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“You are allowed to begin having sex again now, Andrew. Just as long as you’re both very careful over the next few weeks.” The doctor says as he sits in his chair at the opposite side of his desk. “You are still quite tender over the main incision. However, as long as you are gentle and stay away from the chest area, then I don’t see why you two wouldn’t be able to resume your sex life.”
That was less than two hours ago, and now Andrew and Neil are undressing each other for the first time in six weeks since Andrew had his top surgery. Neil had wanted Andrew to take his own top off, afraid that he may accidentally knock his still healing wounds and hurt him, but Andrew grabbed Neil’s wrists and brought them to the hem of his shirt. “I want you to do it,” Andrew told him. “Are you sure?” “Yes, Neil. I’m sure” Andrew lifted his arms up in the air as much as he could as Neil peeled the shirt up and over his head, careful not to touch Andrew’s scars. Neil lifted his arms up and let Andrew take his shirt off, having to help him just at the very end when Andrew couldn’t lift his arms up any higher without being in too much pain. Before long, both Andrew and Neil were standing in front of each other, chest to chest and shirtless. Neil looked down at Andrew’s shirtless body and smiled at the sight that had plagued Andrew for so long but now made him so unbelievably happy. “Yes, or no, Drew?” Neil asked as he took a step closer to Andrew. “Yes” Andrew replied and immediately connected their lips together in a searing kiss. It was more tongue and teeth than lips, but it was deep and it was passionate and most of all: it was home. Neil slowly began walking them both over to the bed, holding Andrew’s wrist so that he wouldn’t fall backwards onto the bed and risk hurting himself so soon after having surgery. He gently lowered them both down so that Andrew was lying on his back with his head on the pillows as Neil worked his magic on top with his mouth and tongue. Neil began to trail off from Andrew’s mouth and down towards his jaw, leaving a light trail of kisses behind as he began to work his way downwards to his collarbones. There, he left marks by biting into Andrew’s soft and delicate skin and then soothing the sting with his tongue afterwards. Neil kissed and licked as Andrew let out little gasps at the sensation as Neil’s mouth moved downwards, avoiding Andrew’s chest for the time being. He couldn’t wait until Andrew was completely healed up so that he could bite and rub his tongue over Andrew’s sensitive nipples again. He hoped that the surgery would have made them even more sensitive than they already were. Andrew took no time in lifting his hips up off of the bed for Neil to be able to pull his pajama bottoms off and fling them somewhere across the room. Neil lifts Andrew’s legs up and hooks them both over his shoulders, kissing his way up each of Andrew’s thighs as he does so. Neil continues to tease Andrew with kisses. Kissing his legs, his thighs, his stomach. Andrew’s pussy is already wet with the want and the need for Neil’s mouth to be there. Neil leans in and licks Andrew from ass to clit. Andrew shudders at the sensitivity of the sensation and bucks his hips up off the bed, almost crashing into Neil’s mouth with the speed he moves. Andrew settles himself back down again and Neil licks him once more from ass to clit. Slowly at first, but his strokes begin to quicken until he’s fully focusing on Andrew’s clit. Andrew’s body is squirming and shuddering underneath Neil’s mouth as breathy whispers and moans roll off of Andrew’s tongue and out of his mouth. “Ah…fuck…Neil…yes…ahh…fuck…” Andrew moves one of his hands so that it is holding the back of Neil’s head, holding Neil as close to his pussy as he can without suffocating his boyfriend. Andrew knows that Neil knows that he’s getting close when Andrew’s body begins shaking. Neil speeds up his strokes with his tongue and Andrew’s body shakes and caves in on itself when his orgasm rushes over him. “Fuuuuuck…Neil” Andrew cries as Neil continues to get him through his orgasm. Andrew is panting, shaking and squirming. He doesn’t want it to end. Neil keeps going until Andrew is so over-stimulated that he can barely say Neil’s name. “N-Neil” Andrew manages to get out with his eyes closed and head and neck stretching backwards. He feels the exact moment when his pussy squirts all over Neil’s face and that’s when Neil slows his tongue right down before kissing Andrew’s pussy and then coming up to claim Andrew’s mouth. Andrew is so out of it from his orgasm that he can’t even kiss Neil back, instead letting Neil do all of the work for him. “Do you want to continue?” Neil asks him, his voice breathless. It takes andrew a second for his brain to process what Neil has just asked him, but when he does it’s an immediate “yes” Andrew can already see how hard Neil’s dick is through his slightly too tight shorts that make his ass look incredible. Neil stands up on the bed, ducking so that he doesn’t headbutt the ceiling and pulls his shorts down and flings them over to the other side of the room to join Andrew’s pajama bottoms somewhere on their bedroom floor. Neil gives his hard dick a few strokes, smearing the pre cum up and down it as he does so. Andrew licks his lips as he watches Neil’s dick twitch at Neil’s own touch. “I don’t want you to do anything today, Drew. I want to take care of you” Neil whispers as he gets himself settled between Andrew’s legs. Andrew nods and lifts his legs back up for Neil to wrap around his waist, before lining his dick up with the entrance to Andrew’s pussy. Neil presses in slowly, causing Andrew to gasp at the feeling. They hadn’t had sex since a week before Andrew’s surgery. Andrew was having nightmares beforehand and even the thought of being held by Neil in the night was enough to cause him to have some pretty violent panic attacks. But now, after waiting for so long to be cleared by his doctor, Andrew can’t wait for Neil to fill him up and cum inside him. Neil pushes himself all the way in and pulls himself all the way back out again slowly, before repeating the motion over, and over, and over, steadily speeding up his thrusts as he goes. Andrew is already a sweaty and panting mess when Neil reclaims his lips in another breathless kiss, with hands wandering up and down and across each other's bodies. Tangling in hair and running up and down each other's sides. Andrew takes hold of Neil’s hair in a tight grip as he throws his head backwards on the pillows, mouth open and eyes screwed shut as his orgasm begins to take over him. He shakes and pants even more as Neil speeds up his thrusts, matching each one of Andrew’s whimpering moans until Andrew is shaking uncontrollably underneath him with the powerfulness of his orgasm. Neil slows down his movements slightly in order for Andrew to regain his composure until Andrew’s eyes lock with his and Andrew nods that he’s ok to continue. Neil speeds up again, taking both himself and Andrew to the absolute limits before he’s cumming inside of Andrew’s pussy as his boyfriend's name falls from his lips. Neil pants heavily as he slowly rolls his hips to a stop and pulls himself out, then flops down on the bed next to Andrew as Andrew cups his cheek and begins kissing him lazily. They keep kissing until Neil feels Andrew pull away and the quiet sounds of sobs coming from the other side of the bed from the blonde. “Drew?” Neil says quietly “Drew, are you ok?” Neil sits himself up and looks over to see Andrew lying next to him in the bed with his hands over his eyes as sobs rattle through his body. “Andrew, did I hurt you?” Andrew shakes his head. “Tell me what’s wrong, Baby” Neil says as he gently removes Andrew’s hands from his face to reveal the tears falling from his eyes and onto the pillow below. “Nothing. I’m…” Andrew sobs out “I’m happy, Neil. I’m finally happy” Andrew smiles his real smile, the one that only Neil has ever seen. Neil smiles back at him in return and kisses his boyfriend on the forehead and whispers “I’m happy too,” before falling back into bed next to him and stroking Andrew’s hair until his breathing evens out and they both fall asleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Sit down, Maggots!” Wymack’s voice bellows across the Foxhole Court’s Lounge as he attempts to get his rowdy Foxes to sit the fuck down, shut the fuck up and listen. “Today you will all have your physical examinations with Abby” The majority of the Foxes collectively groan as one. “Yeah, yeah. I don’t care” Wymack responds with a flick of his hand. “This year we’re going in alphabetical order of first names. I don’t know why we’re not doing it in order of surnames but whatever. Starting with Aaron Minyard, followed by Allison Reynolds, Andrew Minyard, Ash Weaver, Brittany Curry, Christopher Murphy, Danielle Wilds, Freya Lucas, Jack Frost, Kevin Day, Matthew Boyd, Morgana-Faye Richards, Neil Josten, Nicky Hemmick, Owen Marshall, Renée Walker, Sheena Marsh, Shelley Westfield and finally William Young. You’ll be called into Abby’s office one by one throughout the day. This means that there will be a lot of stopping and starting on the court. Kevin keep your goddamn mouth shut. Everyone understood? Yes? Good. Now go and get changed out. I want you all on that court in ten minutes. Aaron, you can head straight to Abby’s office. Thank you” Wymack finishes and heads straight back into his office whilst the Foxes disperse into their changing rooms. Andrew heads for the Men’s changing rooms. This is the first time that he has legally entered them as Andrew Joseph Minyard. For the last two years, he had been allowed in by the others on the team as he identified as male. None of them minded one bit. They were just happy that he was comfortable. This year, however, he is legally a man, legally Andrew and is excited to step into this room for the first time as his true self. Andrew is the first to open the door and as he turns on the lights he sees that the entire changing room has been decorated from top to bottom with blue balloons and banners. There is a large banner at the back of the locker room hanging across the back row of lockers: Welcome Home Andrew! Andrew’s mouth drops open and Neil comes up behind him “It was Allison's idea. Do you like it?” Andrew turns to face Neil and the rest of his team “Thank you, everyone” “Can we get changed now?” Kevin whines. “Shut the fuck up Kev, we’re having a sweet moment here!” Matt calls out from somewhere near the back. They all head into the changing room and change out ready for practice. Andrew doesn’t change out. He has to get the all clear from Abby about his recovery from his top surgery that he had over the summer before he’s allowed to even breathe near the court, which suits him just fine. Andrew is staring at Neil as he changes when a sudden wave of nausea hits him. He gets up and runs to the bathroom, just making it into a stall in time to throw up everywhere. The changing room goes silent and Andrew can hear the rush of someone’s footsteps running in behind him. Neil gently gets Andrew’s fringe out of his eyes and rubs soothing circles into his back as Andrew throws up again. Once Andrew stops vomiting, Neil hands him some tissues, flushes the toilet and they sit on the floor together. “Are you ok?” Neil’s soft voice asks. Andrew nods. “You did cook chicken last night so I was expecting this to happen” Andrew teases. “Oi! I cooked that chicken to perfection I’ll have you know” Neil teases back. “I bet it’s because you’re excited to get back on the court” Neil continues to mock. “Ecstatic” Andrew replies with a blank expression and points to his face, “This is still my excited face” Neil smiles and kisses Andrew on the forehead. “Come on. Let’s get you up and get you cleaned up” Neil helps to pull Andrew off the floor and the pair make their way back to the now empty locker room. Neil finishes getting changed and Andrew rinses his mouth out with some water from the fountain. By the time they make it back to the lounge, Allison is heading in for her physical exam. They continue to head to the court where the others are running laps around the outer court. “Josten,” Wymack calls out “whenever you decide to join us” Neil waves Wymack off and gives Andrew a quick kiss on the cheek “I’ll see you later. Let Abby know if you need me to hold your hand for your blood tests” Neil mocks. “Fuck off” Andrew laughs back and pushes Neil towards the running crowd. Andrew heads over to stand next to Coach and watches on as the others begin to push themselves. The newbies all look like they’re about to drop dead already. “And there was me thinking that you lot were unfit when you started,” Wymack says with a disapproving tone. Andrew shrugs and hums in response before going to sit down on the home benches. He’s been feeling quite sore today. Maybe he’s been over-exerting himself too soon after surgery. But being back in bed with Neil has been life-changing. Not a single night of sleep has happened yet. He can’t wait to get Neil back to the dorm later and— “Andrew” Allison shouts as she jogs past “You’re up” Andrew gets up and makes his way to Abby’s medical office. He knocks on the door once he’s outside and waits for her to invite him in. “Come in” Andrew opens the door to Abby sitting at her desk, filling out the basic information on his paperwork. “Good morning Andrew,” she says with a smile. “Come and take a seat up on the bed and we’ll get started” Andrew gets himself settled, sitting sideways across the bed and kicking his legs slightly as he waits for Abby to begin. “OK, firstly I’m going to ask you all of your basic information questions. I know that you’ve now legally changed your name so I need to get it all officially put on record” Abby explains and Andrew nods. “Ok so, name?” “Andrew Joseph Minyard” “Date of birth?” “4th November 1986” “Exciting one next. What is your gender?” “Male” Andrew smiles as he says it. “Any medications?” “Antidepressants, bipolar medication, the pill and testosterone” “I know you don’t like me asking you this one, but I’m afraid I still have to. Is there any chance that you could be pregnant?” Andrew shakes his head “No” Abby nods and continues with her next question. “Any injuries or surgeries within the last six months?” “Broken pinky and top surgery” “Perfect,” Abby finishes with a huge smile on her face. “First I’m going to do all of the basic checks: height, weight, blood, urine, etcetera. Sound good?” Andrew nods and Abby gets to work. They take his height first. Still 5’0”. Nothing new there. Weight: 126 lb. A little higher than last year, but then again, he’s now started his hormone treatment and is starting to gain more muscle. Abby moves on to take his blood pressure, check for track marks and take blood to check for any hidden illnesses or diseases that she can’t spot during the normal exam. She does the urine test for the same reasons. “Ok Andrew, what I’m going to have you do next is to lie back on the bed for me so that I can check your surgery sight. Is that ok with you?” Abby asks kindly. Andrew nods and swings his legs up onto the bed and lets Abby lower the bed down slightly. She hovers her hands above his shirt and waits for his approving nod before rolling it up the rest of the way. She carefully swipes her gloved fingers across the newly forming scars and gently presses down around each incision, making sure that there is no tearing or excess swelling that she needs to be concerned about. “These are healing beautifully, Andrew. When did you have the surgery?” She looks at him as a smile grows on his face. “30th of June” he replies. “Ok, so that’s just shy of seven weeks. I would like to keep you benched for just a few more weeks as you’re still a bit tender towards the outside of each scar. But apart from that, you look amazing, Andrew. And with that, you're free to go. I’ll give you a call if there’s anything that comes back on the blood or urine results, but you seem healthy enough to me” “Thanks, Abby,” Andrew says as he sits up. He rolls his shirt back down and puts his armbands back on before heading back to the court and calling Ash to go and have their physical exam. Andrew sits back down on the home bench and watches as his Junkie runs himself ragged on the court for the first time since April. They had stayed in Columbia over the summer whilst Andrew recovered from his surgery. The bedroom fun had carefully begun resuming the day after Andrew had gotten his stitches taken out and the doctor had given him the go-ahead for “gentle sex only” and to “keep away from the chest area for another month or so.” That month had flown by and now Andrew was ready for Neil to make the most of his new body. Andrew stared at Neil's ass as he ran up and down the court. Neil would bend over to ‘tie his shoes’ with his ass in full view of where Andrew was sitting. Andrew knows exactly what Neil is doing. They have the dorm to themselves tonight with Kevin staying with his dad, Nicky going out with the Upperclassmen and Aaron staying at Katelyn’s for her birthday. They were definitely going to make the most of the time that they had. By the time everyone had had their physicals and practice was called to an end, it was almost 6 pm. Andrew couldn’t wait to get Neil home and up against the door of their bedroom. Neil was, surprisingly, the first one out of the changing rooms at the end of practice and the pair immediately headed off to the Maserati and made their way as quickly as possible back to the dorms. They parked up and took the lift up to the third floor. They barely made it inside the dorm before Neil pushed Andrew up against the wall in the hallway, kissing him senselessly. “Yes or no?” Neil whispered breathlessly between kisses. “Yes,” Andrew moaned in return. Neil’s hands slowly came up the sides of Andrew’s body, across his stomach and up to his chest. Neil was careful when he slowly rubbed his thumb over Andrew’s hardening nipples. Andrew’s breath hitched at the touch. Andrew moved himself off the wall just enough to get his T-shirt off over his head. Neil wasted no time in kissing Andrew's neck and taking one of his nipples in his mouth, slowly and gently biting at it then rubbing his tongue over the top to soothe the sting. Andrew let out small gasps at the sensation, throwing his head back slightly at the sensitivity of the touch. Neil slowly continued making his way downwards, kissing each of Andrew’s scars and abs along the way before tugging at Andrew’s joggers in a silent question. Andrew moved his body away from the wall again and let Neil pull his joggers and boxers down. Andrew was already dripping. So worked up from Neil teasing him with his ass all day at the court. Neil smiled at Andrew before licking him for the first time. Andrew shuddered at the sensation. God, he had been waiting for this all day. For Neil to go down on him and eat him out. Neil buries his face in between Andrew’s legs and begins licking and sucking at his clit. Andrew throws his head back as he moans with delight at the feeling of Neil’s mouth and tongue. Andrew uses his hand to guide Neil’s head into place and gently holds him there whilst Neil continues to eat him out. Andrew is panting and letting out small moans and whines as Neil speeds up. “Fuck, Neil” Andrew moans with a shaky voice “I’m gonna…I’m gonna cum…fuuuuck” Neil stops what he’s doing, leaving Andrew right on the edge. Andrew lightly slaps the back of Neil’s head and frowns at him for stopping. Neil just gives him a cheeky grin in return. “Bedroom,” Neil says breathlessly and gets to his feet, grabbing Andrew’s hand and leading the way to their bed. Neil lays down on the bed and Andrew straddles over his hips, rolling his hips once over Neil’s erection. Neil lets out a moan. Andrew lifts himself off Neil just high enough for Neil to take off his own joggers and boxers. Andrew settles himself back down on top of Neil and begins kissing him with so much heat and intensity. Andrew makes his way down from Neil’s mouth to his jaw, slowly kissing down over his neck and collarbone. Kissing each and every scar that he passes over. He bites and sucks over each of Neil’s nipples as Neil arches up into it. He continues kissing his way down his chest, his stomach and finally places a small kiss at the top of Neil’s dick. He kisses down it and then back up again before putting the tip of it in his mouth and sucking lightly. Neil lets out a breathy gasp and moan, arching his back up to get more of the sensation that he’s missed for so long. Andrew uses his right hand and starts stroking the base of Neil’s dick as he slowly inches his mouth further downwards, taking Neil in inch by inch. Andrew keeps sucking until Neil is writhing around underneath him before pulling off and climbing back on top of him. He leans over Neil and looks into his hazy, sex-drunk eyes “Yes or no?” “Yes,” Neil replies breathlessly. Andrew takes Neil’s dick and rubs the tip of it up and down his pussy, teasing both himself and Neil with the feeling. He slowly lowers himself down on it, getting as much of it in him as possible. He’s already panting once he’s got Neil fully inside him. The sensation is so intense after weeks of having to take things slowly. Andrew begins by slowly lifting himself up and down on Neil’s dick, letting it slide in and out of him, gradually picking up the pace, leaning down and kissing Neil’s mouth, jaw and neck. Leaving little marks across Neil’s neck and chest as they begin to get back into the flow of things. Neil takes hold of Andrew’s hips and stops Andrew from moving before he begins fucking up into him, making Andrew whine uncontrollably whilst throwing his head back. Neil praises him and gently cups his face bringing Andrew’s face back down to him, making eye contact with Andrew as he continues to fuck him. Andrew’s moans are breathtaking and the hazy look in his eyes is incredible. “I want to flip you over. Yes or no?” Neil asks between breathless kisses. Andrew pants and moans his response “Yes” Neil flips them so that Andrew is lying on his back with his legs wrapped tightly around Neil’s waist. Neil managed to flip them without falling out of Andrew’s pussy. A new trick that they had learnt to do a few months ago before Andrew’s surgery. Neil fucks Andrew even faster and harder in this position, kissing his way across Andrew’s body and focusing his attention on Andrew’s beautiful new scars on his chest. He sucks and licks his nipples, which are even more sensitive than they were before, causing Andrew to curse under his breath. Neil goes a bit faster and Andrew’s moans grow louder as he whines out “fuck…Neil!…yes…fuuuuck…it’s so good…don’t stop…please…don’t stop…ahhh!” Neil keeps going until Andrew is shaking underneath him. He rubs Andrew’s clit, making him shake uncontrollably as he reaches his first orgasm of the evening. “Keep going baby…that’s it Andrew…you’re doing so good for me…so beautiful when you cum…keep your eyes open when you cum…want to see your face…” Neil gets out between his unsteady breaths. Andrew keeps his hazy, lust-filled, sex-drunk eyes locked onto Neil’s as he cums again, shaking even more from the lingering sensitivity of his last orgasm. “Fuuuuck…Neil…it’s so good…so sensitive…fuck…I can’t…I can’t…slow down a bit…fuuuuck” Andrew’s hips buck up and his head goes back with his eyes rolling backwards. Neil slows down to just rolling his hips at a slow and gentle pace as they both catch their breath and start leisurely making out as their heart rates come back down. “Do you want to change position or stay like this?” Neil asks once they can both form a sentence again. “Change” Andrew replies “I want you behind me, fucking deep into me” Neil hums his approval into Andrew’s mouth and then flips Andrew so that he’s up on all fours and wiggling his ass in the air. Neil kisses his ass and licks the cum from Andrew’s pussy before getting himself in position and pushing himself back inside. He begins picking up pace again quickly, gripping Andrew’s chin and pulling his head back to look into his hazel eyes as they roll into the back of his head again. “So deep…fuuuck…Neil…I’m gonna…gonna cum again” Andrew whines out and Neil begins fucking him faster and deeper as Andrew once again begins shaking from his orgasm. “Fuuuuuuck! Neil! Keep going…shit…fuuuck…don’t stop…I want you…want you to…cum in me…fuuuck…Neil” Andrew continues to squirm under Neil’s touch as Neil’s hips begin to stutter as he reaches his climax. “Fuuuck…Andrew…fuuuck…” and then all Andrew can feel is the heat of Neil’s cum inside of his pussy as Neil stutters his hips as he rides through his orgasm before slumping himself over Andrew's back and kissing his neck as they both begin to come down from their euphoric high. Neil carefully pulls out of Andrew’s pussy and Andrew rolls onto his back where they begin to slowly make out again as they finish catching their breath, smiling and humming into each other's mouths. “You did perfectly, Andrew” Neil whispers against his ear. Andrew is still catching his breath from the three orgasms that he had in quick succession to each other. He’s still shaking from the aftershocks and over-sensitivity going through his body. They finish kissing lazily in bed before getting up and heading to the shower to clean off where they continue to kiss and hold each other. Taking their time. Neil takes the opportunity to finger his cum back inside of Andrew’s pussy as it begins dripping out onto the shower floor, causing Andrew to have one more orgasm as a result. His legs shake as he tries not to fall over in the shower, gripping onto Neil’s neck as tight as he can, trying to hold himself up, gasping and moaning at the overstimulation again. Andrew spends the rest of the week sitting on the sidelines whilst the others practice. Wymack had originally wanted someone to run through some tapes and take notes for him, but he’s more likely to be able to convince Andrew to eat a vegetable than he is to get him to do that. Andrew watches as the rest of his team runs around after the ball and practices their body checks on each other, teaching the newbies how to do it properly. The door to the outer court opens and Abby walks in and heads over to Wymack. The pair talk to each other quietly for a moment before Abby comes over to Andrew. “Andrew,” she begins, “could I borrow you in my office for a minute?” Andrew stares at her blankly before nodding and getting up to follow her. Abby holds the door open as they enter the office. “Take a seat up on the bed for me, Andrew” Andrew hops up onto the bed and waits for Abby to collect her paperwork off her desk. She pulls up a chair from her desk and sits down in front of him. “Ok, Andrew” Abby starts “I just wanted to talk to you about a couple of the results that came back from your blood and urine samples that I took during your physical exam last week” Andrew shrugs. He has nothing to hide. He’s been clean from his court-mandated drugs for almost six months now that his sentence was up. “Andrew, your HCG levels in your urine and blood results came back higher than they should’ve.” Abby pauses for a moment before taking a deep breath “Andrew, the results show that you are pregnant” Andrew’s breathing immediately picks up. “Pregnant?” He asks with a shocked look on his face. “Abby I can’t be pregnant. I’m still on the pill. I’m taking testosterone” “The pill isn’t always effective, unfortunately” she replies with a sympathetic tone. “Andrew, I am going to need to inform Coach Wymack and Nicky about this—” “Why…why does Nicky need to know? I don’t want him to know” “Because you’re under twenty-one, Andrew, and he’s your guardian whilst you’re studying here” “Abby, I really don’t want him to know. You can tell Coach, but not Nicky” Abby sighs “That will have to be at Coach Wymack’s discretion” Andrew’s voice grows a lot softer and quieter when he next speaks “Can you get Neil for me, Abby?” Abby nods and goes to stand up “Of course I can” Neil looks up from where he’s stretching out at Center Court and sees Abby talking very quietly to Coach. Both of them have their backs turned away from the team. Neil can’t help but notice the way that Coach rubs his hand slowly down his face and sighs. Coach walks over to the plexiglass doors, unlocks them and enters the court. He walks straight over to Neil and says quietly in his ear “It’s Andrew” Neil doesn’t need to hear anymore and immediately drops his racquet and rushes out towards Abby’s office, giving Abby a look of fear as he runs past her. He opens the door to Abby’s office without knocking and finds Andrew sitting sideways on the bed with his knees drawn up to his chest and head buried in them. His shoulders are shaking and Neil can hear the muffled sounds of sobbing coming from his boyfriend. “Drew?” Neil says with a gentle voice “What’s happened? What’s wrong?” Andrew looks up when he hears Neil’s voice. “Neil?” He sobs out and Neil places Andrew’s head against his chest and wraps his arms tightly around him. “What’s wrong, Drew? Tell me what’s happened” Andrew shakes his head against Neil’s chest and sobs even harder. Abby and Coach walk into the office and see the emotions that are going on in the room. “Andrew, sweetheart,” Abby says gently, “Would you like me to tell Neil or would you like to tell him yourself?” Andrew lifts his head from Neil’s chest and looks at him with red-rimmed and tear-stained eyes “I’m pregnant” “What?” Neil says, startled with disbelief “You can’t be…you’re on the pill…we’re careful” Neil turns towards Abby. “Abby he can’t be pregnant” “He is Neil. Andrew is pregnant” Abby confirms. “The pill isn’t always effective” Andrew mirrors Abby’s earlier words quietly. “Oh god,” Neil panics. “We've still been having sex. Have I harmed the baby?” Abby smiles at them both “No, Neil. The baby is very well protected in there. And sex wouldn’t harm them, not unless there was significant trauma to Andrew’s stomach during intercourse” Both Neil and Andrew look at each other before Andrew shakes his head at Abby, who nods back in return. “I’ll need to bench you for the foreseeable future until you decide what you both want to do” Wymack says as he walks closer to Andrew and Neil. “I will tell the other Maggots that you’re still healing from your surgery for now. It’s neither mine nor Abby’s place to tell them. And I won’t tell Nicky either. That will be up to you as and when you’re ready” Andrew goes to speak but Wymack cuts him off “Don’t thank me yet, kid” Abby passes over a box of tissues to Andrew “I think that Andrew and Neil would both benefit from taking the rest of the week off practice. If that’s alright with you, David?” Wymack pretends to think “I’m sure I can spare them,” he says mockingly. Neil smiles at Andrew and Andrew gives him a small smile in return “Come on. Let’s get you home” Neil says and helps Andrew down from the bed. “We can sort out a doctor's appointment for you for later in the week. And I’ll get Betsy to give you a call too. How does that sound?” Abby says. Andrew nods but doesn’t say anything. “Thanks, Abby,” Neil says on their way past. Wymack pats Neil on the back as the boys leave the office and gives them both a reassuring and supportive smile. Andrew heads straight for the passenger seat of the Maserati. He doesn’t feel like driving. He feels sick. This can’t be happening, he thinks to himself. He buckles up his seatbelt and waits for Neil to join him in the driver's seat and get them on the road back to the dorms. They park up and head inside, taking the stairs two at a time. Andrew uses his key and enters the dorm, heading straight for the bedroom. He freezes as he gets to the doorway. “Drew?” Neil says as he comes up behind him “Are you okay?” Andrew sniffs and turns around to face Neil “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I can have this baby” Neil closes his eyes and slowly nods “It’s your body Andrew. It’s your choice. But I want you to know that I’ll be with you every step of the way no matter what you decide to do” Andrew nods and they both stay silent for a moment before Andrew speaks again “I think I need to be on my own for a bit” “Ok. Do you want me to leave or—?” Andrew shakes his head “I’m going to go up to the roof. I just need some time to think” Neil nods and moves out of the way so that Andrew can leave the dorm without being touched by him. Andrew takes the stairs up to the roof and forces the door open. He takes a seat in his usual spot and takes a long inhale as he looks out at the view of Palmetto. He needs time to think. Time to be alone. Time to process. Time to think of the pros and cons. Time to make a decision. He doesn’t want to keep this baby for fear that it will fuck him up all over again after he’s finally managed to become himself. But on the other hand, he doesn’t want to get rid of this baby for fear that it will fuck him up all over again and make him experience regret for the first time. Everything was a mess. His head was a mess. His body, which had finally become his, felt a mess. He has this tiny thing growing inside of him and it’s freaking him out and eating away at him from the inside out. Abby is right. He needs to speak to Betsy. He takes his phone out of his pocket, finds her number in his messages and sends her a quick text asking when she can next fit him in for an emergency session. She replies a couple of minutes later telling him that she’s available in an hour and that he’s more than welcome to drop in. Andrew replies with a thumbs-up and then looks at the photo on his phone. His lock screen of him and his Junkie, smiling the morning after his stitches were taken out and he was finally discharged from the hospital. The first time that he had looked at himself shirtless in a mirror and cried tears of happiness instead of tears of sadness. He looked at his belly on the screen and wondered how he hadn’t realised that he was expecting.
