miracle fan 9245: Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked it!
Emador: Yeah, just wait until the baby's born, lol. Then the guys will seem really clueless then. I'm glad you liked it and thanks for the review.
Nelliebly413672: Yeah, Laura was like their mom. And you gotta love Buzzy, lol. I'm glad you liked it and thought it was funny. I needed a funny chapter before the next one, which won't be funny...DRAMA, dun dun dun. lol
Meadow567: Yeah, it'll get even better once Maddie has the baby, lol. Thanks for the review!
A/N: This chapter is sort of short, sorry. And nothing really exciting happens. So, it's not the greatest, but hopefully you guys will like it.
Chapter 18
Saturday, immediately following practice, Jack headed to the airport to pick Maddie up. The guys had convinced Herb to let them end a little early. They had even invited Herb, Craig, and Doc to the shower, but they had meetings after practice so they couldn't come.
Jack made it just in time. Looking on the board, he noticed that Maddie's flight had just landed. He waited at the gate for her to get off the plane. Once he saw her walking up the runway, he could barely keep from running over to her. Maddie spotted him right away, and ran over to him.
"Jack!" she said screamed, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Bystanders probably thought they hadn't seen each other for months.
"Hey baby!" he said, then pulled her into a deep kiss. "I missed you so much," he said, after pulling away.
"I missed you too," Maddie said, getting a little teary eyed.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, I just really missed you and these past few days I've been really emotional. With everything that's been going on, things have just been really hard."
"I know. And I promise your parents will come around."
"I just wish they would get over it. My dad needs to realize that I love you and that's never changing."
"He will, I promise. But on a lighter note, I have a surprise for you."
"What? Where?"
"We have to leave the airport first. Let's go get your bags and go." Jack and Maddie walked hand in hand to the baggage terminal to get Maddie's suitcase.
"Hey Maddie, do you mind if we stop at Buzz and Gail's on the way home? I wanted to ask him something," Jack said once they were in the car.
"Do we have to?" Maddie asked. "I would rather not see the guys or anything today. I've decided that I'll talk to them tomorrow and that's when I'll let them apologize for being jerks. Plus, I want my surprise and I don't know how much longer I can wait."
"Please? I really need to stop over there."
"Well, me saying no isn't going to stop you. You're the one driving," Maddie snapped. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. I really don't mind if we stop. I'm just tired and this weekend has really been rough, but I shouldn't be taking it out on you. I'm sorry."
Jack took one hand off the wheel and squeezed her hand. "It's okay, don't worry about it. I know you've been through a lot, and I'm sorry I wasn't with you when you told your parents."
"It's fine. It was better that way anyway. My dad would have killed you, and we both wouldn't have wanted that to happen," Maddie joked.
A few minutes later, Jack and Maddie arrived at Buzz and Gail's apartment. Maddie noticed an extra car that looked a lot like Bah's.
"I'm going to stay in the car."
"Come on, Maddie. Gail will want to see you. You have to come in."
"Okay fine," she said giving in.
Walking up to the door, Maddie thought she saw the curtain move and someone look out the window. She thought it looked an awful lot like Rizzo. Is half the team here or something? she thought.
Jack knocked on the door and seconds later, Gail answered.
"Hi Maddie, how was your trip?"
"Not great," she answered honestly.
"Is Buzz here?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, come on in, guys."
Jack and Maddie followed her inside and as soon as they entered the living room, Maddie was shocked at the sight in front of her.
"Surprise," the team shouted. Maddie saw a big banner that said 'Congratulations' over the mantle, and there were pink and blue balloons and streamers everywhere.
"Oh my God," said Maddie, still trying to take everything in. "I don't believe this." Tears welled up in her eyes a little and she quickly wiped them away. Jack put his arm around her.
"Do you like it?" asked Rammer.
"I love it. Thank you guys."
"We all owe you a huge apology and we wanted to throw a baby shower to make it up to you," Rizzo explained.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have kept bugging you guys and asking for things."
"No you shouldn't have asked us," started Silky. "We should have been offering to help you out." Maddie smiled.
"We know baby showers are traditionally just for girls, but considering there are only two girls other than you, it wouldn't have been much of a party," said Jimmy.
"I can't believe you guys went to all this trouble. Everything looks great," she said, complementing on the decorations.
"See Jack. Maddie didn't even notice the sign was crooked," said Phil.
"Well, now she does," said Jack.
"Did you make it Philly?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah, but everyone helped."
"Well, I love it."
"Are you hungry?" asked Mac.
"What do you think? I'm pregnant. Of course I'm hungry."
"Good, cause we bought lots of food," said Gail.
"Yeah, and even though twenty guys have been in the house for a half hour, we still have some left," joked Laura.
"Do I smell chicken wings?"
"Yes you do."
"And pizza?"
"Yep." Maddie and the guys started walking into the kitchen, following Gail and Laura when Maddie noticed the cake on the table.
"You made me a cake too?"
"What's a party without a cake?" said Pav.
"It looks delicious." Maddie went to get a closer look, she could tell the top was decorated. There were little pink and blue blobs which somewhat resembled flowers and it said, 'Congradualtions Jack and Maddie.'
"Rizzo decorated the top," said Buzz, as Maddie read the cake. She decided not to mention that congratulations was spelled wrong.
"Don't try to pin that on me," said Rizzo. "Buzz wrote congratulations," he said, blaming Buzz for the misspelling.
"I love it anyway. Besides, it's the thought that counts."
"Let's hope you still think that after you eat some egg shell," joked Jack.
"We got it all out," said Bah. Maddie just laughed. After eating lunch, it was time for some games.
First, they played a memory game. Laura and Gail had baby items, and other things somewhat related to babies, including a bottle, a diaper, a pacifier, a condom, and various other things.
