Snowed in
****************
The snow began to fall steadily as the van drove up the mountain road."Are you sure we won't get stuck up here? You guys have to be in Utah in a couple of days." Jesse said looking out the window.
"I told you, nothing is going to happen. I checked the weather channel, they said a few flurries would pass through but that's it." Joey said squeezing her hand.
"OK, I just don't want you to have to cancel on account of me."
"Oh! You guys are so cute together!" Justin said resting his head on Chris's shoulder.
"I just wish we could be like you!" Chris said pretending to sniff.
Daria stiffled a laugh and grabbed Lance's hand patting it gently.
"What about me?" Casey shouted, mocking anger.
"Oh, baby. I still love you." Justin said steeling a soft kiss.
"You cad!" Chris shouted, slapping Justin on the shoulder.
"Guys we're almost there." JC said from the wheel of the van.
"Oh, I can't wait!" Liz said bouncing impatantly in her seat.
JC laughed as he turned onto a small rode.
Chris lightly jabbed his girlfriend in the ribs.
"Where almost there." He whispered.
"Oh, how long have I been asleep?" Bobbie asked getting off of his shoulder, looking out the window.
"Almost 2 hours."
"Why didn't you wake me up?" She asked sounding dissapointed.
"You just looked so pretty, I didn't want to disturb you."
"Oh! You're so sweet!" She said kissing him tenderly.
"Hey! I see the cabin!" Liz shouted.The van went crazy.
"Oh look at the size..."
"It's beautiful!"
"It's amazing!"
"Wow!"
"I've never seen anything like it!"
There faces were pressed against the windows, all trying to get a glimpse of the giant cabin before them.
JC stopped the van and all 10 people hopped out.
"Let me help you." Joey said to Jesse, the last one out.
"Ohh, thank you sweetie." She said slowly getting out of the van, "This stomach of mine just keeps getting bigger and bigger, I swear if this baby doesn't come out soon, I'm going to go in after it and drag it out!"
Joey laughed, "I think you'd better just wait."
Jesse started walking to the cabin door, Joey hanging on her. "Jo will you stop! I don't need any help!"
"I just want to make sure you're OK." He said as they approached the steps.
Justin's head appeared in the window.
"Hey guys! There's a hot tub in here!" His voice exploding with excitement.
His face dissapeered.
Jesse walked up the stairs rolling her eyes as Joey put his hands gently on her shoulders and "helped" her up.
When they opened the door they were greeted with a magnificiant site.
The cabin was huge! It was done up in a midwestern type theme. There were skulls and weaved blankets every where, it was amazing.
"Wow!" Joey said in awe.
"Hey guys come up here! I found you the perfect room!" JC yelled from the top of very very large stiars.
"Oh no!" Jesse whispered.
"It's OK JC, I looked ahead, we have a room down here." He hollered back.
Jesse looked at Joey and smiled, following him as he showed her the way.
"It must be over here some where." Joey said getting his I'm confused face.
"Is this it?" Jesse said, behind him, as she stood in an open doorway.
"Oh, yeah." He said blushing.
"Oh, don't feel like less of a man just because you couldn't find a room, sweetie." She said pinching his cheek.
They walked into their room, Jesse plopped down on the bed.
"Oh, my back is killing me!"
Joey set himself down next to her on the bed, putting his hand on her stomach.
"Are you giving mommy a back-ache?" He said in his Bobby voice.
Jesse giggled, and watched her husband make a fool of himself.
"Listen, up in there! You stop what ever your doing right now! You don't want me to come in there!"
Jesse ruffled Joey's hair, he looked up. She bent forward and kissed him softly.
"I love you." She murmered against his lips.
He smiled, "I love you." They shared another kiss.
The baby kicked.
Joey jumped, "Oh! Baby. We couldn't forget you! I love you!" He bent down and kissed her stomach.
She felt the baby kick again and laughed.
"I guess he...or she loves you too!"
"She, it's going to be a she." He said proudly.
"Oh, how do you know?"
"I just know, you're going to be a she. Aren't you?" The baby kicked again. "See?!" He said looking up at her, his tongue sticking out.
****************
"Justin! I told you I loved you. What more do you want?"
"You know what I want." He whispered, kissing her neck.
"We just got here!" She said closing her eyes.
"Come on, you know you want to." His voice was muffled.
"Oh, fine...Let's go."
He jumped up and hooted running for the door.
"Quick! Get your jacket on! I want to have a snowball fight!"
