Gia's heartbeat wasn't one most were used to, but she could still feel it as she lay in bed. It was keeping her alive so far, but it was also keeping her up. Her pregnancy was moving along, and while every day brought her a step closer to her little bundle of joy, it also brought her closer to her death. Unless fate was on her side, or Noah could come up with his solution in time to save her, she had a sick feeling in her stomach that she was going to die.

She had talked about it with Jake. It wasn't a fun conversation, but one they needed to have. For him, she needed to be strong. He was terrified of losing her, so Gia needed to put on a brave face and assure him that she would be okay. But she wasn't sure of that at all, and in fact, feared Jake could be onto something. What if she died?

It scared her, most nights. But tonight, it really got her worried. Especially when, even to her, her heartbeat felt strange.

"No regrets, kid," she whispered and rubbed her stomach. If she was to die, she hoped she didn't have to take her child with her. But if the baby got to live, she wanted him or her to know she was okay. She didn't want her child to bear any guilt for what happened. "You're still the best thing that could happen to me."

Knowing she wasn't going to get any sleep, Gia got out of bed. She wanted to go to the kitchen, but noticed the curtains were drawn at the back door, which meant someone was on the balcony. She had left Jake in bed, so it had to be either Emma or Jordan. Curious as to why someone else would be up, Gia made her way to the balcony. That was when she heard the sob. She knew it right away.

"Emma?"

Emma was on the balcony, curled up against the wall, clutching her stomach tight. Right next to her, Tiger was sitting loyally, trying to be of comfort, but looking very scared.

"It's Joe," Emma muttered and then grit her teeth tight.

"You're not due for a few weeks," Gia said.

"I don't think he knows that," Emma shook her head and managed to look up. Gia saw she was in a lot of pain. "Get the guys. Please."

Gia nodded and bolted to the bedrooms. She ran to Jordan first, because it was his fiancée about to have his baby. She grabbed Emma's pillow and smashed it over Jordan's face.

"Get up, butthead! It's the baby!"

Jordan was on his feet in a second, rushing out to the living room, then the balcony to help his fiancée get downstairs to the car. Gia picked up the overnight bag and then ran to her own room. She shook Jake awake.

"Five more minutes."

"You're not going to want to drive to the hospital by yourself, are you?" Gia asked him. Jake bolted up and put his hands on Gia's stomach.

"What? Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Gia nodded her head. "Emma might be having the baby."

"For real? But she's not due..."

"Yeah, I know," Gia said. Jake shook his head, jumped out of bed, grabbed a shirt and ran out to the hallway, where Jordan was helping Emma get to the elevator. Jake ran ahead to press the button while Gia put the vest on Tiger.

"There's going to be a lot of waiting," Gia told the cat. "Especially for you. But if this goes well, I promise, you'll get to meet him soon."

When the vest was on, Tiger stayed by Gia's side as the yellow Ranger rushed to catch up to the others.

-Megaforce-

Normally, it was Troy's alarm clock waking him up at an ungodly hour for class, but today, something felt different about his alarm. When he came to a little more, he realized the noise he was hearing wasn't his clock, but his ringtone. He reached groggily for his phone, answered the call and put it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"The baby is coming!"

"Gia? You're still months out."

"Emma's, you idiot," Gia grumbled on the other end. "We just got to the hospital. They're taking her in."

"She's not due for another few weeks."

"Tell Joe that," Gia said. "Look, if you want to be here for the magical moment, get your ass, Orion's ass, and get Noah and Rebecca down here as soon as possible. I've already called my mothers and they're on their way with Ryan."

"We're coming," Troy nodded his head and started to get out of bed. "You sure this is the real thing?"

"Want to take that risk?" Gia asked. Troy shook his head, promised he'd be at the hospital as soon as possible, then put his phone down. He quickly got dressed, grabbing whatever was on the floor, then stepped out to his living room and kitchen. Orion was on the couch, completely out of it.

"Orion! Get up. Emma's having a baby."

"Now?" Orion asked and checked the time on his phone. "It's three in the morning."

"Do babies wait until business hours on Andrasia?" Troy asked as he started the coffee pot. "You can nap at the hospital. Let's just get there before Gia yells at us for missing the whole thing."

"Don't want that," Orion said with a shake of his head. He got up, pulled on a pair of pants, then gasped. "My driving test!"

"You can take it another day. You need the practice anyways."

