I Want You With Me • •

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

There was only a week left before Imogen's official due date, but for the last three the young mother-to-be had been telling everyone she encountered that she wouldn't be lasting that long. Whoever had decided that pregnancy was this radiant journey full of the wonders of life and the miracle of birth had clearly never been pregnant. Imogen was starting to feel some genuine concern that her unborn child had at least fractured one of her ribs and everything was uncomfortable now. Everything was set up and ready for the arrival of the baby and now the baby was all Imogen was waiting on. Her mood was turning grouchier as the weeks ticked by and there was absolutely no fun left in carrying another human being around inside her massive belly. Waking hours earlier than she would have liked to, Imogen went through her morning routine with the dawn chorus and changed into the only maternity clothes she had left that really fitted without her feeling like they were straining. A small fortune had gone on a temporary wardrobe of expanding waistlines and baggy shirts that in a little while would possibly never be worn again.

She was at her desk, trying to get some small errands done online when the first sharp pain hit. Imogen put it down to the baby kicking her again; something that had become more than a habit recently. “I swear to God, I'm signing you up for soccer at the first possible chance and you can kick all you like then.” She grumbled, her hand rubbing over the baby bump while her green eyes remained fixed on the monitor. Several minutes ticked by and then another almost identical pain shot through her stomach, this time causing Immy to wince slightly. Again, she shrugged it off. This happened the other week when she had been getting lunch and picking up the last few things with Benji's help and after calling the hospital then had been assured that it was nothing to worry about; probably just Braxton Hicks. They had gone away after a few hours and not returned until now, so Immy had thought nothing of it and was planning to do just the same now. The minutes ticked by and Imogen was fine again, until another pain hit about twenty minutes later and then again just a little sooner. She had promised herself not to bother her friends over silly things before the baby came, but with only a week to go the line between silly and serious was very blurred.

Her phone was charging in her bedroom and carefully Imogen moved to grab it, scrolling through the contacts until she found the number she wanted. Praying for a pick up, she sighed in relief when she got one and gave thanks that it was the weekend. It was hardly ideal when both of her go-to people were professors who taught Monday through to Friday. “Hey, I'm not sure if this is it, but can you come over?” She might just be panicking over nothing, but another cramping sensation soon hit her after she hung up. That took the time down to just on fifteen minutes since the last. They were coming closer, but then with Imogen checking different clocks and feeling scared right now, how could she be sure? Moving to the kitchen with the mindset to make some tea ready for when company did arrive, she freshened up her dog's water and food and reached up to the top shelf for the cookies. Imogen heard the click of her front door opening and she was just turning to shout through to her guest to let them know where she was, when the pain came again, this time sharper and with more intensity. A strangled cry escaped instead of a greeting and she held onto the counter and tried in vain to remember the breathing techniques to get her through this. She was starting to think that this was less of a late pregnancy torment and more like labour itself, which only heightened her fears. Imogen had come to terms with becoming a mother and having a baby, but all the books and all the classes in the world couldn't properly prepare her for this.

• • •

TAGGED! Fallon and Benji if they can stomach it! <3
WORDS! 771!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Work for Benji was hardly what he would consider work. He loved what he did so much that it was just fun for him. He had always felt like the stage was just a fun place to be and not something that simply earned him a paycheck or some awards and recognition. He’d been there and he’d done that and was looking for something else. The stage for Benji would always be there if he wanted to go back. And he did, eventually. But for now, he was enjoying teaching the young actors readying themselves for the stage. He’d had no formal training when he’d been scouted but he’d gotten training quickly and from the best. And without making the decision to teach, he’d never would have met Imogen while she’d been wandering around looking for her friend and now his. Fallon was quite the character as he mentioned as often as he could. She would have made a good actor if she didn’t have such a taste for film. Of course, after finding out who her father was, it made sense and Benji could understand that.

Imogen was similar to Fallon but so vastly different that it amused him they were as close of friends as they were. It was always comical whenever he got the chance to hang out with them and Fallon’s boyfriend. The group was a riot for Benji who grew up with only fellow actors as friends and no one else. It was a breath of fresh air to be introduced to people for whom the theatre meant very little; at least, compared to him. He was quite taken by his fellow professor’s friend. He thought they’d become quite close over the handful of months they’d known each other, despite her irrational belief that no one would find her attractive just because she was pregnant. Benji probably should have been terrified the baby’s father would show up and beat him up for flirting with Imogen but as she’d said time and time again that there was no baby daddy in the picture, he spent the time he would have spent worrying about that, figuring out ways to get Imogen to see that he wasn’t going to be scared off by her impending motherhood. If anything he was in awe of her. She was a much stronger person than he could ever be and could only hope to be half as brave as her.

