Jade froze up, holding her stomach in a stunned silence for a few minutes. The pain didn't come again thankfully, she didn't know what it was but it had terrified her. Grace had spent hours and hours telling her about what to look out for and what could go wrong. Now that something had happened he found her mind going blank. Jade sat there for about half an hour, waiting to see if anything else happened. Thankfully it didn't and Jade pushed it to the back of her mind, picking the sim card out of the wrecked pieces of her phone.
Luke was now beyond angry. She might be his wife and she might be Christian's daughter but that have her no right to dictate who would be able to see their child. They hadn't found out the sex so they always referred to their unborn child simply as 'the baby', though Luke knew that Grace had accidentally seen the charts and knew the sex.
Did Jade really have the power to decided who could see the baby? Christian was his father in law and Luke was pretty sure that gave him at least some standing in the situation. He was pissed off with her, really pissed off, and the first thing he did was head back into Christian's study.
'Christian- what time are you heading to Portland tomorrow?'. He glanced up, seeing how angry Luke looked 'After Ana finishes work, why?'. Luke was breathing heavily, jaw tightly clenched and his knuckles white around his phone 'I need to see Jade, first argument as a married couple and she's 37 weeks pregnant and all the way in bloody Portland'. Christian pressed a speed dial number, picking up his phone 'Ana, can you take tomorrow afternoon off work?...yes...okay good...you, Luke and myself are taking Charlie Tango at lunchtime then, Luke wants to see Jade and it gives you and I a chance to talk...very well, I'll email you later, Goodbye'.
Christian hung up and looked up at Luke 'Ana's taking the afternoon off work, we can head to Portland at about 2 pm if that's okay with you?'. He nodded 'of course...women eh? Jesus Christ, how are we meant to know what's going on with them?'. Christian managed a light laugh 'exactly. It didn't go well with Jade then?'. Luke sighed 'no, not at all. Your daughter is just so difficult sometimes'. Christian exhaled deeply in agreement.
Jade barely looked around the gallery at the pre-showing as Jose led her around. He was her best friend probably, now that Jenny was living so far away they didn't see each other as much, and she had so much in common with Jose. Of course he knew something was up with her but she simply denied it repeatedly. What Jade did notice of the gallery was that everything looked stunning, though she was so distracted she didn't even register her own art work was there. Barely listening to anyone there, Jade excused herself early that evening and went back to her hotel room, sleeping deeply.
Ana, Christian and Luke were in Charlie Tango the next day, all sitting in frosty silence. Typically Christian had taken off at exactly 2pm, on time to the very second. Ana didn't really know what to say in the silence and glanced behind her at Luke, who was staring out of the window, jaw clenched and twisting his wedding ring distractedly. Christian briefly glanced back as well 'Luke, are you okay?'. All he got in response was a faint murmur of acquiesce and Luke barely glanced up at all, looking at his watch, silent wishing away the next few minutes before they landed in Portland. He was angry at Jade of course, but frankly he missed her more.
Jade heard a knock on her door and opened it sleepily, surprised to see Luke there, looking warily over her. She blinked in surprise 'Luke...you're here' he responded blankly 'indeed, can I come in, I think we have a few things to talk about'.
Jade stepped aside and let her husband in, sitting down slowly on the edge of the bed, holding her small bump as she did. Luke exhaled deeply 'Jade...you can't keep our baby away from your father, you're his little girl, and this will be his grandchild, he wants to be a part of your life and a part of our family...'. Luke trailed off under Jade's steely gaze 'Please Luke, not now, I am so tired, it feel likeI haven't slept in years. I'm going to sleep for a few hours'. She looked him in the eye for a few seconds and crawled over the bed, snuggling under the covers. Luke watched her silently for a second, noticing the fatigue on her face before he dragged off his shoes and shirt, climbing into the bed beside her. Luke automatically curled himself around Jade's body, holding her tightly against him and resting a hand on her belly. Jade murmured sleepily with a slight smile on her lips as Luke muttered into her ear 'sleep, we'll talk later. I love you'.
