Chapter Text
February 8, 2013 (40 weeks, 0 days)
Hailey rolled in bed to observe the clock lying on her nightstand. She looked to see it was 2:47 in the morning, meaning only 20 minutes had passed since she last looked at the clock. Hailey wasn’t shocked though. These last couple months, she hadn’t been able to sleep at all. She knew she needed it, but something kept her wide awake.
She didn’t know if it was nerves, or excitement, but whatever it was, she wished it would go away just for a moment.
She decided tossing and turning was no use, and eventually just decided to get up out of bed. It took her a minute, but when she did, she stretched momentarily, before making her way to her kitchen.
She tried to walk as lightly down the hallway as possible, knowing Vanessa and Kev were in the room just across from her, most likely asleep, and the same with Jay. She made it down the hallway, where something in her decided just to check out the couch.
To no surprise, Jay was fast asleep on the couch, turned into a bed, and Hailey smiled at the sight. She felt beyond lucky she had a guy like him in her life, willing to sleep on the couch for however long necessary.
“Watching me sleep now, huh?” She jumped at the voice, realizing Jay had awakened, “How often do you do that?”
Hailey rolled her eyes, walking away from him, “Never. Don’t flatter yourself.” She said, walking over to the fridge. She was willing to laugh it off, but of course, Jay saw it as an opportunity to tease her.
“So, why were you stalking me?” He asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
Hailey grabbed a glass from the cabinet, “First off, I was not stalking you. I was just checking on you cause I felt bad.”
He furrowed his brows, “You feel bad? Why?” He asked.
She just shrugged, “You’ve been sleeping on my couch for the past, what? 2 ½ months?” She asked, while filling up her glass with water
“Well,” He started, “If it makes you feel better, there’s nobody else’s couch I’d rather sleep on.”
“Jay.” She pouted, not being able to hold back a chuckle, “You know you don’t have to sleep on the couch. I’ve told you this many times.”
“Yeah but, where else would I sleep? I wanna give you your space, and I’m not gonna go room with Kev and Nessa.”
Hailey just giggled, “My offer always stands.”
He nodded, knowing that would always be the case.
“Anyways,” He said, changing the subject, “It’s February 8th.”
Hailey nodded, sipping her glass of water, “It is. Happy due date day.” She said, holding up her hand for a high five.
He lazily high-fived her, before interlocking their fingers. He pulled her in for a hug, before kissing the top of her head.
“Go to sleep.” He murmured softly into her head, before pulling back. “I’ll see you later.”
“Good night, Jay.” She said, smiling up at him.
She walked off, before turning back to look at him. She opened her mouth, but he quickly spoke before she could.
“I’m fine on the couch, Hails.”
She laughed at the way he was able to read her so easily. She found her way back into her bedroom, before closing her eyes to gain any rest possible.
-
To her surprise, Hailey was able to catch up on a couple hours of sleep. She rolled over on her bed to see sunlight poking in through her window, and reading her clock that said 8:03. She lazily got up, lightly throwing her hair over her shoulder.
She walked out her room, passing by the baby's nursery in the process. She admired for a minute, knowing any day now, her son would be lying in there, and her life would be forever changed.
She continued walking, and was met with Vanessa’s bright smile as she entered the kitchen.
“Hey.” Vanessa greeted kindly, setting down the mug in her hand, and standing up properly to greet her best friend. “How’re you feeling?”
“Eh.” Hailey mumbled, walking closer to her friend.
Vanessa furrowed her brows, watching her best friend roam the apartment, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” She questioned, Hailey just shrugging simply.
“I don’t know.” Hailey muttered, “I feel no different, so..”
Vanessa hummed, bringing her mug back up to her lips. She started to fix up another glass of water. “Jay and Kev are on their way back now, they went to pick up some food. And I don’t know if you’re up for visitors but Kim’s stopping by too.”
“That’s fine.” Hailey sighed, sitting down on the couch.
This caught Vanessa’s eye. She knew Hailey well enough to know when something was off with her. So she asked.
“You okay?”
Hailey ran a hand through her hair, “Yeah..just nervous.”
“For?” Vanessa asked, walking over to the couch. She plopped down on the couch next to her friend, handing her the extra glass.
“Everything.” She muttered softly, the words barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know how we’re gonna do this. I don’t know the first thing about being a parent. I mean it’s not like I have much to go off of..I’m just so nervous I’m gonna screw it all up.”
Vanessa hummed, “Have you talked to Jay about it?”
Hailey shook her head, “No. We just both have so much going on lately.”
Vanessa raised her eyebrows.
“The appointments, and I’ve been working from home, then he’s been working on his mom and her stuff, it’s just too much right now.”
“Hailey,” Vanessa trailed off, “You gotta talk to him about it. You can’t keep suffering in silence.”
“I know, I know, it’s just..”
“Don’t wait til it’s too late, yeah?” Vanessa said, patting her friend’s shoulder affectionately.
Hailey nodded slowly, thanking her friend silently. Vanessa got back up, silently passing through the kitchen, and retreating back to her bedroom, leaving Hailey alone.
She was about to start cruising through the TV channels, but instead, her phone ringing caught her attention.
The number wasn’t saved, yet one that felt all too familiar for her to not know. Reluctantly, she placed the phone on her ear, speaking slowly into it.
“..Hello?”
“Hi, Hailey! This is Pat, Jay’s dad.” The voice echoed through her phone.
“Oh, hi Mr. Halstead.” She said hesitantly, still confused as to why he would be calling. “How are you? Is everything okay?”
She heard him chuckle from the other line, “I’m good, Hailey, and everything’s okay. I was just calling to send my well wishes, I know today’s the due date.”
