Ludo was wrapped in my arms, breathing slowly as he slept in peace. I was growing more and more tired as the night went on. My body ached from walking around LA, touring potential houses, and running around the Alt. Press offices to meet deadlines. The last two weeks have been insane, body-breaking. I stared at the empty side of my bed and felt a wave of sadness hit me as Mike's imprint of his body was fading with each passing minute.

I looked up at the ceiling where the light from my phone was shining on it. I turned my body over and grabbed it from the nightstand next to me that held a small lamp, a bottle of lotion and my phone. I had one missed call and a voicemail from none other than Shannon. I winced at the brightness as I pressed the 'Listen' button and I did in fact listen.

"Lucy, are you at home right now? There's an emergency and I need to talk to you." The line went dead and she sounded panicked. Panic didn't sit well with me so I called her back.

The line rang two times and she answered, "Oh my god, Lucy! Thank god that you called back."

"What happened? Are you okay?" I sat up in bed, Ludo looking up at me, then putting his head back down.

"I'm trying to keep calm. But, my water broke like five minutes ago and I'm at my cousin's house here in LA, alone because she's at work. Do you think you could, I don't know, take me to the hospital?"

My eyes widened and my heart rate sped up, "Is it the cousin that lives like less than ten minutes from me?"

"Yeah, Alicia."

"Alright, I'll be there. Did you call Eric?"

"Yeah, he is on his way over from SD right now. Thank you, Lucy. Thank you so much."

"No problem, I'll be there in a few." I said before hanging up and grabbing some black tennis shoes to go with my black leggings, grey v-neck and red cardigan over it. I grabbed my bag and threw my phone and charger in my bag and got my car keys and left to go get Shannon.

I drove as fast as I could at 2 in the morning, avoiding the Thursday night traffic and tried to remember where Alicia lived. I turned onto the wrong street, but it lead to her cousin's street so I was relieved. I got off, leaving my car on, and ran up to ring the doorbell. Shannon opened it seconds later holding two bags, one hers, one her baby's. She looked at me with a relief in her presence. I helped her walk to my car, then got in the driver's seat and drove to the hospital. There was a moment of silence and awkwardness in the air, but she cleared her throat.

"Luce, thank you so much for this. Really." Her eyes looked sorry.

"You're welcome."

"I'm so sorry for everything, Lucy. I really am. I felt bad as soon as I said everything to you."

"It's okay, Shan." I brushed off her apology. It didn't matter to me anymore. That was three weeks ago, and I didn't feel the need to dwell on it.

"No, it really isn't. I said shit that you shouldn't say to your best friend. I know that you and Mike have your own situation, and it's none of my business to not only put pressure on you, but to butt into your relationship like that." She paused and took a deep breath, holding her belly and wincing in pain. "I'm just jealous of what you have." I looked over to her in shock. Shannon didn't get jealous of anything. Why my relationship? "I look at the way that Mike looks at you and I wish Eric looked at me with half of the passion that he does. I love Eric, I do, but I learned to love him. This baby is a one night stand baby. I met Eric that night at Doubles and we hooked up that night, but I got pregnant the next time that he and I hooked up."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you were right. Him and I are only talking about our future plans because I got pregnant. And, I hated that you were right. I am so happy for you and Mike, I can see how happy you are. When I opened the gift from you that night, I cried. Really? A fucking white Pierce the Veil onesie in pink lettering, a pink tutu, and fucking pink Converse? I was in tears, Luce. That outfit was beyond so perfect and I felt so horrible that I said those things about you and Mike. I've been a terrible friend and said mean things, and you still answered my call to get me when I'm in labor. I don't deserve to have a friend like you. I'm so sorry, Luce. I hope you and Mike don't hate me." She frowned, looking over to me on the verge of tears.

I looked over to her, "Shan, we don't hate you. I love you so much, you're my best friend. I'm always gonna be here for you. I was mad, don't get me wrong, and I'll have you know that Mike and I have been receiving some major pressure from everyone we know to take the next step and I had reached my breaking point. I forgive you, babe. Can we go back to being normal now?" I smiled at her and simultaneously keeping my eyes out on the road.

