Okay guys...I'm really sorry it's so long. But it's the end. Did you expect anything less? I just want to say that you guys are amazing and have made writing these stories some of the best times of my life. Though this is the end to this tale doesn't mean it's the end forever. Maybe more ideas will bloom in the future...but Britta/Eric/Kennedy/Lacey/John/John's story is going out with a BANGG. I love you and enjoy 3
2 years later…
Sam pulled up in front of the hotel and I sat astonished by its beauty. The red and green lights reflected on the freshly fallen snow and the walkway shimmered with footlights.
"When Leanne throws a party…she throws a party," Sam gushed.
I rubbed my belly and clutched Kennedy's hand. He smiled and reached for the door handle.
"Guys, wait…I'm nervous," I admitted.
"What are you nervous about?" Jesse chuckled, "it's just a Christmas party."
"But it's Leanne's Christmas party…" I reminded him.
"Oh come on, you'll be fine," Sam and Jesse hopped out of the front and Kennedy popped open the back door. He slid out and then helped me out of the back. My pregnant belly was so big I didn't know if my shoes even matched. The last thing I wanted was to be at a Christmas party in the middle of Boston.
Sam locked the car and we carefully made our way towards the hotel. A black Lexus pulled up next to us and stropped. The driver's side window rolled down and a smiling John Oh popped his head out. I looked past him and met eyes with Carolyn. She and Lacey's similar features sent a chill down my spine. Their nose was exactly the same and Carolyn even had the green eyes with the flecks of gold, just like Lacey.
"Hey guys!" John exclaimed, "Long time no see."
"Tell me about it," I rolled my eyes.
"Hey John," Sam smirked, "there's a pot next us right down there." She pointed to where we had parked and John followed her finger with his eyes.
"Alright, meet you inside!" John rolled up the window and took off down the parking lot. I couldn't believe he had shown up. Leanne invited everyone, but come on…John Ohh and Carolyn. That was just asking for trouble.
Kennedy pulled the door of the hotel open and I wobbled inside. As we reached the lobby he grabbed my hand again and we approached the desk.
"Hi, we're looking for the Velazquez party," Sam told the receptionist.
She nodded and told us it was two floors up and the first ballroom on our left. I grabbed a few mints from the bowl off the counter and popped a few in my mouth. The nerves and pregnancy we're helping with my now approaching acid reflux. This was going to be a long night.
The elevator dinged and peeled open. We stepped out and I made sure not to catch the back of my dress with my heel. Kennedy laid a hand on my back to steady my stance and I thanked him with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey you alright?" he finally asked.
"I'm fine, just a little nervous." A little was an understatement if I ever heard one. Going to this party was one of the scariest experiences of my life. There were going to be dozens of people I didn't know…and worst of all dozens of people I did.
Living at the beach house Kennedy and I became very secluded. Cutting the people who caused drama out of our lives was a good decision, but still hard to leave loved ones behind.
I hadn't talked to Tiffany in almost a year. And before you jump to conclusions it's not because she was dating Wiley. I could care less about this. He was going to break her heart anyway. And he did. Three days before their one year Wiley dumped her because they were becoming too serious and he wasn't sure he was 100% dedicated to their relationship. The same damn thing her did to Jess he did to my baby sister. But like a true Gladden, she packed her shit and went back to school. She's happily studying Forensic Psychology at Roger Williams in Rhode Island. Wiley on the other hand…he moved to Florida and is staying with an old band mate. I haven't heard from him in a while either. I miss him; he helped me solve all of problems…well the dream him did.
"If you want to go home, just let me know," Kennedy assured me, "we don't have to stay at the party."
"No it's okay really," I sighed, "I want to see everyone…"
"BRITTA!" A familiar voice monster called me and I turned to face into the loud party.
Lacey came running over and pulled me into a tight hug. Wait…Lacey! Wasn't she supposed to be in LA?
"Lace, you're in Boston…?"
"Leanne invited me," She chirped as we parted, "I didn't want to pass up a party!"
I gave her once over and admired her "Lacey figure" she had revitalized. The last time I had seen her she was model skinny…not Lacey skinny. Her hair was back to its crimson-auburn shade and fell to her shoulders. Her little black dress hugged her curvy hips and she had a new tattoo down her left forearm.