"Why do all my boyfriends have to act like children?" She asked getting up from the couch as she grabbed her coat and tredged to the door.
She opened it and was pelted with a snowball, she heard his laughter and rolled her eyes. Sighing, she closed the door behind her.
****************
Daria laid herself out on the couch, resting her head on Lance's shoulder. He put his hand on hers.
"You're a comfy pillow." She said softly.
"Thanks..." He murmered.
"I'm...so...tired." She managed to say, she closed her eyes.
"I can barely keep my eyes open." He said closing his eyes slowly.
No response.
"Dar?"
No response.
He smiled to himself and leaned back, closing his eyes.
She was asleep, why not join her?
****************
JC looked out the window and saw Justin and Casey having a snowball fight. "Hey, you wanna?" He asked Liz, who was unpacking.
"I'm unpacking." She said notlooking up from her suitcase.
"Oh, come on! You can do that later!" He whined. "We came up here to have a good time, get away from crazy fans, remember. Let's go." He said grabbing her hand.
"But I-"
"Let's go!"
He dragged her downstairs and threw her, her coat.
Liz looked over to the couch and saw Lance and Daria asleep.
"Oh! Look at them! That is so cute." She said as she put on her mittens.
JC walked over to them, "BOO!"
Daria jerked up and woke Lance.
"What's the big idea?"
"Wanna have a snowball fight?"
Lance looked at Daria, who shrugged her shoulders.
"OK." He said to Liz.
They put on their coats and steped out into the snow.
Justin laughed as Casey fell into a snow drift.
She leapt to her feet and threw a huge snowball in his face.
Lance crept up behind Daria who was laughing and poured snow on her head.
"Hey!" She shouted, beginning to run after him.
JC was wrestling Liz in the snow, she was trying to get enough snow to throw at him.
The wind picked up.
Snow stareted to swirl around the cheerful couples.
The storm was coming.
****************
"Chris! Where are you?" Bobbie yelled turning the darkened corner. "This isn't funny!"
"Boo!" Chris jumped from the rafter onto the floor infront of her.
"Jerk!" She hit him.
"I was scaring you." He said tickling her.
"No you weren't!" She lied pushing him away angrily.
"Liar!"
"I came up to tell you supper is ready." She said turning around.
"Oh, and you made it, am I right?"
"Yes, why?" She said smiling as she turned to him.
"Cause I'm just wondering if I will be poisoned or not."
"Uh!" She pushed him. He grabbed her by the waist.
"Im kidding, I love your food."
She smiled at him, "I know." She said proudly.
He kissed her.
"We really should get downstairs, your food is going to get cold."
"I don't care." He murmered, leaning in for another kiss.
****************
"Where are they?" Lance asked sipping his hot chocolate.
"You don't want to know." Joey said feeding Jesse a roll.
"Shut up! That's their business." Jesse said eating the roll.
"What's our business?" Chris asked walking down the stairs.
"Nothing, do you want some rolls?" Liz said lifting the basket.
"Sure..." Bobbie said blushing. They knew.
The couples ate their food, laughing and talking until a loud thump alerted them all.
"What was that?" JC asked standing up from the table.
"Oh my god!!" Lance said as he walked slowly towards the window.
"A couple small flurries!" Jesse shouted hitting Joey.
They couldn't believe what they saw. It was 4:00 in the afternoon and they couldn't see an inch infront of the window.
"Small flurries Jo! God I could go into labor up here and we'd be stuck!" She said panicing as she stood up from her chair.
"Jess, calm down. It's going to be OK. You aren't due for another week or so, right."
"That's a rounded number Jo, I could go into labor right now for all I know!"
"Oh god." Chris muttered.
"This isn't good." Liz said from the window.
"You're damn right this isn't good!" Jesse yelled.
"Calm down babe, you have to calm down." He said pulling her down to her chair.
"Breathe, just breathe." Bobbie said from her chair.
"I am!" Jesse shouted angrily.
"Not you, me."
"Oh, sorry." Jesse said rubbing her stomach.
"What are we going to do?" Justin asked a worried look on his face.
"I don't know, kid. I don't know." Chris said staring into the vast whiteness before him.
****************
Jesse had long gone to bed, she had been overworked from all the storm talk.
He looked at her lying on the bed and sighed. This was bad, Very bad.
He walked to the door and stepped out into the hallway.
He heard laughter coming form the living room and walked towards it.
"What's going on?" He asked curiously.
"We were just playing scrabble." JC said from the couch.
