Two months had passed. Mike had disappeared. No one could find him anywhere. Michelle had moved in with John so she would have somewhere to live. She hoped Mike would never come back. The loss of one of the twins really hurt her but she was grateful the other one was ok. John insisted for the last two months of her pregnancy she stayed at home. He didn't want her taking any changes. She was due any day. John just walked in the door. He put his bag down.
"Shell?" He called. He looked around downstairs. He went upstairs to her room. He looked in. She was asleep. He smiled. She lifted up her head.
"Hey."
"Hey." "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's ok." "I needed to get up anyway." She sat up.
"How do you feel?" He asked coming in and sitting on the bed.
"I'm ready for the baby to come."
"She will soon."
"I know."
"She'll be as beautiful as her mom."
"Thank you." "I promise after the baby's born I'll start looking for a new place as soon as possible."
"You know that you and the baby are welcome to stay as long as you need to."
"I know I just don't wanna impose."
"It's no imposition at all."
"I don't know what I'd do without you John, really."
"I was thinking maybe after the baby comes, when you feel up to it, we could go out to dinner."
"A date?"
"Yeah."
"Ok."
"Good."
"I think you deserve this right now though." She leaned forward and kissed him. He kissed her back. Her cell phone started to ring. She laughed against his lips. "Sorry." They broke the kiss. "Hello?"
"Hi." Randy said.
"Hi Randy."
"His timing sucks." John whispered. Michelle laughed.
"Michelle are you listening?" Randy asked.
"I'm sorry what?"
"I said how are you?"
"I'm doing ok." "Just waiting for the baby to come."
"I know how you feel." "I remember when it was almost time for Sam to go into labor." "I was so anxious."
"I'm a little nervous about it."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." "Call me when you have her."
"I will."
"I can't wait to meet my niece."
"I can't wait for you to meet her either."
"I gotta go."
"Ok bye."
"Bye."
"Want me to make some dinner?" John asked.
"Sure." "I'll be down in a minute."
"Ok." John got up. He started going down the stairs. His cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"What's up John?" Randy said.
"Not much I'm about to start making dinner for me and Shell."
"I'm glad you're taking care of her."
"Well she needs that now more then ever."
"John, I know you like her."
"Yeah I do, a lot."
"I know she likes you to."
"When she's ready I wanna start dating her."
"Does she know that?"
"Not yet." "I care about her a lot."
"I know."
"I'd never ever treat her like Mike did."
"You have my blessing John, I know you'll treat her right."
"Thanks man."
"No problem."
"I gotta go."
"Ok see ya."
"See ya."
Later that night Michelle went into John's room.
"John wake up." "It's time my water just broke." She said. He jumped out of bed.
"Ok let's go."
Michelle was in labor for three hours. John was with her the whole time. When she woke up it was morning.
"Hey I was wondering when you were gonna get up." John said. He stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"To get your daughter." He came in a few seconds later wheeling in the baby. He handed to Michelle.
"Hi sweetie." "You need a name." "How about Bailey?"
"I like that, it's cute."
"Me to." "Bailey Renee Orton." "Wanna hold her John?"
"Sure." She handed her to him. Hi Bailey I'm your, uh absolutely nothing technically but you can call me John." "You have yourself a great mommy."