A/N: Hi! I know it's been forever and I feel bad and I'm sorry. Thank you for being patient. This chapter isn't what I originally planned, but I hope you still like it. I didn't forget about you in the least :)

Some days, Hailey loved being pregnant. She loved the day she found out she was pregnant, she loved every kick the baby girl gave her, she loved feeling even closer to Jay because they actually made something together. She loved it.

Other days, she hated it and fought herself not to cry over it. She hated that her insomnia was starting to return along with the morning sickness she'd experienced months before. She hated the feeling of heartburn and having to use the bathroom all the time.

And she hated the day a stretch mark carved its way onto her skin.

It wasn't necessarily the stretch mark's fault, but it was the tipping point on an already rough day the Thursday after moving into the new house.

Her phone rang just as thunder rolled through the backyard, but Hailey didn't have time to register why someone could be calling her because she was just about asleep in bed with Blake for their nap when it happened.

"Hello?" she yawned into the speaker.

"Hi, Mrs. Halstead, it's Ms. Abraham. I'm calling because your son Drew is here with me in the office and he's having a hard time right now."

Hailey blinked the sleep from her eyes as the words registered with her. She then sat up once she finally understood what was happening with another crack of thunder outside. "Is he okay?"

"Well, not really," the secretary answered, "He's in our side room right now by himself. Mr. King should be here in a few minutes, but he's in a meeting right now."

"Okay, um," Hailey took a deep breath and looked down at Blake sleeping in the middle of the bed, "I'll be there soon, thank you."

Dropping the phone to the mattress, she let out a low groan. Her back was aching, her feet hurt, and a headache was starting, but one more lightning strike and that all disappeared so she could focus on Drew.

She gathered Blake in her arms melting a little when he sleepily curled into her chest before making her way downstairs to grab raincoats and the diaper bag and head out to the school.

She was happily surprised once in the school office to see Ethan kneeling in front of Drew who was hiding under the cot in the room off to the side.

"Drew," she said softly while setting Blake on the cot. He whined and reached out for her with a soft, tired cry.

"Mom?" Drew whimpered.

Ethan turned and smiled slightly, "Hey, Hailey."

"Mama!" Blake cried and kicked his legs.

"Here, here," Ethan quickly stood and grabbed Blake, "I've got him if you want…" he nodded toward Drew.

"Thanks," Hailey breathed. She slowly made her way to the ground and put her hand on Drew's knee, "Hi, baby."

"It's not safe," Drew quickly shook his head, "Nothing's safe. It's too much rain."

"Oh, that's not true," Hailey tried pulling Drew, but he just pushed her hands away. "Drew," she said softly, "Can we talk?"

He whined and pressed his face into his knees.

"Honey," Hailey tried getting closer, but could only reach so far, "Drew, I want to take you home. We'll be safe there, I promise."

He shook his head with a low groan.

"Come here, sweetheart," Hailey put her hand out.

"Y-You're calling me those names," Drew sniffled and just barely peaked his eyes up.

"Because I love you," Hailey nodded, "Please come here."

Drew's lip wavered as he started crying harder and crawled out to her.

"I've got you, I've got you," Hailey whispered and hugged him as tightly as she could. She rubbed her hands over his back and continued softly soothing him the best she could.

They sat on the ground for close to fifteen minutes until Drew's cries turned into hiccups. He shakily stood and pressed his hands into his eyes.

Hailey tried standing, but couldn't quite get her feet underneath her to balance enough to stand.

"Hey, bud," Ethan said quietly to Drew, "Mind holding your brother and I'll help your mom."

Drew wiped his face and nodded holding his hands out, "Princess is getting big."

"Yeah she is," Hailey breathed and put a hand on her stomach, "Likes to play with my bladder too."

Ethan passed Blake to Drew then helped her up, "Bathroom's right through that door if you need it."

Hailey nodded and hurried into the bathroom. The toilet was directly across from the mirror, so she had a direct view of her growing stomach. It wasn't the best view and part of hated it.

She especially hated it though when she stood and saw the stretch mark on the right side of her stomach. Her eyes widened and she breathed, "No."

She spun to the side and traced the stretch mark with a shaking finger. "No, no, no," she groaned.

"Hey, Hailey," Ethan said through the door, "Blake's-"

"Mama!" Blake yelled.

"Stop crying," Drew said, "I'm already upset, we can't both be sad."

Hailey cleared her throat, "Sorry, yeah, one minute. Let me wash up."

"Thanks," Ethan lightly knocked on the door.

