"I'm scared, Ben," Amy said, reaching for him as she sat down in the wheelchair.

"I'll be right here, Amy. Everything is going to be fine. Your family is on their way, and I'll be in as soon as they have everything figured out," Ben whispered, placing a kiss on her lips before the nurse wheeled her away.

Ben stood straight and inhaled deeply. Hundreds of thoughts rushed through his head. He sat down in a waiting room chair. He turned his wrist to read the face of his watch: 5:30pm. He continued to stare at it, thinking of all the things just coming around the corner and how today was the day his life would change forever. Truthfully, he was scared but he was also really in love and really excited to welcome little Allison into their lives. All the talk, anticipation and fear had led up to this moment.

"We came as soon as we heard!" Madison exclaimed, rushing up to Ben with Lauren keeping pace just behind her.

"Well, she can have the baby now," Ben replied sarcastically. "Call off the search, the two worst best friends in the world have arrived," he added, standing up. "You know, it's your fault she's having the baby now. If you two hadn't been complete jerks, maybe she wouldn't have been so stressed out and gone into early labor."

"Is that what the doctors said?" Lauren asked.

"We're sorry, Ben. We didn't mean to, I mean, I wanted – I mean, I want Amy to marry you. I don't want her to have to choose. It was Lauren who had a problem with it. I always get caught in the middle," Lauren glared at Madison. "Is she gonna be okay?" Madison asked worriedly.

"I guess so," he shrugged. "I only talked to a nurse. Thankfully, she's only two weeks early, so I don't think the baby is in too much danger. Amy is in with the doctors now," Ben replied. He was furious with these two girls, on Amy's behalf.

"What gives you the right to treat Amy like that?" Ben snapped at Lauren.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. I can't believe you'd make her choose between your friendship and me. What kind of friends are you? I love Amy," he paused as the words caught in his throat and he held back a wave of emotion he could feel was building up. "I love her so, so much," he continued. "She needs me. We need each other. Why would you ask her to leave me?"

"I don't know. It wasn't exactly like that, and besides, it just seems like a bad idea to me, you two getting married. I mean, is it really possible for you to know that you want to spend the rest of your life with her? You're both sixteen years old. You don't even have a license yet. Plus, I think maybe Ricky deserves a shot at being this baby's father," Lauren replied.

"Don't even bring Ricky into this. He's really the cause of the fight between you two. If you're worried that I'm gonna abandon her like Ricky did, then you are wrong. The concept that I could potentially hurt her even half as badly as he did scares me every single day. She means everything to me. The fact that she's entrusted her heart to me is a huge step after being hurt by Ricky, and I don't take that lightly. We may be sixteen, but I can't imagine life without Amy, and I am willing to sacrificing everything I have to love and provide for both of them for as long as I am capable of it. That's what you do when you love somebody; that's how I know it's real," Ben answered.

"Wow," Lauren replied, dumfounded.

"What?" Ben asked.

"You're really serious about this, aren't you? It isn't just another game or a way to sleep with Amy. You've really thought about how serious this is," Lauren explained.

"Of course I have," Ben replied with a sigh. "I can't explain it anymore. It is what it is. Please, just trust that I will do my best to take care of her and love her."

"See, Lauren? I told you he was serious," Madison elbowed Lauren, gloating. She stopped when she noticed the new person in the room. He'd been there for a bit, but the trio hadn't noticed because of the heated conversation.

"Well, Ben Boykewich," Mr. Juergens said, stepping out of the hallway and closer to Ben.

"We'll be around," Madison said, grabbing Lauren by the sleeve and quickly leaving the men alone.

"George," Ben exclaimed, a little surprised.

"I heard all of that," George replied, putting his hands in his pockets, "or enough of it anyway. You know, I always thought you were a nice guy. Whole heck of a lot better than Ricky right off the bat, and I was glad that if Amy had to date someone, that she was dating you. But, I wouldn't have believed what I just heard if I hadn't heard it was my own ears. You just don't find that kind of maturity in kids today," George added. "It means a lot to know that I've trusted my little girl into the right hands."

"You have, Mr. Juergens. I promise. I don't care about anything more than I care about Amy, and I know it's gonna be hard. I'm not so naive to think it's all gonna be easy from here, but she's the most important thing in my life."

