"I mean it could just be braxton hicks still right?", Cappie paces anxiously as I lay on my bed.
"I don't think so Cap", I whine. "I read the pamphlets, having pains through your back and hips isn't typical of braxton hicks. The whole past 24 hours have been much worse than my usual false labour pains".
"Okay… it's just like… you're only 37 weeks. And Dr. Goldsmith said that since it's your first baby, a lot of first time moms deliver past their due date", Cappie looks at me, fear taking over him as he continues to pace again.
"Yeah well she also said that because I'm on the younger side I might have an earlier delivery!", I argue, stressed out.
"I know but 3 whole weeks early?", He stops moving to look at me, questioning me.
"Cappie babies come early!", I argue, frustrated and scared now. "Thank god I at least have all the nursery stuff completely set up and all her clothes washed and… oh god, I cannot believe this is happening!"
"Okay here, I'm gonna look it up", Cappie runs off to his room where his laptop is and brings it back, sitting on my bed. "Okay so braxton hicks pains won't get more intense over time, they don't last as long, and they're only felt in the front of the abdomen. True labour pain gets worse as it goes on, doesn't subside when you change positions, and often starts in the back".
"See! I know what I'm talking about!", I look at him worriedly and he returns the fear, his eyes growing wide.
"Well um… okay", He tries to remain calm, breathing out. "You're right, sorry, you know what's going on with your body. We… we should call your doctor then".
"It's Christmas Eve", I groan. "She probably won't even be available. The baby's most likely just gonna be delivered by whoever is on call tonight or tomorrow".
"Oh shit… we're actually having a baby then", Cappie looks at me, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What did you think we were doing all this time Cap!?", I say with a groan, a pain coming on even worse around my hips and my back.
"Sorry, that was a really dumb thing to say, I'm just still a little in shock. But uh… we've gotta get you to the hospital", He springs up off my bed, his mind racing, I can tell just by looking in his eyes.
"Cap!", I grab his hand. "No, they usually say to wait until the contractions are closer together. I don't want to go and have them turn me away".
"Yeah but… we've gotta find some way to get there anyways. I mean your car and my car may not start, or we might be snowed in. We might have to call an ambulance".
"Oh my god", I put my hands over my face in frustration as I feel tears spring to my eyes, the stress of this situation getting to me.
"Don't worry Case. Everything's gonna be fine, okay?", He says, a little more in his right mind now, I think the initial shock wearing off and now he's ready to do whatever we're going to have to do.
"Guys?", Rusty peeks his head into the doorway of my bedroom slowly. "Oh thank god! You're not making out".
"Rusty this isn't the time! I'm going into labour!", I cry out.
"Oh my god", Rusty gasps. "Wait seriously? Are you sure? Isn't it like-"
"Early?", I cut him off. "Yes it's early! But it's happening, I just know it".
"Spitter we've gotta make sure we have a way to get her to the hospital", Cappie looks to Rusty, speaking confidently now, a plan forming in his head as Rusty stands pale, stone faced and in shock. "So me and you need to go check the cars, make sure that they'll start! Casey's would be ideal because the car seats in there and it's much safer than my piece of crap car. But we've just gotta make sure that one of them will start and that we can get them out of the parking lot! If not, we might have to shovel".
Cappie speaks meticulously to Rusty, his head in the game right now which is a stark contrast to how Rusty stands still, as if he's frozen.
"Rusty!?", Cappie shakes him. "Are you listening?"
"Yeah sorry, I just…. feel kind of sick", He shakes his head. "Oh god, this is really happening?"
"Yes and we need you okay? Casey and the baby need you. C'mon", Cappie psyches him up and Rusty nods up and down.
"Okay let's do this Cap", Rusty nods, ready to go now too.
"Wait you're leaving?", I worry then.
"Just for a second. Is that okay? I just think we've gotta make sure we can get you there in this weather", He explains.
"Okay", I nod up and down, fear taking over my mind now.
I wasn't ready for this. I was supposed to have another three weeks! In my mind this baby was going to be born next year. Even though next year was only 3 more weeks away, it just sounded better.
"Wait Cappie", I stop him, holding onto his arm. "I'm only 37 weeks, this wasn't supposed to happen… What if this isn't supposed to be happening?"