"Lace you look beautiful," I gushed.
She smirked and gave a twirl, "well thank you love." She gave me one look and I already knew what she was going to say.
"You look…pregnant."
I rubbed my tummy and smiled, "this I am."
"It's Kennedy's right?" she winked.
"Yes, they are…and it's not an it, they're a they…"
"Ohhh twins!" she exclaimed.
I nodded, "two boys."
"Awww!" she patted my belly, "do you have names picked out yet?"
"Jack and Fletcher," I replied, "Kennedy and I each picked a name."
"So how's Hawke feeling about being a big brother?" Lacey asked.
"He's only three…he thinks it's the coolest thing in the world." I smiled at the thought of Hawke, but then remembered one thing. Eric. No matter what he would always be Hawke's father and always be that connecting link between us.
"Well, I'm gonna go check out the party," I stepped pat Lacey and was taken aback by the beautiful decorations.
"But wait!" Lacey called after me, "I forgot to tell you something."
"What's up?" I asked.
"Come here…" Lacey tugged my arm and pulled me into the crowd. Losing grip with Kennedy she pulled me deeper into the sea of people and I tried to search the crowd for anyone I knew.
The cluster of people smelled like alcohol and expensive perfume. My nose itched by the time we had reached Lacey's destination. A few faces I had met before stood before me and I lightly smiled.
"Britta, you remember Fallon and Mel?" I nodded at the girls I had met two years ago and exchanged some hellos.
Lacey grabbed Fallons hand; the one that wasn't clutching her French cigarette, that is, and leaned into her shoulder.
"Britta, there's something I have to tell you…" She kissed Fallon on the cheek.
"Lacey, are you…?"
"Oh totally," she exclaimed.
"Wait really?" I asked.
Lacey snorted and dropped hands with Fallon. "No!" she exclaimed, "I'm completely kidding, but guess who's really here?"
"Hey Britta!" an angelic and familiar voice came from behind me and I whipped around.
A very handsome and cleaned up John Gomez stood before me and soon pulled me into a hug.
"John," I giggled, "I miss you! You're…you're here!"
"I'm here," he chuckled, "and I missed you too."
We didn't break apart for a few seconds and he gently patted my back. "Glad to see you're okay," he whispered over my shoulder, "I didn't get to see you before you gone and took off from Arizona."
"I'm sorry I never said bye," I replied, "but after everything that happened I had to get out of there."
"I understand." He dropped his eyes to my belly and smiled, "well looks like you've been busy."
I rolled my eyes and shot a glance over at Lacey; "same to you."
John smiled at Lacey and sighed, "she's the best thing that ever happened to me Britt, I couldn't give up that easily."
"I know, I always knew you guys would find each other again. She needed you, she could deny it all she wanted, but you, John Christopher Gomez, are the best thing that could have ever happened to her."
"Thanks Britta, that means a lot." John looked down at my "Halvorsen" tattoo that had now been replaced with "Hawke." "It's funny," he shrugged. "Lacey and I are back together…and you and Kennedy fixed things."
"True love never dies," I replied.
"Don't hit me…but what about Eric? Didn't you love him?"
"Of course I loved him," I replied, "he's the father of my child and he gave some of the most amazing years of my life…but we're just…we're not meant to be."
"How do you know?" John asked.
"How do you know Lacey's the one for you?" I asked back.
"Because I've been in love with her since I was 12 years old, I've never seen myself with anyone else…"
"And didn't Lacey feel that way about John Ohh?" I replied.
"I guess so…" John shrugged uncomfortably.
"But she loves you John, because you make her feel beautiful, and free. And because you were the first person who taught her how to love without fear of getting hurt, or losing you."
John shook his head and looked back up at me; he had cracked my analogy. "And that's how you feel about Kennedy…"
"Exactly." John nodded and bit his lip. "I understand," he replied, "but what about Eric?"
"He's my EX husband…we don't hate each other…but it's over."
"No," John shook his head, "I know that…I mean…he's here Britta…at the party."
"WHAT!" I exclaimed, "Why?"
"Him and Leanne still talk…they have to," John replied.
"What do you mean 'they have to'?" I demanded.
"Britt…you don't know?" John asked.
"Don't know what?" I exclaimed.
