Context: Title says it all.

Due Date

2 in the morning. This was really starting to get ridiculous.

Cathy groaned, her hands on her belly. "Come on, now," she whispered. "Let mummy get some sleep, yeah?"

There was another sharp kick against her abdomen. She yelped, her eyes widening when she saw Jamie stir beside her.

"He still giving you pains?" he asked sleepily, rolling over to face her.

She nodded, giving him a guilty look. He'd been losing sleep, as well, now that the baby was due at any time. The pains and aches in her body were more pronounced; mixed with his nerves, it was enough for him to stay up late into the night, rubbing her stomach and giving her the occasional tired smile.

"Well, then." Jamie sat up, turning on the lamp that sat beside the bed. "What do you want to read tonight?" He grabbed a handful of books from the floor. "We've got Green Eggs and Ham, Where The Wild Things Are, or Arthur's Baby."

She shrugged. "I picked last time. How about you choose?"

"Cathy, if you make me choose, you'll end up staring at the wall for the rest of the night, waiting for me to make up my mind."

She sighed. "Fine. Go with Wild Things."

Jamie set the other books on the floor and opened Where The Wild Things Are. "'The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind…and another…'"

The one thing she liked about these nights was that she got to see Jamie's fatherly instincts kick in. His voice would rise and fall with the action of the story, and he would pause to look at her stomach, as if waiting for the baby to respond. He would even change his voice for each character that spoke.

Whether or not the baby actually understood what was going on, he certainly liked the sound of Jamie talking. He moved far less frequently, and she could just imagine the tiny smile on his face.

"'But the wild things cried, "Oh please don't go!"'" He poked her in the side, smiling. "'"We'll eat you up, we love you so!" And Max said, "No."'

"'The wild things roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth, and rolled their terrible eyes, and showed their terrible claws.'" He set the book down and scrunched up his nose, frowning and letting out a low growl. Cathy bit her lip, giggling.

"Jamie, don't even start…"

"So they looked something…like this!" He bared his teeth, raising his arms and curling his fingers. "Raaaaawr!"

Cathy laughed, trying to squirm away as he tackled her. "Jamie, NOOOOO!" She felt him start to tickle her sides. "Jamie…stop!"

"I'm going to eat you up, Cathy!" He grabbed one of her bare feet, running his fingers over the heel.

She jerked away, gasping for air. "Jamie, that tickles!" She tried to calm her breathing, wrapping her arms tightly around her stomach.

"Hey…hey." He sat up, a look of concern crossing his face. "You alright?"

"I'm…I'm fine." She took a deep breath. "Just need to…" She winced. "I'm okay, I'm okay."

He took her hand, rubbing her palm with his thumb. "You sure? We can always go to the hospital -"

"Sweetheart, I'll be fine." She moved his hands to her stomach, both of them feeling the baby kick gently. "See? He's calmed down now."

Jamie shook his head. "You'd better keep up this good behavior," he said sternly. "You're causing your mum a lot of grief, you know."

The baby continued to move. They'd learned in the past few months that he responded strongly to Jamie's voice, especially when spoken to directly.

"I know you don't mean to," he continued. "It's not your fault." He paused, as if listening to the baby's reply. "Well, we're excited to meet you, too." Pause. "Don't you worry. Your mum may be cranky, but she's not normally." Pause. "Oh, yes. She's very beautiful." He smiled. "You'll love her almost as much as I do."

Cathy returned his smile, placing her hands over his. "Let's not forget that your dad is very sexy," she teased. "I'll bet you'll look just like him."

"That's what I'm hoping, at least." Jamie laughed. "Although I suppose it's okay if you look more like your mum."

"You suppose?" Cathy feigned offense. "You're quite the charmer, James Andrew Bradley."

"Course I am, love." He grinned, leaning in to kiss her.

She draped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, kissing him harder, deeper. She heard him groan softly. God, it'd been so long…

"Cathy." He pulled away slightly, his lips inches away from hers. "Not that I don't find you unbelievably attractive and tempting, but…" He looked down at her stomach, where the baby shifted once again.

