"Jack, call 911."

Jack looked up from his place on the couch. He had been watching t.v. when he heard his mother's calm voice, although it shook with worry.

Her hand was shaking as she stroked her large stomach. It had been a month since Jack's father left, and after the second week, he had stopped asking.

Now Jack stared up at his mother with confused eyes. She seemed fine, but a little scared, despite the small shaky smile gracing her lips. She looked up from her round stomach when Jack spoke. "Why? What's wrong, Mama?"

Their identical eyes met and Helen repeated herself. "Jack, call 911. My water broke."

Jack's eyebrows furrowed in confusion before his brown eyes widened in complete fear. He scrambled off the couch and stood, panting, in front of his mother. The floor beneath her feet was wet, and she stood clutching her stomach. He walked over to her slowly, holding his hands out as if afraid to touch her.

"Mama, are you okay?" His high-pitched voice asked, cracking with fear and uncertainty. He didn't want his mother to hurt. Helen shook her head, trying to keep her breathing under control.

She could tell Jack was terrified, and she didn't want to upset him even more by letting her pain push through.

She could feel the pressure pushing down on her abdomen, shooting pain through her hips and down her legs. She couldn't believe how fast this baby was coming. She gritted her teeth before speaking to Jack once again.

"Jackson, please get the phone and call 911. Everything will be okay baby, just brea-"

She winced and hissed in pain, supporting herself against the counter. She panted, but she said no more when Jack ran to the counter, jumping up to grab the phone. The phone charger fell to the floor when he yanked the phone away, but neither mother or son cared at the moment.

He watched his mother wince and groan and tears started welling in his eyes. His mother was in pain and he didn't know what to do. He scrambled to dial the number that his mother had ingrained into his brain since he could walk. Jack shuddered when he heard the monotone voice speak.

Jack shifted back and forth on his feet as he watched his mother hunch over, her face screwed up in pain. The six-year-old boy almost sobbed into the phone before finding his voice.

"H-Hi, my name is Jack. Um," He swallowed back his tears thickly, "My mommy is having her baby and I don't know what to do." Jack sobbed into the phone. He stepped over to her, wanting his mother's comfort, but he knew he had to be strong for her now.

"Jack," His mother panted, "Tell them I cannot drive right now."

Jack repeated her words, and he stuttered when the operator asked for his address. His mind went completely blank.

It was getting harder for him to breath, and he was starting to become light-headed. He looked around his kitchen, trying to remember the words on his mailbox, or what his mother always told him.

He looked at his mother with wide, tear-filled eyes and their eyes met. Helen nodded at her son, trying to comfort him. She controlled her breathing, sucking air in through her nose before out her mouth. In the nose and out the mouth. In and out.

Jack stood there, never breaking eye contact with his mother. He copied her breathing for several moments, ignoring the voice on the phone. He finally calmed down enough, and his mind cleared. "Uh-I um," Jack tripped over his words before he could finally speak.

"My addre-my address is 237 Maplewood Drive. Please hurry." Jack's voice cracked and dropped the phone on the counter. He walked over to his mother, tears falling down his cheeks. He reached out his hand, and she snaked her hand into his. They held hands for several minutes, no words breaking the silence.

Jack jumped when he heard a loud knock at the door before it swung open. Two paramedics carrying a gurney walked in. They spotted the distressed mother and the sobbing child, and Jack clutched to his mother.

Everything else went by so fast for Jack. They took his mother out to the ambulance truck, and he climbed in with her.

He stayed by her side, and even though he didn't feel scared anymore, tears still streamed down his face.

The ride to the hospital was quick.

Jack fought against the nurses holding him. They prevented him from going with his mother as they rolled her away. They kept telling him he was not allowed in there, but he could hear his mother's groans of pain.

He had to be there for her.

And they wouldn't let him.

He thrashed in their arms, but he couldn't break free.

He yelled after his mother, tears streaming hard down his face. He couldn't believe they would keep him from his mother. Jack sobbed as he heard the nurses calm voice.

"It's okay, it's okay. Your mother is going to be just fine, you have to let them do their job. They are going to help your mommy."

Jack let out a whine, finally going limp in the nurse's arms. He let her lead him to the waiting room, and she stayed with him for the next hour and a half.

Jack began pouting. He whipped around towards the soft-eyed nurse who had sat with him. He crossed his arms, standing up to face the nurse.

"You said my mommy was going to be fine! You lied to me, she isn't here!" He pointed his finger at the wide-eyed nurse, unsure what to say. He was about to keep yelling at her and he heard his mother's soft, but tired voice call out to him.

"Jack, be nice." Jack spun around, and he saw his mother rolling towards him in a wheelchair, a nurse pushing behind her. She looked tired, weak, and worn.

"You can't walk anymore?!" Jack yelled out in a loud worried voice, and he ran up to his mother, stopping short in horror.

He opened up his mouth to speak, to freak out more like it, when Helen raised her finger, silencing him. He froze with wide eyes, and he slowly closed his opened mouth. He let his shoulders relax from their raised position, allowing his mother to speak.

"Jack, I can still walk," She wiggled her feet. Helen watched the smile grow on Jack's face at the reassurance of her walking abilities.

"I am just sore and tired right now. Now, come here. Slowly." She whispered to him, gesturing with one hand for him to come closer. She was holding up a tiny bundle of blankets, pressed closer to her chest.

Jack took careful steps forward, his eyes wide as the little bundles front came into view. He took his mother's hand, gripping it. He didn't want to mess up. He was going to meet his new sibling!

He nervously swallowed, unsure what to say. His eyes finally landed on the small baby bundled in his mother's arms.

Jack gasped, and his eyes started stinging with his rising tears. He couldn't believe that he actually had a younger brother or sister. He looked down at the small, pink-cheeked baby sleeping in his mother's arms.

