April 1992.

Jessica returned from home after a long hard day.
She just started shows for streetcar on broadway, and it's quickly getting to be a bit much.

"Hey.. Rough day?" Sam asks watching the tv when Jessica plopped down on the couch.

"Oh yeah.. I'm exhausted " Jessica says with a long yawn.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm too old for this."

"You're not old!"

"Yes I am.  I'll be forty three in two days.  My back hurts, I've got a gut, my body is achy, my hair is no longer thick and shiny like it once was.. Babe.. I'm going through menopause!"

Sam chuckles. "So what?"

"What do you mean so what?  All that stuff I said is horrible!"

"Oh come on, you're just over reacting."

Jessica scoffs and gets up from the couch.

Sam stayed down stairs watching tv and didn't bother going up.  She was in a Leave me alone type of mood, so he was doing exactly that.

The next morning Jessica came down to make breakfast for her family.

Walker who was five and Hannah who was six were up with her and wanting to help.  Shura was with her father for the weekend.

"Mommy can you make the good pancakes?" Walker asks his mother.

"The good pancakes?" Jessica laughs.

"Yeah.  You know.. The-the good ones."

"He means waffles, mommy." Hannah corrects her brother.

"Oh!  Waffles!" Jessica giggles.

"Sure, I can make some waffles."

"Yay!"

"Momma, are you taking me to my music class today?" Hannah asked.

"No baby, mommy has to work.  I'm sorry!"

"Ugh!  You ALWAYS have to work."

"That's what I say." Sam says walking into the kitchen.

Jessica gives him a look and he says, "Well I do!  And what's with you, little miss?  Do you not want me to take you to music class?"

"No that's fine.. I just miss when mommy used to take me." Hannah looks down.

"I'll tell you what, baby.  When mommy's finished with her play, I promise you I'll take off for a while."

"You promise?"

"I promise." Jessica smiles and pecked her daughter on the nose.

Hannah smiles and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother.

**

Jessica was cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast while talking with Sam.

"Ah." Jessica hunched over and held her stomach in pain.

"You okay?"

Jessica let's out a deep breath and nods.

"Yeah.. It just hurt for a minute.  I'm okay."

"Alright.  Well anyway-"

"Ow!" Jessica grabbed onto the kitchen counter in front of her.

"Jess, what's going on?  Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah.. Just hang on a second." Jessica breathes through the pain.

"I'll be right back."

Jessica walked to the bathroom and saw blood.

When she came out Sam looked at her and asked, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah.  I got my period."

"What?  You're going through menopause."

"Well it comes and goes.. I'm in the beginning stages of menopause.  I just hope these cramps ease up before I have to leave!"

"Take some medicine."

"Yeah.."

Jessica walks over and grabs a bottle of pills.

"No wonder I've been so bloated.  Look at my stomach!"  Jessica looks down and touches her small bulge.

Sam looks at it and chuckles.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What is it, Sam?  I look pregnant, don't I?"

"Yeah you do."

"Oh great!  Thanks, Sam!" Jessica slams the pills down and walks out.

Sam grabs her arm and pulls her onto his lap.

"No stop it, I was only kidding." He wraps his arms around her and gives her a kiss.

"You don't look pregnant."

Jessica scoffs and looks at him.

"Okay fine!  You don't look that pregnant."

"Thanks." She laughs.

"I loved it when you were pregnant." Sam smiles softly.

"The cute chubby face.. The big round belly." Sam says placing his hand on her stomach then tickling her.

Jessica laughs.

"Feeling our children move.. It was great.  And I would have gotten you pregnant again if it weren't for those damn mood swings!  I can't take that again!"

"Hey!" Jessica pushes his arm.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a person?"

"I know, I'm only kidding." He smiles.

"Make a person?!  Is mom pregnant?!" Hannah's eyes widen.

"No!" Jessica and Sam both answer.

"Good!  I'm momma's baby!" Walker says.

Jessica laughs and says, "No, daddy and I are finished with the baby making game. Right, Sam?"

"Right!"

"Man!" Hannah whines.

**

Jessica arrived at the theater a couple hours before the show for her call time.  The pains in her stomach had not stopped and actually worsened.  However the bleeding did stop.

While in the chair getting her hair finished, the hair stylist noticed that Jessica kept closing her eyes and taking deep breaths while holding her stomach.

"Jess, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just have really bad stomach cramps."

"You need any pain killers?"

"I already took some.  Thank you though."

"You don't look well at all, honey!"

"I'll be fine."

The woman continues her hair and Jessica continued trying to stay as calm as possible.

Inside she was freaking out.  She didn't know what was going on with her body and she was terrified.

Her costar Alec saw her leaning over a prop and swaying her hips back and forth.

