meadow567: Yay for the hockey season! I'm so glad it's finally here.
Bluehaven4220: Yeah, the story's almost over. But you can look forward to my next one. I have a couple ideas, but it won't be out for a while. I'm sorry you were disappointed for Robbie and Laura. Maybe this chapter will make you happy. Thanks for the review!
NellieBly413672: Thanks for the review! Glad you liked it. And I love cute little kids too. Part of the reason I want to be a pediatrician. They're so cute. And there's more of cute Izzy this chapter.
A/N: Okay, I know you all probably hate me. It's been over two weeks since I updated, but school sucks. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter. Oh yeah, I wanted to include some Maddie, Jack, and Izzy stuff, especially for the people that read Glory Days, so there's a little of that in here too.
Chapter 37
September, 1983
The rest of the hockey season went by, and so did the summer and Robbie and Laura's second anniversary. Before they knew it, Robbie was starting training camp again. Laura had gone to the store one morning, and Robbie was already home when she got back.
"Hey honey. You're home early."
"Yeah, we had a light day today. How are you?" Robbie asked and gave Laura a kiss.
"Good. I just got a few things we needed at the store." Robbie helped Laura carry the grocery bags to the kitchen and she began putting everything away.
"Hey Laura," Robbie started.
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you tell me you had an appointment with Dr. Montgomery tomorrow?" Robbie asked casually.
"I didn't know you needed to know when I had doctors' appointments."
"Well, I don't but . . . I know you just had an appointment like two months ago. If that was a routine check-up, why are you going again?" Before Laura answered, Robbie asked what he had been wondering since the doctor's office called shortly before to remind Laura about the appointment. "Do you think you're pregnant?"
"Robbie, I just have an appointment."
"You think you're pregnant, don't you?" Robbie said, smiling. Laura couldn't hide her smile anymore.
"Maybe."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Laura walked over to him and took his hands in hers.
"I didn't want to say anything until I was sure. I mean, I might not be. I don't want to get your hopes up again. I know how disappointed you were last time."
"But you were too, baby."
"I know, but it's better to have one disappointed person than two," Laura explained, her eyes getting a little teary.
"So you were just going to keep it to yourself and bottle it up inside?"
"I guess." Robbie wrapped his arms around her.
"I want to be there Laura. If you're not pregnant, I want to be able to comfort you and hold you, and maybe even cry with you." After a pause, he added, "Plus, if you are pregnant, I have to be there to be excited with you."
"Okay. Sorry I didn't say anything."
"Maybe it's a good thing you didn't say anything, because now I only have to wait a day to find out. You've probably had a wait a few days."
"A week and a half," Laura admitted quietly.
"You've been keeping this a secret a week and a half!" Robbie exclaimed, barely able to believe it.
"Robbie, please promise me you won't get your hopes up."
"I'm not."
"You are. I can tell. You're already acting like I'm pregnant. And you haven't stopped smiling." Robbie tried to hide his grin. "I'm just saying this because since Christmas, I've thought that I was maybe pregnant twice and I wasn't."
"And you didn't say anything?"
"Like I said, I didn't want to disappoint you."
"You are too much," Robbie said and kissed her.
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The next day, Robbie got home early from practice to take Laura to the doctor's. For Laura's sake, he tried to hide his excitement. It was hard though. In an hour he could be nine months away from being a dad!
Robbie thought Laura was containing herself well. He knew that she probably just didn't want to get her hopes up, especially because the same thing had happened before. Luckily, the wait for the doctor wasn't long. Robbie went in the back with Laura.
The test was done in a matter of seconds and the doctor told them she would be back soon with the results. Neither Robbie nor Laura said much while waiting. They were both thinking and hoping the same things though.
"I have the results," Dr. Montgomery said calmly, walking back in the room. "I know you've been trying for a while, and it's nice that Robbie's here for support. I'm glad he found out about the appointment." Laura explained that she only wanted to give Robbie good news the previous times.
"So, what's the news? Am I pregnant?" Laura asked, still trying not to sound too hopeful.
"Laura and Robbie," the doctor began, a smile quickly spreading on her face. "I'm very happy to be the one to give you the news that you're going to have a baby."
"Oh my God!" Laura screamed, jumping up and throwing her arms around Robbie. Robbie was thrilled too, and picked Laura up, then he set her down and gave her a long kiss.
