A/N: Much thanks to QuinnAbrams for writing a sweet sibling moment between Artie and Amy!

Amy

She was determined to know who the new crop of glee kids would be before she left. She was set on having a list posted before she had this baby, even if it meant waddling her way into school each day that week, having people constantly ask her when she was due, and having middle schoolers stare at her.

On Wednesday, it had been kind of funny to answer the question about her due date by saying "today," which brought about a myriad of reactions. That was also the day she stayed after school, to hold her auditions, even though it had pained her to sit for very long in those auditorium seats.

She had a great group of interested seventh graders, plus two eighth graders who hadn't been on the team last year. Sam came to help her with the auditions, as did Leah Sarfati, who insisted on holding the clipboard and yelling "Next!"

"Ms. Abrams, I mean... Mrs. Evans," Leah commented, on more than one occasion. "I just don't know about that kid. I don't think he's what we're looking for."

But this was middle school, and ironically, even though she felt these auditions mattered, they kind of didn't. Amy had no intentions of turning anyone away. Especially not the kid who went last.

"Hi, what's your name?"

"Liam Ronson," he replied, drawing in a shaky, nervous breath. "I'm going to be singing a new song called 'Uptown Funk' that's going to be released in a couple of months. It's by my uncle, Mark Ronson, a new artist from the U.K. He's a white rapper. I hope you enjoy it."

This hit, that ice cold / Michelle Pfeiffer, that while gold / This one for them hood girls / Them good girls straight masterpieces...

It wasn't even just the fact that he concluded the performance with a solidly impressive spin in his chair, taking one wheel off the ground, that made the kid remind her of Artie. The kid in the wheelchair had just sung an obscure song by a random white rapper for his audition.

Amy hadn't given anyone else a standing ovation, but this kid got one from both she and Sam. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that obnoxious Leah rolling her eyes and writing something on the clipboard before handing it to Amy. "Ramps?"

"We've already got them," Amy said, smugly, handing it back. "That was fantastic, Liam, one of the best we've seen all day. Are you an eighth grader?"

"Seventh," Liam corrected.

"The chair adds a year," Sam muttered under his breath, which just made Amy smile even more.

"Good," she said. "I'm glad I get two years with you before you leave for high school. Do you know who my brother is?"

Liam nodded. "The great Artie Abrams."

Amy didn't bother to hide the huge grin that spread across her face when he said that. "I'll tell him you're a fan," she said. "Congratulations, Liam, we'll see you in rehearsals."

"'The great Artie Abrams,'" Artie echoed, as he spread sunscreen across his nose. Amy had just finished telling him all about Liam Ronson's audition.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you that," she said, rolling her eyes. "I knew that it would go to your head."

She pulled at the wet t-shirt of Sam's that clung to her bump. She wasn't about to swim in that ridiculous maternity bathing suit. Underneath, she had on one of her old bikinis, which she once wore proudly with nothing over it. She wondered if she'd ever wear it that way again.

"So, you didn't actually turn away anyone," Kitty commented, as she sunbathed by the side of the pool. She looked amazing in a bright pink bikini, and Amy could hardly stand how jealous she was of that cute, flat stomach of hers. "You posted a list with everyone's name?"

"Yeah, and I'm starting with sixteen kids," Amy said. "That's a really good number for the stage. Four rows of four. It'll look good."

"But what was the point of an audition, if you were going to take everyone?" Artie asked, as he traveled the length of the pool with just a pool noodle for support.

Amy exhaled impatiently. "Because," she said, having already explained this to both Leah and Sam. "I need to know what I'm working with. Who knows? I may have time to look for numbers for Sectionals while I'm up late with the baby."

There was more to it than that, too, because mostly, Amy was feeling a little possessive of the club that she'd built. Sam was under strict orders just to do Schuester-style theme weeks until she got back. Maybe she could even visit rehearsals with the baby, while she was still on leave...

"But today is August twentieth," said a voice, coming up behind her. She turned to see Stacey standing over her, looking annoyed that she was still here, still pregnant. That makes two of us, kid. Stevie, on the other hand, didn't seem to care one bit. He jumped in the pool with his brother and Artie right away.