"About Haley…Leanne and Eric's daughter…"
"WHAT!" I screamed. Half of the party goers turned to face me and I blushed.
"They have a daughter…" I whispered, "this…this can't be real."
"I'm serious," John replied, "Leanne found out she was pregnant a little while after you left Arizona. Eric moved in with her and the baby last year."
"You've got to be kidding me." My head was spinning. Why had no one told me! Eric was the father of my fucking child and no one decided to fill me in on the fact that he had another one with my ex best friend. Whoever decided to keep this information from me was going to pay.
I stomped away and broke out of the crowd. If I knew Eric as well as I knew I did, he'd be at the bar. I approached the 50 ft counter top and peered all the way down. I spotted Leanne. She was wearing an elegant red dress with diamonds draping all down her back. Close to her side sat Eric and I glared at the back of his neck.
Making by way down the bar I finally reached Eric and tapped his shoulder. He spun around and nearly choked as he had to do a double take.
"Oh hey Britta," he winched.
"Cut the chit chat," I lilted, "we need to talk."
"Okay," he slid off his seat and dropped his cup off on the glowing glass counter top. "Last Christmas" blared through the speakers as we attempted to exit the crowded party. We were almost at the door when John Ohh stepped in followed by Carolyn. She was slightly shorter than him and was wearing a tight green dress. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a bun wrapped tightly on the side of her head and her peach lip shimmer made her lips look ten times fuller than they really were.
Before I could say a word, Lacey stepped up behind me and stared Carolyn down.
"You can leave," she spat the words as if tiny knives were attached.
"Lacey," John chuckled, "we were invited."
"Well it was obviously a mistake, because there's no way you two would be invited to this party."
"It wasn't a mistake," John's cheeks began to redden. "Let's just enjoy the party huh."
"No John, I can't 'enjoy the party' knowing you're here. You don't deserve to be here, especially not with her."
Carolyn cleared her throat and began to say something but Lacey cut her off.
"Don't say a fucking word!" she barked, "you have no say in this."
"Lacey…" Carolyn tried to begin.
"Don't do it Carolyn…or should I say Gwen. Who the fuck are you anyway? Are you even really my sister? No you can't be my sister, because my sister would never sleep with the guy I was in love with my entire life."
"Lacey this is not the place to talk about this," John butted in.
"Fuck you!" She exclaimed, "don't fucking tell me where's the place to talk about this? Why don't you go home and take care of your daughter, John! The daughter you ignored the fact that she was yours for 6 years. How about that? You fucking disgust me."
"Lacey, I understand why you're angry..but don't blame John…the whole situation was messed up and Madison didn't care…"
"Madison didn't care!" Lacey lunged forward, "No 'Gwen' you didn't give her the chance to care. You're a terrible sister, a horrific friend, and a pathetic excuse for a mother."
Carolyn lashed forward and snapped her hand across Lacey's face.
"Bad decision," I whispered into the tension filled air.
That was all it took to set Lacey off. Like a rodezjan ridgeback, her shoulders rose and Lacey pounced. Carolyn tumbled backwards as Lacey began ramming her fist into her cheek. I had never seen her so angry before in my life. They began tossing around the area, but no one would break them up. Coming closer to my rang, Eric grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the way as Lacey began to pull Carolyn's hair out of the bun.
We raced past the antagonizing crowd and finally made it safely into the foyer. I heard someone calling my name behind me, but I kept running.
Eric's POV-
I didn't know if she had realized we were still holding hands by the time we got to the doors of the elevator. But I wasn't going to remind her. We stepped inside and she pressed every button for every floor twice.
"We have a lot to talk about," she breathed as the elevator dinged up. She reached in a tiny clutch that was hanging off of a chain around the inside of her elbow and pulled out a small gold card. Sliding it in a card slot on the elevator a red light sprang on and she slowly backed away.
"What does that do?" I asked.
"It makes it so it won't stop on any floors, even if someone presses the button," she explained.
"How'd you get a card that does that?"
"I've stayed her a few times before," she replied, as if I was supposed to know. "I'm a VIP."
"Good to know."
"So any way," she rolled her eyes, "I'm not here to make up with you…or beg for you to take me back. I just want to talk about everything that's happened."
"A lot's happened Britt," I replied. She gave me that, "no fucking duh" look and I felt my cheeks begin to warm. I missed it. I missed her.
