...With You

About Five Months Later…

"Justin, I'm telling you, you just gotta get here as soon as possible!" Carson yelled over the phone. "We're on our way to the hospital now."
"We're about an hour away" Justin said anxiously. "Just, stay with her, will ya?" he asked.
Carson smiled. "I wouldn't be any place else." He said.

"She's all checked in" Carson said, joining Tara and Madison in the hospital room.
Carson looked adoringly at Tara helping his best friend with her breathing. He made his way over to the other side of the bed, taking hold of Madison's free hand. Madison smiled as she made it through yet another contraction.
"I want you both to know how much it means to me that you're both here" Madison said.
"Madd, you know we wouldn't be anywhere else" Tara smiled.
"Yeah, besides, I promised Justin I'd take care of you" Carson put in.
Madison looked at Carson. "He's on his way?" she asked.
"Of course he is Madd. He wouldn't miss this for the world." Carson smiled.
Another contraction came and went and Madison turned to Tara.
"Honey, this is the worst pain in the world… If he ever does this to you…shoot him!" Madison joked.
Tara laughed and looked at Carson. "Hear that, baby?" she smiled.
"No, really, I'm only kidding." Madison smiled "Not about the pain… but I can't wait to have this little girl in my arms." She said, patting her belly.
They both looked at her and smiled.
"I'm going to get some coffee" Tara said. "Baby, you want anything?"
"Coffee would be good" he answered.
Tara left the room and turned to look through the door. She knew he wanted to talk to Madison. They both got these distinctive looks on their faces when they needed to talk. Tara smiled and made her way down to the cafeteria.
"Madd, I want you to know how proud I am of you" Carson smiled.
"Thanks Cars" Madison smiled. "I want to thank you for being there for me through everything. Especially these last few months when things got really tough. I'm proud to have you as this baby's Godfather." She smiled.
"I'd never let you go through this alone. You're my best friend, you always will be, marriage, children and all." He smiled. He kissed Madison on the forehead and got set for the minutes, hours, to come.

Justin got up to the maternity ward a little over an hour later, looking everywhere.
"Where is she?" Justin asked anyone in the area.
The rest of the guys followed on his heels.
"Justin! Over here!" Tara said, waving.
Justin made a beeline towards Tara.
"How is she?" he asked.
"She's fine. Asking for you though." She said, moving away from the door.
"Thanks Tara. Thank you so much" he said, hugging her.
"Anytime" Tara smiled.
Justin walked into the room to find Carson holding Madison's hand. She looked as beautiful as ever.
"Hey beautiful…" he smiled.
"Baby!" Madison said, smiling. "I'm so glad you're here."
"Madd, I'm gonna leave you two alone." Carson smiled. "Love you."
"I love you too, babe…. And thank you." She smiled back.
Carson patted Justin's back on the way out and joined Tara, JC, Lance, Chris and Joey in the waiting room. Justin walked over to the bed and took the seat next to Madison.
"How ya doing?" he asked.
She smiled. "Better now" she said, grazing her hand over his face.
Justin took her hand and kissed the back of it. "I love you, Madison." He said.
"I love you Justin. I love you so much." She smiled.

An hour later Justin emerged from the delivery room, smiling the biggest smile that he'd ever owned. In his arms he was carrying a beautiful baby girl.
"Hey guys" he said whispering.
Their six friends made a beeline for Justin and the little angel he was holding.
"I wanted you all to be the first to meet Riley. Our daughter… Riley Lynn." He said, smiling. He looked down at her and then at all of them. "This is the happiest day of my life. Look at her, she's perfect. Six pounds, Two ounces of pure perfection. I must have done something right to deserve the two most perfect girls in the world. The rest of them smiled, overjoyed to share in the joy of these early morning hours.
"How's Madd?" Carson asked.
"Great. She did great and she's resting comfortably." Justin smiled.
The nurse came out to take the baby to the nursery to get put to bed for the night.
"You guys can head out if you want, I'm gonna stick around here tonight. I wanna be here when Madison wakes up." Justin said.
"I'm gonna stick around for awhile, if that alright?" Carson asked.
"Us too." Said the rest at the same time.
"I'm sure Madison would love that" he smiled. Nothing could keep him from being the happiest man in the world. Justin sat down to gather his thoughts as the others went to the cafeteria. 'A father' he thought to himself. 'I'm a father.'


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