Gina and EJ were sitting on the couch Gina was laying down her head in his lap, he was stroking her hair. EJ smiled Gina grinned "what?"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

EJ looked at her. "Do you think we should have a code word?"

"A code word?"

"In case you go into labor."

Gina smiled at him "why can't I just say EJ i'm going into labor?"

"But what if it happens when i'm not here?' EJ asked "i'm at work all time, it's almost tech week.."

Gina took his hand "stop worrying so much, if you're not here when i'm in labor i'll call you."

"What if you're at work too?'

"Ether way I'll be fine." Gina said

"I know I just, I really want to be here when she comes."

"EJ you know we don't know the gender.." Gina smiled she rubbed her belly "daddy's crazy"

"Hey!" EJ grinned Gina looked up at him "babe you're not going to miss it I promise. Ok?"

EJ sighed "ok. Can we still have a code word?" Gina rolled her eyes and giggled "fine. What about.. Banana split?'

"Banana Split' EJ laughed "for the code word? You have a craving again don't you?"

"I might be."

EJ smiled "ok yeah that can be the code word."

"Hey Eej..-

"You want me to pick up a dairy queen banana split?"

"How do you always know exactly what I need?" Gina wondered "simple. You're my best friend" EJ said he gently helped her sit up and kissed her on the forehead "i'll be back in ten"

Gina sighed happliy so thankful to have him in her life.

The next day

Gina had just turned 8 months pregnant. "Are you sure you want me to go in today?" EJ asked

"Babe it's tech week a show can't run without a director."

"I know." EJ sighed "i'm just worried.."

"It's high risk I know, going into labor terrifies me. But I just turned 8 months pregnant. We have time."

EJ helped Gina stand up. "Are you sure you want to do Ash's show tonight?'

"It's the last stop on her tour I'll be fine." Gina said "all I do is sit and play the piano for an hour."

"Ok if you're sure.." EJ turned to leave

"oh god" Gina was bent over the bed holding her belly "EJ.."

"Is it the baby?" EJ asked quickly coimg up to her looking concerned

Gina looked at him for a moment then smiled "you worry too much."

"That's not funny." EJ said

"It was kind of funny" Gina said coming over to him and kissing him on the lips. EJ returned the kiss and pulled back. "I love you" EJ bent down to kiss her belly "hey kiddo, i'll be back soon ok? Be good to mommy I love you." he kissed her belly.

Gina took his hand and smiled "you are so cute"

"I'll see you tonight ok?" EJ said

"Ok" Gina smiled

"The code word is?'

Gina rolled her eyes and grinned "banana spilt, I know."

Later that night Gina was waiting in the wings with Ashlyn to go on. "Ready?" Ashlyn asked "always" Gina grinned taking her hand. Ashyln took a breath and stepped into the light "hello salt lake!"

Gina was playing the notes to the song rising "I'm searchin' for stars, the horizon is black

But I know what I know, and there's no goin' back

I've been livin' under one small piece of sky

Suddenly, the whole world is open wide

It's time I'm rising, rising

There's a part of me reachin' for the light

So strong, impossible to hide this fire that's rising, rising"

Gina smiled at Ashlyn she was totally in her element. Gina felt the baby kicking, it was kicking a lot, over her pregnancy Gina and EJ realized that the baby usually kicked a lot more when there was music so it was normal.

Gina got off stage with Ashlyn for intermission and rubbed her belly. "Everything ok G? You look pale."

Gina nodded "i'm ok." she closed her eyes for a minute and put a hand on her back. "Just back pain." Gina noticed the redhead looked concerned "Ash i'm fine, my back is always sore it's been sore for the past 8 months."

"G do you want to go the the hospital?' Ashlyn asked "just to check it out, I know it's high risk.."

"Ash i'm fine. Don't worry." Gina closed her eyes again and rubbed her back. "Ok crazy, you're going."

"Ash your tour…"

Ashlyn shrugged "it's just a tour another one always comes along."

Gina sighed "ok fine but you're making a big deal out of nothing."