Being a single parent was a daunting task to take on and she was doing so with such strength, she was inspiring. He was just about to assign the groups he’d just created scenes from various Shakespeare plays when he phone started vibrating in his pocket. He’d been keeping it close lately, knowing that Imogen was quickly closing in on her due date and he didn’t want her to be alone should they be unable to find Fallon. Seeing the familiar face and number on his screen, he quickly answered. “Imogen? Is everything okay?” He asked, pausing to hear her response. “I’ll be right there.” He said, hanging up and informing his class they would get to choose the scenes they had to perform and that class was over early; something he’d never done before. He quickly gathered his belongings and rushed for his car, digging the keys out as he went. He made a quick call to the other theatre professor, asking him to close up shop for him and to make a notice for his remaining class of the day that it would be cancelled because he just didn’t have time.

As he drove, he called Fallon, hoping she picked up, which she did on the second ring, moaning about interrupting something or other. He heard the teasing tone but he didn’t have the mental capacity to keep up his end of the game. “Imogen called.” He said and started to explain, adding that he would call her back once he was there and knew for certain. A miracle for New York occurred when he found an easy parking spot outside Imogen’s apartment and he snatched it right up before locking up and rushing upstairs, taking the stairs three at a time; a new record for him. He was going to knock but figured if she really was in labour, she wouldn’t really be able to saunter over to answer the door and it was open anyway so he let himself in, calling out as he did so. Not that he needed to and neither did he have to ask where she was when he heard her cry out in pain. He found her in the kitchen. “Imogen!” He said, scrambling to her side. He was so out of his depth but he was also a damn good actor. He could do this. “Congrats, kitten. You’re in labour.” He tried for a joke, knowing he wasn’t funny unless it was scripted. “Where’s your bag? We need to get you down to the car and to the hospital twenty minutes ago.”

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 840
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

Imogen knew that what she was taking on was a hell of a lot of responsibility and she had grown up fast once the shock of her pregnancy had worn off. She might have had friends who insisted that she call at any hour of the night or day, but ultimately she was doing this alone. She didn't want to invade the lives of Fallon and Benji too much, especially once the baby was here. They had their own friends, careers and love lives to be dealing with without Imogen calling them to talk about how she wasn't getting enough sleep or asking questions about whether the baby should be crying so much. She was strong now because she had to be strong then. There was nothing more to it than that. Give her half the chance and she'd be in the corner crying about how she didn't feel ready and how she had no clue how she was going to cope with motherhood. It was a scary thing to enter alone and since the father of this baby would have zero part in the rest of his or her life, Imogen had resolved herself to the fact that she would be a single mother. Future dates might have been offered easily enough when she was out with Fallon, but she expected most of New York's male population to run a mile when her baby was mentioned. Responsibility was something bizarrely feared and it didn't come in a much stronger dose than the responsibility of being a parent. Joking about being out of the dating game for good was how Imogen was coping with the idea of it all. After all, she was only twenty-four and resigning herself to singledom for the rest of time; it was hard, even if she hadn't been a believer in fairytales or happily ever after.

Alas, those worries were far from her mind as the contractions hit her harder again. She might have told people she wouldn't last until her due date, but right now the panic rising in her made her wish that she had gone right up to the circled date. This was more painful that she had imagined and this was only the start of things to come. Gone was the belief an hour ago that this might just be another false alarm. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.” Imogen said dryly through deep breaths as she worked though the techniques from her classes. She was trying to be as calm as possible, but if Benji had arrived just five minutes later he might have found her a mess on the floor, crying and freaking out about how she was not ready for this yet. It was easy to say she was and pretend that everything was fine, but when the moment came Imogen didn't think any woman could make it through this experience the first time without the tears and the anxiety. “In the nursery. By the dresser.” She supported herself on the counter and stood as tall as she could with the uncomfortable pain. There was a bit of time before the next contraction and she hoped to be more prepared this time.

Part of her wondered why she had called Benji and not Fallon. Fallon was her original buddy for when this day came, but Imogen knew that Fallon was prone to freaking out more than Immy was right now. And Immy wanted to be an auntie too, someday. This was not an experience that she wanted Fallon to use as he excuse for celibacy for Gabe, or worse. Then again, she liked Benji in a way she kept telling herself not to. She told herself that there was nothing there. He had met her when she was alone and pregnant, he was just acting like any decent guy would by helping her out from time to time and keeping her company when Fallon couldn't. Imogen didn't exactly want him to see her like this, but his name was before Fallon's alphabetically.
Imogen used the furniture to help get herself to the front door where she clumsily shoved her feet into her old Vans. They were pretty much the only comfortable footwear she had left by this point. “Benji, I don't think this kid wants to hang about much longer.” She wheezed, propping herself up against the wall in the hallway outside her apartment. The walk to the parking lot of her building had never felt so long before and Immy wasn't totally sure she was going to make it the whole way without collapsing.

• • •

TAGGED! Benjamin Parker Hamilton & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
WORDS! 771!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Benji knew far better than most the strain of being a responsible adult; and he’d learned of it all far earlier than he should have. He’d been a kid when the responsibilities of taking care of a big family rested on his shoulders. He’d been a good actor as a child, had that spark in his eyes that had people thinking he was cute and adorable and got him the roles in commercials, print ads, TV shows and the stages of the world. He was lucky that he’d gotten out of that household when he had; he’d been older and the damage had been done but he’d managed to come away from it a better man than most would have. He might have been taking care of older siblings and not a newborn but that just meant he had to hear what his siblings and parents had to say. No child should have had to endure that but he made do because he’d had the stage to surround him.