I must have a scared look on my face because Cappie looks more than just mildly freaked out. But I can tell he's trying to hide it for me.
"I know Case, but try not to worry. We're gonna get you to the hospital and you'll be in good hands and… then we'll just have an extra 3 weeks with our daughter", He smiles softly down at me then, trying to make me feel better. "I mean... doesn't that sound good?"
"Yeah", I croak out. "Yeah, I guess it does".
I nod up and down then.
"Hey Cap, before you go, do you think you could help me get in the bath? That's one of the main things I've read online to do in the early stages of labour to ease the pains", I explain to him.
"Oh yeah, I remember reading that too", He nods. "Okay I'll get it running".
He touches my knee and then goes to start a bath for me.
"Should I…. should I tell mom and dad Casey?", Rusty asks then, looking at me awkwardly.
"No", I say immediately with a shake of my head and then sigh, pausing for a moment. "It's just a bad idea Rusty. I want to make sure that this one hundred percent happening first and then… well I haven't really told you this, but I don't want them there when I'm in labour".
"Well that's kinda understandable", Rusty scoffs then and I laugh.
"Right? I mean with dad it would just be awkward, and with mom… well it would make labour a million times worse, being in the worst pain of my life and having to listen to her listing all the reasons why I won't be a good mom", I explain as I groan, rolling my eyes back.
"Okay so we won't say anything then", Rusty shrugs. "And by the way, she's wrong if she truly thinks that. But I don't think she does, I don't think either of them do. No one thinks you're gonna be a bad mom Casey".
Rusty gives me a soft smile then as I lay holding onto my lower belly, uncomfortable.
"Thanks Rus", I give him a pout of my lips then. "I'd totally hug you right now if I could move".
Rusty snickers at me, as he laughs, his dimples showing like they always have since he was a little boy.
"Okay Case", Cappie walks back into my room then. "It's gonna be done in a sec, I'll help you in".
"And I'll be in the living room while that's happening", Rusty looks from Cap to me with an awkward purse of his lips as I roll my eyes at him.
"Ow…", I let out as a bad pain comes rushing through my back then.
I catch a glimpse of Cappie out of the corner of my eye, looking truly the most serious I've ever seen him. He looks uncomfortable, worried and fidgeting.
"I wish I could do something to help you Case", He speaks then as he sighs.
"It's okay…", I breathe out deeply. "You're already helping me by being here. That goes for both of you, I really appreciate it".
"Case", Cappie laughs then like I'm being crazy. "Obviously I'm gonna be here for you, this is kind of a package deal, you and me".
He gestures between us and I let out a scoff through my pain.
"You, me, and the baby, I mean", Cappie clarifies.
"Thanks Cap", I speak breathily, feeling tired and a little sick from these pains.
"I'm gonna stop your bath and then help you in there and me and Rusty will check out the transportation situation", Cappie nods, his game plan set in his head as he leaves the room to stop the bath that's running.
"Wow, this is the most serious I've seen him", Rusty scoffs.
"Yeah I know", I nod, a slight smile taking shape on my face as Cappie comes back in.
"Okay let's get you up", He comes over to put his arms underneath mine, helping me get up off my bed.
I lean on him as we walk to the washroom and Cappie shuts the door, plopping me down on the closed toilet seat.
"Okay here's your towel", Cappie points to where he's left a pink towel out for me. "And I brought your phone in here, in case you need to call me while I'm outside in the parking lot and-"
I cut him off by taking his hand in mine, and pulling him down to me to my lips. He's surprised at first when I pull his lips to mine. But even though I've cut off his worried rambling, he takes my cue, kissing me back.
"We're gonna have an actual baby next time we come home", I give him a look, smiling. "I mean, at least if I'm right about what's going on we will".
"I know", he grins with a shy grin which turns into a smirk. "Crazy".
He shakes his head in disbelief as I pull my top off, along with my bra, handing them to Cappie.
"Can you help me get my leggings off?", I ask him. "I can't reach".
He looks up to give me a grin then, even in his panicked state he's not above getting excited over taking my pants off.
"Yeah, of course", he nods and pulls them from my waist down, getting them off each foot.
He pulls my underwear down then too, keeping my clothes in a neat pile.