"No, I feel ready," Orion said. "I really feel like today's the day."

"Emma's about to have a baby," Troy said. "Do you really want to miss that just to get your driver's license?"

"I... uh... well, I guess it can wait another week or so," Orion shrugged. Troy offered him a cup of coffee and they were both out the door.

-Megaforce-

Jake wasn't happy to be left alone in the hospital, but Emma had been taken right away by a nurse, and Jordan was allowed to follow. Gia had gone as well, since Emma wanted her to be there for the birth. Because no one else had arrived, Jake was left to sit alone in the building he feared most. He had Tiger by his side, but the cat wasn't doing anything to keep his nerves under control.

Finally, Claire and Vanessa rushed in, with Ryan in tow. They looked like a mess, but Jake assumed everyone would since the sun wasn't even up yet and they were pulled out of their sleep. The mothers saw him and came over.

"What's happening?"

"I haven't heard anything yet," Jake shook his head. "But it's a little early, isn't it?"

"A little," Vanessa nodded her head, "But this isn't that uncommon. Everything should be fine."

"You had to say that," Jake said. "That's what all the doctors said about my family, and..."

"Emma was a little early," Claire pointed out. "She turned out just fine."

"The doctors know what they're doing," Vanessa assured Jake. "Everything's going to be fine. How long has she been in there for?"

Jake shrugged, then checked his watch, "Ten minutes."

"Okay, so not long," Vanessa sat down. "We'll just wait until we hear something."

"Wait?" Claire asked. "My baby's having a baby, and I've got to wait?"

"Gia and Jordan are there with her..."

"Have either of them had a baby before?" Claire asked rhetorically then shook her head. She walked up to the front desk, "Excuse me, I'm here for Emma Goodall. She came in here about ten minutes ago. She's having a baby and I'm her mother."

"She's being looked after. When the doctor comes out, you can ask him."

"I don't think you get it," Claire shook her head. "My daughter is having a baby and I'm not in there."

"Claire, come sit down," Vanessa called. "When Emma needs you, she'll ask."

"Did we miss it?" Rebecca asked as she burst into the waiting room, looking excited, but frazzled. Noah, Troy, and Orion were right behind her, panting heavily.

"Never... do... that... again!" Troy said between breathes. "You could have been hit by a car!"

"It's three in the morning," Rebecca shrugged. "Who's out driving at this time? Besides: baby."

"No baby yet," Jake shook his head. "They took Emma through ten minutes ago."

"Yes," Rebecca smiled and found a seat. "Didn't miss it. Shotty first to hold him."

Rebecca could feel the stares from everyone else in the room, "What? I'm excited?"

"You'll be first after me," Claire told her.

"And me," Vanessa said.

"And Gia, Jordan, and myself," Jake said. Rebecca threw her hands up.

"What the hell? How's that fair? I called it!"

"I'm the grandmother," Claire said just before her eyes widened. She dropped into a seat. "Oh my god. I'm the grandmother. I'm old!"

"Pretty," Ryan smiled to her mother from where she was playing with Tiger.

"Kiss-ass," Rebecca huffed to her sister. "No way am I holding the baby after Ryan."

"Baby?" Ryan asked and looked up at her mother. Claire nodded her head.

"Emma's going to have a baby," she explained. "You're going to have a new... Cousin? Nephew?"

"If it helps," Orion spoke up, "On Andrasia, when older siblings give birth, their younger siblings consider their nieces or nephews as cousins, because they pretty much grow up together."

"Cousins," Claire said, and looked to Vanessa, Troy and Rebecca to see if they agreed. Their situation with Ryan was complicated, but to help simplify it, they all liked to agree on what was going on in her life. They had all decided it was okay for Ryan to call Claire and Vanessa her mothers, because breaking her out of that habit would be upsetting and confusing. Now that Emma was having a baby, it was best to establish what the little girl's relationship to the child would be. Cousins seemed right. "Thanks, Orion."

"Happy to help," Orion said with a little nod and he got a look around the hospital, "It's really a whole affair when people have babies, huh?"

"What do they do on Andrasia?" Rebecca asked.

"Home births," Orion said. "The older mothers help deliver the baby in its home, and help look after it for the next couple of days until the parents get back on their feet."

"Which is why I should be in there with my daughter," Claire said and glared to the woman behind the counter. Vanessa grabbed her hand.

"As soon as Emma needs you, you'll be there," she assured her. "Right now, just relax."