{This.Is.It} It's Finally here!{E.R.I.K.A}

[shadyrock]

Hot tears rushed down Erika's cheeks. She clutched her stomach as a nurse wheeled her into a room. Her breathing was short and stiff. The small room was decorated with flowers and medical equiptment. As she was lifted onto the bed people rushed around her madly, injecting fluids, feeling her belly, and doing such like that. She looked over to her side and saw a blurry image of Jake. She tried to reach out asnd call for him but he disapeared. She wispeared his name and then went blank.


Justin stood outside the room his phone in one hand. He closed his eyes and sighed beads of sweart ran off his forhead. He dailed Gaby's number, of course the machine greeted him instead of Gaby's sweet voice. As the tone came on he took in abreath and said,"Gaby, It's Justin. Erika's in the delivery room.If you can i think She would want you to come. Ok- Bye." He hung up and hung his head in shame.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit was walking through the pregnant unit, on his way to the baby ICU unit. Whatever it was called, Whit hadn't bothered to look, all he cared about was that Kestin made it through this. If he didn't, then Lucy would of died for nothing. Lu wasn't even 19 before she died, and that killed Whit inside, but he had a baby to take care of, he would have to make it through. Whit kept trying to get a hold of Aiden, but the guy wasn't picking up his phone, or calling Whit back, so he figured that he was avoiding Whit.

Whatever, if he didn't want to take care of his own son, Whit would do it on his own. He walked by Justin, and wasn't going to say anything, but then he heard that Erika was in labor. Whit hadn't acually ever talked to the family before, but in this smaller town, everyone knew who they were, "Justin, is Erika okay?" He asked him, as he stopped walking. Whit knew how hard it was to be standing outside the room when your loved one was in labor. It sucked.

[shadyrock]

Erika's mind floated around for awhile before crashing back down to reality. Her eyes jerked open and she sat up gasping in pain. The only one in there was a nurse, she was reading a magisene chewing gum. Erika laid her head back dowen and sighed.

Justin looked up to the guy speaking to him. He smilied softly and said," I think... I am not allowed in." He didn't really know the boy. He was probably Whit." Why are you here? Unless you don't want to tell me.. It's fine." His head drooped and tears started to form in his eyes.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit looked down at Justin, and figured that it was Erika. At the Patricks Day Fesitval Whit had noticed that she was pregnant, but he didn't know how far along she was. He didn't know how women were always able to tell, he was horrible at it. He wasn't allowed in to see Lucy when she was in labor, but he figured that it was because she was in labor two months early. "Is she early?" He asked Justin, wondering if he wasn't allowed in for the same reason.

He was surprised that Justin hadn't heard about Lucy, after all, Gaby had come in when she heard what had happened, and was Whit's shoulder to cry on when they said Lucy was gone, "I'm here to see Kestin, Lucy's baby." He told Justin, and wasn't going to mention that Lucy was gone unless Justin asked.

[shadyrock]

Justin hung his head sadly and said," I really don't know. I really didn't pay attention." A tear fell swiftly from his eye. He had been to busy with work and with Gaby's baby to know. He sighed and looked up at whit and Smilied.

" I don't know Lucy but I bet she is now a lucky mom. I am sorry but are you the dad?" He smilied as he asked this. He was so clueless.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit placed a hand on Justin's shoulder, "It'll be okay, she'll be okay." And for Justin's sake he hoped she was. This town didn't need another mother to die, leaving the baby alone. Kestin would be alright with the nurses right now, Justin needed someone to be with him, and Whit didn't want to leave him alone.

When he asked if Whit was the father, Whit couldn't help but to laugh a little, "I don't do my cousin's, sorry." He told him with a grin, Whit would have to agree with you, Justin is rather clueless. But about with the first comment with Lucy being a happy mother, Whit looked away sadly, "Lucy didn't make it through." He told Justin, and he put his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

[shadyrock]

" I hope." The words left Justin softly and sadly. He didn't think she would. She was really skinny and sick. Of she did the baby wouldn't.

Justin felt clueless and stupid,"Oh, She's you cousin, I am sorry!" He laughed slightly. HJe looked whit over, Erika would like him. To bad he couldn't go in. As Whit replied to the happy mother thing. Justins smile faded away into a sorry frown." Oh, I am soo sorry! Is there anything I can do?" He asked.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit looked down at him again, and he grinned, "If she's on time, she'll probably be fine." He told Justin again, trying to assure him of his hopes. Whit would feel horrible if Erika didn't make it, like it has already been said, that would suck.

"She was my cousin, and my oldest friend." He told Justin sadly, and he took his hands out of his pockets, and ran them through his hair. "There's nothing that needs to be done, the baby was two months early, as he's in the ICU, trying to get healthy." The doctors told Whit that if the baby was born on time, he would of been fine, perfect even, but the early labor made him under developed.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Gabriella nearly fell to the floor when she heard Justin's message. 'Erika's in labor!" was all she could think. Gaby had already been at the hospital, she was getting her monthly pregnant check-up. She was once again told her baby was due in about two months. She picked up her cell and redialed Justin's cell. Sighing when she got his voicemail she left him a message. "Justin? It's Gaby. Tell Erika I'm on my way! she spoke before running to the elevator and down to the delivery rooms. Once again she felt uncomfortable about all this labor happening because she herself was still very pregnant.

