Authors Note: Michael is graduating so he'll have some time to be with the baby before he has to go back to work. And yes, the pregnancy has gone by quickly but I still have Michael raising the baby for two years to write about. Think about it. Michael. Alone. A baby. Maybe he'll call up an old high school friend to move in and help him out. Then they'll carry on an affair and she'll get pregnant.

Oh shoot, I'm thinking about Lucie's story. Just read it. This is a good one, I think.

"Michael?" a woman's voice asked me about a week later at the market.

I turned to see Miss Thermopolis.

"Oh, hi. Um, I gotta go-"

"Aren't you graduating tomorrow?" she asked as Rocky ran up to her with a candy bar.

"Mommy, can I?" he whined, holding up a Snickers bar.

"No, it'll rot your teeth out. Michael, have you heard from Mia?"

"No I haven't,' I said a bit too quickly. "I mean, not for awhile. Since like, Christmas time. Why? Something wrong?"

I tried to avoid her eyes. "It's just…her dad said she was coming to New York a few weeks ago and I still haven't heard from her. She didn't bring Lars or anyone else, well Evan but that's it. No one has heard from him either."

"Evan?" I asked, pretending to remember who he was. "Oh, her new uh…boyfriend?"

"Oh please. I don't know. I personally think he's gay but I'm not judging. She says she's in love with him so…hey, who's the red head staring at you?"

I turned to Mia who was wearing a long red wig and a pair of sunglasses. She didn't look like herself. She had on globs of lipstick and tons of makeup.

"Oh, that's uh, Kate. My new girlfriend," I lied. Mia looked down quickly.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" she asked, staring at 'Kate'.

"I kind of…well, it's a little weird introducing my new girlfriend to my ex girlfriend's mom, ya know?"

She nodded, "Yeah, you are right. I'm sorry. It's nice seeing you again though. You look good. I'm sure Mia would love to hear from you…if you could get in touch with her."

I looked over at 'Kate'. "I don't think Kate would like that very much. She knows how close Mia and I were so she'd be weirded out, ya know? She's not possessive, don't' get me wrong. It's just a little early in the relationship. Nothing solid just yet. Maybe when we are both a little more comfortable in a relationship I can introduce her to Mia. She knows about her and feels kind of…uh…bad because my ex is a real princess. So she feels like she can't compete ya know?" I knew I was blabbering, a habit picked up by none other than the princess herself.

"Right. I see. Well, good luck tomorrow. I know your parents are very proud- what is that on your neck?" she asked, looking at my chain.

"Oh, just nothing."

"Mia had that-"

"Fine, we gave each other chains before she left to remember one another by, okay?" I snapped before I stormed off. I hoped I portrayed the bitter ex boyfriend well.

"How is she?" Mia asked as we quietly walked back to Evan's apartment.

"Fine. Misses you though. Before you leave you should visit her."

"I feel like shit…keeping such a big secret from her," she said rubbing her stomach.

"It'll be fine," I promised, putting my arm around her. "I promise you baby…"

My cell phone rang really late in the night that night. I was still staying with my parents. I was 'leaving for a roadtrip' the next night…or just staying with Mia across town.

"Hello?" I asked groggily. I was still in my little dream about the Neverending Story.

"Michael…it's happening!" Evan's voice whispered. "She's going into labor!"

My eyes shot open. She wasn't due for another three weeks. This can't be good. What did the book say? "What? Are you fucking with me?"

"No…the stuff…uh…"

"Amniotic Fluid," I said standing up and looking for my jeans that were thrown thoughtlessly before I went to bed.

"Huh? What is it?" he asked sounding worried.

"It's where ya know…the baby pee and stuff."
"I have baby pee on my rug?" he said sounding totally freaked out.

"Just forget the fact that it came gushing out from between Mia's legs," I snapped. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes, think she can handle that?" I asked.

"Uh…" he started before he muffled his voice. "She said she can hold off."

"Okay. I'll call my uncle. Stay with her," I said with authority.

I hung up and ran to Lilly's room as quietly as I could. "What?" she snapped, looking at her alarm clock. "A little excited about graduating?"

"She's having the baby. Come on and help me."

She threw a sweatshirt on and her Adidas sandals. We ran out without telling our parents where we were going or when we'd be back. I think I might be missing out on the graduation ceremony.

"Michael, I-I can't make it," she stammered.

"Uncle Dex is coming over," Lilly said softly. Seeing Mia for the first time in months…last time she saw her Mia was not visibly pregnant. A little shocking I guess to see the bubble belly. I hardly noticed it anymore since I'd had a few weeks to get used to it.

I looked around in case we had to deliver the baby on our own. I saw that Evan had a large bath tub. "Is that clean?" I asked, pointing to it.

He looked hurt that I even had the nerve to ask. "Of course it is. I haven't even taken a bath in it-"

"Good. Go fill it up with luke warm water. We'll put Mia in there. Lilly, you go wait for Dex downstairs. Mia let's get you out of these clothes."