"So…I heard something…" she began.
"Haley."
"Yeah," she nodded, "why didn't you tell me about her?"
She looked hurt, but not. I didn't know how to describe it. Her voice wasn't angry, but I could tell just by looking at her she was upset.
"I didn't find out about her until you and Kennedy were in New Jersey. Leanne called me and said she was pregnant. I freaked out and flew to Boston as soon as I could."
"I understand that," Britta held up her hand, "but why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think you'd care," I replied, "you had Kennedy and a new life. Why would you care about me?"
"Eric." Britta tapped her foot on the ground and crossed her arms over her pregnant tummy, "Just because we're not together doesn't mean I don't care about you. I can be mad at you, and not talk to you for two years unless it's about our son..but I'll always care about you."
Before I could respond Britta's phone began ringing in her purse and as she pulled it out her ring tone began more audible. "Does he watch your favorite movies…does he hold you when you cry?"
She shyly smiled and placed it back in her purse; "I'll let it ring."
The song finished and we stood awkwardly waiting for either one of us to say something. Finally I blurted.
"So how've you been?"
"Pregnant." She smiled and rubbed her belly, "and busy. I've been writing like crazy and trying to make studio time in between getting ready for the babies."
"Babies?" I asked.
"Twins," she replied, "two boys."
"Congratulations," was all I could think to say. I was happy for her, but still a little disappointed. My now ex-wife was pregnant with twins that weren't mine. Talk about buzz kill.
"So what about you?" she asked leaning against the wall.
"I've been alright." I lied. "I bought a house in Boston, you know so I could be closer to Haley…and maybe in the future Hawke." I tucked my head down and looked up at her from under my brow. She sighed and leaned harder onto the wall.
"He asks about you sometimes," she replied. "He misses you. We both do."
"Good to hear," I chuckled, "when can I see my boy?"
"Anytime you want," she replied. "Well, we've got the beach house, Kennedy's apartment in Arizona, our apartment in LA…and a new house in Boston…so…"
"You bought a house in Boston?" I exclaimed.
"A few weeks ago," she replied, "so anytime you want to see Hawke, just let me know. He is your son."
"I miss that little boy."
"He misses you," Britta replied. Her voice sounded off and she took a deep breath. I didn't know if she knew yet, because she hadn't seen anything, but I knew exactly what was happening. I'd seen it once before.
Britta's POV-
I had to get out of that damn elevator. The pulses of my oncoming contractions were raging up my spine and I knew soon I was going to be in a lot of pain. I didn't want to freak Eric out..but I also didn't want to deliver my babies in a fucking elevator.
Eric stepped closer and grabbed my hand, "is it happening?" he calmly asked.
"I think so…" I pulled in a deep breath and backed into the far wall.
"You're gonna be okay." He was trying to stay calm, but I knew he was freaking out.
Another contraction shot up my pelvis and I screamed. Eric helped me lay down on the floor and told me to keep breathing. He crawled over to the buttons and tried to open the door but it was no use. Once I put my card in it wasn't going to stop anywhere. It was going all the way up, and all the way back down.
He pressed the emergency button and tried to talk into the microphone but all that came back was static. He banged on the panel and yelled into the speaker box again.
"Eric! Eric!" I screamed, "another ones coming…help!"
He shuffled over and grabbed my hand. I squeezed his palm tight as another contraction rumbled through. After it ended Eric crawled back to the buttons and tried to call for help again.
"My phone!" I yelled, "call the hotel! Tell them we're in the elevator and need help."
"Good idea!" Eric grabbed my purse and pulled out my phone. He hit "unlock" but the screen remained black. He hit the side and pressed a few buttons.
"I think it's dead," he finally replied.
Kennedy's POV-
After breaking Lacey and her sister apart I decided maybe a party wasn't the best idea after all.
"Sam," I yelled across the bar, "I'm gonna find Britta and see if she wants to take off."
"We came in one car," she yelled back over the music.
"We can walk…" I replied, "our new house isn't far from here."
She gave me the "ok" hand signal and returned to sipping her drink and talking to a couple I didn't recognize.
