Epilogue written by BitchIsMyReligion

The hospital was bustling with the shouts of code names and squeaking of scuffling feet.

Everywhere I looked, doctors and nurses were running in and out of rooms hauling medical equipment behind them. Every now and then, the double doors of the fifth floor in the Labor and Delivery section would burst open, and a new, screaming mother was wheeled in- on a stretcher or in a wheelchair.

More often than not, they were succeeded by nervous fathers to be who entered the waiting room looking like they were seconds away from spontaneously combusting. One man in particular came in looking like a nervous wreck. He was wearing his t-shirt inside out, his sweats were wrinkled and stained, his hair was a mess, and he wouldn't stop pacing.

I rubbed my temple, looking for the nearest distraction because his nervousness was starting to grate my nerves. In fact, if I was being honest, it was starting to rub off on me as well.

Grunting softly, I reach for my phone tucked into my back pocket. I surf my instagram feed, my twitter feed, and my Facebook- but nothing seems to divert my attention away from the man for longer than a few minutes. Giving up, I put my phone away and search for the next distraction.

I spot something on the small table next to me and turn to pick it up. It's a glossy magazine with a woman in a red bikini on the front cover.

Smirking to myself, I skim through the pages and read one or two paragraphs at a time while waiting for the man to sit down and stop his jiggling. I grin slyly as I admire the various women gracing the catalog in skimpy outfits and barely-there swimsuits. Just as I'm about to get to the hottest model, a tapping sound makes me look up.

I frown.

The nervous man is now tapping a pencil on the edges of the table in front of us. He senses my irritated stare and shrinks into his seat.

"Sorry," he says quietly, setting down the pencil and proceeding to bite his fingernails. I raise my brows.

"First time?" I ask curiously, picking up the magazine again. The man exhales with a small laugh.

"Yes. Is it that obvious?"

I snort, putting aside the magazine in my hands.

"Obvious would be an understatement."

The man cracks his knuckles, proceeding to run a hand through his dark, disheveled hair. He looks at me with bloodshot eyes.

"For the past few days, it's been false alarm after false alarm with my wife. Her contractions increased over the past week, so we've been coming here every two days only to be sent back home. I'm exhausted, I haven't gotten much sleep, and work has been keeping me stressed."

I nod, zoning in and out of his story. He looks at me for confirmation.

"Oh yeah. Having a new kid is tough," I say vaguely, picking up the magazine again. An awkward silence ensues as I try my best to drown out his nervous antics.

"Is this your first time too?" he asks tentatively, making me look up from a model posing on a black sports car. I shake my head.

"I've had a few pregnancy scares with some ex girlfriends as well-" I start, cutting myself off when I notice the expression on his face. I wince.

"Not that children aren't a blessing," I correct myself, grateful I'm not in his shoes, "But no, this is not my first time in a waiting room."

He looks confused for a moment, before he speaks up again.

"So you're not waiting for your wife and baby?"

I let out another ugly snort.

"God no," I chortle, checking the time on the clock across the wall. Where was Alex? He said he was just going to go get a drink of water, what's taking him so long?

The man frowns again, picking up a magazine of his own. Satisfied he stopped making noise, I resume my skimming of tanned, long-legged women. I spend the next few minutes in comfortable silence, looking through various booklets and brochures.

"Hey, sorry I took so long," a voice quips cheerily, stopping a few feet in front of me. I lower the catalog in my hands to see the source of the voice. Alex.

He was back. In his green hoodie and dark jeans, he looked like he belonged in a library studying for the next final. He didn't look like someone whose sister was about to give birth.

I raise my brows, noting his empty hands.

"Where's my water?"

Alex looks down to his bare palms, wincing with embarrassment as he realizes he forgot to bring me the water bottle I gave him money for. I frown.

"Don't tell me you forgot," I say, slightly annoyed. He shrugs, turning to look briefly in the direction of the open hallway.

"Crap, I forgot! Sorry! It's just, I ran into this really pretty girl, and we got to talking, and then I completely lost track of time- and I-" he rambles, having the decency to look genuinely apologetic.

I wave him off.

"It's fine, I'll just go get one myself," I say, standing up. Alex quickly scrambles to stop me.

"No, it's fine. Let me! I don't mind going again-"

I cut him off.

"You just want to go see the girl. You're going to forget again-"

"No! I promise I won't forget this time-" he interjects, turning around to walk away. I grab him by the shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"Oh, no you don't!" I retort, standing up again. Alex opens up his mouth to argue, but just then a nurse comes in while taking off her blue gloves.

"Here for Gabby Adamson," she announces, looking around the almost vacant waiting room. Alex and I immediately straighten up, approaching her at her spot by the door.

She smiles when we come to stand in front of her.

"Are you guys family?" she asks with reprieve, motioning for us to follow her. We nod, trailing behind her as she leads us to Gabby's room.

"Good," she replies curtly, throwing away the gloves in a nearby trashcan and sanitizing her hands. We walk down the length of the entire corridor until she stops abruptly in front of the last entryway. Opening it wide, she extends an arm, gesturing for us to go in.

We don't miss a beat in entering the room, hearing her footsteps behind us after she closes the door and follows us inside. She takes us to the corner where we can see a bed behind a half- closed curtain, and where a pair of feet are standing beside it.

We reach the foot of the half-opened entrance.

There, laying snuggly between the thick, white hospital sheets, is Gabby with sweat-drenched hair and glowing skin. Standing beside her, is a disheveled Hayden with his left arm extended behind her head and shoulder. Both are gazing down at a small cherub pressed skin to skin against the chest of its mother, breathing small breaths of serene and beautiful peace.

I had to interrupt it with a joke. I just had to.

"Who knew just moments before you were accusing Hayden of doing this to you!" I quip with amusement, making motions toward the baby and her belly.

Gabby looks up from the bundle in her arms, surprisingly calm.

"I'm going to let that slide since I'm too tired to argue," she retorts, slightly hoarse. Beside her, Hayden grins.

"I want to see you in my shoes when it's your turn. Your time is coming!" he prods with an easy laugh. I send him a feigned scowl before he makes motions for both Alex and I to approach the side of the bed- all jokes aside.

"Come here, isn't she perfect?" he coos, running a finger over the smooth, soft skin of his baby's cheek. Alex and I glance at each other, gazing adoringly at the new member of the family. I nod.

"Very perfect, indeed."

Hi guys! Sadly, this is the end of Hayden and Gabby's story! *Goes to cry in the corner* Lol.

BUT- for those of you who have fallen in love with these characters and appreciate them with their flaws, quirks and all- I have some news you're going to like! I have teamed up with @BitchIsMyReligion to bring you guys a new and exciting sequel to this novel! Yay!

It focuses on Hayden's best friend -Brad- and will take place about a year after Hayden's story does. So if you just can not get enough of these loveable, frustratingly adorable characters, don't hesitate to check it out!

Scroll to the next page to see it!

Love, this smitten writer <3