---

Shannon looked at me as she was in her hospital gown, IV's stuck in her arm, and casual beeps coming from the monitor that read her heart rate and movements from the baby. Every hour, her contractions got more and more intense. Her blonde hair was up in a ponytail and I sat beside her, letting her squeeze my hand whenever she needed it.

It was now 4 AM, and the door slowly opened. In walks a man of about five feet eleven, maybe six foot, and he was wearing black Adidas sweatpants and a gray hoodie over it. He had a bag, a dozen roses, and a balloon that read, "It's A Girl!" on it. Nervousness was spread across his facial expression. He was chewing on his bottom lip as he walked closer to us. Shannon lit up when she saw him, and he bent down and kissed her lips. "Hey baby. How are you feeling?" He ran his hand over the top of her head.

She nodded, "I'm okay. It's hurting more and more, though. Labor sucks a dick."

He chuckled, placing the bag on a chair nearby, the flowers on the counter beside her along with the balloon. He looked over to me, "You must be Lucy. It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard nothing but amazing things about you." He brought out his hand and I shook it.

"And you must be the famous Eric. It's nice to meet you." I smiled at him.

"Thank you so much for bringing her. I was worried that this was going to happen when she was out here visiting." He ran a hand through his black hair that was a little messed up and he sat down on the chair and scooted it closer to Shannon's side. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it and I felt the positive energy in the room. I don't know what she was talking about Eric not looking at her in a certain way. To me, he was gazing at her, in love, yet nervous for the what was to come.

"I'm gonna go get some coffee. Did you two want anything?" I asked, grabbing my bag and walking towards the door.

They both shook their heads, "No, it's okay. Thanks, Luce." Shannon said and I nodded, walking out of the door and into the hallway. I heard a small baby cry from another room further down and that scared me. As I was walking to the cafeteria downstairs that had a Starbucks I might add, I passed by the nursery area for the newborns. I looked though the glass at the little babies sleeping soundly and I smiled to myself softly. They looked so cute and so perfect. All different sizes and colors and backgrounds; I thought that was such a beautiful thing.

I walked to the Starbucks downstairs and ordered a coffee for myself. I wanted desperately to call Mike, but I figured he was sleeping; more like just went to bed. I sat at a table and caught up on my social networking accounts and then made my way back up to Shannon's room. I ran into her mom and sister who were standing outside of the room, about to go in. We hugged and greeted one another and all walked in.

After another hour, the doctor came in because Shannon's contractions were becoming unbearable and more frequently. He said it was time. Her sister Rachel and I went out to the waiting room, nervous and impatient. Rachel was talking to me about what's going on in her life and how excited she was to be an aunt. I told her that I was excited to be an aunt and told her that my brother and Brittany were having a baby.

We talked for a little more, than Mike had called me after I had text him a few times during the night. "Hey, baby."

His voice was raspy and sleepy, "Hey princess, are you at the hospital right now?"

"I sure am. She's in labor right now, like the baby is coming out as we speak."

"Holy fuck, that's scary. Are you and her okay?"

"Yeah, she apologized for everything. She loved our gift by the way."

He laughed, "Did she? I better see that baby wearing that or I'll be pissed." He chuckled, then yawed loudly.

"What time did you go to sleep?"

"Well, let's see, we're in New York, so I'm three hours ahead of you. I went to sleep 4. So like, four hours ago."

I giggled, "You're crazy, baby. I'm sorry I woke you up."

"No, it's okay. I saw the messages and freaked out because all I saw was 'I'm at the hospital' then I read the other messages." He explained, yawning again.

"Mikey, I'll let you go back to sleep okay? I'll let you know when I get back home."

"Okay. I love you, Lucy."

"I love you too, buggie." We hung up and then I waited again, thinking about how long birth takes.

Thirty minutes later, Eric walks out to Rachel and I with a big grin, "She's here. Come in, guys."

Rachel and I excitedly walked over to the room and walked inside quietly. Shannon was cradling her newborn baby in her arms, smiling down at her daughter. I walked next to her and looked as she handed the baby to her sister. "What'd you name her, Shan?"