I pulled out my phone and hit speed dial. It rang a few times and soon I heard "You've reached Britta. I can't come to the phone right now…" I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket. She had to be in here somewhere. How far could a pregnant girl go at a party where she didn't know half the people?
I stepped away from the bar and entered the buzzing crowd. Spotting John Ohh, I slid through crowds of people and began calling his name.
"John!" I yelled, "did you see where Britta went?"
"Who?" he screamed.
"Britta, John! My wife! Did you see where she went?"
"Oh Britta!" he shot me the double finger guns.
"Yeah…did you see where she went?"
"Yeah man, I saw her leave with Eric a little bit ago. They were running I think."
"Eric?" I exclaimed. What was she doing with Eric. "Alright thanks man."
I parted from the crowd and pulled out my phone again. I wasn't pissed that she was with Eric, they were probably talking about Hawke. I didn't have to like him, or respect him…but I didn't have to respect the fact that he was Hawke's father and would always be a part of his and Britta's life.
"You've reached Britta. I can't come to the phone right now…" Fuck. It went straight to voicemail. It had either died or she had turned her phone off. Either way I wasn't worried. No matter where she was, she was fine. She was probably with Eric right now. They were probably arguing about everything. Hawke. Leanne. Haley…but wait. Britta didn't know about Haley. The only way I even knew was because of John. That was crazy to think about…Eric having a daughter with Leanne. Hawke had a little sister and two brothers on the way…
Eric's POV-
The elevator continued to climb and I all I could do was pray that it didn't get stuck. I didn't want to say it out loud though, that would have jinxed it…and there was no way I'd be able to handle Britta having these babies in an elevator.
She clutched my hand but the contractions had slowed for a little while now. It was okay, I didn't want to let go anyway.
"So…" she tried to steady her breathing, "let's try and distract ourselves. If I don't think about it, maybe it'll delay itself."
"I don't think it works like that…"
"JUST DISTRACT ME!"
I winced and fell over laughing. "I forgot how irritable you get when you start getting contractions."
"Oh ha ha," Britta mocked me, "so funny!"
"Remember the day you had Hawke?" I reminisced on the event that happened three years ago. One of the best days of my life. Other than my wedding day…and July 12th.
Britta laughed and squeezed her legs shut. "My water broke when I was in the shower. I didn't know until I stepped out."
"And you screamed louder than I ever heard you scream in your life," I added.
Britta shook her head, "um um. Not louder than when you pretended to fall off the colonial train."
The memory returned and I burst out laughing. "That was the day we went with John and Lacey right? And the whole time all Lacey would talk about was the damn binoculars."
"And the hotdogs; you can't forget the hotdogs."
We looked at each other and burst out laughing as we both remembered what John had said when Lacey whined she wanted a hotdog. Simultaneously we both blurted, "I got a hotdog right here baby…"
"I don't I was ever more uncomfortable in my life," Britta laughed, "Lacey's face was priceless."
"They're too funny," I agreed, "you know they're back together right?"
"Yeah, I talked to John a little while ago," Britta replied, "I'm glad they finally fixed things. She needed him…and he loves the hell out of her."
"You think she still loves John Ohh?" I asked.
"Is that a question," Britta replied, "I don't think she'll ever stop loving John Ohh. But her and J Gohh are meant to be. They just make sense. No matter how much you can love someone, you always somehow find your way back the one that stole your heart in the first place."
The words cut into me like a knife and I relaxed back into the wall of the elevator. There was always a part of me that thought that Britta was going to somehow end back up with Kennedy, but I never thought it would be as soon as it really happened. I didn't want to believe it…but I couldn't deny it anymore. As long as she was happy I was happy, but it still hurt sometimes.
"So anyway…" Britta sing-songed. "More distractions are needed."
"Okay," I leaned forward, "I got one. Remember your 21st birthday?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed, "you woke me up at fucking midnight and made me take "my first legal shot" in front of everyone! I had honestly never seen the beach house so full with people. You flew fucking everyone out!"
"I knew you didn't really want a quiet party in New Jersey…that's why we left Hawke with Dana."
"No," she wagged her finger in the air, "I said I wanted a quiet party in New Jersey AND we left Hawke with Dana because I wanted a romantic birthday…just you and me."
"You mean…Ah fuck! I could have gotten some?" I whined.
"Key words…could have," Britta smirked. "But you decided to me Mr. Good Husband and invite all my friends and we partied."
