Lucky Stars, 3

[Sorry it's taken so long to get this part up! Winter break ended, and I went back to having no time, especially when finals came up and all. One semester left of high school for me! It's a three day weekend, so I have a chance to write right now. Plus, I have first period off, so I can work on fics in the library in the mornings. (That is, if I don't have any homework to do! LOL.) Anyway. Maybe I should stop talking about nothing and write the fic? That way maybe it will get done!]

It was three weeks since Mariah's birth, and she was still in the hospital. Taya had been released a few days after her birth, but she was too depressed to go home, and had been staying with her parents. Her parents lived a little further from the hospital than she did, so she didn't come by as often as Joey did.

Joey was at the hospital every time he had a second to spare. He went there before work, he went there after work, on his days off, and on lunch breaks. Most often Taya would be there as well, but sometimes he was there alone. Mariah was still in the intensive care unit, and he would put on the scrubs and sit and talk to her in the nursery.

Over the three weeks, she was getting stronger; the previous week they had even let her try breathing on her own. For the most part, she was doing okay with that, but every once in a while she would have an Apnea spell, which is common in premature infants. It's when they to breathe.

Joey was sitting in the nursery one Wednesday with Mariah when her doctor walked in.

Mr. Tribbianni, the doctor said, causing Joey to jump.

he said.

Mr. Tribbianni, I'm happy to say that your daughter hasn't had an apnea spell in two days.

Joey asked. She's been breathing on her own for two whole days?

Yes, she has, the doctor said. She's improving immensely on a day to day basis, he reported.

That's great! Joey said. Then he wrinkled his face in confusion. Isn't it?

Yes, Mr. Tribbianni, it is, he said. We've tentatively set her release date for next Tuesday, the eighteenth.

Joey asked, surprised, turning to look at the doctor. You mean, she can come home?

Most likely, yes. But like I said, it's a tentative release date.

That's great! Joey said. He looked at Mariah. I better go call your mommy and tell her the news. I'll see you later, Ry, he said.


the nurse, Nicole, said. It's really rather simple. If she has an apnea spell, then all you do is use this to get her breathing on her own, she said, demonstrating how to use the equipment. (I don't know what kind of it is, but I know this woman who had twins who had apnea spells, and they gave her and her husband something when they left the hospital to help if they had spells at home.)

Are you sure that's all there is to it? Taya asked. I mean, I don't want her to have a spell and not know how to work this thing.

It's simple, Nicole said. And most likely you won't even need to use it. She's been breathing on her own very well for a few days now, she added.

And I thought taking care of just a baby would be hard, Joey muttered.

Let alone a premature one.

Well, lucky for you you aren't the one who's going to be living with her, taking care of her, all alone, Taya snapped.

Well, yeah, because that's how you choose it to be! he retorted.

Well what do you think I'm gonna do? Live with you?

Look, let's just... not do this, Joey said, glancing at Nicole uneasily, not now.

You're right, Taya said. I'm sorry.

Me, too, he said, giving her an apologetic smile.

Okay, Mommy and Daddy, Nicole said. You ready to take your little Mariah home?

As ready as I'll ever be, Taya said, nervously.


How's my girl doing? Joey asked, entering Taya's apartment with Taya and Mariah in her car seat carrier. She looked way too small in the car seat.

She's asleep, Taya noticed. I guess I'll just put her down in her bassinet, she added, taking the car seat from Joey. He followed her into Mariah's room and watched as Taya lifted her out of the car seat and into the bassinet.

Taya said. It's so nice to see her out of the hospital, with no wires ore tubes attached to her anywhere, she said.

Tell me about it, Joey agreed. It finally feels safe,

I know, she whispered. I don't want to wake her up, she added, heading towards the door of Mariah's room, and switching on the baby monitor that was on the dresser and grabbing the other one and taking it with her to the living room.


Joey stayed behind and watched Mariah sleep for a few minutes. He ran his hand over her tiny arms and back, then smiled.

Thank you for making it, he whispered. And as I promised, you and I are gonna have fun, he added.


Thanks for coming today, Taya said when he appeared in the living room.

Sure, no problem, Joey said. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, he added.

