It was almost ten in the morning and Jensen felt like she was going to throw up on the way to press. While her directors knew about her pregnancy, no one else did. Including her co-stars. Tina had come for the ride with her, but said she would hang out at the closest coffee shop so it didn't get crowded with interviewers and reporters. Since they were having a big press conference first, followed by too many days of interviews for various magazines and websites, Jensen was too close to revealing herself to the world after months in isolation.

            Walking into the building for press, Jensen's heart pounded in her chest. She'd made sure to take her Lexapro before she left, but the nerves made themselves known in spite of her medication. An assistant came up to her the moment she walked in the door. Jensen tried to pretend that she hadn't jumped.

            "Missus Rhodes," the assistant said, "I'm here for anything you might need, my name's Blaine. Give me a call if you need anything, okay? I'll be here for you for every day of press."

            "I—thanks," Jensen said, "Nice to meet you, Blaine."

            "Can I get you a coffee—" Blaine stopped, eyes widening. "Water? Um, something to drink?"

            "Water would be great," Jensen said. "Thanks."

            "Jensen Rhodes!"

            Jensen turned on her heel to see a grinning Scott Vine, her co-star. Who had only recently topped the Hollywood's most eligible bachelor list with his divorce that the press liked to hound him about. He and Jensen had bonded over the press not leaving them alone over things they didn't want to talk about.

            "Holy shit," Scott said, grinning as he walked over. He went to wrap his arms around Jensen but stopped himself. "Hugging, are we cool with it?"

            Jensen nodded.

            Scott hugged her, Jensen standing on her toes as he did so. He was built big enough that hugging Scott, no matter how tightly, felt like a bear-hug in the greatest way possible.

            "So, I'm sensing news," Scott said as he pulled away.

            Jensen smiled softly and held her arms out to the side. "You remember when you had the wonderful task of holding my hair back while I vomited on set?"

            Scott let out a belly laugh. "All in a day's work."

            "Turns out I didn't have food poisoning."

            Scott hugged her again. "I take it this is... it? The big reveal? The hello world, baby on the way?"

            Jensen drew a deep breath in. "That it is."

            "That's exciting," Scott said. He took a moment, examining Jensen's face. "Right?"

            "It's..." Jensen considered her words carefully. "Going to feel a lot better when it's done."

            "Standing in the lobby not doing it for you?"

            "Imagining the cameras flashing isn't either," Jensen said.

            "Ten minute call," an organizer yelled from deeper in the lobby. "Can I get the actors over here, please?"

            "Think you can wait ten minutes?" Scott asked. "Or should we go sneak on stage and get those pictures done now?"

            "I've been waiting seven months," Jensen said. "I think I can wait ten minutes."

            Scott grinned. "Good thing you get to go out first, right?"

            Jensen's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

            "You're the lead," Scott said, "you're going out first."

            "Can I..." Jensen twisted the ring in her nose. "Not do that?"

            "Want me to go with you?" Scott asked. "I was supposed to be second anyway."

            "Could you?"

            Scott nodded. "Course."

            "Earth to Jensen Rhodes and Scott Vine," the organizer yelled again. "You're part of the actors."

            "You got this," Scott said. "Are you ready?"

            "If I say yes, do you think it'll convince me I am?"

            "Yes."

            "Then yes." Jensen felt less than convinced. But she appreciated Scott for trying to help.

            Jensen and Scott walked over to where the rest of the cast and crew. Eyes and smiles widened, hugs were given and received. The organizer waited patiently. Told them where they needed to go with "t-minus ten seconds, everyone!" Blaine delivered the water to Jensen, who thanked him profusely as she tucked the bottle under her arm.

            There was a short introduction to the press conference. Talking about the premise of the film, the main actors. A teaser trailer played—Jensen had to admit, it looked good. A superhero movie hadn't been her first choice, but the script had made her fall in love with the idea. (Miles did too.) (Miles helped her fall in love with a lot of things.) The moderator reminded the reporters that they were going live and there was some legal jargon about sharing the trailer before names were called.

            "Are you ready?" the organizer asked.

            Jensen jumped. Again. A hand found her stomach. "Um. Yeah. Can Scott come out with me? If that's all right?"