"I know," George nodded, patting Ben on the shoulder. "What's the news?" He asked, changing the subject.

"I haven't heard since she went in. She's two weeks early, but you knew that. The nurse said that it shouldn't be a big problem, but Amy was really worried and scared, which is reasonable, of course. I tried to reassure her that the doctors would take care of her, and everything would be fine."

"Good man, but take it from someone who has been there," George replied. "This is not an easy time for a woman. You can say all the nice things in the world and she might not believe you till it's all over with. I'll tell you right now, regardless of what she says, she loves you. You've been there for her and she loves you very much. She's told me so," he added.

"Thank you, Mr. Juergens," Ben replied, earnestly, pursing his lips and nodding his head.

"George," Anne exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here. I thought I'd have to call you." George looked up to see his wife and his beautiful daughter, Ashley. Ashley had her arms crossed defensively across her body and she didn't quite focus on any particular point in the room.

"I came as soon as I heard. Ben called me," George replied gesturing towards his daughter's fiancé. Ben waved at Mrs. Juergens and Ashley. Ashley glanced at her mother and walked over to Ben.

"Is Amy gonna be okay?" she asked, quite seriously. Ben put his hand on her arm, reassuringly.

"She's gonna be fine," he replied. "I'll tell you what I know," he added, pulling her across the room and sitting down in a chair.

"Listen, Anne. I know you don't want to see me," George began.

"No, I don't. But, Amy is your daughter and you have a right to be here on this day. In fact, in a way, it would be weird for you to not be here," she paused. "I would have called you," she added, looking down at the floor. "So, Amy is alright," Anne asked, changing the subject as best she could.

George nodded. "I guess so; at least that is what Ben says the nurse said, at least."

"I'm so glad Ben was there when she went into labor. If she'd been alone, who knows how long it would have been before she could have gotten here."

"Ben is quite the young man," George remarked. "I overheard him talking to Lauren earlier, and he really loves Amy. I don't know if even she really knows just how much he loves her and cares about her. For someone so young, I was blown away," he added.

Anne nodded. "I was skeptical at first, too, George," she replied, looking over at Ben who was still sitting and talking with Ashley. "I didn't think it was possible for them at that age, but he's impressed me every step of the way. He's never let her down. She's lucky to have him," Anne finished.

"I think we can agree on that," George replied, smiling at Anne. "Have you eaten dinner yet? Amy will probably be awhile. Do you wanna get something?"

--

As Ben paced the room, he glanced at his watch which now read 9:15 pm. They had spoken to the doctors two hours ago, and he was getting impatient and worried. Ashley sat rather quietly, flipping through some vapid teen magazine with a look of utter disinterest. Lauren and Madison had decided to go home for the night and they would come back in the morning to see how Amy and the baby were doing. George leafed through the newspaper and Anne had managed to find the USA Today crossword puzzle. They were all playing the waiting game, some of them were better at it than others.

"Mr. and Mrs. Juergens?" the stout, friendly looking nurse asked as she entered the waiting room. George and Anne looked up. "Amy is getting very close to delivering," she replied. "Oh, and you too, Mr. Boykewich. She's asked for you several times now. If you'd like to follow me in," she added.

"You go," George said to Anne. "Ashley and I will wait here."

Anne and Ben followed the nurse into the delivery room.

"Ben," Amy shouted, as soon as she saw him. He rushed to her side and took hold of her hand.

"Oh Ames," he said, refraining from the obvious question. "It's gonna be alright. It's gonna be just like we practiced in class. I'll be here with you, all the way through and you can squeeze my hand as hard as you need to. I'm here, and so is your mother."

Amy smiled and gripped his hand tighter. She looked over at her mother, who was now on her other side.

"I've been through this, so I know how you're feeling, sweetie," Anne said, brushing some hair away from her face. "It's gonna hurt but it will be over, and you and Ashley were worth it. Believe me. Once she is here, this is all going to feel worth it," Anne added, taking her daughters other hand.

"Are we ready?" the doctor asked, arriving and putting on a smock and some gloves. Several of the nurses nodded. Amy just looked at him, both scared and excited for what was to come.

