Two weeks later
Mason ran off to join his team in the dugout. Trenton sighed and plopped down in the lawn chair we had brought for him. I sat down in the chair next to him.
"What's wrong kiddo?" I asked.
"Am I ever going to get to play Baseball?" Trenton asked and ran his fingers along his cast.
"Of course you will kiddo. Just give it some. You'll play next season for sure, and you'll be in tip top condition for spring soccer season next month." I assured him.
"Here ya go kiddo, blue raspberry snow cone." Cooper said coming back from the concession stand. He sat down on the other side of me and handed me a Diet Coke.
"Thanks dad." Trenton murmured and started to eat it.
"What's wrong kiddo? Did I get the wrong flavor?" Cooper asked. Trenton shook his head.
"No it's good." He assured him.
"He's upset because he can't play." I whispered. Cooper nodded and picked Anthony up out of his carrier.
"So Anthony, this is called baseball. In miniature." Cooper said and bounced Anthony on his lap. I smiled and ruffled Trenton's hair.
"Cheer up kiddo." I told him. Trenton sighed and kicked the dirt with his foot.
"I'm sorry." He murmured.
"Oh kiddo, don't apologize for being upset about something okay?" I asked. Trenton nodded.
"Okay mom." He agreed.
"Oh Charlotte look, Mason's up to bat." Cooper remarked. I ruffled Trenton's hair and turned to watch Mason. The pitcher threw the ball and Mason sent it flying over third base. He took off running and slid into first base.
"Way to go Mase!" I cheered. Mason waved. Cooper made Anthony wave back.
Three weeks later
I woke up to the sound of my pager going off. I groaned and checked it. Addison 911. I shot out of bed and hurriedly got dressed. Cooper sat up sleepily.
"Charlotte what's wrong?" Cooper asked.
"Addison paged me 911." I told him.
"Oh okay. Call me when you find out what's up okay?" Cooper said. I nodded and left the room. I grabbed my phone off the kitchen counter on my way out to the SUV. I climbed in and drove as quickly as I could without getting a ticket to the ER. When I got there Mark was waiting for me.
"Mark what's wrong?" I asked.
"Addison went into preterm labor. We don't even have names picked out." Mark rambled.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"I'll take you to her." Mark said and started walking. I followed him at a quick pace. When we got to the room Addison was fast asleep with several IV's running into her arm. Her face was drenched in sweat and I knew she had been in a lot of pain. I sighed and plopped down in a chair near her bed.
"How many centimeters dilated is she?" I asked.
"Four." Mark said and collapsed into the chair closest to her head. He put his head in his hands.
"What if they don't make it?" Mark asked shakily.
"I'm sure they'll be okay. They're fighters just like their momma." I told him. He lifted his head out of his hands and smiled.
"She is strong. Stronger than I am." Mark said.
"You're strong too. Cooper was scared when I went into preterm labor. It doesn't make you weak because you're scared." I told him. Mark nodded. Addison stirred and sat up abruptly. She leaned forward and moaned in pain. Mark stood up and went over to her quickly. He helped her lay down again.
"Shh Addie it's okay." Mark said and pushed her hair out of her face.
"It really hurts Mark." She complained. In this moment I had never seen Addison so vulnerable and small. It was heartbreaking.
"Do you want me to get you an epidural?" Mark asked. Addison shook her head.
"No. I can do this." She said firmly.
"Addison. There is no shame in and epidural." I told her. Addison shook her head.
"I can do this." She repeated. "Mark did you call Callie?" Addison asked. Mark nodded.
"She's catching the next flight out here." Mark told her and stroked her cheek. Addison nodded slowly.
"Good. She should be here. I need her here." She said. Mark kissed her cheek.
"You're going to be okay. I love you." Mark whispered. I smiled.
Three hours later
Callie sighed and shifted in her chair. Addison was only eight centimeters dilated and it was two in the morning. We were all exhausted. Callie had gotten here about an hour ago. Naomi came in with Addison's chart.
"Okay Addie let's see where you are." Naomi said. Addison nodded and shifted uncomfortably. "You're only just now nine centimeters. I still can't believe you are doing this without an epidural." Naomi remarked and marked something down in Addison's chart. Addison gripped the bed railing and cried out in pain. She rolled on to her side and took a deep breath. Naomi left.
"I can't do this Mark." Addison said freaking out. I sighed and stood up. I went into the bathroom and emerged with a cold rag. I went over to Addison and dabbed her forehead with it. She relaxed only slightly.
"I know that this hurts like hell, I've been here I know. But you can do this. You are strong and you are a fighter and you can do this." I assured her. Addison drew in a shaky breath.
"I don't think I can, but I'll try." Addison said. I smiled.
"Good." I said and put the cool rag down on the table. I sat down in my chair again and rested my head on my hand. I somehow drifted off to sleep and woke up abruptly when Callie shook me gently.
"It's time for her to push." She told me. I rubbed my eyes and walked to stand on the opposite side of her bed from where Mark was standing. Addison looked scared out of her mind. I offered her my hand.
"Squeeze as hard as you need to." I told her. Addison smiled and gripped my hand. Mark offered her his and she took it with her other hand.
"Alright Addison, on the count of three I need you to push for ten seconds okay?" Naomi asked. Addison nodded.
"Okay." She breathed.
"Alright. One, two, three!" Naomi told her. Addison pushed and squeezed my hand. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
One hour later
"Let me see your hand." Callie said.
"What?" I asked.
"Your hand. Come on you've been handling it awkwardly since Addison let go of it." Callie said.
"No it's fine. It just hurts a bit." I said.
"Charlotte let her see it." Addison said breathlessly. I sighed and held out my hand for Callie to examine.
"It's swollen." She said after a few minutes.
"It's fine." I insisted. Mark came into the room.
"How are they?" Addison asked.
"They're doing great. But we need to name them Addie." Mark said.
"I like Whitney Nicole Montgomery-Sloan." Addison told him.
"Okay what about the boy?" Mark asked.
"Why don't you name him?" Addison suggested.
"Nathan Alexander Montgomery-Sloan." Mark decided and kissed Addison on the forehead. "I'll have Naomi make out the birth certificates." Mark said. Addison smiled and Mark left.
"Charlotte come on let me run an x-ray." Callie insisted.
"No, there is no way someone squeezing your hand can break anything." I said stubbornly.
"Actually there is now come on." Callie said. Addison gave me that stern glare she likes to give and I sighed.
"Fine." I grumbled and followed Callie to an x-ray room.