Authours note: I'm still pretty sick, but figured I owed you guys another update since it took so long last time. Sorry if it's not up to standard. I did my best, but I'm a little doped up on cold medicine! :P
Allison lazed in the bath, rubbing her now slightly swollen stomach as she stifled a yawn. Despite the fact that it happened to be her day off, that was not the case for Steve which unfortunately meant that she was woken up early anyway. This wasn't something she'd thought about when she had agreed to move in and with the added strain of pregnancy, never having a chance to sleep in was really wearing on her, especially now that she was five months along. However, even though Steve insisted that she quit her job and take it easy as he could afford to take care of them both, Allison refused. She wasn't ready to be completely dependent on Steve and besides, what else would she do all day if she didn't have to go to work?
The ache in her back was quickly become an issue though which was what had led Allison to taking a nice long soak in the bath, praying it would help ease the tension in her sore muscles. However, after only ten minutes of relaxation, Allison's plans were ruined by the sound of her cell phone ringing on the counter. She ignored it the first time, but when it rang again not even ten seconds later, she let out a groan of frustration before drying her hand and answering it.
"Hello?" She said, trying to hide her displeasure.
"Hey, Ally. It's Danny. Rachel went into labour early and we're on the way to the hospital now, but she wants you to come too." Danny replied. It was obvious from his tone that he was a little frazzled and a similar feeling of panic filled Allison.
"Already? But she's not due yet!"
"Well sometimes these things don't go as planned, babe," He reminded her.
"Yeah, I know." Allison grabbed a towel as she got out of the bath. "Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible."
They said a quick goodbye before Allison hung up and frantically got dressed.
"As another contraction builds, imagine your cervix is a softly glowing tunnel, stretching and expanding," Danny read from a book as Allison walked in the room. "Rachel, baby, I'm out!"
"Danny!" Rachel groaned as Danny threw the book into a corner.
"Rachel, please! What are we doing with this hippy new age garbage?" Allison smiled, quietly taking a seat as the couple fought it out. "Let's mainline some drugs. Immediately!"
"No," Rachel said firmly. "I didn't need drugs with Grace."
"No," Danny agreed. "I needed drugs because you squeezed my hand so hard you almost broke my pinky finger,"
Allison and Rachel laughed and the tension between the two eased slightly.
"So...looks like you're having fun..." Allison said sarcastically as Rachel groaned through another contraction a few seconds later.
"Oh, absolutely." Rachel matched her tone. Once the contraction had passed, she noticed how pale and anxious Allison looked. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, I thought Rachel was supposed to be the only one here who looks like she's about to pass out," Danny joked.
"I'm fine," Allison assured them, rather unconvincingly.
"What's wrong?" Rachel insisted.
"Nothing, it's just..." Allison sighed. "Seeing you in pain and hearing all the screams from other women, I'm freaking out a little."
"Oh honey, it's not that ba-" Rachel's words would probably have been comforting to Allison, but due to the fact that they were cut off by another fierce contraction, they really had the opposite effect.
"Can I change my mind?" Allison asked, once the contraction was over. "I'm not ready to have a baby anymore."
Rachel chuckled, but shook her head.
"It's too late for that now," She told her. "But it's worth it."
As if to prove her point, Grace walked in right after she spoke.
"Hey!" Danny smiled at his daughter. She smiled back before turning her attention to the bags in her hands.
"I got gummies, sour gummies and gummy straws!"
"Wow," Danny laughed. "Get over here right now, I want some of your gummies."
"What're you guys talking about?" The little girl asked, sitting on her dad's lap.
"What are we talking about? What are we always talking about?" Danny asked, looking at Rachel. "We're talking about our beautiful, amazing daughter and how she thinks that gummies are a balanced meal."
"Why don't I take her to get some real food?" Allison offered with a smile. She was eager to get away from the labour ward for a while and was fairly certain Rachel wouldn't want Grace seeing her in pain.
"What do you say?" Danny asked Grace. "Wanna go hang out with Allison for a while?"
"Only if I can still eat gummies..." She said, not happy about the threat of 'real food'. Allison smiled and nodded.
"As long as you promise to share,"
"Okay!" Grace jumped off her dad's lap and quickly took Allison's hand before dragging her towards the cafeteria.
After a long and nerve-wrack day of witnessing firsthand the pain she'd have to go through in just a short four months, Allison was left scared and emotionally exhausted. However, as she looked down at the sleeping babies in the nursery she couldn't deny that she felt a little bit of excitement as well. Yes, she'd have to go through a fair amount of pain to bring their child into the world, but after that they'd have their own sweet little baby to love and raise. At first, Allison wasn't sure it was worth it, but now, even though she still wasn't too eager for the next four months to fly by, she was beginning to think differently.
A flash from the second viewing window across the room drew Allison out of her thoughts. She saw Steve and Danny looking down at the babies as well, but decided to leave them in peace, knowing that it had been a hard day for Danny and that he could probably use some time to talk it out with a friend. However, Allison couldn't help, but wonder how Steve felt about all this and whether seeing all these tiny babies was making him more excited or nervous.
She didn't have to wait too long to find out though because not even five minutes later, she saw Steve walking around to her side of the room.
"Hey, how's Danny?" She asked as Steve walked towards her.
"As well as you can expect," Steve shrugged. "How're you? I hear you've had a rough day."
"I'm terrified," She admitted. "But I'm okay."
Steve smiled and put his arms around her waist as he stood behind her, his chin resting on her shoulder as his hands went to her stomach.
"You'll be fine," Steve assured her. "And I'll be there the whole time, I promise."
"I know and I'm definitely taking as many drugs as they'll give me so hopefully that'll make it less painful," She smiled.
"Good," Steve kissed her neck softly. "I don't want any broken fingers like poor Danno."
"I'll keep that in mind," She laughed, putting her hands over his. "How are you doing? Like seeing all these babies and everything."
"I'm great," Allison could see him smile in their reflection in the window. "Nervous of course, but excited. Definitely excited."
"Good. I don't want you getting all freaked out an abandoning me."
Steve placed another reassuring kiss on her neck.
"I'd never abandon you, Ally," He promised. "I'll be there every step of the way. I'll even keep your side of the bed warm when it cries in the middle of the night."
Allison laughed, but shook her head.
"No way, Sailor." She protested. "If I have to take care of it while you're at work in the day then you get the night shift."
"How about we just let it cry?" Steve joked. "Toughen it up right from the start."
Allison laughed again and turned to face Steve. She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him softly.
"You're going to be such a good father," She teased.
"I know," He smiled, kissing her again. "And because I'm already such a good boyfriend, I'll take you out for dinner."
"Sounds good," Allison said, moving her hand away from his cheek to hold his hand. He took one final look at the little babies behind the glass before leading Allison away, his mind filled with nervous excitement about how soon they would have their own.