How did I not know?
Andrew looked at the time on his phone and decided that it was time to start the drive over to Reddin for his appointment with Bee. He sent Neil a quick text just to let him know where he was going and set off back downstairs towards his car. He drove carefully. Normally he would be reckless and speed just for something to do. But today he felt like he had to be careful. Maybe his brain was already making its mind up on what he should do. He parked up and made his way inside towards Bee’s office where he sat on one of the metal chairs outside and waited for her to finish her current appointment. A teary-eyed girl leaves Bee’s office and closes the door behind her. A few moments later, the door opens, and Andrew slowly steps inside the office. “Good morning, Andrew. Take a seat. Would you like some hot chocolate?” Andrew walks over to the couch and sits down, pulling the fluffy cushion over his stomach. He nods at Bee’s question. Bee begins to make two drinks. Andrew watches her as she boils the kettle, pours the water into the mugs, and adds the milk. She finishes by adding mini marshmallows to each cup. Bee carries both mugs to the couch and sets one down on the coffee table in front of Andrew. She takes a seat on the chair opposite Andrew and takes a small sip from her mug before placing it on the table in front of her. “So, Andrew, what will make the room feel safe for you today?”Andrew takes a shuddering breath as a wave of nausea hits him. The smell of the hot chocolate is too intense for him. Bee gives him a worried look. “Andrew, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you don’t look too well today. Is there something that’s bothering you?”Andrew doesn’t waste any time in telling her. Why put off the inevitable? “I’m pregnant”“Oh,” Bee says, sounding very surprised about Andrew’s latest issue.“And I don’t know what to do,” he says quietly.Bee’s eyes soften “Have you told Neil yet?”Andrew nods.“Well” she begins as she places her mug back down on the coffee table “firstly you’ll need to have it confirmed with a doctor. But I’m happy to talk to you about your different options. Would you like Neil to be present with you through this?”Andrew shakes his head “I just need to know. I need to know all the facts before I talk to him or decide anything”Bee nods “ok. So option one is that you keep the baby and raise it with Neil. Option two is keeping the baby and raising it on your own. The third option would be adoption.” She notices the look of fear on Andrew’s face at the thought of his baby going through the same things as he did. “They don't have to be put into the system Andrew if that’s what you’re worried about. And the final option is a termination.”“Can you explain how they all work for me? I need to know that whatever decision I make is the correct one. Not only for me but for Neil too. This is his baby as well and I don’t want to do anything that he doesn’t want to”“Andrew, this is your body that’s going through this. Yes, Neil is the other parent, but legally you are in control and in the eyes of the law, Neil has no say in what you do or don’t decide to do with this pregnancy” Bee explains. “If you decide to keep and raise this baby, either by yourself or with Neil, then the school has got measurements in place for new parents. We can arrange for the child to be taken care of whilst you're at classes, practice, or even when you are at games, whether or not they are at home or away. We can also look into adoption with you. I know that you wouldn’t want your baby going into the system after what you experienced, however, we can find a family that you can meet during your pregnancy and find a family that feels right for you. There are several different types of adoption. Ones that let you choose to be in the baby’s life and ones where you can walk away. Finally, with a termination, you would need to have a scan done at the hospital to determine how many weeks pregnant you are. A baby can not be terminated after the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy. The termination would need to be signed off by two doctors and would need reasonable grounds to be considered. For yourself, due to your mental health issues, they may refuse you as they may deem you to not be in sound mind and capable of making this decision. Especially as you’re under twenty-one and still not legally classed as an adult yet. But on the other hand, they may also use your mental health as a reason to allow you to go ahead with a termination if they believe that pregnancy could have a serious and unsafe impact on you.” Bee takes a moment to let Andrew take all the information in. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you don’t have to decide now. Why don’t you go home and spend the rest of the day cuddling up on the sofa with Neil and I’ll talk to Abby about sorting an appointment with the doctors for you. And once we have some more information about your current situation we can decide where you want to go from there. Does that sound like a plan to you?”Andrew nods and begins to get up “Thanks Bee”“Anytime, Andrew. Call me if you need anything else in the meantime.Andrew nods and makes his way out of the office and back to his car.He sits in the driver's seat and closes his eyes, taking some deep, calm breaths before he decides that he’s calm enough to be able to safely drive himself back to the dorms.When Andrew gets back to his dorm he spots a note on the kitchen counter with Neil’s scribbly handwriting on it
Gone for a run. Be back later <3xx
Andrew rolls his eyes at it and then throws it in the bin before heading into the bathroom and running himself a nice, warm and relaxing bubble bath.He takes his time in the bath. He doesn’t need to wash - he had a shower this morning - he just needs to relax and not think for a bit.But he can’t relax. His mind is racing with all of these thoughts and decisions that need to be made.
Keep the baby? Don’t keep the baby? Keep it and put it up for adoption? Get rid of it?
It was all too much for Andrew as he began silently sobbing to himself in the bath.So much for a relaxing bath, he chuckled to himself.He calmed himself back down before getting out of the bath and heading into the bedroom where he put on his favourite joggers and one of Neil’s loose T-shirts.He was just getting ready to head into the living room when the front door clicked open and Neil called out.“Andrew! I’m back!”Andrew left the bedroom and greeted a sweaty-looking Neil in the hallway. Neil looked way calmer than Andrew felt.“How are you feeling?” Neil asked carefully.“Good. I spoke to Bee about my different options”Neil nods “And did that help at all?”Andrew shrugs “a bit”“Let me go and have a shower and then you can tell me about them. I want this to be the right decision for both of us” Neil smiled and then walked past Andrew and straight into the bathroom.Andrew sent a quick text to Abby
Am I allowed to have coffee?
Abby’s reply was almost instant
Only one cup a day. Same with tea.
Andrew went into the kitchen and made himself a coffee with three sugars and milk. He made one for Neil too - black, no sugar. Andrew didn’t usually drink coffee, but he felt so tired from everything that had happened today that he didn’t even fight his body’s need for one.He took both mugs into the living room, sat on the sofa and played Snake on his phone as he waited for Neil to finish up in the shower.Neil came in and joined him a few minutes later, bringing with him Andrew’s favourite fluffy blanket from their bedroom. Neil sat down on the sofa and Andrew laid back to rest his head on his boyfriend's chest with the blanket thrown over them.They both took a few moments to close their eyes and just breathe together, making the room into a calming and relaxed space before they began talking about such a heavy subject.“I don’t know if I’m ready to do this yet. I don’t think I’m ready to become a parent” Andrew began in a quiet voice. “Bee says that I have four options:” he counts them off on each finger, “keep the baby and raise it with you. Keep the baby and raise it on my own. Give the baby up for adoption. Or have an abortion. She also said that legally you don’t have any rights in whatever decision I make. But I want to make this decision with you. We created this together, and I want us to be able to make that decision together too” Andrew took a shuddering breath as he finished speaking.“Andrew, if you’re not ready to have a baby, now or ever, then that’s ok with me. We have our whole lives together and this is only the beginning. We’re only nineteen and twenty. I’m still a teenager. I’ve only just gotten my life back after being on the run for so long. And you've finally got the life that you were meant to have. Whatever decision you want to make, I will stand by you. And I will be at your side, holding your hand through it all”Andrew nods as he listens to Neil speak and then he shakes his head and says quietly “I don’t want to keep it”“Ok” Neil nods “then we’ll go with option four. I’ll call Abby and Betsy in the morning and get them to arrange it for us”Andrew sits up and turns to face Neil “Are you sure that you’re ok with this?”Neil nods “If that’s what you want to do, then yes. It’s your body, Andrew. I’m never going to make you do anything that you don’t want to.”“Thank you” Andrew replied as he laid himself back down on top of Neil’s chest.Neil switched the TV on and they spent the rest of the day in a calm and comfortable silence, switching between Exy games, documentaries and films.They went to bed that night and Neil continued to hold Andrew in his arms, stroking his hair until they both fell asleep.The next morning, Neil made the relevant phone calls to Abby and Betsy, letting them both know what Andrew and he had decided to do about the pregnancy last night. Abby tells him that she will arrange the appointment for Andrew as she has all of his medications and mental health issues on her file and can help to give his case should the doctor question his reasons for a termination. Andrew watches Neil in silence as he gets everything arranged for him. It’s his pregnancy but Andrew can’t face making this phone call. Not even with Neil at his side. So Neil told him that he would speak to Abby and Betsy in his place. Both women supported Andrew and Neil’s decision and the reasons behind terminating the pregnancy. Neither of them tried to convince Andrew or Neil to change their minds. They both understood that it was Andrew’s body and therefore Andrew’s decision and no one else’s - apart from Neil’s. Abby called Neil back about an hour later to let them both know that the appointment had been made for 10 a.m. the next morning. Andrew spends the day lying on the sofa with his eyes closed in complete silence. Neil had put his weighted blanket over him and when Kevin started bitching about neither of them going to practice Neil simply said “You try being a man who still has to have a period.” That instantly shut Kevin up and he sculked his way out of the room, leaving just Neil and Andrew behind. Andrew didn’t want to be touched today. He just wanted silence and Neil’s presence. During the afternoon, Andrew managed to turn the TV on for some mild background noise, but he still couldn’t stand the thought of anyone touching him. Tomorrow, there would be several people touching him and poking and prodding him, trying to ask him personal and intimate questions that he didn’t want to answer. He needed to save as much of his already very limited social battery for then. Andrew slept on his bottom bunk while Neil stayed in his own bunk, on the top, for the night. He didn’t sleep. Instead, he lay awake, staring at the slats underneath Neil’s bed and thought about if he really was making the right choice. Andrew doesn’t believe in regret, but this was starting to feel like something close to it. He shut his eyes and took five long, slow and deep breaths that Bee had taught him to do during his first year to try and calm his rising heart rate. He didn’t want his stress to cause the baby any stress. Not that there would be a baby in a few hours anyway. He got up at 8 a.m. to the sound of Neil’s alarm. Kevin and Nicky had already left the dorm and were both at practice. Andrew made his way into the kitchen with Neil and shook his head when Neil offered to make him some breakfast. He didn’t feel like eating. He felt sick. In just two hours, the baby that was growing inside of him would be no more. It was a lot to process. He managed to drink a glass of water at Neil’s insistence, but he took his time with it. Neil let Andrew take all the time he needed that morning until they had to leave for their appointment at 9:15. Neil wanted to leave early just to make sure that they wouldn’t get caught in any traffic on the way. Andrew nodded in agreement and the pair headed off to the Maserati and made their way to the doctor's office. The doctors were only about twenty minutes away from campus, but with the morning rush hour traffic, they made it with just seven minutes to spare. Neil checked them in and they found a quiet spot in the corner of the waiting room where Andrew curled himself up into a tight and tiny ball. He felt really sick and his breathing was beginning to feel laboured. “Andrew Joseph Minyard?” A voice called across the waiting room. Both Neil and Andrew looked up to see a lady in purple scrubs standing at the door of the waiting room with a clipboard in her hands. Neil stood up and Andrew immediately took his hand. Neil squeezed it tightly and said, “I’m not going anywhere.” To which Andrew responded with a nod. They followed the lady down the corridor and into a quiet room where she shut the door and gestured for both of them to take a seat. “My name is Helen and I’m going to be assisting you today. I’m a specialist in young pregnancy and also in pregnancy for people who are LGBT” she told them with a calm and kind expression. She looked at them both and then asked “Which one of you is Andrew?” Andrew fidgeted slightly in his seat and she smiled at him. “It’s ok to feel nervous about this Andrew. It’s perfectly normal to be feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now” She looked at Neil next and asked “And what’s your name, lovely?” “Neil. I’m Andrew’s partner” he replied and gave Andrew’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Am I ok to stay here with him? He’s not in a talking mood today.” Helen smiled at them both and nodded “Of course it is. I want both of you to feel as comfortable as possible. If you need to take a breather at any moment and need me to step out of the room to give you a second at any time, then don’t hesitate to let me know” she said and then looked at Andrew. “Andrew, I see that you’re here for a termination of pregnancy. Do you know how many weeks pregnant you are at all?” Andrew stared blankly at her, so Neil Answered in his place “We think about six. We think it happened just after his top surgery” Helen nods and writes something down on her clipboard and looks at Andrew again. “And I see that you’re on some medication. Could you tell me what they are and what they’re for? Just so that I can get a clearer picture of you” Again, Neil answered in place of Andrew “he’s on lithium for his bipolar. Sertraline for his anxiety and depression. The pill and also testosterone.” “—lithium… sertraline…the pill…testosterone…” Helen says them out loud as she jots them down on her paperwork. “I spoke to your university nurse myself yesterday, and she explained your situation to me and the reason why you would like to have a termination, Andrew. But I would also like to hear it from you, or Neil, if that would make you feel more at ease” Andrew looks at Neil and Neil gives him a small smile before filling the doctor in on their reasoning. “We’re still young. He’s twenty and I’m nineteen. We both have very promising careers ahead of us playing Exy. Andrew is still getting used to his new body after his surgery, and he feels that being pregnant will in a way, reverse all of his hard work of finally being able to be himself” Neil looks at Andrew to make sure that he’s covered everything and Andrew gives him a short nod in confirmation. Helen writes a few more things down before closing her folder and looking at Andrew. “Right then, Andrew, what I’m going to get you to do is to pop yourself up on the bed over here and I’ll take a little look at you. I’ll do a small scan, just to make sure that there is absolutely no possibility that you’re over twenty-four weeks pregnant. And then we can go from there” Andrew gets up and lays himself down on the paper towels that are covering the bed. Helen stands just beside him, with Neil next to the head of the bed on his other side. “I’m going to have you roll your shirt up for me and I’m going to press on your abdomen. Then I’ll apply some gel to you and do a quick scan” she explains to him. Andrew stays silent and lets her get on with what she needs to do. The sooner she does this, the sooner he can take whatever pill they give him and the sooner this will all be over. Andrew tries to not look at the screen as she does the scan, but his eyes can’t help but wander over to the small screen where he sees a tiny little splodge moving around inside of him. “Neil?” He says so quietly that he doesn’t think that either Neil or Helen heard him. Neil squeezes his hand “I know. I see it too” Helen stops what she’s doing and turns a sympathetic smile their way “Would you both like a minute?” Andrew nods and Neil replies with “Yes” Helen smiles again, takes her gloves off and quietly heads out of the room, leaving the boys alone to talk. “I saw it” Andrew says barely above a whisper. Neil nods “Are you having second thoughts?” Andrew nods and looks at the now blank screen again “Yeah” he says with an almost teary voice. “Neil?” He says a few minutes later “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think that I can get rid of this baby” he looks at Neil who smiles back at him. “I don't think I can either” Neil goes to find the doctor and tells them that they’re ready. She comes back in and they all sit at the desk again. She doesn’t rush them to speak. She lets them take their time. “I can’t kill my baby,” Andrew says with a hoarse voice and teary eyes. Helen nods in understanding “It’s absolutely fine to change your mind about this Andrew. It’s a very tough decision to make and no one is going to judge you for it either way. If you want to keep your baby, then that is absolutely fine too. We can get you started on a pregnancy plan and see what works for you.” Andrew nods “I want to keep it” “Then we will keep it,” Neil smiles. They end up leaving the doctor's appointment with paperwork and leaflets with everything to do with and about pregnancy that they could gather. The majority of them had been given to them by the doctor and they picked up a few from the stand in the reception on the way out. They were also given another scan where they got to have a proper look at their baby. “I’d say you’re correct in thinking that you’re around six weeks pregnant and that would make your due date around the 10th May 2008” is what the doctor had told them both. She even printed off a photo of the scan for them to take home to add to their first memories of the new baby that they were creating. They stopped off at the store on the way home and picked up the items that the doctor had suggested for them to get to help with the early stages of pregnancy:
Ginger biscuits - to help with morning sickness
Decaf coffee and tea
Vitamins
Nicotine patches
Baby books
Memory books (if you want any)
Disposable cameras and films
After which they made their way back to the dorms. Neil called Abby and Betsy as soon as they arrived back to let them know about their change of heart and both women congratulated them on the expectation of their new arrival. Wymack called to tell Neil that he could take time off whenever he needed it. Andrew and the baby are his main priority now. Exy can wait. But Neil insisted that he would be at practice on Monday, much to Andrew’s eye roll. They had another appointment with the doctor tomorrow to discuss Andrew’s medications and to see which ones he would need to change during his pregnancy. It turns out that some medications can be harmful to the baby if Andrew takes them. So they had to look into alternatives for him. “Good Morning boys,” Dr Helen says as Andrew and Neil enter her doctor's office. Andrew doesn't say anything, but Neil greets her politely in return. They both take a seat at the desk. Andrew feels anxious about today's appointment. Today is the day he finds out which of his medications he can keep taking and which ones he can't. “Ok, Andrew,” Dr Helen begins “I've taken a look at your medical records and your history. I see that you're currently taking Testosterone, Sertraline the pill and Lithium. Is that correct?” Andrew silently nods. “You can continue taking your Sertraline. Although there is a small chance that this medication can affect the development of the baby's heart. However, if there is any risk, it is small, and the majority of babies born to people taking Sertraline have a normal heart.” Andrew and Neil both nod along at what they're hearing. “You will need to stop taking your Lithium until you pass the 12-week mark of your pregnancy. Again, there is a risk that it could affect the development of your baby's heart. There is a risk that your baby could develop a defect called Ebsteiin’s anomaly. This is when there is an abnormal placement of one of the valves that controls blood flow in the baby's heart. After 12 weeks, however, there is less risk, and you can resume taking your Lithium. Although we would need to alter your dosage to make sure that it is as safe for you and your baby as possible.” Andrew and Neil continue to nod along. “You also will not be able to continue taking Testosterone during your pregnancy. Again, this could affect how your baby develops. Once you stop taking Testosterone, you may begin to notice a change in your body shape again. Especially around your hips, chest and thighs. But seeing as you've already had your top surgery, you shouldn't see any more changes in that particular area. You may also begin to experience mood swings, such as feeling very irritable or tearful. But these are common in any pregnancy. There are also people that you can talk to about any feeling of gender dysphoria. Although, I can see that you're already in contact with Dr Betsy Dobson regularly.” The boys nod along again, with Andrew gently and slowly running his hand over his belly, feeling where his tiny baby is slowly growing. “What about if I want to feed my baby? As in…me…feeding them? Can I still do that?” “As you have taken testosterone in the past then your milk supply may be affected. So you may not be able to chestfeed your baby. If you can chest feed and you also decide to start taking your testosterone again, your milk will have small amounts of testosterone in it. It is unclear what, if any, effects this could have on your baby. It is also important to consider your own well-being if you are finding that not taking testosterone is triggering dysphoria. But you can come and talk to me or any of your other health care providers if you have any questions or concerns.” Andrew nods along slowly and Neil makes a mental note to read up about ‘Chestfeeding’ later. “Do either of you have any questions for me at all? I know that I've given you a lot of information in a very short space of time.” Neil looks at Andrew and then back at Dr Helen. “What do we need to do to keep the baby safe throughout Drew’s pregnancy? We know he needs to give up smoking and drinking, but is there any more that we should be doing?” Dr Helen smiles. “Keep yourself healthy. Continue exercising, but no more heavy weight lifting. Light workouts and things such as yoga will be good in helping your core. You'll need monthly checkups. These will increase at the latter stages of your pregnancy to weekly appointments. Your regular appointments should stay monthly as long as you don't experience any issues or complications during your pregnancy.” “Complications like what?” Neil asks, leaning forward in his chair. Andrew silently continues to rub his belly. He's starting to feel anxious again. “Things such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm and premature labour, overdue labour, anxiety, depression, anaemia.” Dr Helen lists off in quick succession. “But as long as Andrew continues to stay healthy, there shouldn't be any reason why he won't have a wonderful and straightforward pregnancy.” Andrew’s breathing begins to pick up rapidly. Short, sharp breaths that he can't control. He can't catch his breath. He's hyperventilating. The world is spinning. There are spots in his vision. It's getting darker. The sound around him is muffled. He can feel hands on him. He can't breathe. He can't breathe.
