Haley stared in awe at the beautiful bundle of joy safely nestled in his blue receiving blanket. His tiny little fingers outstretched as he yawned, a tuff of dark hair covering his smooth head. He was a precious sight to behold.

"You want to hold him, Haley?"

"No thanks", she shook her head quickly.

"He is so sweet", Taylor cooed. "Can I hold him?"

Michelle nodded and handed her newborn son over to the girl. Taylor cuddled him close as she walked around with him.

"Who would have known your sister was so good with babies?" Michelle smiled.

"She has her moments", Haley rolled her eyes. "He is a little sweetheart, though. How was it?"

"Labor?"

"Yeah."

Michelle cringed at the memory as she pulled her dark hair into messy bun.

"Honestly? Horrible. All the bad stuff you see on TV with the screaming? Well, it's definitely true. You don't know pain until you try pushing something the size of a bowling ball out of something the size of an apple, trust me."

"Ouch", Haley said, her knees coming together out of reflex.

"Yeah it hurt and it sucked and at the time I was screaming at Teddy and calling him every son of a bitch in the book but the moment he was born…God, Haley, I can't describe it. The pain and the exhaustion just disappeared and all of a sudden I'm holding my son in my arms. I couldn't stop crying. It was the best feeling ever. I just held him and looked in his eyes and kissed him and I knew I was holding someone I was gonna love for the rest of my life."

Michelle's eyes lit up just recalling the story. Haley listened intently as it brought tears to her eyes as well.

"I'm sorry", she said, reaching for a Kleenex.

"Dude, you okay? I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, no. It's not you, Michelle. It's me. I'm sorry. I've been a little crazy lately."

"It's okay. You want to talk about it?"

"Nah. I'm fine. It's just stuff."

"Is it Chris again? Don't let him get to you. And if the record company is giving you shit about getting back in the studio, let them know if it's too early. God, with everything that has happened to you this summer everyone would totally understand that you need some time."

"No…it's not that. It's not Chris or anybody at Maverick or anything like that. It's um…it's…I, I'm pregnant", she blurted out.

Michelle's eyes widened.

"Pregnant? Oh my God! I…I had no idea. How far along are you?"

"Three months."

"Wow. Congratulations, I guess?"

She managed a smile.

"I guess. I'm just dealing with the new reality."

"Yeah, it's weird at first. Your body goes through so many crazy changes. But it's really cool. It's a miracle, a gift from God."

"I know it's supposed to be but I don't know…"

"What's wrong?"

"When did it become real for you, Michelle? Know what I mean? Was it the positive test or the first doctor's visit or feeling him move or the sonograms? What?"

"It's real but surreal. But as more time passes and the bigger you get and the more the baby grows…then you feel it kick inside you and you get to watch the ultrasounds…it becomes more real and more exciting and just beautiful."

Haley wiped away more tears.

"It's just…I don't know."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. Because I don't…I don't feel very maternal, you know? I'm not excited and I…I feel bad because I don't have this bond with my baby. And I read all those stupid books and most women start having all these instincts and feelings right away and I don't feel any of that. Is that bad? Am I like this awful, awful person?"

"No, it's not bad. It doesn't make you a horrible person. It just takes getting used to, especially when you don't exactly plan for it. But it's gonna be okay, if you're sure this is what you want. Is it, Haley? Is having this baby something you really want to do right now?"

"I don't know. I'm confused. I've made my decision, I just hope it's the right one. I'm just so scared, you know?"

"It's okay to be scared sometimes. But you're going to be alright. And you're going to be a great mom."

"I hope so. I hope I can handle motherhood and the career and just everything."

"Do you…God, I don't want to get in your business but do you have support? You know, from like the father."

"Um…no. Right now he's not a part of our lives. But I have Taylor and Chris and my parents and my other family. And I've made some good friends here in New York so…"

"And you have me", Michelle took her hand.

"Thanks."

"I mean it. Whatever you need, I'm here for you. I mean that, Haley. It's going to be okay. I'll help you get through this."

"That means a lot."

"Maybe we can do lunch in a couple of weeks. Then we can go shopping and work on the nursery if you'd like."

"Sounds good", Haley sniffled. "Um, if you don't mind, I'd like to keep this a secret for as long as I can and…"

"Say no more. Your secret is safe with me."

"Oh God!" Taylor screamed as she ran back in the room. "Gross! Michelle, come here!"

"What's the matter?"

"I was changing his diaper and he peed in my face! Yuck! Help! Come get your little monster!"

"Monster?" Michelle laughed as she took her son. "What happened to him being an innocent, beautiful bundle of joy?"

"He was before he pissed all over me!" Taylor yelled from the bathroom where she feverishly scrubbed her face.

Haley looked at Taylor and just laughed. Sighing, she eyed the little baby cooing beside her in his mother's arms.

"You want to hold him?"

Haley took a deep breath.

"I…I don't know."

"It's okay", Michelle said.

Haley reluctantly took the little boy into her embrace. She held him close to her bosom and smiled as he nestled into her. He was so beautiful and the moment was so pure. At that moment she looked in his eyes and saw what was to be her future.