"Well," she began as they lay awake together in the morning, "we did it again."
She felt his amusement rumble as she leaned back against him, "Consider it training. Everyone is telling me to get used to long nights," he brought his mouth to her shoulder, "they don't know I already am."
"We do our best talking at night."
His hands continued to lazily reach around and caress her tummy, "We do more than talk."
"Yes we do," she smiled and felt him hug her just a little closer to his chest. She loved to sit between his legs with her back against him, it was comfortable and it let them both be close to each other and their baby within. "Only 6 more weeks Gunnar; 6 weeks and we'll be parents."
"Are you ready?"
"I think so. Are you?"
He laughed once, "I have no idea," he nuzzled her hair with his nose, "but I can't wait to find out."
"I just hope you can be there when he decides to meet us," that was one of her biggest fears, that he wouldn't be able to make it in time. Unfortunately he was scheduled in back-to-back games, both in Los Angeles, on the 20th & 21st. Their baby was due on the 21st but maybe he would come early or late so Gunnar could be there.
"When he's ready I'll be there, I promise. Coach already told me I could go as soon as you go into labor. So you better call me if you feel anything." Him being there kind of depended on both Julie and the baby. As long as she gave him enough of a notice he could make it. Missing the birth of his first child was something he did not want to let happen. He placed a few kisses to her neck, "We haven't talked about names," he felt her go absolutely still against her, "let me guess, you already have one picked out."
Julie let out a deep sigh, "I do but only a first name, I thought maybe you could pick out the middle one."
"I'd like that but it would help if I knew the first."
She turned and hesitated at meeting his soft eyes, "I want to surprise you with it, that's why I never brought it up. Can you be a good boy and wait 6 more weeks?"
"Since you were a good girl yesterday I'll be good for you. One thing," he reached and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, "do I get final approval? I will not have my son with some ridiculous name to live with for the rest of his life."
Julie grinned suddenly which caught him off guard, "I'm pretty sure you'll like it but yes, if it makes you feel better you can have final approval."
He raised a brow only for her to turn around and relax against him again. In a quiet voice he asked the one thing he'd been thinking non-stop about for months, "What about his last name?"
She frowned a little to herself and took the time to shift her position so they could look at each other in the eyes. "I'm glad you brought this up. At first I was going to use Gaffney but that was before you knew. Now I'm not sure what to go with. Can I ask you a question? Why isn't your last name Karlsson?"
Gunnar searched her eyes feeling very pleased with her knowledge of how his country traditionally named their people. "There are some family surnames that carry-on. My great-grandfather was originally from Germany. He traveled to Iceland, married a local woman and they used his family name." And it was a tradition that he wanted to continue with their child, even if he didn't respect his father he did respect his own heritage.
"My instinct is to go with Stahl. Honestly, I think you should make that decision, if you want him to have the surname Gunnarsson that would be okay too. My American way of thinking will get used to it," she joked.
"Julie," damn this woman amazed him, "you would name our baby using the customs of my country?"
She shrugged, "Of course I would. You know how I feel about both our cultures being part of his life. If it's important to you then it's important to me. We're family."
He stared at her for several long seconds before kissing her as passionately as he could, needing to express that he was completely happy and in love with her. "Stahl," he muttered before taking her lips once more. And one day, when she was ready, she would take his name for herself. Pulling back and looking again into those precious blue eyes, "It would make me proud to have our son share my last name."
"Then he will," she told him breathlessly.
Just as she was leaning in to close the distance between their lips there was a knocking on her bedroom door. They were both still nude so Gunnar quickly pulled on a shirt and his boxers and made sure she was completely covered before opening it. Adam was on the other side and walked right pass the Kings player and into his friend's bedroom. Julie's eyes widened when he lay on his back across the end of her bed and she looked to Gunnar in shock.
"Everyone is downstairs, we brought breakfast," Adam told them and closed his eyes, "Julie give me one of your pillows."
What he got instead was a well-placed kick in the ribs, "Adam get out!"
"Ow, what was that for?"
