Taking a deep breath, she got back up on the chair and reached for another box. This box was labeled "albums" and she wondered what memories would surface from this one.

Taking this box down much like she did the last one, she opened it up and pulled out a book. It was the baby book for her and Larry's daughter Faith. Ally took a deep breath and opened it. It read:

Faith Avery Paul

Born: February 7th, 2004

Place: Detroit Memorial Hospital; Detroit, Michigan

Time: 12:46 a.m.

Weight: 5 lbs 4 ounces

Length: 19 inches

Ally brushed her hand across the place. Detroit. They were in Detroit...reason...Jamie...this, was a very bad thing.

"Ally, Sam needs me right now! I need to go!" Larry Paul practically shouted at his very pregnant wife.

"Larry, I’m due ANY day now, I NEED you!" Ally hollered back at him.

"Ally, you have Renee here, as well as everyone from the firm to support you. Sam needs ME right now," Larry was becoming exasperated. He didn't want to leave Ally, but there were no two ways about it. He was going to Detroit and Ally was just going to have to deal with it.

"Larry, you're my husband, I need YOU right now, not Renee, not every other person in this world. I need my husband!" Ally was yelling at him and tears gently started coming down her cheeks as she grabbed her stomach, flinching.

Larry noticed the flinch and walked over to her, gently placing one of his hands over the one on her stomach. "Are you okay?" he started rubbing her back.

Ally collapsed towards his chest. "Why does he need you Larry? Did he even say?" Ally tried to figure out what was so important that Sam needed Larry right when she needed him the most. She was nine months pregnant and due any week now.

"Ally, you know he didn't say. But if he needs me, he needs me. I just have to go to him. You understand don't you?" Larry looked at Ally, his eyes pleading with her.

"What if I deliver early and you're not here?" Ally was still complaining, reasonably of course.

Larry sighed and just held onto Ally. Truth be it, he didn't want to go ANYWHERE. He wanted to be with Ally while she went through this. This would be their first child together and he was so excited over it. He couldn't wait to see its' face. They had decided they didn't want to know the sex of the baby until Ally gave birth. They had both wanted the element of surprise to be there as much as the experience of their first child together. They had both been so excited and Larry had been the most supportive husband a girl could ask for. He basically was her servant for the past 5 months, getting her everything she craved to eat...which was quite a lot.

He was going to fly out that night and had been in the middle of packing while him and Ally were arguing. He wished Ally could come with him, but flying was not such a good thing for a pregnant woman to do...especially as pregnant as Ally was, so he hadn't suggested it.

Ally sniffled, "I wish I could go with you or you could bring Sam here," she finished with a heavy sigh.

Larry thought for a minute. Bring Sam there, well that sounded like a good enough idea, but Sam said it was urgent and Larry HAD to come THERE. Hmmm... he thought feverishly trying to come up with a solution. "Well," he started, and then it hit him. Sam could wait a couple of days couldn't he? Of course he could! "I WAS gonna fly, but maybe we could drive. That way you CAN come with me," he looked at Ally hoping to get a good response.

Ally looked up at Larry teary-eyed. "Really?"

Larry couldn't help but smile. She was so cute when she looked helpless. "Really honey. God knows I don't wanna miss this baby's birth, and if you happen to deliver early or it happens to take longer than expected, you can just give birth there."

Ally finally smiled, "Okay Larry, you and me. I'll go with you."

Larry hugged Ally affectionately and then he continued packing, only now he was packing for two.

The third day on the road landed Ally and Larry in Detroit at Sam's doorstep. Much to Larry and Ally's surprise, Sam's grandmother, Jamie's mother, Edna, opened the door. "Oh Larry, you've come!" she exclaimed. "Jamie's been asking for you," she finished with a relieved smile.

"What?" Ally and Larry said simultaneously.

"But I thought that SAM needed me. Why does JAMIE want to see me?" Larry was puzzled and looked at Ally as if to reassure his puzzlement.

"Oh my God," Edna brought a hand to cover her mouth. "Sam didn't tell you..." she faded out.

