Three more months had passed. Claire and John still had no contact with each other. Sometimes at night when she couldn't sleep she would lay there and think about him. Claire had three weeks left in her pregnancy. She was eight months pregnant. Her stomach had doubled in size. Two weeks ago she took her maternity leave. Today was an important day. Today Claire was finally picking the adoptive parents for the baby. That was something she wanted to get over as quick as possible. She was sitting at home there was a knock on the door. She answered it.

"Hey Maria." She said. "I thought you had to work a double today."

"I was supposed to but turns out the waitress that requested the day off decided to come in."

"Come on in." She went in. They sat on the couch.

"You look good."

"Right, I'm a cow."

"No you're not."

"Only three more weeks for this thank god." "I'm so uncomfortable."

"I know how you feel trust me."

"You wanna carry it for me the last three weeks?"

"No."

"Damn." "Well it was worth a shot." Maria laughed.

"You look tired."

"I haven't been sleeping well at night."

"I remember going through that to."

"I've been thinking about John a lot."

"I'm not surprised you're about to have his baby."

"For some reason I don't understand, I kinda miss him." "Maybe because I know he hates me and I don't want him to hate me."

"How do you know he hates you?"

"He looked right at me and said I hate you."

"He was probably just upset." You know people say things they don't mean when they're upset."

"He meant it." "I could see it in his eyes."

"You don't know that."

"I wish I at least had his phone number." "I'd like to talk to him."

"I know."

"It's funny, technically I've known him almost a year and I still know nothing about him." "I wish he could see that by me giving up our baby, I'm giving it the life it deserves."

"Ooh you've never said that before."

"What?"

"Just now when you were talking about the baby." "You said that by me giving up our baby instead of my baby."

"I did?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't even notice." "I can't wait until this whole maternity leave thing is over." "I hate sitting around doing nothing."

"I'll bet."

"I'm picking the adoptive parents in a couple hours."

"Have you decided who it's gonna be yet?"

"Yeah." "I think the baby will be very happy with them."

"Good."

"I wish I didn't have to wait seventy-two hours." "I'd rather just sign the papers and soon as I felt up to it." "I hate hospitals."

"Everything's gonna be ok."

"I hope so."

"It will."

"Are you ok?"

"Not really."

"What's wrong?"

"I know what I'm doing for my baby is the right thing." "I don't understand why I feel so lousy about it."

"I'm sure it's natural to feel this way."

"I don't like it."

"I know." "Come here, it's ok." They hugged.

A few hours later there was another knock on Claire's door. She answered it. It was Lauren from the adoption agency and the Petersons. They all sat down.

"Well Mr. and Mrs. Peterson." Claire said. "I'm sure you know by now that I've picked you to be the adoptive parents of my baby."

"Yes and we are thrilled." Mrs. Peterson said.

"I'm glad." "Now as you know by due date's not for three weeks." "I've been told you will be contacted at the end of the three day waiting period." "Then everyone will come down and sign the papers."

"Miss Logan I just wanted to thank you." "This means so much to me and my husband."

"You're welcome."

"We will take very good care of the baby."

Two nights later Claire was in bed asleep. It was 3:00 in the morning. She was awakened by a sharp pain in her stomach.

"Ahhhh!" She picked up the phone and called Maria.

"Hello." She said tiredly.

"Maria!" "Maria it's time."

"Oh my god." "I'm coming." "I'm coming right now."

Maria got there in ten minutes. In that time Claire's water broke. They got to the hospital and Claire was in a room. She was having contractions.

"Ow!" "Ow!" "Ow!"

"I know Claire breathe."

"Maria I want John!"

"I don't know what to tell you."

"I need John!" "Find him!"

"It's alright just breathe, just breathe." A few minutes later she was given an epidural. Fifteen minutes later the doctor came in.

"Claire I need you to push." Doctor Fisher said. She pushed and pushed for what seemed like forever to her. "I can see the head." "One more push." She pushed after a few seconds she heard the baby crying. Then she passed out.

She opened her eyes it was morning. She hadn't remembered anything anyone said before she passed out. She just laid there. Suddenly she heard crying and realized the baby was in the room. She tried ringing her buzzer for a nurse to come but there was no response. She couldn't just let it cry. So she got out of bed and slowly walked over to the baby. She saw the word "Female" written on what the baby was laying in.

"Ok Claire." She said out loud to herself. "You've seen babies get picked up in movies." "How hard could it be?" She picked up the baby and sat down in a rocking chair. "It's ok, it's ok sweetheart." "Ssh." After a few seconds she stopped crying opened her eyes and looked at Claire. Claire had no doubt the baby had John's eyes. "Hi honey." "You're a beautiful baby girl." "Look at your tiny little hands and your tiny little fingers." She said starting to cry. "You're the most perfect thing I've ever seen." "I love you so much." She kissed her on the forehead. "I wish your daddy was here." A nurse walked in.

"Oh I'm sorry Miss Logan you didn't want the baby in here did you?"

"No I didn't but I've changed my mind." "I want her to stay."

"She needs to be fed would you like me to bring you a bottle?"

"Yes and if you could show me how to feed her, I'd appreciate it."

"There's nothing to it it's very simple."

"Nurse could you please call Lauren Jane and tell her to come down here?" "I need to talk to her."

"Yes." "Oh and your friend Maria said to tell you she'll be back after her shift."

"Ok thank you."