"A Most Special Gift"
Bade - Beck and Jade are acting as surrogate parents to Cat. It's something Jade was nervous about at first, but now is starting to feel differently.
Five months have passed, and Beck, Jade, and Cat have arrived back home from Jade's ultrasound appointment to find out not only is the baby growing inside her healthy, but also that she is carrying a little girl. Beck and Jade have done what is probably the biggest service they can for a friend, and have agreed to be surrogate parents to Cat. After she and Robbie have tried to conceive unsuccessfully in the past, Cat was devastated. She wanted more than anything to be a mother, and start a family, and Robbie wanted to give that to her, but alas they were unable to achieve this on their own. They knew adoption could take years, and that IFV was expensive, and just when they thought becoming parents was hopeless, Beck and Jade came to them offering to help, and carry a baby for them.
Jade was really apprehensive, having never carried a baby before, since she and Beck hadn't talked about having kids yet. After thinking about it for a while, she agreed to help Cat out. Cat has been so grateful, helping Jade out, and taking care of her every step of the way. They got back to the house, and Cat helped Jade over to the couch, got her to put her feet up, and entered the kitchen to make her a cup of tea. She brought the cup back to Jade who was snuggled up on the couch in a blanket.
"Thank you." Jade told her.
"It's the least I can do."
"So, are you happy to be having a girl?" Jade asked.
"Yeah, so much. I can't wait to meet her."
"Me too. I'm actually going to miss this just a little bit." Jade said, rubbing her belly.
"Well, she's gonna need her favorite auntie." Cat said, laying her hands on Jade's belly. "I want you to always be a part of her life, and to know how important you've been in helping her get here."
Jade smiled, while laying her hand atop Cat's, when both of them could feel the baby kick.
"Oh, hey there you are." Cat said, moving to where she felt a kick.
"Yeah, she feels like she's going to be strong."
"Do you think she can hear us?" Cat asked.
"Hmm…the doctor said that starts around seven months, but I think somehow she knows you're here." Jade smiled.
Cat leaned down to kiss Jade's stomach, and talked to her unborn daughter.
"Hey there, little baby. I can't wait to take you home, and start being your mommy. I don't know if I'll be good at it, but I'm gonna try my hardest, I promise."
Cat looked up at Jade in time to catch her wiping away a few tears. She smiled, rubbing Jade's shoulder.
"Are you crying?" Cat asked.
"It's been since I got pregnant. I can't stop crying out of nowhere." Jade said, drying her eyes. "Don't tell anyone, okay."
"I won't. " Cat said, hugging Jade around her shoulders.
Cat nuzzled into Jade while she cracked a smile. Cat laughed when Jade didn't immediately recoil.
"Well this part is nice. You actually let someone hug you."
"Yeah well, just for you." Jade said.
Soon Beck and Robbie came through the door with Chinese food, placing it on the coffee table, and distributing it around to everyone. Beck handed Jade a container of rice and vegetables, while sitting next to her, wrapping an arm around her. Robbie sat in next to Cat while the two shared dumplings.
"How are you feeling? " Beck asked Jade.
"Good."
The four of them dug into the Chinese food, and soon they noticed Robbie had another small bag next to him.
"Hey Robbie, what do you have there?" Cat asked.
"Oh, well after we picked up the food, I wanted to stop and pick up a little something for the baby. "
Robbie pulls out a small, white teddy bear, with a pink bow around its neck. He hands it to Cat who snuggles it close to her. Then he pulls out a pink onesie with "Mommy's Little Angel" written on the front. Cat held it up, smiling at Robbie.
"I love it. Thank you." Cat said, kissing his cheek.
"So have you two thought of a name yet?" Jade asked.
"We were between a couple, but we haven't decided." Cat said. "Robbie, what do you think?"
"Well…I think I like Lyla."
"Yeah." Cat nodded. "I think I like that too."
Cat looked to Beck and Jade who both nodded their approval. They were about half way through the pregnancy, but baby Lyla had lots of people anxious to meet her, and welcome her into the world. Jade never pictured herself pregnant back in highschool, let alone carrying one for a friend. Maybe someday she would want to have one of her own, and be just as excited. Judging by how she's felt with this pregnancy for Cat, her own baby would be just as rewarding, and an incredible experience.