Jennifer rubbed her stomach after another contraction hit. While the time between them increased so did the pain and this one was the worst one yet. She bit her lip and let a tear fall. Why was this happening to her? She had been given medicine, but apparently it was wearing off.
"Baby, you've got to stay in there just a little longer. Please do it for Mama and your sister Katie and your brother Kendall and your other brothers James, Carlos, and Logan. Do it for your dad who says he doesn't want you but that's only because he hasn't met you, yet, not that it's time to meet him! Oh, listen, someone's at the door," she said when there was a knock. "Come in." She hoped it was her son and daughter and perhaps their friends. She knew sending them home to get rest was the best thing, but she was kind of bored and wasn't in the mood to watch TV.
"Jennifer."
She looked up at the sound of the deep voice not expecting to see him.
"Get out."
"Jen, listen to me."
"How did you find out I was in the hospital?"
"Katie and Kendall."
Jennifer rolled her eyes. "My children…forgot to tell them not to have contact with you."
"Why? I thought you loved me."
"I do, Mitch, but you…you don't love our baby."
Mitch started walking toward Jennifer but she stuck her arm out to keep him away.
"Why won't you let me talk?"
"You hurt me. When you told me to get rid of the baby you showed me what kind of man you really are. I can't be with someone like that." She looked away as a tear fell down her cheek.
"I—Katie sent me the ultrasound. He's so beautiful."
"You're not allowed to say that."
"He's my son, too."
"You didn't want to have anything to do with him."
"I'm sorry, Jen, I am so sorry. No, it's true, I never wanted children. But, now, I've got one on the way, I—don't know what to think, but I do know that I love him. I never thought I could, but seeing that ultrasound makes it all so real. He's a real live human being and I helped create him."
"He wasn't real before?"
"Yes, no, I don't know. Please look at me."
"N—oh gosh, oh my—" she grimaced reaching for something to grab a hold of. Mitch took that opportunity to give her his hand to hold, which she did, almost crushing the bones in his fingers. Jennifer screamed at the top of her lungs.
"What was that?" Mitch asked after Jennifer calmed down taking huge deep breaths. He pulled the black plastic chair over to sit in and rubbed his sore hand.
"It's why I'm in the hospital. I'm having contractions and the doctors are working to keep the baby from being born too early."
"Katie didn't tell me that. Do you need a doctor? Do you want me to get someone?"
She shook her head. "Someone will come soon. They usually d—"
A nurse in blue hospital scrubs walked in at that moment.
"Sounds like the medicine is wearing off. How are you doing, Mom?"
Jennifer rolled her eyes. Yes, she was pregnant, but that didn't give the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff the right to call her mom. She wasn't their mom, real or pseudo.
"They're getting worse. The time between them is growing, but so is the pain."
"Yes, your last one took place thirteen minutes ago." The nurse did the check up, checking around Jennifer's body. While she did that Jennifer stared at the ceiling biting her lip trying not to cry. She already let a tear out for Mitch. She didn't want to let anymore fall.
"It looks like your cervix has dilated one more half centimeter."
"That's not good, is it?"
"No, but you're moving so slowly it could be days before you reach ten. The baby cannot be born naturally unless you are ten centimeters and we are not going to surgically take him unless one of you is in distress. Every day, every hour, heck, every minute we get is huge. We'll see about getting you some more medicine."
"Is he going to be okay?" Mitch asked once the nurse left.
Jennifer gave him a weak smile. "I don't know." She began to explain about 25 weeks and the baby's chance at survival when the door burst open.
"You okay, Mom? We heard you screaming all the way down the hall." Kendall entered carrying a bag on his shoulder. "I got everything you asked for but I see you provided the Mitch."
She gave her son an "I'm Going to Kill You" look.
"Hey, Mama Knight." Carlos walked into the room throwing an empty corn dog stick in the trash. "Ooh, are you making up with Mitch?"
"Mitch?" Katie called from the hallway. "Is he in there?"
"Yes," Mitch answered.
"Are you back together?" James asked bringing up the rear with Logan.
"No!" Jennifer answered emphatically.
Mitch winked causing Jennifer to roll her eyes and groan.
I'm so happy! James is going to be on Dancing With the Stars. This is something I've wanted ever since the show ended last summer. I thought about it all the time. I'll even say I prayed for it because I wanted more James (honestly, I think he's the best dancer of BTR). I can't believe it's actually happening. I can't stop thinking about it. This is great for him and great for all of us fans. If you don't watch the show you better start (Mondays at 8PM on ABC—starting March 17 which is also known as St. Patrick's Day). He's going up against Meryl Davis and Charlie White. I really like them, too, and want to support them, but I've been really wanting James (yes, James, not just any BTR guy, but James specifically) on the show since last summer so I have to go with him. (you may have seen this attached to a chapter of BTBreak, but I actually wrote the author's note for this story, it's just that the other chapter got posted first).