Mary Evans and the kids were staying with the Abrams family for a few days, in hopes that they'd be there when the baby arrived. Ever since Mary had started homeschooling the kids, they had the freedom to travel whenever they wanted, something she loved. Sam's father had to work, but he was checking in daily for updates. He planned to come just as soon as he could, after the baby arrived.

"Babies don't always come on their due date," Amy said, sighing deeply and patting the concrete next to her, so that Stacey could sit by her. "Especially first babies. Sometimes they're late. After today, this little guy is officially late."

Stacey curled up next to Amy and put a hand atop her belly, which she'd been too shy to do until recently. Amy loved having a little sister. Across the pool, she caught Sam's eye as he watched the two.

"Saturday is your birthday, kiddo," Sam said, as he dog-paddled across the pool to address Stacey. "It would be cool to share it with your nephew, huh?"

Stacey nodded emphatically but Amy didn't know if she agreed. She was kind of hoping to go into labor tonight, so she wouldn't have to go into work tomorrow. Now that her glee club auditions were over, she was more than ready for the baby to hurry up and come already.

"Do you wanna play chicken?" Sam asked, with a glance at Kitty. "Boys against girls. Me and Kitty will be the bases."

Stacey looked like she didn't want to leave Amy's side, but the other three were motioning for her to join them. She gave Amy's belly a quick kiss, before leaving to join her brothers and Kitty's game.

As Stacey paddled away, Artie swam over to the edge. Partly to keep Amy company, but also to make sure that he was out of the way of the game.

Amy knew that it was hard for Artie to watch from the sidelines as his best friend, girlfriend, and the kids played games that he couldn't participate in- it was hard for her too. She and Artie both liked to be in on the action, but for now they were temporarily out of commission for their own good. They tried to make the best of it, though, careful to not let on to anyone else that they were bothered in any way. But still, these siblings could read one another like a book.

"I'm with Stacey," Artie said as he took hold of the pool's edge with one hand, still waving the other through the calm water. "Uncle Artie's ready for this kid to get here already. Little Richard, or Walter, or whatever his name is…"

Amy smirked as she leaned over (as far as she could with her bump in the way, anyways…) to gently swat Artie's shoulder.

"His name isn't any of those," she told him, as they were both laughing now. "How many times do we have to tell you that before you believe us that it's not an old man's name?!"

"I'll believe it when I hear it. Which could be now if you would stop being so secretive about the damn thing and just tell me," Artie replied.

"Nope," Amy said, wincing as the baby's elbow jabbed into her side. Artie's eyes grew wide as he saw the movement from beneath the damp t-shirt.

"Freaky," he commented.

"I don't think it'll be too much longer until he's here, though," Amy admitted, rubbing her belly. "And now that tryouts are done, I'm ready for him, whenever he decides to make his grand entrance."

"Well, let's make it snappy," Artie said, pointing his finger at the bump and talking directly to the tiny human growing inside of her. "I go back to college in a week-and-a-half and I want to spend some time with you!"

Amy laughed again at this. She still couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Artie was about to start his sophomore year at Ohio State. It seemed like just yesterday he was Stevie's age.

"Do you have to leave?" Amy whined, knowing all too well the answer. She honestly felt that watching Artie go back to school at the start of every new semester was harder than when she was the one leaving. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have the extra hands around, ready to change some diapers.

"I'm already cutting it close by getting there just the day before classes begin," Artie informed her. "Plus, I gotta go check on Zack. He's been there all summer, and I have to make sure he hasn't destroyed the room yet."

"I'm proud of you, you know," Amy randomly confessed after a moment as she ran her fingers through Artie's messy wet hair before he swatted her hand away, flashing her confused look. "What? I am."

Thinking back on what life was like almost twelve years ago… there were times where she never even pictured days like today. The kid (err… man) who was before her today bore little resemblance to the scrawny eight-year-old laying in the hospital bed, clutching the ugly monkey stuffed animal. The big blue eyes and fighting spirit were about the only similarities. Amy realized now that her own eyes had begun to water.

Damn hormones.

Before Artie could comment on her sudden display of emotion, the attention of two Abrams siblings was then commanded by the commotion happening in the middle of the pool, where Kitty and Sam had the younger Evanses mounted on their shoulders. The two little ones were trying their best to push the other into the water while maintaining their own balance. It was very clear who Artie was rooting for.