"Are you laboring?  What's going on?" He joked.

"Nothing just stop talking."

"Are you okay?" Alec quickly becomes serious.

"My stomach hurts."

"Do you have a stomach bug?  My kids had that all last week and it was so horrible!"

"I don't have a stomach bug." Jessica stands up once the pain passes.

"Can you get through the show?  You look awful."

"Thank you very much, Alec."

"No I mean you look like you feel awful."

"I do.  But I'm fine."

"Five minutes you guys."

"Okay." Jessica closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

"I can do this."

**

Throughout the play all of the other actors noticed Jessica's voice changing and her body tensing up ever few minutes.

Jessica became so sweaty they were worried something was seriously wrong with her.

Intermission.

"Oh God!" Jessica moaned loudly.

"What the hell is going on?  Are you okay?" Amy who played Stella her sister asked with worry.

"No." Jessica nods.

"No I'm not okay. I-I need you to call Sam. Tell him to get his ass down here. As soon as this is over I need him to take me to the hospital."

"We're taking you now!" Alec grabs her arm.

"NO!" Jessica snatches her arm away.

"Are you crazy? Something's wrong! You can't finish the play!"

"I can and I will! Now CALL SAM!" Jessica shouted.

"I'm sweating, I need Brian."

Brain was the makeup artist that worked on her.

"Tell Sam to call the sitter to come stay with the kids and tell him not to tell them anything it'll just scare them.. OHHH GOOOOD! Dammit! feel like I'm having a fucking baby! These are like goddamn labor pains! BRAIN WHERE ARE YOU?!" Jessica's scream filled the place.

**

Someone called Sam and stubborn Jessica finished the play.

"She looks like she's in pain! We have to get her off of that stage!" Sam says to one of the backstage techs."

"The play is over in five minutes. She looks bad, Sam."

"I know.. I'm so scared. I've only seen her like this when she was giving birth. What could possibly be wrong with her?"

Jessica walked off the stage and saw Sam.

"Sam! Oh Sam, I'm dying!" Jessica cries.

"You're gonna be fine! Let's go!"

Sam helped her out to the car. Jessica didn't even change out of her clothes. Her mic was still on. She just needed to get to the hospital now to see what was wrong.

"AHHHH! OH it hurts!"

Sam drove in a panic. The woman he loves was screaming in pain and there wasn't anything he could do. He had never been so worried in his whole life.

Getting to the hospital they rush her back and lay her on the examination table.

"I've been having pains all day. They're getting closer and closer together and more intense. I- FUCK!
..I-I started my period this morning after months of not having one but the bleeding stopped.. The pain DID NOT!"

"Okay lay back and relax."

Jessica laid down and Sam held her hand.

"Ms. Lange, is there any chance you could be pregnant?"

"No!" Jessica answers with irritation.

The doctor presses his hands into her stomach and Jessica screams.

Sam's eyes shoot open.

"HELP HER!" He screams at the doctor.

"I need an ultrasound done on her a soon as possible!"

As nurses rush to get the ultrasound ready Sam holds Jessica's hand and speaks to her.

"Jessie, you're going to be okay. They're gonna help you.. Everything's gonna be fine."

"I'm scared, Sam."

"Don't be.. I'm here." Sam kisses her hand.

"I have to use the bathroom."

"Okay, just a second, honey."

"No Sam, I have to go right now!" Jessica's eyes widen.

"Uh well.."

"Oh my God." They hear the nurse say.

"What?!" Jessica panics.

The nurse points to the screen and Sam and Jessica see a baby. Not just a baby, A Big baby.

"What.. What the hell is that!" Sam asks.

"Ms. Lange, you're pregnant. Go get the doctor!" She tells the other nurse.

"What! No! I-I'm not pregnant!"

"You are!"

"But. I-I didn't know! Is the baby okay? How far along am I?"

"The doctor will be able to answer that, ma'am."

"Then where is he!" Jessica shouts.

"He's on his way."

"It's okay baby, rest." Sam pats her arm.

"Rest? A baby, Samuel. A BABY!"

"I know! How did we not know?"

"I don't know!" Jessica cries.

"Oh Sam, I'm so scared! What if something's wrong! I drink, I smoke.. I could have hurt my baby!"

"No, no, no, don't say that. Don't say that. Our baby's gonna be fine."

"I feel pressure really bad, I wanna push!" She cries.

"Just breathe, baby.  Everything is gonna be okay in just a little while." Sam says softly running his hands over her hair.

Jessica just looked at him so in shock.
How could this be happening right now?

**

"Alright, Jessica. You're in labor and this baby's ready to come out. I need you to pull your legs back and push down as hard as you can."