She rolled her eyes. "Alright. But as I recall, I'm supposed to make it up to you soon." She kissed him again, her smile growing as he leaned closer.

"And I expect you to keep that promise," he murmured against her lips.

"I will." She giggled, pulling away. "I think it's time we find out if Max got away from those wild things, don't you?"

A few days past the due date. It was expected.

And he wasn't going to worry.

Was he?

"You sure you'll be fine with me going to work today?" He parked in front of Stuart's house, turning to her.

"Sweetheart, it won't happen today. Doctor says it takes about two weeks." She squeezed his hand. "Don't worry."

How could he not worry? How could she tell him things would be fine? She was carrying their child, that tiny life they'd made together. What if something went wrong?

"Jamie, it's just for today." She smiled. "It'll be fine."

He finally nodded. "Alright."

He helped her to the door, giving Stuart a curt nod when his brother opened it.

"Have a good day at work," Cathy said.

Jamie gave her a lingering kiss. "I'll see you later." He gently placed a hand on her stomach. "I'll be back later," he said quietly. "Keep mummy safe for me."

"PIGGY BAAAAACK!"

Stuart flopped to the floor as Jack, Nick and Gina piled on top of him. He let out a moan as the three children bounced on his back.

"Nicholas! Geanna! Mind your manners, you two!" Emma called.

"Aw, let them have their fun," Joyce insisted, holding a squirming Daisy in her lap. "Stuart can handle them. Can't you, Stu?"

Stuart grunted. "No."

"Oh, hush." Joyce set Daisy down. "You're just fine, dear."

"Nick, Gina, please get off of Stuart." Emma glared at her children. "You're going to hurt him."

Cathy sat quietly, sipping her tea and watching her extended family. Emma and her husband Fred had moved to Leeds about a year ago with the twins, and Joyce invited everyone over weekly for tea. The kids usually spent this time making trouble for the men; unfortunately, with Jamie and Fred at work, the brunt of their antics mainly fell to Stuart. Cathy could only imagined how things would be once the baby arrived and he grew old enough to play with her nieces and nephews.

"You need anything, Cathy?" Joyce asked for the fifth time that morning. "You're sure you're doing alright?"

"Yes, thank you." She laughed. "If I need anything, I'll let you know."

"Aunt Cathy!" Gina was standing at the kitchen table. "Is there really a baby in there?" She pointed to her aunt's swollen stomach.

"Gina, it's not polite to point," Emma said sternly.

"Yes, Gina, there is," Cathy answered. "He's moving around, if you'd like to feel."

Gina reached out a hand, her little eyes widening when she felt the baby. "How'd he get in there? Did you eat him?"

Cathy giggled. "No, sweetie, I didn't."

"How can he breathe?" Nick asked, joining his sister. "Is he alive in there? Does he look like an alien?"

"Did Uncle Jamie have a cow when he found out?" Jack piped up from the living room.

Cathy laughed harder as Emma's face paled and Stuart shook his head. "You kids are too nosy for your own good," he mumbled.

"I'll bet Uncle Jamie didn't faint when Aunt Cathy told him," Jack said, playing with his dad's hair. "Grandma said you did when Mummy told you about me."

"Muuuum!" Stuart glared at Joyce. "You didn't!"

"Well, he asked, and I saw it fit to tell him!"

Stuart stood up, giving Joyce a long, hard look. "I thought we weren't going to bring up anything having to do with her."

Cathy was about to try and appease her in-laws when she felt a sharp pain run through her. She gritted her teeth, letting out an involuntary yelp.

"Cathy? You alright?" Emma asked.

"I'm…fine…" She took a deep breath, another pain passing through her. They kept coming, one after another, each growing stronger.

"Cathy?"

Everyone had fallen silent, watching her. She clutched at her stomach, wincing before she managed to breathe out her words.

"I…think…it's…"

"It's time?" Joyce shot out of her chair.

Cathy nodded. "Baby's…coming."

"Look alive, Jamie!"

He jerked up. "Huh? What?"

