February 24th 1999, 3 A.M.
Jane lies on the couch in her parents living room. She stares up at the ceiling. She rolls onto her side to try to get more comfortable. It doesn't help. She gets off the couch, and flips on the lamp. She grabs a magazine, and begins reading. When she finishes the magazine she doesn't feel tired. She looks down at her swollen stomach.
"Look I know that you like it in there, but I was hoping you could come out. You were supposed to be here two weeks ago, and I'm getting a little bit impatient."
5 AM~ Jane's eyes pop open. She sits up, and realizes that she's having contractions. She places her hand on her stomach, "Thank you." She grabs her watch off the coffee table. She times the contractions. "That can't be right," she comments. She waddles over to the stairs. Before she can start up them she sees her mother at the top.
"Jane I love you, but you need to learn how to be quiet."
"Ma come down here," she insists.
Angela trudges down the stairs. "What?"
"I think that I'm having contractions."
"Think?"
"I'm definitely having contractions," Jane grimaces.
"How far apart are they?"
"Like every three minutes."
"There's no way."
"Come time them," Jane insists.
Angela and Jane go into the living room and take a seat on the couch. Three minutes later Jane has another contraction.
"Let's go," Angela insists.
"Now?"
"Yes now. Your bag is still by the door isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go." Angela helps her off the couch.
"Dad is still asleep aren't you..."
"Jane get in the car we don't have time to wake him up," Angela pushes her toward the door.
Angela ushers Jane out the door into the car. She tosses the bag in the backseat. Jane's door is barely shut when the car pulls out of the drive.
"So are you going to tell me what it is before we get the hospital?"
"You can't wait?"
"I already know."
"No you don't," Jane argues.
6:34 AM.
"You're doing a great job Jane," Angela smiles.
"I'd be better if I had some drugs," Jane growls.
"I'm sorry that it was too late," Angela apologizes.
"Jane on the next contraction I want you to push, and you should have a baby," the doctor coaches her.
Jane's face is beet red, and covered in sweat. She takes a breath, and pushes. The doctor delivers the head.
"I need another push to get the shoulders out."
Jane clenches her jaw, and pushes. The doctor maneuvers the baby's shoulders. She then slides into his arms. He lays the baby on Jane's chest. Baby Peyton screeches.
"Hi, pretty girl," Jane smiles.
Peyton's cries instantly stop. The nurse cuts the cord, and takes the baby to the warmer for her assessment. Jane's eyes never leave the baby. Angela cuts the cord after it's clamped. The nurse wraps the baby up, and returns her to Jane.
"A little girl," Angela smiles.
"She's perfect," Jane comments.
"Look at all of her hair."
"I know that you already bought her dresses."
"I packed them in your bag," Angela admits.
"How did you know?"
"Intuition."
"You bribed the doctor?"
"No, I didn't. I just knew."
"You knew, or you found out."
"I just knew," Angela answers.
Peyton stares up at Jane.
"Does she have a name?" Angela questions.
"Peyton Justice."
"Peyton Justice? Are you sure?"
"Yes," Jane nods.
"Peyton for a girl?"
"Yes."
"Justice? You couldn't come up with something a little more girly for her?"
"Don't lecture me. You're not exactly original. Jane? You couldn't have come up with something a little more unique."
"Would you prefer to be named Justice?"
"That's her name, like it or not."
February 26th 1999-6 AM
Jane lies in bed waiting. Next to the bed in a bassinet Peyton begins to squawk. Jane flips on the light, and scoops the little girl out of the bassinet. She holds her closely. The baby wears a pink sleeper.
"Good morning gorgeous," Jane smiles. Peyton stares at her wide awake. Jane studies the baby. She's got big blue eyes, and a head full of thick jet black hair. She kisses the baby. She sniffs Peyton's forehead. She smells of baby lotion.
"I love you," Jane smiles.
The baby listens to her intently.
"I hope you know I don't have clue what I'm doing, but I'm doing my best. I'm going to do my best to give you everything. I'm probably going to be annoying, and overbearing sometimes. When you're a teenager you're probably really going to hate me, but just know that I love you. I want the best for you. I just want to protect you from all the evil in the world."
The little girl closes her eyes. Jane lays down. She places the baby on her chest. She listens to the little girl breathe in and out as she sleeps. Jane feels Peyton's heart beat next to hers. She pats the baby.
June 26th 1998
It's late and rainy. Jane finds herself on her mother's doorstep. She knocks on the locked door. Angela opens the door in a robe, and slippers. "Jane what are you doing here so late?"
Jane doesn't answer. "Get in here, it's wet," Angela instructs. Jane slips her jacket off. Angela flips on the lamp on a table sitting next to the door. Jane doesn't say anything. She simply looks at her mother. Her mascara is smeared, and her face is tear-stained. Angela wraps her arms around Jane who is soaking wet.
"What's wrong?"
"Everything."
"It can't be that bad."
"I did something stupid."
"You're young," Angela answers.
"I can't fix this."
"Jane what did you do?" she questions after letting go.
"I'm sorry."
"For what? Are you going to tell me where you ran off to?"
"Atlantic City."
"What for?"
"I got married."
"Married? To who?"
"Ryan."
"Ryan? Jane why would you do that?"
"I don't know it was stupid."
"We can fix it."
"I don't think so," Jane argues.
"Why not?"
"Ma..." Jane hesitates.
"What's wrong? Jane, spit it out."
"I'm pregnant," she sobs.
Angela wraps her arms around Jane, but says nothing, afraid of saying the wrong thing.