            "Are you sure?" the organizer asked. "This is your... big moment. And all."

            "I'm not the only person involved in this movie," Jensen said.

Because it was true. Because it wasn't her movie, it was their movie. The cast and crew and everyone else involved. Jensen had some big moments in her life. Few of them were career related, sure. But the ones that stood out were not about acting. There was Miles. Their first kiss. Their first date. Their wedding. Telling him she was pregnant. Twice. Rocky's birth. There were enough big moments that Jensen had that lit up her life in a way the silver screen couldn't.

            "You go, sister," Scott said, grinning.

            The organizer tapped the Bluetooth in her ear. "Hey, can you announce Rhodes and Vine at the same time? Thanks."

            "Thank you," Jensen said.

            "Can I get you... both near the stage?"

            Jensen and Scott walked where they were ushered.

            Scott leaned over to her. His long hair dangled in front of his face. "Rhodes and Vine sounds like a cop show."

            "God, don't say that," Jensen said, "Miles'll want us to film it."

            Scott laughed loud enough that it echoed in the lobby.

It only took moments before their names were called. The walk out felt like Jensen was in slow motion. Swimming through camera flashes. Overlapping. Shouts and yells came from reporters that didn't hold their hands up and weren't acknowledged to ask their question. She waved to the reporters and tried to ignore how hard her heart beat against her chest.

            The moderator continued listing names until there was no more cast or crew to come on stage. They sat down together, settling into their seats.

            Jensen's phone buzzed in her pocket. She went to turn it onto do not disturb so it didn't go off again, but her eyes caught the text.

            YOU'RE FREE. Jensen didn't have to see the hearts by the name to know who it was. She smiled softly as another message came through. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. New message: yes i should be asleep but i couldn't wait. New message: the lead actress is stunning, do you think she'd go out with me? New message: you know you shouldn't be on your phone during press. New message: but you do look adorable smiling at it.

            Since their director was answering questions, Jensen decided sending a quick reply wouldn't hurt. Lead actress wants to know if this cute guy she met during another one of her films would like to be her date to the premiere.

            he says absolutely in both languages he knows, Miles replied. . New message: i promise i'm not drunk. New message: you probably knew that. New message: i'm drunk on you. New message: drunk in loooooove. New message: i need to go to bed, jesus. New message: I MEANT JENSEN. New message: this is why i stick to rhodes. New message: i love you, good night. New message: well, good morning. New message: you know what i meant.

            Sweet dreams, Jensen wrote, I love you.

            "Missus Rhodes?"

            Jensen shoved her phone under her thigh and looked up. "Sorry. Pardon?"

            The moderator smiled kindly. "Is there anything you can tell us about your character?"

            "Nothing that you didn't see in the trailer," Jensen said with a small laugh.

*

"Oh my God," Jensen said as she sat down on her creaky hotel bed; pickles, frosting, and a sports drink in her hands. The life she led. "I have to last through forty-four more days of that?"

            "You had some great answers," Tina said from the seat at the desk not too close to the bed, but close enough to know it was a single bed hotel room. "From what I saw. For what that's worth."

            Jensen looked at her as she took a bite of pickle dipped in vanilla frosting. "Really?"

            "You had a lot of idiotic questions," Tina said, "but very good answers."

            "Thanks." Jensen took a sip of the Lucozade Tina had handed her after they got back to the hotel. Not quite blue Gatorade, but it was keeping her awake while her jet lag settled in. It also wasn't the best flavour to mix with pickles and frosting. Pickles and frosting weren't the greatest flavours to mix, either.

            "How'd you sleep yesterday?"

            "When I got to sleep, it was like a baby."

            "I never understood that saying," Tina said. "Babies don't sleep when you want them to."

            "I slept like I worked a graveyard shift," Jensen said.

            "Better," Tina said, "and... good. The heat wasn't too bad?"

            "Maybe it's not as bad as Vancouver."

            "That could be," Tina said. She twisted back and forth in her chair. "But if it's better, that's a good thing, right?"

            "I think so," Jensen said. "I haven't had much time to process London. And this baby—" Jensen put a hand on her stomach and looked down. "—I love you, baby, but I swear, figure out the time difference."

