James squealed and rushed to her side, sweatdropping and panicking. Maria walked over to them calmly.

"James, relax. Jessie, are you feeling any contractions?" she looked at the towel to make sure the liquid was clear.

"um...Here and there, I guess."

"It could be hours, it could be days until the twins are born. You need to rest. Have some breakfast and go to sleep."

James quickly cooked up some omelettes and they had bread and fruit as well before going back upstairs and laying down. They tried to sleep but they were both so excited. James gently rubbed her back until she fell asleep. These were their last hours as a couple before they became a family of four. Or five, counting Meowth. He laid there, musing to himself and eventually drifted off to sleep with one hand on her moving belly. He woke up a few hours later and saw Jessie shifting uncomfortably in her sleep. He gently stroked her forehead before going back downstairs to cook some rice for later. "Ah!" he suddenly remembered he hadn't told Nanny and Pop-pop anything, and ran for the door, and stopped in his tracks before crashing into Maria who was coming in.

"Is she still sleeping?"

"Yeah" he said, embarrassed.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, I just realized I forgot to tell Nanny and Pop-pop..." he said sheepishly.

"Don't worry, I just updated them."

By evening, Jessie was still having contractions but nothing too intense, so Maria suggested her and James go on a walk.

The two of them walked around the garden as the sky became shades of pink and orange. As they walked, James noticed Jessie's breathing become more ragged. She insisted it was because of the extra weight she was carrying and he didn't pursue it.

They walked uphill a little bit to get a better view, and started to watch the sunset, James wrapping his arms around her. James smiled. He really could do anything, if it was with her. He started to reach into his pocket when Jessie winced and leaned against James, making a very uncharacteristic groaning noise. James panicked.

"Oh no! Jessie, are you OK? What's wrong?"

"James...let's...go..to...a...hospital.." she panted as she hunched over.

James shook his head in disbelief. She was acting strong all this time and for all he knew they could be coming out now. She leaned on him and they walked back as fast as they could, Jessie stopping and gritting her teeth with each strong contraction, which seemed to be getting closer together.

Maria was standing outside watching the sunset and rushed toward them when she saw them. She put a hand on Jessie's back,

"Your contractions are getting stronger and closer together, aren't they?"

Jessie and James nodded.

"You're doing great. Come inside, I can prepare a bath for you if you want."

Jessie shook her head. "We're going to the hospital."

Maria looked confused. "Jessie, I'm a certified midwife and it would be an honor to help you deliver these children."

Jessie burst into a giant fiery Jessie-rage. "WE ARE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL NOW, MARIA"

James and Maria sweatdropped and James looked at Maria pointedly. Maria sighed.

"Okay."

James grabbed the car keys. "Maria, help Jessie, I'm going to tell Nanny and Pop-pop."

They all gathered in two cars and went to the hospital.

"Remember, James, we're not rushing." admonished Maria.

James's mind rushed. "I..know..." He willed himself to stop slamming the accelerator.

They arrived at the hospital and the nurses wasted no time putting Jessie in a wheelchair and getting her to a bed.

James held her hand with a rather helpless look. As things got more intense, Maria noticed him closing his eyes and taking a step back, shaking his head. The doctor came into the room and James saw the opportunity to step out.

Maria saw him leaning against the wall, crossing his arms against his chest, head down.

"James, please stay with Jessie, she needs you right now."

James shook his head. "I'm sorry...I need a moment. I don't think I can handle this."

He felt a hand firmly grasp his shoulder and looked up. Maria was staring at him intensely. "Look, I know this is scary for you too, but you two need to do this together."

Meowth grinned and started to make a snarky remark. James delivered a classic punch to his head. "Don't."

Growlithe trudged up to James and hugged his legs. Chimecho draped itself on his shoulder, and Mime Jr jumped up into his arms and gave him a hug. Tears ran down James's cheeks. He looked at them and nodded, and they all went back into the room, James ready to do his best for Jessie.

They found Jessie strangling the doctor and sweatdropped.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN ONLY A FEW MORE HOURS!?"

The doctor sweatdropped. "You're at 7cm and progressing very well."

Jessie was livid. "No. Not good enough. I want these babies out NOW."

James and Maria both put out a hand to stop her,

The doctor looked at James and Maria helplessly. "Well, we could perform a C-section."

Jessie blinked. "What's that?"

"It means we take the babies out through surgery. It's usually only for medical emergencies."

"And it would be done, just like that?" Jessie liked this concept.

Maria shook her head. "Jessie, you're not thinking clearly, this is major abdominal surgery and the recovery will be very difficult."

James mumbled "Would it leave a scar?"

Maria nodded at James, impressed by his quick thinking. "Yes! Exactly. It would leave a scar."

Jessie was hit with another contraction. "I don't care. Just get them out. Oh, and if you could do a tummy tuck while you're in there as well..."

James sighed as he followed her into the surgery room and started to get ready. Watching a birth in itself scared him, but now he had to watch surgery?

Nanny and Pop-pop waited outside with all of the Pokemon, no one making a sound, listening for that first cry...