Hailey would have smiled at his overwhelmed voice, but she was still so distracted by her stretch mark that she couldn't think of anything else as she washed her hands. One more cry from Blake and Drew yelling "Shut up" pulled her from her thoughts, so she dried her hands on her pants and ran out of the room.

She grabbed Blake from Ethan, "Hi, hi." She put her free arm around Drew's shoulders, "Okay, boys, Mommy's going to get you home and we'll nap and eat chocolate."

Drew whimpered, "I don't want to nap upstairs."

"It's safe," Hailey tilted his chin up, "I promise."

Drew looked at Ethan out of the corner of his eye, "Officer Ethan, can you talk to her?"

Ethan chuckled and squatted down in front of him, "Buddy, I know your dad, right? He wouldn't pick a dangerous house." He used his fist to lightly wipe the tears from Drew's cheek, "Think you can go home and trust your mom to take care of you?"

Drew sniffled, "Obviously. I really trust my mom. I don't trust the rain, though."

"The rain is scary," Hailey rubbed his back, "But I promise to keep you safe." She kissed the top of his head, "Can I take you home now?"

"Mr. King didn't show up," Drew kicked at the ground, "He was supposed to show up."

"I'll talk to him," Ethan said, "He's busy, remember? Go home, buddy."

Drew winced at the thunder outside and stepped closer to Hailey.

She grabbed his jacket off the chair in the corner, "We'll wrap you up and run outside, we'll get less wet."

"That's a lie," Drew sighed, but still took his jacket from her and put it on.

Ethan helped him zip it up and tightened the hood around his face, "There you go."

Drew looked at Hailey then said, "Hold my hand?"

"Always," Hailey smiled.

Jay hurried through the rain into the house knowing based on a text from Ethan as well as his own intuition that he'd find his family upstairs waiting out the storm. He left a trail of wet shoes and his soaked jacket on the stairs before opening the bedroom door.

Hailey was sleeping on the side of the bed with her arm wrapped over Blake so it could rest on Drew's side.

Jay smiled slightly and sat on the edge of the mattress. He brushed his hand over Drew's hair then let out a long breath. "Oh, buddy," he whispered.

Blake rolled onto his back and giggled at the sight of Jay. He put his hand up and said, "Dada."

Jay chuckled and picked him up so he brushed against Hailey's shirt, "My other buddy."

Blake put a hand over his own mouth, "Shh."

"I know, I know," Jay whispered, "Mommy and Drew are sleeping." He looked down at Hailey and noticed a stretch mark he hadn't seen before. He lightly placed his hand on it to rub his thumb over her skin.

Blake pushed against Jay's face and shook his head fast, "No, Dada, no. Zz Mama, Zz."

Jay raised his eyebrow, "Buzz."

"Mama," Blake patted his stomach, "Mama."

Jay smirked slightly, "Mom doesn't belong to you, buddy."

Blake grabbed Jay's nose, "No."

"Ow," Jay mumbled while pulling Blake from him, "Yes. We all love Mommy."

"Oh, really?" Hailey sleepily asked.

Jay chuckled and rubbed his hand over her stomach again, "Hey, how're you?"

"Tired and sore," Hailey yawned as she pushed herself up.

"Mama," Blake scrambled out of Jay's arms to lunge at her.

"Hi, sweetheart," Hailey hugged him. She put her free hand on Drew's back, "He's not doing great."

Jay frowned, "Yeah. Ethan texted me."

"And this one," Hailey sighed when Blake started playing with her hair, "He's been on top of me which is fine, but I've been trying to figure out the kids' rooms and he's not playing by himself."

"I'm sorry," Jay reached out to brush his thumb over her cheek. "What can I do to help?"

"I-I don't know," Hailey groaned, "All I want are Thin Mints, but also a strawberry smoothie, and I want all the bedrooms put together, and I want this damn stretch mark off of me."

Jay couldn't help but smile, "I saw that. It's cute."

Hailey glared at him and put Blake in his lap so she could get off the bed and lock herself in the bathroom.

"Hailey," Jay sighed.

"Mama!" Blake yelled.

"Shh," Jay said with a quick glance to Drew shifting around on the bed. He placed Blake on the ground then ran to the bathroom door, "Hailey, Hailey, come on, talk to me."

"It is not cute," Hailey said through the door.

"It's a small mark," Jay put his hand on the door knob and tried getting in, but Hailey had locked it, "It's normal."

"I know, but…"

Blake crawled between Jay's legs and put his fingers under the door, "Mama, la. La, Mama."