The manager sighed. "Come on, now. Wake up and bring these sandwiches to table five, please."

He nodded. "Sorry."

"Everything okay?"

No.

"Yeah. Just tired."

"Is Aunt Cathy going to explode?"

"How's the baby going to get out?"

"This room smells funny."

Cathy tried to tune out the remarks of the kids as they checked in. She was thankfully put into a wheelchair and pushed through the swinging doors.

"Someone…call…Jamie," she said between breaths. "Now."

"Jamie? Telephone."

"What?" He stood by one of the blenders. "Can't hear you!"

"Telephone!"

"What?"

"TELEPHONE!"

"WHAT?"

The manager shook her head, dragging him toward the back room. "Your brother's on the phone."

Jamie froze, wrenching himself out of her grasp. Stuart never called him at work, but he didn't want to know what could be so important. "Tell him to leave a message or something."

"He says he's not hanging up until he talks to you."

Jamie sighed, picking up the phone. "What do you want, Stu? I'm a bit busy at the moment."

"Jamie, I -"

"Couldn't you call during my break? I have one in about an hour."

"Jamie, I need to -"

"Can't it wait? I mean -"

"JAMIE! Cathy's in labor!"

Jamie said nothing, his heart picking up speed. All thoughts flew from his mind, replaced with those three words.

Cathy's in labor.

Those who were there that day heard a clatter as the phone fell to the ground, followed by the sight of the coffee shop's youngest employee launching himself over the counter, grabbing his coat and bag, and racing out the front door.

Jamie didn't even hear the manager calling after him. He shakily started his car and stepped on the gas pedal, heading toward the hospital.

"In and out…that's it, Mrs. Bradley…"

She was really starting to get annoyed with these nurses. There had been three hours of this. She didn't want to keep working with these contractions. She wanted this to be over. This was painful. They weren't the ones sweating profusely, with an overgrown stomach and inescapable agony coursing through her every second she breathed.

"Just keep breathing like that…in and out…"

She clutched the sheets, a new wave of contractions hitting her. The doctor had said a first-time mother took close to 14 hours to deliver her baby.

She tried to push that thought out of her head.

Of course he was stuck in traffic.

He honked the horn repeatedly, the truck in front never moving any faster.

He knew this would happen. It was his fault he wasn't there with her.

He sat back, waiting to change lanes at the next possible moment.

In. Out. Pain.

In. Out. Pain.

Seven hours down.

Seven hours to go.

In. Out. Pain.

In. Out. Pain.

Fucking parking ramps.

He had to remember where he was.

Level 2, section G.

Now how did he get out of here?

He ran to the nearest door, hoping for the best.

Where the fuck was he?

In. Out. Pain.

Why was the hospital so big?

He got terrible service in here.

Shit.

She clamped her jaw, turning to Emma and Joyce.

"I'm going…to…KILL him!"

In. Out. Pain.

"Are you lost, sir?"

He nodded. "My wife's in labor, and -"

"Name?"

"Catherine Bradley."

He followed the nurse wordlessly, his mouth dry.

He finally appeared in the doorway, flushed and wild-eyed.

"Sorry…traffic…I…Cathy…"

She ground her teeth together. "Shut…up…Jamie."

It was a long seven hours.

It was a much longer forty minutes.

The pain only got worse, and Jamie was certain he'd never regain feeling in his hand.

Cathy continually made sounds like a strangled goat. Jamie was starting to feel lightheaded, his breathing inadvertently matching his wife's.

"Keep pushing, Mrs. Bradley!"

Her face was contorted in agony. She let out one last cry of anguish, and he found himself screaming with her.

And they were suddenly joined by a third.

"Cathy?"

She slowly opened her eyes, unable to move her body. "Hmmm?"

"Cathy? You awake?"

She nodded, trying to sit up.

"No, sweetheart." Jamie gently pushed her back down. "Practitioner says you need to rest."

"What…happened?" She blinked.

"You passed out. Happens a lot, I guess."

"Where…where is he?" She was awake now. She felt around her stomach; it was flat. It was so strange not to feel something moving around inside her. She felt empty.

