A/N: A short chapter.


Payne's student are used to seeing me now. I often join his lectures and I feel the baby move.

"He responds to you," I tell him more than once.

He grins. "He knows Uncle Rick is the coolest."

When my stomach starts protruding noticeably some students- female- grow upset at the thought that Payne is definitely attached. I figure I'm doing him a favor in that aspect.

The nursery is getting finished. A border is added and I find a bookcase Payne and Delia have stocked with books- Payne's mainly being over age.

"Hey, I'm his uncle," he justified his lack of age understanding. "He's bound to be smart."

"He starts lecturing he belongs to you," I warn.

As I grow larger it is harder for me to get on Jim's bed easily. I settle for the chair next to the bed.

"Eight months, Jim. Don't worry. Payne has videotaped everything. I think he's even got the morning sickness and the midnight cravings in there." I squeeze his hand. "Come on, Jim. I know you're in there. Come out. I want you to be here for the birth."

I continue to occasionally squeeze his hand. He squeezes back. Once. Twice. I get excited but the rest of his body is frozen.

"I know you can hear me. Keep trying, baby."

That night I am talking excitedly on the phone to Payne. "He's waking up!"

"Now, calm down, Melinda. You shouldn't get worked up."

"But, Rick, he's finally coming around."

After we hang up I walk jittery up the stairs. And trip on the third one up, falling right on my stomach. Pain immediately shoots through my body and I feel liquid between my legs.

I panic. I call Payne. "The baby! My baby!"

"Melinda! calm down. What happened?"

I try. "Stairs. Pain. Blood. Please hurry."

"I'm hanging up to call the ambulance."

Payne arrives right before the siren, opening the door with his spare key. He holds my hand as the paramedics stable me and take me to the hospital. I am thankful he is there though the pain.

"How far along?" I hear them ask.

"37 weeks."

"She's laboring."

"Can you stop it?"

The rest is lost as I pass blissfully out.