Thank you to Imperfect Being, AdamaGirl, Berenakiss2, ozzlover, walkerdude1 and the two guests for reviewing, you're all amazing! I love reading your comments.
Chapter rating: T
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
All mistakes are my own. I hope you enjoy :)
12th September
Bill rolled over in bed and stretched out an arm to wrap around Laura. Feeling only cold sheets beneath his hand, he lifted his head up to find her missing. Yawing he got up out of bed and headed downstairs towards the light in the kitchen.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing, it's 3am?" he asked when he found Laura cleaning the fridge out.
"I can't sleep, I can't seem to find a comfortable position, and even if I do, five second later I need to go to the bathroom again" she replied pulling the cheese out from the fridge and checking the expiry date.
"Oh sweetheart, come back to bed and I'll give you a massage" he said placing the cheese back in the fridge, and leading her by the hand to their bedroom.
"How does that feel?" Bill asked after propping pillows around her body to support her side and stomach.
"A bit better" she replied sighing softly.
Bill laid down next to her and kissed the back of her head, before balling his right hand into a soft fist and running his knuckles in a curve from her neck to her hips.
"That feels so good" Laura moaned some of the tension beginning to dissipate.
"I'm glad" he replied moving to her legs, and gently rubbing her outer legs in a small circular motion, making sure to direct the blood flow towards her heart.
As Bill silently relieved the pressure in Laura's hands and feet, Laura took a deep breath and asked "Bill?"
"Yes sweetheart" he replied smiling at her softly.
"I'm scared" she told him in a quiet whisper.
"Whatever for?" he asked looking up at her confused.
"I'm scared I'm going to do everything wrong, and that I won't be a good enough mother" she replied sadly, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Oh sweetheart, there is no need to feel scared, you're going to be a great mother. I see you with the boys, you're amazing, and no matter what we're in this together. I wasn't around for long periods of time when the boys were young, so I'm going to be learning alongside you" he said kissing her cheek and resting a hand on her stomach.
"Thank you, I love you" she told him craning her neck back to connect their lips.
"I love you too" he replied, looking at her concerned when he felt her stomach harden underneath his hand.
"It's just a Braxton Hick contraction, I get them every now and again" she told him reassuringly.
"You'll tell me if you think it's anything more than that right?"
"Of course I will. We should get some more sleep, it's going to be a big day with Lee's grand final" Laura said lacing their fingers over her stomach.
"Go Lee" Laura cheered from where she sat next to Bill in the stands, as Lee threw the ball into the basket.
"Yay" Zak shouted from his perch on his father's lap, excited that his brother's team was now in front.
"Sorry we're late, this one was impossible to wake up this morning after last night" Ellen said gesturing towards Saul, seating herself beside Laura and Bill.
"That's okay, they still have twenty minutes to play and Lee just scored" Laura said hugging Ellen.
"Aunty Ellen" Zak said cheerily, climbing off of his father's lap and walking over to Ellen, his arms stretched out.
"Hey bub, how are you doing?" Ellen asked picking him up and sitting him on her knee.
"Good, I'm going to be a big brother" Zak informed Ellen.
"I heard. I bet you can't wait to pop that out" Ellen said pointing at Laura's stomach.
"You have no idea, every day I have heartburn, swollen feet, I can't sleep and the baby's dropped recently so although I can breathe better, I have a lot of pressure on my pelvis. Just four weeks to go though" Laura replied running a hand over her stomach, before hearing Bill mutter "dammit" as the other team levelled the scores.
"It's okay honey, there is still ten minutes of play left" Laura said squeezing Bill's thigh.
"How has the new job been going?" Ellen asked Bill, trying to distract him.
"Good, it's nice to have more time with Laura and the boys. I really like getting to teach the new nuggets and work on the fleet's training programs. I'm still getting used to not seeing Saul everyday though" Bill replied smiling and wrapping an arm around Laura's waist.
"Well maybe you can put in a word for him" Ellen said half-jokingly, she had been trying to get Saul to work on the ground for years now.
Bill was about to respond when Zak stood up and asked "Mommy can I get a drink?"
"Sure bub, Dad will take you to the canteen to get a juice box" Laura replied.
"Mommy?" Ellen asked curiously, when Bill and Zak were out of ear shot.
"Yeah it started a few weeks ago, he accidentally called me Mommy, and when we spoke about it, he said after everything that has happened in the last few months, he'd like to call me Mommy. I told Bill about it that night and we both decided, it if it's what makes him happy and with Carolanne being gone with no contact for just under three months, we'd just go with it" Laura replied shrugging.
"I'm glad they've settled into their new routine, it was hard to see how confused and devastated they were the first few weeks after Carolanne disappeared" Ellen said.
"Yeah me too, as long as they're happy, I'm happy" Laura replied smiling.
"What did I miss?" Bill asked when he and Zak returned with refreshments.
"Nothing as of yet" Laura replied, before noticing Lee grab the ball and duck away from the other team member's tackle.
"Go Lee" the group shouted as Lee threw the ball into the goal. Two minutes later the game was over and Lee's team had won the grand final.
"You did a great job buddy" Laura said hugging Lee tightly, when he joined his family.
"Thank you" Lee replied smiling shyly.
"You were fantastic" Bill said lifting Lee into the air and up onto his shoulders, "how about we grab Pizza to celebrate?"
"Sounds good to me" Laura said following the boys down the grand stand.
"Where do you want to go for pizza Lee?" Laura asked turning to the young boy, at the same moment one of the father's from the other team came rushing through the group, and knocking Laura causing her to fall onto her side hard.
"What do you think you're doing?" Saul yelled at the man, as Bill rushed to Laura, helping her off the ground.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" Bill asked, becoming increasingly concerned when she shook her head and grimaced in pain.
"I've got a lot of abdominal pain" Laura replied clutching her stomach.
"I've got to get her to the hospital" Bill told Saul, "can you take the boys back to our place and look after them for a little bit?"
"But I want to come Daddy" Lee said the worry evident on his face.
"I know buddy, but I need you to stay with Ellen and Saul, as soon as we know what's going on, I will call you" Bill promised.
"Okay Daddy" Lee said hugging him tightly.
"You've had a mild partial placental abruption due to the fall" the doctor told the couple, "we're going to monitor you for a couple more hours, but as long you don't begin bleeding again, I'll send you home on strict bed rest for the next four weeks, with only minimal activity during the day".
"Okay, thank you doctor" Bill replied clutching onto Laura's hand and letting out a large sigh of relief when the doctor closed the door to the hospital room. "What are we going to do about the bookshop?".
"Don't worry honey. The new girl I hired, Tory, starts Monday, so I'll pass on most of my responsibilities to her, and just get Billy to come to the house for the things I personally have to do" Laura replied running a hand down his arm.
"Okay, I was really worried about you and the baby. I wanted to throttle that guy for being so careless" he told her, anger slightly seeping into his tone.
"I know, so was I, but as the doctor said the baby and I are fine, and as long as I follow his orders, everything should go smoothly" she said kissing him softly.
"I love you" Bill replied cupping her cheek and resting their foreheads together.
"I love you too".
Reviews are loved, and it's all good the baby's okay :)