"Why is there a condom?" Silky asked.
"Well, because everyone knows that right after the baby's born, if you have unprotected sex, you could end up with another one nine months later," Laura responded.
"Well, I guess in nine months after that kid's born, you'll be celebrating another birth then," Silky told Jack and Maddie.
"I don't think so. Unless Jack wants to go through carrying it, there's no way," said Maddie laughing. "I'm waiting at least four years, even if it means being abstinent." Jack, who hadn't really been listening, suddenly looked up at hearing this.
"What is this now?" Maddie just laughed.
"Lucky for you, I was only joking."
The items were placed on the table and everyone had a minute to remember everything that they could. After they played the game, Gail and Laura tailed up the scores. To everyone's surprise, Jack won. For winning, he got a blue candy cigar and a mini rubber duck.
The next game they played was more of a history game. Gail and Laura made up questions pertaining to things going on around the time the guys were born. Buzz and Bah tied for that.
"Now it's time for our favorite game," Laura said with a mischievous look.
"Oh no," said Mac. "This doesn't sound good."
"How do we play?" Maddie asked.
"Sorry, but you can't play this one. You're going to help us judge," said Gail.
"Everyone needs a balloon," started Laura.
"I want a pink one," said Bah, grabbing the nearest pink balloon.
Everyone else grabbed a balloon and asked what to do with it.
"These are your babies," said Laura. "You have to put them under your shirts and do what we tell you."
"You guys are going to see what it's like to be pregnant," said Gail.
"And keep in mind that real babies are actually heavier than this, so when your wives are pregnant one day, just remember this game."
"So am I having a girl?" asked Bah.
"Sure," said Maddie.
"Can I make a face on mine?" asked Rizzo. Then it will seem more like a real baby."
"Go right ahead," said Gail. Rizzo used a magic marker and Mark wanted it next, followed by Jimmy. Soon everyone wanted to make faces on their 'babies'.
Once they were all done, the guys started putting them in their shirts. Gail, Laura, and Maddie began giving them directions. They had to tie their shoes, pick things up off the floor, carry food around the house, and do a number of other ridiculous things. About half of the balloons popped when they tied their shoes.
"Oh no, mine popped," said Bah. "What does that mean?"
"It's dead," said Phil, laughing.
"What? Moo moo's dead?" he asked sadly.
"Moo moo?" Silky asked. "Don't tell me you actually named that thing?"
"And why Moo moo?" asked Pav.
"A sheep says 'bah' and a cow says 'moo'," said Bah. The guys laughed.
"Hey I named mine too," said Rizzo. "But I named it Bruin, after the Bruins."
"Who else named theirs?" asked Gail. Jack raised his hand. "Give them all a bonus point."
"What did you name yours Jack?" Laura asked.
"Michael," he said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Is that what the baby's name is going to be?" Rizzo asked. "After me?"
"Not after you, but yeah, maybe. If it's a boy, that's an option."
They finished playing and at the end, Rizzo was the only one with his 'baby' left. Everyone else's had popped. They ate cake next and once Maddie and Jack were done, Laura mentioned that they had some presents to open.
"Presents?" Maddie asked. "I thought the cake and party were good, but presents too?"
"What's a party without presents?" said Mac. "Of course we got you guys presents."
Maddie and Jack opened tons of baby stuff. From little onsies and cute outfits, to rattles, bottles, and toys, they would hardly need to buy the baby anything other than a crib and stroller. Just as expected, Jack loved the blue sports outfit. Laura ended up getting the pink bunny outfit too, and Maddie loved that.
"This is adorable. Jack, don't you love it?"
"Yeah, now we just need one of each," he said, referring to the sex of the baby.
"Well, we figured you could have both outfits for now and return one later," said Laura.
"Well, this is too boyish," said Jack. "If we have a girl, she can wear it. Besides, I plan on raising my daughter to love hockey and sports in general."
"Are you gonna put your possible son in that?" asked Silky, joking.
"No way. This has rabbits on it. My son is not wearing a pink outfit with rabbits."
"They're bunnies," said Maddie. "Kids have bunnies, not rabbits."
"Whatever. My son will not wear pink. Girls can wear blue, but boys can't wear pink." Everyone laughed.
"You have one more present to open," said Gail, handing Maddie and Jack an envelope. Inside was a gift certificate to a restaurant and a bunch of little hand made coupons.
"Now you two can enjoy an evening out after the baby's born, and you get free babysitting services," said Gail.
"Thank you," said Maddie. She started looking at the rest of the coupons. They were all different offers to watch the baby and things like that. Rizzo and Buzz were even brave enough to offer a diaper change. There seemed to be something from everyone.
"We started out with only a few, but everyone wanted to make one," said Mac, explaining.
"Well, it looks like we'll have a night to ourselves every other night for a year," joked Maddie.
"I think we should let them work together. I don't know if I trust them to take care of the kid alone," said Jack. "Well, with the exception of the girls that is."
Once Jack and Maddie loaded up his car, they thanked everyone and drove back to the dorms. Maddie was so happy with the shower and still couldn't believe the guys would do that for her. She was really impressed with the whole thing. Now Maddie was more excited than ever for the baby. Only two and a half more months, she thought, smiling.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Again, sorry it's so short and nothing exciting happened, but next chapter you'll get drama and excitement. The next chapter will be up next weekend and scroll down for a little preview. It's a little spoilerish, so don't read it if you don't want to be spoiled.
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"Did you know he was coming?"
"Herb told me yesterday after practice."
"Yesterday."
"It's not my fault."
"You could have at least told me."
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"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It was just a little cramp."
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"Is she okay?"
"I don't know. There was a lot of blood."
"Jack told me they're going to the hospital now."
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Okay, there's your little preview. Hope you liked it.