TITLE: "I'd Like You to Meet…." (1/3)

RATING: AA
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: Toby and CJ become parents again.

POV: Toby

TIMEFRAME: Continues from "Don't Argue With Daddy." Number 7 in the Piper Series.

1

I didn't even wait for the cab to come to a complete stop. I pushed my way out of the car and began running like a lunatic to my front door. It was a good thing the door was unlocked or I would have rebounded off of it.

"I'm home! I'm home!" I shouted. I glanced around the house frantically. There was no sign of CJ.

"CJ," I hollered. My voice seemed very loud in the silent house.

"Stop shouting. I can hear you from up here," I followed the voice of my wife upstairs and was lead to our bedroom. She was sitting at her vanity table doing what appeared to be applying lipstick.

"What are you doing?" I asked her out of breath.

CJ looked at me through her mirror. "What does it look like? I'm putting on makeup. I can't very well go to the hospital looking like crap now can I?"

I looked at Abbey for help but she just smiled and shrugged. "Leave it be Toby. I've already tried."

"CJ we've got to go," I told her as I walked up behind her. She put the lipstick down and started to work on her cheeks.

"I'm not ready."

"Who cares? The baby is ready and that's all that matters." I spun around in search of her bag that I had had packed months ago. I wanted to be prepared for this exact occasion.

"The baby will wait until I'm ready Toby. Trust me it isn't going anywhere," CJ fluffed out her hair and smacked her lips together. I was stunned. She was due to give birth at any minute and she was worried about her appearance.

"Toby's right CJ. We should get you downstairs and on our way," Abbey stepped up to the plate. "Besides, you look fabulous."

"I'm the Press Secretary Abbey. I can't have this being used against the President."

"Sweetie I don't think the media will use your giving birth to attack my husband. I think Jed will be secure in that category. Now let's get you ready." Abbey helped CJ up and when I tried to help CJ slapped me away.

"I don't need your help."

I was crushed. I lived for CJ to need me. "But CJ," I began in a whiny voice.

"Toby just lead the way and CJ and I will follow. And remember whatever she says just take with a grain of salt."

I never did quite understand that expression and I was completely at a loss right now. I turned and ran out the door and down the stairs. Josh and Sam were standing at the doorway.

"Well don't just stand there come in," CJ yelled from the middle of the stairs.

"We were wondering if you might be missing something?" Sam asked as he stepped aside revealing a ticked off Piper.

"You forgot me Daddy."

"No I didn't sweetie. I knew that Uncle Sam would bring you in." I gave Sam a 'thank you' expression.

"Actually I forgot her too. It was Josh that remembered her just as the taxi was about to pull away," Sam confessed.

CJ reached the bottom of the staircase and slapped me off the back of my head. Immediately I put my hand there to comfort the sting. "Ouch. What was that for?"

"You just left her out there? I suppose once this baby comes you're going to leave it as well right?"

I turned to face CJ. "CJ. Don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to forget the baby. And I didn't forget Piper. I was just-" I was stalling for an excuse. I did indeed forget her.

"Who's got a vehicle?" Abbey asked the group of us ignoring the situation at hand. "I hate to break this conversation up but this woman is about to give birth and I'd rather she do it in a hospital."

"We can take Toby's," Josh suggested.

"Good idea," I tried to find my keys on the wall where they were usually placed. "Where are my keys?" I searched madly.

"If you would hang them up like I keep telling you-"

"CJ. Let him be. You can yell at him once the baby is born," Abbey ushered CJ to the door and helped her with her coat. Josh and Sam each took a foot and put CJ's boots on.

"I'm home mommy," Piper announced as if CJ wasn't already aware of her presence.

"I see that baby. How are you?" CJ asked in between deep breaths. A contraction hit and Josh screamed out for me.

"What? What?" I yelled running back in.

"I can't get her boot on. She keeps kicking me," Josh whined.

"She's having contractions you big baby," Abbey shoved Josh out of the way and put CJ's boot on. "You men are such babies."

"Us? She's freaking me out blowing like an elephant over here," Josh cried out. "It isn't pretty from the view down there."

CJ tried to raise her leg out to kick Josh again. He took a few steps back quickly and CJ missed him. "Keep breathing CJ," Abbey advised.

"I am," CJ snapped. Then she bent over in pain. "Owwwwwww!" CJ hollered out.

"Oh my God Toby," Sam called out. "She's owing."

How observant my friends are during a crisis. "Toby let's move," Abbey yelled at me. "Sam grab her bag." Sam bent down and grabbed the bag by the doorway.

"Keys," CJ said in a slow breath.

"He's looking honey," Abbey whispered. CJ's hair fell into her face and Abbey brushed it back.

"Uh, isn't that your car in the driveway CJ?" Josh was looking out the window.

Sam stepped up beside Josh. "Yep. Toby, forget your keys. Just grab CJ's."

I ran back into the kitchen. Right where they always were neatly hanging were CJ's car keys. I grabbed them and ran back into the room. I held the keys up. "Got 'em."

"Good now let's go; Sam grab a hold of CJ," Abbey directed. Together they helped CJ out of the door and over to her car.

"Don't forget Piper," CJ called back as she was leaving.

"Don't forget Piper," Josh repeated to me as if I hadn't heard her loud overbearing voice.

"I'm right here Josh. I heard her."

"Piper take Uncle Josh's hand. And by God make sure she gets into that van Josh," I raised my index finger at him for emphasis.

"Toby are we all going to fit?"

"Yes Josh. It's a minivan that seats 7." While I locked the door up Josh was counting the number of us on his hands.

"We're good. I counted 6."

"I always knew you were good for something," I turned to leave.

"Oh oh."

I stopped and looked back at Josh. "What?"

"You forgot Piper."

"Josh I told you to take her hand," I shouted as I brushed past him to unlock the door.

Piper was standing right were we left her. "I'm telling," was all she said.

"Would you believe Daddy if I said I did that on purpose?" I half smiled at my daughter who was far from impressed.

"Not really," she replied as she exited our home and walked over the minivan. Sam helped her in while I locked the door back up.

"Toby!" CJ bellowed.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I was trying to hurry and not slip on the ice at the same time. It proved to be too much and I lost my balance and fell.

I heard a big ripping sound. When I stood back up I felt my backside and realized I had split my pants right down the ass.

This is just what I needed. "This isn't the time to pick your ass Ziegler," CJ yelled out and then began moaning.

I hope this baby comes out fast.