Chapter 11: Surprise!
Beth finally caught up with Natalya in the waiting room down the hall. As she sat down in the chair next to her best friend, she noticed that she was crying.
"Nattie, what's on your mind?" Beth asked, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"I'm just upset that he won't be there for the first ultrasound. I understand that he needs to stay here, but this is our first child!"
"I get where you are coming from Nat, but you heard him. It's not like he didn't try. I love you, but you can't be mad at him for something he has no control of."
"I guess you're right. It just really upsets me off that he can't be there."
"Well since he can't be there, I will be." Beth said in a sincere tone.
"Thank you Beth. That would mean a great deal to me having you there."
"That's what best friends are for. Now let's get you out of here and back to your hotel. Before you know it, it will be time for your ultrasound!"
"Yeah, you are probably right. Can you go and grab my things from Justin's room? I don't think that I face him."
"Yeah sure; I'll meet you down at the car."
"Thanks Beth. I really appreciate it." Natalya said as she heaved herself out of the chair and headed towards the elevators.
Beth sat there for a moment longer before walking back into Justin's room. He was just sitting in bed flipping through channels. When he noticed that someone had walked in, he looked up hoping that it was Natalya. When he saw that it was Beth, his face dropped.
"Where's Natalya? Is she still upset with me? You didn't tell her did you?" Justin asked, firing off one question after another.
"Dude Justin, calm down a little bit! She just needs some time to recollect herself, so she wants me to take her back to the hotel and no I didn't tell her what you are planning."
"I'm starting to second guess myself in trying to surprise her, especially after the way she looked at me before she walked out that door."
"Well it's a little late to try and go back now since she already thinks that you won't be there. I told her that I would be there and she seems content with it that way. I will text you when we leave the hotel in the morning to head to the appointment. How do you want to play this out?"
"I think this is what I want to do…" Justin said as he started hashing out his plan with Beth.
"That is really going to surprise her! I had better get down to the car before she thinks I'm up to something. I'll see you bright and early!" Beth said as she picked up Natalya's stuff and walked out of the room.
Once she got out to the car, she noticed that Natalya had reclined her seat and had one of her arms draped over her eyes. Worried, Beth tried to be quiet when she got in the vehicle, just in case she was asleep. As soon as her door closed, Natalya spoke.
"What took you so long"?
"I…uh…had to reassure Justin about tomorrow. I told him that I would be there for you and that we would stop by after the appointment." Beth thought quickly as she started the car and headed back to the hotel.
"Oh, okay."
"Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just really tired now for some reason. As soon as we get back to the hotel, I'm crashing hard."
"I think that is a good idea; you've been through an emotional past few days. Then add in the fact that Justin won't be there tomorrow and your family blowing up your phone, bugging you about when you'll be up to see them…I completely understand."
"Wow, you're right; a lot has happened in a short span of time. I may just sleep for three days."
"Well, unfortunately for you I can't let you do that. You and I are going to that appointment tomorrow and I'm…er…I mean you are finding out just how far along that peanut is and if I'm going to have a niece or nephew!" Beth said giddily as she pulled into a parking space in front of their hotel.
"Auntie Beth and Uncle John huh; I kind of like it! This baby is going to have so many aunts and uncles, the poor things head is going to spin!" Natalya said as they made their way inside and up to the sixth floor.
"Probably so, but he or she will be one protected child when it grows up. Nobody is going to want to mess with someone whose grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles are professional wrestlers."
"Very true, and I'm completely okay with that! Thanks for everything tonight Beth. I don't know what I would do without you."
"It's no problem Nat, that's what best friends are for. Get some rest and I'll be by about eight thirty to pick you up. It's going to be a surprisingly great day tomorrow, I can just feel it." Beth said with a huge grin on her face as she hugged her friend and walked down to the room she shared with John.
The next morning, Natalya woke up feeling like she was in a funk and just couldn't shake the feeling. She went through the motions of getting ready by doing her hair, putting on light makeup and getting dressed that she didn't even know what time it was until there was a knock on her door. Grabbing her purse, she opened up the door and was surprised to see both Beth and John standing there. Giving them a questioning look, she stepped out into the hallway to join them.
"Not that I don't love you John, but what are you doing here?"
"Well, I figured that after your ultrasound, I would take you lovely ladies out for brunch. That way we can kill some time before Justin gets out."
"After these last few days that sounds really nice; thank you."
"It would be my pleasure. Plus, I have to admit that I want to know right away if it's going to be a boy or a girl." John said with a curt nod and a toothy grin.
"Speaking of, if we don't get going now, we are going to be late!" Beth finally interjected as she looked at her watch.
"Well what are we all waiting for? Let's go find out what I'm having and how far along I am!" Natalya said as she started walking towards the elevators; a smile finally making an appearance on her face. Beth stood back with John for a moment to relish in the fact that her best friend finally seemed to be okay. Grabbing ahold of his hand, they followed behind and caught up to her just as the doors were opening.
After arriving to the hospital for her appointment, Natalya didn't have to wait for very long before her name was being called to go back. She and Beth stood up and started to walk towards the nurse before Beth stopped and went back to give John a kiss.
"It shouldn't take us too long. I'll be back in a bit."
"I can't wait. I love you Beth."
"I love you too."
As Natalya stood there watching her friend, her stomach dropped slightly. She couldn't help but to think that that should be her and Justin. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she linked arms with Beth and continued through to her room. The nurse went through the routine questions and tests before leaving the room. Not too long after the door closed that Beth suddenly stood up, startling Natalya.
"I can't find my phone."
