*Jack's POV*
"Look! We're home!" I shouted excitedly as I looked out of the window.
Alex who was beside me yelped excitedly and punched my arm. "Home dude, just in time for your birthday." he said and I nodded in excitement before going to make sure I had everything. They would drop off Alex and Rian first, then me, then Zack and then the rest of the crew.
I was just double checking my bunk when someone tapped my leg and I looked back. "Kara called and told me to tell you that Josie said she wants you to get off with us at our place." Rian said and I raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I don't know, they said they want us all to get off the bus at our house."
"Oh. Okay."
"We're here!" I heard Alex shriek from the front and I jumped from my bunk. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and grabbed my suitcase before starting to lug it off of the bus. The door of the house was already open and I was guessing from the bags left in the driveway Alex just ran in without even bothering to bring his stuff.
"I wanna go home and sleep in my bed." I said to Zack as we walked up the driveway.
"Yeah, why did the girls want us?" Zack asked before yawning widely.
"Don't know." I said as we stepped up the stairs and then into the still open door.
"WELCOME HOME!" was the chorused screech we were met with and then there were arms around my waist. I looked down and saw Josie had already attached herself to me.
"I missed you Jack." she said as she looked up at me and her green eyes were filled with tears.
"I missed you too Josie." I said before leaning down and brushing my lips against hers.
"Happy birthday!" she said once I pulled away and I laughed before hugging her tightly.
"Thank you, so what's this?"
"It's a welcome home party; we just missed you guys so much."
"Speak for yourself Josie!" I heard May shout and I scanned the group of people around us for her. When my eyes landed on her next to Alex I flicked her off and she made a face at me before walking over. "Okay, maybe I did miss you a bit baby brother." she said before giving me a one armed hugged.
"I missed you too May."
"Well happy birthday."
"Thanks, I'll be right back." I said to May before grabbing Josie's hand and tugging her towards the backyard gently. Once we were outside in the silence by ourselves I pulled her closer to me and leaned my forehead down against hers. "I missed you Jo-Jo."
"I missed you too Jacky." she said as she reached up to pull my chin closer so she could kiss me softly.
We broke apart and smiled at each for a minute before I looked down at Josie's now extremely large stomach. "I missed you too little man." I said bending down and kissing Josie's belly.
"He kicked." she wincing slightly and I frowned before putting my hands on her stomach.
I leaned down close to her belly, "Be good to your mother Noah." I instructed.
"That just made him kick harder."
"I wanna feel."
"Give me your hand." she said and I held out my left hand to her. She took my large hand in her smaller one before placing it on the side of her stomach. "Now talk."
"Uh, what do I say?"
"I don't know Jack, tell him something."
"Uh, hey there Noah, this is your daddy." I said and I waited patiently until I felt a soft bump against my hand.
"Did you feel it?"
"I think….."
"Say something else Jack."
"Daddy already loves you, he can't wait to meet you." this time the soft bump was slightly harder and I smiled up at Josie.
"You felt him, huh?"
"Yeah, it's amazing." I said as I straightened up and pulled Josie to my chest before resting my chin on her head.
"I missed you Jack, you promise you'll be here when Noah is born, right?"
"Yes, I wouldn't miss it."
"Do you promise Jack? No surprise tours, no road trips, no anything that might make you not be here, okay?"
"Josie, don't worry baby girl. I promise I'll be there. Why are you worrying so much?" I questioned as I took her face between my hands so she would look me in the face.
"I'm just scared Jack, I don't want you to miss out on Noah, I don't want Noah to not know what it's like to have a dad. I'm scared you're just not going to be there, I know you love me and I know you love him but it's not enough Jack. I want you home for his birthdays, for Christmas and Thanksgiving. I want you to celebrate with me when he smiles for the first time, when he takes his first steps and not just over the phone. I know the band makes you happy and I love that it does but what about Noah?"
"Noah is number one Josie, he already is. You and Noah are the most important things in the world to me but the band isn't just a side thing, it's my job, my entire life. I worked hard for it, we all did. I can't just be like sorry guys but find a new guitarist!"