"Mommy loves you too," Hailey said quietly. Jay looked down to see her stick her fingers out to Blake.

Jay smiled and squatted down to put a hand on Blake's head, "You love your mom, don't you?"

Blake giggled and hit the door, "Mama." He softly babbled a song as he rubbed his hands over the door.

Jay could hear Hailey quietly crying on the other side of the door. "Hailey," he whispered, "I love you too, okay? I just want to talk to you."

"Even though I'm a mess?" Hailey sniffled.

Jay shook his head, "You're not a mess."

There was a beat, then Hailey said, "I'm struggling to stand up right now and open the door just to hug you."

Jay chuckled and pulled Blake back from the door then opened it to see Hailey on her knees trying to get her balance. He walked in on his knees and hugged her to his chest. "I've got you," he breathed into her hair.

"Being pregnant is hard," Hailey mumbled.

"But you really are doing a great job at it," Jay said. He brushed his fingers down her back, "Just look at today. Drew needed you and you showed up for him, all while taking care of Blake."

They looked over to see Drew still curled in a tight ball on the bed and that Blake had gotten distracted by a pair of socks on the ground.

Jay chuckled then turned back to Hailey to wipe the tears from her eyes, "And look at our house. You have been killing it."

"Because sleeping got hard," Hailey sniffled.

"I'm going to help you," Jay cupped her face, "We'll figure it out. You are not alone."

"Maybe Will can take my uterus and baby girl and put it in you," Hailey said.

Jay laughed, "If that was possible, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"Worth a shot," Hailey smiled slightly and wiped her eyes.

Jay hugged her again and set his chin on her head, "You want a break?"

"A break?" Hailey repeated.

"Yeah," Jay nodded, "Maybe you can go out tonight with Vanessa and Kim. I'll watch the boys."

"I'm too tired for tonight," Hailey sighed.

"Then this weekend?" Jay suggested.

"Maybe," Hailey glanced over at Blake chewing on the socks. She groaned and closed her eyes to rest her forehead on Jay's shoulder, "Your son thinks he's a dog."

Jay laughed and looked back at Blake, "Least he's cute, right?"

"He's something," Hailey smiled, "Those are dirty though."

"Okay," Jay quickly stood with her, "Blake Henry."

Blake looked up at him with the sock hanging from his mouth.

"Give it to Daddy," Jay squatted down and put his hand out.

Hailey smiled as he gently played with Blake and teased him with the sock. She rubbed her stomach then sat on the mattress next to Drew. She slipped her fingers through his hair while listening to the rain still pattering against the window.

Drew opened his eyes and pushed her hand away.

"I'm sorry, baby," she said softly, "How're you feeling?"

Jay straightened up with Blake in his arms, "There's my buddy."

Drew sleepily looked at the window, "It's still raining."

"It is," Hailey nodded, "But you're still safe."

Drew let out a long breath then moved to put his head on Hailey's leg, "Life is hard."

Hailey sighed and put her free hand on her stomach, "Yeah it is."

Jay frowned as he watched Hailey lightly wipe the tears from Drew's face and softly hush him. He spotted a framed picture of Intelligence on the dresser then slipped from the room with Blake in his arms.

"Kim," he said in the phone once he'd gotten to the living room, "I have a question and am asking for a favor."

"Hi, Jay, I'm great, thanks for asking," Kim snapped.

Jay sighed, "I'm sorry, sorry. It…it's not going great over here."

Kim waited a beat then said softly, "Kinda figured with the rain."

"Is Cara okay?" Jay asked.

Kim laughed, "She's jumping in the puddles in the backyard with Adam right now. I told them five minutes since there's thunder."

"Gotcha," Jay chuckled.

Blake patted his face then pointed toward his toy cars on the ground, "Dada."

Jay set him on the ground, "So, I heard you-"

"No," Blake whined and pulled at Jay's hand, "No, Dada, no!"

"What?" Jay said, "What's wrong?"

Blake pulled at his hand until he fell backwards, "Dada!"

"Kim, hold on," Jay let out a breath and knelt next to Blake, "What's going on?"

Blake stood back up and stomped his foot, "Dada." He hurried over to his cars and picked one up, "Dada," he sang softly, "Dada."

"Buddy, I'm talking to Aunt Kim." Jay crawled over to him and grabbed the police car, "You can play alone, right? Five minutes. Vroom vroom."

Blake giggled and started playing with the cars too.

Jay smiled then turned back to his phone call, "Sorry."

"You're good," Kim laughed.