His hand find themselves on my sides as he helps me up from the toilet seat, getting me into the bath.
"There you go", He smirks as I'm finally in and comfortably laying down, my head on the bath pillow I'd gotten when we'd moved here. "Is the temperature okay?"
"Yeah it's perfect", I nod. "Thanks, this actually feels really good".
"Okay good", he sighs out then, I think a little relieved. "Okay well we'll be back soon, just try to relax here".
"I will", I give him a content nod which he meets with an assuring smile before going out into the hall, closing the door.
I can hear Rusty and him talking, getting their coats on, and then I hear the door shut.
Please let my car start, I think to myself. And please let the parking lot and roads be decently plowed.
I sigh as I close my eyes, laying back, the hot water feeling good.
I then remember that I haven't even filled my best friend in on this crazy turn of events tonight.
I grab my phone from where Cappie had left it in arm's reach and then dial her number.
"Hey Case!", I hear her sing songy voice and it makes me smile.
"Hey", I say, hearing the worry even in my own voice. "It's good to hear you Ash, I wish you were here right now".
"Case!", Ashleigh laughs then. "It's literally been 4 days, well 4 and a half".
"I know but I have something to tell you, you're not gonna believe it!"
"What?", Ash perks up. "Ooh let me guess! After a night of passion you finally gave in, stopped being crazy, and just let Cappie be your boyfriend again? I knew that before the baby showed up you guys would find a way to make it-"
"No Ash, that's not it", I cut her off. "Although… I mean, almost, that almost sort of happened but… it's not important right now. Something even crazier happened! I'm going into labour tonight".
"What?!", I hold my phone away from me because Ash's piercing scream hurts my ears. "Oh my god! You're messing with me, aren't you? Are you guys so bored in this blizzard that you're resorting to pranking me?"
"No Ash", I laugh. "This is really happening, at least I'm like 99 percent sure it is. I'm in the bathtub right now trying to ease the pain. It's crazy Ash, it's like getting a million periods at once, it hurts so bad".
"That sucks", her voice sounds sad then. "I can't believe this though! And the fact I'm not there! I mean, I should probably get in my car and-"
"No way Ash", I cut her off with a shake of my head. "It's too dangerous with the weather and besides, in a few hours it's officially Christmas, your family would kill you if you if you left!"
"Ugh I guess you're right. I just want to be there with you!", She whines. "I guess the baby didn't listen to me".
"No I guess not", I laugh.
"I can't believe you're going to have an actual baby soon! She's so early!", Ash remarks, surprised at this turn of events.
"I know right! I'm scared because its like, really out of the blue. I thought I had a couple more weeks with her in my belly but… I'm also super uncomfortable so I'm a little happy to get her out even though I'm gonna really be in for a rough time", I sigh with a groan.
"You'll get through it, I promise", Ash motivates me. "And you have Cappie and Rusty there, they're not gonna let anything happen to you and the baby".
"I know", I nod. "It's just… this would only happen to me, going into labour three weeks early in the middle of a blizzard!"
I scoff to myself as me and Ash giggle together.
"Why can't anything just be normal in my pregnancy?", I sigh.
"Well", Ash says. "At least the baby's dad is gonna be there right? We had so many conversations in the Spring about you and me going through your labour together because you didn't know if Cappie was going to be there or not".
"Yeah, you're right", I smile then like a giddy preteen girl. "He's been amazing".
"Yeah he actually has", Ash laughs. "Proved me wrong".
"Yeah…", I trail off as I continue to smile.
"Case just promise me this… once this baby is out and things settle… just think about giving her a real family. You know, you and Cappie and her", Ashleigh tells me, her tone serious. "I mean, not that you aren't a real family the way you are now but…"
"I know what you mean Ash", I nod. "And trust me, I think about it way more than you know. It's constantly on my mind".
"Well you could just tell him that you love him", Ash offers. "And then raise your baby together, live happily ever after".
"Happily ever after?", I question with a scoff.
"I know it's cheesy but it could happen for you guys!", Ash laughs.
I don't reply to Ash for a second because I'm wincing in pain, holding my belly in my hands.
"Case? You still there?"
"Yeah", I grit my teeth. "Sorry, I'm still here, just… having a contraction right now".