"This is incredible! We're going to have a baby!" Robbie said, smiling.
"I don't believe it!" Laura said. "I thought it's never happen!"
"You're about four weeks along, Laura."
Laura quickly did the math in her head. "That means we're only eight months away. I'll be due in like, early May."
"Yep, it looks like it'll probably be the first week in May. I'll explain a few things about what you can expect over the next several months, and I'll get your prenatal vitamins and anything else you might need," the doctor told Laura.
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Meanwhile in Chicago . . .
One afternoon in the middle of October, OC got home after practice and found Maddie baking a cake. "That smells delicious," he commented. "What's the occasion?"
"Just to celebrate," Maddie said.
"Celebrate what?" OC asked, picking up the spatula to lick some batter.
"Hey! I was still using that," Maddie said. OC got a new spatula out for her to use.
"So what are we celebrating? And where's Izzy?" OC asked, wondering why his daughter wasn't helping Maddie. She loved helping to bake.
"Izzy's at a friend's house this afternoon," Maddie told him.
"And you're baking a cake? Maddie, I can think of a better way to celebrate," he said, raising his eyebrows.
"We're not celebrating Izzy not being home. You asked where she was. We're celebrating the phone call I got today."
"From who?" Before Maddie answered, OC began guessing. "Your parents?" Maddie shook her head. "My parents?" Again, Maddie shook her head. "Your sister?" Maddie gave the same response. "Laura?"
"Actually, Laura did call. She just found out she's pregnant."
"That's great!" OC said. "So we're celebrating the baby?"
"Yep, we're celebrating the baby."
"But why are we celebrating their baby when they're in New York?" Then OC realized something. "Maddie, did you invite Robbie and Laura here again? Because even though we're sort of friends, it doesn't mean I want to see him all the time. Can't you invite Rizzo over or something? We haven't seen him and his wife in six months. And we haven't seen Silky in a while. Don't you want to meet his fiancee?"
"Yeah, but just so you know, I didn't invite Robbie and Laura."
"Okay, so why are we celebrating their baby?"
"We're not celebrating their baby."
"Then whose are we celebrating?"
"Ours." OC gave her a funny and confused look. "Maddie, what are you talking about? We're not having a baby. Besides, the doctor said it'd be a miracle if we had any more kids. There was too much damage when Izzy was born."
"Well, apparently we have a miracle baby on the way then."
"You're pregnant?!"
"Yeah."
"Oh my God! I don't believe it!" OC said. He kissed Maddie. "I don't believe it," he said again.
"So you're happy?" Maddie asked.
"Of course I am! I'd love to have another baby."
"Me too. I was completely shocked when the doctor told me. And I was especially surprised when I was told that I'm already three months along."
"Three months?!"
"Yeah. I really didn't have many symptoms. I just thought I was a little more tired than normal. And ever since Izzy was born, my periods have been irregular, so it didn't even dawn on me."
"Wow. Izzy's going to be thrilled."
"I know. I can't wait to tell her. She's wanted a baby brother or sister for a while now."
"This is incredible," OC said.
"The doctor said I have to be really careful though. He doesn't want anything happening to me or the baby by doing too much."
"Everything's fine with the baby though right now, right?"
"Yeah, and since the first trimester is basically over, I shouldn't have to worry for a while. The doctor's going to keep a close eye on everything because it's sort of a high risk pregnancy, but . . . I'm pregnant!" Maddie said, with a huge smile, obviously very excited.
"Wait, so Laura's pregnant too?"
"Yeah, I didn't tell her that I am yet, because I wanted to tell you first, and I figured we'd wait a while."
"When can we tell Izzy?"
"How about in a couple weeks? We'll tell everyone once I hit the four-month mark."
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"Izzy, can you come in here for a minute," Maddie called to her daughter one morning in the middle of November. Maddie and OC had decided to tell her about the baby that morning. They were so excited to tell her.
"Yeah Mommy?"
"Mommy and Daddy have something to tell you." Izzy looked between her parents, wondering what it could be.
"You know how you want a baby brother or sister?" OC asked his daughter.
"Yeah, I really want one. That's what I want for Christmas or my birthday," she said matter-of-factly.
"Well, Mommy's going to have another baby. It won't be here before Christmas or your birthday, but it's on the way."
"Really?" Izzy asked, her eyes lighting up. "When is it coming?"
