Days Like This. | D.L.

22.

Being at the cabin has been absolutely incredible. We feel so much more connected and relaxed. It was the perfect getaway for us before we become parents.

We celebrated Christmas but so small compared to past years. I've always loved Christmas but this year I'm just excited to meet my baby. So Jesse and I decided to get each other one gift and then go shopping for our baby and families in need. It was a humbling and beautiful experience going to give them out.

It's actually New Years Eve now and we are at my families house. Jesse and I are helping my mom in the kitchen. My mom has no idea but Dallas is bringing her girlfriend, Leah, to come meet the family.

Madi is hanging out with Eddie in the living room. I finish up making the charcuterie board and decide to go relax. "Hey, Mom, Jess? I'm going to go sit for a bit. I am a little lightheaded."

"Go for it baby girl. I can handle it from here." My mom says and kisses my cheek.

"Is there anything I can get you Dems?" Jesse asks my kindly and I nod.

"Actually could you get me a glass of water?" I ask and he nods. "Of course I can love. Go sit and I'll bring it to you."

I go into the living room and sit next to my dad, leaning into him a little bit. Madi comes and cuddles up next to us. They are watching football so I pull out my phone and scroll through instagram.

I feel a pain in my lower stomach and back and put my phone down. I put my hands on my bump and close my eyes. I don't really know why but these feel different then the contractions I had with Peyton.

Eddie notices my breathing and my hand placement and gets worried. "Sweetheart, is everything okay? Are you in pain?" He asks.

Madi instantly perks up, out of worry. "I am a little bit. But it's not that bad." I say and try to reassure them that I'm okay. Another pain hits me and I inhale sharply.

Jesse comes in with a glass of water but when he sees my dad and little sisters concern, rushes over to me. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm just having some pain. Thank you for the water. Maybe she's just thirsty." I lightly laugh and take a drink.

"She? It's a girl?" Eddie asks and I realize my mistake. I smile lightly and nod. Madi starts babbling about how exciting it is.

I shush her and put my finger to my lips. "No one tell mom or Dallas. Got it?" I ask and they both nod.

The pain lets up for a while but comes back again and I call Jesse over to me. "Something is wrong. I need you to take me to the hospital." I say quietly and he nods, instantly helping me up.

He has one hand on my lower back and the other is holding my hand. My mom sees and comes over. Jesse picks up on this when he says, "Demi is feeling some pain and I'm gonna take her in and make sure everything is okay."

"Okay. Keep us updated when you can." We nod and he helps me out the door and into the car.

When I get in I don't bother buckle up, putting pressure there won't help. I sit there and start to cry. Jesse is driving but keeps looking over at me, worried.

"Is it getting worse?" He asks and his voice is laced with fear that he is trying to cover up.

"No. I'm just so scared. These aren't like labor contractions that I had with Pey. I'm sorry for crying." I say wiping at my face but the tears continue to come.

"Hey, Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for. You are doing incredible, okay? And I'm right here." He says, hand holding mine on my thigh, trying to comfort me.

"Okay. What if something is wrong?" I ask looking over at him.

"Then we will be at the best place possible. I'll call Addison and make sure she is at the hospital okay?" I nod and he dials her number and calls.

"Hi Dr. Montgomery." Jesse spoke on the phone and I knew he was talking but I couldn't focus on it. I blocked it all out with my thoughts.

I can't loose this baby. I won't survive.

Before I knew it Jesse was parked at the ER and it was hard for me to breath. "Baby you need to try and calm down. Your body is over stressed and it's not healthy." He tells me.

I nod and try to slow my breathing. A nurse is waiting for us with a wheelchair and I get in. Jesse is right by my side all the way to the time I get into the hospital bed.

He stands by me and holds my hand, wiping away my tears with the other. Dr. Montgomery walks in with a sympathetic smile and begins to talk.

"Okay I want to see if you are dilated at all and monitor your contractions." She tells me and I nod, not knowing what to say. Jesse helps me into a gown and she checks me.

"You are only one centimeter dilated. That is completely normal for your gestation and it doesn't look like you are progressing. I'm going to take a look at your contraction chart and do an ultrasound to make sure everything is good." She tells me and I feel like I can breath a little easier. This is good so far.

She looks at the graph and then pulls out the machine. Jesse and I watch the screen intensely and I start crying when I see her heart flickering and her heartbeat filling the room.

"Okay Demi, what I'm seeing right now is nothing concerning." She cleans off everything and faces us. "Looks like you are having Braxton Hicks. Braxton-Hicks contractions are the body's way of preparing for true labor, but they do not indicate that labor has begun."

"Okay." I start breathing much slower and at a normal rate and the tears have stopped. "So what do I do now?"

"You just relax, drink some water, take a nap. Whatever keeps you healthy and as well rested as possible. They are completely normal. I do want you to keep me updated however. If they get shorter than 10 minutes I want you to come in. But I think you are fine to go home." She tells me and I feel a relief. Like someone took a load off of my shoulders.

"Thank you so much. It really means so much that you came in for me." I tell her and she brushes it off as if it's nothing.

"I'll make sure she listens to doctors orders. Thank you again." Jesse says and she walks out of the room.

Jesse holds me close for a few minutes before we get up. I get changed and we head back to my parents house. I'm honestly kind of embarrassed. And I know I shouldn't be.

We walk in and my parents rush over to us. "It was a false alarm. Just Braxton Hicks." I tell them and they instantly look relieved.

"Thank God." My mom says wrapping me in her warm embrace. I almost get emotional all over again so I pull away.

"It's almost midnight!" I hear Dallas yell from the living room. With everything I totally forgot that Leah is here with her!

"Cmon, babe." I say, holding his hand. We slowly walk into the living room and Dallas comes over to me holding Leah's hand. She has shown me pictures but, damn, she is even more beautiful in real life!

"Hi Dal!" I say giving her a hug. Before she pulls away she whispers in my ear.

"Mom and Eddie love her. They love her!" She says and pulls away. I smile at her understanding exactly what she means. They support them.

"Hi, you must be Leah! I'm Demi, I've heard so much about you." I say and we also hug. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Wait you knew?" I hear Madi say, shocked with a hint of jealousy.

"Madi, have you ever listens to Cool For The Summer? How could I not tell her?" Dallas says and I laugh but also give them both the side eye.

"Yeah well look where we are now." Jesse says and I laugh. He means because he is a guy and my song is about being with a woman.

"Guys! It's countdown time." Eddie says and passes out glasses of champagne. I thank Jesse as he hands me a glass of Sparkling Cider.

We start counting down from ten and as soon as we chant zero, Jesse pulls me into him and kisses me. "Here's to the beat year yet." He mumbled on my lips.