As promised, Ben and Anne were there with her the whole time, and forty minutes later, Amy made her final push, gripping Ben's hand and crying out his name. Just moments later, the doctor introduced Amy to her healthy baby girl. Amy breathed heavily and blinked several times, trying to hold back the drowsiness. He placed the bundled child into her arms and suddenly all the pain she had focused on just moments ago was gone. There in her arms was a tiny life, a life that she had brought into the world. Allison wriggled and moved and Amy just stared fixedly at her, amazed.

"Wow," Amy whispered. "Allison," she added, looking up, first at her mother who smiled back at her, and then at Ben. She'd never seen his smile wider than it was at that very moment. He kissed Amy on the forehead and touched Allison's tiny, soft face with just one finger.

--

"The nurse said she would bring in some food for you," Ben replied, re-entering the room. "Your Mom said she'd give us a little bit, and then they would all come see Allison," Ben added.

Amy was still holding Allison, absolutely enraptured by her existence.

"You did so well, Amy. She's beautiful, just like her mother," Ben said, sitting down on the edge of the bed so that he could face Amy.

"I never would have gotten through that without you," Amy said. "I never would have gotten through any of it," she added. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied. "I'm so glad you are both safe and healthy," he added. "I was getting worried there waiting for you to dilate. I probably would have worn a hole in the carpet if the nurse hadn't come when she did."

Amy laughed and Ben leaned in to press a kiss to her lips.

"I love you, Ben."

Ben breathed a sigh of relief. "I love you, too, Amy. Saying those words just doesn't suffice though. They are so inadequate for how I feel right now, for how I've always felt. But, I do, Amy. I do."

"I know," she nodded. "I understand. You being with me through all of this tells me more than any words you could say," she replied. "I only wish I could have told you and showed you sooner."

"Let's just focus on today, and tomorrow," he said with a smile. "Allison Marie Boykewich," he exhaled. "Let's take a picture, so we'll never forget," he suggested. "All I have is my cell phone. We were in such a rush." He pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open, pulling up the camera feature.

Amy cradled Allison closer to her chest and angled her up slightly, so that the camera would have a good view of her delicate features.

"Perfect," he said, as he snapped the photo. He sat back down on the bed and watched her as she watched Allison.

"Do you want to hold her?" Amy asked, realizing he had not done so yet.

"I'd love to, but are you sure you want to let go, yet? I don't want to take her away from you until you are ready. I can imagine how important these first moments are," he replied.

"Ben, she is ours. Not just mine. Besides, you are right beside me. It's not like you're going anywhere."

"No. I certainly am not," he replied with a smile. Amy gently handed Allison to Ben who cradled the sleeping baby girl in his arms. He was speechless for a moment. "I never could have imagined this moment like it is right now," Ben explained. "I mean, I did. I imagined what it would be like once she was finally with us, but it could not even compare to what it feels like to be holding her in my arms."

"Isn't it amazing?" Amy agreed with a smile.

"Absolutely," Ben said, grinning back.

The door opened, and Anne, George and Ashley came inside. Seeing this, Ben handed Allison back to Amy, kissed his bride-to-be on the cheek and left them to meet the new little life in private.

He shut the door behind himself and sat down on a bench just outside Amy's room. He set his phone down beside him and put his head in his hands. He was tired, and utterly overwhelmed with new experiences and emotions. He closed his eyes and breathed in a few times. He had to convince himself that this was all really finally coming to fruition. It was kind of surreal.

He picked up his phone again and browsed the gallery of pictures to find the one he had just snapped of Amy and Allison. He smiled as he looked at it, a moment captured forever in time. Amy looked so proud and happy to be holding Allison. It occurred to him that she hadn't mentioned Ricky at all tonight, not once. Ben had wondered how or if Ricky would come up. He was glad that Ricky had not come up though. Allison belonged to Ben and Amy; they both felt that way. Yet, something still nagged at Ben in the back of his mind.

Ben pulled up his text messaging screen and began to type:

Her name is Allison Marie. She's beautiful and healthy. I thought at least you deserved this. After all, you are responsible for allowing me to find my best friend and the woman I love more than everything else in the world. I really do hope you find a way to be as happy as I am, someday. I'm gonna take really good care of them.

He attached the picture to the message, and selecting Ricky from his list of contacts, he pressed send.