Ally was panicking by now, worried sick about what was happening. She remembered that her doctor said no extra stress...but for all that she could remember, Jamie caused nothing BUT!

"Tell me what Edna?" Larry accused.

"Larry, you better come in and," Edna paused, "sit down," she opened the door more and stepped back, leaving room for Larry and Ally to enter. Edna was practically ignoring Ally and Ally sensed she wasn't needed. What the hell was she going to do?

"Edna, just tell me where Sam is," Larry was getting furious as he sat down on the couch holding Ally's hand as she gently sat down, trying to support her back as she went down and then landing in a huff slouched backwards her other hand on her stomach.

"Sam is," Edna took a deep breath; all of this pained her deeply. "Sam's at the hospital."

Larry dropped Ally's hand and stood up in a rage. "WHAT????? What's wrong with him? Why didn't you tell me before? What's happened to him?"

"Calm down Larry, calm down," Edna tried comforting Larry by putting a hand on his shoulder which he had brushed off cruelly. Ally wasn't about to stand up, but she reached a hand out to Larry's leg to let him know she was there for him.

"How can I be calm??? Tell me RIGHT NOW what the hell has happened to my son!!!!" Larry demanded, raising his voice even more, tears springing to his eyes.

"Larry," Edna began again. "It's not Sam, it's Jamie. Jamie has," Edna paused, swallowing a tear. "There's a tumor in her colon that has spread and can't be stopped. She's," a tear sprang out of Edna's eye, "She's dying of cancer Larry."

Larry froze. It was Jamie? Not Sam, but Jamie? Why was this supposed to matter to him? Well it wasn't, but for some reason it did. He fell down to the couch with a frozen look on his face, looking straight in front of him. Ally didn't know what to do or say, she was as shocked as he was. However, Ally had to admit to herself, this was not the reaction she had expected from Larry. Who was she fooling though? They had had a son together and they were together for like what five years, maybe more? She had forgotten to care to remember when he had told her some time before. He had to have SOME kind of emotion when he heard that the mother of his child was dying. But to Ally, it just seemed that he had forgotten that his wife was sitting right next to him...pregnant, very pregnant.

"Are you okay Larry?" Edna asked, concern dripping in her voice. Larry silently nodded. "She's been asking for you. She has something to tell you that I could just as well tell you, but she would rather do it herself and I wouldn't dream of going against my dying daughter's wishes," Edna's face was covered by tears, but other than that hint of hurt, her stature was strong and she maintained control of herself and her emotions.

Ally struggled to stand up and then asked Edna where the bathroom was and she excused herself. She pulled her cell phone out of her bag and dialed Renee's number.

"Hello?"

"Renee, it's me," Ally stammered, not knowing how to explain what was going on and why she was calling Renee when she had Larry right there with her.

"What's wrong honey?" Renee's voice immediately held concern.

"Well, it's just that, okay well, Jamie's in the hospital and dying and well," Ally paused at the sound of Renee's gasp.

"THAT was unexpected! I thought that Sam needed Larry,” Renee was shaking her head.

"Yeah well, Larry reacted a little bit differently than I would have liked or imagined he would and well," Ally paused, knowing she should have just stayed in Boston. "I guess I just needed someone to talk to," Ally's hand subconsciously found its way to her bulging stomach.

"Well I’m here honey. I’m right here." Renee spoke softly, reassuringly. This helped to calm Ally down a great deal. Ally suddenly felt a weight lifted off of her. She was able to talk to her best friend and there was no one like her in the world. Not even Larry...when he was paying attention to her.

“I mean why did Larry react the way he did? What is it about this situation that has struck him as, well, sad?” Ally spoke quickly, stuttering as usual here and there. “I mean he’ll finally get his son. Sam will probably come and live with us and I know that that’s all Larry wants, is to be close to Sam.”

Renee shook her head as Ally kept rambling on occasionally sticking a word in here or there. “I wish I knew why honey, I wish I knew why,” Renee responded when Ally asked for the millionth time ‘why.’