He can't breathe.
He can't–
When Andrew comes to, he is lying on a bed with his legs elevated. He can feel Neil stroking his hair and whispering soothing words to him. He blinks his eyes open to see Neil standing next to him, relief and fear pouring off his face in waves. “Hey, Drew. How are you feeling?” he asks softly once he notices Andrew’s eyes are open. Andrew rubs his hand across his face and lets out a shaky breath. “I'm sorry,” he says quietly in return. Neil’s voice remains soft as he speaks. “Hey, it's not your fault, Drew” Andrew slowly begins to sit himself up. Neil helps him and stands in between Andrew’s legs, holding onto his waist. “Did I hurt the baby?” he asks with teary eyes. Neil shakes his head “No. The baby’s ok, Drew. The doctor’s just gone to get you some water. I've asked her to call Coach and Abby for us too. Get them to take us home. You need to rest, Drew.” Andrew leans his head down onto Neil's chest and inhales deeply, pulling on Neil's arms to wrap around himself. Neil wraps his arms around him willingly and Andrew begins to quietly sob on Neil's chest. Neil rubs his back in soothing circles. Dr Helen enters the office a few minutes later with Wymack and Abby following just behind her. Abby immediately goes over to Andrew and gently runs her fingers through his hair. “Are you ok, sweetheart?” Andrew lifts his head from Neil's chest and sits up, nodding at Abby's question. Andrew watches as Wymack and Dr Helen walk over from her desk. “Here you go, Andrew” Dr Helen says as she hands him a plastic cup of water. Neil helps Andrew take some small and slow sips, taking the cup away from him once he's done drinking. “I've spoken to Abby and David, and I'm happy to discharge you into their care.” Andrew gives her a small smile “Thanks” Dr Helen smiles back to him in return “No problem at all” Wymack claps his hands together “Ready kid?” Andrew nods and lets Neil help him down from the bed, with Neil wrapping his arm around him, steadying his still shaking legs and kissing him on the top of his head. The four of them head out of the doctor's office and towards Wymack's car. Neil opens the back door and holds it as Andrew climbs in and settles himself in the back. Neil climbs in next to him and pulls Andrew's head down so that it is resting on his shoulder. “Close your eyes, baby. Get some rest” Neil whispers as Wymack starts the engine. Andrew is gently awoken by the sound of Neil's voice. He opens his eyes and sees that they are driving through Abby's neighbourhood. “Are you ok?” Neil asks, just as softly as he did before when they were in the doctor's office. Andrew nods and whispers “yes” before sitting himself up. He sees Wymack looking at him in the rearview mirror, but neither man says anything. They pull into Abby's driveway and all make their way inside Abby's house. Andrew and Neil settle themselves down on the sofa, whilst Abby gets them both a drink and Wymack makes a start on dinner. “How does spaghetti meatballs sound?” Abby asks them when she brings the boys their drinks. “Good. Thanks, Abby” Neil replies, taking the drinks from Abby's hands and passing one of them to Andrew. He has already made himself comfortable underneath the fluffy blanket that Abby keeps on the back of the sofa, laying his hand in Neil's lap as he flicks through the TV channels, avoiding anything Exy related. Neil finishes his drink and taps Andrew to see if he needs a refill too. Andrew nods and sits up to let Neil out from under him. Neil goes to the kitchen where Wymack and Abby are halfway through making the meatballs and pasta sauce. He goes to the fridge and refills his and Andrew’s glasses with juice. Wymack comes over to him and propped his hip on the countertop next to him. “How are you doing, kid?” “I'm fine” Wymack rolls his eyes “And the real answer?” “Scared” Neil shrugs. “Being a parent is scary. Take it from me. And I only had to start doing this a year ago. To a twenty-two-year-old of all things,” Wymack laughs and Neil chuckles slightly in return. “What I'm trying to say, Neil, is that it's new for you. It's new for everyone. Especially as you are both still young.” Wymack’s voice becomes soft but serious “But you and Andrew will make amazing parents and your kid is going to grow up knowing just how loved he or she is” Neil smiles again “Thanks, Coach.” Neil takes the glasses and heads back into the living room to join Andrew as he begins watching a new episode of Blue Planet. They watch TV for about another hour before Abby calls them both to the dinner table to eat. Abby serves the spaghetti meatballs and cheesy garlic bread and they all begin to eat. After they've finished their main dinner, Abby surprises Andrew with his favourite dessert: a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. She gives Neil a fruit salad containing his favourite fruits: strawberries, mango, kiwi, banana, orange, raspberries and apple. Wymack takes this as an opportunity to say a few words. “I just want to take this moment to congratulate you boys. I know that this isn't exactly what you were both planning. But as I said to Neil earlier, you two will make wonderful parents.” Andrew and Neil look at each other and smile, taking each other’s hands underneath the table. “Thanks, Coach,” Andrew says with a small smile. “I mean it, Minyard, that kid that you're carrying is lucky to have you as their dad. Both of you” Wymack drops the boys back off at the dorms on his way home. They head upstairs and go into their dorm. It's been a long and tiring day for them both again. “Do you want to take a bath?” Neil asks Andrew once they’re inside. Andrew holds out his hand “Join me? Yes or no?” “Yes,” Neil replies, taking Andrew's hand and leading them both to the bathroom. Neil runs the hot water and adds a lavender bubble bath. He slowly undresses Andrew, taking his time with each item of clothing. Andrew does the same with him in return. They kiss before getting into the bath together, Andrew lying back on Neil’s chest. Neil gently washes over Andrew's body with marshmallow-scented body wash. Washing away all of the stresses of the day. He washes Andrew's hair too, lathering his scalp in shampoo and slowly massaging it in. He washes it off and applies some conditioner, working through the tangles of Andrew's hair and washing it out after leaving it to sit for a few minutes. With Andrew, all washed and relaxed, Neil whispers in his ear “Yes or no?” “Yes,” Andrew says back, barely above a whisper. Neil begins kissing Andrew's temples, moving down to his jaw and the side of his neck, to his collarbone. His hand slowly slides its way across Andrew's chest, teasing his already hardening nipples as he continues to leave a little trail of love bites across Andrew's neck and collarbone. Neil's hand gently begins travelling downwards, slowly enough for Andrew to say ‘no’ if he wants to. Andrew doesn't say anything, instead, he begins letting out quiet gasps and moans. Neil reaches his hand between Andrew's legs and Andrew parts them willingly. He feels around for his intended destination and knows he's found it when Andrew lets out a sharp gasp. Neil begins playing with Andrew's clit, rubbing it in small circles as he relishes in hearing Andrew's soft moans in his ear. “Yes or no?” Neil asks again, trailing his hand further down Andrew's pussy. Andrew lets out a breathy “yes”, and Neil carefully inserts his fingers inside Andrew's pussy. Neil fingers Andrew and watches as his boyfriend begins falling apart underneath his touch. He begins to speed up until Andrew is a gasping and whining mess on top of him. Neil knows that Andrew is close when he begins shaking and squirming. Andrew’s orgasm is beautiful to watch as it unfolds, his body shaking and caving in on itself. Neil knows that if they were in their bed right now, Andrew would have squirted. He probably has, but Neil can't tell through the water. Andrew's body jolts as he rides through the aftershocks of his orgasm. “Bedroom? Yes, or no?” Andrew asks with a breathy whisper. “Yes,” Neil replies. They both get out of the bath and head straight for the bedroom. No one else is in the dorm tonight, with everyone else staying in other dorms. Andrew pushes Neil down onto the bottom bunk. Neil climbs his way up the bed and lies down with his head on the pillow. Andrew climbs on top of him, wanting to take the reins of this for a while. “I want to go slowly for a bit,” Andrew tells Neil. Neil nods in return, letting Andrew take control. Andrew kisses his way down from Neil’s lips to his jaw, collarbone to nipples. He sucks them both, one at a time, before kissing his way down slowly towards Neil’s already hard dick. Andrew kisses the top of it, making Neil hiss at the contact. Andrew slowly swallows it, inch by inch, teasing Neil until Neil’s dick is covered with Andrew’s drool. Andrew pulls off and straddles over the top of Neil, grinding his wet pussy on Neil’s hard dick. They both let out a breathy moan. Andrew rolls his hips a few more times. He stops only to reach down and put Neil’s dick inside of his pussy. He holds onto Neil’s waist and starts grinding slowly again, rolling his hips and letting out little breathy whines. Neil keeps his hands to himself. Andrew has made it clear that he wants to take charge tonight and Neil is going to let him. It’s the least he can do after the day they’ve had. Andrew might not be able to be in control of what medications he can or can’t take, but at least he can be in control of this. Andrew begins bouncing up and down on Neil’s dick, making himself feel good. He starts touching and rubbing his clit in small circles. Tiny, breathy moans spill from his beautiful, pink lips and he throws his head back with his hazel eyes closed. He’s making himself feel good. Bouncing, grinding, rubbing. Over and over until he’s cumming all over Neil’s dick. Body jolting and shaking as he cums. His eyes are still closed as he bites his lips, trying to moan as quietly as possible as he continues to ride himself through his orgasm. He circles his hips around as he begins coming down from his high. Jolting occasionally from his still-sensitive pussy. He leans down and takes Neil’s mouth in his, kissing him tenderly and lovingly, before whispering into Neil’s mouth “I want you to fuck me.” Neil does not need telling twice. He flips them both over in one practiced move, with Andrew now lying on his back and Neil in between his legs. Neil begins fucking into Andrew slowly, keeping eye contact with those gorgeous, hazel eyes as he rolls his hips. His dick sliding in and out of Andrew’s soaking wet pussy. Andrew taps Neil on the shoulder, making Neil come to an immediate stop. Not moving just in case Andrew’s panicking. But Andrew simply brings Neil’s face closer to his and whispers “fuck me harder.” Neil picks up his rhythm again, rolling his hips faster and harder, getting off on the moans that escape from Andrew’s lips. Andrew begins rubbing his clit again. Faster this time than he was before. He’s gasping and squirming underneath Neil as Neil continues to fuck him. The moaning and the breathing between them becomes louder and more desperate as they both edge themselves closer to orgasm. “Fuuuuck…Neil…I’m gonna cum…” Andrew gasps out and then he’s shaking and cumming, squirting all over Neil’s dick as Neil moans and cums deep inside of Andrew’s pussy. It’s not very often that they manage to cum simultaneously, but when they do, it’s fucking incredible. Neil’s body jerks as he rides them both through their orgasms. Andrew begins panting at his pussy and clit’s over-sensitivity. Neil pulls out and rolls off Andrew, laying down next to him. Andrew places his head on Neil’s chest, right over his heart. Neil begins carding his fingers through Andrew's hair as they both pant and breathe together, returning to their bodies slowly. Andrew and Neil close their eyes and end up falling asleep like this: Together, safe, home. Neil wakes up a few days later to the feeling of Andrew suddenly climbing off him. He hears footsteps run out of the room and the bathroom door slams shut. The next thing he knows, Neil can hear Andrew’s gagging and retching coming from the bathroom. He immediately gets out of bed and rushes into the kitchen to get a glass of water and quickly heads over to the bathroom door, knocking quietly. “Drew? Can I come in?” He hears a few more retches and then a small “yes”. Neil opens the door and finds Andrew curled up on the floor next to the toilet, his head resting with his cheek pressed against the seat. His eyes are watering as he cracks one eye open cautiously in the bright light. “Are you ok?” Neil asks as he sits down on the floor next to a pale-looking Andrew. Andrew shakes his head and lets out a small and painful sounding grown. “Feel sick” He hovers his free hand just in front of Andrew. “Yes or no?” Andrew gives him a small nod and Neil puts the back of his hand on Andrew’s forehead and neck. He’s burning up. Neil pulls open the drawer next to him underneath the sink and gets out a flannel. He stands up, placing the glass of water on the countertop and wets the flannel in the sink with cold water. He sits back down on the floor and looks at Andrew who’s eyes have fully shut now. “I’m going to put this on your head. Ok?” Andrew lets out a small whine and Neil places the cool flannel on the blonde's burning forehead. Andrew’s body instantly relaxes as soon as the cold material touches him. They stay silent together for a moment as Andrew’s body finally begins calming down and he opens his eyes to look at Neil. Andrew slowly sits himself up and Neil hands him the glass of water. He takes slow, small sips whilst trying to keep the wet flannel balanced on his forehead. It feels nice. He doesn’t want to take it off just yet. Neil sighs and asks “Is it morning sickness or is it from your with—” “Don’t finish that word” Andrew replies with heat in his hoarse voice. He doesn’t like that word, withdrawal. It always reminds him of the shit that he was forced to take for almost three years. How shit he’d feel whenever it wore off. The mornings when it wasn’t in his system yet. The endless sickness and nausea, combined with the overwhelming amount of fatigue. It’s horribly familiar to how he’s feeling now. Andrew takes a couple of deep breaths with his eyes closed to steady himself before answering Neil’s question. “Both.” Neil nods in understanding. Today is the first day that Andrew hasn’t been able to take his regular medication due to his pregnancy. The last of it had worn off completely overnight and now Andrew was running on empty. Neil waits for a few more minutes to make sure that Andrew is definitely done with puking for now. “Do you want to go to the sofa or back to bed?” He asks softly. Andrew takes a moment to think about his answer. It’s just him and Neil in the dorms with Kevin still staying with his dad and Nicky staying with the Upperclassmen. “Bed. But I want to shower first” Neil flushes the toilet and helps to get Andrew up off the cold tiled floor. They both wash their hands and Neil leaves the bathroom to give Andrew some privacy to have his shower. He heads into the bedroom and picks out Andrew’s favourite oversized t-shirt and loose shorts. He grabs a couple of bottles of water from the fridge and a packet of salty crackers to help settle Andrew’s stomach. By the time he’s finished bringing everything into the bedroom, Andrew is out of the shower and getting himself dried off. Neil sits on the bed and admires Andrew’s beautiful, toned body. God, he wants to kiss Andrew’s tiny bump so badly. It’s almost like Andrew can hear Neil’s thoughts because he doesn’t even look at Neil before he says “Yes” Neil smiles to himself as Andrew walks over to him with his naked chest and stomach on full display. Neil puts his hands on Andrew’s waist and carefully kisses his stomach. “Good morning little one.” He looks up at Andrew through his long eyelashes. He can see that there’s something on Andrew’s mind. “Do you want to talk about what happened at the doctor's office last week?” Andrew nods, puts his shirt on and sits down next to Neil on the bed. Neil opens his arm out and lets Andrew rest his head on his shoulder. He wraps his arm securely around him and begins stroking his hair as Andrew gets himself comfortable enough to speak. “I’m scared” is the first thing that comes out of Andrew’s mouth. Neil doesn’t say anything. He just listens as Andrew says his piece. “I’m scared that being off my meds for the next few months, or however long it’ll be for, will fuck me up. I don’t want to hurt the baby, Neil, I really don’t. But I don’t want to hurt myself either. I know what my brain and body are like without them and I’m so fucking scared that I’m going to fuck this up and that they’re going to take my baby away from me and put it in the fucking system and—” Andrew takes a deep breath as tears stream down his face in quick succession “and I don’t want to lose you because of it” Neil leans himself closer to Andrew and rests his head on top of Andrew’s. His voice is soft when he speaks “You’re going to be scared Andrew. This is new for you. Last time you were off your meds you were still in the wrong body. I know that you don’t want to hurt the baby and that you’d never do anything to hurt him or her on purpose, but we need to think about what’s right for you. The doctor said that there are alternative medications that you can take for the next nine months. Ones that are less harmful to the baby. And you, Andrew Joseph Minyard, are not going to lose me. Ever. You hear me?” Neil places his free hand on Andrew’s tiny baby bump “And this little baby in here is so fucking lucky to have you, Andrew. You’re going to be a brilliant parent. I know you are, I promise” Andrew sniffs a bit as he places his hand on top of Neil’s “Promise me you won’t teach it to play Exy with Kevin” Neil gasps in faux horror “Andrew! How could you say such a thing?” They both laugh and Neil slowly guides Andrew down on the bed, pulling the blanket over him. “I have to go to practice now. But I’ll come and check on you at lunchtime” Andrew nods and Neil kisses him on the forehead. Just as Neil is heading out of the door, Andrew quietly calls out “Seven and a half” “What?” Neil asks as he turns around. “Seven and a half. That’s how many months are left of this pregnancy” Andrew replies with a blank tone. His eyes are already closed as he begins to drift off back to sleep. Neil smiles to himself as he leaves the dorms and heads out to meet Matt and get a lift to The Foxhole Court. Surprisingly, Neil and Matt weren’t the last ones to arrive at the lounge, even though they were running late. There are at least three of the newbies that are missing. Neil makes his way over to sit by Renée as she and Nicky both eye him worriedly. Andrew was meant to be back on the court today after his surgery, but he can’t play now that he’s pregnant. Neil doesn’t want to reveal anything too soon so he just says “Stomach bug. He was up all night vomiting” Renée and Nicky both nod and accept that answer as Coach Wymack claps his hands and gets his Foxes’ attention. “Morning Maggots! Shelley, William and Morgana-Faye won’t be joining us for this morning's practice. Something about them having to do some kind of test for their shared class. But I don’t get paid enough to care about that. So we’re going to be three players down until after lunch. Kevin shut your goddamn mouth. I can see your brain talking again. Captain Wilds and Vice-Captain Josten, you two will be in charge of this morning's practice, whilst I have a meeting with the ERC about another matter. Get changed and I want you all on that court in ten minutes. Now off you all fuck before I make Kevin take over the session instead.” The threat of Kevin being in charge for a whole four hours gets everyone moving out of their seats faster than Neil has ever seen any of them move before. He quietly laughs to himself when he hears his name being called out. He turns around and sees Abby in her office doorway. He walks over and heads inside at Abby’s invitation and sits down on one of the chairs at her desk. Abby closes the door and sits down in the seat opposite him. “How is Andrew doing today?” She asks with a kind and caring smile. “He’s fine,” Neil replies with a blank shrug. Abby lets out a small laugh and shakes her head in amusement. “And the real answer, Neil?” Neil sighs “He’s asleep. He’s been throwing up all morning. I think he’s finding being pregnant and being off his meds really rough. But we talked about what happened last week at the doctor's earlier though.” Abby nods as she listens. “I’ve been speaking with Dr Helen and Betsy about Andrew’s mental health and medications. It’s our priority to make sure that Andrew is safe. Andrew’s well-being is what is most important here. I understand that he’s got an appointment with Betsy on Wednesday to discuss how he wants to proceed with alternative treatments and medications” Neil nods “Yeah. He wants to know if the pregnancy is going to hurt him mentally. He’s scared that he’s going to accidentally hurt the baby. Abby, I don’t want him to be scared” “I know you don’t, sweetheart. Now go and get yourself changed out and I’ll write what you’ve told me into Andrew’s notes. Ok?” Neil nods and heads for the door, nodding his thanks to Abby on his way out. when Neil returns to the lounge, Wymack is still leaning against the entertainment centre. He stops when the older man looks up at him. “I have a meeting with the ERC today about Andrew’s condition. I will need him to be here later to speak to them himself.” Wymack informs him and Neil nods. “How is he doing?” Neil shrugs “Morning sickness and medication withdrawal.” Neil’s voice quietens “and he’s scared” Wymack gives Neil a soft smile “If he wants to come to the stadium and sit in my office for some company, then he’s more than welcome to. I could use some help going through some files anyway. I need to replace Dan, Renée and Allison this year, and I know that Andrew will want to choose Renée’s replacement” Neil nods “Thanks, Coach. I’ll let him know.” Neil turns around and heads into the locker room to quickly get changed out and then jogs his way over to the court. He joins Dan in the centre of the court with the Foxes gathered around them as they give out the instructions for the warm-ups, followed by the drills that they would all be doing. Each of the original Foxes spends their morning training their new teammates. Dan takes Freya and Christopher. Matt, Aaron and Nicky take Owen. Allison takes Ash for the morning whilst Shelley is at her exam. Renée takes Brittany, she’ll focus her afternoon on William. Neil spends his morning running up and down the court and training the new strikers Sheena and Jack, alongside Kevin. This is the first time that Neil has been able to see two of his new strikers in action, Morgana-Faye would be joining them again after lunch. It’s only now as he’s watching his young strikers that he realises just how much of a suck-up Jack is to Kevin. It’s always “Kevin is the best! Blah! Blah! Blah!” Followed by “Josten is shit! Whine! Whine! Whine!” Neil just rolls his eyes and ignores the little shit, instead, he focuses his attention on making sure that Renée can keep as many of Jack's balls out of the goal as possible, which she finds amusing. Secretly, he wishes that it was Andrew smacking Jack's balls across the court. But Andrew won’t be back for this season. Neil’s heart sinks a bit at the thought of not having the Blonde Midget on the court with him, but then he’s smiling to himself at the thought of their little tiny baby growing inside of Andrew’s belly. “What are you smiling at?” Dan asks when she runs past him with her two newbies beside her. Neil smiles more and shakes his head “Nothing”. The look that Dan gives him says that she doesn’t believe him in the slightest, but she’s happy that he’s obviously happy about something. 12 o’clock soon rolls around and the Foxes are dismissed for an hour's lunch and are told to return to the court at 1 p.m. and be ready to go at 1:15. They all take turns having quick showers and changing back into their everyday clothes before splitting off into their groups and heading for the cafeteria and other areas to relax and have some food. Neil runs back to the dorms. He could have gotten a lift from Matt, but he didn’t want to keep Matt and Dan from their lunch date for too long. Plus a run would do him good. He makes it back to the dorms a lot sooner than he expected. He takes the stairs two at a time up to the third floor and unlocks his dorm room door. He can smell food cooking as soon as he goes inside. He walks over to the kitchen to find Andrew making pancakes. A stack of chocolate chip and a stack of blueberry. There’s enough for both of them. “Hey,” Neil says as he goes up behind Andrew, wrapping his arms around his waist and hooking his chin over his boyfriend's shoulder. “How are you feeling?” “Hungry. You want some?” Andrew replies. Neil hums his approval and lets go of Andrew as he watches him finish making the last few pancakes. They sit down together at the small table in the kitchen and eat their lunch. Andrew finally has some colour back in his cheeks after looking so pale this morning. “Is it kicking?” He asks Andrew after he notices that Andrew keeps rubbing his belly during lunch and making strange faces. Andrew shakes his head “No. I won’t be able to feel them for another few weeks yet. I just like knowing that they're there and they're safe. I’m still getting used to it.” Neil nods and then changes the subject “Coach needs to see you this afternoon at practice. He has to tell the ERC why you won’t be playing this season” “I know. He called me about an hour ago. Told me to eat and that Abby would see me beforehand to check on both of us” Both of us, Neil hadn’t heard Andrew refer to himself and the baby as that before and he smiled at the words. “Shut up,” Andrew says and then stabs his final piece of pancake. They finish eating and put their plates in the sink to ignore until later and head into the living room, where Andrew lies on Neil and they both hold his little bump as they search through the channels on the TV to find something to kill the time. Andrew turns over to lie chest to chest with Neil, making himself more comfortable with his legs on either side of Neil’s, straddling his waist. For some reason, this is the most comfortable position for him to lie in at the moment. Maybe it’s because it’s the closest that the three of them can be. Or maybe it’s because it stops him from feeling like he’s about to throw his pancakes back up. Andrew naps in this position for the rest of the break with Neil running his fingers through his hair and leaving small kisses on his head. Andrew hummed softly at each new kiss. “Drew” Neil says quietly as he lightly shakes a napping Andrew, “we have to be back at the stadium soon” Andrew yawns and stretches his body, his back cracking as he does. He rubs his eyes as he sits himself up. “I was comfy,” he says in a mock grumpy voice. Neil smiles and leans in for a quick kiss which Andrew accepts. “Do you want me to drive?” Neil asks. “No. I want to” Andrew replies and stands up from the sofa and heads into the bedroom to get changed out of his pyjamas. They arrive at the stadium at 1:10 where the rest of the Foxes are finishing changing out and running through notes with their younger teammates. The Foxes all look at Andrew and Neil as they bypass the lounge and head straight for Abby’s office. Abby’s already in there and waiting for them to arrive when they enter. “Hello, Andrew. How are you feeling?” Andrew shrugs. “Neil said that you were having some morning sickness this morning. Do you mind if I check you over?” Andrew nods and lays down on the bed, whilst Neil stays at the foot of the bed. He’s not going to leave Andrew for any of his checkups, even if this one is being done by Abby. Abby comes over with her clipboard which she’d already started filling out before the boys arrived. “I’m just going to give you a general once over. I just want to make sure that you’re not too dehydrated from the vomiting. I’ll take your temperature and your blood pressure too, just to be on the safe side” Andrew nods and lets Abby get on with what she needs to do. She begins with his temperature. “37.2, that's perfect.” Next, she takes his blood pressure which comes back in the normal range too. She shines a light in his eyes and mouth and finally has a little feel of his tummy. “Everything looks as it should be, but you are a bit dehydrated and your energy is quite low. Get plenty of rest for the next week or so. The baby is going to be using a lot of your nutrition to grow and that’s going to bring your energy levels down. I don’t want you to be passing out at any point because you haven’t been eating enough. Have you had any food today?” “Chocolate chip Pancakes,” Andrew replies. Abby laughs quietly “You need to eat more healthily than that now Andrew. The baby needs all the healthy nutrients it can get. And so do you” She rolls down Andrew’s top, “I have some protein bars in my bag and I want you to eat one of those and drink a bottle of water before you go in to have your meeting with Coach Wymack and the ERC” Andrew screws his nose up at the thought of eating a disgusting protein bar, but he’ll do anything to make sure that his baby stays healthy inside him. Abby grabs the protein bar from her bag and a bottle of cold water from her mini fridge and passes them both to Andrew. Andrew makes a pouty face at the fruit in the bar. He forces the protein bar down and gulps down the water almost in one go. Abby shakes her head and smiles at his dramatics. “I have to pee” Andrew says and jumps down from the bed. He winces slightly at the hard thump his combat boots make on the ground. He should be more careful. “Thanks, Abby,” he says and leaves to head to the bathroom before his meeting. Neil waits for him outside and they head into Wymack’s office together, sitting in the chairs at his desk as they wait for the Skype call to start. Neil holds his hand out in between the seats towards Andrew and mouths “Yes, or no?” Andrew nods and grabs his hand, gripping it tightly as he shakes slightly with nerves.
