41 weeks

"Matty. Wake up." You whisper, shaking his shoulder in attempt to wake him. He doesn't budge so you pull the blankets off him in hopes that it might work but again, he doesn't move. It's quite disappointing considering you're now five days past your due date and if you were in labor, he won't wake. Luckily, Chantal is sleeping just down the hall. After many conversations, you and Matthew agreed that it was probably a good idea to have her stay with the two of you in case you were to go in labor while Matt was playing a game. Yes, you had friends around but it comforted you much more having Chantal here because she's went through this before.

With one last look at Matt, you roll out of bed and waddle like a duck, because that's what you looked like according to Matt and Brady, to the kitchen. You were trying to wake Matt up because you felt like a snack but you didn't feel like getting out of bed.

You're digging through the freezer for some ice-cream you're sure Brady had bought when he last visited when you feel the first cramp. It's a little uncomfortable but you've been having some braxton hicks contractions on and off over the past few weeks, some feeling real enough that you went to the hospital only to be sent home which was very embarrassing even though Chantal told you it happens all the time. It wasn't exactly the fact that you got sent home that you felt embarrassed about, but that Matthew left practice because he thought you were in labor. You just thanked your lucky stars that it wasn't while he was in the middle of a game because it would've been ten times worse.

So you brush it off, cheering silently when you find the tub of chocolate ice-cream, idly wondering if it's weird to eat it in bed at three o'clock in the morning. You decide it's not, walking back to the bedroom and crawling in bed. You sit up against the headboard and grab the PS4 controller so you can put Netflix on since you know you won't be falling asleep any time soon.

Matt rolls over and throws and arm over your legs and nuzzling his face in your side halfway through an episode of Grey's Anatomy. It's gives your belly a weird feeling again, not pain this time but something else. Something a little unsettling because you haven't felt this particular feeling in quite some time.

You're pretty sure you're in love with Matt which makes you equally frightened as it does happy. You've realized that your hatred for him stemmed from that one night when he did something to make you angry when your breakup with your ex was so fresh and you were emotionally vulnerable.

Just like Johnny had told Matt good things about you, he's mentioned things about Matt to you, obviously in hopes that the two of you would hit it off. It gave you a little hope that despite what you had heard from some of the girls, he wasn't that bad of a guy which you know is true now.

Your only problem now is that you have no idea how strong his feelings are for you. Part of you is afraid that what he does feel is only from seeing you carrying his child. You know what he told you at the baby shower, that he liked you since you met but you still can't shake the feeling that maybe what he feels for you might just be temporary.

That one day he's going to wake up and decide that he doesn't want you the way he does now and it breaks your heart thinking about it.

"You're crying." Matt mumbles and you look down to see him now wide awake. "What's wrong?"

You didn't realize that you were crying and you can't wait for the day when everything doesn't make you cry like a baby.

"I'm fine." You say, swiping the tears away. "It's the show." This is a lie because you haven't been paying attention to the show for about five minutes.

He looks at the TV and then looks back at you with an eyebrow raised. "It's a sex scene. Something you been wanting to tell me?"

He has a tiny smirk on his face and it's temping, it really is, but you shake your head and try to come up with some other excuse.

"My ice-cream melted."

"Do you want more?" He frowns, sitting up and it drives you insane sometimes, how willing he is to do anything for you at any given time.

"No, I just -" you sigh, putting the tub on the night table. "I'm tired."

You know it's a lie and so does he but he doesn't push like he normally would. You let him tug you down so you're laying on your side and he's wrapped around you, hand resting on your belly and face tucked in your neck.

"What about Jasper?" He whispers and you smile.

"I like it." You tell him and he nods.

"We'll put it on the list."

. . .

It's later that evening and you've been having what you're telling yourself are braxton hicks contractions all day. You refuse to go back to the hospital already because you know you'll just get sent home again. Besides, Matty has a game tonight and you're determined to go because it's the last game of the season. The Flames won't make the playoff's this year and you know Matt is upset about it but he said that what's more important is that he'll be here for when and after the baby is born.

His words made you fall in love with him a little more.

You and Chantal arrived at the arena early enough that you can go down to see Matt while she finds your seats. You text him when you're outside the locker doors and he looks happy when he walks out to see you. You can see the hint of disappointment that tonight is the last game until next season but he smiles at you anyway.