"Don't be stubborn with me now." Ashlyn took her hand and soon they were in the car.

Gina's eyes went wide. "Hey Ash?"

"Hmm?'

"Remmeber just a second ago when I told you not to worry?"

Ashyln turned to look at her "what's wrong?"

"I think I just had a contraction."

"This is why we go to the hospital when things hurt." Ashlyn said

Gina rolled her eyes.

"Am I gonna get a thank you?"

"Thank you Ash."

Ashlyn called EJ. "Ash?"

"Hey babe." Gina said

"Gina's having contractions."

"Check to make sure she's not faking" EJ teased "she's very convincing"

"Did you fake labor?' Ashlyn asked

"Mabye?"

"Gina!"

"Hello? Guys? Should I be worried?" Gina turned back to the phone "banana spilt"

EJ went silent "Ok, it's ok i'm on my way right now."

"EJ!" Gina said

"Yeah?"

"Can you pick up my duffel bag with the overnight stuff in it?"

"Sure, i'll quick swing by home and then meet you guys at the hospital."

The call ended.

Soon Gina and Ashlyn were at the hospital, Gina was in a hospital gown and sitting in the hospital bed. "It's not supposed to happen today! I'm six weeks early." Gina started breathing quickly. Ashlyn looked at her. "Hey. I know, This is scary but everything is going to be ok. When I had Harper-

Gina cut her off. "This is nothing like when you had Harper," she said fiercely, she looked at Ashlyn's face. "I didn't mean to snap at you Ash. This is the first and probably only time I'll ever be pregnant. I just want everything to go well.. What if something happens? The baby could die or.."

Even when Gina didn't finish that sentence Ashlyn knew what she meant. "G that's not going to happen." Gina looked at her best friends face and saw the fear in her eyes.

Gina felt tears come to her eyes. "You don't know that." she looked at the redhead "why are you smiling?'

Ashlyn was looking at the door. "Because I see someone that makes you really happy"

EJ stepped into the room, he looked frantic but the second he saw Gina he dropped the duffel bag on the floor, went up to her and gave her a tight hug. "EJ!" Gina smiled hugging him back. "I'm never leaving you again," EJ said

EJ and Gina slowly pulled out of the embrace, he turned to Ashlyn. "Thanks for staying with her."

"No problem Eej. You guys are family." Ashlyn smiled

Ashlyn went out to the waiting room and EJ turned his attention to Gina. "how are you feeling?"

"Doing ok." Gina said "I haven't had many contractions yet so that's a relief."

"That's a good thing." EJ said

"Hopefully this is just false labor… I mean it's too early."

"If it's not?" EJ asked

"If it's not… I don't know." Gina admitted

"You're the bravest person I know." EJ smiled "whatever happens we'll be ok."

"I know." Gina took his hand and smiled.

Soon as the night went on Gina's contractions got worse and closer together. Gina was holding EJ's hand "hey look at me. Breathe." Gina nodded and tried to slow her breathing, soon the contraction passed. "That was a big one." Gina sighed "I know baby you're doing really well." EJ said rubbing her back. Gina looked down at the bedsheets, they were wet.

"Did you just-

"That was my water. My water just broke." Gina said looking at EJ with wide eyes.

"So ths is happening?" EJ asked fear and excitement filled his voice

"yeah."

Soon the doctor came in. "10 centimeters exactly, let's get you prepped."

"You know what's great about this?" EJ asked

"Hm?'

"I have all these dad jokes and now I finally get to use them" EJ smiled and put a hand on her belly, Gina laughed. "You are such a dork."

"You know you love it."

"Do I? Yes I do" she took his hand and squeezed it. Soon Gina was prepped and ready to give birth. "I'm really sacred."

"I know. I am too but I'll ber right here with you the whole time." EJ said taking her hand "you know what your mom always says?"

"Jsut keep pushing?"

"That's basically all you have to do."

Gina smiled.

"Ok on the next contraction get ready to push ok?" the doctor said

Gina had just started pushing when one of the machine's started beeping.