There was a semi-long silence. “Renee, thank, thank you for, for listening to me. I really needed this. I just wish I didn’t have to think so much. I’m scared enough about delivering this baby as it is,” Ally’s hand hadn’t left her stomach.

“Well, you know my number. I’m here.”

“Okay Renee, I better let you go. Thank you SO very much for this. I won’t forget it, ever,” Ally said genuinely.

“Well I love ya sweetie, and don’t hesitate to call.”

“I love you too Renee. Night,” Ally hung up the phone. She felt a little bit more relieved, having just confided in her ultimate confidant. John used to be her confidant, but unfortunately he wasn’t around anymore. Ally sniffled at the thought of her deceased friend John Cage. She closed her eyes and started praying softly. Help me John; help me get through this. I don’t know how I’m gonna make it. She opened up her eyes and looked up towards heaven. I miss you John. I hope your soul is happy.

Ally left the bathroom about ten minutes later to find Larry and Edna in the living room.

“Ally, we’re going to the hospital. I think you should probably stay here,” he indicated her stomach, “we don’t want you moving around too much and causing unnecessary stress.”

Ally looked at Larry funny. “Well what about the hotel? Why don’t you just take me there and I’ll go to bed,” she honestly didn’t want to leave Larry’s side, but she wasn’t about to argue with him. She was really just tired and wanted to sleep more than anything else.

“Well Edna suggested we stay here and I took her up on that offer. She offered out the guest bedroom upstairs. I’ll bring your stuff in,” and Larry was out the door to retrieve the luggage before Ally could protest.

Edna had not been the nicest person to Ally. In fact, although not knowing Ally, Edna despised her already. She seemed like this helpless case that had stolen Larry from her beloved daughter. Edna had plastered a smile on her face the second Ally glanced at her, but she wasn’t quite planning on playing the nice guy for long. She would let Ally know exactly how things went around there.

Larry burst back through the door with Ally’s suitcase and another carry-on bag. “Is this it Ally?” he asked while climbing up the stairs, not even so much as glancing over at her.

“Um, uh, yeah, yeah it, it is,” she tried to not look at Edna, who was making her very nervous. It was bad enough that they were staying in the house of Larry’s evil ex, but with a mother to boot, it was too much.

Ally mumbled thank you to Edna and attempted to make her way up the stairs, slowly, carefully, holding onto the banister for balance.

When Ally got to the room, she saw Larry putting down the suitcase on a cedar chest that was at the foot of the bed and opening it for Ally, easy access and all due to the fact that bending down and lifting was near to impossible for her.

“Thank you Larry,” she said softly.

“Yeah,” he replied distractedly.

“So you’re going to the hospital?” Ally asked, biting her nails nervously.

“Yeah, uh, I’m gonna see Sam. He needs me,” Larry looked at her. “You gonna be okay?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

“Yeah,” Ally replied trying to get direct eye contact and not succeeding.

“Okay, well, I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I should be here when you wake up. He moved towards her and kissed her on her forehead. “Take care and get some sleep,” and he left.

“I love you too,” Ally whispered...disappointed.

Edna and Larry got to the hospital about fifteen minutes later and they made their way up to the ICU to Jamie’s room. When they got there, Edna peeked into the room through the window and whispered to Larry, “They’re asleep, oh come here! It’s so adorable to see them like this!” Edna gushed.

Larry came over and took Edna’s place in front of the window and stared in at his son and Jamie curled up on the bed, resting peacefully. “Come here,” Edna motioned to Larry as she slowly, quietly, opened the door and crept in. Edna slowly picked Sam up, who rolled over and curled up in her arms. “Sit down, we’ll leave you two be,” Edna told Larry as she left the room.

Larry shut the door and then turned to look at Jamie who was still asleep. He took a deep breath and approached the chair sitting next to the bedside. He leaned back in the chair, folding his arms and looking around at all of the equipment she was hooked up to. His first thought was about Sam and what it must be like for him to know his mother was dying. His next thought, he wondered what it was like to know you were dying and not have anyone there to be holding your hand.