“Good afternoon Coach Wymack,” a man’s voice on the computer says.
“Good afternoon Chuck” Wymack replies.
“We’re just waiting on a few more people to join us and then we’ll begin”
It’s another couple of minutes before everyone is on the call and ready to begin with the meeting.
“Good afternoon everyone. I'm Charles Whittier and here with me I have Coach David Wymack with Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten. Can I take the roll for who is on this call please?”
One by one people start giving out their names and their roles in this call. Some were lecturers of Andrew’s, some were related to the school board and the rest were Exy higher-ups.
“I have already been given a heads up as to what this call is about today, and firstly I would like to begin by giving my congratulations to both Andrew and Neil for the wonderful news that they are expecting their first child.” Chuck begins “Obviously, Andrew won’t be able to continue playing this year as he experiences his pregnancy and the paternity leave that he will be requiring after the birth. Andrew, may we ask you some questions relating to your pregnancy?”
Andrew looks at the screen, then to Neil, then to Wymack. Wymack nods and Andrew looks back at the screen again and takes a deep breath and nods.
“Andrew, how far along in this pregnancy are you as of today?” A woman asks.
“Eight weeks” he answers blankly.
“And when is your due date?”
“10th May 2008”
“And when do you plan on returning to Exy after the birth? Or do you plan on missing next season too? If so then you may have to look at rearranging your academic scholarship to tie in with your Exy scholarship”
“I plan on being back for the start of next season,” he says, still keeping his tone and expression blank even though his leg is bouncing underneath the table with anxiety. Andrew watches as the woman notes down everything that he has just said.
“Do you plan on continuing your education for the remainder of the school year or at least up until you give birth?” A man asks.
“Yes” is Andrew’s only reply. The meeting continues going on like this for at least another hour with someone even bringing his past mental health and gender identity up, questioning if he is even fit to be a parent. Neil notices the change in Andrew almost immediately with this line of questioning. He notices the way that Andrew’s breathing has stilled and the way his eyes are screwed tightly shut. The way his hand is becoming sweatier in his own. He notices the moment that the first tear rolls down Andrew’s face. “Coach,” Neil says just above a whisper. “We need to stop” Coach Wymack looks at Andrew and then at him and nods. “I’m very sorry to have to cut this meeting short, but Andrew isn’t feeling too well. Pregnancy hormones and nausea. Therefore we need to leave the meeting”
Chuck nods in return, “Absolutely. Andrew and the baby’s health is the main priority. And I believe that we have pretty much covered all that we need. I will email you if there is anything else”
“Thank you. Goodbye,” Wymack disconnects the call. Neil and Wymack watch Andrew, shaking as he tries to slowly blow through his mouth, his eyes still screwed tightly shut. “I’ll leave you two alone for a while. Give either me or Abby a shout if you need anything” Wymack whispers before silently getting up and leaving his office. Andrew is still the same as Neil continues to watch him. He knows that when Andrew is breathing like this that he doesn’t want to be touched. But Andrew hasn’t loosened the tight grin that he has on Neil’s hand. Neil waits silently for Andrew to calm himself down and recollect himself. Eventually, Andrew blinks open his eyes and turns his head to face Neil. Neil leans over the desk and grabs the box of tissues that Coach keeps on there for his Foxes to use during tough meetings and hands a couple of tissues to Andrew. Andrew takes them and dabs them against his eyes and rubs his nose. Wymack knocks on the door about ten minutes later and sits back at his desk. He nods at both Neil and Andrew, who nod in return and they resume where they had left off. “What would you like to tell the team? I am leaving this completely up to you two to decide. I know that eight weeks is a little bit too soon to be telling people, so if you want to wait then that is fine” Neil and Andrew look at each other and have a silent conversation before Neil nods and Andrew turns to speak “I want to wait. It’s too soon and I don’t know if anything will go wrong.” Wymack nods “Then we won’t tell the team. But let me know when you plan on doing so, so that I can arrange a team meeting for everyone to attend.” “Will do” Neil replies. They all get up and head out of the office, Andrew’s face still looking a bit splodgy from his earlier anxiety and panic attack. Luckily, all of the other Foxes are on the court. “Why don’t you both go back to the dorms and start the weekend? You could both do with the rest” Wymack suggests. “What about training the newbies?” Neil asks. “I’m sure that Dan and the others can handle them” Wymack reassures him. Neil nods and looks at Andrew who looks like he’s about to fall asleep at any moment “Columbia?” He asks and Andrew nods in return. “We’ll be back on Monday” Wymack hums his approval before heading back out to the court. Andrew still has a tight grip on Neil’s hand as Neil leads them back to the Maserati. Andrew lets Neil drive them back to the dorms and the pair spend no time at all packing up their stuff for a weekend in the Columbia House. Andrew sleeps almost the whole way there, only waking up when they’re about five minutes away from the supermarket that they always stop at to restock the empty kitchen. They pick up some fruits and veggies along with some cookies, eggs, bacon and of course ice cream, amongst other things. They drive the final ten minutes to the house and Neil carries the shopping inside and puts everything away whilst Andrew has a shower and makes himself comfortable in the bedroom. Neil takes a quick shower of his own and joins Andrew in bed, where he cuddles him and holds him closely until they both fall asleep to the sounds of one another’s breathing.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It’s lazy and sensual as Neil slowly thrusts in and out of Andrew’s pussy early on Sunday morning. They’ve been going to Columbia every weekend since having their meeting with the ERC to tell them about Andrew’s pregnancy and subsequent withdrawal from this year's Exy season. Coach and Abby wanted them both to feel as relaxed as possible, so Coach lets them leave at Friday lunchtimes so that they could get a decent amount of time away from the chaos of the other Foxes. Neil slowly kisses Andrew’s mouth as he lays on top of him, keeping his thrusts at a nice, slow and steady pace, breathing against one another as he watches Andrew gently melt underneath his touch. They had both fallen asleep as soon as they had climbed into bed last night and this morning, Andrew wanted to feel Neil as close to him as possible. It had started off with lazy kissing and hands slowly wandering across bodies and scars. Feeling each other's soft skin and hearing each other's gentle breaths and moans. The one “yes, or no” whispered from Andrew’s lips is what had set the wheels in motion for this beautiful moment. Neil is matching his thrusts to each of Andrew’s breathy whimpers as Andrew slowly rubs his clit to the same motion. Neither of them speak, they just enjoy this pleasure and hearing each other as they both get closer and closer to their high. Andrew doesn’t warn Neil when he’s about to cum, instead he just lets the orgasm ride through him as he gasps and wriggles underneath Neil’s touch, kissing Neil more messily as he shakes with his aftershocks. It isn’t too long before Neil is following behind him, his hips stuttering as he cums inside of Andrew’s warm and wet pussy, thrusting a few extra times to make sure that his cum is deep inside. Andrew shuts his eyes. He loves the feeling of being so full up with Neil and his cum. He loves the closeness it gives him to his Junkie. The pair continue to share a few more lazy kisses before Neil pulls out and climbs off of Andrew, still continuing to kiss him as they both come back down to earth and drift back off to sleep for a few more hours. It’s almost 9 a.m. when Neil wakes up from the sudden movement coming from Andrew’s side of the bed and the sounds of his footsteps as he runs to the bathroom. Neil knows what to expect on a morning by now and gets up and heads towards the bathroom, grabbing a bottle of water off the nightstand as he leaves. He knocks on the door and waits for Andrew’s response before pushing it open and sitting himself down on the floor next to Andrew. “I hate this” Andrew says with his head still inside the toilet bowl, vomit and saliva dribbling from his mouth. “I know,” Neil says quietly in return. Andrew retches a few more times but nothing else comes up. Neil is surprised anything came up at all, considering that Andrew hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday's dinner. Andrew sits himself up and wipes his mouth clean with the back of his hand. Neil hands him the opened bottle of water. “How are you feeling?” Andrew takes a few sips of the water before he answers “morning sickness: ten out of ten would not recommend to a friend” Neil laughs softly. He’s glad that Andrew is feeling well enough again to start making jokes and regaining his sense of humour. “Do you want some ginger bread for breakfast? It will help settle your stomach” Andrew nods and Neil kisses him on the forehead as he gets up and leaves the bathroom to make Andrew some food and so that Andrew can get himself cleaned up in private. Neil goes downstairs to the kitchen and gets Andrew’s ginger bread out of the bread bin and puts it in the toaster. He then starts a fresh pot of coffee. He knows that Andrew can only have one a day and that hot chocolate would be too much for his stomach to handle right now. He starts on his own breakfast whilst he waits for the coffee and toast. He opens the cupboard and looks through it until he finds what he wants - muesli. They have some frozen fruit in the freezer that he can sprinkle on top to give it some flavour. The toaster pops and Neil spreads a light layer of butter onto Andrew’s food and sets it down on the table. As if on cue, Andrew enters the kitchen in his oversized hoodie and joggers, his hair is still wet from his shower, he still doesn’t have much colour in his cheeks. “I’ve put some butter on it so that it’s not too dry. Do you want coffee or juice?” Neil says as Andrew slowly makes his way through the door and settles himself down at the kitchen table. “Juice. I don’t think I can handle coffee today” Andrew says delicately. Neil pours Andrew some orange juice from the jug in the fridge, placing it down in front of him before he grabs his own breakfast and coffee and comes to sit down opposite Andrew. “What do you fancy doing today? We don’t have to be back at the dorms until later on tonight” Neil asks as he eats his first mouthful of his muesli. Andrew begins ripping up his toast into little bite sized pieces “I want to go to a few shops and get some ideas on things that we will need for the baby and to see how much everything costs. I know that it’s probably too soon, but it’s going to be expensive and I just want to have a basic idea so that I can start saving some money for them.” Neil nods “okay. We can do that.” He eats another spoonful of his breakfast and says “and it’s we, not I. You’re not doing this alone, Andrew” Andrew gives Neil one of his rare real smiles and they finish their breakfast in a comfortable silence. They finish eating and put their bowls in the sink to ignore until later and head upstairs to get dressed and brush their teeth. Neil takes a quick shower whilst Andrew gets changed. Neil heads into the bedroom with just his towel wrapped around his waist and smiles when he sees what’s happening in front of him. Andrew is standing in front of the full length mirror in just his jeans, smiling and holding his extremely tiny baby bump, talking to it as he gently rubs his hands across his belly. Neil slowly walks up behind him and hooks his chin over Andrew’s shoulder and holds his hands out just over Andrew’s bump and waits for Andrew to give him permission before he too begins holding it. “You’re doing great, you know that right?” Neil whispers to Andrew who now looks like his usual self, still pale but with a slight hint of rose in his cheeks. “Yeah” Andrew whispers back in return. Neil kisses him on the cheek and they both finish getting ready before heading down to the car. Andrew gets himself into the driver's seat. He knows what stores he wants to look at today. First stop is IKEA to look at baby furniture. The list that Andrew had written down for Neil was long and extensive:
Onesies
Pyjamas
Jumpers
Dresses
Trousers
T-shirts
Pants
Socks
Hats
Mittens
Jumpsuits
Nursing pillow
Nipple cream
Nipple shield
Formula
Bottles
Bottle steriliser
Bottle brush
Pump
Milk storage bags
Bottle warmer
Bibs
Burp cloth
Nursing chair
Crib
Mattress
Sheets
Mattress protector
Baby blankets
Crib mobile
White noise machine
Night light
Nail clippers
First aid kit
Baby hair brush
Baby bath
Towels
Wash cloths
Baby body wash
Baby shampoo
Baby body lotion
Bath toys
Nappy rash cream
Nappies
Wipes
Changing table
Portable changing mat
Nappy bags
Car seat
Buggy
Buggy accessories
Car mirror
Travel crib
Teddy bear
Car seat blanket
Dummies
Toys
Books
Bouncer
Play mat
And that was just the stuff that Andrew could think of so far and it wasn’t nearly all of it. Andrew had only listed the stuff that they would need for the baby and not himself. Neil wonders if Andrew had done that on purpose or if his baby brain had made him forget to include himself, but he would put that thought to one side for later. Andrew parks the car in the underground car park of IKEA and they head up the escalator into the main shop. Neil has never been to IKEA before and he stands just inside the door with his mouth open in absolute shock at just how massive this shop is. Andrew looks back over his shoulder at Neil who is still standing in the doorway and blocking the entrance for the other customers who are trying to get into the store. “You’ve seriously never been to an IKEA before” he says to Neil, not as a question but as a statement. Neil slowly lowers his head from where he’d been staring up at the paper chain of IKEA bags that decorated the ceiling and says “when we were on the run, mum wouldn’t let us stop unless it was an emergency or if she thought it was safe enough to sleep in a motel. She always told me that places like this were dangerous because there were too many people” Andrew nodded once and held out his hand for Neil to grab. Neil took it and they began making their way through the store, starting in the kitchen section. Obviously, Neil has to go into every single showroom on the way round and try out all of the beds, sofas, dining chairs and tables he could find. When Andrew raised a questioning eyebrow at him he simply said “we’ll need to buy our own furniture in the future. May as well see what sort of things we like and don’t like now” Andrew shrugged in agreement and they made their way to their intended destination in the store: the baby and children’s section. Neil’s jaw dropped in amazement at all of the baby furniture that the store had to offer. They had everything from beds to cribs, and changing tables to bookshelves. They even had a massive section exclusively dedicated to giant stuffed toys. Neil immediately went in search of a fox teddy that he could get for the baby, but Andrew swatted his hands away. “We’re only looking today. I still don’t want to buy anything yet. It’s too soon” Neil nodded in understanding and stopped looking through the teddy bears and watched Andrew as he took down the names and prices for each piece of furniture he liked the look of, humming to himself as he did so. Neil walked up behind Andrew and hooked his chin over his shoulder, the same way as he did this morning, and looked down at the label that Andrew was taking the details of. “What’s a…” Neil looks closer at the label and squints his eyes to try and read the name, “I’m not even going to attempt that” “A Myllra. It’s the name of the crib.” Andrew replies and takes the label back from Neil as he looks at the price and sighs “it’s too expensive though” Neil looks at the price “369 isn’t that much” “It is when neither of us have jobs and we’re still college students with an unexpected baby on the way” Andrew says tiredly before putting the label down and moving on to the next item, writing down all of its information before moving on and doing it again. And again. And again. And again, until he’s finished looking at everything in IKEA. They got back into the car and Andrew drove them to his next location: Boots, followed by Tesco, John Lewis and finally Argos. They arrived back home in the late afternoon with just enough time for Neil to make them some food whilst Andrew went upstairs for a lie down. Andrew went downstairs around an hour later with his notepad, pen and calculator in hand “I need to get a job” he said out of nowhere, making Neil turn around and give him a puzzled look. “I’ve been doing the maths and we can’t afford to have a baby if we don’t have jobs. If I get a job working with Roland at Eden’s Twilight again then we can just about scrape enough together to buy the main things that we need.” “Andrew, I don’t want you working at some shitty nightclub whilst you’re pregnant. It’s not safe for you or the baby with all that drinking and smoking and all the drugs. Not to mention if someone pushes you and you end up falling and hurting the baby. I have money that we can use. You know that. You don’t need to work when I can take care of you.” “Neil, I’m not using your stolen blood money to pay and raise our baby!” “You were fine with my ‘stolen blood money’ when it was paying for that Maserati that is sat outside on the driveway! And for your surgery to happen! Or had you forgotten that I was the one who paid for that?!” “I didn’t know that the money was stolen when you bought the car! I didn’t even know who you were!” “And yet you still took the money!” “And if I’d have known that it was stolen by your dead mother from your mental nutcase of a father then I would never have accepted it!” “Why because you’re a big boy who’s all grown up?!” “Yes! I don't need your help, Neil! I don’t need anyone’s help!” Neil goes to open his mouth to shout something else but thinks better of it and turns around, walking over to the other side of the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of water from the tap. He hears the sound of the freezer door opening and Andrew getting something out before slamming it shut and scraping the chair across the floor behind him to sit down at the kitchen table. Neil waits a few minutes until his breathing has calmed down enough that he’s not going to immediately fly off the handle and make the situation any worse than it already is. He turns around and sees Andrew sitting down at the table and slowly eating some cookie dough ice cream straight out of the tub. Andrew can’t even look up at Neil as he eats. Neil watches Andrew for a moment and his heart crumbles into pieces when he sees his boyfriend’s shoulders begin to shake as he attempts to eat another spoonful of his ice cream. The last time he has seen Andrew cry was during his panic attack at the ERC meeting a few weeks ago, but apart from during his panic attacks, Neil doesn’t think that he’s ever seen Andrew cry properly. Andrew sobs as he takes another bite of his ice cream. He begins to hiccup with the force of his crying as tears begin to fall from his eyes, down his cheeks and onto the table in front of him. Neil immediately walks over to Andrew and in the few seconds that it’s taken Neil to reach him, Andrew has all but given up on eating anymore of his ice cream, dropping the spoon so that it clatters against the table, before putting his head in his hands and sobbing uncontrollably. Neil kneels down next to him “hey Andrew?” Neil’s words begin to trail off as he sees more tears hitting the wooden table. “Yes or no?” Andrew manages to hiccup a small and broken “yes” before Neil gets to his feet and maneuvers himself so that Andrew is sitting on top of him. Andrew starts crying even harder as he rests his head on Neil’s shoulder, the damn finally seeming to burst as all of the stress and worry from the pregnancy finally becomes too much for him to handle. Neil gently presses a kiss to his forehead. “I’m sorry” Andrew sobs out weakly and Neil shakes his head at him and shushes him gently. “It’s alright, I’m sorry too.” Neil slips his hand underneath Andrew’s shirt and cradles the tiny little baby bump that they’ve created together, rubbing it gently as he uses his free hand to softly wipe Andrew’s tears away from his eyes and cheeks. “We’re okay. You’re okay. I’m okay. The baby’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay” Andrew’s sobs become little sniffles as he begins to calm himself down, resting his head on Neil’s chest as he listens to the other man’s heartbeat and breathing. Andrew brings one of his hands down to join Neil’s on top of his baby bump. Neil kisses Andrew’s head again and whispers “as long as we have each other, we’ll be okay.” They stay like that for what must be at least an hour with Neil carefully and gently rocking Andrew back and forth as the blonde continues to recover from his sudden emotional distress. “Why don’t you go upstairs and have a bath. I’ll message Coach and tell him that we won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon” Andrew nods and slowly gets off of Neil’s lap and makes his way upstairs to run a bath and get ready for bed. Andrew can feel Neil staring at him before he’s even had a chance to open his eyes the following morning. He doesn’t move, he doesn’t say anything, he’s just content to listen as Neil slowly and gently traces his fingers lightly across Andrew’s face. The delicate touch makes Andrew’s breathing hitch. He smiles and says “staring” in his morning voice. “You like it,” Neil whispers back “I like that you like it” Andrew opens his eyes and turns his head so that he is looking at Neil. Neil had that look in his gorgeous blue eyes that Andrew had grown to know very well during their time dating. “Yes, or no?” Neil asks, still whispering. “Yes” Andrew replies. Neil and Andrew’s mouths immediately attach to one another in a deep, yet passionate, kiss. Andrew opened his mouth to let Neil slip his tongue inside as their teeth and lips crashed together. Neil eventually moved away from Andrew's mouth and onto his jaw, kissing down to his neck and biting little marks into him before he soothed them with his tongue. Andrew let out a gasp at the sensation as Neil’s mouth moved downwards and began focusing on his already hardening nipples. Neil’s tongue swirled around them, one by one, over and over until Andrew was practically a mess on the bed. Neil took that as his cue to continue making his way downwards. Andrew took no time in lifting his hips up off of the bed for Neil to be able to pull his pajama bottoms off and fling them somewhere across the room. Neil lifts Andrew’s legs up and hooks them both over his shoulders, kissing his way up each of Andrew’s thighs as he does so. Neil continues to tease Andrew with kisses. Kissing his legs, his thighs, his chest, his stomach. Andrew’s pussy is already wet with the want and the need for Neil’s mouth to be there. Neil leans in and licks Andrew from ass to clit. Andrew shudders at the sensitivity of the sensation and bucks his hips up off the bed, almost crashing into Neil’s mouth with the speed he moves. Andrew settles himself back down again and Neil licks him once more from ass to clit. Slowly at first, but his strokes begin to quicken until he’s fully focusing on Andrew’s clit. Andrew’s body is squirming and shuddering underneath Neil’s mouth as breathy whispers and moans roll off of Andrew’s tongue and out of his mouth. “Ah…fuck…Neil…yes…ahh..fuck…” Andrew moves one of his hands so that it is holding the back of Neil’s head, holding Neil as close to his pussy as he can without suffocating his boyfriend. Andrew knows that Neil knows that he’s getting close when Andrew’s body begins shaking. Neil speeds up his strokes with his tongue and Andrew’s body shakes and caves in on itself when his orgasm rushes over him. “Fuuuuuck…Neil” Andrew cries as Neil continues to get him through his orgasm. Andrew is panting, shaking and squirming. He doesn’t want it to end. Neil keeps going until Andrew is so over stimulated that he can barely say Neil’s name. “N-Neil” Andrew manages to get out with his eyes closed and head and neck stretching backwards. He feels the exact moment when his pussy squirts all over Neil’s face and that’s when Neil slows his tongue right down before kissing Andrew’s pussy and then coming up to claim Andrew’s mouth. Andrew is so out of it from his orgasm that he can’t even kiss Neil back, instead letting Neil do all of the work for him. “Do you want to continue?” Neil asks him, his voice breathless. It takes andrew a second for his brain to process what Neil has just asked him, but when he does it’s an immediate “yes” Andrew can already see how hard Neil’s dick is through his slightly too tight shorts that make his ass look incredible. Neil stands up on the bed, ducking so that he doesn’t headbutt the ceiling and pulls his shorts down and flings them over to the other side of the room to join Andrew’s pajama bottoms somewhere on their bedroom floor. Neil gives his hard dick a few strokes, smearing the pre cum up and down it as he does so. Andrew licks his lips as he watches Neil’s dick twitch at Neil’s own touch. “I don’t want you to do anything today, Drew. I want to take care of you” Neil whispers as he gets himself settled between Andrew’s legs. Andrew nods and lifts his legs back up for Neil to wrap around his waist, before lining his dick up with the entrance to Andrew’s pussy. Neil presses in slowly, causing Andrew to gasp at the feeling. He then pushes himself all the way in and pulls himself all the way back out again slowly, before repeating the motion over, and over, and over, steadily speeding up his thrusts as he goes. Andrew is already a sweaty and panting mess when Neil reclaims his lips in another breathless kiss, with hands wandering up and down and across each other's bodies. Tangling in hair and running up and down each other's sides. Andrew takes hold of Neil’s hair in a tight grip as he throws his head backwards on the pillows, mouth open and eyes screwed shut as his orgasm begins to take over him. He shakes and pants even more as Neil speeds up his thrusts, matching each one of Andrew’s whimpering moans until Andrew is shaking uncontrollably underneath him with the powerfulness of his orgasm. “Ahh…fuck…shit…Neil…it feels…feels so good” Neil slows down his movements slightly in order for Andrew to regain his composure until Andrew’s eyes lock with his and Andrew nods that he’s ok to continue. Neil speeds up again, taking both himself and Andrew to the absolute limits before he’s cumming inside of Andrew’s pussy as his boyfriend's name falls from his lips. “An-drew” Neil pants heavily as he slowly rolls his hips to a stop and pulls himself out, he leans over Andrew and begins kissing him lazily. Andrew puts a hand to Neil’s chest and gently pushes him off and takes a deep breath before saying “I’m sorry about last night” Neil looks at Andrew with wide eyes, his mouth open in shock “why are you sorry, Andrew? I’m the one who upset you” Andrew shrugs “I just don’t want to have to rely on other people anymore. I want to make my own mark in the world and I thought that by me buying the baby’s things, it would be a good start” “You want your independence,” Neil says in a quiet voice. “Yeah. I want independence” Neil smiles and nods at Andrew before leaning in and kissing him again “ok, but you’re still not working at Eden’s whilst you’re pregnant. We could ask Coach later about an assistant coaching job for you” Neil suggests excitedly. “I think I’d rather deal with Riko again” Andrew returns in a blank tone. Neil laughs “I’ll talk to him later at practice” and then kisses him once more. “How are you feeling this morning? Any morning sickness?” Andrew takes a second to see how his body is feeling “nothing yet” “Good” Neil smiles as he begins “because I want to take you out for breakfast” “Where?” andrew raises a sceptical eyebrow at the auburn haired Junkie. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out once we get there” Neil kisses Andrew delicately on the nose before moving off of him and out of bed, holding his hand out for Andrew to take. Andrew rolls his eyes and shakes his head at Neil, then takes his hand and lets Neil pull him up. “Take a shower and get dressed. We’ll leave in about thirty minutes” Neil says. Andrew nods and begins making his way to the bathroom. He picks up a new bottle of shower gel from the floor outside the bathroom door and goes inside, locking the door behind him. Andrew steps out of his pyjamas and looks at his naked body in the full length mirror on the back of the bathroom door, turning himself sideways to look at his profile. He still can't see any visible baby bump, but he smiles at the knowledge that there is a tiny little human growing inside of him. He rubs a hand over his belly and sighs before turning back around and twisting the taps in the tub to make the shower turn on. He's careful as he steps inside the tub, he doesn't want to slip and accidentally hurt the baby in any way. It's weird for Andrew to think that just a few weeks ago he was planning on getting rid of this thing that he's now so fierce about protecting. Andrew turns up the temperature of the water so that it is almost too much for him to bare and gets himself nice and wet under the spray. He grabs the new bottle of shower gel that he brought into the bathroom with him and flicks the cap open, revealing the sweet scent of marshmallows before pouring an obnoxious amount out and smearing it all over his body, making sure that he gets the sweet smell into every single nook and cranny of his body. He doesn't want to wash the feeling of Neil’s warm cum out of him, but he knows that if he doesn't then he'll just end up making a mess all over himself and the Maserati. Andrew washed between his legs and sighs at the loss of warmth once he's finally cleaned himself out. He quickly washes his hair, always reminding himself to be grateful that it's no longer waist length and only now takes him about thirty seconds to wash instead of a full fifteen minutes. He shampoos and conditions it before he's turning off the shower and stepping out, grabbing his towel off the towel warmer that Nicky had got for the house after Christmas, and wraps it around himself, drying himself off. With his towel wrapped securely around his waist, Andrew makes his way back to the bedroom, going over to his wardrobe, opening the doors and picking out his outfit for the day. He pulls out his ripped skinny black jeans and his black tank top before opening the draws to the dresser underneath, pulling out a fresh set of arm bands, underwear, black socks. Lastly, he grabs his black combat boots from the shelf inside the wardrobe and heads over to the bed to lay out his outfit and begin the process of getting dressed. Just as Andrew is finishing lacing up his combat boots, Neil knocks on the door and peers his head inside. “Ready?” Neil asks. Andrew nods and gets up from the bed, tossing his wet bath towel into the laundry basket on his way out of the door. They both make their way downstairs with Neil grabbing the keys to the maserati from the little bowl on the table next to the front door and both make their way outside and into the car. Neil starts the engine as Andrew buckles himself in, and then pulls out of the driveway and onto the road. Andrew looks out of the passenger window at the leaves, the colour of his Junkie’s hair, that are beginning to fall from the trees and cover the pavement and road below. Andrew loves autumn and halloween. He loves the spookiness of the season. Quietly to himself, he hopes that his baby will love the season too. He smiles shyly to himself at the thought of sitting next to Neil on a picnic blanket, underneath the golden leaves raining down from the trees, drinking hot chocolate together and watching their little baby, dressed as a pumpkin, as they explore their first ever conker on the ground. Andrew's thought is broken by the sound of Neil’s voice “Drew? Are you ok?” Andrew shakes his head and snaps out of his wishful thinking. He knows that he shouldn't be having these kinds of thoughts yet, it's still too early in the pregnancy, anything could go wrong. He turns his head and looks at Neil who has a worried expression in his eyes. “You okay?” Neil asks softly. “Do you need to go back home?” Andrew shakes his head “nah, I’m all good. I was just thinking.” Neil accepts the answer because he changes the subject “we’re here” Andrew turns his head again, but this time it's to look out of the front windscreen at the sight of his favourite breakfast place: IHOP. “I've never been before” Neil confesses with a small voice. “Your mother really was a bitch” Andrew replies sounding fully serious. Neil shrugs and hums in agreement before undoing his seatbelt and getting out of the car and rounding it to the other side to open the door for Andrew and help him climb out safely. “You do realise that I still have legs and that I am capable of climbing out of my own car” he says as a statement, not a question. That doesn't stop Andrew from letting Neil help him out and then close the car door behind him. Neil holds his hand out in a silent yes, or no. Andrew takes it, holding it as they walk up to the entrance of the IHOP and join the already huge line of people queuing up just inside the doors. They wait in line for about twenty minutes before a waitress shows them to their table and passes them both a menu each. “Our special today is the eggs benedict. You can have that with either meat or veggies. I'll leave you two to have a look at our other food and drinks selections and I’ll come back over in a bit” she says with a smile before walking away to serve another table just behind them. Andrew doesn’t even need to look at the menu to know what he's getting. He's always had the exact same order and will never, ever change it. He does however take a look at the drinks section of the menu. Usually he would get the sweetest, most sickliest drink they had to offer, but his pregnancy hormones are making things taste too sweet, even for him. He glances up and sees Neil looking puzzled as he also looks through the selection of food on the menu. Neil must notice Andrew staring because his eyebrows furrow as he asks “is everything on here really sweet? I didn't actually check the menu before we left the house. I just remember over hearing Nicky saying that it was your favourite” “They do eggs and full breakfasts too” Andrew replies as he turns the page over in Neil’s menu a few times until he reaches the different egg selections. “Ah” Neil says once he sees the savoury menu. A few minutes later, the waitress came back over to them. “Hi guys, are you both ready for me to make your orders?” “I'll have the chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes and water” Andrew tells her without even needing to consult his menu. The waitress nods as she writes Andrew's order down and looks over to Neil, who is still looking very confused at his menu. “I'll get the…err…veggie eggs benedict with a black coffee” “Sure thing. We’ll bring them right out” the waitress says with a smile and collects up the menus before moving towards the kitchen to give the chefs their orders. “Water? Are you sure you're feeling okay?” Neil asks Andrew with concern in his eyes. Andrew nods slowly whilst fiddling with the corner of a paper napkin. “Hot chocolate is too sweet for me now. It makes me feel more sick than I already do” “Do you feel sick at the moment?” Neil asks with even more concern in his voice than before. Andrew shrugs “only a little bit, but I haven't eaten yet today so that's probably not helping matters.” The waitress comes back over with their drinks, followed by their food a few minutes later, setting the plates down in front of them and handing them both cutlery and napkins. Neil catches the way that Andrew’s eyes light up at his food and smiles to himself at the thought of Andrew being happy. They both cut up their food and start eating it, with Andrew doing his usual thing of cutting his pancakes into tiny bite sized pieces before eating anything. About halfway through their food, Neil notices that something is wrong with Andrew as the blonde puts his fork down and doesn’t pick it back up again. “Are you still feeling okay?” Neil asks, taking a sip from his coffee. Andrew looks down solemnly at his half eaten pancakes then looks up at Neil with wet, tear filled eyes “I don’t like them anymore” Neil gives him a sad smile and notices the small change in Andrew as his shoulders begin to shake slightly. “Hey, Drew. It’s ok. It’s not your fault. Would you like me to order you something else instead?” Andrew shakes his head and sniffs as a couple of tears begin to start falling from his eyes and hitting the table below. “I want to go home,” he says, looking back down at his unfinished stack of pancakes. “Okay” Neil says softly, “let me just go and pay the bill real quick, then we can go.” Neil gets up from his seat and heads over to the counter to pay the bill for the food and drinks, then returns back to the table and holds his hand out to Andrew. “Come on. Let’s get you home” Andrew takes Neil’s hand and they head out of the IHOP and get themselves back into the car. Neil hasn’t even managed to put his seatbelt on yet before he hears the heartbreaking sound of Andrew crying next to him. “Andrew,” he begins slowly, “it’s ok.” “It’s not okay, Neil” Andrew cries out through a teary, snotty mess. “I feel so shit all the time. And I made you angry yesterday. And now you’ve tried to do something nice for me and I’ve fucked it all up and—” “Hey, hey. It’s ok. It’s not your fault” Neil holds his arms out and Andrew leans into them without a second thought. “It’s just your pregnancy hormones. Your body is going through a lot. But it’s ok. Everything is ok, I promise” Andrew lets out a little whine into the side of Neil’s neck “are you still mad at me?” Neil is shocked by Andrew’s question and pushes him away slightly to get a better look at his face. “What? No! Of course not, Andrew. What on earth made you think that?” Andrew sniffs and wipes his nose on the back of his sleeve of his hoodie “I don’t know” he says in a barely audible whisper. Neil pulls Andrew back into his arms and continues to hold him until Andrew’s breathing is almost completely evened out. “Drew, I need to let go of you now so that I can drive us both back home, ok” Andrew gives a disapproving whine but sits himself back up in his seat anyway, buckling up his seatbelt and closing his eyes. Neil buckles his seatbelt up and starts the engine with the key in the ignition and pulls out of the car park to begin the journey back to the house. Andrew is awoken by the sound of the car's engine cutting off and the soft touch of Neil’s hand on his, squeezing his fingers gently to try and rouse him back to consciousness. “We’re home now, Drew,” Neil says in a soft voice. Andrew opens his eyes and stretches out his body, his spine cracking as he does so. He gets out of the car and makes his way up to the front door of the Columbia house and waits for Neil to catch up to him with the keys. Neil unlocks the door and holds it open for Andrew to enter the hallway. Andrew is still looking down at his feet, exhausted and emotional and it’s not even 11 a.m. yet. “Why don’t you go and rest on the sofa for a couple of hours whilst I pack our bags?” Neil suggested. Andrew nods and silently makes his way over to the comfy leather sofa in the living room, laying down across it, grabbing the fluffy blanket from the top and draping it across himself. He closes his eyes and falls asleep to the soft sounds of Neil moving around the house, gathering their things and packing their weekly bags for their trip back to campus. Neil is just finishing packing their bags by putting one last very important item in before zipping them both up and carrying them downstairs. He goes into the living room and sees Andrew half awake and playing with the loose threads on the blanket. He goes over to him and crouches down next to his tired looking boyfriend. “We’ll leave at 1:30. We’ll be back at campus before 3” Neil tells him quietly. He can tell by the strain in Andrew’s looks and the deep furrow between his eyebrows that today may no longer be a talking day for Andrew. Andrew just nods and leans his head a little bit closer to his Junkie’s arm. Neil runs his fingers though Andrew’s hair a few times and then kisses him on the forehead. “Make sure you pee before we leave” Andrew nods again and Neil stands up, making sure that he also goes for a pee before they begin the drive back to Palmetto. Andrew gets himself up off the sofa once Neil comes out of the bathroom and goes in to relieve himself, washing his hands with plenty of soap and water afterwards. He leaves the downstairs toilet to see Neil coming back inside the house from where he had put the bags in the car. His eyes feel so heavy. “Are you ready to go?” Neil asks, and with Andrew’s nod they both lock up the house and get themselves in the car. Neil makes sure that the music in the radio is turned all the way down in the hopes that Andrew might try and sleep a bit more during the drive. Neil makes sure that he drives just below the speed limit for the entire journey. He doesn’t want to put Andrew or their baby at risk by being reckless. Plus, Andrew has indeed fallen asleep in the passenger seat next to him and he looks far too peaceful and relaxed for Neil to want to have to wake him up too soon. The drive back to the dorms takes almost two hours with how careful Neil was being and with some end of day school traffic to battle through towards the final part of the journey. Neil parks the Maserati in a spot near to the doors of Fox Tower and looks over to his right to see that Andrew is still bundled up in his hoodie and sleeping silently. Neil’s voice is barely about a soft whisper when he speaks “hey Drew. We’re back at the dorms now, baby.” Andrew hums a noncommittal response, but Neil knows that he just needs a moment to reevaluate and re-centre himself again after being asleep for so long whilst travelling. Andrew sniffs as he wakes up, rubs his sleepy eyes with his fists and stretches out in the seat. “What time is it?” Neil looks at the clock on the dashboard “it’s just before 3:30 p.m. Do you want to come to the stadium while I talk to Coach?” Andrew shakes his head “I just want food and quiet” “Ok” Neil replies and they both look at each other with small smiles before getting out of the car and heading up to the dorms. They take the lift up to the third floor. Andrew had refused to take the stairs. Neil unlocks their door and lets Andrew enter first. Andrew heads straight to one of the bean bag chairs and makes himself comfortable underneath one of the discarded blankets from the floor, whilst Neil heads into the kitchen to find something to make them both for a late lunch. Neil opens the cupboards and the fridge to find that none of the others have been shopping since they’ve been in Columbia. The fridge is basically empty. All that Neil can find is an onion, half a cucumber, left over god knows how old pasta bake and a pint of gone off milk. He opens the freezer and find an unopened bag of turkey dinosaurs hidden in the back of one of the draws. He pulls the bag out and looks at the date:
18th October 2006
They’re almost a year out of date, but they’ve been frozen so Neil determines that they’ll probably be fine. He pours the contents of the bag onto a tray and sets the oven before putting them in and setting the fox shaped egg timer on the counter for fifteen minutes. He walks into the living room to find Andrew curled up and all snuggly buggly on the bean bag chair with his soft, fluffy blanket, flicking through the channels on the TV to try and find something to watch for the afternoon. “I could get you some DVDs from Blockbuster on the way home from practice if you like” Neil suggests as he sits himself down in the unoccupied bean bag chair next to Andrew. Andrew shrugs. He hates feeling so useless. They flick through a few more channels until they hit the movie channels where they find Cars. Andrew settles back into his bean bag as he watches his favourite movie. They’ve missed the first ten minutes, but Andrew doesn’t care. The timer in the kitchen rings and Neil heads back in there to take the food out of the oven. He splits them so that he has three dinosaurs and Andrew has four. He grabs the sauces from the cupboard and carries it all back into the living room, before quickly returning to the kitchen to grab them both a drink each. When Neil returns with his and Andrew’s drinks, Andrew is already on his second dinosaur. Neil has no idea how he managed to eat one and a half dinosaurs when they came out of the oven less than five minutes ago. He sits himself back down and eats his food and watches the film with Andrew in silence. Once they both finish, Neil gathers up their empty plates and takes them into the kitchen to soak in the sink. He goes back into the living room and looks at Andrew’s relaxed body spread out on the bean bag as he watches the film. “Staring” Andrew stays with a blank tone. Neil chuckles to himself “I know” “You’re late for your precious Exy practice” “I know” Neil walks over to Andrew and whispers a quiet “yes, or no?”, to which Andrew replies “yes” and the pair share a small and delicate kiss before Neil leaves and heads off to practice. Neil runs down the stairs and out to the car and drives the fifteen minutes it takes to get from the dorms over to The Foxhole Court. He parks his car in the car park, in between Allison’s bubblegum pink Porsche and Matt’s red truck. Neil grabs his gear bag that he left in the back of the car before Columbia and walks across the car park and into the court via the code on the locked gate. As he enters the stadium, he can hear his teammates talking and asking Coach Wymack questions. It sounds like it’s mainly the new freshman. Neil enters the lounge quietly with his bag slung over his shoulder and eyes looking to the floor. Wymack must have noticed his arrival “ah, Neil! Nice of you to finally join us” Neil gives a small and uneasy smile “sorry, Coach” “No Andrew today?” Wymack asks. “No” Neil says and goes back to looking at his feet. Wymack must notice how uncharacteristically quiet Neil is because he sighs and says “go and wait in my office. I’ll be there in a minute.” Neil walks past everyone and Wymack gives him a small pat on the back in reassurance as he enters the office. He sits himself down in one of the chairs and fidgets with his hands as he waits for Wymack to finish up his meeting with the rest of the team. Neil hears the moment Wymack’s booming voice calls across the lounge at the rest of the Foxes “get your asses on the court Maggots!” A few seconds later, the door to Wymack’s office swings open and the older man walks in and sits himself down on the other side of the desk, crossing his arms across his chest and leaning backwards. “You want to tell me what’s going on?” Wymack begins. “Andrew and I had a fight on Saturday” Neil replies quietly. He’d been keeping his hurt and worry and secret in front of Andrew. He didn’t want to stress or upset Andrew anymore than he already was. Wymack takes a deep breath and sighs, his voice becoming a lot softer “what happened?” “He wants to go back to work at Eden’s Twilight, the club in Columbia that him, Aaron and Nicky used to work at” “The one where Kevin would usually wake up in a pile of his own vomit, you mean” Wymack says with a sarcastic tone. Neil laughs slightly to himself “yeah, that’s the one” “And you don’t want Andrew to work there?” Wymack asks. “Not whilst he’s pregnant, no. It’s too unsafe for him and the baby” Wymack nods “That’s understandable. But what did you fight about?” “I told him that he doesn’t need to get a job because I have the money to support us and buy the baby’s things. And he said that he didn’t want to use my ‘stolen blood money’” he uses air quotes to emphasise his point. “And I may have said something that I shouldn’t have” Wymack rolls his eyes “what have you and your big mouth said to offend someone this time?” “I might have reminded him that it was my ‘stolen blood money’ that paid for his top surgery” Neil says quietly, ashamed at what he had said to Andrew to upset him so much. Wymack nods “and what happened after that?” “He cried. A lot. It took me about and hour to get him to calm down again” “And how is Andrew now?” “He’s in the dorms. His morning sickness was quite bad over the weekend. He’s resting now. Well actually he’s watching a movie. But—” “But what?” Wymack asks suspiciously. Neil is slow with his words as he thinks of how to ask Wymack his next question “But I was wondering…would you have any jobs going for him? I know he can’t be an assistant coach or anything, but…” Wymack takes a deep breath and clears his throat “well, I do need some help with finding the girl's replacements for next year. And he’s good at looking through the files. He can be my admin assistant whilst he’s pregnant and on leave. Would that be ok with you both?” Neil’s smiles grows on his face “yeah, thanks, Coach” “Good” Wymack says with a clap of his hand “Now go and change out and get your ass on that court with the others. I’ll ring Andrew and let him know the good news” Neil smiles again and gets up, heading for the locker room to get changed and join his teammates on the court to begin practice and drills. Andrew is still all snuggled up and comfy back in the dorms with a bag of sweet microwave popcorn when his phone begins ringing. He looks at the caller ID:
Coachy Coach
“Oooh if it isn’t my favourite Coach” Andrew answers with his sarcastic tone, trying to hide the fact that he’s starting to feel sick again.
Wymack chuckles through the phone “Minyard”
“What can I do for you Coachy Coach?”
“You have an appointment with Betsy tomorrow at 10 a.m., then I need you to come to the stadium to begin your new job” Wymack informs him.
“Oooh Coach, you know I don’t like it when people start making appointments for me behind my back” he gets out in a long, slow drawl. He has to squeeze his eyes shut afterwards and swallow the feeling of vomit back down.
“Neil told me about the fight, and I think that a session with Betsy will do you some good”
“Fine”
“And then you will come to the stadium at 1 p.m. to start your new job as Admin Assistant”
“What’s the catch?” Andrew’s eyebrow raises in suspicion.
“No catch. You have a job here for as long as you need it, from now until you return to the court once you’ve had your baby”
Andrew hums an agreement.