"No wait! I.. How far along am I? Is my baby okay?"

"We don't know, ma'am. But your baby is on it's way. After delivery we'll take him or her to the NICU for testing."

"Okay.."

"Now I need you to push, Jessica."

"Uh..uh.." Jessica looks around with an out of it look on her face.

"Come on, Jessie you can do this! Now push baby!"

Sam holds Jessica's hand and her leg back to help her push.

Jessica takes a deep breath in and pushes hard.

"Good keep pushing!"

"Ah! OW! I can't!"

"Yes you can, Jessica! NOW PUSH!"

Jessica sobs and pushes once again.

"Good! Deep breath in and push again."

"AHHHH! OH GOD!"

"Good, the baby's crowning. Take deep breaths."

Jessica turns to Sam and says, "What the hell am I doing?"

"Heh! Never thought have a baby would be crossed off our to do list for today, did ya babe?"

"No." Jessica laughs and nods.

"Okay Jessica, the next contraction is coming. Give me a big push!"

"Agh! Ahh!"

"Good! Here comes the head."

"OW!" Jessica throws her head back and breathes heavy.

"Good job, baby! Oh my gosh, the head's out!"

"Ah!  Oh my gosh.. What do you think it is?"

"A boy." He smiles.

"You?"

"Girl." Jessica breathes hard.

"Let's find out." Sam smiles before kissing her lips and quickly placing a kiss on her belly.

"Come on baby Shepard! Mommy and daddy are ready to meet you!"

Jessica smiles then another contraction hits her.

She moans in pain as she pulls her leg back and pushes hard.

"Good, Jessica! It's coming! Keep pushing! Harder, harder, harder!"

"AHHHH!"

"Oh God! Jessica it's coming! Baby look down!" Sam says almost in tears.

Jessica grunts loudly as her baby leaves her body.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! What just happened?!"

Jessica looks at her baby in total shock.

She looks down between the babies legs and cries.

"Oh my God!  It's a girl!"

"Oh honey!" Sam smiles.

"Sammy, another little girl! Oh my gosh I can't believe this!"

"Me neither.. Oh baby, I love you."

"I love you too.. Oh goodness, look at this precious girl!"

"She's beautiful." Sam smiles.

"Jess."

"Yeah?" Jessica turns to him.

"Happy Birthday."

"Oh my gosh!" Jessica looks at the clock and laughs.

"Awe! This is the best birthday present I could've ever asked for!"

"I love you. You're so amazing."

"I love you too. and yes I am amazing." She chuckles with tears.

Sam laughs and kisses her lips.

**

Jessica and Sam waited for what felt like forever while their new baby girl was being examined.

"I'm so scared. What if something's wrong?"

"I'm sure she's fine.. Did you hear that cry? She sounds great!"

"Yeah.. She does." Jessica smiles softly.

"Oh Christ, Sam! We don't a crib! We don't have any baby clothes at all! *Gasp* I have to work tomorrow! I have two shows!"

"Heh! I think you might wanna call in, babe." Sam chuckles.

Jessica laughs and covers her face.

"What the hell are we doing here with a baby! This is like a dream!"

"I know!"

Just then a nurse wheels their new little girl into the room.

"Awe she's here! How'd she do?" Jessica asks.

"She did really well! She's perfectly healthy."

"Oh thank God!" Jessica touches her chest and breathes a sigh of relief.

"I'll give you three some time alone."

"Thank you." Jessica smiles.

Sam picks the baby up and kisses her softly.

"Wow.. Where did you come from, pretty girl? This is so crazy!"

"I know. She was in there hiding." Jessica laughs.

"Hah!  Man, this is so weird." Sam hands the baby to her and Jessica a kisses her forehead.

"What can we name this precious little girl?"

"Well Blanche seems very fitting."

Jessica laughs and says,".. What about Gianna Desiree?  Gianna I know means God is gracious, and Desiree means Desire." Jessica giggles.

"We have to throw that in somewhere!"

"Heh!  We do." Sam nods.

"So what do you think?"

"I think that little Gianna Desiree is gonna have a hard time around the boys once she's old because daddy isn't gonna let them come anywhere near her!"

"Awe!"

"I love it babe, it's beautiful."

"It is.. Just like her."

Jessica smiles down at the baby.

"I can't believe you were just in me!  I was in active labor during a Broadway play!  I better win a freaking Tony for that!" Jessica laughs.

"Haha!  You're so incredible." Sam smiles.

Jessica smiles back before looking down at the baby  starts laughing.

"The kids are gonna be in shock!"

"Definitely!" Sam laughs.

"Walker might be a little sad but he's still my baby boy!  Hannah will be happy. And Shura will wonder what the hell happened while she was with her dad!"