"Aw I wish I could do something to help", Ash whines.
"It's okay", I take a deep breath. "Even just talking to you is distracting me a bit Ash".
I hear the door to the apartment open then.
"Oh one sec, Cappie and Rusty just came back in, they're trying to figure out how I'm gonna get to the hospital with all the snow out there", I tell Ash. "Can I call you later? I'll text you with updates too Ash".
"Okay! And yes, you better! I'll be staying up all night Case, even though I'm two hours away, think of me as by your side", She says.
"Aw", I pout, feeling emotional. "Thanks Ash. Love you".
"Love you too! Bye!"
I hang up the phone then and Cappie opens the door to the washroom.
"Hey, doing okay still?", His eyes graze up and down my body.
"Yeah", I nod. "I'm not too bad, the contractions are probably fifteen minutes apart, I'm trying to time them by looking at the time on my phone".
"Okay", Cappie nods like he's lost in thought. "Well that's okay then, that's not like hospital level yet".
He must've read up on this like I have.
"Yeah, how'd it go outside? We're not in an emergency situation right?", I ask him, really hoping for good news.
"Well", he bites his lip as he gets the bathroom stool to sit down on so he can sit beside me. "There's good news and bad news".
"Oh god…", I give him a worried look.
"Good news is your car started, so that's awesome. Bad news is… the whole parking lot is full of snow, and the roads don't look great either from what I could see", Cappie sighs and sees my terrified face. "But don't worry".
He makes sure to try to assure me that everything will be okay but it's not exactly working.
"Don't worry?!", I whine. "Cappie what if I have to have this baby here in the apartment?!"
"Well, that crossed my mind too, but…", Cappie gulps, I knew that the thought of him having to be the one to deliver the baby probably made him want to pass out. "Rusty just so happens to have a snow shovel!"
"He does?", I question, kind of confused but beyond grateful that my weird brother and Dale keep a snow shovel in their apartment.
"Yep, not really sure why", Cappie puts a finger on his lip in confusion and then shakes his head. "But thank god".
"Ow", I wince in pain, holding onto my stomach with one hand and the side of the tub with my other. I put my head back, my muscles tensing up in pain.
I close my eyes but open them when I feel Cap's hand on mine on the edge of the tub.
"It's gonna be okay", He assures me again and then sighs. "I really hate seeing you in pain like this".
He truly looks at me with what's the definition of puppy dog eyes, hurt inside him.
"Well it's only gonna get worse so we're gonna have to get used to it tonight. It's… it's what I have to do Cap", I give him a nod. "It's gonna be terrible but she has to come out eventually. And… it's what I've been hoping for, for her to come soon".
"Okay, well me and Rusty are gonna be here the whole way", Cappie nods, trying to be supportive and then thinks to himself. "Well I will, Rusty may or may not have just told me that he's a bit squeamish".
"Yeah", I laugh then. "I already knew that. My mom has to go with him to get his yearly blood tests".
Me and Cappie laugh with each other then as my contraction wanes slightly.
"Well I better go get started outside, Rusty only has one shovel but… he's gonna come out too for moral support and we'll see if we can get you out of here and to the hospital safely, okay?", He gives me a nod, smiling.
"Okay", I nod, nervously sighing out. "What about the roads?"
"Well I've driven through worse", He shrugs like it's no big deal. "Me and my parents lived in Alaska for a few months when I was 16. I won't get into it but let's just say snow and a lot of it".
I give him a smirk then and nod.
"Okay Cap", I feel a bit better then. "Thank you for doing this".
"Yeah of course", He waves it off. "I'm sure you'd rather have a doctor getting all up in there when she's coming out than me. But I will totally do it if it comes down to it - I've read a lot about the labour stuff, I'm basically halfway there to being an OBGYN".
I roll my eyes at him then as he grins devilishly, I think trying to make me laugh so I don't freak out as much.
"Okay Cap", I shake my head. "I would rather take a doctor though, if you see all that I'm not sure if our relationship could recover".
I giggle then but he shrugs.
"Eh", He acts like it wouldn't bother him. "There's not much that can change what you and I have. I mean, 4 and a half years, multiple other girlfriends and boyfriends, law school in DC, an unplanned pregnancy… I'm pretty sure we can handle it".