Awe filled his eyes, and he was so enthralled looking down at the perfect and healthy baby. He didn't feel his mother's hand leave his hand to wipe away the tear that had slipped down his cheek.

He jumped at the touch, and he wiped away at his eye with the back of his hand.

"What's its name?" Jack asked, his voice thick with emotion as he tried to hold back his tears. Helen giggled at her emotional son, endearment filling her features. She sighed with content, "It's a girl. Her name is Emma. Emma Marla Overland."

Jack nodded his head roughly, his bottom lip trembling. He wiped his eyes again before letting out a shaky breath. He couldn't believe he had a baby sister. He stuttered out a laugh, throat choking up with tears.

"I like that name, Mama." That's all Jack could say, his mind was still running with the thought that he had a baby sister. His tears finally stopped, but he was still shaking.

A doctor walked out with a clipboard in his hand. He lifted up a sheet of paper, calling out "Overland?" He walked over when a nurse waved him over. He smiled down at the little boy and the woman sitting in a wheelchair.

"Hello, Miss. Overland. I wanted to come by and check to make sure everything was alright. You do realize you are going to have to stay here for the next couple of days, so your body can recover properly. Is there anyone your son can stay with, a spouse or his father could watch him?"

Even though the man was nice and polite, Jack turned and glared up at the doctor. His little hands tightened into fists as he yelled up at the professional man.

"My daddy left last month, so I'M going to help her!"

The doctor glanced at Helen with sympathy. Helen sighed, about to stop Jack when he continued speaking. He crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.

"And I can watch after myself, I'm a big boy now. I'm almost seven."

Jack tilted his chin up at the doctor and he scooted closer to his mother. Helen smiled softly, fatigue covering her features. She did not bother to even correct Jacks rudeness. The doctor also cracked a smile at Jack's audacious nature.

"Well, since you are the man of the house, I need to know. Are you going to take care of your mother when she comes home?"

The doctor bent down to Jack's level, asking him with a serious playfulness in his eyes. Jack nodded his head with determination, eyes still glaring.

They stayed that way even when the doctor laughed. He ruffled Jack's fluffy, feathery hair, but the boy didn't move.

Jack's eyes softened only when he turned back to his tired mother. He uncrossed his arms, and with worry, asked his mother, "Mommy, are you really going to have to stay here?"

He watched his mother nod with exhaustion.

"Well, where am I going to stay?" Jack mumbled.

He brought his fingers together, picking at his nails dejectedly. Helen sighed, running her hand through Jack's hair before coming down to rest on his face. Their eyes met, and she smiled reassuringly at him. He gave her a half smile before she spoke.

"I will call Bunny or the twins, and I will see if you can stay with them for a couple days. Will that be alright, Jack?" She asked, and a nurse handed her a phone from the check-in desk. Jack nodded with a smile.

"Can it be Bunny? I haven't been over there in a while." Jack asked, eyes looking up with hope. Helen nodded, smiling, and he watched as she dialed in Bunny's mother's number.

He wasn't listening as they spoke, staring down at the little baby in his mother's right arm. He watched her small face sleeping, not a worry in the world. Jack almost stepped away in fear when the baby stirred in the bundle of blankets.

Jack's eyes watched in wonder when Emma's blinked open slowly, adjusting to the light. Jack watched as they traveled around the room with unfocused eyes.

Jack froze when his little sister's eyes landed on him, and they stopped as if focusing on Jack's scared eyes.

The two siblings stared at each other, entranced in each others presence.

"Oh, Jack! She is looking at you!" Helen said, tenderness in her expression. Jack looked up at his mother and smiled.

The small family stayed in the waiting room, waiting for Bunny and his parents to pick him up.

When the Austrailian family walked through the doors, Jack hugged his mother goodbye. He leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on his little sister's head.

He looked down at the small baby, who was now sleeping again. He whispered,

"I promise I will always look out for you, Emma. I am your guardian, okay?"

He looked at the tiny baby as if expecting a response, but he knew she didn't understand.

He said goodbye to his mother once again before running off with Bunny and his parents. They had also met Emma as well.

That night, Bunny and Jack had sat down with all their other friends in Bunnys basement. His room was actually the entire basement.

They ceilings were low, but it was big and roomy, and carpet covered the floor. He had a big bed with several pillows and blankets, and two bean bags.

The whole basement had been refurbished and redone to make a perfect room for Bunny. The tall boy's three large dogs were laying on the stairs, watching over the group. His parent's always called his room his 'den'.

The next two days went by with no problems. Astrid's parents were more than happy to bring Helen and Emma home. Jack was waiting quietly, but his patience was wearing thin. He jumped up and bounced up and down until his mother and Emma were in the house, safe and sound.

He helped his mother all night. He woke up in the middle of the night, nerves keeping him awake. He snuck into Emma's nursery, wanting his mother to get as much rest as possible.

He watched Emma sleep, afraid she was going to wake up and be scared of being alone.

He never wanted her to feel alone.

He wanted her to know he would never leave her, and that he would always protect her.

Emma stirred in her crib, a small whine coming from her tiny mouth. Jack's eyebrows turned up in concern, reaching through the crib bars. He stroked her face with his fingers in the same gentle way his mother would when he would get upset.

Emma's eyes turned and met his, and her distressed grunts slowed down, becoming quieter. They stopped as Jack kept his eyes on hers.

She reached her hand up, waving it around. Jack giggled, touching his finger to her palm. She gripped his finger, squeezing her tiny fist.

Jack smiled at her, and his smile grew when she gurgled, her own smile gracing her chubby face.

The next morning, Helen walked into the nursery.

There was Jack. On the floor of the nursery. Right next to Emma's crib.

Both siblings were fast asleep.

Helen leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms with a quiet giggle.