Twenty-Five

The summer months passed in a blur, and before they all knew it, they were back in Washington again. It had been anything but easy getting Autumn on the plane, though. She was now very big, and the airport staff were concerned that she might go into labor while they were in the air. After convincing them that she wouldn't give birth for at least another month, they had let them board and fly safely across the ocean. Autumn still remembered how she had almost started crying when Jacob had to translate what the Swedes were telling them, but luckily Nathalie had managed to make sure she got on the plane. The two were now sitting in the chilly arena the Capitals used for practice, watching their boys skate around.

   “So...” Autumn said, following Nicky around the ice with her eyes. “How's everything?”

Nathalie bit her lip, “What do you mean?”

   “Nat...” Autumn sighed. “You know exactly what I mean. Are you two okay?”
   “I'm not sure,” Nathalie sighed. “I mean, we get along fine and everything, but... We haven't done anything since we arrived in Sweden.”

   “WHAT?!” Autumn raised her voice so much people around them were now glaring.

Nathalie turned a deep red and tried to hide her face, “Not so loud...”
   “Sorry...” Autumn lowered her voice. “But what?”

   “We haven't...” Nathalie cleared her throat. “Done it... since June, or something...”
Autumn gasped, “But that's... That's... Nat, that's almost three months.”
   “I know...”

   “What, don't you want to, or...?”
   “I haven't really been in the mood.”

   “Is this still about the baby?”
Nathalie looked at her friend and nodded slowly, “I guess he just doesn't get it, it's a huge deal.”

   “Uh, yeah it is!” Autumn exclaimed. “I'm not ready for this...” She gestured to her stomach. “And you have a choice, which means you need to wait until you're ready.”

   “I know... Having some trouble convincing him, though.”
Autumn sighed, “Look, you guys are great together. No, amazing. But you have to talk to him about this. Because you're not saying no to kids, are you?”
   “No! It's just... I'm so young. I want kids, but in the future. Three or four years, maybe.”

   “So tell him that... I'm serious.” Autumn took her friend's hand in hers and locked eyes with her. “Promise me.”

   “Yeah... I will.”

   “Good,” Autumn saw Jacob get off the ice, followed by Nicky, and she elbowed Nathalie. “Let's go.”

Nathalie sighed, standing up, “Yeah...” She held out her hand to Autumn and helped her to her feet. “It's about time soon, isn't it?”
   “Yeeeah.” Autumn sighed. “I wish he'd just get out already...”
   “He?” Nathalie raised her eyebrows.

   “I just have this feeling. When he kicks, I get the feeling it's a boy.”

Nathalie smiled a little, “That's really nice.”

   “It is...” Autumn said, putting her hand on her stomach. “And it's getting closer, due date isn't that far away.”

   “Oh right... October, is it?”

   “Yes... October, indeed. It's getting ridiculous though, I wouldn't complain if he came out today...”

Nathalie shook her head, “Well he better listen to his mommy and come out soon then, won't he?” She took Autumn's arm and helped her down the stairs.

   “Wouldn't surprise me if he's late...” Autumn groaned. “Jacob's mom said he stayed in as loooong as he could...”

   “Wow...” Nathalie sighed. “Fingers crossed, though!”

   “Heeey,” Jacob smiled widely and kissed Autumn's cheek. “How are we doing?”

   “It's okay... You looked good out there, feeling ready?”

Jacob grinned, “Yeah, it's so good to be back!”

   “Great. Wanna grab lunch?”

   “Yeah, sure, just gotta get my gear off. Meet you outside in ten minutes?”

   “Alright,” Autumn kissed him softly and watched him walk away with Nicky. She turned to Nathalie. “I don't deserve him...” She sighed.

   “Of course you do,” Nathalie rolled her eyes. “Come on, let's go wait for them.”

Autumn looked at her, “You didn't talk to him, did you?”

Nathalie cleared her throat, “Where are you two going to eat? I was thinking-”

   “Nathalie,” Autumn broke off her sentence. “If it's going to be like this, you can't be with him. You're not happy.”

   “I AM happy!” Nathalie exclaimed.

   “Oh yeah, then why didn't you guys even look at each other?”

   “We don't have to. Our love is beyond words.”

   “Pshh, bullshit.” Autumn snapped. “Do you want ME to talk to him?”

   “NO!” Nathalie raised her voice. “It's fine. I'll handle it. Don't do anything.”

Autumn backed away, “Okay... Calm down.”

   “Just let me handle it.” Nathalie sighed and put on a fake smile when she saw Jacob and Nicky coming out of the locker room. “Hey...” She said to them and looked at Nicky. “Do you want to go out or go home and cook?”