"How's Jasper?" He asks, resting a hand on your stomach.

"I don't remember agreeing to that name." You tease and he shrugs.

"Jasper Tkachuk. Has a nice ring to it." He says, giving you a soft smile. He looks like he wants to say something else but somebody yells his name and you know he has to go.

He smiles apologetically. "I'll come find you after the game."

You nod, letting him kiss you before heading back to the locker room. You find your way to Chantal in the stands, trying to ignore the way the braxton hicks contractions won't go away. There's a small part of you that knows you shouldn't be brushing them off but now really isn't the time for you to go into labor.

You can't hide the winces from Chantal though because halfway through the first period, she frowns.

"How long have you been having them?"

You wince when another one washes through you. It's much closer to the last one.

"Since this morning?"

"Y/N." She scolds gently but firmly.

"It's his last game! I don't want to miss it."

"Honey, you're in labor."

When those words leave Chantal's mouth, it feels like somebody smacked you because it's suddenly so real.

"C'mon. Let's get to the hospital." She says, helping you out of your seat.

"Matt-"

"We'll get a message to him." she assures you. "he won't miss it."

. . .

As you watch the game from your hospital bed, Chantal paces around the room on her phone trying to talk to someone who can get a message to Matt.

Your water broke shortly after you and Chantal arrived at the hospital and you know how quickly things can progress so you're terrified that he won't make it in time. You know that it's something that the two of you had talked about early on, in the case that he was on a road trip and wouldn't be here but knowing that he is here but you can't get a hold of him, is hard.

"I know it's an unusual situation." Chantal snaps. "Figure it out."

When she ends the call, she sighs and presses a hand to her forehead. You know how stressed she is about the situation but when she turns to you, there's a gentle smile on her face.

"He'll be here."

You admire her attempt at trying to reassure you but you know that you need to get yourself in a good mindset to be okay if he's not here.

"Did you call Becca?" You ask, hoping for at least some good news.

"Yes, she's on her way."

A little bit of good news. Finally.

You start to ask if she's called anyone else but a nurse comes in the room to check you. When she tells you it shouldn't be much longer, your heart sinks, realizing that Matt's probably not going to make it here in time.

"I just got word that Matthew Tkachuk will be out for the rest of the game." you hear Elliotte Friedman say and your head snaps up. You forgot that the TV was still on and it's now intermission. "I didn't see him get injured during the game, Chris. Did you?"

"No, and he didn't take any major penalties. Maybe we missed something."

Your heart leaps when you realize that he's probably left the game because someone got the message through to him and you're proven right when your phone buzzes and his name appears on the screen.

"Matty."

"Hey, baby." he says in a rushed voice. "I'm on my way to the hospital, okay?"

"Yeah?" You sniffle, knowing you're going to cry.

"Yeah." He promises. "Fifteen minutes, okay?"

He stays on the phone with you until he reaches the hospital and even until he reaches your room.

He takes Chantal's place on the chair next to your bed as soon as he walks in.

"Ready?" He asks, taking one of your hands in his and pressing his lips to it.

"Not really." You joke, trying to lighten the mood because you're scared out of your mind. Your entire life is about to change but when you look at Matt sitting next to you, eyes kind and warm and with the smile on his face, you know you can do just about anything with him by your side.

. . .

"I guess we need to pick a name now, huh?" Matt whispers, cradling the baby in his arms. He was natural from the moment he held him and it was like your heart exploded. If you thought you loved Matt before, you know that you love him now.

"What about Henry?" You ask, watching him walk around, bouncing the baby gently.

His mouth turns up in a tiny smile. "I love it." Then he looks up at you and tilts his head a little as if he's coming to a realization.

"What?"

He shrugs, looking back down at Henry before walking over and sitting on the bed next to you. He lets you take the baby out of his arms so you can nurse him.

"I just realized something."

"And what's that?" You ask, raising an eyebrow when he smiles widely.

"I love you." He says easily and when your eyes start watering, he just laughs gently. "I love you so much it's crazy."

"Really?" You ask and he nods.

"Really." He grins and you can't help but laugh when he pulls his phone out of his pocket and waves it in the air.

"Now, shall we make this Instagram official?" He asks and you roll your eyes fondly.

"You're such a dork."

"But you love me." He says and you smile, pulling him close enough so that you can kiss him.

"I really do."