"Instead of birthday sex…"
"Instead of birthday sex," she giggled and grabbed my hand tighter. "I think another ones coming."
"Okay, hold on." I steadied myself on the wall and cradled her head behind my arm. I was afraid she was going to hit it on the wall if she wasn't careful.
"It's definitely coming," she cried. Her head shot back and she screamed. Someone had to be hearing this and calling for help. She was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do. I felt helpless.
Kennedy's POV-
I waited another 15 minutes and still hadn't found Britta. I understood if she wanted to talk to Eric but she was missing the party, and I quite frankly, wasn't having any fun.
Sliding onto a stool at the bar I pulled out my phone and did the unthinkable. I dialed in Eric's number, hoping he wouldn't answer. Soon I heard a ring tone going off behind the bar and I peeked over the counter. A black iPhone sitting next to an aqua purse with an embroidered "L" was ringing and "Kennedy" flashed upon the screen. Of course he would leave his phone behind the bar. Awesome.
Shoving the phone back in my pocket I glanced over at the bartender and she smiled and came over.
"What'll you have?" she asked.
"I'll take a scotch on the rocks," I ordered, "and a ginger ale for when I find my wife."
"Coming right up," she sauntered away and pulled out two glasses. Soon a smiling face slid in next to me and I faced a very pregnant Jen Cote-Kirch.
"Hola Kenny," she smiled and placed her purse down on the bar.
"Hey Jen," I gave her slight wave, "where's Pat?"
Jen waved her hand towards the dancing crowd, "somewhere in there."
I nodded and glanced down at her belly, "how's Nicole doing?" I asked.
"She's fine, back in Arizona with her grandma. But little Brody is causing quite a fuss. He's kicking all the time," Jen explained, patting her baby bump.
"I love it when they kick," I replied, "Britta freaks out! She's always like 'they're fighting already!'"
"I still can't believe you're having twins," Jen laughed, "good luck."
"We should be alright," I shrugged, "I've gotten good practice with Hawke and Britta's a great mom."
Jen nodded, "speaking of Britta, where is that chicka? She was like getting on the elevator when Pat and I walked in but I just missed her."
The bar tender returned and slid my scotch to my hands. "Elevator?" I replied, "why would they be taking the elevator?"
"I don't know," Jen shrugged and ordered herself a virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, "maybe they're just talking."
"Well they gotta be careful on that elevator," the bar tender butted in. "Sorry to interrupt, but that elevator had been acting up lately. A lot of VIPs have been complaining that when they used their card it got stuck around the 20th floor. Is your wife a VIP?"
"Yes," I replied, the back of my throat beginning to burn.
Eric's POV-
"Well, we're on the…17th floor." I watched as the numbers rose and gripped Britta's hand tightly.
"Oh joy," Britta huffed.
"This reminds me of the time we tried to go to LA for Taylor's birthday party…" I began laughing just thinking about it.
"I remember that day," Britta exclaimed, "of course the one time I get invited to fucking Taylor Swift's birthday party we get stuck in a parking lot of a fucking traffic jam."
"I'm pretty sure you got out of the car and ran around a few times…"
"I'm pretty sure you peed in the woods," Britta reminded me.
"And I'm also pretty sure the guy in the car in front us thought he was the shit and rolled down all his windows and blasted Eminem."
"And then As Sweet As Sunday came up on his shuffle and he went from being "bad ass" to one of your biggest fans…"
Britta threw her head back laughing, "I think I signed his CD. Probably made his day."
I gazed at her as she remembered that fun day. Her hair was pulled back into a bun with diamonds randomly poked in. Looking as if an artist had acrilically painted it on her make-up was perfect except for the eye liner that was beginning to run down her face.
"You tend to do that a lot," I admitted.
"Do what?" she asked.
"Make peoples days."
"You're too sweet Eric Halvorsen," she rolled her eyes, "you've always been sweet."
The elevator dinged as it reached the 20th floor and we jerked to a stop. "Eric did you feel that?"
"I think we stopped…"
Kennedy's POV-
Racing away from the bar, I left the party and ran for the stairs. Each floor was two flights and I flew down four before I got to the lobby. The receptionist looked at me like I had two heads when I came bounding up.