She couldn’t help but awe at the simple fact he even remembered. Hailey hadn’t even spoken to her dad since the dinner incident that happened all too long ago, “Oh.” She smiled.
“Well, thank you. It means a lot.” She smiled.
“Well sure.” Pait replied nonchalantly, “I would’ve called Jay, but I know he’s out at the hospital right now.”
Hailey almost didn’t catch that last part. She furrowed her brows once she processed what he said, “Sorry..did you say the hospital?”
“Yeah..” Pat trailed off, “For Laura?”
His mom?
Pat noticed how she’d grown quiet, quickly intercepting, “Jay told you about it right?”
He certainly hadn’t. Or at least he hadn’t told her everything. But she didn't need him to know that.
“Yeah, yeah. He did. Sorry..just distracted today.”
He wasn’t totally convinced. You could hear it in his voice he knew she wasn’t fully telling the truth. But he didn’t want to pry. He knew well enough neither Jay, or Hailey would want that.
“Ah, don’t worry about it kid.” He responded. “Keep me and Laur updated, alright?”
“Will do.” She promised.
The two hung up, ending their conversation, and Hailey shakily setting her phone down on the counter. She had about what felt like a million questions running through her head at the moment.
What’s wrong with Laura? How long has she been at the hospital? How long is she going to stay at the hospital? Why did Jay not tell her?
Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of keys jingling in the front door, and she quickly turned her head. There stood Kevin and Jay, walking through the front door, bags of breakfast in their hands.
“Hey Upton.” Kev greeted sweetly, waddling over with his hands full to hug her. She smiled back, quickly returning his hug, as her mind was too focused on other things.
“Where’s Nessa?” He asked, setting his food down on the counter.
“Uh,” Hailey trailed off, “She’s in her room. She might’ve fallen back asleep though.”
He nodded swiftly, leaving the kitchen to go over to her room. Jay, who had just finished coming in the door shut and locked it behind him, and set his belongings down on the counter.
She just stood there, as he walked over to kiss her temple, seeing if she'd be able to detect anything off.
And he may cover well, but she has eyes.
“You guys took a while.” She accused, staring as Jay unpacked their bags of food.
He furrowed his brows, “Good morning to you too.” He joked, Hailey disregarding his comment entirely.
“You guys just stopped at breakfast?” She asked.
She noticed his hesitation before he responded, “Yeah, why?”
She sighed. She was getting nowhere. He had gotten too good at shutting her out lately.
“You wanna go for a walk?” She asked suddenly, finally masking up the courage to look him dead in his face.
He almost blew it off, but then he dropped what he was doing, noticing she was serious. “Are you sure? I don’t know if you can-”
“I’ll be fine.” She said, walking past him, and grabbing her keys and sweatshirt off the coat rack. She stood at the front door, “Let’s go.”
He was very obviously confused, but nonetheless dropped what he was doing, and walked out the front door with Hailey.
-
It was pretty cold outside. Hailey was starting to regret her decision, realizing there might have been a better way to talk with Jay. She shivered to herself, thinking she was quiet, but Jay’s head turned swiftly at the sound.
“Hailey, you’re freezing.” He said, pausing in his tracks to pull her closer to him. “Why did you want to come out here anyways?”
“To talk.” She said simply, awkwardly rejecting his hug. She stopped in her tracks next, looking straight up at him.
“Your dad called me today.”
His brows furrowed, as he returned a look back to her, “My dad?”
“Yep.” She said softly, “He called to say good luck, and all this stuff but, he also mentioned that you were at the hospital…visiting your mom.”
She watched as his face drop, and she cut him off again before he even had a chance to speak,
“So, is he lying? Or are you?” She asked bitterly, tilting her head ever so slightly.
He dropped his head, refusing to meet her eyes. “I am.” he sighed honestly.
Hailey nodded, sighing to herself, as Jay gained up the courage to speak again, “Hailey-”
“No, Jay.” She cut him off, waving him off with a single hand, “I’m not even mad that you lied about where you were this morning. Okay? I’m not even mad that you’ve been lying to me, for god knows how long!”
“I’m mad at the fact that you felt like you couldn’t tell me.” She said, her voice breaking at the last couple words, “You know I would’ve wanted to help you.”
His silence didn’t provide her any more solace, “You know that, right?”
He sighed, picking up her hands in his, “Yes, yes of course.” He reassured her.
He then found it hard to even look at her face. It was laced with disappointment, but mainly confusion. He looked around, before averting his gaze back to her eyes.
“I was just scared.” He admitted dreadfully.
Hailey furrowed her brows, but waited for him to continue, “Last time my mom got diagnosed, I was a mess.”
“I spiraled. I was flunking school, I moved out the house, did stuff I probably shouldn’t have…but I couldn’t stop, y’know? I was willing to try anything to stop thinking about my mom, or pretend it didn’t exist. So that’s why I left.”
He sighed shakily again, before continuing, “It took me so long to realize it, but I’d fallen apart. I’d lost it all.”
“I knew this time around, things had to be different. I knew I couldn’t fall apart again. I had to be better..for you, and him,” He explained, gesturing to her.
“So I tried to keep you out of it. I thought it was for the best.”
Her puzzled expression gaze softened in pity, as she tightened her grip on his hands, Jay..”
He cut her off, “And I know it’s not an excuse, but-”
Her hands slid off of his hands, and to his face, where she just smiled at him, “It’s okay. Thank you for telling me.”
He looked as if he wanted to tell her thank you, but she saw something change in his face. His demeanor changed, and he quickly muttered out, “I love you, Hailey.”
She paused for a moment, but the words fell right off her tongue.
“I love you too.”