After getting the phone call from Jenny, Brooke got Lilly from bed and put her in the car and immediately left the house. Before heading to the hospital, she stopped at Nathan and Haley's. She banged the knocker on the solid red door while she held a sleeping Lilly in her arms. Inside, Nathan and Haley had been cuddling on the couch. They both stood up when they heard the knock and Haley walked over to answer the door.
"Hey Brooke." Haley greeted with a curious look. She noticed the expression of worry on Brooke's face and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's Peyton." Brooke replied as she stepped inside and Haley closed the door. "Jake took her to the hospital.
"Oh my gosh, what happened?" Haley responded as Nathan walked closer.
"Is she in labor?" He asked.
"I don't know." Brooke answered as she laid Lilly on the couch. "Jenny called me and all she said was that Peyton wants me to meet them at the hospital. Jenny didn't know what happened, but Peyton probably wants someone to get the kids. But I don't want to take Lilly there this late, so can I leave her here?"
"Of course," Haley replied, "But I want to come with you. Nathan, do you mind—
"No, go ahead." Nathan said. "I'll stay here with the kids."
"Okay, thanks." Haley kissed his lips, and then said, "I love you."
"I love you too. Call me."
"I will." Haley said just before she and Brooke left the house.
Jake stroked Emma's head, as she lay asleep on the sofa in the waiting room. He and Jenny sat next to each other, anxiously waiting for news from the doctor.
"Dad?" Jenny said, looking up at Jake. "Is mom and the baby going to be okay?"
Jake wasn't sure what was going on in that exam room and he was so scared because he didn't know if Peyton or the baby were going to be okay. But to Jenny he replied, "Yeah, honey. They're going to be fine."
Jenny smiled and leaned against her father. Jake kissed her head. A few minutes later, Brooke and Haley came rushing in.
"Jake!" Brooke called out to him as she Haley arrived in front of him. Jake and Jenny both stood up and Brooke hugged Jake and asked, "Is she okay? Is the baby okay?"
"I don't know yet." Jake replied. "The doctor hasn't come back out."
"What happened?" Haley wondered, folding her arms. "Did she go into labor?"
"I don't know. I hope not because she's only barely at 31 weeks. But we were talking and then she stopped and grabbed her stomach and was in a lot of pain. I don't know what's going on in there and it's…" Jake felt his eyes grow heavy, "…I'm scared, and I'm really scared."
Brooke and Haley both hugged him and Jenny sat back down next to her sister. As Brooke and Haley let go of Jake, Peyton's doctor, Doctor Byrnes appeared.
"Jake," he said and everyone turned his or her attention on him. Doctor Byrnes walked closer.
"Is Peyton okay?" Jake demanded. "The baby?"
"Peyton has gone into premature labor probably brought on by stress."
"But it's too soon." Jake argued. "The baby isn't supposed to come for another nine weeks."
"I know." Doctor Byrnes continued. "And we are doing all we can to try and stop the contractions. We are monitoring both her and the baby and so far the drug seems to be working effectively as her contractions have slowed and haven't progressed any further. And she is only dilated two centimeters so she can probably come home later tonight."
Jake, Haley, and Brooke all sighed relief.
"Can I see her?" Jake asked.
"Sure, but just one visitor at a time please. She's in room 311. I'll be backing awhile to see how she is doing."
Doctor Byrnes walked away and Haley said, "You go ahead Jake. We'll stay with the kids."
"Thanks." Jake replied before walking down to Peyton's room.
Peyton had her head lay back on her pillow and was rubbing her stomach when Jake entered. She sat up when she heard his footsteps.
"Hey." She said with a semi smile.
"Hey." Jake replied. He kissed her head before leaning down and kissing her stomach.
Peyton noticed the very anxious and scared look on Jake's face as he sat down in a chair next to her bed. She noticed his eyes were red too.
"I'm okay, Jake." She said. "We both are."
Jake nodded his head and took Peyton's hand.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"I know you are." Peyton said as she squeezed his hand. "I think I just needed to blow off some steam. I may have been a little too harsh."
"No, you were right." Jake disagreed. " I have been working too much and I haven't followed through on the promises I've been making. And my not being home has been stressing you out and that's not fair and it's not good for the baby. But—
"Jake, what happened tonight wasn't your fault. Yeah, I've been stressed out about your working so much, but I've been stressed out about a lot of other things too. I have been so stressed about the baby and getting ready for the baby and trying to get Emma potty trained, that it has completely worn me out."
"Well, you're not going to be that stressed or tired again, because I am going to take care of everything. You shouldn't be doing all this stuff by yourself. I feel like such a crappy husband and father lately. But I'm not going to be that anymore. And this time, for the rest of my life, I am going to come through on all the promises I make. And I'll never make a promise I can't keep."
Peyton smiled and said, "Promise?"
Jake chuckled and said, "I promise."
He leaned up over her and kissed her lips several times.
"You really do mean the world to me, Peyton." Jake continued. " You and Jenny and Emma and this baby…you all are my entire life. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost any one of you. I was so scared tonight, Peyton. I was so scared I was going to lose you."
"But you didn't. We're both okay." Peyton said assuring. "I know, but I could've lost you and I don't ever want that to happen. I think I've been taking advantage of everything that I have, but I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm going to take my vacation time now until after the baby is born. And after that, I'm going to talk to Tyler about cutting back my hours. And since I'm his best carpenter and leader, I'm sure he won't mind letting me work less."
"And if does mind?"
"Then I guess he'll lose the best man he's got."
Peyton smiled and said, "I love you, Jake Jielgelski."
"I love you too." Jake said before kissing her hand.