"Come on, Stace! You've got it!" Artie cheered on the girls' team. His encouragement seemed to be just the boost that Stacey needed, because seconds later, she got a good shove in before sending her brother splashing into the water. "Woohoo! That's my girl!"

A small smile appeared on Amy's face as she watched Artie cheer on her tiny sister-in-law. He has always had such a way with kids, and they loved him right back. Probably because he was overly animated, and funny, and fearless, and willing to try just about anything you put him up to. Amy had loved watching Artie interact with Sam's siblings over the last couple of months, and it made her even more excited to watch as he interacted with her own son someday soon.

Any day now… she thought to herself as she continued to rub her hand in circular motions on her belly.

Thursday morning, she woke up as usual, after a long night of struggling to get into a comfortable position to sleep. She wasn't even going to stick to decaf coffee after that, because she needed something to help her stay awake. She only felt guilty for a moment, because she reminded herself that this baby was taking over every other aspect of her life. The least he could do was let Mama drink her coffee.

She went about her day Thursday with various comments from co-workers about her size and various questions from anyone who hadn't already asked about her due date, plus their shocked looks when she said "yesterday."

But it was kind of worth it, to be able to lead the very first rehearsal of the glee club. She was positively beaming at them as they filed in, one by one, while she leaned against the piano. Last to enter the room was Sam, because he'd just gotten off work in time to be there, as she'd asked. He'd gone ahead and changed out of his coveralls and into teacher clothes, for she would be introducing him to the club that day.

"Hey," he greeted her, leaning in for a quick kiss. "How are you feeling?"

"Just the same as always," she replied, with a deep sigh, before turning her attention back to the kids.

They'd all assembled in various spots, most of the returning members filling up the back row, except for Leah and her boyfriend, who were front and center. The boyfriend was kind of clumsy and really not all that good, but Leah had sort of claimed him as her new leading man at some point. Amy watched Liam enter quietly and speak to no one as he found the empty space that Amy had left for his chair on the front row. Three girls pranced in wearing their cheerleading uniforms. One of them glanced at the boy in the wheelchair before finding her seat in the middle row with her friends.

"Everyone," Amy clapped her hands, to get their attention. "To my returning students who are now eighth graders, welcome back! Since everyone has heard that you won Nationals, naturally we had a lot of interest in the club this year! I'm pleased to announce that we have two new eighth graders and six new seventh graders joining us, bringing our grand total number of students to sixteen!"

"She didn't turn anyone away," Leah blurted out. Amy was pretty sure she saw the snooty girl glance at Liam, and this, coupled with her pregnancy hormones, nearly sent her into full-blown rage. She felt Sam subtly lay a hand on her shoulder.

Amy gave her a sharp look. It was a glare that she'd polished to perfection during her first semester as a teacher. "No," she said, curtly. "I didn't. Everyone who auditioned yesterday deserved a spot. So you all got one. But now comes the hard part. In order to keep your place on this team, you all need to pull your weight. Even if you don't get a solo or a featured part in a song, you need to pull your weight. And maintain at least a C average! Got it?"

"And no lip syncing," Leah added, evidently unable to stop herself from adding to the speech. She then seemed to recall that she was a student, however, and raised her hand sharply. Amy reluctantly pointed at her.

"Yes?" she asked, stifling a yawn, for the lack of sleep was catching up to her now. "Was there something else I didn't say?"

"Only that you forgot to introduce your sub," Leah said, lowering her hand and smiling sweetly at Sam. "Since you won't be with us much longer."

Amy sighed. "Kids, this is my husband," she said. "Mr. Evans. And Mr. Evans has lots of glee club experience, having performed on a winning team at Nationals. I want you to know that you'll be in good hands while I'm gone."

One of the Cheerios raised her hand. "Mrs. Evans, we all want to know what the baby's name is gonna be!"

"Nope," Amy said, as she carefully took a seat on the piano bench. "Can't tell you, that's a secret. Moving on, Mr. Evans is going to hand out some sheet music. Now, raise your hand if you're a soprano."