   “I'm kind of tired,” Nicky replied. “I want to go home, if it's okay?”

   “Yeah, sure.” Nathalie looked at Autumn and Jacob. “We'll see you tomorrow, alright?”

Autumn nodded, “Yeah, see you.” Jacob put his arm around her and they walked outside, heading towards the closest restaurant.

   “Hey, what's up with them?” Jacob asked in the middle of their lunch.

Autumn raised her eyebrows, “What do you mean?”

   “You know what I mean. They're barely talking and they haven't had sex in three months!”

   “He told you that?”

Jacob shrugged, “Got it out of him the other day. He's afraid of asking now, because she's never in the mood.”

   “Wonder why...” Autumn sighed and finished her water.

Jacob frowned, “What do you mean?”

   “Oh come on, it's the baby thing. He's pressuring her and she's not ready.”

   “Really? Want me to talk to him?”

   “No, I already tried that. She snapped at me, saying she could handle it herself.”

   “Don't feel too bad about it, though,” Jacob said. “She's going through a hard time.”

   “Yeah, I know...” Autumn sighed. “Can we go home?”

   “Of course.” Jacob got up and helped her out of her chair. “You okay?”

   “Yeah, I'm fine...” Autumn replied. “Just tired. I wish he'd come out soon.”

   “He will,” Jacob rubbed her back gently. “Honey, he will.”

-

A month later, it was finally here. Opening night, October 8th, and Autumn and Nathalie were sitting, excited, together in the seats that were to be their regular ones.

   ”This is going to be so much fun!” Nathalie squealed and followed Nicky as he skated around the rink. They had patched things up slightly during the last month, which made things a lot easier for everyone.

Autumn smiled. She was looking at Jacob when he stretched out on the ice, waiting for his turn in the net.

   ”It is,” Autumn said calmly, twisting in her seat. ”Ugh, these seats are uncomfortable...” She sighed.

   ”You think?” Nathalie raised her eyebrows. ”I think they're all right.”

Autumn gave her a look, ”Forgot about this?” She pointed at her stomach. ”Nothing's comfortable to me at this point...”

   ”Oh... Do you want to sit on my jacket?” Nathalie took off the red jacket and held it out to Autumn.

   “No...” She sighed and stood up. “I have to pee again...”

   “Do you want me to come with you?”

   “No, I'll be fine.” Autumn walked past Nathalie and climbed the stairs to the entrance. She turned left and hurried into the girls' bathroom.

After finishing, she walked out to the sinks and looked into the mirror. Her hair was just hanging casually around her face, and she felt uglier than ever before.

Suddenly, she felt something wet running down her thighs, and she looked down to see that her entire lower body was soaking.

At first, she thought that she had had an accident again and she tried her best to clean it up, but a few minutes later, she felt excruciating pain run through her.

   'Oh my god,' She thought. 'Oh my god, not now.'

Shaking, she leaned against the wall and reached for her phone in her pocket, “Nat...” She panted when her friend had answered.

   “Hey, what's wrong?” She heard Nathalie on the other end. “Autumn?”

Autumn took a deep breath, “I think... I think... My water broke.” Autumn groaned as another contraction went through her body.

   “OH MY GOD,” Nathalie stood up in her seat and hurried out of the section. “Where are you?!”

   “The bathroom to the left of our section,” She bit her lip because of the pain. “Please hurry.” And then she hung up, clinging on to the sink.

Two minutes later, Nathalie swung open the door and hurried over to Autumn.

   “NAT!” She cried, her knuckles white from holding on to the sink. “I need... A doctor... Something,” She panted, tears rolling down her cheeks. “And get me Jacob...”

Nathalie's face turned white. She didn't know what to do, “I'll... Call an ambulance...” She whispered, fiddling with her phone.

   “I think it's too late...” Autumn's face was white too, and her face was covered in sweat. “Get. Me. Jacob.”

Nathalie nodded. Leaving her phone on the sink next to Autumn, Nathalie ran all the way down to the players' entrance.

   “Hey, what are you doing?!” One of the security guys said when she grabbed the doorknob.

   “My best friend, and Jacob Markstrom's girlfriend is going into labour, I have to get him!” She said before opening the door and hurrying through the hallway. “Jacob?!” She screamed. He wouldn't hear her, because he was on the ice, but it didn't matter. She arrived at the passage that led to the players' bench and hurried out. Luckily, Nicky was standing right at the bench, so she grabbed his jersey and he turned around.