I smile at him then and he smiles back and I half expect him to kiss me, but he appears to snap out of this moment we're having, remembering what he has to do.
"Anyway, I should go start out there, get a path so we can drive out", He nods, and gets up from sitting down, straightens out his back and then gives me a nod. "I'll take my phone with me if you need to call me. Do you need anything else?"
"Okay. And no I'm good in here", I nod with a smile and he grins and then closes the door, him and Rusty on their way to brave the blizzard that just happened to coincide with the day I go into labour.
"You don't have the best timing, you know that right baby?", I whisper with a laugh, speaking down to my stomach. "Are you just trying to make us all laugh? Or are you trying to drive me crazy? Because it's working".
I giggle then, fully aware I probably look crazy talking to my bump.
"But I love you", I speak softly then, running my hand through the suds to caress along my belly. "And me and your dad are gonna do everything we can to get you here safely. And your uncle Rusty will too if he can stay conscious".
I smile then and lay back, closing my eyes.
Just relax Casey, I try to tell myself. Just relax.
"Come on Casey, we've got to go, you just said your contractions are around 5 minutes apart!", Cappie urges me. "Plus you told me you already had your bloody show when you got out of the bath!"
I'm laying on my bed now, I'd gotten out of the bath a little while ago and then the guys had come back in, said they'd shovelled enough for my car to get out of the parking lot and onto the road. Cappie even said he noticed a snow plow truck going by on the road, probably because it was just after 11pm now.
"What's a bloody show?", Rusty's mouth twists into a grossed out look.
"You don't want to know Spitter", Cappie looks back at him standing behind us, as he gives him a warning look. "Seriously, you don't".
"Cap I don't know… maybe my contractions aren't even that close together, maybe I'm counting wrong", I cross my arms, holding onto the teddy bear on my bed. "Wait… ow ow ow!"
A contraction ripples through me then as I squeeze my teddy bear by the throat, writhing on the bed as I cradle the bottom of my bump in my hand.
"Ow!"
"Casey, you're in agony and you're in active labour, we have to go to the hospital", Cappie looks at me seriously now. "I've already got the hospital bag in the car and ready to go".
"Maybe… maybe I forgot something. Maybe I should check again", I suggest, a tear falling down my cheek.
Okay so fine, I was terrified, freaking terrified to leave this apartment. To actually go have this baby.
"You double checked like a million times. I know you, you wouldn't have forgotten anything", Cappie insists.
"What about her outfit to come home from the hospital that Ash bought her? And my nursing bra and-", I start to list things off nervously.
"They're all in there I promise", Cappie interrupts me as he runs his hand up and down my leg soothingly.
"Casey you need to go. Seriously, you're being ridiculous. You need to let us get you in the car and go!", Rusty looks at me intensely then, speaking a lot more harshly than Cappie was to me.
"Spitter", Cappie looks back at his with what I can only guess is a glare.
"What? You can't have the baby in the apartment Casey! I know you're scared to go, scared of this whole thing, but you have to do it. I mean even months ago you knew this day would come eventually right?", Rusty gives me a look.
"I…", I trail off and then sigh. "Obviously! It's just way sooner than I thought. And she's safe in here, and I'm… I'm scared of what's gonna happen at the hospital".
"I know but she can't stay in there forever", Cappie tells me, gesturing to my belly.
"Cappie's right Case. She's already making her way out anyways, you can't keep her in", Rusty crosses his arms.
"The hospital is the safest place to be Case. I promise", Cap nods.
"What if… what if I'm terrible at this guys?", I look back and forth to the both of them. "What if the baby hates me?"
Cappie scoffs then and shakes his head like I'm crazy.
"Case the baby is gonna love you, you're her mom, she already loves you. Plus if you think about it, the baby's half you and half me, so the me half will take after me and feel the same way about you that I do", Cappie explains.
Rusty gives him a laugh then.
"Yeah what Cappie said", Rusty nods. "Or if you want to get more scientific than that, babies are literally programmed to love their mothers before they're even out of the womb. You're the only person she knows, the only smell she knows, the only familiar thing to her when she enters the world. She already knows and loves you".
I smile then at both their explanations.
