Jamal and Alison made their way down the hospital corridors towards the classroom where the lamaze class was being held, when they heard a familiar voice calling out to them.

"Yoohoo!! Alison! Jamal! Hey you two!"

It was Lucy. She'd been over to visit Alison A LOT over the past months. Alison really appreciated Lucy letting her stay in the house and all, but those visits always meant talking about Rafe and why he hadn't come back yet, and why Alison hadn't tried to contact him. She wished she could just let it all out and tell Lucy the truth, because she knew Lucy meant well. After all, this baby made them sorta related, and Lucy was the only family of Rafe that the baby would ever know.

"Oh, hey Lucy...how are you?"

"I'm great. I'm just here after making my Doc take a lunch break with me. How are YOU?! Look at you...you're positively gorgeous! What are you doing here...and," Lucy was suddenly puzzled as to Alison's company, "Jamal, what are you doing here too?"

Jamal began to speak, "Well, actually-..."

Alison interrupted, "Well, see Livvie and Jack have the flu, so Livvie can't go to my first lamaze class with me, so Jamal here volunteered."

"Oh....well...yeah, I'd heard Livvie and Jack were kinda under the weather...but...can I just borrow you for a minute?" Lucy pulled Alison aside and Jamal got the hint.

"I'll just be over here." Jamal walked away from the two women.

"What Lucy?"

"Are you sure you want Jamal to be your coach? I mean, I know how hard being around him is for you. Cause, well, you've told me about it!"

"I know...I know, Lucy! But I need a partner for class, and we are friends and all. I mean, it's weird...yeah...but..."

"Hey! I've got an idea! What about me?!"

"What about you?"

"Me! What about me being your partner for class, your coach?!"

Alison didn't know about this. First of all, Jamal had gone out of his way to take her down here, and she didn't know if she was really up to Lucy being in the delivery room with her. But then again, she still wasn't quite comfortable with Jamal being her coach. AND Lucy was kinda like part of Rafe, so having her be her coach would be as close as she could get to having Rafe there with her.

"But, what about Jamal?"

"Jamal! Jamal, come here!"

"You two done your girl-talk?"

Before Alison could say anything, Lucy mouth was already moving at lightning speed.

"Jamal...ok, so Alison were talking and we were thinking it might be better for ME to be her coach. I know you came all the way down here and all, and it really is very sweet of you, but I think it would be better for everyone. And I'd really like to be the coach, ya know, cause I'm kinda related to the baby and all-..."

Lucy kept going and going and Jamal was looking more and more confused.

Alison had to intercede. "Ok, ok...Lucy! Can you just give me and Jamal a minute?...just one minute, ok?"

"Oh...ok...I'll just go sign us in...Ta for now!" Lucy ran off to sign her and Alison into the class, excited to have won.

"So now you don't want me to be your coach?"

"Listen, Jamal...you know that neither one of us was really comfortable with the idea, and the more I thought about it...while Lucy can get on my last nerve sometimes, she is related to Rafe and it would be nice to have some part of him with me when I have the baby...I don't want to offend you or anything. I know how you drove me down here and all, and took time off from the bike shop...and I'm really sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I understand...really, I do...but just keep in mind that I'm here for you...really... I just want to be your friend, Alison, and help you with whatever you need."

"I know...and I really appreciate it. Thank you. I promise to stop avoiding you, honestly. Thanks, Jamal."

"Ok, so I'll see you later....Good luck in there."

"Ha, yeah, thanks...with Lucy as my coach, I might need it."

They both smiled and Jamal headed back toward the elevator.

"Here goes nothing." Alison walked in the opposite direction toward the classroom, bracing herself for what lies ahead.