Lucy had just passed away, and now Erika was in a...early labor? She wasn't sure. It would be the first question she'd ask Justin though. The elevator sounded and she got out, waddle-running down the hall, as fast as a pregnant woman could. She spotted Justin and someone else. She could only see the others guy back. As she got closer to them she realized it was...Whit? "What are you doing here?" she asked him before hugging Justin. "Is she alright? Is today her due date or is she...early?" she asked, whispering the word 'early' in sympathy of what just happened with Lucys early labor. " She then turned to Whit, "Hows Kestin?" she asked him curiously, with a hopeful smile in her eyes.

[shadyrock]

Justin smilied at whit as his cell buzzed loudly in his pocket. He dug in to his pocket and grabbed his cell. He listened to the message Gaby left. He smilied and looked up to see his gaby running towards him. As She swallowed him into a hug he smilied and said," Oh, I love you gaby!" e let go and listened to Gabys frantic questions.

" I think she is early... really early." He said worridly. He heard that most women and baby's didn't make through early childbirth. he swallowed hard and faked smilied reassuringly down at Gaby.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit grinned as Gaby came tearing through, it kinda reminded him of Evan when she came in. "I was on my way to see Kestin, and I came across Justin here." He told her and he put his hands in his pockets. "Last time I saw him he was getting better." He told Gaby, then he grinned down at Justin, "I'm going to go see how he's doing, then come in to check on you guys?" He asked them, taking a step towards his first destination.

Whit knew that Justin was faking the reasurance, he knew this because Whit was with him a few minutes ago when he was ready to cry. Whit wasn't going to say anything to Gaby though, if Justin was going to be the big guy then, Whit didn't want to interfer with that. He didn't really know Justin after all.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Gabriella was so glad to hold Justin in her arms again. She's been missing him so much lately, and it's seemed as if he's been too busy for her. Too busy for his fiancee. I mean, their engaged and all, but yet they haven't spent enough time together to even talk about, much the less, actually plan their wedding date. Secretively Gaby has been having her doubts about marrying someone she loves, but never sees. Since Gabriella is already a mother of two, and has one on the way, she needs help. She needs someone who will always be there. Someone she'll always see. This whole month long no seeing eachother gig is getting old.

"Oh Justin, I love you too. I've been so worried. Our babys due date is approaching and you haven't been with me lately. Sometimes I worry that you'll be too busy for the baby and I. Justin..I've been having thoughts about...well about....nevermind." she began, tears filling her eyes. She wanted to tell him that she hasen't been happy with their relationship and that she needs someone who won't 'abandon' her, but she didn't want to 'kick him when he's down', meaning he's already sad enough with Erika's early labor, an attempt to break up with him sure wouldn't help right now. "I'm sure Er will be fine, don't worry." she told him, feeling the awkwardness of Whit's situation sinking into her.

She then turned to her good friend Whit. Secretively she's felt closer to Whit a lot more lately, and she's beginning to really feel comfortable around him. Even more comfortable than she feels with Justin. That can't be good. "It's so good to hear that Kestin's conditions improving. Any thoughts about what your going to do with him?" she asked sensitively. Again she felt bad about standing by Whit very pregnant and healthy, when his cousin just...well you know.

[shadyrock]

Justin knew Gaby was near breaking up with him and he understood. He need a job though, he couldn't leave Gaby or Erika with no money, he had to get one.

" I - agree and I have had tough time getting as job but I finally got one. All will be better, just wait.Now we can have money to pay for medical bills and such." He said strocking her long hair wishing she could forgive him. Him getting a job would leave Gaby to stay home and tend to the kids.

Justin looked to the door that seperated him with his weak and ill sister. He wish he could see her. He knew,sadly, that if she didn't die she would be weak and sick for awhile as well as the baby.

[Whit {is great}]

Whit grinned at Gaby and Justin, "I can't believe he is. The doctors told me there was a good chance he wouldn't make it." As Justin stroked her hair, he felt like a third wheel. Whit then wondered what was up between them, he saw Gaby all the time, and they were good friends, but Whit rarley ever saw Justin. Whit didn't want to think that maybe Justin had someone on the side, he thought he'd be beyond that, but maybe.... Whit's seen it happen before.

Then at the question on what he was going to do with Kestin, Whit bit his bottom lip. He truthfully was thinking on that alot, he couldn't raise a child on his own, he was a nineteen year old living alone in a apartment. And if him and Evan's relationship went somewhere, how would she feel about having a son that wasn't her's? Let alone Whit's; but inside Whit knew what he really had to do, "I'm going to raise him the best I can I think." He told Gabby, and he sighed. He just needed a better job then working at the mall. Maybe he could get a job at the garage? Whit was good with cars.....

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Gabriella listened to his excuse but a part of her felt like it couldn't trust him. "I'm happy to hear that you have a job, but what are the hours? Do you work late or early? And Justin, I told you were okay financially. Who will help me with the baby? and the twins? I can't raise three children alone, are you nuts?!" she responded anger and sadness in her voice. "Babe I want to be happy for you, I really do, but I just don't see how 'us' is going to work in the long run..." she continued.

Alright, he heard what he knew was coming. She didn't want to tell him all this in a hospital while his sister was in early labor, but he brought it upon himself. I hope he's happy, now Gabys crying. Wiping a tear from her eye she covered her face and headed towards the chairs, away from him. Anger is not a pretty thing, and jelousy is worse. Gaby was feeling resentment towards Erika because Justin has been spending his time with her. Cold feet before the night before your wedding is even more so heading in a bad direction. What's a girl to do?

As she cried she peeked over at Whit and motioned him to come over to her. "Oh Whit, I'll help you anyway I can with Kestin. Taking on the responsibility of raising someone elses baby is a brave and honorable one. I'm so proud of you." she replied before innocently hugging him.