A/N: I don't really have any excuses, just that I'm back now for awhile at least. Well, Tess' Tigers are set to battle the Evil Pinstripe Empire starting tomorrow night, just like five years ago when I wrote the first part of this series. We're hoping for the same outcome, but with a World Series win after taking down the Yankees. Fingers crossed.

Hope you enjoy and please R&R. Thanks!

"Don." Tess shook Don's shoulder. He groggily opened his eyes and blinked at her.

"What?" he grumbled.

"Get up."

"Why?" he mumbled sleepily. He closed his eyes again and tried to roll over. Tess punched him in the shoulder. He rolled back. "Hey, that hurts."

"I'm going to show you hurt in a minute," growled Tess. "Get up and get dressed. Now."

Suddenly Don's eyes snapped completely open. He sat straight up. "Ya mean, you're havin' the baby now?"

Tess grimaced at him. "I'm not really feeling strong contractions, but my water broke."

Don swung his legs out of the bed. He turned toward Tess and frowned slightly. "Are ya sure?" Tess looked at Don incredulously. She shoved the arm he was bracing with and he fell to the bed. He instantly sat back up shaking his hand. "Yuck."

"Yes…I...am...sure."

"In the bed, Tess?" he whined.

"It's amniotic fluid. It's sterile. It will dry. I will get someone to change the sheets." Tess ground out between clenched teeth. "Now screw your head on straight. Get dressed and drive me to the hospital."

Don nodded and slid out of bed. "I'm movin'. Ya ready?"

"As I'm going to be," replied Tess. Don reached out and squeezed Tess' hand.

"It'll be alright."

"Easy for you to say."

"Yer right." Don kissed Tess' knuckles. "It is easy for me ta say. I promise you can beat me up all ya want, if it makes ya feel any better."

"You may be sorry you said that," grimaced Tess as a wave of pain gripped her.

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Don glanced at the clock on the wall as he waited for the elevator. 12:30. He calculated in his head. Tess's been at this for…Well, if you start from where she woke me up… eight and a half hours. Don wiped a hand over his face. And little progress. I dunno know if I'm gonna make it. Now every time a contraction hits and those tears trickle outta the corners of her eyes. Don grimaced. And ya ran away, ya coward. Can stare down a gun, but when yer wife needs ya… The elevator arrived. He got in, punched the floor button and settled toward the back. Don closed his eyes. He sighed heavily. The car finally stopped on his floor.

Don walked down the hall. He could hear Tess talking. She sounded calmer, almost happy. He walked into the room and Bette was sitting next to Tess chatting away. Bette gave him a nasty look.

"And where have you been?" she accosted.

"I kicked him out. Leave him alone, Bette." Tess smiled at Don. He sat down on the opposite side of the bed and glared at Bette.

He looked back at Tess. "Yer looking better." Don picked up Tess' hand, squeezed and kissed it.

Tess gave him a slightly loopy smile. "I finally got drugs. I don't feel like the kiddo is trying to claw their way out. Much, much better. And look. Bette finally made it here." Tess winced slightly and squeezed Don's hand. The fetal monitor whirred and spit out a length of paper.

"Any other news?"

Tess frowned and shook her head. "Same effacement, same dilation." Tess bit her lip. "Everybody says not to worry. This is common. Yadda, yadda."

Bette stroked her hand. "Shhhh. It's okay. Yer doin' fine."

"But I wanna be done." Don looked at Tess helplessly. Bette massaged Tess' hand.

"I know, Tessie. But ya can't rush things. Your baby's gonna come only as fast as they want to." Bette calmly talked as she rubbed Tess' temples. "Close yer eyes for a bit and rest. You'll feel better and you'll be ready for later." Bette glanced over at Don. "You close yer eyes for a bit too. Relax. Yer doin' no good getting as wound up as you are."

"And yer an expert how?"

"I'm not. Use yer head though. Gettin' all crazy ain't gonna help anythin'," snapped Bette.

Tess' eyes opened. "Neither will you two harping at each other." She closed her eyes again.

"Sorry." They both mumbled. Bette and Don scowled at each other.

"Quit making faces. How old are you two?"

Bette giggled. "She's already got a mother's sixth sense."

"I have a teacher's sixth sense." Tess' eyes opened slightly. "Besides, I know both of you too well." Tess winced. "I am so tired."

Don squeezed her hand. "I know, Sweetheart."

"Liar. You haven't a clue." Tess sighed. "Daddy called. His flight got in and he's headed to the hotel. He said to call him when the baby is here and he'd head over."

"Yer sure you don't want him here, Tess?"

Tess shook her head and kept her eyes closed. "No. I love my father, but…If it was Mama…Don, I want my mother."

Don gathered Tess into his arms and rocked her. Tess' body shook with sobs. "Oh, Sweetheart." He held her close and kissed her hair. Bette rubbed slow circles over her back. "She would be so proud of ya, Tess." Tess sat up and looked at Don. The love in his eyes brought a fresh wave of tears. Tess ground her fists into her eyes to wipe them away.

"I'm sorry." Tess cupped Don's face and just stared at him. She smiled slightly and he grinned back.

Bette cleared her throat. "Tessie, have you forgotten the terrible pain you're goin' through right now because of this man?"

Tess burst out laughing and punched Bette lightly in the shoulder. She smiled at Don again.

"Good thing I'm in love with him then."

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