He knew without a doubt though, that Imogen would be an excellent mom and nothing compared to what he’d had as a small child. That was all anyone could ask for. He’d gotten a second chance for a good family, this little one wouldn’t need that, Benji could already see that and he wanted to be a small part of this baby’s life, no matter what Imogen said. She could call him whenever she needed to, he would be there for Imogen and her baby. He might not have her believing him yet, but he did care and he did think she was a stunner; even when all she wanted was a soak in a bubble bath, surrounded by candles and a full jar of peppers. “It’s what I’m here for.” He said though that was obviously a lie. Benji was so out of his depth. He was fourteen the last time he had to deal with this situation! Not waiting for her to finish her words, he rushed from her side to grab the hospital bag and returned to find her in the hall.

“It’s fine. My car is right out front of the doors, primo parking in this hell hole of a city.” He said, putting Imogen’s arm over his shoulder and wrapping his other around her waist to support her for the journey downstairs. With a little effort, Benji got Imogen into the front seat of his car, shutting the door for her himself and raced around the front to hop in behind the wheel. He hit the button for voice commands as he pulled into traffic and called Fallon. She picked up on the first ring like she’d been waiting for his call. ”Is it time?” she asked, not bothering with pleasantries. “It is. We’ll be there in like fifteen minutes?” Benji said, ending it on a question simply because he had absolutely no idea how long it would take them to get to the hospital in city traffic. ”See you there, Immy!” Fallon said before the line went dead once again. Once the call was over, Benji put all his focus on the road, driving the streets like an expert until he pulled into the emergency parking for the hospital. He rushed out to get a wheelchair and brought it back for Imogen.

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 557
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

Imogen had been raised to be responsible and have a business mind. However, any twenty-one year old who called LA her home was not going to be the type to don conservative business suits and spend every waking hour looking over customer service reports and profit margins. That was why Imogen had taken the weekends to find the hottest nightclubs and let her hair down with her heels high and her skirts short. There was nothing wrong with that at all, but she knew her parents would have disapproved if they had known what their little girl was getting up to when Friday night rolled around. They were very much focused on the business of their hotels and the image they put out there. If Immy was on the front of one of their staff pamphlets and then photographed falling out of a cab with confetti in her hair and her shoes in her hand then it wouldn't exactly look very good for them all. That was the main reason why she had ran away from home when she found out about her pregnancy. It just seemed so much easier and bearable than having to sit through the conversation with her family. There would disappointment and lectures and at twenty-four Imogen didn't need them. She knew what she had done was a mistake, but she had been naïve maybe and the bastard had never mentioned being married. Immy had always thought that it was just a casual fling, like so many other people shared in America without drama coming out of it. She ought to have known better though, she knew that now. That was one of the many reasons why she chose not to acknowledge the baby's father or talk about the events that had landed her here; breathing heavily and wishing the baby would just appear in her arms already.

She could atone for her mistakes by giving her son or daughter the best life they could ask for. Imogen was a loving person, her friends could attest to that and now she planned to devote all of that to the little innocent baby would would soon be in the world screaming and kicking. She wouldn't need date nights or nightclubs then. She would probably turn into something of a hermit, If she was honest with herself. It didn't matter though, she knew she could be happy in her own company, especially when there would be a little bundle of joy sleeping in the next room and probably making her really work more than she ever had before. The whole journey to the hospital she stared out of the window and tried to focus on her breathing. It was a little difficult when another contraction hit hard and strong. The noise Immy made then didn't even sound human to her, but she didn't have much time to dwell on that little matter. She just hoped New York traffic would be in their favour; Immy did not fancy giving birth in a car or in the middle of some red lights. “Benji? Can I hit you? I feel like someone needs to be in pain with me.” She was joking, of course, but she needed something to take her mind off the contraction she could feel coming on again as they approached the hospital.

When they finally pulled to a stop and Benji rushed off, Immy took her time pulling herself from the car. Speed was not her forte right now and it was obvious to anyone who saw her that she was in labour. She glowered at the wheelchair and then looked up at Benji. “I'm pregnant, not a cripple.” She grumbled, trying to walk for herself instead of dropping into the chair. Immy wasn't in the mood for waiting around for beds and paperwork right now and she didn't care if that turned her mood bitter. Benji was too nice and polite to make her point clear right now and Immy was not shouting from some waist height wheelchair. Imogen had always been stubborn, but it had been a long time since this kind of determination came over her. The last time she could recall feeling like no one should mess with her right now was when they were evicting someone from the hotel who kept claiming that he was paid up for the week, which had been his excuse for two weeks. It was nothing like this, but Immy didn't care. She was about to have a freaking baby and she was in pain and she was not to be screwed over or pushed from pillar to post right now. If anyone tried to shrug her off, or tell her there was plenty of time then she might just explode. Immy made her way to the front desk and then another contraction came on strong and instead of offering the nurse her name she essentially roared in the poor woman's face. At least it was obvious that she was pregnant and not just on the large side. Immy had no idea where Benji was right then or whatever the hell Fallon was supposed to be doing to get here, but her hand flailed out behind her for something to hold onto.

