"Tom, it's Tawny," Tawny said over the phone. "We're going to the hospital in a few minutes. Are you coming?"
"Of course. I'm taking Mother's car," said Tom. "Do you know how long we should be there?"
"Up to two days," Tawny told him bluntly. "I'm having a kid, not getting a physical." She sighed. "Sorry. I just feel really fat and I've been snapping at people lately."
"So I've noticed," said Tom.
"Well, this is it," said Tawny.
Tawny didn't know whether or not to be excited as her father and mother drove her to the hospital. She was eighteen years old. How could she be having a baby? But at the same time, over the past several months she had felt the life inside of her and almost bonded with it. She had spoken to Lori and Paul a few times, and they did seem like nice people, but she tried to put the thought of giving her child to someone else out of her head. She loved the life inside her, in a weird way. It was a deeper kind of love than she felt for Tom and Louis. It was a love she didn't have to get used to or work for, it was just there.
Tawny sat in her hospital bed in a hospital gown, her mother holding her hand. A drug was dripping through her veins through an IV, something called Pitocin to make her go into labor. Tom and Mrs. Gribalski burst through the door to her room and Mrs. Gribalski ran to hug Mrs. Dean while Tom stood at Tawny's bed side.
"I hope I don't look scary," said Tawny.
"Of course not," Tom told her.
Lori and Paul had been waiting in the hall. They had decided against witnessing the birth with Emily because apparently too many adoptive mothers decide at the last minute to keep their babies, and Lori and Paul didn't want to get too attached to their child if he or she ended up not going home with them.
A doctor came in and checked Tawny's progress every half hour. Mr. and Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Gribalski went to the cafeteria and Tom stood by Tawny's bed.
"This is so weird," Tawny remarked. "I never thought I'd be doing this so soon."
"I know," said Tom.
"God, I think I'm going to miss this kid when it's born."
"Oh."
"It's like, you have to love it no matter what," said Tawny. "How can Lori and Paul love it as much as I do?"
"I don't know," Tom told her. "But they'll be good parents."
"Yeah, I hope so."
"I brought you a present," said Tom. He reached into the bag he was carrying over his shoulder and handed Tawny a book. "To occupy your time."
"Aw, thanks, Tom," said Tawny. "I wish I could hug you but I can't roll over that way."
Tom smiled and leaned over and kissed Tawny.
"Well, I think we're ready to take you to labor and delivery," Dr. Kohen announced.
"Oh God," said Tawny, "already?"
"Yep. You're fully progressed." The friendly lady smiled at Tawny. "Would you like anyone present in the room while you're giving birth?"
"My mom," said Tawny.
"That's fine."
As Dr. Kohen helped Tawny into a wheelchair Tawny gave Tom a nervous smile.
"You'll do fine," said Tom. "I'll be waiting for you when you get out."
"Thanks," said Tawny.

"Just give me one more big push."
"Oh my God. I've seen this on TV and I always thought they overexaggerated it," Tawny gasped.
"Don't try to talk, sweetie, push." Mrs. Dean squeezed Tawny's hand.
"Give me . a C-section." Tawny panted.
"You're a strong girl, now give me a push. Just one more," said Mr. Kohen.
Tawny dug her nails into her mother's hand and pushed.
"Okay, the baby's crowning, push again."
Tawny leaned forward and clenched her teeth.
"Push! Honey, you're just straining your neck, come on, use your abdominal muscles!"
"I don't have any left," Tawny tried to say, but it came out as a groan.
"Good. Okay. Just one more, I promise."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Tawny screamed in frustration and fell back onto her pillow, which was limp and barely stuffed at all. Her neck and stomach muscles hurt like they had never hurt before, even after she had done an hour of yoga or sit-ups in gym.
"Good."
"Ohhh," Mrs. Dean cooed, and Tawny tried to lift her head.
Cries filled the room a few seconds later and Tawny saw a nurse rushing past her to swaddle the baby.
"Do you want to know the gender?" Mrs. Kohen asked softly.
"Yes," Tawny whispered, licking her lips. She could barely talk, her mouth was so dry.
"It's a boy," said Dr. Kohen.
"Oh my God," said Tawny. Her eyes filled with tears. "Can I see him?"
"Tawny, no." Mrs. Dean shook her head.
"Mom, I want to see him."
Dr. Kohen placed the tiny baby on Tawny's chest and Tawny stroked his cheek. "He's so soft," she said.
"Tawny, you have to sign the papers now," said Mrs. Dean, "before Paul and Lori come in."
"Okay." Tawny sniffled. "Okay." She wrapped her arms around her son and Mrs. Dean helped her sit up. Dr. Kohen handed her a pen and she weakly scrawled her name onto a line and tried to remember the date.
Paul and Lori came in and Lori rushed over to Tawny's bedside, eager to see her son. "He's so beautiful," she said.
Dr. Kohen smiled. "What's his name?"
"Oh, it's Tobias," said Paul. He put his arm around Lori. "Right, honey?"
"Yeah. That's our boy name. Tobias." Lori stroked Tobias' head and then put her hand on Tawny's arm. "Tobias Dean Jenkins."
"Dean?" said Tawny.
"Yes," Lori told her. "Do you want to hold him a little longer?"
"Yeah." Tawny rocked Tobias in her arms. "I've never held such a tiny little thing before."
"He's a good baby boy," Paul observed.
Tawny watched a spit bubble rise from Tobias' mouth and he gurgled contentedly.
"I really shouldn't be doing this," said Tawny, wiping the tears from her eyes with her free hand.
"No, it's all right," said Lori.
"You'll send me pictures of him every year, right?" Tawny asked.
"Twice a year," said Lori.
"Oh, I want to feed him," Tawny sniffled.
