JANE

It's been two long months since you were put on the list for a lung transplant. Two very long and stressful months.

Every time the phone rang or the oven timer went off Tom jumped, your hands immediately flew to the pager that was now a permanent fixture at your side.

Each day was harder. Harder to breathe, harder to get out of bed, harder to force yourself to eat the calories needed to maintain your weight, harder to participate in little things, harder to smile through the pain, harder to not give up.

Poor Tom was in charge of everything lately. Ben and Sophie were busy preparing for their little one which was due any day now.

He helped you dress yourself, wash yourself, made you your meals, brought you all your medicines and set up all your breathing treatments and oxygen tubing and tanks. He massaged your back when you got spasms from coughing so aggressively.

You had called Sophie and asked if Ben could take him out for an afternoon of guy things. Just so he could get a break. Sophie was eager for the two to get out for a bit and to be able to spend one on one time with you before the baby came.

Tom was all for it until the morning of.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea. You don't feel well and I'm nervous leaving you. Ben and I can go another day." He said from the kitchen as he was preparing breakfast.

"Tom dear, everything will be fine. You deserve some time out of the house. The little cumberbaby will be here any day now. I want some time with Sophie and you want some time with Ben before they get to busy. Sophie will be here with me and I promise to call if either of us need anything. Please go and have a good time."

His lips smoothed into a thin line as he thought for a moment before giving a small smile. "Alright, but you must promise to call if you need me."

"I promise." You said as he made his way to the couch with two plates of eggs and bacon.

Once you managed half of your breakfast Tom helped you to the bedroom so you could change. Exhausted and out of breath from the short walk from living room to bedroom you sat on the bed, trying to catch your breath, while Tom gathered some clean clothes.

Coming back from the closet and sitting beside you on the bed, he took your cold hands in his and looked at you with concern in his eyes.

"Jane? Deep, slow breaths, love."

You nodded and concentrated on your breathing.

After a few moments you heard the front door open and Ben's voice. "We're here!"

Tom looked over to you. "Darling do you want me to go cancel? I don't feel right leaving you. You really aren't feeling well."

You shook your head and took a deep and steady breath. "No no, just go tell them it will be a moment. I'm alright. Just a bit of a rough morning."

Tom opened his mouth as if he was going to argue, but just sighed and made his way to the living room.

You slowly started removing your clothes, finding it extremely difficult as you were simply exhausted.

Tom returned a minute later and helped you the rest of the way. Lifting you up and carrying you to the living room once you were finished.

Sophie was seated on one end of the couch, while Ben sat beside her. Tom set you down on the opposite end of the couch and Ben handed you your many blankets that he was sitting beside.

"How are you today, Jane?" Sophie asked a little nervously.

"I've felt better. But I'll be fine. How about you and the little one?"

Ben chuckled a bit and Sophie gave him a glare before answering. "I am very tired, the little one, not so much. I am soooo ready for the little one to be out of there. And not just because I'm tired, huge, and cranky. I'm just so excited to meet our baby!"

You grinned from ear to ear. "I'm excited to meet the cumberbaby too! Tell the little one to hurry up!"

Ben sighed at that. "Oh believe me, we have. Any day now they say! Well, why don't we leave you two ladies to have your girl time while Tom and I go do men's things. Chop down trees, build cars, wrestle a bear. That sort of thing! Right, Tom?"

Tom gave a nice loud laugh before coming to give you a kiss on the cheek. "I love you. Don't hesitate to call me."

"I love you, too. Neither of you can get eaten by a bear. A nine month old pregnant woman, and one who can't breathe, won't make it too long without our men!"

Sophie gave a laugh and gave Ben a kiss. "Behave you, two. Have fun. We'll call if we need anything."

Once gone Sophie and you picked out a chick flick on Netflix and settled in. Within just a few minutes you were asleep.

TOM

You and Ben had been gone for a few hours now and hadn't heard from the girls yet. A part of that made you nervous.

Ben had planned to go to a car show that was in town. We had a good time at that and were now on our way to our favorite burger shop.

Deciding to distract yourself from thinking about why Jane hadn't called, you struck up some conversation.

"So are you excited that your little baby will be arriving soon?" You ask with a grin.

"I'm very excited! I'm a little nervous as I haven't the first clue about parenting, but I know it's just one of those things you figure out along the way."

"You and Sophie will do wonderfully. I hope I get the opportunity to be a father one day."

Ben looks at you as if that had never crossed his mind. "Will Jane be able? After her transplant?"

"She may be, but it is still such a stress on her little body it's hard to say. We've decided not to discuss much until after transplant. Adoption is something to consider."

"Does Jane want to be a mother as well?"

"She does. But she is terrified of the possibility she may not see the child grow, that she may leave the child motherless and then leave me as a single parent. Or that she won't be able to do much and that I'll have to care for her and the child. I feel so horribly that she has those thoughts."

Ben shakes his head slightly. "I can't even imagine. Poor thing."

You just nodded, going to say something before Ben's phone rang.

"It's Sophie. She probably has some sort of craving." He mentioned before answering the call.

"Hello darling."

You saw Ben's eyes go wide.

"Are you certain?! Ok ok ok, we're on our way!"

"Ben, what's going on? Is everything alright?" I asked anxiously.

"Sophie's water broke!" He said with a look of both panic and excitement.

A smile came across your face. "Alright! You're about to be a daddy! Let's get home!"

We paid and rushed to the car, I drove as quickly and as safely as I could. We weren't far so we made it back home in fifteen minutes.

The second the car was parked and in the drive Ben leaped out of the car and into the house, I wasn't far behind.

Sophie seemed rather calm. She was laughing at Ben's hysterics. Sophie was sat on the couch with the to-go bag in her lap. Her eyes were bright and there was a smile on her face, but I could tell she still wasn't feeling well.

I went to give Sophie a hug and a kiss. "You're going to do great, dear. Would you like me to drive?" I said eyeing Ben.

She smiled softly at me. "No we will make it there fine. You stay here with Jane until the little one arrives. No need for her to sit in the waiting room."

Jane pipes up from the couch. "There's no way I'm waiting here!" She starts to stand and slowly makes her way towards Sophie and Ben.

Ben is closer than I am and wraps an arm around her waist to help steady her. He gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before guiding her towards Sophie.

The two best friends embrace each other tightly. "Jane dear, I know you aren't feeling well today. Labor can take hours. At least stay home until it looks like it's about time for your little cumberbaby to be born?"

Jane smiled weakly, considering an argument, but simply nodded. A few small tears falling down her cheeks.

"I love you. If you want me there any sooner call me, ok?"

"Of course. I love you, too. Now get some rest."

Sophie kissed Jane on the forehead and then took Ben's hand.

I quickly made my way to Jane's side, she leaned into me grateful for the support.

We stood in the doorway waving as they made their way into the car.

Once they were gone I looked down at Jane who was struggling a bit and scooped her up.

I sat on the couch with her in my lap, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

"Did you have a good afternoon?" She mumbled weakly, already half asleep.

"I did. Did you?"

"I fell asleep right after you left. I felt so bad. I'm so tired of this. I just want that pager to go off.."

I kissed the top of her hand, hugging her closer to my chest. "I do, too. But it just means the perfect pair of lungs isn't ready yet. Your time will come, love. Until then you have nothing to feel bad about."

She was mostly asleep now. "I love you, Tom."

"I love you too, Jane."

I held her while she slept, waiting for word on the new little member of our family to arrive.