Roughly a month after Seventh Platoon is released, the nominations for the Golden Globes are announced. There were rumors that both the film and Beck could be nominated, so Jade finds herself checking her phone and refreshing her newsfeed every spare moment that she can find on set. Finally, the website is updated and she sees not only the name of the movie at the top of the nominations list, but her husband's name as well. Seventh Platoon has been nominated for Best Drama, and Beck for Best Performance in a Motion Picture - Drama. Immediately she closes the webpage and opens the phone app, selecting Beck's name and calling him immediately.
"Did you see?" He says as soon as he answers
"I just did, yeah." She smiles "Congratulations!"
"I can't believe it." Beck admits "I mean, I know everyone had said there was a possibility, but there's always a some kind of possibility, isn't there? I can't believe it actually happened."
"I can." Jade insists "After the performance you gave, you deserve it."
"Thank you." He tells her "One small problem though."
"How is there a problem?" She laughs "You've been nominated for a major award."
"The ceremony is in LA on January 8th." Beck informs her "You won't be able to fly."
It's true. She's not even going to be able to fly to Vancouver for Christmas, Beck's parents are coming to New York instead.
"So you go and I stay here." Jade shrugs "We've traveled without each other before, s'not a huge deal."
"It's only two weeks before your due date though." Beck points out "What if you go early and I miss something?"
"The baby won't just fall out randomly, Beck. I'll be able to tell if something is going to happen." Jade assures him "If that weekend comes and I'm feeling like it might be time, then you just won't go. I doubt that will happen though, two weeks is pretty early for a first baby."
"Alright." Beck agrees "Alright, let's make that the plan. Thanks, babe."
"I don't know why you're thanking me, you're the one who was nominated."
"I'm convinced none of this would have happened without you."
"You might be right about that." She smirks "I have to get back to set, but I'll see you when I get home?"
"Of course." He tells her "See you then. Love you."
"Love you too."
Of course, the weekend of the Golden Globes rolls around and Jade feels absolutely fine. Well, she feels awkward and uncomfortable, but that is to be expected. Beck leaves on Saturday afternoon to fly to LA and will return home on Monday morning. He's constantly texting Jade to check in on her and make sure that everything is okay, and she's constantly assuring him that it is. The baby, while turned to the head-down position, is still resting comfortably inside of her, and showing no signs of going anywhere any time soon.
The ceremony is Sunday night and Jade decides that even though she's home alone, she shouldn't have to watch alone. She invites her dad, Cat, Robbie, Andre, and Tori over to watch the broadcast with her, and they all accept the invitation.
"We have a small announcement to make." Andre grins as he and Tori enter the penthouse
"Are you pregnant too?" Jade asks
"No, we're not quite there yet." Tori laughs, holding up her left hand "We are engaged though."
"Hey, congratulations!" Jade smiles, moving to hug them both "Does my husband know?"
She very easily could have called Beck by his name, but even after three years of marriage...she still loves saying the word 'husband'.
"He does, yeah." Andre nods "He helped me pick out the ring."
"Aw, bros for life!"
"Something like that, yeah."
"Well, congratulations again." Jade tells them "Come on in, there's pizza, drinks, and snacks in the kitchen and everyone is in the living room."
After showing Andre and Tori to the food, Jade returns to her spot on the couch between her father and Cat. Georgia, who had been content on Cat's lap up until that point, notices that people are eating and runs to beg for a bite of pizza.
"Absolutely not, young lady." Jade scolds "Do not bother them while they're eating."
"S'okay." Andre laughs "She's not big enough to jump all the way up here anyway."
"She's still being rude."
"I'll get her." Robbie offers
Jade is about to object, insisting that she can get the dog on her own, but then she realizes how comfortable she already is on the couch and how much she really doesn't want to get up again. Robbie picks the dog up in one swift motion, carrying her under his arm back to the couch and placing him down gently in Cat's lap.
"It's one thing to beg Dad and me for food, but our guests?" Jade sighs, petting the dog gently "No, no, Georgia."
"Getting your practice in, I see." Cat smirks
"Parenting a kid is so much different than parenting a dog." Jade insists "Miss Thing here is content with a rope toy and a bowl of dog food, and she pees on fake turf on the balcony. Kids are a lot more work."
"Maybe it won't be that different."
"Maybe, but I doubt it."
The broadcast doesn't begin until 8 pm, and Jade can already feel herself growing tired as it begins. She knows that because they're major categories, the awards that Beck has been nominated for won't be announced until close to the end. She finds herself rubbing her bump absent-mindedly as she leans her head against the back of the couch. The baby is quite active, almost as if they realize that tonight is a special occasion. At one point, it extends it's leg straight into her diaphragm, making her wince and sit up a bit straighter.
"Are you okay?" John asks her, his voice full of concern as he rests a hand on her back
Everyone else in the room looks on with concern too, unaware that this is a normal occurrence these days.