• • •

TAGGED! Benjamin Parker Hamilton & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
WORDS! 879!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Benji had been raised more like a cash cow than a child with wants and needs. Luckily for him, both his wants and his needs were the stage. Those weeks where he didn’t have a gig, even when he was small, were killer for the adolescent Benji Hamilton. It hadn’t been until he was older that he got a real taste of what family was. He could never hate his parents for what they’d put him through, he probably should but he couldn’t. He had wanted the stage more than they’d wanted the money their child brought in. Through it all, they’d all gotten what they wanted, even if most of his older siblings resented him for it. The only one now who still spoke to him was the eldest of the Hamilton brood; Clara. He would always be grateful to her. She gave him what she wanted, with the addition of a family that actually cared about him and not just his paychecks. It was more than he knew what to do with when it first happened.

Now it gave him something extra to put into his work. Or it would if he were on a stage at the moment; if he hadn’t been taking a hiatus from the theatre. Soon he would go back but he needed to prove something to himself. He needed a break from endless rehearsals, endless nights and days at the theatre, endless pokes with pins from the wardrobe department. Already taking that break gave him something; friends. Fallon was hilarious and blunt and didn’t apologise for it, or at least she hadn’t while he’d been around. And Imogen was amazing. She was strong and fearless and so independent; things he admired her for because he wasn’t. He had relied heavily on his family, and though he was fairly independent now, there had been a time when he’d needed Clara more than he’d like to admit. And the only thing he was fearless about was acting. He woke up every morning now worried he was going to make a mess of this whole teaching thing and get fired; something that had never happened to him since he’d began acting.

“Um, no but feel free to squeeze my hand.” He offered, holding his free hand out to her. She was a breath of fresh air in his life and he was determined to keep her there, even if it had only been a couple of short months since they’d met. He was quite smitten with the mom-to-be. He was going to do what he needed to, to keep her and her son or daughter in his life. It may have sounded crazy but he wanted to be there for Imogen and her baby, anyway he could. And right now? That meant getting her to the hospital before the baby was born! The drive seemed like it took forever, even though it really hadn’t taken long; traffic was definitely on their side for once! “I know that. I just don’t want you popping out that kid walking into the damn building!” He said, ignoring the fact that he could actually feel the colour drain from his face. He had a pretty creative imagination but there was something about that thought that had him nervous. “Besides, the nurses are going to shove you in one inside anyway. Why not just speed up the process?” He pointed out. Still, he stuck by her side as she stubbornly walked into the hospital and headed straight for the desk. It was obvious when they hit the desk that Imogen had tunnel vision and flailed when the next contraction came along. He was standing right there though and immediately moved to keep her upright, wrapping an arm around her waist and taking her flailing hand in his other. “I’m right here.” He said softly.

The nurse was saying something but honestly, Benji didn’t hear a damn word the woman was saying. His main concern was getting Imogen to suck it up and sit the hell down! “Wheelchair. Now.” He demanded, tossing aside the soft tones he’d been told to use. He was so focused on the woman in his arms that he didn’t see who brought the chair up until he heard the voice attached to the person. “Imogen Katelyn Rose Hamilton, you’re going to sit your ass down in that chair and shut your face about it.” Fallon said, pushing the chair even closer to her oldest and dearest friend. “You stubborn pain in my ass.” She added with a huff and Benji couldn’t help but laugh. The woman must have driven like a mad man to get to the hospital only minutes after them. "Hamilton?" Benji said as Fallon's words caught up to his ears.

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 796
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

Imogen came from money. That money had been earned through her parent's and grandparent's hard work, but it had been a pretty sum all the same wrapped up in a neat trust fund for the young blonde woman. She had contributed to it for a number of years herself before her abrupt exit from LA had put a sudden stop to it. Hard work was something Imogen knew well, but it was something she currently was unable to do unless it was related to motherhood. Nowhere in their right mind was about to hire an expectant mother, even if her resume was like gold dust. Luckily, Imogen had her money and financial she was set for a good few years should she choose to stay at home and focus on being a mother first. She didn't know what she would do yet, but she figured that answer would come with time once the baby was actually here in her arms and she could look at her options. Immy wanted to take at least a couple of months to bond with her son or daughter before she even thought about working again and she was lucky to have that luxury, but she knew that there were plenty of excellent nurseries and nannies in the city should she choose to be a working mom, too. It was a bridge she'd cross at a later point. Right now, she had to focus on getting the kid out of her.