Larry sat there for, it must have been an hour, just watching Jamie sleep. She mumbled occasionally but then relaxed shortly afterwards. He finally got up and exited the room silently, looking back once or twice to see if she had moved at all.

When he got out into the waiting room he saw Sam lying down with his head in Edna’s lap sleeping away. Edna was very awake though. “How did it go?” she whispered as Larry approached her.

“Well she was sleeping the whole time. I just sat there,” he responded sounding empty.

“Well she’ll be awake tomorrow, let’s go home and get some rest. You can shower first thing in the morning and then we’ll head over here.”

Larry picked up Sam and cradled him in his arms, adoring how peaceful he looked while he slept.

The next morning Ally’s eyes were fluttering and she stretched out all of her muscles. She had a content smile and then looked to her left to see the bedside empty and cold. Larry might have been there, but he must have left quite a while ago if he had been.

She rolled out of bed and walked out towards the bathroom. She didn’t hear any noise so she was very quiet, unaware of the time and if anyone was around sleeping or whatever. When she got out of the bathroom, she looked around. The upstairs bedroom doors were open so she went downstairs calling for Larry. She got no answer and became worried. “Larry? Larry?” she looked around corners shaking nervously. She looked for a phone and when she found one she quickly dialed up Larry’s cell phone number.

“Larry Paul,” he answered, the noise of laughter could be heard in the background along with his voice sounding rather upbeat.

“Hey Larry, it’s me,” Ally started biting her nails. “Where are you? I was scared!”

“Ally, hi. I’m at the hospital with Sam and Edna.”

“Well why didn’t you wake me up or anything?” Ally complained.

“Oh you were sleeping like a baby Ally. I wouldn’t dream of waking you up,” Larry responded nonchalantly.

“Well Larry I was worried. I’m in this strange house, in a strange city, all by myself nonetheless. What am I supposed to do here? This house isn’t mine, I can’t drive, not like I even have a car...what am I supposed to do?” Ally complained, feeling rather left out.

“Well Edna said to make yourself at home, watch TV, they’ve got plenty of food in the fridge, just relax,” Larry answered back.

“Larry, I don’t think she’s, very FOND of me. She seemed rather, cold, last night,” Ally reported.

“Oh don’t be silly! She likes everybody!” Larry replied cheerfully.

“But I want YOU around Larry! I don’t feel very well!” Ally attempted one last time to get him to snap out of whatever bubble he was wrapped up in.

“Well I’ll be home later on to check on you, don’t worry honey, just relax. Eat something, you’ll feel better. I’m gonna let you go now Ally, take care,” Larry hung up.

“Here we go again...” Ally said out loud, slowly replacing the receiver. She looked around the house, feeling cold suddenly she rubbed her arms. What am I going to do all day? Ally thought nervously. She hobbled over to the fridge and looked for something to eat and/or drink.

When Larry, Sam, and Edna got back to the house, there was much laughter from them. Sam was all wound up and jumped out of Larry’s arms to go into his room and retrieve a toy of some sorts that he had apparently been telling Larry about all day.

Edna bustled to the kitchen with a smile on her face, ignoring Ally who was lying down on the couch, all propped up with pillows around her very uncomfortably.

Ally’s eyes shot open when she heard a pan being thrown down on the stove. She peeked up and saw Edna in the kitchen, starting on dinner, she assumed.

Ally struggled to get up and when she did she attempted to talk to Edna who then looked at her briefly, smiled coldly, and went right back to preparing dinner.

Ally sighed and wandered over to Sam’s room to find him rolling a big truck around on the floor and Larry lying on the floor propped up on his elbow laughing at Sam as he included the sound effects.

“Hi Larry,” Ally started.

Larry looked up, still laughing, “Oh hi Ally!” and then he went right back to looking at Sam and laughing.

Ally decided to try again. “How was your day?”

