Her breath hitches in her throat and her tears fall as they look down at the tests in her hands. Jay's thumbs strum pulse point on each of her wrists while his middle, ring and pinky fingers squeeze her hands as they continue to shake. His own tears fall seeing the results and her reaction to them, it has him leaning forward to kiss her forehead causing her eyes to close and a shuttering breath to fall from her lips. Her heart aches and throbs and races all at once as goosebumps erupt over her skin.

He pulls her closer so she's once again straddling his lap - the sheet resting between and separating their most intimate parts. His lips press kisses across her face before meeting hers. Then he's lifting her up and dipping her so she's lying back on the bed.

"I love you." They repeat to each other at the same time before meeting in the middle for another tender kiss.


She brushes her teeth and washes her face before going back out to their room. The henley of his that was folded nicely on top of his dresser is what she grabs to wear to sleep on the way back to the bed - not even noticing that he's now sitting in a different position. His back is to her and the sheets are wrapped around his waist. From where she's standing it just looks like he's star gazing but then she sees that he has his guitar in his lap. And as she walks closer, she can hear him toning the instrument. She stops to admire her man as he starts to hum before he's singing.

I remember trying not to stare the night that I first met you

You had me mesmerized

And three weeks later, in the front porch light

Taking 45 minutes to kiss goodnight

I hadn't told you yet, but I thought I loved you then

She saunters over to him, kneels on the bed behind him and moves forward until her chest is flush against his back as he continues strumming the guitar. Her arms wrap around his shoulders, her hands coming to rest on the rigid muscles of his bare abdomen and chest and her thumbs begin to sweep back and forth gently. She places a kiss to his jaw, her silent I love you just before he goes on with the song.

And now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world

I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl

Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it's ever been

We've come so far since that day

And I thought I loved you then

He turns his head ever-so-slightly and gives her a quick kiss and soft smile comes to his lips after he pulls away.

I can just see you with a baby on the way

I can just see you when your hair is turning grey

What I can't see is how I'm ever going to love you more

But I've said that before

And now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world

I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl

We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in

And I'll look at you and say, and I thought I loved you then

And I thought I loved you then

She laughs lightly with tears in her eyes at just how cheesy her tough, sometimes hardass Wrangler of a man can be but she wouldn't have him any other way. Yet another kiss is pressed to his lips after he sets the guitar back on it's stand next to the window. Then she's lying down while he goes to get some pants on his way to the bathroom. And by the time he walks back out she's almost asleep but waits until he's in the bed next to her, so she can cuddle into his side. A content smile is on both of their faces and her hand comes to rest on top of his on her belly as they let themselves drift off.


He has a hard time pulling away from her every morning – even more so over the last few days. And now he has to force himself to unwrap his arms from around the smooth skin of her belly. His lips linger on the back of her neck before he whispers how much he loves her and gets out of the bed. A smile comes to his face as he takes her in. She looks so at peace – a small, dreamy smile on her lips.

He thinks about her all day – even if he was busy during different tasks around the ranch. It makes the day go by both fast and slow. But before he knows it he's signing for the delivery of hay – the last thing he needs to do before he can call it quits for the day.

He's just about to go up to their room to check on Erin when there's a light rapping against the front door. He checks the time on his watch as he goes to see who's standing on his front porch.

"Hey." Mouse nods back as he adverts his eyes down to the swaddled bundle in his arms.

"Is Erin home?" He asks and Jay nods - looking up to their room at the top of the stairs - wondering if she heard the knocking. His friends question though simple and short repeats in his head and does something to Jay - his chest aching in that sweet way, thinking that she is home.

Seeing Jay look back longingly makes Mouse think that Erin's close by and he becomes nervous for some reason - even though she hadn't come into his line of sight yet. He shifts from one foot to the other "I uh...Hailey just dropped her off because she got called to an emergency hoof repair for one of her client's mares and then we have dinner reservations. And she said she asked Erin yesterday if you guys would be able to watch Sammy tonight? Kim was supposed to watch her but then told us yesterday that she's sick. If not Erin can't anymore, I'll just take Sammy home." He rambles and Jay shakes his head to let his friend know that he doesn't have to go home or cancel their plans.

"I think we can manage babysitting for the night Mouse." Jay jokingly voices as he takes the small black diaper bag.

"I can take her." Jay offers and Mouse nods back as he steps in to transfer his sleeping daughter into his friend's waiting arms.