Rachel handed the baby to me and I held her carefully, looking down and studying all her features. She had beautiful baby blue eyes and ivory skin with a natural pink to her cheeks. She was gorgeous. "Her name is Jessica Rose Becker." Shannon said softly and I smiled, looking up and Eric and Shannon. The baby was a beautiful blend of both of them.

"She's beautiful, guys. She's so perfect." I said softly as my eyes welled up in tears. After fifteen more minutes of whispering about Jessica Rose, I decided to head back home and get some sleep. I'd been up for 24 hours now and was more than exhausted. I text Mike when I got home that I made it home okay, and then I grabbed Ludo, falling asleep easily.

---

"She is so beautiful." I gushed about Shannon's newborn baby as Brandon and I were having lunch three days later, September 10th.

Brandon's eyes lit up, "Who does she look like more?"

"She has Shan's big blue eyes, and her hair seemed a little darker. But, Eric has dark hair, so I think Jessica is going to have dark hair." I smiled, taking out my phone and showing him a picture that Shannon sent me today of Jessica.

He grinned, "She's perfect. Did you and her work everything out?"

I took a forkful of salad and shoved it in my mouth, "Yeah. We talked more about it yesterday when I went to go visit her. I know I was mad, but I knew that she didn't mean it. I know Shannon more than she knows herself."

"And, how's Eric? Is he cool?"

"Yeah, he is. He's a good guy. I think they need to just trust in each other and get to know one another."

"Why'd she hide him from us, though?"

"She told me yesterday because she was embarrassed by where they stood in their relationship. She saw us happy and truly in love and she felt like she wasn't." I explained, sipping on my glass of sweet tea. I looked around the restaurant and looked at the people who were in there on lunch dates. Some couples, some business partners dressed in black suits and charcoal gray pencil skirts. Bringing me back to my own lunch was a scoff from Brandon and a chuckle. "Oh my god, you won't believe this, Luce."

"What?" I asked, giving him a weird look.

"So, PupFresh just posted online that there's a rumored tour and the headliners are Pierce the Veil and..." He paused for a moment and looked at me. "Of Mice and Men."

My eyes widened, "You're fucking with me."

"Yeah, they said there's a leaked date and that their sources say it should last from the last week of October, to the first week of November." His eyes scanned the screen of his phone as he read it to me.

"How awkward would that be? Holy shit."

"I feel like Austin would make it awkward. Mike isn't an awkward person and he's been like telling you to fix things with Austin."

"Austin would make it awkward. He'd be a total dick every chance he got."

He looked over to me with widened eyes, "You should ask Mike if the rumors are true."

I nodded, biting my lip as I pressed Mike's name on my phone, it calling him. It rang three times then he answered, "Hey princess!" He shouted.

I smiled, "Hey, babe. Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, what's up? Is it gonna be long question because Jaime and I are playing FIFA."

I laughed, "No. Alt. Press purposes and girlfriend purposes for this question."

"Shoot."

"There are rumors of a headlining U.S. tour with Of Mice and Men. Can you confirm or deny?"

"Fuck. Let me ask Vic because he spoke with Dave about that like twenty minutes ago." I heard him shout out to Vic and he asked him if the tour with Of Mice was happening. I didn't hear Vic's answer but Mike spoke back into the phone, "Looks like I can confirm, baby."

I rolled my eyes, "Great. Now he's gonna be an asshole to you."

"I don't care. If he has a problem than he can talk to me about it. This whole thing is stupid as fuck."

"Ugh, fine. I'll let you go. Bye, bug."

"Bye, baby. I love you."

"I love you, too." I hung up and Brandon looked at me.

"Well?" He pressed on, wanting an answering.

"It's happening. Their booking agent confirmed it twenty minutes ago. That means both bands will be announcing later on today or tomorrow at the latest. Fuck, man." I chewed on my lip as Brandon shook his head, knowing that this tour could potentially end this argument with Mike, Austin, and myself or it could make it worse. I don't know if I was ready for the outcome of this.