"I'm not saying that Jack, not even close but I don't know. I'm not trying to be selfish, I swear but it hurts me knowing Noah might get hurt from this."
"I'm sorry Josie and I'll never be able to say sorry enough to Noah but this is the life I chose. I can't just quit."
By now we had both pulled away from each other and Josie was standing with her back to me. Guilt filled my stomach but I knew I wasn't wrong. The band was my life, it was everything I always wanted and I couldn't give it up. I loved Noah and Josie but I also loved the band, I loved the guys. They were my family as much as Noah or Josie and I couldn't just let them down but I also couldn't let Noah or Josie down. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair before placing a hand on Josie's shoulder.
"Look Josie, baby, look at me." I said and she slowly turned. Tears were in her eyes and I felt even worse. "Don't cry please."
"I'm sorry." she mumbled as she wiped her tears away.
"Don't be, I'm sorry. Come here." I said opening my arms and she quickly fell against my chest. I kissed the top of her head and then rested my head on hers. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay Jack, I understand."
"I'm not choosing the band over you and Noah, okay? I love you and I'm gonna promise you right now, I swear to be at every single one of Noah's birthdays. I don't care if I have to fly home from across the country, I will be here. I will be here for Christmas and I'll try my very hardest to be here on Thanksgiving."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me, I love you and I love Noah. As long as you're both happy than so am I." I said and she smiled up at me.
"I love you Jacky."
"Good because I've had nothing but my hand for the past month and a half. Wanna treat me with some birthday sex?"
"God Jack, you're so dirty." she said as she laughed.
"Oh you love it babe but seriously, twenty years old, birthday sex would be wonderful."
She laughed and tucked a piece of red hair behind her ear, "Okay but just cause it's your birthday." she said and I shouted excitedly before hugging her tightly again.
A couple hours later happy birthday had been sung and cake had been eaten. Now we were getting ready to leave for the last show of the tour. For the first time since our first tour I was nervous, Josie would be watching me tonight. Usually when people I knew watched I didn't care but I loved Josie, I actually cared about what she thought about the band. I didn't want her to hate us, I didn't know what I would do if she did hate us.
"Ready to go Jacky? Alex, Lisa and May are already in the car." Josie said shaking me out of my thoughts and I smiled before nodding.
"Come on." I said and I wrapped an arm around her. She leaned back into me and then moved forward to look at me.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, why would you say that?" I questioned as I nervously rubbed the back of my neck and she placed a hand on her hip before looking at me.
"Jack Barakat you are a horrible liar."
"I am not." I said while looking down at my feet and Josie laughed.
"Yes you are. What's the matter baby?"
"I'm just nervous."
"It's okay to be nervous Jack."
"I know but I'm really nervous."
"Why are you so nervous?" she questioned and I began to squirm. I didn't want to tell her that I was afraid she wouldn't like us. "Jack, just tell me? Please?"
"I'm nervous because what if I'm not good and you don't like us?"
"Jack don't worry about that, I'll like you guys."
"You can't say that, you don't know for sure."
"Alex made me listen to a couple of your songs, I like you guys, don't worry."
"Are you being honest?" I said while I eyed her suspiciously.
"Yes Jack, now let's go or Matt will have a fit." she said before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the house.
"Okay Josie." I said as she led me out of the house and down to the car. When we got to the car May was already at one window seat, Lisa was in the passenger seat and Alex was in the driver's seat.
"I'm not riding in the middle, it's too hot." Josie said looking up at me and I looked into Alex's car. My legs were way too long to even sit in the back comfortably, forget in the middle.
"I'm not riding bitch, May get in the middle."
"No Jack, you get in the middle." May retorted
"Come on May, Josie's already red, she needs the window."
"Jack just sit in the middle."
"Whatever, stop fighting. I'll sit in the middle." Josie said as she climbed into the car.
"I'm sorry babe." I said as I slid in beside her.
"It's okay, can you just open the window?" she questioned as she fanned her very red face.
