The chairs in the tiny waiting room were paired by an adjoining arm, leaving Sophie with the option of sitting beside Max or across the aisle from him. In the car, he'd been calm and relaxed, distracting her with tales from his childhood. Ever since walking into the hospital, though, he'd fallen silent. He sat ramrod straight on the green pleather seat and his jaw looked like it might shatter if he didn't loosen a muscle soon.

She eased herself into the spot beside him, careful not to get too close. As he had with her earlier, she tried to lighten the mood with a funny anecdote. "Last time I was in a hospital, Beth was giving birth. Her water broke in my restaurant. We barely made it there in time."

Max's knuckles gripped the armrest. "Last time I was in a hospital..."

Sophie's stomach dropped at her thoughtlessness. She placed a hand on his. "I didn't think. That must have been with Nat, I mean Bug, right?" He's chin dipped. "Maybe you should go."

His gaze snapped to hers. "You want me to leave?"

Dark brown eyes swam with a hurt before her. A surge of need to quell that anguish roiled in her chest. Her other hand joined the first, settling on his warm skin like the more she could touch him, the more she could erase the misconception that she wanted nothing but to have him here. "No. Only this could take a while."

Max jerked his head and stared at the exit. "I want to be here for Finn."

"I'm sure Finn appreciates the support."

"Mary and I are going to find some coffee." Simon and Mary stood hand in hand before them. "Do you want anything?"

"Coffee sounds great." Sophie shifted away from Max.

"I'll take one too." Max stuffed a hand into the pocket of his jeans.

Simon held up his palm. "We got this."

Max offered a small nod. "Thanks."

Alone in the waiting room, silence descended and Sophie stifled a yawn. The anxiety of the drive over and its accompanying adrenaline had ebbed away. A heaviness sat on her very bones and she leaned against the stiff chair back, promising to only close her eyes for a moment. "Where you at least having fun before I interrupted your camping trip?"

Max grunted. She cocked open one eye and regarded him. "Was Simon..."

"No." Max rubbed his eyebrow. "Simon was good. Supportive." Max shifted in his seat, his elbow brushing against hers. She jettisoned her arm out of the way. Perhaps to give her more space, Max swung an arm over the back of her chair. "We got into the alcohol and things got a little heated. Finn cracked, spilled some of what's been bothering him."

Sophie waited, expecting more. Max's lips remained pressed together, and she realized there would be nothing additional added to that statement. Once again, she admired Max's loyalty. "Did it help?"

Max shrugged. "Maybe."

Another yawn crept over her, and this time it took her over. Max glanced around the empty waiting room. He massaged the nape of her neck. "Try to catch some shuteye. I'll keep watch."

The circular movement of Max's fingers, combined with his gentle touch, eased her tense muscles. Sophie closed her eyes again, the back of her head resting against the wall. "Wake me up when Mary and Simon are back."

When she resurfaced from a light sleep, Sophie discovered Max's shoulder comprised a comfy temporary pillow. His arm kept her tucked into his side, his hand resting on her waist. Not wanting to move, she pretended to still be asleep and allowed the heat of Max's body to comfort her jagged nerves, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as a lullaby. The waiting room was quiet. Mary sat again in Simon's lap, the couple seeming to doze themselves.

Every now and again, Max's thumb roamed back and forth across her hip as Sophie sat in his embrace. She kept intending to move, to relieve Max of his post, but slumber pulled her under again.

***

"So glad we rushed," grumbled Mary.

The sound of Mary's voice pulled Sophie out of the half-sleep state she'd been drifting in and out of. Under her cheek, Max's chest tensed as she glanced at her phone. Her battery was almost dead, but the time flashed on the screen. Four a.m. Sophie pushed away, stiff joints protesting, leaving their make-shift bed. She smiled an apology at Max, whose stare followed her movements.

Simon ran his fingers through his wife's hair and kissed the top of her head. "Babies don't come on demand. Not even yours."

"Emily should have had more time." Mary gripped her husband's forearm. "Three weeks was all she needed to make her due date."

"But it's enough time for full development of the child. There is little risk to the baby." He placed a hand on Mary's growing belly. "Or Emily. You confirmed with your friend what Finn said."

