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don't
take the girl. "Justin its time!" Anika Timberlake said. She moaned as her water broke. She clutched her stomach in agonizing pain as she tried to take her breaths. She gripped the wall as she made her way to the bed she shared with her husband, Justin.
"Justin, get up!" She cried out.
Her husband's eyes opened slowly and he assessed the situation.
"Are you sure?" He asked, scrambling to get on his clothes and get her bags. She nodded her head. Her took her hand and led her out the car. She mumbled incoherent things, mostly curses as she gripped his hand. He rushed her quickly to the hospital were the doctor took her immediately.
"Mrs. Timberlake, when did your contractions start?" The doctor asked.
"A Few hours ago…" She got out. Tears were in her eyes. She held Justin's hand tightly. The doctor checked her stats frantically as she screamed.
"Justin, something doesn't feel right! It hurts too much!" Anika said, through her rush of tears. Her Milk chocolate skin was beaded with perspiration.
"Baby, everything will be ok. I promise." Justin said, kissing her forehead.
"You promise?" She asked.
He nodded his head. "Yes, I promise. We're about to have our first baby. Isabis Timberlake…our baby girl."
Anika smiled. "Your right. Our first baby!"
Justin shared her smile and kissed her lips. "I love you- Anika and I'm sorry you have to go through this pain." He told her wiping away a tear.
"I love you too-" She said.
He bent down to kiss her again, when the doctor burst through the door.
"Mr. Timberlake, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said quickly.
"Why?" Justin asked. He gripped Anika's hand tightly.
"There are some complications and we can't have you in here sir."
Justin shook his head. "No, I have to be here with her. She needs me!" He looked down to his wife. Fear clouded her pretty brown eyes.
"You have to go." The doctor said firmly, as a nurse escorted Justin out. As the door closed he heard a cry escape Anika lips as another contraction took her over.
***
He sat in the waiting room bouncing his knee in anxiousness. It had been three hours since the doctor had put him in there. He just couldn't be still. He got up and paced back and fourth until he realized he was getting on the nerves of the other people in the waiting room. Justin rushed to the door and pushed it open. He walked down the long white halls and stopped when he got to a big window. He looked through it and a smile spread across his face. A room full of babies all happy and content with being out of their confinement. Moving their little fingers in happiness.
"Pretty soon, I'll have a little baby of my own- Just my wife and me."
:: Flashback ::
"Daddy, I have no one to take. All my friends are busy." Eight-year old Justin Timberlake whined, pulling on his dad's shirt.
"That's ok, Justin. I invited you another friend." Randy Timberlake said, loading up the truck.
"Who is it? Who is it?" Justin asked, just as a little girl walked through the gates.
"Little Anika here volunteered to come along with us!" Randy said, referring to a little dark skinned girl, holding a fishing pole in her hands. Randy looked down and smiled at his son. "We can't leave her behind. Son, I know you don't want her to go, but someday you'll change your mind.
Justin mouth dropped. "But dad, she a girl! I don't want her to come! Take Trace, take mark, or take Ronnie. Take anybody that you wanna, long as she don't go! Take any boy in the world daddy, but Pleeease don't take the girl!"
::Ten Years Later::
"Anika, lets take a picture!" Justin said. "Come on!"
They were at the local carnival on one of Justin's few days off from his music group. He'd taken time off to spend with his longtime girlfriend, She agreed as the stepped into the photo booth. They posed in various pictures, but as the last one came up, he grabbed her tight, and pressed his lips to hers as the flash went off.
"Justin!" She squealed and hit him in the arm. He grabbed her hand as the stepped out of the picture booth.
"Freeze!" They heard. Justin whipped around to face the barrel of a black gun pressed to Anika's head. The stranger grabbed her arm and ripped her away from him.
"If you do what I say, there won't be any harm!"
Justin held up in hands and nodded. " You can have all my money! All my credit cards." He said, he reached down and emptied his pockets.
"More!" The man said.
Justin looked around. There was nothing else to give him except the watch that his grandpa gave him before he died last year.
"Here take the watch that my granddad gave me! Its very expensive!" He said. "And here. Here are the keys to my car! I'll give you anything in this world, but please don't take the girl! Don't take my girl!" Justin said.
The man took everything Justin offered him and threw Anika in his direction.
"Anika, baby are you ok?" He said, tears brimming his eyes.
She shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I love you!" :: End Flashback ::
"Justin! There you are!" He heard a voice. He turned to see the faces of all his bestfriends approaching him, some with their wives, and others with girlfriends, some alone.
"How is Anika?"
"Has she had the baby?"
"Is she alright?"
They bombarded him with questions.
"Guys, she fine, the baby hasn't been born yet- I don't think. They wouldn't let me stay in there." Justin said.
"Good," Jc said, blowing out a breath. "We were worried."
"Yeah, you look tired. We'll bring you something from the food court." Lance said, with his arms around his wife- Melanie.
"Alright," Justin said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He was getting worried.
Jc noticed his worry and dropped back. "I'll stay here with Justin. You guys go ahead. Bring me something back!" He called to them.
"Justin, stop worrying. She's fine!" Jc said, just as Doctor Juji turned the corner. He had a very solemn look on his face.
"How's the baby?" Justin asked.
"The baby is fine…" He said. He hung his head.
"How is my wife? Is Anika ok?"
"That's what I came to talk to you about…" He said. Justin's heart hit the floor. "You see Mr. Timberlake, she lost a lot of blood and I'm afraid that she's not gonna make it through this."
Justin's hand flew to his mouth to muffle the cry that had threatened to slip past his lips. Jc laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"You're lying!" Justin said, as tears began to fall from his eyes.
"I'm afraid not. She should make it through the night. We will let you see her shortly." Dr. Juji said. He turned around and left Justin standing there dumbfound.
With Jc failing to support him, Justin fell to his knees and began to pray. "Lord, take the very breath your giving me! Take My heart from my chest!" He cried. Jc dropped beside him to console his friend as the doctor came back around to greet them.
"Justin, you can see her now, but just you. Your friend can't come along."
Justin threw Jc a glance and hurried followed the doctor to Anika's room. The doctor stood aside and closed the door as Justin walked in. Anika's heart monitor beeped slowly. He approached the bed with tears in his eyes, watching her breath leisurely. He grabbed her hand and kissed it with a weep. His tears falling freely as he brushed a strand of her hair away from her face.
He dropped his head again in prayer. "I'll gladly take her place if you let me. Make this my last request…Take me out of this world…but…."
"Justin," Anika said weakly, breaking his prayer. He opened his eyes and looked down to meet hers.
"Anika!" He exclaimed, bending down to kiss her. "Baby, you'll be fine."
She looked down. "No, I wont. I know what my fate is…I know what has to happen." She said. "Just know I love you. Tell Isabis I love her and tell her about me, Justin." Anika said. Tears now coming from her eyes.
Justin didn't want to hear it, but he let her continue. "I want you to move on. I'm going to heaven, I'll be fine there and I'll be watching over you and her. I want you to marry someone else and have more children, because you have so much love inside of you and someone needs to feel that -love. Justin, please don't feel sorry for me…" Her voice falling to a whisper then dropping off. Her eyes drooping.
"Anika, I love you…" He said, stroking her forehead.
"I love you too, Justin. Take care of her…." She smiled feebly as her heart monitor flat lined. He closed his eyes as tears spilled over them.
"…but please…don't take the girl…" He said, finishing his prayer, just a bit too late.
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