I realized I have the unique coincidence this year in that July 4th actually falls on a Saturday. How cool is that? And yes, Baby Jessica Grace is on her way!


Saturday In The Park

The setting sun drew the crowds in anticipation of the pending fireworks show, but Joss was tucked away on a bench on the far side of the park. Her view was good, but she frustrated. She wanted to be standing alongside the others as the city celebrated the nation's birthday.

Picking at the cotton candy, she shoved a piece in her mouth and chewed. She really shouldn't be disgruntled, she told herself. After all, John was only doing what he thought best for her and the baby. But did he have to be so over-protecting, she groused and ripped off another large piece.

"Taylor texted me," Reese said as he approached his wife. "He said he'll be here in a half-hour."

"That's good," Joss replied. She thrust the cotton candy toward Reese.

"No, thanks," he declined and took his place on the bench beside her. "I don't know how you eat all of that junk."

"It's what the baby wants."

"Our baby is going to have rotted teeth upon arrival."

Joss rolled her eyes and bit into the treat. "I doubt that. I craved Fruity Pebbles and orange juice with Taylor," she informed, "and he turned out alright. His teeth, too," she added smugly.

"So you say," Reese mumbled. He looked at his watch and shifted uncomfortably. "Where is Finch?"

"Finch is coming?"

"He likes fireworks as much as you do. Plus, if anything is going to happen, I want all the reinforcements I can get."

"Heh. Reinforcements? Nothing is going to happen," she returned. "Oh," she breathed and rubbed the small of her back.

Reese was immediately on his feet. "What's wrong?" He looked at Joss's face for any sign that something was horribly wrong. "Joss!"

"I'm okay," she assured him. "It was a tiny twinge."

"Twinge? You mean a contraction," he argued.

"Twinge. I know the difference; I've had both." Joss shifted her weight, trying to get comfortable. "This wooden bench isn't helping any," she pointed out.

"You need to sit."

Joss glared at Reese. "You try being nine months pregnant and sit on a wooden bench in July, and then tell me that I need to sit."

"Let me take you home," he offered.

"I'm not going to ease your conscience, John. You promised me that when Taylor got here, then we would go. He's on his way."

"I have a bad feeling." Reese couldn't exactly put his finger on what that bad feeling was, but all the years of his CIA training was on high alert.

"It's nerves."

Reese mulled over her assessment. "You're probably right," he agreed with some reluctance. "But I would still feel better if you were home."

Joss sighed. "Doing what, John? Sitting with my feet propped up, while you hover over me, waiting for a baby who more intent with jumping on my bladder and punching my kidneys than arriving?"

"I think..."

Joss pressed her index finger to Reese's lips, cutting off his protest. "No. Trust me, on this: Wooden bench or over-stuffed recliner, it doesn't matter; I'm uncomfortable either way. Besides, Taylor will soon be here, then we can go."

Everything in Reese commanded that he pick her up and carry her to the car. But as he looked into her eyes, he felt his resolve melt. He couldn't help it; she just had that power over him.

"Okay."

"Besides, the sun is setting and the baby hasn't arrived," she observed. "Maybe that is a good sign."

Reese opened his mouth to tell her that his luck had never been that good, but he was interrupted by Lionel. Beside him was Finch, who was holding a leash attached to Bear's collar. On the canine was a 'Service Animal' vest.

"I see you two are butting heads again," Lionel greeted with a grin. In his hands, he held a foot-long hot dog, fully loaded.

"Just the usual, Lionel," Reese replied. "Hi, Harold."

"Hello, John," the bespectacled man returned. Bear barked his greeting.

Lionel looked at Joss. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine. Can I have a bite?" she asked.

"No." Lionel pulled the hot dog closer to his chest. "Fine? Fine, like how?"

"She had a contraction."

Finch looked worried. "A contraction?"

"A twinge," Joss corrected. "It was nothing. Just one bite, please?"

"No. Twinge? Maybe we should get her to a hospital," Lionel wondered.

"I'm with you on that one, Detective. I'll get the car," Finch offered.

Joss frowned. "I don't need a hospital. I need food. I'm just hungry." She attempted to grab the hot dog out of Lionel's hands. At the last second, he stepped back to avoid her.

"Hey! Get your own." Lionel looked at Reese. "She's getting feisty. Maybe you should take her home," he suggested.

"She won't go."

"Pulled rank on you, did she?"

"I will pull rank on both of you," Joss retorted hotly. "Give me the hot dog." Bear gave a whine and licked his chops at the word 'hot dog'.

"And if I don't?" Lionel countered back.

"I will put your ass on traffic duty for the rest of the year."

Lionel tried to find a good comeback, but couldn't. Sighing, he reluctantly handed his treat over to Joss. "Here. Enjoy."

"Thanks," Joss said as she took a large bite. "Mmmm. This is delicious."