            Tina smiled softly. "You didn't travel when you were pregnant with Rocky, did you?"

            "God, no," Jensen said. "Miles and I stayed in Vancouver the entire time. Any time I even offered to do something, he treated me like I was going to break. Even the grocery runs were like dates because he made sure he came to every single one. Didn't matter which trimester we were in."

            "First time dads are wonderful," Tina said, "aren't they?"

            "He's amazing," Jensen said. "God, I love him so much."

            "Considering I'm here with you on the slightest chance something could happen," Tina said, "I don't think I have to say how much he loves you."

            "Is..." Jensen started. "Can I ask you something?"

            "Of course."

            "I'm anxious," Jensen said as she looked at the four walls around her. When her brain wandered to them closing in, her eyes snapped back to Tina. "Like, all the time. And I can't stop feeling that way."

            "Okay," Tina said. "Is this thinking about the future? Or is this thinking about the now?"

            "My now is focused on my future," Jensen said. She waved a hand in front of her face, feeling heat kick in. Not knowing if it was internal panic or external temperature, a quick wave to cool off never hurt anyone. "This due date is going to be here before we know it."

            "And you're in a place full of distractions," Tina said. "Being a mom is hard. And tiring. But your life doesn't come to a stop because of pregnancy. You have to live too. Have you felt any relief since we landed?"

            "Now it's panic in London," Jensen said, dipping another pickle into frosting.

            "Took too much after The Smiths, did you?"

            Jensen snorted and took bite of her food. "Something like that."

            "When do you have a day off?"

            "Next week," Jensen said. "Saturday. I think. I'd have to check."

            "Ask a co-star to walk around London with you. We're not far from Buckingham Palace if you decide you want to see it," Tina said. "Promise me you won't sit here the whole time."

            "Sleeping in and watching The Great British Bake-Off sounded so fun, though."

            "You can watch The Great British Bake-Off while you and your husband take care of your baby," Tina said. "Now is time to see exciting things."

            "You said co-star," Jensen said, quirking an eyebrow at her.

            "Come on, Jensen," Tina said. "You don't want me with you all the time, do you?"

            "I happen to like your company," Jensen said. "For the record."

            "I like your company," Tina said, "but maybe our relationship should be professional until I deliver your baby."

            "I thought I wasn't supposed to be thinking about that," Jensen teased as she took another sip of Lucozade.

            "Touché," Tina said, holding her hands up in defense. "But someone you've known for longer might be company."

            "Only a few months longer," Jensen said. "Not that bad."

            "I'm serious, Jensen."

            "You don't want to hang out with me?" Jensen pouted. "I'm hurt, Tina."

            "Aren't we hanging out—" Tina mimed quotes in the air. "Right now?"

            "Yeah, in my hotel room," Jensen said. "Which you want me to get out of."

            "When you look at me," Tina said, "what do you think of first? A friend, or your midwife?"

            Jensen took a bite of pickle and frosting as Tina stared at her expectantly. Was it a childish way to avoid the question? Absolutely. But sometimes the world could use a little childish. Not every question had to be answered.

            "Jensen."

            Jensen pushed her bite of food to the side of her mouth. "Mouth full. Can't be a hypocrite to my daughter."

            "Kind of proving my point by avoiding the question," Tina said.

            Jensen's shoulders slumped as she swallowed. "I'm sorry."

            "That's okay," Tina said. "I'm delivering your baby, I don't have to be your best friend."

            "We are friends, though," Jensen said. "Right?"

            "We are."

            "Cool," Jensen said. "I'm glad."

            Tina smiled. "Me too."

            "Does it ever... not feel like the world wants to know every detail about you?" Jensen asked.

            "I'm not the star of a new superhero movie," Tina said, "you're a hot commodity right now. Very in."

            "That's what I thought." Jensen hadn't meant to wrinkle her nose, but she had.

            "For whatever it's worth," Tina said, "you've been through this before. You can do it."

            Jensen nodded softly.

            Because there was the you're not a superhero and the you can do it. Somewhere they co-existed, right? It was simply somewhere Jensen hadn't located yet.