Baby Jonas

4

Pri put the puppy pads she'd had in the trunk for emergencies like these on the passenger seat and Joe jumped in the drivers side.

'Are you ready to have a baby?' Joe asked tentatively.
'Yes, I guess I've been ready for a long time' Pri replied and Joe started the ten minute drive to the hospital.
'Ooooh' she groaned
'Your supposed to time them now' he said handing her his phone on a contraction counter app.
'I didn't think it would hurt this much' Pri panted
'You've got this, you're one of the strongest women I know' he said holding her hand.
'Thank you for giving me this chance to be a mother Joe. I'll never be able to repay you' she squeezed his hand.
'Just let me be the best uncle and that's all the repayment I need' he smiled, not entirely convinced himself.

By the time they entered the delivery room Nick still hadn't responded to any of Joe's messages so Joe offered to stay with Pri. Which she jumped at. Her contractions were coming thick and fast. The doctor told Pri that she was going to have a quick labour and there was no time for epidurals.
'Where's my brother?' Muttered Joe
'I don't care right now' screamed Pri, mid-contraction.
'Okay Mrs Jonas' explained the Doctor' it's time to push. Daddy, do you want to be up holding mummy's hand or down watching baby be born' she was assuming Joe was the father.

'I'm actually the uncle, his dads held up. but if it's ok with Pri, I'd like to see baby being born' he asked.

Pri nodded her head to tell him it was ok.

'You can always film the birth for Daddy' suggested the doctor and Joe took his phone out, his hands shaking with emotion. As her next contraction started he pressed the record button as everyone told Pri to push.
'Come on Pri, you've got this' Joe encouraged her. On the next contraction he saw the baby's head crowning. 'I can see the head' he shouted excitedly. Pri pushed and pushed until the cry of her newborn son filled the room. Joe switched his camera off and hugged Pri.
'You were amazing' he told her, looking at the little boy lying on her chest.
'Thank you for staying with me, I couldn't do it without you' she replied, meaning it in every way possible.
'Can I hold him?' Joe asked with a tear in his eye. This really wasn't how he'd imagined this to be.

The nurse wrapped the baby in a towel and handed him to Joe, who proceeded to burst into tears.
'Aww what a lovely uncle you are' said the nurse.
Pri saw it in Joe's eyes, that wasn't the love of an uncle. They were both in far deeper than they'd imagined.
'Pri, can you take a picture for me?' Asked Joe, handing her his phone.
'Sure' she said, knowing exactly why he wanted the picture. As she pressed the button Nick burst in, 'oh my god I'm so sorry Pri, I just got Joe's message. Can I hold him?' He asked Joe.
Pri saw the pain in Joe's eyes as he handed him over to Nick.

Nick was oblivious and kept repeating
'I've got a son. I can't believe it. I've got a son'
'I'll leave you guys to it' said Joe, kissing the baby on the head for the last time.
'So what are we going to call this little guy? Asked Nick handing him back to Pri, but when she looked at his face all she could see was Joe staring back at her.

'What about Joseph as his middle name since he was here when he was born?' She suggested.
'Okay but what about Matthew as his first name? In the book it said it means gift from God and he really is' said Nick, clearly besotted with his son.
'Matthew Joseph Jonas' she repeated, it sounded like a good strong name and right now she was exhausted and would answer to anything.

A week later on her due date Sophie gave birth to a daughter which her and Joe named Grace. Grace and Matthew looked identical, except Matthew had slightly darker skin because of his Indian genes. Joe constantly watched him but since the hospital had almost completely avoided holding him. It was like he knew if he held him, he'd never want to give him back.