Last one guys. I would like to thank everyone who has commented/followed/added as favorite.
Specially thanks to Katertotz for the comments, really made me smile on a very boring night shift :)
There were a few flashbacks that I couldn't find room to use so I might add them as one shots in another story.
Epilogue ...6 months later
Jess woke up to the bed empty beside her, few months ago this would have been an odd occurence but lately it was happening more and more. Smiling to herself she knew exactly where her missing husband was, she crept out the bed wrapping her pink dressing grown around her. Jess was hoping not to be noticed when she tried to get a peek into the nursery in the opposite room.
She found she was in luck Nick's sole attention was on the bundle in his arm. He was sitting on the rocking chair gently swaying at a calming pace. Jess lent on the door frame just watching him.
In spite of his worries and self doubting Nick took to fatherhood amazingly. She loved watching him with their daughter.
Just as she was about to leave him to it when Nick looked up.
"Jess what are you doing awake?"
She walked over to them and sat of the arm of the rocking chair gently so no to break Nick's rhythm. "The bed was empty again, should be jealous that my affections are being replaced with another female?"
Nick knew she was kidding Jess was just as bad when it came to Bethany as he was. "No not at all I love both my girls. I know that I am being a bit too much its just even after this time I still can't believe she is here, y'know."
Once Jess had recovered after the accident it almost gave Nick a chance to let his worry and panic out. She never told him this but he had started talking in his sleep, especially if the dreams were about the accident. During these time Jess held him whispering to him in his sleep that she was fine and there for him until he settled down. If the dreams woke him up now he would spend time in the nursery.
"I know Nick, I'll leave you two to it." She kissed his cheek and then lent down to kiss Bethany. The name had been Nick's idea and she loved it instantly.
One of her favorite memory will always be the look on Nick's face when she told him that her waters had broken.
At 33 weeks pregnant Jess had enough, she had been bed bound since coming back from the hospital. She was bored, in turn she was irritable, and poor Nick got the brunt of it. Amazingly for a guy who couldn't help argue back, he stayed quite. Jess appreciated this.
One the day that her waters broke, she had started the day in a good mood. She laid on the couch watching a few new movies, Nick was in the shower. She felt some twinges, but most days she got these, she paid no mind to it. For what felt like the 100th time that day she felt the need to go to the toilet, "Ugh baby really again?" Slowly, very slowly she started to move off the couch. She made her way to the hallway, to the spot between their room and the nursery, the very spot that Nick had first kissed her, when she felt the water between her leg. "Uh-oh.. errr Nick?!" Jess was stun, not sure she could move, there was no answer from Nick. "NICCCCKKKK!"
Nick came running out of the bathroom with the shower curtain around him. "Jess, are you o..." he spotted the water on the floor.
At Jess's yelling Schmidt also ran out into the common area. "What the hell Jess couldn't you make it to the bathroom. Nicholas I am blaming you for this one. And why is our shower curtain being used a towel?"
Both Jess and Nick ignored Schmidt completely, they started at each other Jess smiling. Nick's gaze went from Jess to the puddle on the floor. Jess gave a little nod of her head as if to confirm that yes it was what he thought, it was time. "Emm Nick, you ok?"
"Yes, right, ok." He was looking around as if he was expecting instructions from somewhere.
Jess laughed she felt surprisingly calm "You packed the bag right? You want to get that? Schmidt would you be able to drive I am not sure Nick would make it?"
She was slowly getting over her fears of being back in the car, but she didn't need to take any risks especially now.
Nick ran into their room to grab the bag that they had meticulously packed a week ago, he was constantly muttering "bag, right yes get the bag. The bag..bag, where is the dam bag."
Schmidt only just caught on with what was actually happening was enjoying his friend's utter melt down. "Sure Jess, but I am using Nick's car. No offense but leather seats and baby mess don't mix. I'll give Winston and Cece a call too." Jess nodded grateful that at least one person had his head on "Thanks Schmidt." Schmidt left the apartment laughing at the mutters and cursing come from inside the room.
Once the loft door closed Nick returned to the hall way "I have the bag!" He looked so happy with himself Jess couldn't help give him affection it smile. Until she saw what he was now wearing to which she laughed extremely loudly to, until the first spasm of labour hit her. "ooh, you can't make me laugh Nick."
