At 30 weeks pregnant, Bridget still was going through a lot of changes in her body. Her baby bump was still getting bigger, she was constantly moody, sometimes if she is lucky she gets seven hours of sleep. But most of the time she'd only sleep for five hours before little Daniel starts kicking. Bridget felt sorry for Franky who had to deal with her moodswing all the time. Though the younger woman assured her that it's fine, everyone has got their limits. And sometimes Bridget could tell Franky is reaching her limit.
Now that Bridget is 34 weeks pregnant, Ms Williams told them that it's critical. Any time from now Bridget could go into labor. Franky have to be extra careful.
"Sleep tight Gidget." Franky pressed a kiss onto Bridget's forehead and lay back down on her spot. She watched as Bridget fall asleep and due to a long day at work, Franky was able to fall asleep rather quickly. Not just because of work, Franky didn't get much sleep because Bridget would always wake up in the middle of the night craving for something. If Bridget wasn't craving for something, then she would be frustrated with Daniel's kicking and couldn't fall back asleep.
Four hours after Franky fall into a deep sleep, her phone rang. She sprung to her feet and brought her phone to the living room so Bridget wouldn't be disturbed. Thankfully Bridget is sleeping soundly.
Franky looked at the caller ID and hesitated. She doesn't want to pick up this call, but what if it's urgent? It's three in the morning for Christ's sake!
"Erica? It's three, what's up?"
"Franky... I'm sorry for calling you. I kinda need a ride now." Erica sounded weird... drunk. Franky knew Erica was all alone. She didn't know why Erica broke up with Mark, neither does she wanna know. Things will get complicated if she starts talking to Erica.
"Now?" Franky looked back and forth between the bedroom and the front door.
Gidget will be fine... right? She's sleeping soundly, I'll be back after sending Erica home.
"Where are you? I'll pick you up, stay where you are." After getting Erica to tell her where's her location, Franky wore a jacket and took an extra one with her, just in case Erica needs it.
Franky followed the GPS on her phone and reached the destination. She finds a parking lot to park her car and then look around to spot Erica. And when she does, Erica was sitting on the floor by the side of the road.
"Hey... You right?" Franky pulls Erica up and wrap her arms around her waist to support her body.
Erica tried to clear her mind, but she was too drunk. "Franky...? Is this you? Is it really you?" Erica touch Franky's face.
"Yes, it's me. Let's send you home, eh?" Franky dragged Erica to her car and got Erica to tell her where she is currently residing in. Before leaving, Franky put the extra jacket that she brought over Erica's body as she noticed the blonde was shivering.
Throughout the ride, Erica had been drunk talking. One moment she could be talking about Mark dumping her, another moment she could be talking about how her family forcing her to talk to Mark over and over again. But something made Franky stop her train of thoughts.
"I like you... Franky... Doyle..." Erica said softly, but loud enough for Frank to hear.
The younger woman tried to focus on the road. She can't seriously be thinking about Erica's drunk words right now. After what seem like an eternity, they finally reached Erica's apartment. Franky parked her car by the road side and slowly helped Erica out of the car.
Franky gently put Erica on the couch while she get a warm towel for the older woman. She gently wiped Erica's face with the towel. Erica stirred, "Water..." Franky set the towel aside and went to get a cup of warm water for Erica. She helped Erica up and supported her back while she drank a few sips of the water. After which, Erica lay down again and closed her eyes while holding her head.
The brunette continued to wipe Erica's face and down to her neck with the warm towel. "Bin. The bin!" Erica said after gagging a few times but Franky didn't have enough time to look for the bin or plastic bags. Erica ended up vomiting the alcohol in her system out onto the floor.
"Shit." Franky cursed under her breath.
"Sorry..."
"Nuh, don't worry." Franky couldn't really blame Erica, she's drunk after all.
Franky quickly helped Erica into the bedroom so she can clean up the mess on the floor in the living room before the smell filled up the place.
After changing Erica out of her uncomfortable office lady outfit into her night gown and cleaning up her place, not forgetting to make Erica some soup that is good for hangovers, Franky glance at the clock which reads 6am.
Damn it! I hope Gidget is still sleeping! If only I didn't stay when Erica told me to...
Franky left a note for Erica and quickly rush home.
Erica,
I don't know if you'll remember anything, but leave me a text or give me a call when you wake up so I know you're fine. Made you a pot of soup in the kitchen as well. Good for hangovers.
Franky xx
The first thing Franky did when she reached home was to head to the bedroom. She opened the door but Bridget was already out of bed. Where could Bridget possibly go? Just then, Franky heard the door open and she went back out to the living room.
"Gidget? Where did you go?" Franky asked as she took the paper bags from Bridget.
"Well, what am I supposed to do when my girlfriend has been out since three in the morning and I was hungry when I woke up?" Bridget's words were smothered with sarcasm.
"I'm sorry Gidge... I had to go somewhere." Franky looked at Bridget earnestly. Her eyes desperate for Bridget's forgiveness, trust and faith.
Bridget sat down at the dining table and Franky sat opposite her. Bridget scoffed. "Was it Erica again?"
"She was drunk. I was the only person she could call, Gidge. Her family started giving her cold shoulders when she broke up with Mark over a girl. She has no one. I tried to come back as soon as I can... I had to clean up her place because she puked all over."
"Cleaning her place, is that all you were doing at her house?" Bridget knew she sounded crazy, but she hated the fact that Franky left her alone in the house in the middle of the night to take care of another woman when she was supposed to keep a close eye on her.