"Okay smarty pants", Cappie laughs, giving Rusty a look.
"Thanks guys", I nod then, wiping the few tears that had fallen down my cheeks. I sigh out then and then sit up. "Okay I guess I'm going then, aren't I?"
"If I have to pick you up and drag you there myself", Cappie gives me a sarcastic grin and then gets up from sitting on my bed to stand beside me, putting his hands out for me to take.
He helps me off the bed then and I'm on my feet.
I have on some pink sweatpants I'd bought a few months ago. I'd gotten them in a size extra large so they'd fit when my belly got huge like this. And then I have a black sweater on.
Cappie guides me out of my room to the living room and then to our front hall area where our shoes are as Rusty follows.
"Okay, you want your Uggs?", Cappie confirms with me and I nod.
He kneels down on the ground and I lift my feet up one by one so he can get them on me.
"Wow, look at you getting the princess treatment", Rusty remarks with a laugh.
"Well Spitter she's in a lot of pain", Cappie smirks at him as he stands back up.
"And that pain is partly because of you", I point at Cap matter of fact, joking with him a bit.
"Hey I distinctively remember you were the one who started taking my clothes off first that night", Cappie spars back as I give him a look, narrowing my eyes, knowing he's right but not wanting to admit it.
"Okay gross guys, you're violating the only rule I had set in place for us three spending the holidays together!", Rusty groans as Cappie gets my coat out of the closet and helps me into it.
"Oh don't be such a baby", I roll my eyes at Rusty. "Ugh… ow!"
Another contraction comes on then and I move to grip onto the couch.
"See they're 5 minutes apart Case", Cappie gives me a look but I'm in too much pain to even reply. "Here, come sit down for a sec and when it's over we'll get in the car and try to get there as fast as possible".
"Okay", I croak out with a nod and grab onto Cappie's hand as he brings me over to the couch.
Dammit. This was going to be a long difficult night.
"Ugh, oh my god!", I groan out in pain as I squeeze the life out of Cappie's right hand.
"Are you sure you don't want to bring that teddy bear from your room?", Rusty laughs. "I think you might break Cappie's hand if this is gonna go on all night".
I look up to glare at Rusty.
"Shut up Rusty!", I whine and let out a deep moaning noise.
"Dude, don't mess with her right now", I hear Cappie whisper to Rusty but I can't see them because I have my head down, my eyes shut in pain.
"Okay", I breathe out then, panting. "Guys it's getting a bit better. Let's try to get there, I bet I'm already dilated".
"Okay, c'mon", Cappie nods, looking like he has his head in the game.
He puts his arms underneath mine as he helps me up off the couch and Rusty opens the door for us.
I look back at the apartment for a second.
"Cap when we come back here we're gonna have our daughter", I look to him as I have my arm over his neck, his hand on my waist as he props me up to help me walk.
"I know", He gives me a smile and my heart swells, feeling all the emotions run through me. "Okay c'mon, let's get you there and get that baby out".
"Okay", I nod nervously and Rusty closes the door, Cappie handing his keys to Rusty to lock up and then me and him go down the hall to the elevator.
Rusty runs after us and we all get in the elevator to go down to the main level.
"Thank god we didn't get stuck in here, that would be a nightmare", I sigh in relief as the elevator beeps and the doors open at the main level.
"I know right", Cappie agrees. "Now all we have to do is brave this blizzard. It's really windy and snowy out there Case so just be prepared for it".
I give Cappie a nod as he opens the door to the outside for me.
He wasn't lying, it was a full on blizzard out here. Of course, I was from Chicago, so I was used to the snow, cold temperatures, and extreme winds. But this rivalled even Chicago snowstorms.
"Here, get in Case", Cappie interrupts my thoughts, opening my passenger car door and helping me get inside.
Rusty gets in the back beside where the baby's car seat and the hospitals bag is, and Cappie runs around the car to get in the driver's side.
I'm shivering already, partly out of nervousness and partly because it was literally freezing.
"Okay…", Cappie turns on the car and backs out of the parking spot. "You guys ready to go have a baby?"
"I guess as ready as I'll ever be", I nod with a gulp, my hands shaking slightly in anticipation.
Tonight was going to be the craziest night of my life.