"Want to play?" Liz asked sweetly.
"Ok."
"Here are your chips." Justin said happily.
"Why are you guys so happy?" Joey asked worried. "Doesn't it bother you that we are stuck up here and my wife could give birth any second!" Joey said loudly.
"We do realize that's a problem, we just aren't letting ourself get worried over it." Bobbie said patting Joey's hand.
"Oh." He said softly looking at his chips.
"Ok...So let's get back to playing." Justin said putting his word down.
"WHAT! That's not a word!"
"Yes it is it's ebonics!"
"Crunk?" Liz asked.
"It means crazy." JC said watching Justin roll his eyes.
"I say you let us have it." Casey said eagerly.
"Fine." Joey said punching Justin in the arm.
"Hey!"
"She said let you have it."
"That was corny babe." Jesse said walking out from the hallway.
"You're up!"
"I never really fell asleep. I just pretended to so you would leave me alone." She smiled and sat down next him.
"I'll just ignore that." He said looking at his chips.
"You do that then." She popped an M&M in her mouth.
****************
Lance held her in his arms caressing her arm lightly.
She was asleep.
He looked up at the ceiling, watching a moth fly around the room.
The wind picked up and he looked over to the window.
The storm was going stong.
How would they get out of here?
Daria stirred in her sleep.
Lance squeezed her to his body, kissing her forehead.
A smile formed on her lips as she slept.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
As long as she was there he would be OK.
****************
"WE WIN!" JC shouted, throwing his arms in the air.
"Calm down, hon. It's only a game." Liz said placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Losers!" He said sticking his tongue out.
"And they say he's the seriuos one!" Joey said to Jesse.
"I'm tired." Jesse said getting up. "Come on Jo."
"What if I'm not tired?" He asked her smiling.
"I'll make you tired, let's go."
"Good night guys." Joey said laughing as he ran to catch up to his wife.
"Talk about being whipped."
Casey slapped Justin on the back of the head.
"Shut up, dear. Before I whip you!"
"Oh, please do!" Justin said scooting closer to her.
"Pa lease!" She said with her hand out.
"Oh god I love you!"
"Don't you know it!" She said giving him a kiss.
He beamed and went in for another one.
"Oh come on guys! I'm right here!" Chris said from the love seat.
"We can see you." Justin said kissing the laughing Casey.
"I'm going to bed." He said getting up and running to the stairs.
"HEY! What about me?!" Bobbie screamed running after him.
JC and Liz looked at each other.
"I suppose this is our cue to leave." JC said looking into her eyes.
"Oh god! You are so cheesy!"
"Could you guys be cheesy some where else? I'm sorta busy over here!" Justin yelled from the couch.
"Shall we?" He asked, his arm out for her.
"Of course."
They walked up the stairs towards their room, leaving Justin and the giggling Casey on the couch.
****************
Th next morning as Daria opened her eyes she found Lance staring at her, a big goofy smile on his face.
"What?" She asked smiling herself.
"Nothing, nothing. I just thought you looked angelic that's all."
She smiled brightly and kissed him.
"What was that for?" He asked beaming at her.
"Nothing, I just thought you looked hot!" She laughed.
"Oh, well thank you!" He said, "It's nothing really."
She laughed again and pulled him close to her body.
"I love you too much."
"I love-"
She interupted him with a passionate kiss.
****************
"This is really bad weather Jo, I'm worried about it. What if it doesn't stop and I go into labor up here?"
"Stop thinking about that." Joey said putting his arm around her."It will let up in an hour or so and we can radio for help."
"What makes you so sure it will let up Jo." She asked putting her head on his shoulder.
"I-I'm not so sure, I just want to be reasurring."
"Oh well you just were." She said sarcastically.
"I'm doing my best sweetie, I just don't want to scare myself. None of us know how to bring a baby into the world."
"I know. I'm scared too." She said as he put his arm around her and sqeezed.
"Let's not think about that now. I'm hungry let's get some breakfast."
"OK, I could use some food"
He helped her off the bed and into the kitchen.
"I could really use a pickle..." She said as he helped her sit at the table.
"It's 8:00 in the morning." Joey said turning to her, shocked.
"I know...Ooh! I know what I want! I want fudge!" She said hopping out of her chair and running to the fridge.
"Um, babe, like I said. It's 8:00 in the morning!"
"Jo, if you knew anything about a pregnant woman you would know when we get our cravings, we don't care what time it is." She said pulling out the dish of fudge and the jar of pickles.