I rolled down the window and then slipped on my seatbelt as Alex whipped out of the driveway. "Slow down dude!" I shouted and he laughed but slowed down slightly. Josie rested her head on my shoulder and I looked over at her for a moment before brushing my hand against her forehead. "Are you feeling okay Jos?"
"I'm fine." she mumbled.
"Are you sure? You don't look so good."
"I just feel funny, I'll be fine Jack, don't worry."
"What hurts?"
"Nothing Jack, don't worry." she said this time with a bit more force. I looked at May over Josie's head and she shrugged. I just sighed and rubbed Josie's arm soothingly hoping it would help her feel better.
We got to the venue almost a half hour later and we all climbed out of the car before walking into the back. There was a ton of commotion and everyone was being extremely loud like usual. "Jack. Jack." Josie said tapping my arm and I looked down at her.
"What's up babe?"
"I don't feel good, is there a place I can sit down?" she questioned and I nodded before leading her back to the dressing room that said All Time Low on a paper and was stuck to the door.
"Here, rest for a bit. Do you want me to get you some water?"
"No, I'm fine Jack. I'm just feeling yucky."
"Okay, I have to go get ready. I'll be back after the show. If you need anything just get May, okay?" I said kissing her head and then walking off to go get ready.
I found Matt within minutes yelling at Alex who was taking shots with Gabe. "Want some birthday boy?" Alex offered and I shook my head.
"No, I'm cool." I said as I took the guitar that someone handed me.
"You sure dude?" Alex questioned and I nodded which made him raise an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Josie isn't feeling well so I don't want to get drunk."
"Why? Do you think she's gonna have the baby?" Gabe questioned from beside him and I shrugged.
"I don't know, she just said she wasn't feeling well."
"I'll go check on her but you guys need to go on stage." Matt said pushing us towards the stage and I nodded.
"Go check on her, we'll go out." I said grabbing Alex and leading him away from Gabe and onto the stage.
"Hey! We're All Time Low!" Alex shouted into the microphone after the first song.
"And I'm Jack!" I shouted.
"And this song right here is called Dear Maria, Count Me In." Alex said as he started the song. I started to play with him when someone tapped my shoulder and I turned to see Matt who had a panicked look on his face.
"Josie's water broke." Matt shouted over the music and I raised my eyebrows before scrambling to take off my guitar. I shoved it into Matt's arms before running off of the stage. I ran straight to the dressing room and I began to panic when I found it empty. "Dude, we already called the ambulance, she's already gone." Matt said and I turned to stare at him.
"What do I do?" I asked, the panic inching into my voice.
"Take my keys and go to the hospital, we'll meet you there later." Matt said shoving his keys into my hand and I nodded as he shoved me towards the door.
I ran outside and scanned the parking lot, cursing when I couldn't find Matt's car. "Oh my fucking god." I growled as I scanned the parking lot again and my eyes finally fell on Matt's car.
I ran towards it, unlocked it quickly and then jumped in. I turned it on and without even waiting a moment I put it into drive and pulled out of the spot. This was not supposed to happen this way, Noah was two weeks early and we didn't have anything ready for him yet, not even a carseat.
"He's not due for another two weeks." I said right before another contraction hit and I squeezed May's hand.
"Jack was early, maybe he just wanted to be a good present for his daddy." May said wincing slightly at the pain from me squeezing her hand so tightly.
"We don't have anything ready." I said and I felt about ready to burst into tears.
"Shh, it's okay. We'll have everything ready by the time Noah comes home."
"I don't even care, I just want Jack. Do you know if Matt told him?"
"He said he would, Jack is probably on his way now. Just breathe Josie." May said soothingly and I took a deep breath like May told me to.
"Ugh! Where is he?" I cried as I felt another sharp pain.
"Here! I'm here!" Jack said sliding into the room and he ran straight towards me. "I told you I wouldn't miss this." Jack said as he wiped back my sweaty hair from my forehead. I smiled up at him, instantly I felt better as he kissed my head. "May go call mom."
