“I’m going to kick your butt the next round I hope you know.” Brian boasted looking over at Zack with a cheeky smile on his face. Jared looked up and over his shoulders at both of the men sitting on the couch. He had been sitting on the floor between each of their feet.

“I doubt it. Jared creams you in this game Brian.” Zack chuckled looking down at the little boy and giving him a high-five.

“Because I let him,” Brian defended; his son turned his head and frowned at his dad. Brian just gave him a smile and ruffled his hair.

“No, you just say that because you suck so bad and you don’t want to have been beaten by a six year old.” Zack defended Jared with a cheeky smile knowing he was getting to the older man.

Jared smiled and climbed up on the couch between the men, pushing them away from one another just enough to fit; he didn’t mind that he was a bit squished. Jared grabbed Zack’s controller and started a new game; looking over at his dad he raised his brow. Brian new what he wanted but he didn’t really feel like playing, he handed his controller over to Zack and kissed Jared’s head. “You two play, I’m going to make lunch. Hey Val are you hungry?”

“A little,” The woman yelled from in her bedroom, poking her head around the corner before deciding the coast was clear and heading out into the living room. She sat down next to Jared and whispered to Zack over the kids head. “What are you guys doing for valentines?”

“I don’t think either of us has anything planned.” Zack stated looking from the screen to the short woman next to them.

“Well it is in a couple of weeks you know?” Val reminded him, leaning back on the couch and rubbing her belly.

“I have really been here that long?” Zack wondered with wide eyes.

“Yeah, he has kept you here for a few weeks. I’m guessing you weren’t really paying attention to the days going by were you?” Val smiled over at her newest friend.

“Not really. I enjoy my time here so much that I just entirely forgot about how long I have been here. I guess I need to go home soon.” Zack mumbled to her leaning back as well. Jared stood and made his way from the room only to return seconds later, instead of walking to the couch and sitting he ran and did some sort of flip. It turned into a bad idea when his foot connected with Val’s stomach.

Val let out a pained yell catching Zack’s attention right away. He quickly moved Jared and stood hovering over Val. “Are you okay?”

“No! It hurts Zack.” Val stated through grit teeth.

“Shit! Brian, call an ambulance!” Zack yelled through the house; Brian came around the corner with a phone in his hand looking startled. He saw Val on the couch, Zack propping her up on pillows and Jared was sitting on the floor with wide eyes.

“Are you going into labor?” Brian asked dialing the emergency number.

“No, something’s wrong Brian.” Brian quickly got through with the operator and knelt beside the couch; pushing Val’s hair out of the way as he dialed Matt. Matt answered in a few rings and Brian quickly told him to get to the hospital and that they would meet him there with Val.

“What happened honey?” Brian nearly whispered looking over at his friend.

“It was an accident Brian, so don’t be mad at him.” Val stated panting and out of breath.

“What did he do?” His attention turned to the little boy. “What did you do?”

“Don’t be too hard on him Brian.” Val mumbled looking over at the scared boy.

“I didn’t mean to daddy I was just playing and I accidentally kicked her belly.” Tears formed in Jared’s eyes. Brian shook his head when a knock on the door sounded. He greeted the firefighters who assessed the situation and asked questions before the ambulance arrived and asked the same things.

When Val was loaded up on the stretcher and taken to the hospital Brian went back in the house to find Zack on the floor holding Jared. The little boy had his legs around Zack’s middle and his face buried in his chest; Brian could tell he was crying. “Are you coming with me?”

“Yeah let me just go get my shoes on really quick.” Zack stood up but Jared wouldn’t let go. “Come on buddy let go. I will be right back okay?” Jared shook his head.

“Jared let go.” Brian demanded a little harsher than he should have. The boy instantly let go and ran to his room. Zack looked at Brian, the older man stared back knowing he shouldn’t have done that but he couldn’t help it. He was so pissed right now; because of his son his best friend could have a miscarriage.

“Brian he really didn’t mean to.” Zack mumbled as he walked past his friend and to the shoe rack. By the time he was done he realized that Brian wasn’t standing in the hall anymore. He headed upstairs, hearing voices he stopped outside the open doorway.

