October 29th.

"Hey Joe, where's mom?"

"She's taking a hot bath.  She wants me to bring her up some breakfast.  Will you help me?"

"Sure.  Is she okay?"

"She had a rough night.  Her back is really hurting her."

"When's the baby coming?"

"Her due date is next Saturday, but I'm not sure if she's gonna go that long."

"You think she'll come before then?"

"Yeah.  If she doesn't I think she'll kill me."

"You've already died.  Can that happen again?"

"I don't know but if anyone can make it happen, it's her."

"That's true.  Don't worry, I'll bring you back again." Cordelia smiles.

Joe chuckles. "Thanks for that.  You're an awesome kiddo, you know that?"

"I do."

"Heh!  Well good."

"JOE!" Fiona shouts.

"Yes, honey?  Are you okay?"

"WHERE IS MY BREAKFAST?!"

"I'm coming, love!  We better hurry!" Joe looks to Cordelia with wide eyes.

"Alright!" She laughs.

**

Fiona relaxed in the tub.  Her entire body hurt, and her baby kicked around like crazy.

"Joplin, you've gotta get out of my ribs, kid.  I mean it!" Fiona arches her back and pokes at her stomach.

Just then Joe walked in.

"Is it ready?"

"Delia is bringing it up.  Let me help you out." He says grabbing a towel.

Joe then takes Fiona's hand and helps her out.  He wraps the towel around her and grabs her robe.

"Thank you."

"How do you feel?"

Fiona sighs and looks into Joe's eyes.  Joe immediately regretted asking.

"I'm sorry!" He panics.

"How do you think I feel?"

".. Not great, but soooo beautiful." Joe smiles.

"I have a heavy ass kid in my uterus.  She dropped so I have fire crotch, though she hasn't forgotten about my ribs.  No.  Now she stretches out and manages to kick her fucking feet into them.  My ass has widened out to about the size of Texas, my hair is dry, my skin is splotchy, my feet are swollen, my nose is runny, my boobs are gigantic, they hurt!  My fingers are swollen, my back hurts, I can't sleep, I pee myself when I laugh, or sneeze, or cough, or blink!  I'm exhausted yet I have to come up with enough energy to push this baby out of me.  And how are you?"

"I..I.."

"Breakfast is here, mommy!" Codelia walks into their bedroom.

"I love that kid!" Joe runs into the bedroom.

Fiona rolls her eyes and follows him.  Her mood completely changes when she sees her daughter.

"Hi baby!  Thank you for breakfast!"

"You're welcome!" Codelia hugged her mother. "Joe helped."

Fiona turns and gives him an evil look. "Yeah, Joe does a lot around here, doesn't he?"

Joe just stands there giving Fiona a goofy smile.

Just then Fiona feels a contraction roll though her stomach.

"Oh!"

"Are you okay, mom?"

"Yeah honey.. it's just a contraction."

"Is she coming?"

"Not yet.  But soon!  I'm ready." Fiona let's out an exhausted sigh.

"I bet." Cordelia chuckles and rubs her mother's belly.  She kisses it then leaves the room.

Joe stands there watching as Fiona rubs her bump with a miserable look on her face.

Fiona looks up and sees him staring. "What the fuck are you looking at?"

"Sorry!  I'm just taking it all in."

"What?  How fucking fat I am?"

"No!  How absolutely stunning you are."

"You're soft, Joe."

"Maybe I am.  I didn't used to be."

Fiona walks over to the bed to eat.

"Do you need anything else, baby doll?"

"No.  You can leave."

"Alright... I love you."

"Alright." Fiona doesn't even look his way.  Instead she grabs her remote and turns the tv on.

Joe sighs and leaves the room.