"He's in an incubator. Whole thing took a lot out of you." He smiled weakly, gently stroking her cheek. "I can ask someone to get him. He'd love to meet his mum."

She nodded. "Would you, please?"

Five minutes later, Jamie approached the bed with a little bundle of blue blankets. Her heart beat just a little faster. 40 weeks and three days, and here he was. Their baby. She shifted a bit, making room for Jamie to sit beside her.

He had tears in his eyes. "Matthew Jonathon Bradley…someone wants to see you."

Cathy gently took the baby into her arms. Her throat immediately closed up as she gazed down at him. He had his eyes closed, but his face scrunched up every once in a while. His skin was tinged pink, most likely from the scrubbing he'd undergone; his cheeks especially were red. She could see little brown hairs poking out from under the blue hat on his head.

He was incredibly adorable.

It still hadn't sunken in that this tiny baby was hers and Jamie's. They'd helped to give this little boy life, and here he was, sleeping quietly in her arms.

"He's seven pounds, five ounces, twenty-one inches long," Jamie said. "Doctor says he's perfectly healthy, though he's been a bit fidgety. I think it's because he knew he wasn't near you."

Cathy nodded, holding Matthew closer to her heart. "He's so small," she whispered.

"That's what I said." Jamie laughed. "He's got your eyes. Don't know if he'll wake up…but they're exactly like yours."

"Well, he's got your nose, and your jaw," Cathy joked. "So he still looks like you."

"I knew he would." Jamie laughed, his heart swelling at the sight of his wife finally holding their son.

Cathy softly ran a finger across the baby's cheek. "Hi, Matthew," she said quietly. "It's your mum. I'm so happy to finally see you."

Baby Matthew squirmed a bit, letting out a tiny squeak and opening his eyes. Jamie had been right; a pair of beautiful blue eyes blinked back up at her. She was caught off-guard, still in awe that he was hers. They watched each other for a moment, the first looked of many they'd share.

"What did I tell you, Matt?" Jamie smiled. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

Matthew squeaked again, turning his tiny gaze to his father. Cathy swore she could see a hint of a smile on his face.

"You're a lot better now, aren't you? You were really worried about your mum. You didn't know where she was."

Cathy tore her gaze from their son - their son - to look at Jamie. "He was really that upset?"

He nodded. "I'd say so, at least. The doctor said all babies are like that, but he's calmed down a lot now."

She smiled. "Would you like to hold him for a bit?"

"Are…are you sure, sweetie? I mean, I've held him already…not for very long, but…"

"Jamie, honey, look at him. He wants his daddy."

He gave in, gently taking Matthew from Cathy. "Hey, Matt," he said quietly. "Hey, buddy."

Matthew worked a hand free from his blankets, making a fist. Jamie held out a finger, and Matthew grabbed on. "Oh, wow. He's got a grip."

Cathy giggled. "He wants you to stay here, apparently."

"Who said I was leaving?"

Cathy shrugged. "Well, I assumed you'd be going home. You must be exhausted, and I know the doctors want to keep me here for a few more days."

Jamie shook his head. "I can run home a few times during the day. I'm staying here at night, though." He handed Matthew back to Cathy. "I don't want to leave you alone."

"It won't be too bad, I'll be fine –"

"I'm staying during the nights," he repeated firmly. He lay down beside her, gathering her to his side and giving her a soft kiss. "It gets lonely when no one's here with you. Trust me."

She nuzzled his shoulder with her cheek, resting her head on his collarbone. "Thank you so much. I love you, Jamie," she said.

"I love you, too." He kissed her again, longer this time.

Cathy felt herself falling back asleep. She snuggled closer to Jamie's side, tightening her hold around Matthew, and finally drifted off.

Jamie kissed her forehead, smoothing her hair back. He watched as Matthew shut his tiny eyes, going back to sleep, his grip loosening. Jamie tucked his hand back into the blankets.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, drawing both of them closer to his side as he closed his eyes. A few minutes later, three sets of soft breathing could be heard.