“Come on buddy lets get your shoes on so we can go see Val. You want to see aunt Val don’t you?” Brian asked trying to get his son from under his bed.
“No! I hurt her!” Jared sobbed from under the bed.

“You didn’t mean to buddy. It wasn’t your fault. Come on out and we can go make sure she is okay.” Brian soothed leaning on his elbows and knees to see the little boy.

“I don’t want to daddy.” He cried softly.

“Why not?” Brian asked back just and calmly.

“I hurt the baby.” Zack barely heard it but he caught on to what the boy was saying.

“No you didn’t. Come out and we can go to the hospital; please buddy.” Brian asked softly; Jared started to crawl out from under the bed. When he was out, instead of running to Brian he went strait to Zack and his arms wrapped around his leg. Zack knelt down and picked up the little boy.

“Get his coat and shoes; Ill get the car warming up.” Zack spoke heading out of the door and grabbing his jacket. When Brian made it to the car the ride was silent, it irked him but he wasn’t going to push either of his boys into a conversation; hell he didn’t even feel like talking himself.

When they arrived at the hospital Brian and Zack literally ran into the waiting room and skid to a stop at the desk; Jared held snugly against Zack’s side. The nurse pointed them in the right direction and they were off in seconds. When they made it to the room both men were panting and had gotten yelled at three times for running. When they burst through the door they found Val lying on the bed and Matt was besides her holding her hand.

“How are you doing?” Brian asked walking up to the bed on her free side.

“I feel okay for now. The doc gave me some medicine to stop the pain but while I was here my labor started, they sped it up though because of the complications.” Val spoke; her face scrunching up.

“Was it because?” Brian cut his sentence off nodding his head in the direction of his son.

“No, well it did cause the labor but nothing severe.” And the wait was on. All of the men in the room were running around getting ice, drinks, and doing other things that Val requested as the contractions got worse with time. After a few hours of waiting the doctor came in and told her she was ready to have the baby.

Jared, Zack and Brian stayed up at the head of the bed. The boy kept his head buried in Zack’s shoulder. Both Brian and Zack asked if he wanted to be out of the room but he just shook his head and stayed near Val’s head; he would often tighten his grip around Zack’s neck when she would let out a scream but other than that he was okay.

A piercing scream was heard through the hospital room; three big smiles were shared between the men. Brian looked over and took a peak at the baby quickly before the doctor took it away. “Uh Val I think your previous doctor was an idiot.”

“Why, what’s wrong?” Panic laced through her voice.

“Nothing but I hope you have someone who can take all those pink clothes off your hands?” Brian chuckled shaking his head.

“Why?” She looked between Matt and Brian for an answer. Both men shared a look and a giant smile.

“Your baby has a dick.” Brian stated turning his smile on the young woman.

“It looks like you get to repaint the baby room Matt.” Val stated sighing and leaning back on the bed.

“Fuck! We may be staying with you for a little while Brian.” Matt stated giving Brian a pleading look.

“You know you guys are always welcome in my house.” Brian stated. Eventually when everyone was able to see the baby Jared got down on the floor and walked over to Val’s side. He was staring at the baby intently.

“Do you want to hold him?” Val asked looking down at the boy. He looked up at his dad before looking back at the woman with a nod. Val had Matt lift him so he could sit next to her and she handed him the baby. Jared just stared down at him looking a little scared at first.

When it was time for visitors to leave Jared looked up to his dad and held his arms out to be lifted. Brian lifted the boy; hugging him close to his chest. “See, the baby and Val are both fine but you have to be more careful buddy.”

“I know daddy. I’m sorry.” Jared whispered against his neck when they stepped out into the night air.

“Me too, I’m sorry I scared you.” Brian kissed the side of Jared’s head.

“Its okay daddy; wait!” Brian stopped moving and Jared yawned leaning away a bit to look at Zack; the boy reached his arms out to Zack. Brian was getting ready to hand him over when he wrapped one arm around his neck and the other around Zack’s bringing him in for a hug. Zack stepped away but moved in right behind Jared and right in front of Brian bringing them both into a hug. Jared pressed a kiss to his cheek before letting go. “We can go now.”