Generation Two - Chapter Sixteen

Married life didn't feel that different to me. Everyone was always saying how married life was great, but to me it didn't feel any different. I was wondering whether that was because Leon and I had already been living together for so long before we got married. That wasn't to say that I didn't enjoy it! Nothing changed for us, however, we still treated each other the same way we had done before. Life was good.



It was roughly two months after we had gotten married that I really wanted Leon to read Baby Incoming: Preparing with vigilance. I didn't know for sure yet, and hadn't done any tests, but I just had this gut feeling that we had a little one on the way. On top of that my period was about two weeks late at this point, which had never happened before. We had been trying, but not desperately. We both wanted a child, but we also wanted to take our time with it. We still had some good many years left before I'd be too old, so we simply wanted to be pregnant when the time was right.



As it seemed, the time was right earlier than expected. I woke up one morning feeling incredibly nauseous, and only just made it to the toilet in time.

I threw up nearly every morning for the next few weeks after that. Sometimes more often than once. Crouching over like that as often as I was set my back on fire, adding to that my daily workouts and it soon became very painful for me to move. Or sit. Or lie down.

I was craving a massage, badly. Leon sometimes massaged me, which felt great, but I had heard of the miracles a professional one could perform on your back, so when the pain became a little too much for me I went to the spa late one evening, and booked one.



Because it was already quite late they had a few openings, and managed to squeeze me in which I was extremely grateful for. My pain was completely gone after that, and because I was sure that it wouldn't last I enjoyed it while I could.

Soon after that I started showing. The tiniest baby bump was apparent underneath my clothes, and I could feel my shorts getting tighter. I quickly changed into something more comfortable, and went to tell Leon the good news.



"How was your day?" Leon had just come home from work, and I decided that his asking me was the perfect moment to tell him.

"Eventful." I winked, hoping to make him curious.

"Eventful? How so?"

"You know how you really want a little girl, and I really want a little boy?" The oddest mixture of confusion and realisation hit his face.

"Yes? Are you saying-"

"I'm pregnant!"



I wasn't sure why he was so surprised. He had pretty much guessed it, and the fact that I hadn't had my period for three months now should have been a certain give-away, too.

"You mean- I'm gonna be a daddy?"

"Yes, we're going to be parents!" I was so excited by then, but it couldn't match the look of pure happiness on his face.

"I'm gonna be a daddy!"

I went on maternity leave shortly after that. Since my job involved a lot of physical exertion, it was deemed safer for me to start early. Also, some of the matches were quite rough, and I didn't want to risk hurting my baby.



I hated it. I had nothing to do at home apart from feeding Ted, which only ever took a minute. For the rest of the day I was bored and in pain, and I couldn't do much about it. I was so close to fulfilling my life-long dream, but I felt like I couldn't do anything to advance in my career.

So one day, I decided to invite my boss and some co-workers over. I was bored out of my mind, and was excited to have someone to talk to who wasn't my husband or my fish. In the past I had focused on staying fit, and winning matches, but I had never put in quite the same effort with my colleagues. We were playing together after all, so I figured it might help to become more friendly with all of them.

By the time they left again I didn't feel like I had made any new friends, but I did feel like I was on the right way. It was a start, and I was happy with that.



When I only had two months left to go before my due date, I started going through catalogues and online shops. There were so many things I wanted to buy, and it was a real pain to choose the perfect high chair, the perfect toy or the perfect crib. Leon helped me pick, which I thought he was enjoying just as much as I was.

In the end we decided on a cute high chair with an underwater scene, including bubbles and little yellow fish. We didn't pick any toys just yet since the baby would be too young for most of them anyway, but invested  into a good baby bed instead. It was exciting when it all arrived, even if I couldn't lift most of it and had to wait for Leon to come home. We placed it all in Caelan's old room, which had just the right size for it all.



In the last two weeks, Leon stayed with me and worked from home. I could see that he was missing his job, and told him that he should go back, I'd phone him when the contractions started, but he wasn't having it. He didn't want me to be on my own when it was time, and insisted.

Him being home with me was nice. I'd feed Ted and read a book, while Leon painted. His customers had really taken a liking to his sketches and occasional paintings, so he used the time to work on some more. That way, he could be in the same room as me, just in case I went into labour early.



And then one day, my water broke. I couldn't possibly describe the pain that coursed through me, but I toppled over and screamed. Leon was in the living room watching TV, but he came running when he heard me.

"What's wrong?" He screamed, sounding a lot more scared than I was.

"Nothing's wrong, silly! The baby's comAAAARGH!" I was trying to sound calm, so he would calm down, but the flashes of pain made that a very hard job indeed.



"Oh, Maker! What do I do?" I could see he was panicking, so I did the only thing that seemed logical in that moment.

I screamed at him. "GET ME TO THE FUCKING HOSPITAL, LEON!" Suddenly, I knew something was wrong. Or maybe it was normal? My contractions had only just started, but this baby was wanting out now. I really couldn't waste any time.

Leon still looked a little shaken, but he managed to help me into the car and drove like a madman to get me to the hospital on time.

We had only just made it to the door, when a doctor took one look at me and got me to the first possible room. It wasn't in the baby ward, but the first room past the reception. This baby really didn't waste any time, and was born almost immediately.

"It's a boy!" The midwife announced, and I sank back into the pillows, holding out my arms so they could put him into them. Leon and I had discussed names, so we'd be able to call him by his name as soon as possible.

Rhys Blackwood. Welcome to the world.

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Wishes fulfilled:

Visit the park
Work out for 6 hours straight
Get a massage
Go to the day spa
Chat with Leon
Clean the toilet
Buy a high chair
Have a child with Leon
Have a boy