She laughed, "Isn't that what got us here?"

I looked at her seriously. "Well, I am glad you still have your sense of humor."

She shrugged, "It's gonna happen either way, why not laugh?" Right after she said this she grimaced in pain and grabbed my hand and squeezed it tighter than ever before.

"The tub is full. This isn't going to destroy it? I really was looking forward to a nice relaxing bath-"

"Shut up!" Mia screamed. Evan jumped back ten feet. "Get m

e in that fcking thing already."

Where was the humor in this? I lifted her up. Lord had she gotten heavy. And her nails had grown long…I know this because she was digging them into my neck. Her breathing became regular again. "I apologize," she said softly.

I suddenly wanted to be alone with her. "Evan, go see how Lilly i

s doing okay?"

He took my hint and scampered off.

"Scared?" she asked.

I lowered her into the tub. "I'm not the one that has to do this. Do you want anything? Ice?"

She shook her head. "Just hold my hand." After a few minutes. "Michael, if anything goes wrong just take care of her, okay? Don't worry about me. Don't worry about Grandmere or Dad. Just take her away and don't look back. You won't need them."

I didn't like how she was talking. "Mia, knock it off. You are going to be fine and so is our baby." No we hadn't agreed on a name yet.

"I want her to be named Helen, but nicknamed Ella," she said with a pained look.

"How much time is between the contractions?" I asked looking at my watch.

"Six minutes," she replied.

"We still have a while to go," I replied.

"What, are you a doctor?" she snapped.

"No, but I've been doing research. "I know you don't want to hear some things but it'd better I say that than to say you are almost done."

"Just hold my f'ing hand," she snapped.

"Do you want some music?" I asked when that was over.

"Beatles. I have the-"

"Record in your duffel. I know."

She let me go for just enough time to put on an old record. "I wonder where they all are…" I said, getting no response. "So Ella"

"Yeah. Please, can we name her Helen? After my mom? But we can call her Ella…. Ella It's so feminine."

I liked the name actually. Better than anything else we had discussed. "Fine. I like it too baby. What about a middle name?"

"I was thinking Josephine after my grandfather."

"Ella Josephine Thermopolis Grimaldi Renaldo?" I asked.

"Moscovitz. Ella Josephine Moscovitz Grimaldi Renaldo," she corrected as Evan, Lilly and Uncle Dex came in with a bug full of his tools.

"Good, you have her in a birthing pool. Lilly go get some towels please."

I held Mia's hand as she looked at all of his medical tools. "Where exactly is that going?" she asked.

He looked at her strangely. "It's just a letter opener that my wife threw in by mistake."

Mia's face was relieved. "How long do you think this is going to take?" she asked with a quivering lip.

"Well, let's take a look at how dialated you are.

He went right on down there. If he wasn't my uncle I think I woulda killed him. Or at least punched him. No wait, I was too freaked out to do a single thing. "So? The verdict?"

"This should be done soon."

Four hours later I was holding seven pound six ounce baby girl. After Dex cleaned off all the guck she was perfect. Mia and I sat next to one another…counting the fingers and toes. "She has ten little fingers," I said softly, near tears.

"Ten toes," Mia said excitedly.

"I'll be back in the morning to check on Mom, okay?" my uncle said patting me on the shoulder.

"Is everything okay? I mean, you don't need to check out Mia-"

"It went perfectly. She's an expert there. Best delivery I've done yet. I'll see you at your graduation?"

Reality struck me hard. "Oh, uh, well…"

"Michael, the kid isn't yours. Don't worry about it. I know you love her-"

"I'm not going. But don't tell anyone, please Dex?"

He sighed. He probably figured out the truth by now but didn't say anything. "Fine. But make an appearance won't you?"

"Yeah. I will," I said nodding. "I promise."

"She's perfect, guys," Lilly gushed.

Mia came out of the bath tub (we had emptied and then cleaned it and let her bathe). "I know," she said with a wide grin. I lifted her off the ground and carried her to her bed. "I think she has my nose, don't you Michael?"

"I hope so," I replied, locking eyes with my little girl.

"I'm back," Evan said coming into the room with a bunch of bags. Alex came in behind him. "What kind of diapers did you want?"

"Newborn," I replied, exasperated.

"Okay, but what brand? We didn't know so we got them all."

I laughed, "Thanks guys."

"Mia, are you going to breast feed?" Lilly asked bluntly.

Mia looked at me.

"I know Michael has nipples, but he can't feed her when you leave."

"I don't think I can," Mia said softly. "I…"

Ella started screaming right on cue. "Here, give her to me," I said reaching for my baby.

Lilly handed her over reluctantly. "I'll get the formula…"

I sat on the bed with Mia, who looked exhausted, but happy. Odd, she looked like that eight months ago. I laughed at my comparison.

"What?" she asked. "Did she do something?"

"No…I'm just so happy," I said kissing the top of my exhausted wife's head.