Joey's face cringed.
"I'm not going to say anything."
"You'd better not." She said as she stuffed a piece of fudge in her mouth. She bit into the pickle and let the two flavors combine.
"Oh god! How can you eat that? Oh that is sick." He siad turning his head.
Justin walked in, tired and cranky.
He stopped, stared at Jesse, turned went to the cabinet, opened it, pulled out the cereal and left.
"Now see what your doing. You're disgusting the entire house!"
"Oh come on!" She said her mouth full of fudge and pickle.
"Sorry babe, but I can't watch this, I'm going into the living room." He said kissing her cheek.
She continued to eat a minute later she heard some one come into the kitchen.
"Hey Jesse-What the heck are you eating?"
It was Casey
"I had a craving." She said, angrily, "And if you comment once I will yell at you."
"Sorry!" She said, her hands up. "I come in peace."
Jesse laughed. "Good."
Just then Daria came in, humming to herself.
"Whoa! What's with you?" Casey asked, then saw the look on Daria's face. "Oh boy, I know that look."
Daria blushed, opening the fridge, taking out the milk.
"I don't know what your talking about." She sat down at the table across from the fudge/pickle eater.
"Oh, I think you do!" Jesse said leaning forward. "I know that look to." She pointed to her stomach.
Daria smiled agian and looked down at her glass of milk.
At that moment Lance walked in.
"Good morning!"
He bent down and kissed Daria on the cheek.
His hair was wet.
The two other woman exchanged glances.
"Good morning Lance." Jesse said getting up.
"Yeah, good, good morning Lance."
They left.
"What was that all about?" He asked.
"Nothing, it was nothing."
****************
Liz sat by the window looking out at the whiteness.
They were trapped.
The thought kept tugging at her.
They were trapped, trapped with a pregnant woman.
Oh god! What if we never get out?
She started to panic.
She got up from the window, her head began to spin. She felt dizzy.
She screamed.
She grabbed the couch for support, her head still spinning out of control.
She felt an hand grab her shoulder.
She hit at it, screaming again.
Her head spun faster.
She felt a blackness wrap around her, she was out.
****************
JC looked at Liz lying on the bed. She had been out for an hour.
What happened to you?
Jesse had said it was a panic attack.
He never believed she was claustrophobic, he did now.
Chris walked into the room with a cup of coffee.
"Thanks." JC choked.
"Has she done anything?"
"No, she hasn't even flinched."
"She'll be allright." Chris said as he left the room.
"I hope so, I hope so." JC whispered reaching out and holding her hand.
****************
Jesse sat at the couch. She had, had indegestion all morning.
God, I knew I shouldn't have eaten those pickles.
She was worried about Liz.
That was a scary thing.
First we are stuck here with me, a pregnant lady. Then one of us goes insane.
What next?
Oh god!
Jesse felt her stomach.
Oh god!
Her water had just broke.
Indegestion! OH GOD!
"JOEY!" She screamed. "JOEY! HURRY!"
She heard footsteps running down the stairs and heard Joey's voice from the hallway.
He ran to her side.
"Jesse, what is it. Oh god!" He yelled, looking down at her dress. "Oh no, Oh no!" He ran his fingers through his hair.
"What is going on?" Justin asked from the stairs.
"Her water broke."
"Holy shit!" Chris shouted.
"Yelling isn't helping me!" Jesse screamed from the couch, holding her stomach.
"Oh babe, I'm sorry. I-Oh god, what do we do?" He asked beginning to freak out.
"I don't know I'm not a doctor!" She screamed grabbing his shirt collar, pulling him down to her face.
"Let's get you to a bed." Bobbie said running to her side.
Joey picked her up and carried her to their room.
"I told you this would happen! What did you say?! Oh, it will be OK. You wont have the baby now! We have PLENTY OF TIME!"
"Yelling at me wont do us any good." Joey said caressing her cheek.
"Oh yeah? It'll do me good! AHH!" She started to yell and clutched her stomach.
"It's only been a few minutes, she's going to have the baby now." Casey said in the doorway. "What do we do?" She asked hopping up and down.
"Um, um. Get a whole lot of towels and some hot water." Bobbie said with her hand to her head.
"I'll get the towels." Justin said running to the bathrooms.
"I'll get the water." Lance said running to the kitchen.
"I'll help them!" Daria said running after Lance.
"You're going to be fine, Jesse."
"SURE! You can say that you are going to have a child ripped from your loins!" She shouted, moaning.