"The baby won't be born until about April," Maddie told her.
"How many days is that?" Maddie laughed a little at her daughter's innocent question.
"A lot of days sweetie. You have lots of time to wait."
"Is it a girl or boy baby?"
"It's going to be a surprise," Maddie told her.
"Where's it now?" Izzy asked.
"It's growing in mommy's tummy," OC told her. Izzy's eyes went wide.
"How does it get out?" she asked her father.
"Well . . . let's just say it's complicated and sort of difficult," OC said, not really wanting to go into further detail.
"How did it get there?" Izzy asked sweetly.
"Um, well, I don't know," OC said, uncomfortably. How should he explain that to a kid going on four?
"You have to know Daddy," Izzy told him. "You know everything."
"I don't know everything."
"You said you did," Izzy argued.
"When?" her father challenged her.
"Yesterday," Izzy said with attitude. "You remember, right Mommy? Daddy said he was right cause he knows everything."
"I do remember that Izzy. Daddy did say that." Maddie looked at OC. "So Mr. Know It All, how did the baby get in my tummy?" Maddie raised her eyebrows and smirked, trying her hardest not to laugh though.
"Um, well . . . uhh,"OC started.
"You really don't remember that?" Maddie said playfully, giving OC an insinuating look.
"Well, I remember . . . I could never forget that," OC said in a low voice, leaning in toward his wife. Before they could kiss, Izzy interrupted.
"I'm waiting for an answer." Maddie and OC pulled apart, looking at their daughter. She definitely had a little bit of an attitude at times, and it was cute because she was so little. Her parents knew that it would cause them grief when she was a teenager though.
"When a Mommy and Daddy really love each other and show it, sometimes God puts a baby inside the Mommy."
"So it's like when you kiss?"
"Yeah, exactly. When we kiss, God knows we love each other and decided to put a baby in Mommy's tummy. It's sort of like magic."
"But then why don't I have twenty bajillion, trillion, kazillion brothers and sisters? You and Daddy kiss every day."
"Not everyday Izzy," OC said. "Trust me, I wish it were every day." Maddie just laughed at OC's hint, knowing he wasn't really talking about kissing. "But it can actually only happen when we're alone," OC continued. "And you, little miss, are just always around," OC told her, then began tickling her. She started giggling.
"Daddy, stop!" she screamed, laughing.
"Stop what?"
"Tickling me!" she said, laughing even more.
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Laura and Robbie went in for a routine check-up just before Thanksgiving. They were excited because they hoped to take sonagram pictures to their parent's house's for the holidays.
The doctor set up the machine and rolled the cold gel over Laura's stomach. Doctor Montgomery listened to the baby's heartbeat for a minute and watched the screen intently.
"Oh, wow," she said, sounding a little confused. Then she smiled.
"Is everything okay?" Laura asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine. The fetal heartbeats are good, and everything's going just wonderfully."
"Great," said Laura.
"Wait, wait, wait," said Robbie. "Everything's not great. You said fetal heartbeats. Why did you say fetal heartbeats? Because, I may not know much, but I do know people, including an unborn baby, only have one heartbeat."
"She didn't say heartbeats, Robbie. And, if she did, it was a mistake." Laura looked at the doctor for confirmation on this.
"Actually, Robbie's right. I did say heartbeats. And I meant it. You're having twins!"
"Twins?!" Robbie and Laura said at the same time, though Laura's tone was one of pure excitement and Robbie's was a little more shocked and concerned sounding. Their corresponding facial expressions told the doctor everything she needed to know.
"Robbie, isn't this great?" Laura asked. "We've tried for so long that now we not only get one baby, but two babies! Isn't this exciting?"
"Yeah," said Robbie, unenthused. Laura was too excited to notice Robbie's lack of excitement though.
After the appointment, the doctor caught Robbie alone outside while Laura was getting dressed to leave.
"You know, Robbie. A lot of fathers react the same to twins as you. But trust me, it's not as bad as it may seem."
"You don't have to lie Doctor Montgomery, I have twin siblings, I know twins are rough."
"I'm sure you'll be fine. Once those babies are born, you'll fall in love with them."
"I'm sure I will, and I'm excited. But at the same time, twins seem so overwhelming."
"I know, but you can hold me to my words that it won't be as bad as you think," the doctor said, offering a comforting smile. Robbie still didn't exactly believe her, but smiled back anyway.