"Now you know how I feel every day," she glared at him.
Gunnar sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I know you two are friends but if you see any part of my girlfriend you shouldn't I'm going to break something." And it would be his knuckles against his jaw.
"What is going on?"
They all turned to see Lilla standing in the doorway. Julie pulled the blankets tighter around herself wanting to disappear and Gunnar sheepishly rubbed at the back of his neck. Adam smirked and finally got off the bed to make his way toward her, "I was just interrupting their morning. I think I made them mad."
The teen shook her head at their antics, feeling more comfortable around Adam after he was so helpful and patient the evening before, "Like it's hard to make Gunnar mad."
"I'm not doing this with either of you," Gunnar announced pulling his shirt over his head then let his fingers rest on the waistband of his boxers, "unless you want to see more get out."
Adam rolled his eyes and followed after a quickly retreating and rather pale-faced Lilla, "Getting out! Jeesh man that's your sister!" It wasn't like he hadn't seen his fair share of nude men before, it happened with every game and practice. Not that he voluntarily wanted to see Julie's boyfriend in all his glory, oh no, that's just so wrong.
Gunnar shook his head and firmly closed the door. He looked back to Julie and they both started laughing. Seeing as how he was in desperate need of a hot shower, that was first on the agenda. Julie relished at his help in washing and drying her off. It was getting to the point to where she had a hard time reaching her legs.
They stood together in the arched entrance of the kitchen. He was holding her to him closely as they watched Sophie, Britta, Adam, and Lilla laugh and continue in conversation. Obviously they were recounting the incident upstairs as Lilla complained she never wanted to see that much of her brother ever again. Britta gave her sorely missed only daughter a fond smile yet also began to lecture the two of them that a couple deserves their privacy.
"Oh hey you two," Sophie smiled and came to retrieve her daughter from under Gunnar's arm and give her a big hug, "how are you feeling this morning honey?"
"Perfect," she stared at them all one by one and placed her hands over her belly, "I have my family with me."
"My dear," Britta came over with a wide smile and gave her a hug as well, "it is so good to see you again. If only Ivan could be here," she admitted a little sadly.
"Brother wanted to come," Lilla admitted, "he did send a gift Gunnar and so did dad. Do you want me to get them?"
At his nod she ran off into the living room while the others sat around the table. Lilla returned with two wrapped presents and placed them in front of Gunnar. At first he tried to get Julie to open them but she insisted that he take the honors considering they were from his family. So with hesitant hands he opened first the gift from his brother, the same man he hadn't spoken to since he was 10 years old. There had been a few exchanged letters but the damage had already been done. Inside was an envelope that requested Gunnar to read in private, beneath that there were quite a few solid wooden baby toys. They were sturdy and Lilla explained to Julie that the rattle had actually been Gunnar's as a baby.
That certainly made the mother-to-be smile as it just became possibly her favorite baby present so far. She picked it up and gave it a small shake as Britta adoringly watched Julie's eyes fall in love with the old rattle. Apparently Karl made off with more than she realized when he left Iceland behind for good.
Gunnar sighed and began to unwrap the rather large box his father sent from overseas. Inside there were three more individually wrapped gifts, one for him, one for Julie, and one for their baby. He handed Julie her gift though she wanted to open the one for their son first. Inside was a Steiff teddy bear from Germany, Lilla told them that their father actually went to his family's birth place just to get it for him. Gunnar then opened the gift meant for him and was surprised to see it was a simple card with a lengthy message he wanted to read later when it was just him and Julie.
All eyes then turned to Julie and she unwrapped the present with her name on it. She found an old wooden box latched shut and when she opened it she was surprised to find a velvet pouch. Lilla gasped and Britta's eyes went wide in shock while Gunnar looked at her with such severe concentration Julie wasn't sure what to think.
"Open it," he insisted, almost demanded, at seeing her hesitance.
Nodding she untied the soft pouch and gently pulled out a stunning pearl necklace, "Wow, this is so beautiful."