Joey looked up at Bobbie, hie eyes screaming at her.
She did her best to smile at him.
Jesse moaned again and he looked back down at her.
"I want something! It hurts! It hurts!" She practically whispered.
"We don't have anything, babe." Joey said kissing her, "It'll be OK. I'll be here for you."
She let out a peircing scream, "It's coming! I need to push! I need to push!"
"Oh god! WE NEED THOSE TOWELS!" Bobbie screamed as Justin and Casey ran in holding bundles of them.
"These are all we could find." They said dumping them on the floor.
"Here is some water." Lance said running in, with Daria close behind her.
"OK, good. Here wet those towels and put them under her, to catch the..."
She looked up and saw Joey look at her, his face screaming at her. BLOOD!?
"Just give me the towels."
"AHHHHH!" Jesse screamed agian gripping Joey's hand hard.
He muffled a scream with his fist.
"OK, Jess. This is where you have to push. I want you to push for me, a big push, OK. NOW!"
Jesse pushed, as she pushed she let out a scream. Joey screamed with her.
"I need you to push again, Jess. Just a few more."
"I can't! It hurts!" She screamed.
"Come on, honey. Do it for me." Joey whispered in her ear.
"AAAHHH!!!"
"I see the head!" Bobbie screamed.
"It has a head! It has a head!" Joey screamed proudly.
"It has more than a head Jo!" Jesse screamed.
"Right, sorry babe."
"One more push Jess. One big one, you can do it."
She pushed again.
Lance looked worriedly at Jesse, ew. Oh blood! He felt dizzy. He passed out.
Daria looked down at him. Then back up at Jesse. Men!
"I have the shoulders, if you push one last time you will be done! More towels!"
Casey ran to her side handing her 3 more towels.
"You said that last time!" She screamed.
"I know I did, but this time I just need one big push and you'll be done. Come on."
She let out a tired groan and began to push, hard, and long.
"You're doing it! Come on, keep pushing!"
"AAAAHHHH!" She screamed.
"Oh! You're done! You're done!" Bobbie said holding the baby in her arms.
Jesse calapsed, tired and hot onto the bed.
Joey ran to the baby, it was red and all bloody. Ew! He felt woozy. No, it was his baby.
Oh! Wait what is it!? What it it?! "What is it?" He asked eagerly watching Bobbie clean off his child.
"It's a girl, Jo." She said handing him the baby.
His heart swelled with pride, he slowly walked to Jesse, holding the small bundle in his arms. Tears falling down his cheeks.
"See, I told you. It's a girl." He said bending down, handing the baby to Jesse.
She was exhausted, he helped her hold it up. Sitting on the bed next to her. She had hair matted to her head, much like the baby. He kissed her forehead, looking back down at the baby.
"She's so beautiful Jo!" She said, crying softly.
The baby wiggled in their arms, allready full of life.
Joey choked back the tears as he stroked the baby girls head, gently.
This little miricle came from him, he helped make this tiny life in their arms.
The lights flickered.
Joey looked up from his baby, sudden fear raging in heart.
Jesse looked to Joey, confused and scared.
The lights went out.
****************
JC had tried to block the screams from his ears. They were heart reanching, but he couldn't leave Liz. She might wake up. If he wasn't there she would get scared.
The screaming had stopped, he reached up and picked her hand, kissing it. The baby had arrived. He was so happy for Joey. He was a daddy. Wow! One of them was a daddy. He was about to get up, when the lights flickered. He looked up, checking to see if it was his imagination.
The lights went out.
****************
It was getting colder. The heater wasn't working. Everyone was cold.
His baby might freeze!
He came into the living room where everyone was huddled. He brought her more balnkets.
"Thanks Jo." She said wrapping the blanket around her baby, covering her face.
"How are you? Are you warm enough?" He asked putting his arms around her rubbing her shoulders.
"I'm OK. If she is." She said resting her head on his shoulder.
"Speaking of her, what are we going to name her?" He asked moving one of the blankets around her head.
"I don't know Jo. What where you thinking about?" She asked looking up at him.
"Well, I don't know..."
They both looked down at her face.
"How about Hope."
"Hope, Hope Michelle." She offered.
"Hope Michelle..." He repeated. "I like that."
"Hope Michelle. Hello Hope Michelle Fatone. Welcome to the family."
Joey kissed her forehead, she was hot.
He lifted his hand from inside his blanket and felt her head.
"You're hot, babe."
"I am?" She asked questionly.
"Yeah you are."
"That's not good."