“Good. That settles that then. I’ll see you tomorrow. And for fuck sakes Andrew take care of yourself. I can hear you trying not to vomit from here”
Wymack hangs up and Andrew lowers his phone to his chest and turns his head sideways towards the window with his old packet of cigarettes on it. God, how he wishes he could still smoke. This pregnancy has been so stressful and it’s only week nine of fourty. Andrew exhales a long and slow breath and decides that maybe taking a nice, warm and relaxing bath might just do the trick to relieve some of his stress and anxiety. He gets himself up off of the bean bag chair and makes his way into the bathroom, abandoning his popcorn in the living room. He turns on the taps to exactly the right spot to get the perfect temperature on the first attempt, a positive thing about his eidetic memory. He adds in some lavender and camomile bubble baths that he finds inside of the cupboard underneath the sink and waits for the bathtub to fill up. He undresses himself whilst he waits and sits himself down on the closed toilet lid as the bathtub continues to slowly fill itself up. He looks at himself in the mirror on the bathroom door and wonders if anyone can see a bump yet on his belly. He stands up in front of the mirror and turns himself so that he is side on and takes a look at his bump. It’s so tiny, practically non-existent to the naked eye. But Andrew can see the tiny little raised area near the bottom of his abdomen. It’s barely noticeable, but Andrew knows his entire body and he can see the minute change. By the time he has stopped staring at his bump, the bathtub is almost full. He goes over to it and waits for it to fill up the last little bit and then turns the taps off before climbing in without needing to check the temperature of the water first. It’s perfect, as always. He settles himself down in the lovely, warm water and relaxes himself backwards, letting the water take the weight of his body as he closes his eyes and makes the most of a silent and empty dorm. He goes through some of the breathing exercises that Bee has taught him over the past couple of years, which relaxes him even further. For once, Andrew doesn’t remember when it happens, but he eventually falls asleep. Andrew wakes up later to the sound of someone putting their keys into the front door and the sound of his family chatting - Nicky obviously being the loudest. “Andrew we're baaaack!” Nicky calls through the dorm. “Nicky will you shut the fuck up. I’ve already told you that Andrew is not feeling very well and that he just wants some peace and quiet” Neil says in a less than hushed voice. Andrew smiles to himself as his Junkie defends him without knowing that Andrew is starting to feel more okay. With that, Andrew decides that it’s time to get out of the bath. The water is now getting on the side of being just that little too cold to be enjoyable anymore. He pulls the plug out and lifts himself out of the tub, grabbing his towel from the towel warmer as the water begins to gurgle its way down the drain. He dries himself off and gets out a clean oversized shirt and joggers from the spare clothes that they all keep in a set of plastic draws that Aaron got from Amazon over the summer. He quickly dresses himself and makes his way out of the bathroom, dumping his damp towel and dirty clothes in the laundry basket on the way to the living room. He enters just inside the doorway and sees Aaron, Nicky and Neil playing Guitar Hero III, Legends of Rock. Nicky is absolutely shit at this game, but is still trying to teach Neil how to play. Kevin is the first to notice Andrew “you missed practice. Again” he says in a not so nice tone. Andrew just shrugs and screws his face up to show that he couldn’t actually give a flying fuck about it. He sits himself down on the cushion of the sofa nearest the door. He feels less nauseous today, but he still doesn’t want to risk not being able to make it to the bathroom if the urge to throw up becomes too intense. Sure enough, the feeling becomes too intense to ignore. Andrew leaps up from the sofa and almost sprints as he tries to get himself to the bathroom in time. He makes it just in the nick of time as he vomits into the toilet before he’s even had a chance to kneel down on the floor. He can hear the others over the sound of his own body convulsing with every retch, so he knows when Neil has abandoned them and ran to the kitchen, presumably to get Andrew a glass of water. Andrew is sitting on the floor, in front of the toilet, catching his breath when someone knocks on the door and Neil’s soft voice comes through from the other side of the wood. “Drew? Can I come in?” Andrew takes a few seconds to centre himself “yes” Neil slowly opens the door, comes inside and sits himself down on the floor next to Andrew. Andrew knows that he must look a right state, but all he can see as he lays his cheek against the toilet seat is Neil’s beautifully concerned, blue eyes. “I still hate this” he whispers to Neil who just nods in agreement. “I don’t think I can keep doing it” “Are you having second thoughts about the baby?” Neil asks, trying to hide his shock. Andrew reassures him by shaking his head. “No. The morning sickness, I mean. It’s not even morning anymore and I'm still throwing up.” A thought comes to his mind that he can’t shake the feeling of. “Do you think that there’s something wrong with the baby because I came off my meds? I was still taking them at the start, before I knew. So the baby would’ve been taking them too. Do you think that the baby is suffering from—?” He doesn’t need to finish that question, because Neil already knows what he was going to say. Neil gets a washcloth out of the drawer and wets it with cool water, before he gently wipes over Andrew’s forehead with it “I don’t know, Drew. I don’t know how these things work. It might be something that you could speak to Betsy or Abby about. Or even Dr Helen. She’ll definitely know” Andrew nods “I don’t have a check up now until my twelve week scan. But I’ll see if I can see Abby before I start work tomorrow” Neil smiles his mischievous smile “Coach told you about the job then?” “Scouting for new recruits. How fun. Like I’m not currently being tortured enough as it is” he says with as much sarcasm as he can muster with how shit he’s currently feeling. Neil rolls his eyes and shakes his head at Andrew’s antics, then changes the subject. “Do you think you’ve stopped now?” He indicates to the toilet with his head. Andrew sits up a bit and takes a few deep breaths before nodding. Neil flushes the toilet and throws the washcloth into the laundry basket, then helps to slowly get Andrew up off of the floor and back onto his feet. “Do you want to rest for a bit?” Neil asks him once they’re both standing again. Andrew shakes his head. “I want to go up to the roof for a bit, get some fresh air.” Neil nods “do you want some space?” “I want you to come with me” Andrew replies, causing Neil to smile. They leave the bathroom and ignore the questioning looks that they get from the others as they leave the dorm and begin climbing the stairs up to the roof access door. When they reach the door, Andrew stops abruptly. “I can’t open it anymore,” he says, turning to face Neil. It takes Neil a few seconds to realise what Andrew means by that and then it clicks. “Ooh” he says, and Andrew nods at him, moving out of the way so that Neil can get access to the door. “You have to force your whole body weight onto the release bar, otherwise it won’t click open. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to have it in that condition, seeing as this is an emergency fire escape” “It is?” Neil questions. Andrew nods. He doesn’t know if he means the door possibly being illegal, or the fact that the roof is actually an emergency exit from the dorms. After three attempts, Neil finally manages to get the roof door open and holds the door open for Andrew to walk through. Andrew goes over to their spot on the roof and sits down just a little bit further back from the edge than he normally would. His paternal instincts are already kicking in. Andrew waits for Neil to sit himself down next to him before he begins speaking. “I wanted to smoke my packet of cigarettes today” he says whilst looking out over the view of the sprawling Palmetto State University Campus and all of its students wandering around below. “I wanted to smoke them all and smoke away all the stress of the last few weeks with them.” He feels ashamed about wanting to smoke, but he needs Neil to know how he feels. “I’m sorry for being such a shitty boyfriend to you” Neil says out of the blue. “You’re not—” Andrew begins but is cut off by Neil. “—I am. I upset you on Saturday and made you feel worthless and like you can’t look after yourself, when you’ve been doing the exact opposite of that since the second you were born.” Neil turns so that he is sitting, facing Andrew “You’re strong, Andrew. So fucking strong. And I couldn’t be more proud of you even if I tried” Tears begin to well up in Andrew’s eyes, so Neil opens his legs so that Andrew can sit between them, with his back to Neil’s chest, as they look over the Palmetto skyline together. Neil puts his hands onto Andrew’s belly and Andrew places his on top, clasping their fingers together as he leans his head back and half buries his face into Neil’s chest. “Did you know that I started smoking when I was thirteen?” Andrew asks and Neil shakes his head. “Richard Spear used to keep them on the table by the front door and I would sneak one every now and then when things became too much and my arms were too numb to hurt anymore. I would tell Cass that I was going for a walk and I would smoke the cigarette on the way round. Then over time, one became two and two became three and so on. I was smoking twenty a day by the time I moved in with Nicky and Aaron.” “Are things too much for you now?” Neil asks, concerned for Andrew’s mental health and welfare. Andrew shrugs “I’m a pregnant criminology student with severe mental health issues. It will always be too much” Andrew feels as Neil squeezes him just that little bit tighter. “I don’t want things to be too much for you anymore. I want to be there to share the load with you. I’m going to make sure that I come to every single one of your doctor's appointments. To each and every one of your scans. I’ll even sit in on sessions with Betsy if you want me to. If we have a game and you’re not feeling okay, whether it’s pregnancy related or not, then I will stay at home with you. Because you mean everything to me, Andrew. You and our baby. And I promise that you’re not alone. Not anymore.” Andrew hums his approval and leans himself further into Neil’s warm touch and closes his eyes, listening to the other man’s heartbeat. They stay sitting like that in silence, just listening to the world as it goes about it’s day when Andrew whispers “thank you, Neil” “Always” Neil whispers back just as quietly. The next day, Andrew drops Neil off at the stadium and then makes the drive over to Reddin for his appointment with Bee. Andrew arrives at her office a little early, so he gets himself comfy on one of the chairs in the hallway outside her office door. He only has to wait for about ten minutes before Bee opens her door with her usual bright and cheery smile. “Good morning, Andrew” she says cheerily. Andrew nods once at her in greeting “Bee,” and then enters her office, taking a seat on his usual cushion on the couch. “Hot chocolate?” Bee asks as she closes the door behind herself, “or is that still too much for you at the moment?” Andrew swallows down the feeling of his morning nausea. “Too much,” he says slowly as he tries to breathe through the wave of sickness. “I’ve got some blackcurrant squash if you want to try some of that and see how you feel?” Andrew nods “yeah, thanks Bee” Bee smiles and pours Andrew’s squash into the mug that he would normally use for his hot chocolate and dilutes the liquid with cold water from her fridge. She then sets about making her own drink. Andrew has no idea what she’s making because it doesn’t smell like her usual sweet ice tea. Bee brings the two drinks over and sets them both down on the official 2007/08 Palmetto Foxes drinks mats on the coffee table. “Present from the team” she says as she sits down and picks up her notebook from the coffee table. Andrew rolls his eyes at them, making Bee laugh. “Coach Wymack booked this appointment for you. He said that you were upset over the weekend in Columbia. Would you like to talk to me about it?” “Neil and I had an argument, but it’s all sorted now. To be honest, I think that it’s affecting Neil more than he’s letting on. He’s still such a shit liar” Andrew says with a blank tone. Bee shakes her head and smiles in amusement at Andrew’s last sentence, before her expression turns serious again. “Do you think that Neil would benefit from a session with me?” Andrew shrugs “he still doesn’t trust you, but he told me yesterday that he would come to my sessions with me if I ever wanted him to.” “And would you like him to?” “Maybe” Andrew says and then takes a sip of his drink. It’s nice. It’s very refreshing. Andrew makes a note to pick up a bottle at the store on his way to the stadium later. He puts his drink down and takes a deep breath before he begins speaking. He wants to talk to Bee about what he said to Neil last night on the roof. “I wanted to smoke yesterday” Bee notes it down in her notebook and looks up at Andrew for him to continue at whatever pace he needs to. “I’m really struggling with this pregnancy, Bee. I feel so, so sick all the time, and it’s not just in the mornings either. It’s all day, everyday.” “That’s perfectly normal Andrew. It’s a big adjustment that your body isn’t used to” Bee reassures him with a kind voice. “What if the baby is suffering from me no longer being on my medication? I was still taking it for the first six weeks because I didn’t know that I was pregnant” he asks with worry written all over his face. Bee gives him a soft smile “it is highly unlikely that it’s from that, Andrew” she doesn’t say withdrawal, she too knows just how much Andrew hates that word. “It is most likely just your hormones, but if you’re concerned, then I can always get Abby or Dr Helen to take a look at you both.” “I’m going to see Abby before I start work later” Bee smiles again “ah yes, your new job as Coach Wymack’s assistant. Are you looking forward to it?” “It’s Exy, Bee. What is there to look forward to?” Be laughs and then goes on to say “when I was pregnant with my son, I worked as a pizza delivery driver. Did you know that I was the same age as you are now, Andrew? In fact, he’s the same age as you and I believe that you two are studying on the same course” “Harry Dobson” Andrew says and Bee nods. Harry Dobson was an annoying, loud mouth kid, but Andrew thought that he was kind enough. “He was the first person outside of the Foxes to call me Andrew” Bee nods with a knowing smile. Andrew knew that she definitely had something to do with it. “Does he know about—?” He points to his stomach. Bee shakes her head “no, no one outside of the people that you and Neil have told knows anything. It’s not our place to say anything. That’s entirely up to you and Neil” Andrew nods and takes another sip of his drink. His nausea is slowly starting to ease up a bit. “You used to smoke when you were a teenager” Andrew says as a statement and not a question. Bee nods “I did” Andrew already knew this from a conversation that they had had during his first year. “When did you stop?” Andrew asks. He never asked her the first time around. “When I found out that I was pregnant with Harry. I also struggled with my pregnancy, Andrew. Harry’s dad left as soon as he found out, but I knew that smoking would be bad for my baby.” “How did you manage?” “Knitting” Bee says with a proud smile on her face. Andrew quirks an eyebrow at her “knitting?” “Yes, knitting. I made almost all of Harry’s baby clothes. I could teach you if you wanted me to” Andrew looks at her questioningly as he thinks the offer over and decides that if he could knit some of the babies clothes then it would save him and Neil a lot of money. “Okay” “How about I bring in my knitting bag to our session next week and I can teach you as we talk?” Bee suggests. “Yeah, that would be great. Thanks Bee” Andrew says as he tries to hide the small smile that’s beginning to show on his face. Andrew finishes his session with Bee and heads to the store on his way to the stadium. He really, really wants some dried mango. Andrew thinks that maybe this could be his first craving. He hopes not, Andrew hates fruit. He pulls up and walks into the store, searching for the fruit section. He has never been to this section in his life and has absolutely no idea where he’s going. After walking around the store for almost ten minutes, Andrew finally finds the fruit and then spends another five minutes looking for the dried mango he’s so desperately craving. He find some and picks up a few packets in the hopes of not having to come back here too soon. Andrew walks down another aisle in the store. This time it’s the ice cream aisle. Andrew deserves some ice cream after the shitty few weeks that he’s had. He opens the freezers and picks out three different flavours:
Mint chocolate chip
Cookie dough
Dark chocolate brownie
After he pays, he heads back out to the car and begins the drive over to the stadium. As Andrew is driving, the car begins making a strange noise. Andrew has never had a car make this noise before, but he knows that he can’t be the one to open up the bonnet and take a look anymore. He looks at the dashboard and sees that the engine light has come on.
Shit
He drives the rest of the way to the stadium considerablyy under the speed limit. The car splutters as he pulls into an empty parking space. He knows that the car isn’t going anywhere until whatever is broken under the hood gets fixed. He grabs his bag from the boot and heads into the stadium and into the lounge, bypassing all of the Freshmen as he spots Neil over by the water cooler talking to the Upperclassmen. Andrew doesn’t know what they’re talking about, but he doesn’t really care. He walks over and waits for Neil to catch his eye. “Everything okay, Drew?” Neil asks as Andrew approaches the group. Andrew nods before saying “somethings wrong with the car.” The conversation amongst the group dies down and they all turn to look at the pair. Everyone knows that it’s usually Andrew that deals with any of the Maserati’s problems. That car is his second love after Neil - third if you count the baby. Neil bought him the car last year and Andrew would kill anyone who touched it without his explicit permission. Andrew puts his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie and Neil knows that he’s rubbing his tiny bump underneath it. It’s still too early in the pregnancy for the rest of the Foxes to know and he doesn’t want to risk telling them and then for something to happen to the baby. Seconds had barelybarely passed when Neil suggests “let me and Matt take a look at it?” Neil phrased it as a question, but Andrew wouldn’t refuse the help. Not this time anyway. Matt gives Neil a strange look before shrugging in agreement. Andrew sighs “if you fuck it up, you’re buying me a new one.” Matt lets out a nervous laugh then says “we’ll take a look at it back at the dorms. I’ll tow you guys home” “Thanks Matt” Neil replies and then indicated for Andrew to follow him to a quieter corner of the lounge. “How was your session?” Neil asks in a quiet voice. He always asks Andrew this. Most of the time Andrew will tell him, but sometimes he can’t. “Good” Andrew shrugs “Bee’s teaching me knitting” “Knitting?” Neil questions. “Yeah. To take my mind off of smoking and to try to relax my brain a bit” “Is it working?” Neil asks with a worried tone. Andrew shrugs again “we haven’t started yet” “Five minutes and then I want you all back on that court for scrimmages!” Wymack’s booming voice calls through the locker room and lounge. “Minyard, I’ll see you in my office once they’re playing” Andrew looks at Wymack and gives him a single nod. The pair exchange a few tender kisses before Neil makes his way back to the court and enters into his Vice Captain mode. Seeing Neil being authoritative will always make Andrew smile. Andrew watches Neil as he turns back to blow Andrew a kiss before heading onto the court. Andrew then makes his way into Wymack’s office and takes a seat in Coach’s chair, making it spin slowly in circles. Wymack comes in and rolls his eyes when he catches Andrew in his chair, but he doesn’t tell him to move. Innstead, he just sits himself down in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the desk, putting down a heavy pile of folders on his desk. “We need an offensive dealer, defensive dealer and two goalies for next season” Wymack says. “Two?” Andrew quirks an eyebrow at his Coach. “One to replace Renée, and one just in case we need to replace you too” “Replace me?” Andrew questions with slight shock that he knows Wymack notices. Wymack nods “you’re having a baby, Andrew. It’s a massive change to your life. You may not want to continue playing once they’re here” “I don’t want to look for my ‘replacement’ just yet. It’s still too soon for—” he doesn’t finish the sentence, but Wymack understands exactly what he means. “Okay. Well hold off for now” Wymack slides the pile of folders over to Andrew and indicates for Andrew to begin looking. “This is the ‘yes’ pile” Wymack places a piece of paper down on his desk with the word ‘yes’ written in black sharpie. “This is the ‘maybe’ pile. And this is the ‘no’ pile.” He says doing the same thing with the other two pieces of paper. Andrew nods and sighs as he opens the first folder.
This is going to be a long day
When Wymack finally breaks the Foxes up, it’s almost 6p.m., and Andrew is utterly exhausted, but he knows that he still needs to get Matt and Neil to take a look at his car. Andrew waits on one of the sofas in the lounge after having a quick chat with Abby in her office about his withdrawal fears for the baby, but she had reassured him the same way as Betsy had earlier. Neil exits the changing rooms and smiles when he catches Andrew's eye, walking over to him and kissing his boyfriend on the lips. “How are you both feeling?” Neil asks in a quiet voice for only Andrew to hear. Andrew gives Neil a small smile “we’re ok” and places Neil’s hands on his belly before covering it with his own. They pull away from each other when the changing room door squeaks open again and Matt comes out with his duffel bag. The pair walk over to Matt and out to their cars, where may drives his truck around the car pack and fixes a rope to the front bumper of the Maserati and slowly tows them back to the dorms. Andrew and Neil opt to go in the Maserati so that Andrew can steer it whilst they silently drive back. Matt parks them as close to the dorms as he can get with his large truck and the car being towed behind, and heads up to his dorm to get his tool box and change into some dirty clothes. Matt comes back down and Andrew pops the bonnet open before telling Neil “I’m going inside.” Neil nods and gives Andrew a quick kiss, then goes over to assist Matt under the bonnet to see what’s going on with the car. Andrew takes the lift up to the third floor, he’s too tired to take the stairs, and settles himself in his bed as soon as he gets into his dorm. He closes his eyes and lets the exhaustion lull him into sleep. Andrew wakes up again and checks his phone on the nightstand:
20:08
He stretches and goes in search of his Junkie in the dorms. He looks out of the window and sees that he’s still looking at the car with Matt, and decides to go down and check on them. He makes a quick pit stop in the kitchen on the way to grab a few water bottles before going downstairs and through the doors of Fox Tower. As soon as he catches sight of his car, his mouth goes dry. Neil is bent over, under the hood of the car, poking around at the components inside. His joggers hang low enough on his hips that the waistband of his boxers poke out the more he leans in. His T-shirt and hoodie are left discarded on the floor, leaving his scarred, tanned skin on full display. He is covered in sweat and grease and oil, he stood up and Andrew licked his lips at the sight of his rippling muscles glistening from the sheen of sweat that covered him. Matt was tucked underneath the car by Neil's feet, tampering with something from the bottom. When Neil caught sight of Andrew he smiled immediately, and before he made his way over to him he scooped something up from the grass and let it dangle from his finger. “Broken belt,” Neil said as he gestured to the clearly broken car part hanging from his finger. “Matt is gonna drive me to a parts store and I'll figure out how to replace it.” “I can just show you,” Andrew muttered as he closed the distance between them. He grinned as Andrew handed him the water bottle and he upturned it into his mouth, a few stray drops of water ran down the columns of his throat and it took all of Andrew's strength not to lean in and lick them off. Neil wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he placed the half finished bottle of water on the ground by his feet. “That's okay, I need to learn how to do this for myself anyway,” Neil grinned as he wiped his car grease-covered hands against his shorts, trying his best to clean them before asking gently, “Yes or no?” “Yes,” Andrew whispered without hesitation, and Neil slipped his warm hand under the front of Andrew's t-shirt and held it against his small bump. He kissed the top of Andrew's head softly as he let his hand rub small circles on the soft skin of Andrew's tummy before pulling away before anyone could notice. “Are you feeling okay?” Neil whispered. “I took a nap, I'm fine.” “Good,” Neil smiled at him, and a moment later Matt pushed himself from underneath the car and wiped his own hands against his shorts. “Everything else looks fine, I think the belt was the only problem,” He picked his discarded t-shirt off of the ground to wipe the sweat from his face, and Andrew's eyes lingered on his rippling abs and the dark trail of hair that disappeared into Matt's shorts. Two incredibly hot men were fixing his car, and he could have probably stood there and stared at them all day. “I know you like the view, but you should go back inside, I don't want you getting sick from the cold,” Neil smirked at him, and Andrew felt his ears turning pink. “Whatever,” He muttered, “When you get back, come upstairs and have a shower with me.” “Is that an invitation?” Neil grinned as he took another swig from the water bottle, emptying all its contents. “Should I invite Matt too?” “Fuck you, you can shower by yourself then.” “I'm kidding,” Neil laughed as he gave Andrew a soft kiss on the lips, “I'll be up as soon as we're done.” Andrew let his eyes study Neil's form once more before turning around and heading back inside and to the shower upstairs. It’s almost another two hours before Andrew hears the front door to the dorm click open and Neil walks in, still covered in grease, oil and sweat, with his shirt slung over his shoulder. Andrew makes no hesitation when he goes over to his boyfriend and crashes their lips together in a rough kiss, pushing Neil up against the front door in the process. “Fuck me in the shower? Yes, or no?” Andrew asks during a small break between the kissing. “Yes” Neil replies with no hesitation. Andrew grabs Neil’s wrist and drags him so that they are both in the bathroom and begins pulling Neil’s joggers and boxers down around his ankles, letting Neil’s hard dick bounce out. Andrew puts his right hand at the base of Neil’s dick and licks a long stripe from base to tip, on the underside of it, exactly how Neil likes it. Neil hisses at the sensation, so Andrew does it again a few more times before standing up and lifting his arms above his head so that Neil can take his shirt off. Neil kisses up his body, from torso to jaw, and rubs his hands up and down Andrew’s body, making Andrew throw his head back to give Neil more skin to caress with his tongue. Andrew’s breaths are a beautiful, soft panting as Neil begins rubbing his thumb over one of his nipples, his other hand fisted in Andrew’s hair and he kisses and nibbles at the skin just below Andrew’s ear. Neil pulls back from a squirming Andrew and turns the shower on, then gets Andrew completely undressed, so that he is standing naked on their bathroom floor. As soon as the water is hot enough, both Andrew and Neil step into the tub and immediately crash their lips back together underneath the spray. Their hands roam across each other's bodies, from hair, to jaw, to chest, to pelvis. Andrew sinks down to his knees and with one hand, pushes Neil so that his back is flush against the cold tiles on the wall. He uses the other to take Neil’s dick and place it so that the tip is in his mouth. He teases it. Teases it so that Neil is writhing underneath his touch, licking the slit over and over again, before taking in his full length at once. Andrew bobs his head and swallows as he listens to the sounds that are coming out of Neil’s mouth. Neil begins to move his hips in little circles in Andrew's mouth and throat, causing Andrew to hum at the pressure. Andrew works his mouth on Neil’s dick until Neil takes Andrew by the hair and pulls him off gently, then spins them so that Andrew is now the one with his back against the wall. Neil gets down onto his knees, much like Andrew has done earlier, and begins eating Andrew’s pussy out, hard and fast, just the way Andrew likes it. Andrew pants and gasps for air as he legs begin to shake at the sensation of an already looming orgasm. They’ve only just started, but the pregnancy hormones are making Andrew’s body feel even more sensitive than it was before. “Neil…fuck…I’m…” Andrew begins but is cut off as his orgasm takes over and he loses control of his body, almost falling to the shower floor if Neil’s hands hadn't been holding him upright. Neil keeps going, making Andrew almost scream with just how sensitive his clit is feeling. Neil looks up at him through his long eyelashes and then starts trailing two of his fingers up and down Andrew’s pussy, wetting them in Andrew’s slick cum. He slows his mouth down and whispers a quiet “yes or no?” To which Andrew nods frantically “yes Neil! Yes” Neil inserts his two slicked up fingers inside of Andrew's pussy and begins playing with his boyfriend’s G-spot, and begins licking Andrew’s clit once again. Andrew is a sweaty, panting, mess as Neil edges him towards yet another orgasm. Neil doesn’t let Andrew cum easily. He edges him once before letting Andrew cum and squirt all over him and the shower. Andrew’s legs give out from under him and he slides down the wall of the shower and into Neil’s open arms. “Fuck me” Andrew says once he’s managed to get a little bit of his breath back, “lift me up and fuck me hard against the wall” Neil doesn’t need to be told twice. He gets Andrew up onto his feet and then lifts Andrew so that Andrew’s legs are wrapped around his waist and he presses Andrew’s back against the now warm tiles. He bounces Andrew up and down on his dick. Andrew's mouth is right next to his ear and he can hear each and every breath, curse word and dirty sex talk that comes out of the former goalie’s mouth. Andrew cums another three times during their shower with Neil following soon after, filling Andrew up with a breathy whine and cry. They both take their time to get clean again afterwards, still sharing kisses and washing each other tenderly under the spray, before getting out and heading to bed. Andrew spends the next couple of weeks doing the same thing every single day: wake up, exchange a few kisses with Neil, sex if they are alone, shower, throw up, eat gingerbread toast, throw up some more, session with Betsy to talk and learn how to knit, throw up, see Abby for some anti sickness medicine, find new Foxes, lunch, find more Foxes, probably throw up once more for good measure, go home and chill, exchange kisses with Neil, eat dinner, shower again, sleep and then repeat. Kevin had begun his usual daily bitching session about Andrew still not playing, but Andrew had simply flipped him off with a blank stare, causing Kevin to storm off onto the court like he did every single day. Andrew is back in Coach Wymack’s office, looking through even more potential new recruits for the Foxes. He likes being in Wymack’s office. It’s almost sound proof from the Court and Wymack has a pretty decent little camera set up going on around the stadium which means that Andrew can keep an eye on his Junkie. Andrew may or may not have reangled some of the cameras on the monitor so that he could see his Junkie running around on the Court in all his glory, and watch as Neil annoyed the living shit out of Kevin. Andrew watches him with a smile on his face and then picks up yet another folder.
