"Ella," Jasper calls out at our door. I rush to open the door with Elsie floating behind me happily. "Hype's in labor, come on." In no time, we are dodging every person on the street with Elsie a few steps behind us.

"Oh, Sorry," I mumble about a thousand times as I almost run into everyone in my path. Out of breath, we beat our fists on her door as Star opens it rapidly.

"Come in," she smiles, "she's almost done." We walk into the bedroom to see Ike sitting next to her with Hype doubled over. She's sweating and she looks awful from her throw up. No one's really in her room and I give Jasper a look. Soon, Star, Smalls, Nicole and Mike are in the room as Hype gives a sigh of relief. Feel bad to see one of my friends hurting so much like this, but I can tell just being in her room makes her happy.

"Ike, I'm sweating, can you wipe my forehead?" she pleads.

"It's not sweat, it's a mother's glow," he smiles as he wipes her forehead. Elsie makes a sour face, glad I made her sit in the main room, away from the tension in the bedroom. I walk in to check on Elsie, slumped over a chair with a tired look on her face.

"Ella, how long do I have to hear Hype scream?" Elsie gripes. "She sounds like a dying walrus."

"Okay, just because we are going the zoo later this week does not mean you get to call one of your friends a dying walrus. She might be dying anyways, some people die during child birth." I explain. "Plus, a woman could be in labor for days." She lets out a sigh and goes to the nursery.

"Is her water broke yet?" I quietly ask Sketch. She shakes her head.

"You will know when her water's broke." She smirks. "You don't know much about childbirth do you?" I shake my head hastily as she lets out a light laugh. "She may seem like a semi quiet person, but when she's in labor she is loud."

"Okay, I think she gets it." Hype sasses.

"Okay, rather than channeling your energy by yelling at your friends, just push," Ike calms her as she nods. She tries her hardest, and you can tell just by looking at the almost sixteen year old.

"Good job Hype, keep going," I tell her as a sweat brakes on her neck. She waves off the encouragement slightly but smiles as she sinks back into the pillows.

"Hype," Star says silently. "Cole's hungry is there baby food in the…" Ike gets up to show her and promises to be back quick.

Elsie tells me to follow her out the door. I tell Hype we'd be back later as she shakes her head. Soon, we are in the street as we hear another one of Hype's piercing screams.

"So, where are we going?" I ask Elsie. She shrugs her shoulders. We start down the street passing various stores. I wonder how Jasper's doing, he's kind of quiet and shy so I have no idea how he's taking the birthing scene in.

"I really don't want to hear Hype scream, but I really want to see the baby. I mean, I'm happy for her; I am it's just that seeing her give birth just makes me cringe a little. Please don't make me go back there." She pleads.

"Well, you could go back to the house or the landladies or hang with the rowdy newsboys." I suggest.

"Hang out with Race?" she smirks, "I wouldn't wish that on himself."

"Wish what?" Race sneaks up on us.

"That," I start, trying to think of the very thing that could get Race away from us as soon as possible. I don't suggest Hype's newborn because the last thing she needs is a loudmouth telling her to try harder when she's already to her limits.

"That I wish… oh, I have nothing, just go choke on your cigar or something." I sigh. I roll my eyes and look at Elsie. She doesn't do anything but tighten her pigtails.

"Whatever," he snaps; I guess we all have an attitude today. I look at my sister with a sour face and bursts out laughing as she looks at me.

"A dying walrus, is that the best you could come up with?" I laugh.

"I just didn't want to insult your cooking." She smiles.

"I cook fine, it is you that cannot boil water." I point out. "Come on, let's go back. Hope the baby is born now." I lead her back to the apartment and slowly open the door. I sigh as we hear ear piercing screams from Hype and Elsie can't stand it. She covers her ears the best she can. Sketch was right when she said we'd know if Hype's water broke. I point Elsie to the nursery. It must be sound proof or something because Lucy and Cole, whom Star brought back from the landlady's, is fast asleep. Lucy turns in her tiny bed as Cole snuggles up to Mr. Snuggles, nesting his head into the bear's chest as if it was Hype. I pull up chairs in Hype's room and we all wait patiently. Not caring how many screams let out that destroyed our hearing. I wonder how Elsie's doing in the nursery. We hear the clock in the main room chime three times. Soon a small wail fills the room and we all get silent. Sketch holds the newborn in a way we aren't talking, just silently admiring. Ike slowly walks over to us and then his jaw drops.

"Hype, I'm …" he starts slowly, and then he walks out the front door. Davey runs to check on him as I turn around in concern, looking at the newborn. It's beautiful, bloody and it has a lot of Ike's blonde hair. Soon, Elsie skips into the room and winces at the sight of blood. Hype couldn't care less about her newborn as she lays her head into the pillows.

"Is it?" she gasps, and then she starts screaming again.

"Hype, calm," Sketch warns, she looks at Hype's face and smiles. "It will be okay,"

"Promise," she whispers.

"I promise," she nods.