Sophie sat up straight. "Finn was here?"

Mary's glassy eyes found Sophie's. "They kicked him out while the doctor attempted to turn the baby. Baby Wainwright is being stubborn. Like its father. Doing everything backwards."

"The baby's in the wrong position. Breech they called it." Simon cleared his throat. "If this doesn't work, they'll have to do an emergency C-section."

"But the baby is..." Sophie couldn't finish that sentence.

Mary entwined her fingers with her husbands. "Has a strong heartbeat. Might not even need any time in the natal unit. If all goes well. We just have to wait and see."

Wait they did.

Time crawled by, the hospital waiting room slowly coming to life as a new day began. The soles of the nurse's shoes squeaked on the linoleum floor as they sped back and forth, none stopping with an update.

Sophie took a sip of her umpteenth coffee of the ... night? Day? She'd lost all sense of time and space. "Did it stop snowing?"

Max nodded. "One of the nurses arriving for her shift said the roads are clear."

Her stomach rumbled, the coffee unable to mask her hunger. "We can't live off coffee. Maybe Max and I should go back to the house. Make some food." She turned to him. "You need to pack for your flight as well." Tomorrow, Max was returning home to spend Christmas with his family in Wisconsin. A few days later, she'd be in New York. They wouldn't see each other again until the new year. Soon after that, Max would leave her permanently, returning to active duty. Bile hit the back of her throat. Max would be overseas for months with no reason for them to see each other again.

"I only have my duffel. It won't take long." Max studied her face. "But if you want me to drive you, I'll—"

"Mr. Wainwright?" A voice called. Everyone bolted upright and turned to the nurse dressed in scrubs, standing in the middle of the hallway.

"That's me." Simon shifted Mary and stood.

"Mrs. Wainwright asked me to let you know it's a girl." The cloak of numbness fell away and Sophie's hands flew to her mouth while Mary thanked a deity. "Mother and baby are doing well."

"What about dad?" asked Simon.

The nurse tried to suppress a smile and failed. "It was a little touch and go there, but I think he'll pull through." She checked her watch. "Give the new parents a moment and then you can see them. We'll send someone out to get you."

Simon's beaming face blurred before Sophie as warm tears flooded her vision. Mary embraced her, and she hugged her friend tightly. "Another girl in the family."

"Had to be a girl." Mary wiped at her own cheek. "Giving Emily all that trouble."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie watched Max and Simon shake hands. The tension between the two men seemed to have shifted this evening. Watching them getting along made her heart soar. Like it or not, Max was one of the crew now.

A short, stout man led them through the hallways of the hospital. They piled into Emily's room where she held her newborn in her arms, Finn sitting on the bed beside her, a strip of white gauze over his left eyebrow. His expression was one she rarely saw on his face these days. Sheer joy.

Until Baby Wainwright moved, and Finn's body froze. Emily rocked the newborn, and she settled, her husband's features softening as well.

"Let me see her." Mary rushed forth and reached to touch the baby. Finn's hand flew out to block her, and Mary snatched her hand back. Sophie stepped forward and wrapped a protective arm around her friend. Simon moved in on her other side.

Emily's fingers tugged on Finn's sleeve. "It's okay Finn." Her tone was low and calm. His jaw slackened and his arm fell, resting on his wife's thigh. She smiled at Mary. "Lucy wants to meet her aunt."

"Lucy?" Mary inched forward. "After mom?"

Emily's eyes shone, and she offered the child to Mary. "Do you want to hold her?"

Mary glanced at Finn, who nodded. Slowly and gently, the baby transferred from new mother to new aunt. "Hello Lucy," Mary cooed at the bundle in her arms. "Welcome to our family." She brought her over to Simon, who bent to place a delicate kiss on the baby's head. Mary' stepped to Sophie, her face wet with tears. "Isn't she beautiful?"

Deep inside, something fluttered in Sophie's chest as she touched the delicate nose of the newborn. Most of her life babies were red, squishy things that cried and annoyed her. But this child, Lucy, was nothing short of beautiful.

Hey all, DL here. 

Fess up. Who thought something bad was going to happen to Emily or Lucy?

Nope. Couldn't do it. Saving that drama for Sophie and/or Max.