She reached out of her blanket and felt Hope's forehead.
"She's OK."
Joey sighed.
"I'll go get you some asprin." He said getting up, leaving the room.
She looked back at Hope and smiled, her heart overflowing with love.
I love you Hope Michelle Fatone.
Hope Michelle Fatone
****************
JC sat by the couch, hoping Liz would wake soon.
She had cought a fever, like Jesse, and had become deleriuos.
She mumbled nonsense, and tossed herself about for minutes at a time, then would become still for hours.
Jesse was not as bad as Liz, but she was bad off.
She could barely get herself to sit up to feed Hope.
If she got any worse the baby could starve.
He got up to check the thermometer, 0 degrees.
10 degrees lower than the last time he had checked, and falling.
The storm had to stop soon, they were all deteriorating.
And Liz wasn't getting any better.
****************
Lance wrapped a third blanket around Daria's shoulder's.
"Thank you." She said shivering. "What about you?" She asked noticing he had only one blanket and a heavy jacket on.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Worry about yourself." He answered sitting next to her, placing his arm around her shoulder, then shifting the hat on her head so it covered her ears.
She smiled up at him, he avoided her gaze.
"Why are you so good to me?"
"I love you." He said clearly.
She kissed hin tenderly, trying to show him she loved him too.
"I love you." She murmered against his lips.
****************
Joey held his baby in his arms, thinking of how long it had taken him to get were he was.
Jesse had been at his side all the way.
Their baby was thier way of showing each other how much they loved each other.
He smiled.
"Joey..." He heard the faint voice of his wife call to him.
"Yes, Jess?" He said turning slowly to her.
She reached her hand up and touched his face.
"What do you want?" Joey asked sarcastically, smiling.
She laughed. "I could use some soup!"
"Here take Hope, I'll get you the soup." He handed her the baby and got up. "Any one want some soup?"
"I do!"
"Me!"
"Soup!"
"I'll help you." Lance said getting up.
"Great! So how are we going to make the soup?" Joey said turning back to the living room.
Bobbie shifted from where she was sitting, "This damn bar!"
Chris turned to her suddenly. "What did you say?"
"This bar, it's been jabbing into my back."
Chris pushed Bobbie out of the way.
"Hey!"
"Oh god! We have been so stupid! A fire place!" Chris shouted.
"What?" Jesse asked softly, rocking Hope.
"A fire place! We have a fire place!"
"Of course! Who's ever heard of a cabin with out a fire place!"
"Quick start a fire!" Casey said running to Justin's side.
Joey grabbed a few logs and threw them into the fire place. "Matches?" He asked feeling his pockets.
"Here, I have a lighter." Daria said handing Joey the lighter.
"Why do you have a lighter?" Lance asked curiously.
"I don't know I just always carry one." She said looking embarassed.
Joey started the lighter and lit the logs.
Everyone cheered.
"Warmth!" Casey sighed putting her hands by the fire.
Joey walked over to his wife lifting her gently, leading her to the fire. He set her out with the baby to get warmed.
"I'll go get the soup." Lance said running to the kitchen.
"We're going to be OK." Chris said happily. "I just feel it! We're going to be OK!" He grabbed Bobbie and kissed her.
Easy for you to say. JC thought.
****************
Every one was asleep.
The fire was blazing.
The room had gotten warmer.
JC lifted his head from the couch, he was tired.
Something had changed.
He walked to the window.
Oh wow!
He ran to Joey shaking him. "Jo! Jo! It stopped!" JC whispered excitedly.
"What? What are you talking about?" Joey said blinking as he got up.
"The storm! It's over!" JC said jumping.
Joey ran to the window. It was over!
He turned to JC, shocked.
"It's over!" He yelled.
The baby started crying, waking every one up.
"What the hell is going on?" Justin asked crankily.
"The storm's over!" JC said hugging Joey.
The room went nuts.
The storm is over!
****************
"We are going to go outside to get the generator started." Joey said to Jesse as he put on his coat.
"Oh, well be careful." She said as she weakly lifted her arms to put his scarf around his neck. "You have to take care of me and Hope, ya know."
"Yes, I know. But there'a nothing to worry about. I'm only going to the tool shed.
"I know, but...I just have a weird feeling." She said brushing his coat off.
"There is nothing to worry about." He said lifting her chin.
"I know." She said looking down at the baby.
Joey bent down and kissed her lightly on the head, caressing it. Admiring how small and fragile it was.