"I'm fine." She assures her father, then turns to address everyone else "I'm fine. The baby is just head-down now so when they move, they tend to kick a lung or a rib or my stomach or bladder. They just got me by surprise it all, I'm fine."
Everyone relaxes a bit, but Jade can feel watchful eyes on her for the rest of the evening. She tries not to react when the baby moves, but she can't help wincing when the movements are strong or painful. She has to constantly assure everyone that while the baby is active, she isn't having any contractions...so there's no need for concern.
When it comes time to announce the winner for Best Performance in a Motion Picture, Jade is sitting on the edge of the couch. She's nervous, and she isn't sure why. Beck was lucky just to be nominated, that in itself is a huge accomplishment. She really wants him to win though...
But he doesn't.
The award goes to another actor, and Jade can't help but feel a bit sad for her husband as he puts on his best 'gracious loser' face for the cameras. He sends her a quick text on commercial break, letting her know that he isn't that upset, that it was an honor just to be nominated and that the two of them already have enough to celebrate this year without any awards anyway. That comment makes Jade smile, because she knows that he's right. This year will already be the best year of their lives because of the baby, and winning any award can't even begin to compare to that. She places a hand on her stomach and rubs it gently, thinking of what's to come.
Unfortunately, Seventh Platoon also loses in the Best Drama category, sending Beck and the rest of his co-stars home empty-handed. While Beck isn't that upset at the losses, he does start to regret making the trip when he now knows he could have stayed home with Jade. She assures him over text that the trip had been worth the experience anyway, and that he'll appreciate getting to spend time with his parents before the baby is born. Regardless, he can't wait to get home to her, and she can't wait to have him home.
As everyone starts to say their goodbyes and leave Beck and Jade's after the end of the broadcast, Cat turns to her husband.
"I think I'm going to stay here with her tonight." She says to Robbie "That way she isn't alone."
"I'll be fine on my own." Jade insists, having overheard Cat's comment "Georgia is here, and Beck will be back before noon tomorrow."
"This might be our last chance for a best friend's sleepover though." Cat points out "That baby is going to need all of your attention for a significant amount of time once it gets here, and you're going to want to give it to them."
"Fair point..." Jade nods, resting a hand on the small of her back "You can stay if you want."
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Cat raises an eyebrow at Robbie
"See you tomorrow." Robbie nods, then lowers his voice so only she can hear "Are you going to tell her?"
"We'll see how things go." Cat shrugs "I'll let you know if I do."
"Okay." Robbie kisses Cat quickly before turning to go "Love you."
"Love you too."
She walks him to the door and says goodnight, then locks it behind him as he had been the last to leave. Cat then makes her way down the hallway to the master bedroom where she expects Jade to be, and finds her friend already getting ready for bed.
"Can I borrow some clothes?" She asks
"All of my pre-pregnancy clothes are in my closet." Jade nods towards the walk-in "Help yourself."
"Thanks."
Cat grabs a pair of Jade's pajama pants and one of her old t-shirts, changing into them before laying her discarded clothes out to change back into in the morning. She then climbs into bed beside Jade, laughing as Georgia positions herself between them.
"Beck is okay with her sleeping in the bed now?"
"Oh no." Jade shakes her head, reaching over to turn off her bedside lamp "I only let her when he isn't here."
"And she doesn't try when he is?"
"No." Jade laughs "She and I are both smarter than that."
It takes her a minute to find a comfortable position, which ends up being on her side with a pillow between her legs and another resting against her back.
"Comfortable?" Cat smirks
"For now." Jade sighs "The kid will probably change its mind in a few minutes though."
"I'm sorry, Jadey."
"S'okay, it'll all be worth it in the end."
"Are you still filming this week?"
"Half-days, yeah." Jade nods "Lindsey gets to have her baby in a subway car on Tuesday. Then they need me to film a few solo scenes for episodes later in the season, mostly phone calls between me and other characters where they can hide the fact that I'm still pregnant so it looks like the character isn't anymore."
"Hang on, your character is having a baby on the subway?"
"My fiancé and I get in a fight, the subway ends up breaking down. He can't get to me, he might miss the birth of his child. The whole thing is very dramatic." Jade laughs
"Does he make it on time?"
"You'll have to wait and watch the episode." Jade smirks
"You know I watch the new episode every week."
"I know you do, and I love you for that."
"I love you back." Cat smiles "Are you nervous? About having the baby?"
"I am, yeah." Jade admits "But I'm excited too."
"You're going to be a mom."
"I know, crazy isn't it?"
"You're going to be so good at it, Jadey."
"Thank you, Cat. I appreciate hearing that."
"Hey, Jadey?"
"Hm?"
"I..." Cat hesitates "You know what? S'not important right now. We should go to sleep."
"Alright, g'nite. I love you."
"I love you too."
"What are you doing?" Beck has to stop himself from laughing as he enters the living room
His wife is dressed in leggings and a tank top, despite it being the middle of January, and is barefoot on a yoga mat as she follows along with a video on the TV mounted on the wall.
He didn't even know they owned a yoga mat.