"And old," Britta's voice was light as her eyes began to tear up and placed a hand over her heart, "very old."
Lilla swallowed down and looked at her brother and the woman in his life in a new light. She had known that Gunnar talked very briefly with her father only to give him the news of Julie's pregnancy. Yet her brother must have left enough of an impression for her dad to feel that Julie was forever going to be in his life. Otherwise he never would have given her such a precious gift, "Those were my great-great grandmother's."
Julie's eyes widened and her eyes snapped to Gunnar's. He was still staring at her yet she couldn't read the expression in his gaze. She blinked and looked back at Lilla, "I'm not sure if I should have this. Something like this should go to you."
"It's okay," the younger girl smiled, "I have been promised her wedding rings among other things. This was meant for you to have."
"I'll treasure it," Julie told her earnestly and brought the necklace to her chest, "always."
Lilla came around the table and gave her a long hug. It was a start to a new relationship between the two women who would always be connected through the baby growing safe and sound in Julie's womb. Sophie and Adam smiled while Britta was openly crying at this point. She truly was gaining a new daughter right before her very eyes.
Gunnar cleared his throat and let out a deep breath, "Adam, would you help me bring everything in?" Banks nodded and Gunnar looked down to Julie, silently letting her know that he needed some time to think about all of this, "You just sit here and stay beautiful," he kissed her forehead, "we'll be back."
The four women watched them go each experiencing certain degrees of understanding. The moment had become strongly emotional and by this point it was no secret that Gunnar kept a lot of his feelings regarding his father locked away inside.
While the boys were working to bring all the gifts inside from the shower, the ladies began to converse once more. It was interesting getting to know more about Lilla and her life in Sweden. She still had another year of secondary school as she called it and admitted to them there was a boy she was seeing. Sophie then further explained just how they all worked together to set up the surprise shower. Adam did his part with the Ducks and Gunnar took care of his mom, sister, teammates, and even her co-workers. Apparently when he came to pick her up from work he got to talk with her boss and found out he owned a restaurant with his wife. Things were set up from there with Sophie coordinating things when she could without Julie finding out about it.
They did a good job of keeping it a surprise that was for sure. And it turned out so nice and she was happy to see Gunnar interacting with her family even if she didn't see them that often. It was amazing to think how on track her life was at the moment, almost like everything had a plan now. And it was all thanks to Gunnar and the night they spent making love in Buffalo, New York.
Gunnar and Adam returned and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge to cool down a little. It was quite the impressive haul and Julie was sure there wasn't much that she would have to buy in preparation for the baby. Gunnar placed a large envelope in front of her and she looked at him curiously.
"Pictures of our new condo," he told her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her chair closer to him, "take a look. My teammate's wife included some catalogues for furniture. Just circle whatever you like," he kissed temple, "I want you to be happy."
Adam looked surprised, "You're moving to California?"
Lilla looked intrigued, "You guys got your own place?"
Sophie and Britta eyed each other feeling that same sensation of their children really growing up and planning out their lives together. Julie swallowed at the attention but wasn't at all ashamed of their future, "We did. The plan is to move when his season's over, anywhere from April to June depending on the playoffs."
"I hate to miss the first months of his life," Gunnar admitted in a quiet voice, "somehow I'll make it up to you Julie, to both of you."
She turned to him and was glad his arm was still around her as she told him in a soft, accepting voice, "There is nothing to make up for Gunnar; you always go above and beyond, it leaves me breathless. You work so hard and I don't thank you enough for everything you do."
From Adam's point of view he could admit there was a bit of jealousy as he watched his arguably best friend speak quietly with the man she loved. That could have been him; maybe, somewhere down the line. And maybe it wasn't the fact that Julie was the girl involved, Adam was starting to think that he simply wanted what they had. To look at someone with so much love that he was blinded to anything else going on.
All he could do was sit back and be happy for her. And though he never thought he would; or wanted, to see this side of Gunnar, he was glad he did. It let him see that he really loved Julie and his actions were proving that he was actually worthy of her.
Now if only he could find someone for himself.