Lola Green
Fuck no
Anyone with the name Lola is an instant no go. Andrew doesn’t want to risk any of the new recruits' names triggering Neil in any way. He picks up another one. James “Jamie” Farnham He opens it and takes a look. Inside is a small photo of the young goalkeeper, alongside his very limited personal record.
Name: Jamie
Age: 17
D.O.B: 25th April 1990
Family: N/A
Jamie is a seventeen year old male who was raised in the social care system from the age of two after his mother died from a drugs overdose. He has no other known family.
Jamie spent two years in the juvenile detention facility for assault, following an incident involving a former foster brother. Reports of the initial incident state: [REDACTED]
Jamie has been known to frequently spend his nights sleeping in the school's locker room or library, instead of returning to his current foster family’s home. The police have been called on several occasions regarding these situations.
Andrew smiles sadly to himself as he reads through the file. This kid seems like a mixture of both himself and Neil. Andrew gets up from the desk, picks up the file and makes his way out of the office and over to the court to show Coach Wymack and Neil. He really wants this kid on the team, but he’ll let Neil look through his stats later. Andrew walks over to Coach Wymack and unceremoniously shoves the folder on top of Wymack’s clipboard. Wymack rolls his eyes at Andrew’s antics, knowing that he would only bring him a file if he really, really liked the sound of the kid in question. Wymack takes a look at the first page, same as Andrew had, and takes a slow, deep breath as he reads through all of the similarities between his Starting Striker and former Goalkeeper. Wymack nods at Andrew and then calls for Time Out on the court, so that Andrew can show Neil who he’s found. The Foxes come to a halt on the Court, and Wymack opens the doors for Andrew to step in and take Neil over to one side, the same way as he has a few times before. Andrew is just over halfway to Neil, when Jack yells out “Oi! Minyard” and throws a ball across the court that Andrew doesn’t have time to dodge. Andrew collapses to the floor as soon as he feels the impact, cradling his stomach and immediately crying out in pain. Neil rushes over to him, fear running through him as he sees Andrew on his knees and shaking on the ground. “Andrew!” Neil shouts as he gets closer to him and slides on his knees the rest of the way across the floor. “Where did he get you?” Andrew looks down at his hands that are covering his belly “Neil?” He says in a small voice. Neil’s eyes widen even more with fear and he turns to the rest of the team “Someone get Abby now!” He looks back at Andrew who is crying in pain on the floor. “The…Neil…the baby?” Andrew sobs out quietly. “Wait…” Matt begins “Did he just say…baby? As in a baby, baby? Like a child?” “Oh my god! Is Andrew pregnant?” Allison exclaims. “It’s ok, Drew. Just breathe” Neil tries to reassure a scared Andrew as he cries out even more in pain, clutching his stomach even tighter. “Wait! Andrew’s pregnant and no one told me?” Nicky complains. “That’s not fair! I’m the baby’s uncle!” “You’re its second cousin dumbass” someone else replies. Neil isn’t listening to them anymore. He’s more worried about the amount of pain that Andrew is in. Abby and Coach Wymack come running through the doors onto the court with Freya running just behind them. Abby has her medical bag out before she’s even hit the ground. “Ok Andrew, I want you to take some nice, big, deep breaths for me” “It hurts…Abby…it really hurts” he sobs harder. “I know it does sweetheart. And I’m going to do everything I can to try and stop it from hurting. “Right! Everyone who is not an essential family member go to the changing rooms and await further instructions!” Wymack shouts over the gathering Foxes. “Move it, Maggots! Dan go and get the wheelchair and call an ambulance!” The Foxes begin exiting the Court whilst Aaron rushes over to his twin's side with Nicky just behind him. “So congratulations then” Nicky tries to be cheery. Aaron and Neil both look at him with confused faces. “How far along are you?” Aaron speaks quietly into Andrew’s ear. “Not far enough” Andrew sobs and then experiences another wave of pain again. “Owww!” Abby kneels on the floor next to him and speaks gently “Andrew, I have some gas and air here for you. It won’t hurt you or the baby, but it will take the edge off the pain. Would you like to try it for a bit and see how you get on?” Andrew nods frantically and Abby begins preparing the gas ready to give to Andrew. She passes it underneath Andrew. Aaron takes it in his hand, holding it in place for Andrew so that he can keep holding Neil’s hand and his belly. “I’ve called an ambulance and they should be here any minute” Dan says as she brings the wheelchair for Andrew to sit in so that Abby can get him to her office. “Andrew, I’m going to get you to stand up now so that we can sit you in the wheelchair” Abby informs him and Andrew nods in return. Aaron takes the gas and air away from Andrew as Abby and Neil help him to stand. Just as Andrew is on his feet Nicky hesitates “errr…Abby” he points to the floor and Andrew. Andrew looks down and sees bright red blood covering the floor and his grey joggers. “No! No no!” Andrew begins to break down even more as Neil looks at the red mess in complete shock. “Andrew, breathe for me” Abby says as they sit him down in the wheelchair. Aaron passes him back the gas and air with Andrew holding it on his own this time. “I’m sorry Neil” Andrew cries and shakes his head “I’m so fucking sorry” “Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for, ok?” Neil replies and kisses Andrew on his forehead. Andrew nods as they get him into Abby’s office ready for the ambulance to arrive and take them to the hospital. It’s hours of uncomfortable waiting as Andrew and Neil sit in the hospital waiting room waiting to see a midwife or doctor. The pain in Andrew’s stomach has reduced to a dull ache, which is making him panic. “What if we’re too late?” He whispers quietly to Neil. “What if there is no baby to save?” Neil takes a deep breath “Then we face it together” and places a kiss on the top of Andrew’s head causing Andrew to give him a small smile in return. “Allanah Jane Minyard?” A female voice calls out. Both Neil and Andrew look at each other and then at the woman stunned. “I thought you changed your name?” Neil asks as they stand. “I have” Andrew replies. They walk over to the older woman, who appears to be in her fifties, and she gives them both a disgusted look up and down. “Well you don’t look like an Allanah Jane” “His name is Andrew,” Neil tells her sternly. “And who are you exactly?” She asks with just as much disgust. “I’m the baby’s other father” Neil replies firmly. The woman rolls her eyes, turns her back and walks away. She mutters something under her breath that neither Neil nor Andrew catch. They follow her into a small room and she looks them up and down again. “Get on the bed then” Andrew gets up onto the bed, keeping hold of Neil’s hand. The nurse takes no care in forcing Andrew’s shirt up and pouring the freezing cold gel onto his stomach. She doesn’t even talk to them as she pokes and prods Andrew’s belly with the ultrasound machine. She doesn’t even look at them when she says “Baby is fine. You can go” “What?” Neil says as he gives the nurse a confused look “That’s it?” “The baby is fine.” She indicates to Andrew “All it needs to do is rest. Things like that shouldn’t be allowed to have kids anyway” “What the fuck—” Before Neil can even finish the nurse leaves the room. Neil turns around to get his and Andrew’s jackets off the chair when he hears a sob coming from behind him. He turns around to see Andrew sitting on the side of the bed, shoulders shaking as he begins to sob. “Hey, Andrew. It’s ok. The baby’s ok” Neil tries to reassure him. “It’s not, Neil. It’s not ok” he looks at Neil with teary eyes. “I didn’t even get to see my baby. She wouldn’t even look at me and then—” Andrew can’t even finish his sentence before another sob wracks through him. “Oh Andrew” Neil says quietly and wraps his arms around him, pulling his head into his chest. A few moments later the door clicks open and a young midwife startles to a stop when she sees that there are people in the room. “I’m so sorry. I thought this room was unoccupied” She notices the tears running down Andrew’s face and her face and voice soften “Is everything ok?” Andrew sobs more so Neil speaks instead. “We don’t know if our baby is ok. The other nurse was really horrible to us” “Oh god. I’m so sorry. Let me have a look at your chart for a second” She goes over to the end of the bed and picks up Andrew’s chart. She nods as she reads it. “Ok” she begins, “it says on here that your name is Allanah Jane, but I can see that you don’t go by that name anymore. What would you like me to call you?” “Andrew” he barely gets out. The young midwife nods with a soft smile “Andrew it is then. Swing your legs up on the bed for me and we’ll have a check of this baby” Andrew gets back onto the bed and lies back whilst the nurse puts on a pair of gloves. “My name is Ruby” She goes over to Andrew and hovers her hands above him “Would I be able to roll your shirt up?” Andrew nods and helps her roll his shirt up to just underneath his chest scars. “What I’m going to do is have a little feel of your tummy because I can see some bruising on there and then I’ll do an ultrasound and make sure that everything is how it should be. Does that sound ok with you both?” She asks with a polite and sympathetic smile. Both Andrew and Neil look at each other before Andrew nods his consent. Ruby gently applies pressure to Andrew’s abdomen, making Andrew wince slightly. “Sorry,” she says and tries to be a little more gentle. Ruby gets the gel bottle and holds it up for Andrew to see “I’m going to put this gel on your tummy now and then I’ll use the ultrasound to get a better look at your baby. I will warn you though, this is quite cold” Andrew nods again and Ruby squeezes out a blob onto his stomach. Andrew shudders at the sudden coldness. Ruby has the screen pointed towards herself as she places the probe onto Andrew’s belly and presses it in, moving it around to get it into the correct position. After a few tense moments, her face relaxes and she turns the screen around so that Andrew and Neil can see it. “Here they are. One healthy little baby. All nice and safe inside your belly” Andrew lets out a shuddering breath as he sees his baby on the screen for the first time since his doctor's appointment back in September. Ruby smiles at them both and presses a few buttons on the machine. Suddenly the room is full of a loud throbbing sound. Andrew and Neil both look at her confused. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat,” she tells them with another big smile. “Oh my god” Andrew whispers to himself. “Neil, that’s my baby. This is our baby” “I said we would be ok” Neil whispers in return and kisses Andrew’s head again as they watch their tiny baby on the screen. “Would you like me to print you off a couple of photos?” Ruby asks them. “How much do they cost?” Neil asks sheepishly. Ruby’s face softens again and she shakes her head “I’m not going to charge you for them. Especially after the day that you’ve both had.” She presses a few more buttons and photos begin printing out of the machine. “There’s five here. One for each of you and three for your family and friends” “So my baby is really ok?” Andrew asks again, wanting complete reassurance that nothing is wrong. “Everything is exactly as it should be” “Can you tell what it is yet?” Neil asks, looking at the photo and squinting at it as he holds it up to the light. Ruby gives him a slight laugh “Not just yet. You’re only eleven weeks, so it’s still too early for that. We’ll be able to tell at around the twenty-week mark” “I don’t know if I want to find out” Andrew admits as he turns his head to face Neil who’s still looking a bit puzzled at the photo. “You don't have to decide that now. You still have at least nine weeks. You might want to know what they are by then. But then again you might not. I didn’t with my first but I did with my second. Having the gender as a surprise was really lovely.” She smiles again as Andrew also looks at the photo. “I’m going to wipe your tummy dry now, Andrew” she warns him before wiping off the gel and letting Andrew roll his shirt back down. “Do you have any questions for me?” “Do you have a complaint form that I can fill in about that other nurse? I don’t even know her name” Neil demands. “Of course. I’ll get you one and help you to fill it out. They can be an absolute pain to do” “Neil, I just want to go home” Andrew says, his voice tired from the day's traumatic events. “I know, baby, but what that nurse did and said to you was wrong” “Your partner is right. She shouldn’t have spoken to you like that” Andrew nods again and tries to relax as Ruby finishes up. The door clicks open again and neither Neil nor Andrew need to look up when they hear the voice that starts speaking “I said you could leave. Why are you wasting my colleague's time?” “Andrew was concerned about his baby. I did a scan and let them see it and hear the heartbeat. I’ve given them some ultrasound photographs too” Ruby tells her with a defiant voice. The older nurse shakes her head and leaves the room. “I’ll get you that form” Ruby says and leaves the room to go and get it. Andrew lets out a long sigh of relief as he cradles his tiny little bump. “We’re ok. We’re going to be ok” Whilst the nurse is helping them both to fill out the complaints form, she advises Andrew to have a few days of bed rest, telling him that his body needs some time to rest and recover. Matt picks them up from the hospital and takes them back to the dorms. He takes the lift up to the third floor with them both and walks them to their door. Andrew doesn’t complain once. He’s just happy that his baby is safe and healthy. As they enter the dorm, Kevin comes out of the living room. “So that’s it then” he begins with an angry look “You're just going to give up your career? Just like that?” “Not now Kevin” Andrew says with his eyes closed. He’s exhausted and emotional and just wants to lie in bed with Neil at his side. “No, Andrew! This is serious! This is your career! You can’t just throw it away because you want to have a baby!” “Kevin will you shut the fuck up!” Andrew shouts “I’ve just had the day from absolute fucking hell! I thought that my baby was dead inside of me! And all you give a shit about is your stupid little ball game! What the actual fuck is wrong with you?!” He pushes past Kevin and slams the bedroom door behind himself. Neil follows in after him. “He’s right, Kevin. Now isn’t the time” Matt says, slightly disappointed in the lack of respect from Kevin. “Whatever. I’m going to my Dad’s” and he leaves the room, shoulder barging Matt on his way out. Matt goes over to the bedroom door and knocks quietly before opening it. He opens it to find Andrew asleep on Neil’s chest with one hand on his stomach and Neil’s protective arm around him. “Hey,” Matt whispers when he sees a sleeping Andrew “just to let you know Kevin’s at Coach’s tonight and Nicky’s in mine and Aaron’s room. I’m going to stay with Dan and the girls. Give one of us a call if you guys need anything” “Thanks, Matt,” Neil whispers back. “Get some rest, Neil. You need it” Matt begins to leave before poking his head back through the door, surprising Neil “Oh and congratulations to you both by the way. I’m glad that everything is ok” Neil smiles at him and Matt leaves the room, leaving Neil to stroke Andrew’s hair as he sleeps. “We’re ok” Neil whispers to Andrew “We’re going to be ok” Andrew begins to wake up the next morning to the feeling of Neil tracing over his face with his fingers. Andrew breathes and relaxes into Neil’s touch more as Neil delicately ghosts his fingers across Andrew’s eyebrows, cheeks, nose and lips. When Neil’s fingers cross over his lips, Andrew kisses them softly and slowly opens his eyes to see Neil lying next to him in their bed. “What time is it?” Andrew asks with a still exhausted voice, as he closes his eyes again. “Just after 10 a.m.” Neil whispers in return. “How are you feeling?” Andrew fidgets for a second “Sore” he says. “My stomach still hurts” “That’s the bruising” Neil replies. “Would you like a heating pad or some ice for a bit?” Andrew shakes his head “just you” Neil smiles softly and settles back down next to Andrew, wrapping him up in his protective and warm embrace. “Coach sent out a message earlier that there’s a team meeting at the stadium at 1 p.m.” Neil says quietly “the team knows what’s going on, but they need to be formally told. Coach said that you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. You still need to rest” “I have my session with Betsy today” Andrew replies with a groggy voice “I can stay here with her and you can tell them” “Are you sure? I always thought that we would tell the team together” “I’m sure. I just want to sleep” Andrew says as he begins shifting himself into a comfier position. “Do you want to stay in here or lie down on the sofa?” Neil asks Andrew as he cards his fingers through his boyfriend's hair again. Andrew sighs and relaxes into the touch once more “here for now” he says, “I can always move later if I want to” Neil continues to stroke Andrew’s hair until the former goalkeeper’s breathing evens out and he falls back to sleep. Neil carefully climbs out of bed and kisses Andrew’s temple before heading to the bathroom to shower and get dressed for the day. He heads into the kitchen and starts making himself a coffee and some cereal, when the door to the dorm swings open. He looks up to see Aaron walking through the doorway with an expression that almost looks like angry concern on his face. “Where’s Andrew?” He asks as soon as he’s in the dorm, slamming the door closed behind him. “He’s sleeping. Please don’t wake him” Neil replies as he listens to see if he can hear any sounds that the goalkeeper might have been woken up by the morning rudeness. Aaron is still tense when he asks “is he ok?” “He’s still in a bit of pain, but that’s mainly from the bruising. Apart from that, he’s ok” Aaron lets out a sigh of relief “I was really worried about him” “I know” Neil says in just as much of a relieved voice. “How long have you known that he’s-?” Aaron asks, gesturing towards the bedroom and then his own stomach. “We found out when he was six weeks pregnant. He’s currently eleven weeks and five days” Neil informs him. “When were you planning on telling us?” Aaron asks, looking a bit upset that he didn’t know about his twin’s pregnancy. “In a couple of weeks. We wanted to get past the twelve week mark first, just in case-” Neil cuts himself off and clenches his eyes and teeth together to ward off the wave of sickness that has just passed through him. Less than twenty four hours ago, he and Andrew were clutching hands in a sterile hospital waiting room, waiting to see if their baby still had a heartbeat. The events of the last twenty four hours hasn't quite sunk in just yet. Aaron nods in understanding when Neil begins taking some deep breaths. “Can you tell Andrew to call me in a bit? I want to hear him say that he’s ok” Neil reopens his eyes and nods “Yeah. Sure. Of course. No worries” Aaron doesn’t say goodbye, he just leaves the dorm and closes the door quietly behind himself this time. Neil runs his hands over his face and sighs as he grabs his coffee and breakfast and begins to eat them. He decides that he needs to go on a run to help reduce some of his lingering stress, so he sets off for a run around Palmetto Park. He returns to the dorms just before midday and takes another shower before checking on Andrew. Andrew is still dozing when Neil sticks his head around the door, so he makes the decision to wake his boyfriend up and get him to eat something and move around a bit to stop his body from stiffening up. “Drew?” He whispers as he runs his fingers across Andrew’s face, the same way as he had done this morning. Andrew makes a little whimpering noise as he begins to regain consciousness. “How are you feeling, Drew? Do you want me to make you something to eat before I go to the stadium?” Andrew nods. “What would you like?” Neil asks as he strokes Andrew’s fringe out of his eyes. “Ice cream” Andrew replies with a stretch. Neil chuckles at Andrew’s never ending ice cream addiction. “Ok, I’ll get you some ice cream. Do you want to move to the sofa for a bit and call Betsy to come over and sit with you?” Andrew nods, so Neil helps him to sit up, and together they slowly make their way from the bedroom to the living room, with Andrew’s arm around Neil’s shoulder and Neil supporting Andrew’s weight as Andrew holds his precious baby bump. Neil moves some cushions around on the sofa and helps Andrew to lay down on them, covering him with his fluffy, pink blanket and finishing it off with a kiss to his forehead. “Let me get your ice cream” Neil says and goes into the kitchen to get one of the tubs of ice cream that Andrew had bought the other day during another cravings shopping trip. He takes the pint back to Andrew and hands it to him along with a spoon. “I’ll be back later. I’m not sure what time yet, but I’ll text you if it’s going to be any later than usual” Andrew nods and Neil kisses him on the forehead one last time and starts to leave, before he calls out “call Betsy. And don’t forget to rest” The door clicks closed and Andrew fishes his phone out of his pocket and gets up his text thread with Bee.
Andrew:
Can you come to the dorms today?