"Clearly..." Jade sighs as she changes positions "...I'm doing prenatal yoga."
"Why?"
"Because it is proven to increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of the muscles that I will need during labor." Jade explains, changing positions again "And it helps my back pain."
"Sorry to interrupt." Beck chuckles "Proceed."
Jade has finished her filming obligations for the current season of Beyond the Innocent, officially putting her on maternity leave until they start the new, and final, season in July. The network has announced that the show's fifth season will be its final one, opting to end the story on the writer's own terms rather than force an unforeseen ending due to a cancelation. While a bit upset by the news, Jade is at peace with it now. It will leave her free to pursue other projects, most likely movies, and give her more time to spend with her family.
Beck is still working on Zeppelin, but in the post-production stage of things. He's had to record vocals for the soundtrack, and there is still quite a bit of ADR work that needs to be done. Thankfully all of that can be done in New York, so that he doesn't have to be away from Jade, and eventually the baby. With the two of them not currently working, they've been able to spend quite a bit of time together as a couple that they might not have otherwise had before the baby arrives.
"Did you need something?" Jade asks once she finishes her workout
Beck had positioned himself at the kitchen island and watched her finish, which she took as a hint that he wanted her attention in some way or another.
"I just wanted to point out to you that we have a baby coming in less than three weeks and we have done nothing to prepare for it." He tells her as he hands her a glass of water
"We've done some things." Jade shrugs, taking a sip "We have a crib."
"That is sitting in it's box unassembled." He reminds her "I thought you said you wanted the baby in a bassinet in our room for the first few months anyway?"
"I do."
"So we should probably get a bassinet then, shouldn't we?"
"Shit..." Jade groans "We don't have anything ready."
"We should probably get on that."
"Yeah, we probably should." Jade agrees "I don't really feel like facing the paparazzi to do it though."
She's not quite miserable at this point in her pregnancy, but she's definitely uncomfortable. The thought of being bombarded by photographers is less than ideal to her right now.
"S'the beauty of home delivery." Beck winks "We can pick out whatever we want and they'll bring it to us."
"Yeah." Jade scoffs, taking another sip of her water "And how much extra will that cost us?"
"Does it matter?" Beck shrugs "We can afford it."
"Fair point..." Jade nods "Alright, let me shower, and then we can start looking."
They order a dresser, changing table, bassinet, a car seat, and a baby swing, amongst other things. Over the course of the next few days their purchases start to be delivered, and then reality starts to set in.
They're having a baby.
And soon.
"Everything okay over there?" Jade smirks as she watches her husband struggle to assemble the changing table "Want me to help?"
"No, I've got it." Beck assures her "You...you just worry about the swing."
"I finished the swing." Jade tells him proudly "And the bassinet."
"How?"
"I read the directions instead of trying to figure it out myself." She teases him "Are you sure you don't want my help?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Okay, then." She smirks, turning to the box beside her
It's full of baby basics, onesies and socks and a few simple gender-neutral outfits that will need to be washed before the baby can wear them. One by one, Jade starts pulling them out of their packages, removing tags, and tossing them into a pile so she can wash them in baby detergent at some point in the next week.
"What do you think of the name Julian?" Beck asks as he continues to struggle with the changing table "For a boy?"
"No names that start with J." Jade shakes her head "Or B."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to be one of those families where everybody has the same first initial." She explains "It's weird."
"Your name and your dad's both start with J." Beck points out
"And so does your dad's." Jade adds "Too many J's. We're ruling out J."
"And B?"
"And B."
"Alright..." Beck chuckles "What about Landon?"
"It's not terrible." Jade admits as she continues to remove the tags from clothing "We could add it to the list."
"We have a list?"
"Okay, so it could be the first name on the list that we're starting right now." Jade sighs "Wow, we really almost had this kid with no clothes, furniture, or ideas for names."
"That's what happens when you're both busy working."
"Beck..."
"Hm?"
"We're not going to be too busy for the baby, are we?"
"What?" Beck gasps "Jade, no. Of course we're not going to be too busy for the baby. How would that even be possible?"
"Parents get busy, they hire nannies, they don't see their kids often." Jade shrugs "I don't what that to happen to us."
"It won't."
"Well, we almost had the kid sleeping in a cardboard box, so..."
"Babe..." Beck abandons his project and crawls across the room to sit beside her "We didn't though, we have everything that we need now. We'll be ready when they get here, and we'll be ready for everything that comes after that. And sure, life might get a little busy sometimes, but it does for everyone. You and I might have to travel a bit for work, that's part of the job, but we'll always come back together. As long as we all come home to each other at the end of the day, it'll all be fine."
"The baby...and any future siblings...always needs to have one of us home at night." Jade tells him "Yes, there will be special occasions where we take anniversary trips or go to premieres, but when we're working...our kids need to be with us. We can't both be working in different cities and have them here with a nanny. I won't let that happen."
"Neither will I." Beck assures her, resting a hand on her stomach "We'll be a family, and families stick together. Always."