So, I'll see you tomorrow then? Or no? Taya asked.

What, you mean I have to go already?

Well....Mariah's asleep, there's not much going on here. We're settled. Thanks, she said.

Okay. Okay, yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, then, Joey said, heading towards the door. I'll call you tonight to see how you're-

I'll call you if I need anything, she cut him off, making it clear she didn't want him to call her.

Joey said, confused. Well, I'll, I'll see you tomorrow, he said, and left, closing the door silently behind him.


How'd the homecoming go? Rachel asked when she saw Joey enter Central Perk.

You're back awfully soon, Monica noted. We thought you'd be gone all day with Mariah.

Yeah, well, I thought so, too, Joey said. And I guess Taya had other plans.

What? She didn't want you to stay? Chandler asked.

Joey said. She told me thanks for helping them home, they're settled now, and asked me if she would see me tomorrow, he said with a sigh.

So you left?

Well, Mariah was asleep, so what was I gonna do? Sit with Taya who didn't want me there?

I guess you're right, Monica said. But still, that kinda...

Joey asked. Yeah, it does. I wish Mariah could live with me, he added. I just, I have this awful feeling that I'm gonna miss everything, he said.

Maybe not, Joe, Ross said. I mean right now she's just a little baby. When she gets older and more interactive you'll be able to spend more time at Taya's place without Mariah sleeping, you know? You can actually be with her the whole time.

Yeah, you're right, I guess, he said. But it still hurts that my little baby girl just came home from the hospital, after four weeks of being there, and I don't get to be with her.

Well, you could call Taya tonight and see how- Rachel started to say.

She said she doesn't want me to call her tonight, either, Joey told them.

She'll call me if they need anything,' he mimicked. I'll be at my place,
he added before heading to the door. Everyone watched him walk out.

That bitch, Rachel said. I mean, if she's gonna do this to Joey than she shouldn't even have told him about Mariah!

She wanted him to be sooo involved, Monica added. He had to shop with her and rub her swollen feet, and bring her ice-cream and olive loaf at midnight when she was pregnant, she said. But once she's got the baby then she doesn't need him around anymore.

It's like he did all the grunt work and doesn't get the reward, Ross said.

Maybe she just needs time, Chandler thought. I mean, she did just have a baby. Maybe in a few days, or weeks, or whatever, she'll open up to him being around more.

Yeah, you know what, you're right, Rachel said. I mean, I know after I had Emma I just wanted to be alone and think, she said. But hopefully Taya does come around.


How'd she do last night? Joey asked when Taya opened her apartment door the next morning.

Well, she doesn't like sleeping especially much, she joked. But I survived. One day down, 17 years and 364 days to go.

Yeah, but she won't be up screaming all those days, Joey said. He handed Taya some flowers he had picked up that morning. These are for you, he said.

Thank you, she said.

No prob.

You wanna see Mariah? She's in her room, still sleeping, I assume.

Yeah, yeah, I'm just gonna go peek in on her now, he said, heading to the door of Mariah's room. He opened the door slowly to avoid it from creaking and waking up Mariah. Hey there, he greeted her. Miss me? I missed you. He brushed his hand over her very light hair on her head. You're so beautiful, he said. I can't believe you're actually mine. What did I do to deserve such a beautiful baby?

We need to finish the room, Taya said, coming in. She was born so early that we didn't have it done.

Oh, I'll help, of course, Joey said.

That would be great, Taya said. Thanks. And thanks for being involved. I'm glad Mariah's gonna have a father in her life.

So am I, Joey said. And I'm glad I'm gonna have a daughter in my life.


As if on cue, Mariah stirred and woke up with a shrill cry.

I'll get her, Joey said, stopping Taya from going over to her.

Okay. Thanks, Taya said, heading to the door.


Joey nervously picked Mariah up and rocked her back and forth.Hey, don't cry, he said to her. It's okay, Daddy's here. Daddy's here. And he always will be. Don't forget it.

[Okay, sorry so short, but it's better than nothing, yeah? And if I didn't do this than it would be until next weekend before it would be done, and maybe not even then. So sorry so short, but hope you enjoyed anyway!]