"I can see why you're still here," Lionel grumbled.

"This doesn't last forever, does it?" Reese asked hopefully.

Lionel patted his mutual friend on the shoulder. "Nah. Once the baby arrives, Joss will be back to normal. I promise."

"Hey!" Joss protested with her mouth full.

"Not soon enough."

Lionel grinned broadly. "Be careful what you wish for, pal." He looked around.

Reese shrugged. "Where are the women?"

"Shaw is showing off her shooting skills and trying to win a nursery of stuffed animals for 'mini-me'," Lionel relayed. "The way she's going, we may need Glasses to get us a dump truck to haul them all back to your house."

Finch shot the detective a look.

Joss licked her fingers clean. "That was good. Lionel, would you mind getting me another?" she asked.

"No!" the men chorused together.

"It's just a hot dog," she pleaded.

"You've had enough."

"I'm hungry."

"You had two cotton candies, one large burger, one large lemonade..." Reese listed off Joss's menu for the day.

"My hot dog," Lionel interjected.

"Lionel's hot dog," Reese continued. "You don't need anything else."

"Just one more?" She turned on the puppy dog eyes. "I'm hungry!"

"You're playing with fire, Joss," Reese said.

"It's a hot dog." Bear smiled and barked his approval.

"It could be the one thing that causes you to go into labour."

"I'm not in labour!"

"Yet."

Finch looked at Lionel. "How long have they been like this?"

"All day."

"Is she...?" Finch let the question trail off. He didn't want to think worst-case scenario.

"She says no, but Wonder Boy begs to differ," Lionel finished. He shrugged. "As for me...I'm not going to take sides. He's can kick my ass, and she's pregnant. Either way, I'm pushing up daisies when all is said and done."

"Hmmm."

"Exactly."

"Just a drink," Joss begged.

"No. Nothing more, Joss. I don't want to risk it."

"It's a Sprite. One drink. Then Taylor gets here and we go home."

Reese closed his eyes as he internally debated with himself. "Lionel?"

"Yes?"

"We need a Sprite." Reese pulled his wallet out of his jeans pocket.

Lionel's eyes shifted from Reese to Joss. "Are you sure?"

Joss put her hands on her hips. "Do you want traffic duty?"

Lionel grabbed the dollar bills. "One Sprite coming up."

"Scaring him with traffic duty is beneath you," Reese chastised.

"Got me what I wanted." Joss sat down on the bench and closed her eyes.

Reese looked carefully at his wife. "You look tired, Joss. Let me take you home. Please."

"The fireworks are going to start."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

Lionel swooped in and handed Joss the large styrofoam cup. "One large Sprite."

"Thanks." Joss took a long sip. "Mmmm. That's good."

In the distance there was oohing and ahhing from the crowd, followed by an explosion. The next second the sky was lit up by a multitude of coloured sparks. Bear barked a warning. He moved over and sat beside Joss and laid his head on her lap.

The group sat for a moment and watched as the sky was lit in various designs and colours. Slowly, the began to relax.

"Hey, Mom!" Taylor's voice called out. Bear immediately stood up and barked his greeting.

"Taylor!" Joss breathed with relief. Her son was here and her heart could relax. She stood up and stepped forward to give her son a hug. Taylor hugged back before pulling back.

"I see my sister is taking her sweet time."

"She's a bit stubborn," Joss confessed.

Taylor looked at his mom and step-dad and chuckled. "I can see where she gets it from."

"Hey!" Joss and Reese protested.

"I thought you were going to be home by now," Taylor said soberly.

Lionel held up his hand. "We're not going down that road again. Let's just watch the fireworks, instead of listening to them," he said tongue in cheek.

Taylor looked at the faces of his friends and family. "Umm...okay. Sure," he conceded. Walking over to the bench, he sat down beside Joss. Tapping his foot, he heard something under his foot.

"Mom, I think you need to be more careful. You spilled your soda."

Joss gave him a flummoxed look. "No, I didn't." She held her cup up for Taylor to see.

Taylor pulled his feet back. "Then what the heck is on the ground...?"

"Oh no," Finch breathed.

"What the hell?" Lionel stated loudly.

"Joss..." Reese looked at his wife and felt his stomach fall.

Confused by the sudden outbursts, Joss tried to make sense of the moment and the puddle on the concrete under her feet. She looked at the drink in her hand. How did that get there, she wondered stupidly.

Another explosion lit up the sky and the sound reverberated. Bear barked, but this time it was one of worry.

"John..." Joss began but was halted as a sharp contraction took hold of her. Her big brown eyes were full of fear. Immediately Reese was at her side.

"Joss. Joss." He took her hand in hers and held tight. "What's wrong?" He watched as his wife's face contorted with pain. "Talk to me, sweetheart."

Slowly the contraction let up. Breathless, Joss tried to speak, but it came out on a sob. "I think I'm in labour."