The delivery

As fast as her now heavily pregnant body allowed her to, Jenny made her way over to the hospital where Elizabeth had been brought to. Even though the delivery usually takes several hours, Jenny couldn't help but rush. Being the closest friend to the mother-to-be, Elizabeth had requested Jenny to be the first of their friends to be informed and giving her the task to inform the others so that Nick could keep his focus on her. On the car ride over to the hospital she did just that. Sending a message in their group chat and calling all those that did not immediately respond. Including Jason who was still hard at work in the office. In just fifteen minutes everyone had dropped what they were doing and had gathered at the hospital.

When they got there Elizabeth had already been brought to the delivery room. Not even Jenny, who was the first to arrive, had made it in time to see her before she was brought in. Only catching a glimpse of her as she was being wheeled in. To a place they could not enter and a room even Nick had been banned from. This was decided upon after he had fainted when she had a little mishap during her period one time. Even after that incident he would turn lightheaded whenever she had the slightest cut or he was reminded of that day. So, Elizabeth thought it best that he wait outside for what could only be considered a much more extreme version of what he had seen during her period. Since, the last thing Elizabeth wanted to deal with or worry about on a day like this, was her husband fainting in the delivery room. Instead, her mother would join her and give her the support she needed.

With Elizabeth behind closed doors, doing what only she could do, there was not much that the friends could do for her at that point. So, they decided to focus on the husband and father-to-be instead, who was anxiously pacing back and forth in the hall across from the delivery room. Jason, who was next in line to experience what he was going through and George, who had already gone through it, were the ones tasked to approach Nick first. To see how he was doing and to try and calm him down as he was appearing quite tense and nervous from where they were standing.

Jason was the first to break the tension as he put a hand on Nick's shoulder, who had barely noticed them arriving at the hospital much less seen them stand next to him. When he looked at Jason with a startled and slightly confused expression, Jason said, "Hey buddy, how are you holding up? You look quite nervous pacing out here." In a nervous, incoherent rambling, a way the two of them imagined his thoughts were looking as well, Nick started telling them what was on his mind. "Oh, you guys are here already. Yes. I am doing fine. I think. It's just that Lizzy. She seemed in so much pain. Suddenly there was water and everything started going so fast. This was not the way we practiced. This was not in the plan. And now I can't even go in there and see how she is doing because it might be a bloodbath in there and I will probably faint before I make my way through the door."

One after another all his worries made their way out for them to hear. When it was clear that his worries were surpassing Jason's territory, as he was still waiting for his turn, George took over. "Don't worry pal. Even if you were inside with her there, you wouldn't be of much use. Lizzy would be doing all the hard work and you would only be able to watch her try and push through. From my experience, once she gets to work, she will barely even notice you or any of her surroundings. Focussing on a single point. Instead of driving yourself crazy about these things, have faith in her. Lizzy has always been a strong girl. She doesn't need you to worry about her like this and pacing back and forth in front of the room. Instead, why don't you come with us and eat something to save your strength. That way you will be able to help her and let her rest as much as possible once she has done her part of the work."

This seemed to be working and appeared to be the words he needed to hear. Back when the baby was due in less than two months he and Elizabeth had made a deal. They had been working out their birthing plan and they were bickering about him being present in the delivery room with her. She was firmly against it but he said he wanted to contribute in the birth of their son in one way or another. Otherwise he would feel completely useless as a father. Elizabeth, not willing to budge on this point at all, took from that sentence what had been the real underlying issue of his persistence and swayed his mind by saying that his fathering could only begin after the birth. So, he shouldn't feel bad about not being able to do anything for her then. Instead, the moment she was done and their son had been brought into the world, she would consider her task to be 'over' and his would then begin. She would be needing him much more from that point on than during the actual birth giving. So, if he wanted to prove himself as a father and husband on that day, all she needed him to do was to take care of her and assisting her with their newly born son. That settled their dispute and was something that he was reminded of just then by George's words of comfort. Making him come into action right away!