That was something she was starting to have doubts about. She was realistic; she knew this wasn't going to be a walk in the park. The pain was going to be excruciating, she was going to hate every moment of labour, but she had been telling herself that it would all be worth it in the end. Before this, the worst pain she had ever experienced was probably the tattoo on her ribcage. The elegant calligraphy there had stung, grated on her in the most unnatural way at best, but now it was just like a pin prick in comparison. It was a very poor comparison, but Imogen needed to think of something right now or else she might have had a complete breakdown on poor Benji and then who knows what he might have thought of her. She didn't have too many friends in New York. In fact, if she discounted those who she knew only through Fallon, she only had Fallon and Benji. Imogen didn't want to lose one. She didn't want to lose him. Immy took his hand, squeezing it purely out of fear rather than pain now. She had come to terms with being a single mom, with doing this alone, but right now she truly felt alone and it was terrifying. If there was one moment when she wanted someone to be with her, reassuring her and promising her that everything was going to be fine it was this one. “It's not about to just drop out of me like a bowling ball, Benji.” Imogen pointed out, shooting him an incredulous look. “Besides, I'm in jeans.”

His voice was soothing when she needed it to be, but at the same time Imogen needed so much more. In truth, she needed this all to be over with and it had barely even begun. Fallon's arrival was welcome, but at the same time Imogen had no patience for her friend or just about anyone else right now. “You think I'm a pain in your ass? Try having this pain in your freakin' uterus.” She snarled, falling back into the wheelchair with another contraction, rather than out of willingness to sit down. Imogen turned to the nurse, shaking her head as she did so. “And it's Lancaster, not Hamilton.” She told her, since she had already noticed the woman scrambling to fill out the necessities to have her admitted. Smirking, Imogen looked up at Benji, her hand still squeezing his. “Don't worry, Benji. I didn't marry you while you slept.” Whilst Immy had found it a little amusing that the one truly new person she had met in the city had shared her real last name, she had never mentioned it to him. She had also never thought it important or found the time to tell Fallon that she had changed her own last name to that of her maternal grandmother's. The nurse gave some instructions to whoever was listening, but Imogen had found herself instead focusing on the mess her life had wound up in, and the terrifying realisation that everything was about to change forever. The young blonde was starting to panic and Imogen wasn't so sure she could do this anymore.

• • •

TAGGED! Benjamin Parker Hamilton & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
WORDS! 792!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Fallon had been waiting on edge for nearly a month, waiting for the news that Imogen was in the hospital, having her baby. She’d kept the gender a secret, much to Fallon’s disappointment. She had wanted to buy more appropriate things but it just hadn’t been possible. She’d still spent a small fortune, despite Imogen telling her not to and would do it all again if given half the chance. The pair of them might have gone too long between chats but they always returned to being friends; closer than ever. So Fallon thought it was understandable that she was excited about being an auntie. There were no kids in Fallon’s life and she loved kids, too often creating a family work day so she could spoil her employee’s kids just a little. She didn’t have any of her own and despite how much she loved Gabe and wanted a family with him, she was beyond nervous about it all. In fact, she was downright terrified of the prospect.

In her own little way, Imogen’s baby was like a test for Fallon, an experiment that she would have a massive panic attack around the infant and run scared. The best way to conquer a fear was to embrace it, right? Besides, Fallon knew she would love that baby because it was Imogen’s baby. When she’d gotten that call from Benji she dropped everything, she wrote a mass text to all her students, telling them classes were cancelled for the rest of the day as she practically ran to her car. It took less time than she thought it would to get over to the hospital but Fallon wasn’t going to put too much thought into that, especially since she was afraid to get yelled at by anyone for going that much over the speed limit. Of course, if the cops didn’t chase her down, she didn’t have to worry; even if she would tell on her later to Gabe.

While Fallon was excited about the prospect of a little boy or girl to spoil rotten, Benji was freaking out because Imogen seemed to be freaking out a little bit. She had every right to be after all, she was about to have a baby but he really wished this whole process wasn’t so traumatic. “Forgive me my cluelessness.” He said dryly. Benji had never had to deal with this, he hadn’t been in the room when his niece and nephew were born. He’d been in the waiting room for his niece and across town at a performance when his nephew was brought into the world, four days early. The show he’d been in was wrapping, it was the final night and from then, he was going to take some time so he could be at the hospital when he was born but he got the message afterward, informing him that they were at the hospital and that mom and baby were doing just fine and that he didn’t miss anything. And that they were going to be there when he was finished and could make it across town.

“I’ll pass this time ‘round. Thanks, though.” Fallon said, using her best no nonsense tone. Benji was good with the soothing, she was good at keeping her focused and not screaming at everyone within arm’s reach. “You took your grandmother’s name?” Fallon asked, raising a brow. Now wasn’t the time to be sticking to that small fact. There would be plenty of time for that later. Right now was the time to chuckle at the shocked expression on her fellow professor’s face. He was utterly shocked and that just about brought tears to Fallon’s eyes from laughter. Benji just shook his head, trying to wrap his head around the fact that the one new person in his life that he’d taken an interest in had at one point, shared his surname. It would take more than a second to blink that one out of confusing status. Fallon listened to the nurse as she rattled on about everything that needed to be said, leaving Benji to push Imogen down the hall as she continued to talk to the nurse about accommodations. She wanted Imogen to be comfortable.

