The months passed quickly. No wonder, because there was a lot to do to prepare for the baby's arrival. Camille and Logan had decided not to get married until the baby was born. Nevertheless, they use the time not only for baby preparations, but also for their wedding planning. And although everyone was looking forward to the upcoming birth and couldn't wait to welcome the new member into their family, no one was really prepared for it when the time finally came.
The day began and developed like any other day. Kendall and Jo, who neither had to work on this Friday, were having lunch when Kendall's cell phone rang. After a quick look at the display, he said, "Ah, it's Logan," and answered it.
"Hey, buddy, what's up?"
Logan's voice was a bit distorted by the phone, but Kendall could clearly hear the excitement in his voice.
"Kendall, you or Jo or both have to do me a favor and pick Mia up from kindergarten. Can you do that?"
"Yes, of couse. But why-?" Kendall began, but was immediately interrupted by Logan, "The baby's coming!"
It hadn't taken long for all of the friends to hear the news and to show up at the hospital. And then the worst part began: Waiting. Mia was extremely restless, ran from one adult to another worried and excited at the same time. She stopped by Kendall and asked, "Uncle Kenny? Do you think I will like my sibling? And will it like me too?"
Camille and Logan had agreed that they didn't want to find out in advance what gender their baby was. They wanted to be surprised. Kendall smiled gently and pulled Mia onto his lap. "I know how you feel. When my sister Katie was born, I wasn't sure we'd like each other either, although I was really looking forward to her. But then I saw her for the first time and took her right into my heart. And it will be the same with you, I'm quite sure of that. And of course your sister or brother will love you as much as you love her or him. I think every baby in the world wants such a great big sister like you."
"Really?" Mia asked with wide eyes.
"I'm one hundred percent sure of that."
The hours passed. When it was early evening and most of them had dozed off, something finally happened. Alexa, who had got herself something to drink and was about to sit down again, stopped abruptly when Logan came up to her. She quickly woke up Carlos, who saw Logan, was wide awake immediately and woke the others up.
"Daddy!" As soon as Mia saw Logan, she ran towards him. Logan bent down and picked her up.
"Is Mommy okay?" Mia asked worriedly. Logan nodded. "Yes, sweetie. She's okay, more than okay. And she wants to see you." He looked at his friends and added, smiling, "All of you. She would like to introduce you to someone."
Camille was even paler than usual and she looked tired and exhausted. Yet there was so much contentment and happiness on her face as she looked down at the bundle in her arms. Logan walked over to her and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead before sitting down next to her on the bed with Mia on his lap.
"Mommy, are you okay?"
"Yes, my angel," Camille replied and gently stroked her daughter's cheek. "And here is someone who can't wait to get to know his sister."
For the first time Mia could see the baby. She looked at it with open mouth and wide eyes. Logan smiled. "You have a little brother."
"He's so tiny," Mia whispered in disbelief. "Can I touch him?"
"Yes, but be careful," Logan said. Very carefully, Mia touched the baby's cheek with her index finger and his corners of the mouth suddenly pulling upwards. Mia beamed. "Did you see that? He smiled. He likes me."
"Of course he likes you. You're his big sister," Logan replied, taking the little boy out of Camille's arms. Mia slipped off his lap and hugged Camille tightly. Logan got up and went over to his friends.
"He's beautiful," Alexa said in a soft voice.
"What's his name?" Carlos asked.
"Phillip," Logan replied. "We called him Phillip."
"Awww, that's a sweet name," Jo said with a smile. Logan looked at Kendall. "Do you want to hold him?"
"Yes, of course."
Logan gave him the baby and Kendall smiled down at the little boy. "Hey, little buddy. Welcome to our family."
Phillip reacted like with Mia and pulled the corners of his mouth up again. Kendall laughed. "I think he likes me too."
Logan smiled. "That's a good thing. Because we wanted to ask you something." He looked back at Camille, who nodded at him with a smile. "Will you be the godfather?"
Kendall stared at him in disbelief. "What? Are you sure? I mean…" He looked over at Camille, couldn't imagine that she actually wanted to make him the godfather to her son.
"It was her idea," Logan said quietly, having correctly guessed Kendall's thoughts.
"But…"
"Dude, if you don't say yes, I will," James said, making everyone laugh.
"Okay," Kendall said, still perplexed. "If you're really sure, then yes, I'll be the godfather." He handed Phillip to Jo and hugged Logan. Then he went to Camille and hugged her too. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear. Mia jumped off the bed, ran to Logan and snuggled up against him. Logan exchanged a look with Jo, which she returned with a smile. After a few more seconds, Logan cleared his throat and said, "Okay, guys. That's enough. The others also want to have their turn."
"Exactly," Jo replied, gave Phillip back to Logan, and also went to Camille to hug her.
After many more hugs, Logan noticed that it was obviously getting harder and harder for Camille to stay awake. The others also seemed to notice this and set out to leave. They said goodbye to Camille and went out one by one. Mia followed Kendall and Jo outside when Logan called after her, "I'll be right there, sweetie."
When the door closed, Logan sat down next to Camille again, put an arm around her and kissed her forehead. "I'm so proud of you."
Instead of smiling, she grimaced. "Are you? I said some bad things to you during the birth."
"I know you didn't mean them seriously."
She shook her head. "That's the problem. At that moment I was serious. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Logan replied and gently kissed her lips.
"I slapped you."
Logan laughed softly. "It didn't happen for the first time and it probably won't be the last."
"You are so perfect," she whispered. Logan shook his head. "I'm not perfect. But he is," he said, nodding to Phillip, whose eyes were closed.
"Yes, he really is," Camille said affectionately. "I still can't believe we have a son."
"Me neither. I would like to stay with you all the time."
"That won't work," Camille said with a slight smile. "You have to take care of Mia."
"Yes, I know. But I promise we will come back tomorrow, right after breakfast."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Is it okay for you to be alone for so long?" Logan asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. I'll be sleeping most of the time anyway."
Logan kissed her and then breathed a tender kiss on the forehead of his sleeping son. "I love you."
"We love you too, Daddy," Camille said with a soft smile.
Logan was happy to see that his friends were still standing together in the hallway, waiting for him.
"So what should we do now?" Carlos asked. Logan picked Mia up and said with a grin, "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Why don't we go out and celebrate? Dinner's on me."