Christian and Ana were filling the five or so hours before the gallery showing by spending time in a restaurant Christian had chosen- of course. They had had a few drinks at the bar and whiled away a few hours before the meal. The conversation had been a little stilted and awkward to begin with but at least they were talking. Christian couldn't help but think he was achieving little victories one step at a time. The next thing he had to fix was his relationship with his daughter.
Luke decided to let Jade sleep as long as she needed, knowing that once the baby came she wouldn't have many more chances for uninterrupted sleep. It was 6.45 by the time he finally woke her with a soft kiss 'honey, we have to be at the show in half an hour'. She stirred and he kissed her again 'babe wake up, we haven't got time to talk, you need to get ready for the show'.
Jade tried getting ready as quickly as possible and began to get more and more annoyed as Luke tried to make her hurry up. He wasn't doing it on purpose but it was winding her up further and further until she made an excuse and went into the bathrom to finish off her makeup. As she looked at herself in the mirrs Jade yet again felt a searing pain in her stomach that made her double over in pain, clutching the edge of the sink with white knuckles. Jade managed to stop herself from shouting out, breathing deeply and shaking until the pain subsided. Like the one the day before, the pain went and didn't seem to come again. Jade was confused and scared, but finished her makeup and came out into the room, Luke glancing at her 'you look beautiful J...are you alright? You look a little pale?'. Jade shook her head and smiled a little 'No, everything's fine'.
Christian and Ana were looking around the gallery, both quite amazed by the work on display. Jose's photographs were brilliant, but they were both even more bowled over by Jade's paintings. One was an incredibly detailed depiction of a ballet dancer in mid dance, somehow Jade had managed to portray the fluid motion through the image. It was incredible, but the one beside it was even better, a small grou of people were talking animatedly around it. It was a huge canvas with a fully formed foetus in a womb that had visible veins and incredible detail, the womb itself an almost golden colur, with a slightly golden tinge around the edge of the baby. Christian was amazed once again at just how talented his little girl was, glancing at the corner of the canvas. It was signed 'J Grey Sawyer' and a small date shwoed him that it had been painted only a few weeks after she had found out she was pregnant.
Behind them Ana and Christian heard a noise and turned around, seeing Jade talking to Jose, both looking very happy at the outcome of the night. Christian and Ana slowly walked over, Christian holding out a hand to Jose 'Mr Rodriguez, very good work' 'Thanks Mr Grey'. Jose turned to speak to Ana and Christian and Jade were left speaking to eachother awkwardly. 'So...hows the baby doing?' Jade looked echausted as he looked over her warily, rubbing her stomach 'yeah...fine thanks'. Christian was clutching at anything to keep the conversation going with his daughter 'Jade, can we speak tonight? the show is nearly over and-'. Jade held up a hand and cut him off 'not now, I just want to go home frankly, I'm exhausted'. Christian nodded, it wasn's a 'no', at least that was something.
Jade was too tired to drive home and wanted to get back to Seattle that night, completely exhausted and giving in to boarding Charlie Tango. She was sat in the front with christian, Ana and Luke in the back. Christian had made sure his heavily pregnant daughter was in his eyesight the whole time.
It was as they appreached Seattle again that Jade suddenly clutched at her stomach and groaned in pain, making everyone in the helicopter whip their heads around to look at her as the pain came again. Luke's eyes were wide 'J are you okay? Is it the baby?'. Jade response was another pained noise, doubled over in her seat.
Christian looked panicked, as did Ana and Luke in the back 'Is it the baby? Are you okay?'. Jade was breathing heavily and her eyes were full of pain 'I need t get to the hospital, I thbink the baby's coming'. Luke was already on the phone before she had finished the sentence and Christian looked at the skyline. They were only minutes away from the Escala building, it would be quicker to go from the apartment building.
Jade was shouting and moaning in complete agony now, pain rippling accross her belly and her back. Christian had never been so nervous landing charlie tango and this wasn't the time to start shaking and messing things up. As the helicopter landed and the blades slwoed down, Luke immediately jumped out of his own seat and opened Jade's door, allowing her to practically fall into his arms. Ana and Christian both hurried out of the helicopter in time to see Jade's legs covered in blood before she passed out in Luke;s arms, the sound of ambulance sirence approaching.