   “Nat, what are you-”

   “Shut up,” She said quickly. “Get Jacob.”

   “What's going on?!” Nicky said, his eyebrows raised.

   “Autumn's going into labour, GET HIM NOW.” She said with one breath and panted.

The colour drained from Nicky's face and he skated over to Jacob, who was now stopping pucks.

   “Jake, you kind of have to go.” He said, pulling Jacob with him.

   “What are you doing?” Jacob exclaimed.

   “Autumn's in labour, now GO!” Nicky pushed him towards the bench and Jacob staggered out towards the locker room.

   “But where is she?” He turned, but Nicky had already gone back onto the ice. He had to act like nothing was happening. After all, they had a game to play. He skated over to one of the assisting coaches, who was standing behind the bench.

   “Where did Markstrom go?” The assisting coach asked and Nicky swallowed. “His, uh, well his girlfriend is in labour actually.”

   “What?”

   “Yeah, so... He had to go.”

   “Is she at the hospital?”

   “No, they were here... She and Nat. I don't know where she is, Nat didn't tell me.”

   “NICKLAS BÄCKSTRÖM!” Nathalie shouted from the bench and he turned around.

   “Yeah?!”

   “We need a doctor. Where's your team one?”

   “In the back, I think, Nat where is she?”

   “One of the bathrooms, I don't have time to... PLEASE, someone get him for me!”

   “I'll go with you,” The assisting coach hurried out through the corridor with Nathalie and rushed into the doctor's office. “Bob, we have an emergency.”

   “Someone injured?” Bob asked, standing up immediately.

   “No...” Nathalie panted, her face paler than ever. “My... my friend is having her child... in the bathroom... We won't make it to the hospital.”

   “Take me there.” Bob said firmly and Nathalie nodded, hurrying up the stairs.

   “Here,” She pushed the door open, seeing Jacob on the floor next to Autumn, holding her hand. At once, she crashed to the floor and took Autumn's other hand. “It'll be okay, Autumn. I promise.”

   “Have you called an ambulance?” Bob asked, kneeling beside Autumn on the floor.

   “Yeah, I took care of it...” Jacob nodded, letting Autumn squeeze his hand, hard. “Autumn, look at me. And breathe...”

Autumn stared at him, panting as she felt each contraction rush through her tiny body, “I... can't...” She said between breaths.

   “Now, we don't have any of the major drugs used at the hospital during labour, but we'll have to get through this. Or else...”

   “Or else what?” Nathalie said, standing by the door now, making sure no one got in.

   “Or else both Autumn and the baby could die.” Jacob swallowed, feeling Autumn squeeze his hand even tighter.

   “Listen, honey, you'll be fine, okay?” He said, kissing her forehead. “You're a strong girl.”

   “Definitely!” Nathalie said after having to reject yet another girl to enter. “Jesus, I'll be right back okay?”

   “Nathalie, where-” But the door had already swung shut, and Nathalie was now running along the corridors.

   “Er, hi...” She said, rushing into the gift shop.

   “Can I help you?” A saleswoman asked.

   “Um, yeah, I need a piece of paper, a sharpie and some tape...”

   “What for, exactly?”

   “I need to make sure no one gets into the bathroom where my friend is currently giving birth.” Nathalie said in her politest voice ever.

   “Uhh... Well...” The woman started going through some drawers. “Here you go... Do you need us to call the ambulance or something?”

   “No, I think it's too late... And it's already taken care of, thank you!” Nathalie rushed off and burst into the bathroom again. “How's it going, doc?” She said, dropping to the floor, putting the piece of paper down in front of her.

   “She's a tough girl, I'll tell you that...” Bob said, Jacob nodding in agreement.

   “I know she is,” Nathalie smiled and touched Autumn's hand. “I'll just hang this up and we won't be bothered anymore.” She scribbled “NOT IN USE” down on the paper and hung it on the outside of the door.

   “Nat, don't leave me!!!!” Autumn shouted from the floor, panting from the pain. Nathalie got down on her knees next to Autumn.

   “I'm not going anywhere...” She took her hand. “I'm right here.”

The door suddenly swung open, “Figured you'd be in here!” Nicky said, his breath rapid. He had managed to kick off his skates but was still wearing his gear. He remained standing, his eyes growing wide when Autumn screamed.

   “Breathe...” Nathalie said, wincing as Autumn squeezed her hand.

   “I caaaaaan't...” Autumn cried, holding on to both Jacob and Nathalie. She was sweating and had turned red at this point.

   “You have to push, now, Autumn...” The doctor said seriously. “Give it all you've got.”

