Author's Note: Everwood/Friends crossover ficlet written for the LJ everwood100 challenge (June 23's subject being crossovers). This may be my most realistic crossover for the week. I think I got the dates just about lined up; it's set seven or eight years before the series, when the Browns (including Julia) still live in New York. Sorry for the choppiness of the fic.

With Friends Like These

By Trisana McGraw

Another contraction. Julia gasped.

"How long you been here?" asked another woman.

"Few hours. I'm Julia."

"Carol. See my noisy friends there? I'm wishing I'd had this kid alone."

"I'd take attention over absent husband."

"Sorry. I'm sure he'll be here."

"Which one is yours?" Julia asked.

"My ex-husband's in the bathroom; I'm actually raising the baby with someone else."

Carol cried out in pain, and her friends rushed in, completely surrounding her. As she was wheeled out she called, "Good luck!"

Footsteps sounded; figures pushed past Carol's friends.

"Sorry we're late," Andy panted.

"Mommy," seven-year-old Ephram asked, "what's 'lesbian'?"