Larry looked at Ally and smiled softly, “It was good,” he got up and kissed her on the cheek, proceeding to walk out of the room and towards the kitchen. In the distance, Ally could hear him speak to Edna, “Oh that smells marvelous!”

Ally looked down at Sam who was still rolling his truck around and then he instantly got up and ran out of the room, leaving Ally alone and wondering...what the hell was wrong? No one had asked how the pregnant lady was feeling; no one seemed to care. All Ally could wonder what was the hell was wrong.

Everyone was seated at the dinner table, Ally included, and the conversation had been very light and animated, including everyone but Ally who was beginning to grow tired of it. “How’s Jamie?” she asked, hoping the name would get people to give her SOME sort of recognition.

Sam kept right on eating but Edna and Larry froze and their heads turned to look at Ally. Edna cleared her throat and looked at Ally. “I certainly don’t think that is the type of conversation we should be having right now,” she said very sternly moving her eyes in the direction of Sam who was still engrossed in eating.

“Ally, honey, let’s talk about this later,” Larry rubbed her arm and she pulled it away.

“No Larry, I think, I think this is the perfect time and place,” Larry was about say something else but Ally beat him to it. “You left me ALL ALONE in a STRANGE house that I’m NOT familiar with and I’m 9 months pregnant in case you hadn’t noticed!” Ally got worked up and skidded her chair back, slowly struggling to stand up quickly, due to the rage she was in. This finally caused Sam to look up, with food in his mouth however.

“Ally, calm down honey,” Larry’s eyes begged Ally.

“NO! No I don’t think so LAR-RY! You’ve been ignoring me ever since we got here and I’m, I’m sick of it! I deserve some damn attention too!” Edna gasped and put her hands over Sam’s ears, Sam was looking at Larry very confused, apparently not really paying attention to the words that were being spoken.

“Ally!” Larry stood up. The language was getting to be too much around his son. He grabbed her arm, “Upstairs, NOW,” he bellowed.

Ally was staggering behind him, holding onto her belly. Edna and Sam looked at each other and laughed. Edna figured Ally would finally get put in her place.

Larry pulled Ally into their room and shut the door. “What the HELL is your problem Ally?” he growled at her. “Sam is only ten years old. Do NOT curse around him!”

“Oh this isn’t about your DAMN son, Lar-ry!” Ally shouted back stressing that word again. “You’ve been ignoring me and I’m SICK of it! Jesus Christ Larry, if I wanted to be left alone I would have stayed in Boston! I came here to be with you. I came with you because I needed you and so far, this conversation is the longest one we’ve had since we’ve gotten here!” Ally took a breath and continued before Larry could start again. “And you’re sitting here, obsessing over your damn ex, I mean I AM your wife ya know! I AM having your baby soon! I think I deserve some damn attention!” A couple of tears rolled down her face as she finished.

Larry crossed his arms and brought a hand up to his face, covering his mouth while still looking at her, during a long silence. “I don’t know what to say to you Ally. No matter what I’d say, it’s apparent you wouldn’t pay much attention if any,” he paused, still looking at her, bringing his hand down to cross over his other arm.

“Larry,” Ally had calmed down considerably, but there were still tears coming down slowly warming the sides of her face. “I wanna be with you; I came WITH you, to be with YOU, not on some stranger’s couch in an unfamiliar house totally uncomfortable,” Ally continued, remembering the uncomfortable feeling of the couch, even with all the pillows she had tried to arrange comfortably. “And why are we still here Larry? It’s apparent that Sam doesn’t really need you. I mean I would rather be at home, where I’m comfortable. And with my husband, happy,” she gazed into his eyes tearfully. “I’m not very happy Larry,” and she burst into convulsions of tears, her shoulders quivering.

Larry walked over to Ally and rubbed her arms in a reassuring fashion, not really reassuring her though. “If you want to come to the hospital with us tomorrow, then fine. I’ll make sure to wake you up if you’re not up by the time we’re ready to leave,” Larry rubbed her shoulders real quick, attempting affection, and then opened the door and walked out of the room, leaving Ally alone with her thoughts, crying.