Two more weeks passed and Joel was in agony. He had grown more, and even though the baby wasn't moving as frequently because it was too big to move around so much in its shirking womb, he was in great pain. Braxton-Hicks contractions started hitting him; false labor.

Joel was laying on his side on his bunk, his hand on his aching stomach. He was sweating as the pain was causing him physical exhaustion and exertion with each unnecessary contraction.

Gypsy kept wiping Joel's brow with a cool cloth. "It'll be okay Joel." She reassured lovingly.

"Yeah..." Joel muttered, he never looked at her or even opened his eyes.

Mike, Crow and Servo decided to visit Joel. Mike had told the bots not to make any rude or otherwise 'observations' about Joel and his condition.

"Hey Joel." Mike put his hand on Joel's arm. "Man, you're lucky. You missed one TERRIBLE film!"

Joel tried to smile. "What was it about?"

"I have no idea."

"That bad?"

"Without question."

Crow and Servo approached Joel's bunk. Before Crow had a chance to poke Joel's stomach Mike grabbed his hand subtly.

Joel tried to roll onto his back but he didn't have the strength to move.

"Whoa, don't move around so much." Mike didn't like how sick Joel was looking. "You're tired enough."

"But I still can't sleep. I just... hurt."

"Well, you are eight months along. And a male. So I imagine discomfort is going to be natural. It's not like your body was prepared for this, you know?"

Joel sighed and gave up with trying to move. "Maybe I should-" He flinched in pain and grabbed his stomach.

"Joel? You alright?" Mike was getting worried. "Contraction?" He was tempted to put his hand on Joel's stomach but decided not to.

"No... just a... kick." He lied, he didn't want to accidentally upset Mike or the bots. "I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

Mike scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Want to go to the medical ward just in case?"

"Nah, I'm fine here. Besides I can't move too far right now." Joel smirked. "I'd rather wait a few more weeks... you know, if I can. I might explode first!"

"Okay." Mike was still visibly worried but respected Joel's request. "Well, if you need anything just ask, I'll come running."

"Thanks Mike." Joel curled up around his large middle and tried to get some rest. "I'll see you in the morning."

Mike and the bots left Joel's cabin and paused outside the door.

"Mike?" Crow looked up at the tall human. "Is Joel going to die?"

"No! Of course not, I bet he keeps feeling false labor contractions."

"False labor?" Crow looked at Servo. "What's that?"

"Oh, uh... after getting so big and getting so close to the end of the pregnancy, sometimes the womb will have contractions as a means of shifting the baby in position for delivery."

"Oh. How do you know so much about it?"

"I've been doing ALOT of reading. After all, I'm the only one here that do anything if something... you know... goes wrong..."

-next chapter-