Benji didn’t follow the blonde and nurse, instead crouching down in front of Imogen and took her hands in his. “Everything is going to be okay. I’ll be right next to you the entire time if you’d like and you know Fallon isn’t going to leave your side, even if you scream and yell and say nasty things about her to her face. She’ll ignore it all and love you anyway. So you have nothing at all to fear. You’re not alone, okay?” He said, bringing her hands to his lips to press a kiss to her knuckles. She needed something else to think about and he was hoping that action would have the desire effect. Whether it did or not was another story but he still let go, stood up and rounded the wheelchair to push her down the hall to the elevators which would bring them up to her room.

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 856
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

So much was happening right now and Imogen was done putting on a brave face. She couldn’t do it anymore. For months now she had been smiling and pretending that everything was fine even when she felt like the world was crumbling around her. There were times when she felt like the darkness was pressing down over the top of her, blanketing her until she was choking on it, but she had put on a smile, swiped on some lipgloss and forced herself to get on with everything because that was what she had been raised to do when times were tough. Times had never been tougher for her, but she was too stubborn to come out and admit that, instead shouldering the burden of motherhood by herself for the most part. Of course she had Fallon to help her out, and later Benji and a few other people she met through Fallon. However, they all had their own lives to lead. They wouldn’t be there in the middle of the night when the baby started crying, or when she was exhausted from the lack of sleep. They had classes to teach, relationships to keep up with. Imogen wouldn’t ask anything of them once she was out of this hospital. The baby was her mistake, her responsibility, and she wouldn’t burden her friends with the stresses of a newborn.

Waving Fallon’s question off as she grimaced through the pain, Imogen bit her lip and clutched her swollen belly. She could deal with explanations, answers and everything else later when there wasn’t a baby about to come out of her! Blinking at Benji, she smiled, trying to fight back her tears and shook her head. “Fallon might be at my side, but we both know she’s likely to be at my side, on the floor, unconscious.” She knew her friend wasn’t the greatest when it came to babies and everything about them, but Immy was still immensely touched that Fallon was going to be there. At the beginning, when Immy first arrived in New York, there had been no one else, but Fallon could have backed out at any point and hadn’t. Although, Imogen still had serious doubts about her high school pal making it through the birth without turning a shade of green and keeling over. She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. All of her emotions were heightened right now; fear, anxiety, love. She squeezed Benji’s hand and let her eyes meet his. “Please don’t leave me. I need you.” She whispered pleadingly. If anyone asked her she would tell them it was fear that made her ask Benji to stay, but Imogen knew better in her heart of hearts. She knew that there was a deeper set of feelings for the handsome man; feelings she was working hard to forget about. He was never going to like a woman like her when she was just about to give birth and enter the world of single motherhood. Imogen knew that she would always just be a friend to Benji. She was the woman who wandered into his classroom, seven months pregnant, and almost took out a desk with the size of her belly. It was all she ever could be.

The nurses and doctors tried to make her comfortable, but as Imogen told everyone, it was damn near impossible to be comfortable when she was in labour. Every position had something hurting, and she was ready to tell the doctors where they could shove their advice when the main event finally began. Fallon appeared to have lost all colour, and seemed to be in a state of horrified shock sooner rather than later. It was Benji who kept Imogen as calm as could possibly be expected. He held her hand and gave her words of encouragement when Imogen honestly felt like she couldn’t push anymore. A baby’s cry soon came into the room as Immy collapsed back onto the pillows stacked behind her, hair sticking to her forehead. “It’s a boy!” The doctor said with a smile. Imogen let out a relieved laugh, breathless, closing her eyes as she began to relax after everything. “The way he was kicking in there I’m not surprised.” Imogen joked. The staff began to clean up, taking the weight of Imogen’s son and checking him over. She took the time to catch her breath and to actually pinch herself to make sure that this was real, and that it was all over at last. When she opened her eyes again this time a nurse was holding the little baby in a thick blanket, turning now back towards the bed. “Would the father like to hold his son?”

• • •

TAGGED! Benjamin Parker Hamilton & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
WORDS! 797!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Fallon was taking care of everything and they needed someone with their head on straight. Benji knew it wasn’t quite exactly that for the other blonde. For the media professor it was probably more like if she thought about the paperwork and that side of things, she wouldn’t think about the fact that her longest and oldest friend was about to bring a baby into the world. He hadn’t thought Fallon would have been that squeamish when it came to anything at all. He’d heard her story, hell he knew exactly who she was when she welcomed him to the school. He’d worked in film and television before he’d become a professor. He’d worked with Trevor and Fallon before they were professors together. Not once during the length of their friendship had he ever seen her turn any shade of green. In fact, she had always appeared a little too giddy when it came to the gorier scenes they had filmed back in the day. If he wasn’t so worried about passing out himself, he would have found Fallon’s queasiness amusing. He was going to have to ask her boyfriend about that sometime in the near future. “I’m taking a picture of that.” He told Immy with an impish grin.

It was ridiculous how much went into making sure things were all proper but Fallon was determined that Immy and her baby would be well taken care of during their time in the maternity ward. It was safer to think about since they all knew she would be lucky to make it through the entire process without calling Gabe or having to leave the room. And that reminded her she needed to text him and cancel their date. There was no way in hell she was missing this. She told Immy she would be with her through it all. She might not have said specifically, she promised but in this case, it had been implied and she never backed out of a promise; especially one to a friend. She would worry about it all when they were up in the room and Imogen was settled; it could wait until then. But she did have to let him know so he didn’t worry that she’d forgotten and got caught up in work of some sort.