"I'll bring in her carseat just in case you need it." Mouse mentions before he's retreating back outside, Jay nods as he looks down at the baby he's holding - not being able to stop himself from thinking about how in a few months he and Erin will have a little one of their own.

Once Mouse leaves, Jay heads upstairs with Sammy and finds that Erin's sound asleep with Poppy cuddled up to her midsection. The fact her hair looks a little damp and is up in a bun along with her change of clothes tells him that she must have been up but just recently fell back to sleep. He leaves her be and goes back downstairs - knowing that this is the first time she's gotten more than a couple hours sleep in weeks.

But as soon as he gets settled on the couch Sammy starts to wake up. The baby yawns and clenches her little fists - stretching her arms up over her head before her eyes open and look around. Jay smiles down at her but becomes nervous and tense when she starts to fuss. And after a few more seconds she's in a full blown wail. It feels like he's trying to soothe the agitated infant for hours but in actuality is only a minute or so before he sees Erin walking over to them.

"Was Uncle Jay pinching you Sammy?" She murmurs jokingly with a beautiful, tired smile on her face as she wipes away the baby's tears. Erin's presence alone has Sammy calming down some but she's still crying. He again attempts to soothe her but fails as his cooing and bouncing only serves to make Sammy more upset.

Erin rubs her eyes for a moment as she yawns before telling Jay that she can take the baby. He gently transfers Sammy over to her arms and watches a sympathetic pout come to her face as she looks down at the little one. She whispers and hushes Sammy while slowly swaying from side-to-side. The baby's cries quiet like they did before but this time she eventually stops which gets both adults to smile. Erin's dimples cause a tingling sensation in Jay's chest as he watches her gently take one of the baby's hand in hers - an image he takes with him as he once again returns up to their room to take a shower.

When he's done getting dressed he makes his way back down the stairs and into the livingroom, trying not to make too much noise and startle Sammy. He stops to admire his girlfriend as she coos at their friend's baby. The little one giggles and gasps, giving Erin a gummy smile while kicking her little feet. But he's quickly confused when he notices a drop fall onto the baby's pajamas followed by another that's accompanied with a sniffle. His eyes travel back up to his girlfriend's face to find tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Hey." He whispers and she looks up at him then.

"I'm fine." She tells him but that does nothing to qualm his nerves. He shakes his head and walks around the coffee table to have a seat next to her.

"The fact that you're crying tells me otherwise." He argues and she nods while looking back at the baby.

She repeats herself and he sighs.

"I can ask Mouse to come back and get her." Jay tells her and she shakes her head with a firm no.

"It's not Sammy." She admits and he nods.

"I know." He replies because he had a feeling Sammy wasn't causing her to cry.

"I'm excited and so happy to be having your baby. But I'm still scared that something's going to happen again like-" She can't even finish that sentence before she starts a new one. "I mean I'm only six weeks along, that's a lot of time for-"

"Erin you can't think like that. They did all the tests and ultrasounds they could this early on during the appointment on Monday and the doctor assured us that it's not the same as last time." He gives her thigh closest to him a gentle squeeze and leans in to kiss her temple causing her tears to fall faster.

"I'm sorry." Erin lifts her legs and crosses them beneath her before lying the baby on them. "You're right."

"I understand why you're worried Erin. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have the same concerns but we're already scheduled for the extra appointments with the doctor per her request so she can keep a close eye on this pregnancy and monitor you both closely. And we're going to follow every recommendation to make sure that you and our little cowboy both stay healthy." He tells her and he can feel her head nod against the side of his as she lets out a little laugh with his new nickname for unborn child.

Sammy suddenly squeals - gaining both of their attention. "I know Sammy, tell Auntie Erin that your baby cousin is going to be ok."

"I love you so much." Erin whispers to him as she tilts her head up to meet his lips with her own.

"I love you so much too." He says back with another quick kiss before they both look at Sammy again. Erin gently covers the infant's little hands with her own while Jay tickles the baby's belly causing her to giggle much like she was before. And Erin smiles as she takes a moment to watch him with their friend's daughter. She lets his words truly sink and hopes with everything in her that he's right and their baby is going to be ok. Because she can't wait to see him as a dad - to see him with their little cowboy - or girl she thinks. And that thought helps put her mind at ease even if only for a little bit.


A/N: Just a little filler, nothing too fancy but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless. The song Jay sings in this piece is obviously not mine, it'sThen by Brad Paisley. Thanks for those still following and those leaving reviews!