Two Months Later.
"Wake up. Wake up. Wake up." Joy shoved Dylan awake as she hung up the phone and threw it on the bed as she was jumping off.
"What's wrong?" Dylan asked, getting up and rushing after Joy in a sleepy panic.
Joy threw some clothes on as she replied, "Mia is in labor, she wants us there."
"Why do you sound concerned? I thought this was good news?" Dylan said, shoving black jeans on as Joy tossed him a dress shirt.
Joy threw a hoodie over a t-shirt, "She's only twenty six weeks along."
Dylan furrowed his brow, "I don't understand."
"I'll explain on the way. We need to go."
The two of them packed themselves into the car and sped their way to the hospital. On the way there Joy explained that babies have the best chance at survival if they are carried to term which is 39 weeks, baby Rushman is thirteen weeks early.
Once they got to the hospital, Marcus called and gave Dylan the room number. Dylan and Joy ran through the halls and up the stairs in order to get to the NICU floor to see them.
Marcus was standing outside of a room with a big glass window outlooking into the hallway. His arms were crossed in front of him and his eyes were red.
Dylan pulled Marcus into a hug without saying anything. Joy then hugged Marcus too, and then they all looked into the room. Mia was standing in the room, letting one of the babies hold her finger. Tears were flowing down her face as she stared lovingly into that baby's eyes.
Little Rushman was one of the smallest and most frail looking babies Joy had ever seen. Her heart immediately went out to Marcus and Mia. She left her hand on the glass, trying to feel close to her without actually being near her.
"She was four pounds, six ounces." Marcus tried to say, but his voice came out a little raspy. Dylan patted him on the back, and nodded, not knowing what to say.
"What do you need? Is there anything we can do?" Joy asked, not taking her eyes off of the small little girl that held onto Mia.
"I needed that little girl to stay in there for thirteen more weeks." Marcus said, brushing them off rudely, and walking down the hall.
Joy blushed, severely embarrassed and a little offended. But she reminded herself what was going on and she brushed it off.
"He'll be alright. Why don't you call Bellamy?" Dylan suggested, kissing her covered shoulder.
Joy nodded and walked a couple feet away into a waiting room. She checked her phone for the time, 4:15am.
After the fourth ring, Bellamy picked up with a growl.
"What's going on?" She wondered, grumbling as she moved around in her bed.
"Mia went into labor." Joy revealed, hand on her forehead. "I think you should come to the hospital. Dylan and I are here with them, but I've barely seen the baby."
"Say no more. Do they need anything?" Bellamy asked, wind blowing through the phone because of how fast she was up and moving.
"No, just make sure to come up to the NICU floor."
"Okay."
Twenty minutes later, Bellamy walked into the waiting area where Dylan and Joy were sitting together, waiting for news from the parents.
"How are they?" Bellamy asked, sitting beside Joy, putting her phone back into her purse.
"About as good as you'd expect." Joy replied, "I haven't talked to Mia since she called me to come here, but Marcus is really stressed."