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By late January, Laura was really starting to show, especially because she was having twins. At this point, she was 26 weeks pregnant, and only a few weeks away from being in her third trimester. Robbie and Laura had begun shopping for the babies, and although they didn't know the sexes, they had picked out several names. Robbie was having a somewhat difficult time, only because of Laura's moods. With the hormones, Laura would often go from being extremely happy to angry in a matter of minutes, and sometimes minor things made her upset. And although Robbie hated leaving Laura alone for a few days at a time while traveling for hockey, he sometimes took solace in the fact that he had a few days away from Laura.
One morning the day before Robbie was leaving for a few day road trip, Laura was in one of her bad moods. Unfortunately for Robbie, he didn't know until it was too late.
"Laura, did you finish the milk again?" Robbie teased her as he was looking for milk to pour on his cereal. She had just walked into the kitchen.
"Well, I told you to bring some home yesterday because we were getting low, but considering you rarely listen to anything I have to say, you probably ignored it."
"Sorry," Robbie said, knowing it was better not to argue.
"Don't tell me you're sorry, you're the one who wants the milk." Laura went in the refrigerator next to get some juice. "And you ignored me about the orange juice too."
"Sorry. I'll get it today."
"No you won't. I'll get it. It's obvious I can't depend on you to do anything."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't drink as much as you do at a time. I know you're having twins, but you don't need a glass for each kid." Robbie was only teasing and trying to cheer her up, but she took it the wrong way.
"I can't believe you," Laura said disgusted. "Lately it seems like you're mad that we're having twins or something. You make so many references to twins and how much of a handful they'll be and how we need two of everything and whatnot."
"Well, I can't help if the thought of having twins makes me a little nervous."
"Yeah, it makes me nervous too, but I don't complain about it!"
"I'm not complaining!" Robbie said back defensively.
"Fine. Why don't you just go to work? Go play hockey and take your mind off your problems."
"My problems? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Having twins. It's obviously a problem for you."
"It's not Laura."
"Yes it is. You don't want me to have twins," Laura said, beginning to get tears in her eyes. Robbie knew what was coming now. Niagara Falls. "Actually, maybe you don't want a baby at all," Laura continued and really began crying now.
"Honey, I want a baby. I promise."
"Yeah, a baby. We're having two babies. And what happens if you're too overwhelmed with two kids. Then you'll leave me, and I'll be alone."
"Laura, I would never leave you," Robbie said, pulling her into a hug. "And I really am sorry about the orange juice and milk."
"You promise?" Laura asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I promise I'll go to the store."
Laura sniffled, then said, "No, do you promise you'll never leave me?"
"Laura, how could I even think about that? I love you too much. And I will love both of our babies. I'm just nervous. Anyone's first baby is enough stress, but the thought of two . . . what if I'm a bad dad? And with hockey, what if I'm not around enough? I don't want to miss out on raising our kids."
"You won't. You're here enough."
"Last week you said I should quit playing because I wasn't home enough," Robbie reminded her.
"And I was having a bad day, remember?"
"I know, but I've thought about it and it might be better if I stop playing."
"You can't stop playing. We'll manage. Everything will work out all right. It always does."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"And I was also right when I said you should probably leave. You don't want to be late."
Robbie looked at the clock and realized Laura was right.
"I'll see you later. And I won't forget to go to the store."
"Thank you, honey."
"No problem. I love you. See you later," Robbie said, giving Laura a kiss. He then proceeded to go through the rest of his morning routine. "And I'll see you guys later too," Robbie said, rubbing Laura's stomach. He gave Laura another kiss and then kissed her stomach twice too, one kiss for each baby. Ever since Laura had found out she was pregnant, he kissed the baby good-morning, good-night, and many other times in between just because. After Laura found out she was having twins, Robbie began kissing her stomach twice instead of once, so each baby was treated equally. It was just a little something that Laura thought was cute, which is the main reason Robbie kept doing it.
A/N: Sorry to leave it off there. This is only 3/4 or so of the chapter. I didn't get as much done as I wanted to, but I really wanted to update. The remainder will be up Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon at the very latest. It'll be the rest of the pregnancy stuff. And after that, there will be one more wrap up chapter. Then, it'll be sad, but my story will be over. I'll have to work on one of the two new ideas I have. Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter and please review!