This had to have been what heaven felt like. The man of your dreams, your best friend being able to start a family, having your dream job, and the best friends in the world. She had to be dreaming. Nothing this great ever happened to Cassandra Tonaus. Any second she was going to wake up and realize, she was still living in her crappy apartment in little Tonawanda, and she never knew JC Chasez. All the time they spent together was something her imagination had just made up.
But it wasn't. She really did meet him, and they really are going to start their lives together once again, letting nothing get in the way this time. How did she ever get so lucky?
All of a sudden, the shrill cry of JC's cell phone interrupted Cassy's thoughts. Who the hell wanted to ruin their moment? Didn't everyone know she came to find him to get back together with him? No, not everyone knew. But it was probably Ashley or someone asking if she had found him yet.
Letting out a groan, JC pulls out his phone. Fully ready to hit the ignore button, he decides against it when he sees that it's Lance. Something just didn't feel right, so he answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, did Cassy find you?"
"Yeah, she's right here. Why?"
"You need to bring her to Children's Hospital right now."
"Why? What's going on? Is everything alright?" JC became worried at hearing the screaming in the background, someone saying as soon as she could move, he was a dead man? Oh crap.
Ashley.
"Is it Ashley?"
"Yeah. She's having the baby and she wants Cassy here. Don't ask why, just get her here." Then JC heard another loud scream with something said in there, but he couldn't make it out through his ears ringing. "Now!" Then the line went dead. Looking quizzically at his phone, Cassy was dying to know what was going on. As soon as she heard her best friend's name. Was something wrong? He's acting as though something is going majorly wrong.
"JC, what is it? What's going on with Ashley?"
Snapping out of his daze, JC grabbed Cassy's hand and made his way down to where their car was parked. "Damnit JC! Will you tell me what's going on?"
"Ashley's having the baby, and she wants you there."
"Oh my god." And they were off. Speeding down the highway to get to Ashley.
Practically running down the long white hallway, Cassy felt as thought it were never-ending. She didn't even acknowledge the fact that people were looking at the woman running through the Hospital in a wedding gown as if she were crazy. She just needed to get to Ashley. "Come on. How far is god damn room number one-oh-fucking-four?" Cassy mumbled to herself. Her best friend was having her baby finally, and she'd be damned if she was going to miss it. If they hadn't already.
"Come on, Baby. Slow down. We'll get there soon enough."
"Ha! If you hadn't been driving like a fucking slug then maybe I wouldn't be worried about missing the birth of my niece or nephew!" JC couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. He missed the way Cassy was when she was excited/nervous. He knew she didn't mean it, but all she was thinking right now was getting to Ashley's side to get her through this and hope to God everything went smoothly. "Ugh! Finally!" Cassy had finally made it to room 104 and there was Ashley, clutching her big belly and breathing heavily, noticeably squeezing all feeling from Lance's hand. Obvious contraction.
Not until the contraction had subsided did Cassy let her know she was there. "Hey, mommy." Cassy said moving to Ashley's side."
"Oh, you're here finally! Lance said ten minutes but there was no way that had only been ten minutes. You lied to me you bastard!" Ashley's emotions were obviously up the wall. She wouldn't knowingly speak this way to Lance. He was after all just estimating the time it would take to get to the hospital from the park.
"Ashley, calm down. You know he wouldn't lie to you like that." Turning to Lance, Cassy patted his arm. "Why don't you go get a coffee or something. Keep JC company? I'll take care of her for now."
"Thanks Cass. I'll be back in a little bit, promise baby."
"Ok." Lance kissed Ashley gingerly on her forehead and left the room to go sit with JC in the waiting room.
Cassy sat down on the bed next to Ashley, not really knowing what to say that wouldn't piss her off. Luckily Ashley struck up conversation. "So, Lance said you were with JC?"
"Yeah. I found him at our ‘spot‘." Cassy said simply.
"And? What happened? I want details here girl."
"Well, I basically told him he was right. I was marrying Jerry for security, because it's what our parents had wanted and its what I thought I wanted. But I realized he could never fill the void in my life the way JC always could and I hoped it wasn't too late for us." Cassy shrugged, looking at Ashley's hopeful eyes.
"Please tell me the asshole said it wasn't too late?"
"Don't worry Ashley. Everything is as it should be." Cassy smiled at her and Ashley just squealed in happiness for her friend. It seemed as though everything was going as it should have. Then Ashley grabbed her belly again, taking deep breaths in and out. Cassy of course let her squeeze the crap out of her hand. She'd do the same for her.
Ten minutes and five contractions later, the nurse said it was time to deliver the baby. So Lance went to the delivery room with his fiancé and Cassy went out to the waiting room where she found all the guys as well as some parents. And there they just waited and waited and waited, occasional conversation being held up, but for the most part they were only there awaiting the arrival of the little Bass baby.
After what seemed an eternity but was only thirty minutes later, Lances walked out of the delivery room with a triumphant smile on his face. "Hey, I'm a daddy!" He said happily while being congratulated by everyone.
"What'd she have?"
"A beautiful baby girl. Seven pounds, three ounces. She's perfect."
"Can we see her?" Ashley's mother asked first.
"Yeah, come on." Ashley was greeted with the surprisingly large group of friends and family. There was her mom and dad, Cassy, JC, Joey, Chris, Justin, and of course, Lance right by her side. Cassy's parents were on their way too since Ashley was basically a second daughter to them.
"She's so beautiful. What'd you decide on to name her?"
"McKenzie Brook Bass. My little baby girl." Ashley said in complete awe as she ran her fingers over her little pudgy face. They looked like the perfect family.
"Well, she looks just as beautiful as her mommy." JC said, watching the mother and child.
"Ha, there's a laugh." Ashley said. "I'm covered in sweat and tired as hell and I'm sure I don't look any better. But at least I have her to show for it."
"Just the new mother glow." JC joked and everyone laughed, all agreeing with him.
After a little while of light chit-chat, the baby started to cry and Ashley was trying to clam her down.
"Oh, can I try to calm her?" Justin asked, standing up and moving to the bed.
"Really?" Ashley asked, a little surprised.
"Yes, I‘m good with kids." Justin told her. He did after all have two little brothers.
He took the baby from Ashley and held her in his arms, he looked like a natural, rocking her back and forth softly. Then he started to and sing to her a song that always made Ashley a little teary-eyes, one that none of them had sang together in a long time, but it still sounded wonderful.
Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete
I thought I was whole
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
I never thought that love could feel like this
and you've changed my world with just one kiss.
How can it be that right here with me
there's an angel?
It's a miracle...
And just on cue, everyone joined in. Even Ashley and Cassy. The baby was sound asleep, but they kept on singing.
Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
(A little more time, yes he did baby)
In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than
Any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold
When you came in this world
And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
That's deep inside
Leaves me purified
Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep (and deep)
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
When JC began singing, Cassy couldn't take her eyes off him. Sure she had seen him sing before, but this time seemed different. He was singing to a little baby. It showed that he wished to be a father too, but could she do that for him? She didn't know, but she'd sure try.
Ashley watched Lance sing to their little girl with so much love and adoration in his eyes, she couldn't help but to have a few tears rolling down her cheek. She leaned over a little and whispered to Cassy. "What did we do to deserve this?"
Cassy shrugged. "I don't know, but it must have been something really good." She laughed a little and watched them still singing.