"Can I help you sir?" she asked.
I caught my breath and tried to explain the situation. "My wife…she's in the elevator…pregnant…20th floor…VIP…stuck."
"Hold on sir," the receptionist pressed a button under the counter. "We can see what's happening in the elevator right through the screen there." She pointed to a tiny screen behind the counter and clicked another button.
Soon an image of Britta and Eric appeared on the screen. Their faces were panicked and Britta clutched Eric's hand as she lay in pain.
"She's having contractions!" I screamed, "you have to help! She can't have the babies in the elevator."
"Oh my…okay sir hold on…I'm going to try and radio to the emergency services and they'll be able to come in contact with your wife. Just remain calm and we'll get her out as soon as possible."
She picked up the phone and I took off for the stairs. If they were stuck on the 20th floor, I had 40 flights to climb before I was there.
Eric's POV-
"Everything's going to be okay," I repeated over and over to myself as Britta shook in pain.
"No it's not!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to have to have these babies in this fucking elevator and…"
"No you're not!" I urged, "we're going to get help and your babies will be fine."
"How the hell do you know!" she screamed.
"Because…" I heard a crackle of the radio and crawled over to the elevator buttons, "because we're saved!"
"Hello, this is emergency services!" the speaker said, "we understand you're stuck and we're going to get you out as soon as possible. Are you okay? Is your wife okay?"
Wife. I sighed and pressed the talk button. "She's uh, she's not my wife. She used to be…" I looked back at Britta and continued to talk, "she's my ex-wife and she's having some pretty bad contractions. They're about 15 minutes apart but when they come…they come."
"Alright sir," the voice replied, "just stay on the line with me as we repair the elevator. We've got someone out there fixing this right now."
"Okay, thank you." I replied.
"Eric come here!" Britta yelled, "I need you! I fucking need you."
I crawled over and grabbed her hand. "I'm so scared," she admitted through her cries. "I don't know if I can do this."
"You can do this Britta. You did it once before and you did perfectly. And just think of Hawke now…he's a happy healthy little boy that you love. Just as much as you're gonna love these little boys…"
"Jack and Fletcher." She told me their names and I added them to the end of my rant.
"Promise me something," Britta cried.
"Anything," I replied.
"You're gonna help me. You're gonna be there, you know when they come."
"Britt…I'd love to be there…but they're Kennedy's boys and it's not my…"
"Please just promise you'll be there!"
"Okay," I sighed, "I promise."
Kennedy's POV-
I was barely breathing by the time I reached the 20th floor. I raced the elevator area and nearly crashed into the emergency service workers. They had paramedics with them who were waiting to place Britta on a stretcher they'd brought up on the service elevator.
"Who are you?" one guy with a dark grey moustache asked me.
"I'm her husband…the women in there having the babies. They're my babies," I exclaimed, catching my breath.
"Well we just got the radio from the guy down stair and the door should be openin…"
Before he could finish his sentence the door began to slowly open and the paramedics rushed in and I watched as they carried Britta onto the stretcher. Eric followed her out and never let go of her hand. She looked up and me and I watched as her face lit up.
"My husband!" she screamed, "that's my husband, let him over here."
They waved me over and I jogged to her side. I swept the wispy bangs out of her face and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"You ready to have these babies?" I joked.
"No," she replied, "but they're ready to be here, so let's go for it."
I looked up at Eric and he and Britta dropped hands.
"I'll meet you down stairs okay," she said to Britta before starting to the stairs.
"Hold on," I took off after Eric. "Eric wait up!"
He turned around and dropped his tensed shoulders, "what are you doing man? You gotta go…"
"I know," I shook my head, "but I just had to say something."
"What?" he asked.
"Thank you. Thank you for helping her through this. I should have been there…and you were. So thank you for keeping her safe."
"I didn't do anything man," Eric modestly replied, "but I know you have to. So go…I'll meet you down stairs."
"Alright." I patted his shoulder and slightly turned.
"Hey Kennedy man," Eric called after me.
"What's up?"
"Thank you…"
"For what?"
"For always keeping her safe..." he dropped his eyes to the floor and then back up at me, "she really loves you man."
"Always has…" I replied.
"Always will." We took off in different directions and bolted into the service elevator. I couldn't believe…I was about to be a dad.
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