Benji squeezed Imogen’s hand once more before he started pushing her through the hospital halls. “I’m not going anywhere, Imogen. You’re stuck with me.” He promised. It was one of the things he and Fallon had in common and had bonded over. When they made promises, they damn well kept them. He made one to Imogen; she was not getting rid of him, even if they got in the worst fight imaginable. He would take a couple days to calm down but he would be right back there, taking up space until she realised she really was stuck with him. It might have been a big proclamation to make to someone so soon but Benji was already invested. Hell, the last time he’d taken his niece to lunch she’d flat out asked him who the girl was. And he couldn’t do anything but chuckle and tell her all about Imogen. It was way too early to be saying things like that, hell, they’d never even progressed further than friends. But he was there for her and damn if he had to hold himself in check whenever she was around. He just wanted to kiss her and make her laugh and forget all about her worries.

She didn’t have to worry about her child growing up and not knowing affection or anything like that. That baby would have his mother, probably the greatest aunt in the world in Fallon and Benji; however Imogen wanted him in their life. Things moved quickly once they were in the room and Benji didn’t know what to do with himself in all honesty. He did as the doctor’s said, he stayed by Imogen’s side, holding her hand and nearly breaking his in the process of bringing that bundle of joy into the world. He didn’t feel it until after the baby was letting loose its first cries and Imogen dropped his hand did he realise it was tingling from numbness. He leaned over the side of Imogen’s bed, brushing the hair stuck to her forehead aside and taking a bold step by pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You did amazing, Imogen. It does sound like you’ve brought another world class soccer player into the world, though.” He said with a chuckle. He praised, resting his forehead against hers for a minute, while the doctors and nurses checked the baby over. He took a moment to check on Fallon who’d dropped into a chair when the contractions became more frequent and her colour started to drain from her face. She was still awake, sitting there but she was hardly the same usual sun kissed colour and she was looking far more traumatised than she should but Benji wasn’t about to say anything. He turned to the nurse when she spoke and stayed quiet for a second contemplating. He didn’t quite know what to think about the nurses words. Yes, he was a man and he was there so it wasn’t all that presumptuous that he could potentially be the baby’s father but he could have easily been Imogen’s brother or someone else entirely. “I think his mother should have the first honour.” He said, though he still took the baby into his own arms to hand to Imogen. “Immy, I’d like you to meet your son.” Benji said softly, so full of emotion his voice caught just the tiniest bit but he knew it was noticeable, as he laid her son in her arms.

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 963
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3

[imogen katelyn rose lancaster]

It had been nine months of terrified waiting. There had been moments of brave clarity in which Imogen realised that she could do this, but they were mostly obscured by how many times she had found herself wondering if she had made the right decision. Some nights she had thought about her family back in LA. If she had stayed there and told them the truth then they would have been disappointed, but she also knew that ultimately they would have supported her. The thought of that disappointment though, the look on her father’s face when he realised that his little girl wasn’t the mature, responsible woman who he saw commanding from the front desk of his hotel, it was too much for Imogen. That alone made her think that running away and hiding in New York was a million times better than facing the whispers and the truth that would have been waiting back in LA for her. The road she had chosen might not have been the easiest one, but in her mind it was the one that meant she could still have her life and her dignity. Fallon would never judge her, and no one else in New York knew her story. It was the way Imogen liked it right now.

By the time it was over, Imogen was in tears from exhaustion, pain, and emotion. Everything hit her during the labour and with Fallon looking like she was close to either vomiting or passing out, and Benji holding her hand and coaxing her through when she wanted to just quit, it was all a little overwhelming. Thankfully, being in labour, she had a pretty good excuse already to let out a few tears. She didn’t need to explain where they were coming from or what they were for. The nurse, however, almost had her wanting to crawl under the bed sheets. Of course it might seem like the obvious thing to her. Benji had not only been the man in the room, but he was also the one who had brought Imogen to the hospital, who had held her hand through everything and who had told her she could do this when she thought she couldn’t. He had done everything that a father-to-be ought to have done. Then he went and took the nurse’s mistake in his stride. It was another host of things that made him so amazing, but Imogen reminded herself that she had to stop thinking like that. Her life had changed now and longing after Benji wasn’t going to help her. He was never going to look at her in the same way, and why should he? She came with so much baggage now.