Autumn pushed hard, and started crying, “I can't push anymore... I can't... I can't...”

   “Autumn look at me,” Jacob said. “Yes, you can. You can do this. You have to do this. For him. Okay?”

   “Okay...” Autumn cried out, pushing once again. “How much longer?” She held on to Jacob's hand so hard it was turning white, and Nathalie looked up at Nicky, who was looking shocked.

   “Just a few more... There's his head, now...”

   “Oh my god...” Autumn panted, trying her best to push her baby out. “It just huuuuurts.”

   “One more now...” The doctor encouraged her, and at last, they heard a cry, but it wasn't from Autumn this time. It was her child, her newborn baby. “It's a boy.” The doctor said, smiling.

Nicky looked out through the door, “The ambulance people are here...” He said. “They'll wanna get you to the hospital just to be safe...”

   “Yeah...” Autumn panted, putting her head down on Jacob's lap. “Let them in...”

-

Half an hour later, Autumn was sound asleep in a hospital bed and the baby was sleeping in a room next doors. Jacob was sitting next to her, watching her sleep, and he leaned over and kissed her forehead. This made her open her eyes and look up at him, “How long have I been asleep?” She asked, looking around the room. “And where am I?”

   “We're at the hospital, sweetheart. You had our son at the arena and they brought us here to be safe.”

   “Oh...” Autumn said. “Can I... Can I see him?”

Jacob smiled, “Of course. I'll ask the nurse to bring him in. Nat and Nicky are in the waiting room, if you want to see them.”

   “Yeah, bring them in here too.” Autumn stroke his hand gently. “I love you, Jacob.”

   “I love you too,” He replied. “I'll be right back.”

   “Okay,” Autumn watched him leave and the second he turned the corner, she wanted him to come back. Luckily, he came back in a matter of minutes, holding a very tiny thing in his arms: their baby. “Oh my god...” She felt her eyes tear up and she held out her arms. “Can I...”

   “Of course,” Jacob handed him to her and she just stared at him. “Isn't he beautiful?”

Autumn bit her lip and nodded, “Yeahh...” She said, feeling tears fall down her cheek. “He is.”

Jacob sat down in his chair and looked at her, “You look amazing, too.”

Autumn chuckled, “Yeah, right.” She smiled at him and gently kissed her son's forehead.

Nathalie and Nicky entered the room a couple of minutes later, and Nathalie squealed when she saw Autumn, “Oh my god...” She said, walking over to her. “Look at that. He's so tiny...”

   “He is...” Autumn smiled. “Do you want to hold him?”

Nathalie blinked, “Really?”

   “Yeah... Do you?”

   “Yes, oh my god, yes.” Nathalie held out her arms and took the baby from Autumn. “Jesus...” She said, holding him gently. “This is incredible.”

   “Have you two decided on a name yet?” Nicky asked, sitting down in the chair next to Jacob.

Autumn chewed on her lip, “No... But...”

Jacob looked at her, “But?”

   “I always liked Jesper,” Autumn said, looking at Jacob. “What do you think?”

Jacob's eyes lit up, “Yes, it's perfect. And... Gabriel, as a middle name.”

Nathalie smiled, looking down on the baby, “It suits him. Jesper Gabriel Markström.”

Jacob looked over at Autumn, “Or Markström-Perreault.”

   “No,” Autumn shook her head. “Not Perreault, just Markström.”

   “Really?” Jacob asked, raising his eyebrows.

   “Yes,” Autumn smiled and held out her hand for him to take. “It sounds better.”

Jacob stood up and kissed her, “Love you.”

   “Love you too. I'm exhausted, though...” She sighed, laying back down.

   “Yeah... We should let you sleep,” Nathalie said, giving Jesper back to Autumn and kissing her forehead. “He's beautiful, and the names are great. I'll see you when you get home. Or tomorrow. I might come by.” She grinned and hugged her with one arm. “Love you, girl.”

   “I love you too, Nat,” Autumn smiled up at her. “Thanks for coming by.”

   “Of course, what kind of friend would I be otherwise?” She winked at her and walked over to the door. “You take care of that boy now, okay?”

Jacob grinned, “Yes ma'am.” Nathalie smiled and took Nicky's hand. The two of them walked out of the hospital together.

   “You sure you don't want one?” He said quietly as they reached the parking lot.

Nathalie frowned, “Not yet... I thought we settled that...”

   “Just asking, relax. I'm not getting ideas.” Nicky said, pulling her closer. The thing was, though, Nathalie knew he was. And it was killing her.