"Okay," Jay cleared his throat, "So I heard you talking to Adam today about Nicole-"

"It was lunch," Kim said quickly, "Well, she called during lunch. I-"

"I don't care," Jay waved his hand, "Seriously. I'm not a dick."

"Right," Kim breathed.

"Uh, I was wondering, though, if I could buy Nicole's Annie tickets off of you."

"What?"

"Can I buy her two tickets? It's for Saturday, right? If you don't mind of course. I just think Hailey and Drew might like it." He chewed his lip and passed Blake back one of the cars he'd thrown.

"That actually sounds really fun, yeah, I'd love to give you my tickets," Kim replied, "I was scared I'd have to sell them or just blow my money."

Jay laughed, "Well, you don't have to do that. I can pay you later today if you don't mind stopping over."

"Has your son taught you nothing?" Kim asked with a laugh, "I'm not walking over to your house in a storm. You can pay me tomorrow at work."

"Maybe you could drive over after stopping at the store for me," Jay said.

"Oh, so now I buy you tickets to plays and do your grocery shopping?" Kim joked, "Hire a nanny, Halstead."

Jay rolled his eyes, "Burgess."

"Burgess-Ruzek."

"Sorry," Jay blew out a breath, "Kimberly Burgess-Ruzek, can you please do me a favor?"

Jay stepped in the bathroom and smiled at Hailey and Drew giving Blake a bath.

"And you have ten toes," Hailey whispered.

"Ten," Drew nodded, "That's two hands worth. Show me your hands."

Blake splashed the water and laughed.

Jay chuckled, "Hey, you guys."

Hailey turned and smiled, "Hey. Who was at the door?"

"Not important," Jay closed the toilet and sat on it, "Is my buddy, Buzz, all clean?"

"Zz, Zz!" Blake yelled and splashed again.

Drew winced and covered his ears, but still laughed quietly.

Hailey's smile widened and she nudged the rubber duck toward Blake. Her other hand rubbed circles on her stomach right where Jay knew her stretch mark was. He watched her shift uncomfortably on the tile then frowned.

"Mama," Blake put his hands in the air then slapped the water, "Up. Up, Mama."

Hailey laughed and lifted him, "All done with your bath?"

Drew passed her the towel, "Here you go."

"Thank you," Hailey winked at him before wrapping Blake in his towel. She kissed his forehead and squeezed him tightly, "I love you."

Blake quickly tangled his small fingers in her hair and softly babbled in his ear.

Jay softened with a smile as he reached over to drain the tub, "Come on, Drew, you can take your shower next."

"Oh, no," Drew shook his head, "It's still raining. I am not taking a shower when there's a chance the power will go out."

Jay crossed his arms and debated fighting him for a moment before giving in and saying, "Go put your pajamas on."

"Thank you," Drew said quickly and ran from the room.

Hailey laughed softly as she passed Blake to Jay, "Made his night."

Jay rolled his eyes then put a hand out to help her stand, "Wasn't worth the fight."

Hailey smiled and dried her hands off, "So, who was at the door? They came over late. Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Jay nodded. He led her to Blake's room while lightly bouncing him, "Kim just stopped by. She picked something up for me at the store."

Hailey raised an eyebrow, "What's that?"

"Tell you later," Jay winked. He laid Blake on the changing table then kissed his stomach, "We need to put this guy to sleep first."

Blake smiled and put his hands in his mouth.

Hailey leaned against the wall, "Promise?"

Jay glanced over at her and nodded, "Promise."

"Okay," Hailey said softly. She straightened up, "I'm going to go sit with Drew for a bit. He said he wants to read to me. Meet you in our room?"

"Course," Jay smiled.

"Mama," Blake tried waving at her from where Jay was holding him down on the table.

"I'll see you in a bit, baby boy," Hailey waved back before walking out of the room.

"You really are the nicest baby I've ever met," Jay said while putting Blake's pajamas on him.

Blake giggled and reached for his feet.

"Silly too," Jay chuckled. He kissed his head and lifted him to his shoulder, "All right, I'm going to read you a story and then I'll put you to sleep, okay? You're going to be a big boy tonight and sleep all night so I can spoil Mommy. Deal?"

Blake babbled softly and grabbed Jay's ear.

"Yeah," Jay patted his back, "Thanks, dude."

It ended up taking two stories to get Blake sleepy enough to lay down. Next door, Drew had cried more about the rain until he exhausted himself…and had Hailey tuck him and all of his stuffed animals tightly underneath his covers.

All Hailey wanted was a box of Thin Mints as she walked down the hall to her room while rubbing circles on her stomach with one hand and supporting her back with the other. As she got closer, though, she could distinctly smell the cookies she so desperately wanted and became confused because she'd finished her box that afternoon with Drew in bed.