Smiling, she took her son into her arms and held him close. In that moment she didn’t care about what the future had to bring or what the past had put her through. The little baby in her arms filled her with a sensation she had never experienced before, and a kind of love she couldn’t even begin to describe. It didn’t matter that his father was a jerk, or that his mother had been a coward who had run away; he was perfect. “You are completely worth all of this.” Imogen whispered, knowing now for the first time that her choice to leave LA had been the right one. She might be away from her parents and brother, but right now she was with her family. The little boy in her arms was all that mattered now. He needed her to be strong and to care for him and Imogen knew that she could do that now. All the doubts and fears were gone, instead replaced by a slightly nervous confidence. She looked up at Benji and smiled sweetly. “I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.” She told him, knowing that one look at Fallon was all the proof she needed to back that statement up. “Which is why, if you’ll let me, I’m calling this little cutie Freddie Benjamin Lancaster.” She bit her lip and gauged Benji’s reaction. It was a sudden idea, one that had hit in the last two minutes, but one that Imogen felt was perfect. However, if it made Benji feel uncomfortable or a little too much like part of the baby’s life then she could go back to her original choice. Her fingers were crossed that wouldn’t happen though.

• • •

TAGGED! Benjamin Parker Hamilton & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
WORDS! 745!
OUTFIT! Mommy Madness!
LYRICS! The World is Watching - - Two Door Cinema Club
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Benjamin Parker Hamilton]

Benji’s childhood had been for him sunshine and roses. It had been a lot of hard work and a lot of sweat and sleepless nights but he had loved it all. He had wanted to act from the time he could walk and imitate what he saw on the television that played the part of a babysitter more often than not. He wanted what he’d gone through and no one could deny him it. For his parents, it meant money they didn’t have to work for, for his siblings, it meant they could get away with a hell of a lot more and for Benji, it meant living his dreams from the youngest age imaginable on stage. It wasn’t even until well after his oldest sister won custody of him that he realised he was even getting anything from it other than the joy he felt and the accomplishments he was achieving.

His sister saved all the money he made, letting him continue on, putting it towards a college fund so he could go and not worry about student loans to pay off some day. He wanted to be that kind of parent some day with his own kids. But he thought kids for him were a long way off. There had to be women in his life in a bigger capacity than just friends for that to be accomplished. And at the moment, the only woman he was interested in swore up and down that he was just hanging around because he wanted to be her friend. Benji wanted to be more than friends with Immy but telling her as much fell on purposefully deaf ears. She didn’t think he could be interested in her because she was pregnant. It wouldn’t have mattered to Benji if she’d already had a dozen kids. She was alone in New York, determined to raise her unborn child on her own. He didn’t see whatever it was she thought he saw. What he was was an impressive woman. Imogen was smart and creative and clever and she was braver than most women he knew; most men, too. He had a certain level of respect for that because she had a level of strength he didn’t think he’d would be able to find within himself. He had that respect for Graham as well but Graham had Paisley, even if the pair of professors wouldn’t admit it to themselves or each other yet. And Imogen had him, even if she was far too stubborn to let her guard down and realise it.

Benji was a trooper when it came to most things. He would stay out into the wee hours of the night, rehearsing, he would stop whatever he was doing if his sister or niece or nephew asked him and his niece and nephew knew they could call him if they ever needed anything; no questions asked. He put the same offer forward for Imogen as well. She could call him at any time if she needed him and he would show up. It might take him some time to get across the city, but he wouldn’t let her down. Imogen and her baby meant quite a bit to Benji, even if he hadn’t met the little one yet. Letting Imogen have a moment with her newborn son, Benji poured a small Styrofoam cup of water and ice chips and brought it over to Fallon who was starting to regain a small bit of her California colour. “It’ll help settle you’re stomach.” He said softly, holding the cup out. Fallon took it gratefully and practically chugged it back like it was a beer bong and she needed to win a bet. He’d seen her do it before and knew what it looked like. That was one girl he didn’t want to play any bar games with; he’d lose. "I am never having kids.” She said barely loud enough but Benji caught it. Then she seemed to realise what she’d said and continued. “Thanks, Benji. I need a minute or twelve before I meet my nephew.” She added a little louder, shooing him off once again. He knew she didn’t like to look like a weakling and practically fainting into her chair sort of did just that for her. She probably hated herself at the moment and Benji wasn’t going to put any more attention to it so she could compose herself once again.

He returned to Imogen’s side in time for her to smile his way. His heart swelled, seeing her with her baby boy. The picture was just too much for words; it was perfect. “Sure you could have.” He said, knowing he hadn’t underestimated her strength of will. “But I’m very glad I could be here for you, and him.” He said softly, looking down at the tiny little baby. It was a daily occurance, a baby being born but it was also the most common miracle and he’d been glad to be apart of it for Imogen. She might not have really needed him by her side, but she felt like she had needed him here and he was happy to oblige. “That...” Benji started to say but had to stop. He didn’t usually get so emotion about things in general. But this wasn’t something small. This was something big and Benji realised then that he was on some level important to Imogen. Maybe not at that same level she was at for him, but he was on the scale. “That is a wonderful name. I would be honoured.” He said, softly, knowing if he’d said it any louder, if voice would have broken with the emotion involved. Leaning over, he kissed the top of Imogen’s head. “You were amazing. And look at this little man, completely perfect.” He said, carefully setting his forefinger against little Freddie’s cheek.

Tag || imogen katelyn rose lancaster & Fallon Alexandra Flynn
Words || 1 053
Clothes || Frantic Actor
Music || Fall Into Me --Brantley Gilbert
Notes || <3