Hi all! I know this was supposed to be the last chapter, but it ended up being longer than I thought, so I decided to break it up into two parts. I'll try to post the final chapter tomorrow or Tuesday.

As always, enjoy, and don't forget to review!

7 months later

Coulson had been reluctant to take the assignment in Portland, but was beginning to see the benefits to the job. Coulson was fully aware that Fury had put him on this mission to distract him from Melinda, and Coulson never would've admitted it, but it was working.

"How about we do something for dinner after the concert tonight? Would that be okay?" Coulson asked his companion nervously.

The young woman smiled, fiddling with her cello. "I'd really like that, Phil" she replied.

Coulson grinned at Audrey. "Now where did you say this new sushi place was?" he asked, gently stroking the back of her hand.

The cellist blushed and leaned in to kiss his cheek. She pulled back as Coulson's phone began ringing loudly. Coulson sighed in annoyance. He pressed a light kiss on Audrey's forehead before standing up and answering the phone.

"Hello?" Coulson looked over and smiled at Audrey as she began to quietly tune her instrument.

"Coulson, the baby is coming" announced Fury's deep voice on the other end of the phone.

"What?!" Coulson shouted, causing Audrey to jump. "But it's too soon! It's only been 8 months!"

"I know," Fury replied. "There's a team of doctors with her now, but it's too early to tell if she's in any danger. She's been asking for you, Coulson. I'll be sending a Quinjet to pick you up. It'll be there in 15 minutes."

Coulson looked over at Audrey, who was watching him with a look of concern evident on her pretty face.

"But, I, uh-"

"I'll send Garrett to cover for you," Fury said, anticipating the reason for Coulson's hesitation. "The girl can survive without you for one night. Hell, Melinda did it for seven months."

Hearing May's name seemed to bring Coulson to his senses. Mel. Terrified. In pain. Please let her and the baby be okay, he thought.

"I'll be ready" Coulson told Fury, and hung up the phone. He walked over to Audrey, and looked at her guiltily.

"I'm so sorry, Audrey, but I'm going to have to cancel for tonight."

Audrey bit her lip, trying to hide her disappointment. "Is everything okay?" she asked softly.

"Yes…well, not really. My…" Coulson hesitated, unsure of how to describe his relationship with May. "...partner is having her baby, and it's coming almost a month early. I need to be there for her."

Audrey nodded slowly. "What about–"

"My boss is sending a replacement until I get back" Coulson assured her. "Don't worry, you'll be perfectly safe. We trained under the same Supervising Officer. I'd trust him with my life."

Audrey nodded again, before leaning in to give Coulson a hug. "I hope your friend is okay" she murmured, and Coulson gave her a small smile of thanks, as he sat down to wait. His mind was already a million miles away, or however many miles away Melinda was.

As soon as the Quinjet landed outside, Coulson rushed out. Only once he was in the jet, did he realize that he didn't really say goodbye to Audrey. He passed Garret as his friend was heading out.

"Give my regards to the Cavalry", Garret said. He was one of the few agents who knew about May's pregnancy.

"Don't call her that!" Coulson snapped, and Garret smirked, as if he had just proven a point to himself. Garret waved as he stepped off the Quinjet.

As the aircraft took off, Coulson approached the pilot. "How long until we get there?"

"Half hour, tops".

Coulson took a seat, and glanced at his watch every couple minutes. At the 28-minute mark, he snapped at the pilot. "You said half hour, tops!" he accused. "It's been 28 minutes, and…16 seconds, and we're still not there!"

"Don't worry, sir" the pilot replied patiently. We're landing now."

"Coulson looked out the window and realized that it was true. He muttered an apology, and stood by the door to the Quinjet.

The moment he landed, he rushed outside and burst through the doors of the hospital.

He rushed through the doors of the hospital. "Room 114" he shouted, startling the person at the front desk. Fury had texted him the room number when Coulson was on the plane.

The receptionist indicated a hallway on his left. "Third room on the right, sir" she said politely. "But I just want to warn you that only family members are allowed in the room. Anyone else will have to stay in the waiting room."

Coulson ignored her as he rushed down the hallway. He stopped when he saw Fury sitting in the waiting room. Fury rose and walked over to him.

"How is she?" Coulson asked.

"As far as I know, she's hanging in there." Fury replied. "They won't let us in to see her…we're not family."

"You're the direc-!" Fury clapped his hand over Coulson's mouth with a glare. Coulson's eyes widened as he realized what he'd almost let slip in the middle of a waiting room. "Surely you couldn't pull a few strings, sir?" he asked, lowering his voice.

Fury scoffed. "You try getting past that nurse," he said, nodding towards a stern looking woman who was watching them warily. "I've half a mind to recruit her."

Might as well give it a shot, Coulson thought. He tentatively approached the nurse. She was a tiny woman, with short dark hair that gave her a military-style look.

"Um, could I-"

"Are you family?" the nurse asked, cutting him off. Coulson hesitated, and the nurse pursed her lips in annoyance. "Well?"

"Not technically" Coulson admitted.

"Then no."

"But, ma'am", he pleaded. "I'm her…her best friend. She's been asking for me…she needs me…the baby needs me."

"I'm sorry, mister" the nurse replied, not looking sorry at all. "This is one of the securest hospitals in the country. You'll be able to see your friend once she's done giving birth to that baby".

"Listen, I-"

Coulson froze as a drawn-out scream pierced the air. Though he had never heard May scream before, he knew it was her.

"Mel" he gasped, and tried to shove past the nurse. She blocked his way with a snarl. Another scream came from May's room, and hospital lights swirling before him, Coulson collapsed.