Franky hesitated, she'd lie about holding Erica while she sleeps and cooking her soup, but Bridget hated lies. Big lies or small lies, they're still lies. "She wouldn't let go of my hand, I held her until she fell into a deep sleep and cooked her a pot of hangover soup. That's all, Bridget."
Bridget bought Franky's story, but she wasn't happy. Franky could've at least woke her up before she went out, but she didn't.
The older woman stood up without saying a word. Franky rushed to her side to help her up but Bridget snapped her hand away. "Don't."
"Let me help you, Gidget." Franky tried to support Bridget by her waist.
"I said don't!" As Bridget tried to get out of Franky's arms, she lost her balance and fell to the floor on her side. Bridget felt a tremendous pain in her belly and moments later the floor is wet. Bridget's water broke and a pool of blood flowed onto the wet floor.
"Fuck!" Franky scooped Bridget into her arms and into the car.
"It's fucking pain... Franky..." Bridget said through gritted teeth.
"Just squeeze my thigh, Gidget! It's okay, you'll be fine, trust me. I won't let anything happen to you." Franky sped through all the traffic lights that she passed by but it doesn't matter to her. Bridget mattered. Daniel mattered.
Franky quickly pulled up outside the nearest hospital and scooped Bridget into her arms again. "OUT OF THE WAY!" Franky shouted as she approached the counter.
"My partner is going into labour, please help her!" The nurse at the reception nodded her head and called for assistance through the phone. After which, she pushed a wheelchair for Bridget and pushed her into one of the operation room. But before Bridget is being pushed inside, she said something to Franky, almost out of breath, "Whatever it is, save Daniel..."
Tears rushed out of Franky's eyes when she heard Bridget's words. The doctor walked past Franky and the younger woman quickly grabbed her, "Doc! Whatever it is, save the adult, eh?" The doctor simply nodded and went into the operation room.
If they really lost Daniel, they could go for another round of IVF. But Franky can't lose Bridget. She'll die. She doesn't know how to live without Bridget for the rest of her life.
The door closed and Franky was left alone outside.
After pacing back and forth the corridor, the door to the operation room opened. The doctor came out and looked for Franky. "We need to do a c-section. She is unconscious. Please follow the nurse to the reception to sign the procedure."
"Shit, fuck!" Franky punched the wall, not giving a shit whether the people around her would feel alarmed. She followed the nurse to the reception.
Ever since the 'in progress' light above the operation room lighted up, Franky has been pacing back and forth, talking to herself, punching the wall at times. She hadn't sit down for a minute. She couldn't. Not when Bridget is inside. Not when the both of them are in danger. She was angry with herself. She was pissed at herself. She saw several missed calls from Erica but didn't bother to answer them. Erica was the reason why Bridget is in there. In a fit of anger, Franky smashed her phone onto the floor and watched it separate into pieces.
After about 15 minutes, the 'in progress' light went out. The door to the operation room opened and the nurse was seen pushing a hospital bassinet out. Franky ran up to her, "is this my baby?" Franky asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Yes. We need to push him to the intensive care unit. He'll be fine. Your partner will be transferred to a ward. You can visit her there." She offered Franky a smile, "he's very beautiful."
Franky waited until Bridget was transferred to the private ward that she requested. She stood outside the door, not sure if Bridget would want to see her. Nevertheless, Franky pushed the door handle and opened the door.
The moment Franky's emerald eyes met with Bridget's sapphire blue, the atmosphere felt weird. Bridget looked away, Franky closed the door behind her. She didn't want to leave her girl alone who just gave birth to their son. "Gidget?" Franky called out softly and walked towards the hospital bed.
"How's Daniel?" Bridget asked coldly, but voice full of concern.
"He's in the intensive care unit. Born premature but Doc reckons he'll be fine. Are you feeling okay?"
Bridget scoffed, "Physically I am. My heart is not."
"Y'know... This is not what I imagined. I imagined sending you to the hospital and we wait for you to go into labour. I imagined myself standing next to you on the hospital bed while you exert all your strength into pushing Daniel out and I give you all the encouragement that I can give. I imagined you grabbing my hand until it's red. I'm really sorry Gidge. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I promise I'll not talk to Erica ever again. Not when she's the reason my Gidget and Daniel were in danger. I even smashed my phone into pieces. Can you forgive me?" Franky knelt down next to the bed so she's at the same level as Bridget. Her eyes intense with sincerity and earnest.
"I forgive you." Bridget thought a good few second and she smiled. Franky leaned forward, sharing a kiss with Bridget.
"I love ya Gidget." Franky stood up and lay next to Bridget on the bed.
"I love you too." Bridget smiled.
They snuggled for awhile until Bridget fell back asleep. Franky left quietly and headed to the intensive care unit where Daniel is.
Franky stood outside the unit and her eyes never left Daniel. He had tubes around his body, he was so tiny and fragile. Franky couldn't help but shed tears. Daniel was suffering because of her. If she didn't pick up Erica's call, she wouldn't leave the house in the middle of the night and Bridget wouldn't be angry. If Franky did what she was told and left Bridget alone, Bridget wouldn't fall. If Bridget didn't fall, she wouldn't go into premature labour.
"I'm sorry, little Dan... I almost killed you. I want to be a good mom. I promise I will be one. I promise I won't hurt you or let anyone hurt you." Franky whispered against the glass panel and leaned her forehead against it.