"Well, where's the last place is you remember having it?"
"Um…oh yeah I let John use it since he left his in the room. I'll be right back." Beth said quickly as she stood up and left the room, leaving Natalya to sit there by herself in a state of utter confusion.
This was the part that Natalya hated the most; waiting. The worst part about waiting that she hated, waiting alone. Time passed by and still Beth hadn't returned. She couldn't figure out what was taking her so long just to walk out to the waiting room, grab her phone from John and walk back. Getting a little more frustrated with how things seemed to be going for her, there was a knock at the door. Knowing that Beth would have just walked back inside, Natalya just figured that it was the doctor finally coming in to start the appointment.
As the door opened, she looked up and couldn't believe who was standing there. It wasn't the doctor and it sure as hell wasn't Beth. Rubbing her eyes to make sure that they weren't playing tricks on her, she saw that he was really standing there. Jumping off the table with tears threatening to fall, Natalya ran straight into Justin's open and waiting arms. Grabbing her in a tight hug, he kissed her on top of the head. Suddenly she pulled away and punched him with all her might in the arm.
"Ow! What the hell Nattie?"
"Why did you tell me that you weren't going to be here?"
"I wanted to surprise you just like you did to me when you returned from your surgery. In all actuality, it's only fair."
"You really have no idea how hurt I was last night when you told me that you weren't going to be here. I thought that might have been a sign that things weren't going to work out between the two of us."
"Nattie, you can't think that way. I'm sorry that I hurt you, because that was not my intention at all. There are going to be even more trials and tribulations that are going to happen throughout this relationship and this child's life, but I want you to know one thing, no matter what, I will be right by your side. There will be times that you absolutely love me and then there will be times that you absolutely hate me, but I will always be there. We made a deal when you accepted my marriage proposal, so even though we aren't legally bound together just yet, you are stuck with me for the rest of your life." Justin said as he took her hands and just held them.
To say that Natalya was speechless would be an understatement. She was completely blown away by Justin's little speech about how no matter what, he would always be there. Without thinking, Natalya just attacked his lips like she hadn't seen him in over a year. Breaking the embrace at the sound of another knock at the door, Natalya returned to sit on the examination table as Justin took his rightful spot standing right next to her.
"Good morning, I'm Doctor Carter. How are you all doing today?" she asked as she walked in and took a seat.
"Much better, thanks." Natalya said as she looked over at Justin in amazement and squeezed his hand.
"So from what your chart tells me, we are going to be seeing how far along you are and that you have quite the exciting career Ms. Neidhart."
"Yes and yes. The life of a wrestler can be crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Well except for the wellbeing of this child."
"That is a great answer. I could tell as soon as I walked in that door that you are very excited about this little life coming in a few short months."
"That I am."
"Alright enough chit-chat, let's see how far you are and if we can tell if you are going to have a little boy or girl. Shall we?"
With one look at Justin, Natalya slid up the table that Doctor Carter had reclined and lifted her top up a little bit to expose her growing baby bump. Inhaling sharply by the feeling of cool gel coming into contact with her stomach, the butterflies finally started to really fly around.
As soon as the wand touched her skin, you could hear a heartbeat coming through the speakers in the room. Natalya squeezed Justin's hand tighter in complete awe of what she was hearing. After moving around for a minute, the Doctor finally stopped at a blurry figure.
"Right there, is your baby. It looks like from the measurements that you are near the sixteen week mark. Now let's see if we can find out the sex."
Hearing that she was sixteen weeks along, Natalya started to think back and they had to have conceived right after her shoulder surgery. That meant that she had wrestled some while pregnant. She started to worry that something could have happened to the fetus while she was in the ring.
"Alright, everything looks like it's in order. I see two feet and two hands. Are you ready to know what you are having Ms. Neidhart?"
"Yes, I think that we are." Justin spoke up after Natalya couldn't find her voice and tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"From the looks of it, you are going to be having a baby…girl! Congratulations to the two of you!" Doctor Carter said as she removed the wand and cleaned up Natalya's stomach.
Pulling her shirt back down, Natalya sat up and was enveloped in a tight hug from Justin.
"I'm so proud of you Nattie. Our daughter is going to be just as beautiful as you are." Justin whispered in her ear. Pulling away, they smiled at each other with Justin wiping away her tears and they kissed each other gently.
They finally turned their attention back to the doctor and could see that she was writing some things down. When she finished, she smiled as she started to speak.
"Alright, here I have written down a list of things that are to be expected to happen in the coming weeks until you can get to see another doctor for a checkup. Also, I have written down some of the pre-natal supplements that you should start taking. Other than that, do you have any questions?"
Natalya and Justin looked at each other with blank stares and shook their heads.
"Okay then. It was a pleasure to meet the two of you and I wish you all the luck in the world with your little bundle of joy." Doctor Carter said as she handed over the paperwork, shook both of their hands and left the room.
Natalya's head was spinning. The fact that in just over five months she was going to be a mother finally started to sink in. Then having Justin right by her side through it all just made her happy. Without saying a word, Natalya got off the examination table, grabbed Justin's hand and they made their way back out to the waiting room to share the news to John and Beth.
****A/N****
Wow! I can't believe that a year has gone by since the last time I updated this story. I'm so sorry to everyone for the wait, but I just got blocked on this. Even on my other stories, I have come across a serious case of writer's block. Then add in the fact that life has been CRAZY doesn't leave me a whole lot of time to write anymore. Oh and not having internet sucks too! I hope that you all can get back into this and that you all enjoy it! I will try and update this soon and I really do plan on finishing this one!
-Megan