"Mommy's going crazy, baby girl," she whispered. She stepped in her bedroom and her eyes widened, "Jay."

He looked up from reading the back of a small bottle and smiled, "Hi." He was sitting on the bed with a plate of Thin Mints to his left and a white robe on his right.

"What's that?" Hailey asked pointing to the stuff on the bed.

Jay put the bottle down to pick up the plate, "A snack and," he touched the robe, "Some comfy clothes."

Hailey laughed, "Where'd you get this?"

"Told you," Jay stood up, "Kim went to the store for me." He nudged a cookie to her lips, "She also cleared Cara's Thin Mint stash out. She said she'll get a chance to restock next Wednesday, but I'm hoping five boxes will hold you over till then."

Hailey weakly smiled, "You really bought me five boxes of cookies that you don't even like?"

"Of course," Jay turned to put the plate back on the bed then grabbed her hand, "If you and the baby wanted a lion, I'd probably buy one for you."

Hailey laughed again and opened her mouth to accept the cookie. Once she'd swallowed it, she said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jay kissed her forehead. He bent down enough to meet her eyes, "Mind if I help you out of your clothes and help you into this robe?"

Hailey blinked past tears in her eyes and shook her head.

Jay quietly undressed her kissing her skin lightly on the way. Hailey closed her eyes with each touch of his lips. They hadn't slept together in almost a month. It was the longest stretch they'd gone maybe ever without sex, but right now didn't feel like that's what Jay wanted. She didn't feel like some sort of thing he needed…just something he loved.

Once her arms were slipped in the robe, Hailey was surprised that Jay didn't tie the robe around her stomach. "What're you doing?" she asked when he stepped back to pick the bottle back up.

"Lay down," he said simply and patted the pillows.

Hailey stared at him, but when he didn't move, she gave in and laid on the bed.

"Kim also picked up some of this lotion," Jay showed her while moving to kneel in front of her on the mattress, "It's that brand the nurse told us about in birthing class. It has cocoa butter, so that's good." He squirted some on his hand and Hailey was still confused.

She shook her head, "Jay, I…what're you doing?"

He easily nudged the robe from her stomach and began massaging the lotion into her skin.

"Oh," Hailey closed her eyes. She moaned softly, "Okay."

Jay chuckled and gently rubbed his thumb over her stretch mark. He watched Hailey fully relax on the bed as he slowly moved his hands over her bump. He smiled when the baby kicked his hand just as he dragged it under Hailey's navel.

"She likes it too," Hailey whispered.

"Seems like it," Jay said softly.

Hailey hummed and hazily blinked her eyes open to see Jay put more lotion on his hands before slipping them under her to her lower back. "You're amazing," she breathed.

"You are," Jay shook his head, "You do so much for all of us and deserve more days off."

"It's fine," Hailey reached out to him.

Jay shook his head again, but grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Kim gave me something else too," he added.

"I'm going to need to write her a thank you note," Hailey closed her eyes. She lifted her hips up and moaned again when Jay's thumbs teased the edge of her panties.

Jay laughed softly, "I bought two Annie tickets off of her. I thought you and Drew could go with her and Cara on Saturday while the guys and I paint the bedrooms."

Hailey's eyes shot open, "I thought her sister was going with her."

"She cancelled," Jay shrugged, "Do you want to go?"

Hailey relaxed and nodded, "That sounds fun. Thank you."

"Again, thank you," Jay bent down to kiss her hip.

Hailey smiled and lightly brushed her fingers along the side of his face.

Jay sat up and crawled over her. He kissed her slow and long until they'd both run out of air.

Hailey whispered against his lips, "Babe?"

"Hmm?" he brushed her hair from her face.

"Do you mind going back to the lotion thing?" Hailey asked, "It felt really, really good."

Jay chuckled, "Yeah, yeah, I can definitely do that." He pecked her lips then moved back on his knees, "I'll do this every night, okay? If you don't want any more stretch marks, it should help, but it seems like it feels pretty good, huh?"

Hailey stopped chewing a cookie to blush and smile. She swallowed and pushed up slightly on the mattress, "If you did this every night, I'd die happy."

Jay laughed harder, "Okay then. Every night."

Hailey's face lit up before her eyes fluttered back close when Jay's fingers soothed along her sides. She couldn't hold back another moan and lightly gripped the blankets.

Maybe the stretch mark wasn't the most horrible thing that could happen to her after all.