Nick ran to the door opened it "Come on Jess we need to go." When she still didn't move he walked over to her and wrapped a arm around her waist "Please Jess let's go." He got very confused when all she did was burst out laughing. This was not the reaction he though he would get when her labour started. "Jess? come on we have to go please, it will be fine." He completely misunderstood the reason why she wasnt moving
"Oh I know that Nick, but don't you think you would rather be wearing something else when you meet your daughter." She was trying to talk through the laughter.
Nick looked down at his attire he still had his shower curtain on, thank god it wasnt transparent and his coat. He gave a chuckle "I think you maybe right. You ok to wait for a minute."
"I'll be fine" just as she said that another wave hit her "Just be quick."
Nick had never gotten ready so quickly and was back with Jess before she even knew it. They made their way down to the waiting car.
Happy to see the hospital Nick thought back the last time he was having to rush with Jess, very different circumstance just as scary.
The hospital was great at quickly getting Jess settled in her room. The doctors had warned them that they were in for quite await. Nick joked saying that he was a pro at that now., but Jess saw the worry in his eyes. When the doctors left them alone for a bit. Jess placed her hand on Nick's face pulled him close so that their foreheads were touching. "We are ready for this Miller."
The doctors weren't exaggerating when they said it could be awhile. Jess was in labour for 15 hours. By the time that the doctors said that she was ready she was exhausted "I can't do this Nick, I'm too tired."
Nick helped her sit up, put his arm around her so Jess could hold both his hands, which had definitely taken a beating, not that he was going to or deserved to complain. "You can do this Jess, you are so close. You have been so brave."
"No Nick, you finish this off please."
"I wish I could sweetheart, but this is all you."
Jess took deep breath and pushed as much as she could when the next contraction hit like she had been told to and she kept pushing. Nick was right this was all down to her their baby needed her to do this.
Finally she heard the doctor tell her that she was done. If Nick hadn't been holding her up she would have collapsed back on to the bed, instead he gently placed her back down. "Jess you did it." His voice so soft. Jess was very relieved to hear the cry coming over from the corner of the room, her daughter had a set of lungs on her.
What felt like a life time the doctor finally brought the baby over to her. Getting to hold her felt so right "hello baby, glad to see you."
Nick was leaning down so his head was near Jess's "wow she is beautiful, so tiny." his voice was full of emotion. He gently stroked the baby's head with his finger.
"Do you want to hold your daughter?" Jess couldn't help the smile at his face,as if he hadn't thought that was a possibility.
"Really, but she is so small, what if I did it wrong and hurt her." He almost backed away from the bed.
"Nick you will be fine. You have to hold her sometime and as soon as her uncles and aunt walk into this room you will be lucky to even get the chance."
"Ok, what do I do?"
The nurse hearing this took the baby from Jess's arms and helped by placing her in her fathers arms "Make sure you hold the head."
"Like this?" Nick looked like he was scared to move, until the moment he looked down. Jess watched as every worry and the stress from the last few months left his face it was almost instant.
"We need to give her a name before everyone gives their opinion." Jess was exhausted but she didn't think that she could sleep not yet, it was too peaceful being awake.
"I did have a name I liked, when you were in the hospital before I read names out. There was one name that when I read it, this little one gave an almighty kick." He looked away embarrassed as if he just relieved a big secrete.
"You spoke to us?"
"All the time." The his was reddening more, he tried to hide it by kissing the baby's head.
Jess thought it was best to let it go, Nick didn't like talking about that time. "What was the name?"
"Bethany."
"Bethany Miller, I like it. perfect."
Nick smiled at Jess then looked back down at the fragile face he held in his arms "Hello Bethany Miller."
Jess was right they had barely got a chance to hold their daughter again, but she hadn't minded it meant that there were a lot of people in Beth's life who loved her.
The first few weeks were mad and crazy full of visitors. She was glad when things started to calm dow.
The door creeped open and Nick returned to the bed. Jess moved nearer to him "My turn for a cuddle now?"
"I think I can manage that."
Jess moved into Nick's arm and started to kiss, they barely had time for only time now, she was going to take advantage.
"Going for a 2nd one Jess?"
Jess laughed at this, "Not yet Miller, not unless somehow you find away to go through that."