"Jo, we have to go. I want to do this before it get's dark." Lance said standing at the door.
"OK, I'm coming." He said turning to him, then back to Jesse. "I love you." She reached up and pulled his head to hers, kissing him deeply.
"Good-bye, come back in one peace." She whispered.
"Tool shed..."
"I know!" She rolled her eyes.
Joey kissed her again then dissapeered through the door.
****************
Casey looked out at the snow.
There was so much of it.
The storm may have stopped, but the snow still kept them up here.
With two sick women and a baby no doubt.
She sighed.
"Hey baby." She heard a voice say from behind, as strong arms wrapped around her.
She smiled, "Hey, Justin.
"I love you a whole lot you know." He sqeezed her tighlty
"What do you want, Justin?" She asked turning to him, smiling.
"What makes you think I want anything?" Justin asked shocked.
"Justin...I know you too well, You don't say I love you unless you want something. So what is it"
"I think you know what I want." He said kissing her neck.
"Again! Come on Justin! I gave you one last night!" She said turning to him.
"Please..." He asked giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Oh, why must you be so cute!" She asked pinching his cheeks.
"Ask my mom."
"Justin..."
"Please!"
"Oh fine!"
She stomped up the stairs and went to their room.
She got on her knees and reached into her bag.
"Here you go!" She pulled out a candy bar.
"AHH! Thank you!" He grabbed the candy bar and ripped it open.
"You are sick, just plain sick."
"Thank you!" He said his voice said muffled by the chunk of chocolate in his mouth.
"Why do I even bother!"
****************
Liz mumbled JC's name.
He rushed to her side.
"Liz, are you awake? Can you here me?"
"JC...JC..." She slowly opened her eyes.
"Liz! Oh my god! You're awake!" He kissed her hand, then her cheek and her forehead, ending on her lips.
"How...When?"
"You passed out in the middle of an attack. I never believed you were Claustrophobic before, but I tell you, I do now." He tried to laugh.
"How long?"
"Two days, oh let me get everyone!"
He ran out the room, coming back to minutes later with a fan club.
"Hey! You're up!" Chris said walking to her bed with Bobbie.
"Welcome back to us!" Daria and Casey said in unison. They turned to each other then laughed.
Justin walked in and smiled waving. "I'm glad you're up."
Jesse looked up at the door to see Jesse smiling, she had a bundle in her arms.
"Oh! Is that?"
"Yes." Jesse said walking forward.
She bent down and moved the blanket so Liz could see.
"Oh, she's-he's-"
"She's" Jesse laughed.
"She's beautiful."
"Yes, she is." Jesse whispered.
"Whoa! I'm tired!" Liz said putting her hand slowly to her head.
"We'll let you get some sleep." JC said shuffling everyone out of the room.
"Good-night!"
"Wait! JC, stay." She said patting the bed.
He walked over to her and layed himself out.
She rested her head on his chest, The two of them drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
****************
"Hey, good to see you awake!" Daria said
"Try it agian, Jo!" Lance shouted from inside the tool shed.
"OK, here goes!" Joey flipped on the switches for the lights and heating.
He turned to the house, his heart racing.
Nothing happened.
"Lance! It didn't work." Joey shouted through the window.
Lance walked out of the shed, frusterated. "I don't know what it could be Jo. I did everything."
Joey's brow furrowed and he looked down to the ground, thinking hard.
"I have it! We are so stupid!" He ran into the shed, pushing past the confused Lance.
"What, what is it?"
Joey picked up a red can and shook it. "Gas!"
"Oh god! We are slow!"
"Go outside I'll fill it up." Joey said running to the generator.
He opened the generator and filled it with gas. "Here goes."
He pumped it up and turned it on. It choked, then puttered.
"Please..." He whispered.
It began to hum steadily.
"It worked, Lance! It worked!"
He ran out of the shed to where Lance was standing, excited.
"The lights are working!" He shouted, pointing to the house.
The door to the cabin flung open "WE HAVE HEAT!" Chris shouted from the steps. "SHIT IT'S COLD!" He yelled just as excited,running back into the house.
"We did it!" Lance grabbed Joey and hugged him.
They turned back to the house.
This is good! This is very good!
****************
"To our hero's!" Daria said, her arm around Lance's waist.
"Here here!" Everyone shouted lifting wine glassess.
Jesse had grape juice.
"To our wonderful, strong hero's." She whispered, one arm around Joey. The other holding Hope.
Joey and Lance blushed.
Hope squirmed.
