregnancy, I never felt alone. Nick was by my side through the whole thing. I just know he'll love my son as if he was his own. Thomas will never be without a dad.

    Life couldn't be more perfect at that moment. That is, until the door opened.

    Greyson stood in the doorway of my hospital room. I looked at him and I felt my heart stop beating in my body. He looked me in the eyes with an awkward smile until his eyes fell down to the blue blanket in my arms. His smile faded and the look of awkwardness was replaced with a look of shock and awe.

    "Hope I'm not too late." He said, smiling back up at me.

~ ~ ~

-A.N

What a cliff hanger! Don't worry though, there is a sequel!

Other Stories:

"Being a Father" (Sequel)

"Belle"

"Mistakes to Repeat"

"Imperfect"

"She's a Sinner"