"I can get you a bottle," Mrs. Dean offered.
"Not with a bottle." Tawny sighed. "I want to nurse him."
Lori smiled sympathetically at Tawny. "I wish I could."
"Tawny, that's not a good idea," Mrs. Dean told her.
"Yeah. I know."
"We're going to get him the best formula, though," said Lori, "don't worry."
"Here. Take him." Tawny held her arms out to Lori. "You're his mother now."
Lori scooped the tiny baby up in her arms and held him out to Paul. "Look at his face. His eyes are so blue, just like his mother's. Doesn't she have gorgeous eyes, Paul?"
"They're all swollen now," Tawny laughed, and Mrs. Dean brushed her hair out of her face and wiped her tears with a tissue.
"My baby boy," said Lori. "Our little baby boy."
"I know," said Paul.
Tawny stared at Paul and Lori sadly. "Maybe we should go in another room," Mrs. Dean suggested.
"No, it's all right. Tobias should go to the nursery now," Lori told her. "We'll go with him." As she and Paul headed out the door, she turned back to Tawny and said, "Thank you so much."

"Look who's here." Mrs. Dean opened the door to Tawny's room and Mr. Dean, Tom, Ren, and Louis stepped inside.
"Ren!" Tawny cried. "You're back!"
"I know, I know." Ren rushed over to Tawny and hugged her. "I'm so glad I could see you again. How are you doing?"
"Okay. Thirsty." Tawny laughed. "How's college?"
"Don't even ask," said Ren. "But Louis has some news."
Tawny perked up. "Really?"
"No, it's nothing," said Louis.
"Tell her," Ren urged.
"Yeah, tell me," said Tawny. "I want to know."
"Yesterday I got an acceptance letter to LMU's engineering school," said Louis. "In Los Angeles. And when I'm out there Dad's going to help me get an agent."
"Oh my God, that's so great!" said Tawny. "Congratulations!"
"What about you two?" Ren asked Tom and Tawny. "Getting acceptance letters?"
"A couple," Tom said modestly.
"I'm still waiting," said Tawny. She sighed. "I'm trying not to think of that." She instinctively rested her arms on her stomach, which was now just a tiny bump. It felt odd. "I'm really hungry, do you guys want to get something to eat? I'm sick of lying in this hospital bed."
"Sure, if you can walk," said Louis.
"Don't worry about it, I'm fine." Tawny swung her legs over the side of the bed and Tom and Ren held her arms as her feet touched the cold floor. "Wow, I feel lighter," she observed, slipping her feet into her shoes. She threw on the HESHS hoodie that was lying on the edge of her hospital bed and walked down the hall with Tom, Louis, and Ren. It felt good to be out of bed again.
In the cafeteria Tawny ordered macaroni and cheese, which she hadn't eaten in months, and the four sat down at a table to eat.
"I never imagined I would think this stuff was actually good," said Tawny. "I haven't eaten in like a day."
"So how are you?" Ren asked her sincerely.
"I'm fine. Really," said Tawny.
"Good," said Ren.
After they had finished eating Tom pulled Tawny into the hallway by the elevators and looked at her seriously.
"What is it?" Tawny laughed. "You look pathetic."
Tom led Tawny into the gift shop and picked out a stuffed giraffe. He placed it in her arms awkwardly. "I'll, uh, pay for it later."
"Okay."
"Tawny," said Tom. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Will you go to prom with me?"
Tawny was so relieved she couldn't helped laughing. "Of course!" she cried, and kissed Tom on the lips, placing her hands on his cheeks and letting her stuffed animal fall to the floor. Tom wrapped his arms around her waist, which he hadn't been able to do for months.
Tom bought the giraffe and they walked slowly back to her hospital room together, holding hands. "Thanks for being with me," Tawny told him.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," said Tom. He stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned toward her. "Have you seen the baby?"
"Tobias," said Tawny. "His name's Tobias. Yeah, I got to hold him. And I'll see him again."
"That's good."
"Do you want to see him?" Tawny asked.
"I don't know."
"You're his father," Tawny said softly. "Come on, Tom. We'll find the nursery. I think it's on the second floor."
Tom and Tawny stood at the window to the nursery and peered in.
"There he is!" Tawny pointed. "There's Tobias."
"How can you read that placard this far away?" Tom asked.
"I don't have to read it. I just know it's him."
"He is a handsome baby," said Tom. "He inherited your looks."
"I hope he inherited your heart."
Paul walked up behind Tawny and put his hand on her shoulder. She turned around.
"You've made my wife and me so happy," said Paul. Tawny could tell he was trying to stay composed. "We love our son so much. I just wanted to thank you." He held out his hand and Tawny shook it.
"This is my friend Tom," Tawny told him. "You should thank him too."
"Your friend." Paul's eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh. Hey, Tom, good to meet you." He shook Tom's hand in turn. "And you're a strong man for sticking around, you know?"
"I wouldn't leave her." Tom put his arm around Tawny's waist.
"Well, good luck to both of you. I guess you two are graduating soon, huh?" Paul asked.
"Yes," said Tom.
"Well, I hope you're both very successful," said Paul. "Tawny, we'll be seeing you later. Lori and I are organizing our things for Tobias' trip home."
"See you," said Tawny.
When Paul had walked away Tawny started walking back toward her room.
"So you have to stay overnight?" Tom asked her.
"Yeah, it's just policy or whatever. I can go home tomorrow," said Tawny. "My parents haven't even started decorating the Christmas tree yet. I probably have to help them."
"I'll stay with you," said Tom.
"No, it's okay. My mom's staying."
"No," Tom insisted, "I'll stay."
He slept in a chair in her room all night, and in the morning she awoke to him standing over her bed.
"Sorry to have frightened you," said Tom. "I just couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful you are."