"Ooh! To Bobbie for helping bring Hope...into this world." Jesse said lifting her glass to Bobbie.
Bobbie hid herself behind Chris. "It was nothing!"
Joey laughed a big strong laugh. "Nothing! Hope wouldn't be here, she could have died or something!" He went to her and gave her a bear hug. "Ugh! Thank you!"
"Come on, anyone could have done it!"
"Not Lance!" Daria shouted, jabbing him in the ribs.
"You know, I would like every one to stop bringing that up! I get grossed out at the site of blood." He said loudly.
"Oooh! Poor baby!" Justin said pinching his cheeks.
Lance pushed him away, a smile forming on his lips.
"You know how to ruin a good moment." Casey said hugging him.
"Oh, come on." Justin said rolling his eyes. "It was getting too cheesy."
Jesse smiled as she cradled Hope in her arms, "Your daddy is our hero! Yes he is, our big hero!" She went on playing with Hope's tiny fingers.
Joey chuckled and bent down to look at his daughter. "I don't know about "hero" but it's good to have the heat back!" He poked her nose.
"Here, here!" Lance shouted, a little too loudly. He blushed and put his drink back down.
Daria muffled a laugh with her hand.
Jesse got up slowly, "I think some one needs a diaper change!"
Joey got up, "I'll help you. Night, guys!"
"Good night!" JC said smiling, while looking into Liz's eyes.
****************
Jesse threw the dirty diaper in the garbage, "That was gross!"
Joey laughed as he picked Hope up into his arms.
Jesse walked over to the two of them sitting on the bed, next to them.
She watched Joey looking at his daughter. There was a pleasant, at peace, look on his face.
He cooed, and made noises at her, hoping to get a smile.
She sighed and brushed a strand of hair from his face.
He looked into her eyes, beaming.
"This is great." He whispered. "This is all I've ever wanted in life."
She kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"I'm sleepy, can we go to bed?"
"Yeah, I'm exausted!" He said standing up, not rushing so he wouldn't wake Hope.
Jesse started fluffing the pillows and pulling back the sheets as Joey set Hope onto the arm chair, putting a pillow at the edge, so she wouldn't fall.
"She's beautiful, Jess. She's just adorable!"
"Yeah, she is." Jesse said hugging him, breathing in deeply.
Joey picked her up and layed her out on the bed. She held back a giggle and looked into his eyes.
He smiled brightly, leaning in kissing her.
She pulled him towards her, his weight shifting onto her.
Jesse felt her head spin. Her entire body tingling.
"It's been a long time Jo." She said against his lips.
He lingered at them for a while, then kissed her agian. "It has, it's been too long."
She reached up and felt for the lamp switch. She fumbled for a minute, then got it.
The light turned off.
****************
When the people of the cabin woke up the next morning the sun was shining brite. The air was crisp and clear. There wasn't a sound coming from the surrounding forest.
The happy, hopful people sat in the kitchen drinking coffee.
JC and Liz sat side by side, holding hands, the "trip" had brought them closer together.
Joey and Jesse sat close to each other, Joey holding Hope in his strong arms. The couples eyes burning with a new fire, lit by the "adventure" they had shared together.
Justin and Casey sat in one chair, Casey on Justin's lap. The two teens acting like newlyweds, the "vacation" had made their love grow stronger.
Lance and Daria sat by each other, playing footsie, while looking into each other's eyes. The "holiday" had taught them both how to love.
Chris and Bobbie sat beside each other, Bobbie's head on Chris's shoulder. The "trip" had brought the two closer, teaching them they could do anything they set their minds too.
The silence in the room was broken by the sound of a distant helicopter. The couples looked at each other then ran to the windows.
The saw nothing, the noise grew louder.
Joey and Chris ran outside, searching the skies for the aircraft. The other's soon followed, Jesse last outside, holding Hope close to her body.
"Where?" Justin asked, worry on his face, his eyes still hunting the sky.
"THERE!" Daria shouted grabbing onto Lance's shoulder, her finger pointing to the north.
All eyes looking in the direction of Daria's finger.
Jesse's eyes began to fill with tears, Hope cried in her arms. Joey threw his arms around the two girls, crying himself.
Chris grabbed Bobbie and kissed her. Thier minds swimming with joy.
Justin and Casey jumped up and down, their arms wrapped arounf each other.
JC, Lance, Liz and Daria hugged each other, thanking God they were alive.
The helicopter drew near, circling the overjoyed crowd.
They were going home! They were all going home!
****************