"Okay, I'll be back." May said and Jack nodded but I couldn't stop staring at Jack long enough to look at May and nod.
"What did the doctor say?"
"That I wasn't ready to push but I should be in an hour or less."
"How are you feeling?"
"Horrid." I answered and Jack cooed sympathetically and grabbed my hand before running his thumb over the back of it soothingly.
"I was so afraid I was going to get here and he would already be born."
"Nope, you made it Jacky." I said before squeezing his hand tightly as more pain went through me.
"Hello." a new voice said and we looked up to see a man in a white coat.
"Hi." Jack and I chorused together.
"We already talked," he said looking at me and then he turned to Jack, "but we haven't. I'm Dr. Driscoll." he said smiling at Jack.
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, you're the father?" he asked and Jack nodded.
"Just in time, I think it's almost time for her to push." he said and Jack smiled down at me. A couple minutes later the doctor had concluded that I could push and not even seconds later the room was filled with nurses and other doctors. "You ready?" the doctor questioned and I nodded. "Okay, push." he instructed and I pushed.
I took a deep breath once I finished pushing and Jack pushed my hair back from my face with his free hand. "You can do this Josie." he whispered into my ear and I took another deep breath before pushing again.
"I can see his head." the doctor said and a wave of determination came over me as I took another deep breath before pushing again hard.
"You have this Josie, come on." Jack said and I pushed down again hard. Suddenly the sound of crying filled the room and I looked down to see the doctor was holding up Noah. He was put on my stomach and the doctors began to rub him clean as tears began to pour down my face.
Nothing else mattered at that moment as I stared down at the very angry crying baby that was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in the entire world. I was still staring at him when the doctor scooped him up and carried him out of my line of vision. "Where are they taking him?"
"To get cleaned up and get him measured, don't worry Josie." Jack said as he looked down at me, he had the biggest smile I had ever seen on his face and he kissed the side of my head.
Almost two hours later Jack and I were seated side by side on the hospital bed, Noah asleep in my arms as we stared down at him. "He's so handsome."
"He's kind of scrunched up." Jack said and I glared up at him. "I mean in a cute scrunched up way."
"I didn't expect him to have so much hair." I said as I slowly pulled the small hat off and stared at the thick black hair that covered his head.
"I'm just glad he doesn't have my nose."
"I don't know how I'm ever going to get anything done; he's too perfect to stop looking at."
"Yeah, this is the best birthday present I have ever gotten." Jack said as he ran his finger along the chunky pink cheek.
"Hey." a soft said and I looked up to see Alex, Lisa, Rian, Zack, and Kara huddled by the door.
"Hey guys, come meet Noah Alexander Barakat." Jack said gesturing them over. Everyone didn't need telling twice, they were around my bed within minutes, all commenting on how cute he is.
"Wanna hold him Alex?" I questioned as I watched Alex from the bottom of my bed where he was looking unusually shy.
"What if I break him?" Alex said nervously but he inched closer
"Then I will personally kill you." Jack said and I couldn't help but laugh.
"You won't break him, just sit down in the chair." I ordered while nodding towards the chair in the corner of the room. Once Alex sat down I nudged Jack with my elbow.
"Go bring Noah to him." I said gently placing Noah into Jack's arms. Once Jack had him he slowly walked towards Alex and then placed him in Alex's arms. "Make sure you watch his head." Jack said and Alex nodded as he carefully held Noah to him.
"Hey little guy, we've all been waiting to meet you but we didn't expect you this early." Alex said softly.
"Yeah, you're already giving your mommy and daddy a heart attack," Jack said and we all laughed.
"He's wonderful guys; I didn't know anything from Jack could be so cute." Alex said.
"Normally I would smack you but you have my kid so you're lucky." Jack said and I laughed. I watched them for a couple more minutes before yawing widely and suddenly Jack was beside him. "Why don't you get some sleep?" he said softly while stroking my hair.
"You sure?" I asked before yawning again.
"Yeah, I'll wake you up if I need you." Jack said before kissing my head and I smiled as I shut my eyes. This had to be one of the best days of my life ever.