Bee:
Of course. I’ll be there in half an hour
Andrew closes his phone and puts it back in his pocket, then sits himself up slightly to begin eating his ice cream now that it’s slightly melted and easier to scoop. Andrew eats his ice cream and by the time he’s finished, Bee is knocking on the door and entering the dorms. She knows that they normally keep the door unlocked if someone’s inside the dorm, mainly because Nicky keeps losing his keys and gets locked out at all hours after FaceTiming Erik all night. As soon as Andrew sees Bee’s face, his mask of bravery shatters and tears begin to flood out of his eyes as heavy sobs rattle through his body. He’d been trying to keep a brave face in front of Neil all morning, but he couldn’t keep the lie up anymore, not in front of Bee. “Oh, Andrew” Bee says as she wraps her arms around him in a protective embrace. “You’re both ok” Andrew sobs grow harder as he remembers the fear that he felt yesterday afternoon. “I thought my baby was dead,” he sobs out onto Bee’s shoulder. Bee sighs “I know you did, sweetheart. I know how scary that must have been for you. But the main thing is that you’re ok. Your baby is still here with you and will stay here with you, until you get to meet them in May” Andrew nods “it still hurts, Bee” he whispers. “It will do, sweetheart. You’re injured. But the baby is very well protected and your body did its job beautifully with keeping them safe” “I was bleeding, Bee. I was bleeding and I—” “I know. I know” she shushes him and moves her hand through his hair and down his back, repeating the motion over and over until Andrew is slowly able to stop crying. “How’s your knitting getting on? Would you like to learn some more today, or do you just want to rest?” Bee asks as she pulls herself away and wipes the tears from his cheeks with her thumbs. “More” he says and Bee smiles softly at him. “Good. Let me go and get my bag out of the car and we’ll get started” she wipes one more stray tear away and then smooths his hair one more time before leaving to head down to her car. Andrew relaxes himself against the cushions. Bee comes back in a couple of minutes later with her bag of multi-colored yarns and the two blankets that she and Andrew have been working on. Andrew sits himself up fully, wincing slightly at the pain he’s still experiencing in his bruised stomach. Bee sits down next to him and hands him his blanket that he’s been making. It’s orange and white with sparkly orange threads going through it every couple of rows. He wants it to be the blanket that the baby gets wrapped in once it’s born, but he also wants it to be a surprise present for Neil too. They both grab out the knitting needles and yarn that they need and set off to work on their projects. It’s a few minutes of silent working before Andrew is ready to break the silence. “The nurse called me Allanah Jane” Bee tries her hardest not to look shocked. “She called me it, and said that I shouldn’t be allowed to have children. I’m pretty sure that she was disappointed to see that my baby was still alive” Andrew says, not taking his eyes away from his knitting. “Oh, Andrew, I’m so sorry. She should never have spoken to you like that. Do you need me to file a complaint against her?” Andrew shakes his head “Neil did it last night with the nice midwife. I liked her. Her name was Ruby. She made me feel safe. I think I want her to be my midwife throughout my pregnancy” Bee smiles “well I can certainly ring the hospital and ask if that would be ok” Andrew nods, then pauses before saying “I don’t think I want to have the baby at the hospital. I didn’t feel safe there. I want to feel safe when I’m giving birth” Bee nods “would you consider a home birth, Andrew?” “Have my baby at my house?” He questions. “Yes, it’s something that a lot of people find makes them feel more relaxed, being surrounded by a familiar environment that they know is a safe space” “Yes. I want that” “I will ask the hospital about that too and see if it’s an option for you. I know that there are certain requirements that you’ll need to meet throughout your pregnancy, but as long as it goes smoothly, then you should be allowed to” she pauses to pick up a new yarn, this time she chooses a pale pink. “I know that you’ll have a lot of questions regarding the birth, so I’ll get as many answers as I can about each scenario, but if a home birth is what you want, then we’ll focus on that for now. How does that sound to you?” “Good. Thanks, Bee” They smile at each other before going back to their knitting. Andrew needs to remember to ask Bee how to knit animals for his blanket. He has a certain animal in mind for a certain Junkie. Neil can hear the commotion in the Foxhole Court’s lounge as he waits with Wymack in his office to address the team about yesterday's events. The loudest voice of them all is Jack, who doesn’t sound like he’s the least bit regretful at all. “Neil” Wymack calls out and Neil looks over his shoulder at him. “It’s time” Neil nods and follows Wymack out of the office and into the lounge, sitting himself down in between the rest of the Monster’s and the Upperclassmen, all of whom give him a sympathetic look. “Okay, Maggots! Settle Down!” Wymack’s voice booms across the room, causing everyone to immediately go silent. “I have called this emergency team meeting to discuss what happened on the court yesterday involving Andrew” All eyes go to Neil as he tries to keep a blank face. “As I’m sure that all of you have now found out, yes, Andrew and Neil are expecting their first child. Which means that Andrew will no longer be playing on the Foxes this season” “So that’s it? He’s just not playing anymore?” Kevin begins to winge “but he can’t. He’s our best goalkeeper. Can’t he just get rid of the baby and come back?” “What the actual fuck, Kevin!” Allison exclaims. The Upperclassmen and Monster’s all begin to rip into Kevin at once. “Kevin, there is seriously something wrong with you mate” “Is that really all you ever think about?” “It’s Andrew’s choice to have this baby. Leave him alone.” “Alright! Alright! Quiet!” Wymack calls out again. “We also need to discuss basic health and safety around the court as, by the looks of it, some of you don’t know any” Everyone turns to look at Jack who just screws his nose up in disgust. “I would have been doing that tranny a favour” Jack says, clearly proud of himself for the slur. “What the fuck did you just call him?” Neil snarls. “What the fuck did you just call my brother?” Aaron says at the same time. “I called Allanah Jane what she is. A tranny” Jack replies in a sarcastic tone. Neil doesn’t even hesitate when he gets up from his seat and strides over to Jack on the opposite couch and punches him so hard that he falls off the back of it. Neil goes around the back of the sofa as everyone else watches on, and is about to beat the living shit out of him when someone grabs his arm. “He’s not worth it, Neil.” It’s Renee’s voice “Andrew needs you too much” Neil stares down at Jack through pure fury and gritted teeth, before letting Renée pull him to one side and away from the wretched child. Neil shakes his hand as he lets Renée take a look at it. The bruising is already showing. “Jack, you are suspended from the next game for violent conduct, and I will be speaking to the school about getting you some sessions with Betsy for education about the LGBT+ community” Wymack informs him once Jack has managed to scramble himself off the floor, head hanging low in embarrassment. One of the young freshmen tentatively puts his hand up in the air. “Yes, William” “Is Andrew and his baby ok?” William asks with his shy and quiet voice. William doesn’t speak very often, so when he does, everyone knows that it must be something important that he wants to say. “Neil?” Wymack offers and all eyes turn to him once again. Neil comes to sit back down in his seat and nods at William’s question “they’re ok. He’s resting now. But they’re both ok” There’s a collective sigh of relief from the rest of the Foxes. Jack, however, still looks like he couldn’t give two shits about the fact he almost killed a baby. “When is the baby due?” Brittany asks. “May” Neil replies, keeping his answers short and simple. “Will you still be playing?” Kevin chimes in. Again his only worry is the game. “I’ll play for as long as I can. But Andrew is my priority now. I may have to miss games if he needs me to” “But that’s—” Kevin starts to argue, then goes quiet and switches to French “Lord Moriyama le sait-il?” Neil shakes his head “Non” Kevin begins to panic “Tu dois lui dire, Neil. Il le découvrira de toute façon si vous commencez à sauter des jeux. Tu dois aussi le dire à Jean. Cela l'affecte également. Cela nous affecte tous” “Je vais le régler,” Neil replies. “Who’s Lord Moriyama?” Shelley asks, causing all of the older Foxes and Wymack to freeze. “Why will Andrew being pregnant affect us all?” “You…you understood that?” Kevin asks, his voice shaking. Shelley nods “one of my mum’s was French. I used to live there” The Foxes all look at each other shocked. “It’s nothing that you need to worry about” Wymack reassures her “Neil and Kevin’s scholarships come from an outside source. That is all” Shelley and the rest of the freshmen don’t seem convinced with the answer, but they let it drop. “Okay, well unless anyone has any more questions, I think that just about wraps up this meeting. Obviously, give Andrew some time to rest and recover. And please, for the love of fucking god, support him and Neil once the press gets hold of this.” Wymack says “I will also need you all to sign an NDA before you leave the room today. So make sure that you come to my office one by one to sign the document. This is to say that you can not, under any circumstances, talk to the press about this or anyone outside of this team for that matter. Everyone clear?” The Foxes all collectively nod as one. “Good. Then you are dismissed to change out right after you sign the forms. So start lining up” Wymack begins making his way back to his office and then calls over his shoulder “Neil, you can go to Andrew if you want to” Neil nods and says his goodbyes to the main Foxes before driving back to the dorms. When Neil arrives back, Betsy is in the kitchen doing the washing up. Neil walks up to her with a confused look on his face. “Where’s Andrew?” He asks. Betsy turns to him with a smile “he’s taking a nap in your bedroom” Betsy can clearly see the look of concern that now crosses over Neil’s face. “He’s ok, Neil. He’s just a bit tired. But he made a lot of really great progress today. Why don’t you go and sit with him for a bit? I’ll finish up here and see myself out” Neil nods and heads into the bedroom to find Andrew buried with the duvet up to his head, so just the top of his hair is poking out. Neil goes over to the bed as quietly as he can and kneels down next to it. He gently starts tracing his fingers across Andrew’s face, the way that he knows is safe to wake up his sleeping boyfriend. Andrew slowly begins to rouse under Neil’s touch and smiles delicately as he leans more into it. “Hey, beautiful” Neil whispers “how are you feeling?” “Sleepy” Andrew whispers in return. “Can I join you? Yes, or no?” Andrew nods and whispers “yes,” so Neil quickly changes out of his jeans and into his comfy pajama bottoms, and slides himself into bed next to Andrew, opening his arm out for the blonde to rest his head on Neil’s chest. Neil wraps his arms around him and kisses the top of his head before whispering “I’m glad you’re ok” Andrew hums a response and it’s not long before both the Striker and Former Goalkeeper are sound asleep. Andrew can feel Neil staring at him before he even opens his eyes. “Staring” the blonde says as he starts waking up from his nap. Neil smiles and lets out a quiet laugh as he uses his fingers to untangle Andrew’s fringe. “It’s Friday night” Neil begins, just above a whisper “do you know what that means?” “Columbia House” Andrew says with a smile and a hoarse voice from sleeping. “Get away from Kevin for a bit” Neil laughs again. He knows that Kevin’s comments from yesterday are still playing on Andrew’s mind. “Get away from Kevin for a bit” Neil mirrors in return. Andrew goes to link their fingers together, but Neil winces and he sits up sharply and pulls away, wincing at the pain of his bruised stomach and scared that he’s done something wrong. “Andrew, it’s ok. It’s not you. I…I…punched Jack earlier…and my hand is just a bit…sore” “You punched Jack?” Andrew asks with a raised eyebrow. “Why?” “He was…saying things…about you. And I…I lost it. Andrew, he was being so horrible and I just couldn’t—” “Neil, you don’t need to go around picking fights with people to protect me” Andrew replies slightly annoyed. “I…I know. And I’m sorry. But he was saying things about you and…the baby. Drew, I’m sorry” Neil begins panicking. Andrew puts his hands onto Neil’s face and holds him still “Neil, listen to me. I’m not angry with you. Okay?” “You’re not?” Neil asks, his voice breaking. “No, Neil. I’m not” Andrew brings Neil’s head towards him and kisses him on the forehead. “Thank you for sticking up for us though” Neil gives Andrew a small smile. “Can we go to Columbia now? I need to spread out in our king size bed” Andrew says with a relaxed look on his face. “It’s a king size?” Neil asks, looking confused. Andrew laughs through his nose and shakes his head “no, but it’s bigger than this one so it counts” Andrew leans in and kisses his boyfriend on the lips. “Come on, let's get our stuff ready. I want you to drive” Neil nods and they both get up from the bed, with Andrew leaning his weight on Neil as he continues to struggle to stand up on his own. Neil packs their bags and makes sure that he packs all of Andrew’s favourite things. He drives them to the Columbia House and stops off at the shop on the way to get some food for the weekend, remembering to get Andrew some dried mango and ice cream. Andrew sleeps for the entire journey and wakes up to Neil’s soft fingers delicately running over his face. “We’re here, Drew,” Neil says softly. Andrew smiles a small smile and then stretches, causing his spine to crack and pop. They both head inside, with Neil heading into the kitchen to put the groceries away and Andrew making himself comfortable on the sofa in the living room. Neil comes in a few minutes later with Andrew’s blanket and teddy. He grabs some pillows and cushions and brings in a bowl of popcorn, a tub of cookie dough ice cream and, of course, Andrew’s dried mango for his cravings. They get themselves settled with Andrew’s back to Neil’s chest as Andrew chooses a movie. They end up spending the rest of the weekend cuddled up together on the sofa, eating popcorn and sweets and watching any movie that Andrew wants. On the Sunday afternoon, during the movie Madagascar, Andrew receives a text from Abby.
Abby (Nursey Nurse)
I have booked in your twelve week scan for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. “Abby’s booked my scan for Tuesday” Andrew says through a mouthful of popcorn. Neil pulls him closer and kisses the top of his head “good. I can’t wait to see our baby again” he says with his real smile. “Neil,” andrew begins and Neil hums in response, continuously running his fingers through Andrew’s hair. “I want to have a home birth” “A home birth?” “Yeah. I want to give birth to our baby here” “At the Columbia House?” “Yeah. I didn’t feel safe in the hospital the other day and I want to feel as safe as possible when it’s time. I’ve already spoken to Bee a little about it, but I wanted you to know too. I’m going to speak to Ruby about it at the scan on Tuesday. If that’s okay with you?” “Andrew, yes, of course that’s ok with me. I want you to feel safe and comfortable and loved throughout all of this” “I don’t know much about it yet. I want to wait a bit longer because I—” “Andrew, it’s okay. We can talk to Ruby on Tuesday” Andrew smiles and snuggles down further into Neil’s chest. Neil laces their fingers together and rests their intertwined hands on Andrew’s bump. He’s slowly beginning to show. They continue to spend the rest of the day chilling and watch another movie before Neil drives them both back to the dorms. They arrive back to their dorm to find Aaron, Nicky and Kevin playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo Wii. Nicky screams as he falls off of Rainbow Road, for what they assume is not the first time. Andrew and Neil settle down with them in the living room, with Aaron grabbing Nicky’s controller from his hands and shoving it into Andrew’s chest. “He’s shit. You’re playing” Nicky whines in disappointment at not being allowed to finish the round. Neil laughs at his pouty face. Neil goes to practice on Monday and Andrew goes to see Abby for a checkup before helping Wymack out with finding more recruits. He finally gets a chance to show Neil and Wymack the file that he liked the look of last week. Both Wymack and Neil agree that Jamie would be a good fit for the team and Wymack agrees to get into contact with Jamie’s school about getting some more of his tapes. Andrew doesn’t sleep much on Monday night, his night being filled with constant nightmares about what happened at the Court last week and all of the what ifs that could’ve happened. Neil spends the night stroking Andrew’s hair and quietly calming him until he’s able to sleep for a few hours at around 5 a.m. Neil’s alarm goes off at 7 a.m. and he gets them both some breakfast and they both get ready for their appointment at the hospital to see their tiny baby that’s growing inside of Andrew’s tummy. Andrew drives them to the hospital, he’s feeling nervous about the appointment after how their visit to the hospital went last week with the horrible nurse. Andrew’s leg bounces nervously as he waits for his appointment to start. His hand locked together with Neil’s as they sit together in silence. A familiar sweet voice fills the waiting room, causing Andrew and Neil to look up. “Andrew Minyard?” Ruby smiles when Andrew and Neil catch her eye “come on through, boys” Andrew and Neil get up from their seats and follow Ruby down the corridor. “I’ve got us a nice, quiet room just down here” she says with a soft and caring smile. Ruby holds the door open for them to go into the room and closes it behind her. “Take a seat up here, Andrew and I’ll talk you both through how today will work. Is that okay?” Andrew nods and sits himself up on the side of the bed. “Neil, would you like to sit with Andrew?” Neil smiles and takes a seat next to Andrew, taking Andrew’s hand in his. Ruby takes a seat on a chair just next to him. “So, I’ve spoken with Dr Dobson and Nurse Winfield and they’ve gone through your history with me, Andrew.” Ruby sees Andrew tense up “don’t worry, Andrew, I’ll talk you through absolutely everything. And we can stop and take breaks whenever you need them. I’ve booked you in for the whole morning, so we can take as long as you need. Is that okay with you?” Andrew relaxes. Ruby smiles again “I’ll talk you through everything that we’ll do today now, and then we can take our time. And Neil can stay with you throughout all of it too.” She grabs her clipboard with her notes on it and reads through the list “alright, first I’ll have you lie back and will lift your shirt up and I’ll have a little look at how your bruising is healing. Then, I’ll do a scan and you can see your little one again, and we’ll print off some photos for you both to take home. Then the final thing that I need to do today Andrew is an internal exam” Andrew violently shudders. “It’s okay, Andrew,” Ruby reassures him “I’ll talk you through how it will work when we get to it, but I want to check how the rest of you is getting on first. Take a deep breath for me, Andrew” Andrew takes a few slow breaths. “Lie back when you’re ready for me, Andrew” Andrew takes a few more breaths and indicates for Neil to get up so he can lie down and let Ruby check him and the baby over. Neil gives Andrew a kiss on the temple and jumps down from the bed, helping Andrew to swing his legs around and get comfortable, pulling up his shirt to give full access of his stomach to Ruby. Andrew holds his hand out, in a silent question, for Neil to take again. Neil takes it and gives it a squeeze. Ruby comes over and stands on the other side of the bed and puts some gloves on. “Is it ok if I touch your abdomen, Andrew?” Andrew nods. Ruby is gentle as she presses around the bruising on his abdomen. “The swelling has gone down really nicely so far, Andrew. There’s still some bruising just here and it’s still a little tender. But apart from that, you’re doing really well” Ruby steps back once she’s finished “are you ok for me to continue, or would you like a break for a moment, Andrew?” “Continue. I want to see my baby” Andrew says quietly. It’s the first thing he’s said all day. Ruby smiles at him and begins preparing the ultrasound machine, ready to begin using. “Are you ready, Andrew?” Andrew nods and squeezes Neil’s hands a little bit tighter. “I’m just going to put the gel on your stomach, Andrew. It will be cold again, like last time. Just try and relax” Andrew takes a couple of breaths whilst Ruby applies the gel. She gets the probe and places it on Andrew’s stomach and applies some pressure, being gentle of his healing bruise. She moves the probe around whilst looking at the screen and smiles the same way as she did the week before. Ruby turns the screen around for Andrew and Neil to see “here’s your baby. They’re moving around a lot inside of you. They look very happy and healthy, Andrew” Andrew smiles as he looks at the monitor and then turns to smile at Neil. “That’s our baby” Andrew whispers to Neil, still amazed every single time he sees them. Neil smiles and kisses Andrew on the forehead “yeah, it is” “I’ll print off the photos for you both, now. How many would you like?” Ruby says. Andrew and Neil look at each other in another silent question, before Neil Answers “five?” Ruby smiles again “of course you can” Ruby presses a few buttons and the photos begin printing from the machine. They finish printing and she hands them over to Andrew and Neil. Andrew and Neil hold the photos and look at them with adoring eyes. “I’m going to wipe the gel off your abdomen now, Andrew” Ruby says and wipes away the excess gel. “Andrew, I’m going to give you and Neil a break for a few minutes and let you both look at the scan photos before I tell you about how the internal examination works” Andrew takes a shuddering breath as he holds the photos. Ruby gives him a reassuring look “it’s okay, Andrew. As I said before, we can take our time. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Okay?” “Thanks, Ruby” Neil says as Ruby takes off her gloves and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Andrew traces his finger over the first photo of the bundle. He traces the head and runs his finger down the body. “So small,” Andrew whispers. “They’ve got your nose,” Neil says with a smile. “Shut up” Andrew smiles back. There’s a knock on the door and Ruby pops her head through “am I alright to come back in?” Andrew smiles and nods. Ruby comes back in and goes back to stand at the side of Andrew’s bed. “I’m going to explain the internal examination to you now, Andrew. And don’t worry, Neil can stay with you the entire time” Ruby sees the fear on Andrew’s face creep back in. “It’s okay, Andrew, I know you’re scared, but I do need to do this exam. Just keep doing the breathing exercises that Dr Dobson has given you. Okay?” Andrew takes another shuddery breath and nods, squeezing Neil’s hand again. Ruby breathes along with him. “Okay, Andrew, I’m going to tell you about it now. And we’ll take breaks as often as you need” Ruby says calmly and with a voice full of care and reassurance. “Can I sit on the side of the bed next to you and take your hand?” Andrew nods “yes” Ruby takes a seat next to him and holds Andrew’s right hand. “What will happen is: I will lie the bed completely flat and get you to take your joggers and underwear off. And I’ll get you to cover your lower half with the blue paper that I’ll give to you. I’ll leave the room whilst you do that. You’ll get yourself on here” she pats the bed “I’ll need you to bring your feet up to your bottom.” Andrew begins to look scared again. “Andrew, it’s okay. Just breathe for me” Andrew does another few rounds of his breathing exercise and nods for Ruby to continue. Ruby continues with her usual caring approach “I’ll have some gloves on and I’ll pop a little bit of lubricant on them. I’ll insert two of my fingers into your vagina and have a little feel of your cervix. All I’m doing is checking to make sure that nothing is wrong. But if you feel uncomfortable at any point, then let me know and we’ll take a break. Okay?” “I’m scared,” Andrew whispers with a teary voice. “I know you are, sweetheart. But I promise that you’ll be ok” Ruby reassures him once again. “I’ll lie the bed flat now, Andrew and then I’ll give you a few minutes to get yourself settled” Ruby goes to the head of the bed and lays it flat with Andrew still on it, then steps out of the room. Andrew lets Neil help sit him up and takes off his joggers and boxers with shaky hands and covers himself up with the blue paper that Ruby put to the side of the bed as he lies himself down and brings his feet up to his bottom. Ruby knocks on the door a few minutes later and comes back into the room. “I’ll just pop my gloves on, Andrew and then we’ll go slowly” Andrew lets a silent tear fall from his eye as he tries to stay calm. Neil squeezes his hand again “you’re ok, Drew” “Okay, Andrew, it will feel a bit uncomfortable, but I will try to be as gentle as I can. Just keep taking those nice, deep breaths” Ruby says, still keeping her voice soft and caring. As soon as Ruby inserts her fingers inside of his vagina, he begins to have flashbacks.
“Look at you, Allanah Jane. So pretty for me”
“You like that, don’t you, you little whore”
“Aww, you love it so much that you’re begging me for more”
“Stop!” Andrew shouts out through a sob and Ruby immediately removes her fingers from inside of him and steps away. Andrew pulls himself away from Neil and curls himself into a tight and tiny ball as he shakes and cries with fear. “Breathe, Drew. You’re okay” Neil whispers, crouching down next to him but making sure that he doesn’t touch his panicking boyfriend. “Neil, I’ll be just outside when you’re both ready” Ruby whispers and quietly leaves the room. Andrew continues to shake as the panic attack and flashbacks continue to take over him.
“Such a good little whore, aren’t you?”
“Stop screaming you little bitch! You’ll wake everyone up!”
“Just take it and shut up”
By this point, Andrew is covering his head and rocking as he continues to panic. Neil can’t do anything apart from not do anything that could make Andrew panic any further. Neil takes his phone out of his pocket and goes through his music selection. He goes to: Andrew’s Calming Playlist And presses shuffle. Soft music begins playing from his phone. Neil puts it down on the bed next to Andrew’s head and kneels down on the floor next to him, waiting for Andrew to come back to him in his own time. The door quietly clicks open and Neil turns his head to see Ruby silently coming in with a bottle of water in her hand. She comes over to Neil and crouches down next to him “I’ve just spoken to Dr Dobson and she’s on her way” she passes Neil the bottle of water “for when he’s ready” she says, her voice a whisper. “Thanks, Ruby” Neil whispers in return and then they both hear a small and broken voice coming from beside them. Ruby gives Neil a small smile and squeezes his shoulder before she leaves the room again to go and wait for Betsy to arrive. “Neil?” Andrew’s voice is nothing more than a broken sob. Neil immediately stands up and turns to his boyfriend. Andrew’s eyes are barely open as he tries to blink away the last remaining tears. “Hey, Drew,” Neil says softly and slowly. “Can I run my fingers through your hair?” Andrew takes a moment before nodding. Neil moves his hand slowly so that Andrew can see it as he places it into his boyfriend’s hair and begins running his fingers through it, making Andrew relax in his touch. “Take your time, Drew. Bee’s on her way” Andrew nods, then he closes his eyes and starts taking some slow breaths as the feeling of Neil’s hand in his hair grounds him. Neil and Andrew stay like that until there’s another knock at the door and Ruby comes in with Betsy right behind her. “How are you feeling, boys?” Ruby asks as she closes the door. “We’re okay” Neil replies with Andrew sleeping against his hand. Betsy comes over to Neil’s side “do you want to try and wake Andrew up and then I can take you both home?” Neil nods and begins running his fingers over Andrew’s face, making the former goalkeeper grumble quietly. “Bee’s here, Drew” “Bee?” Andrew questions with a sleepy quirk of his eyebrow. “Hello, Andrew” Betsy says softly “what would make the room feel safe for you right now?” “Shark” Andrew replies. “I don’t have Shark with me right now, I'm afraid. But you can have him as soon as we get you home. Okay?” Shark is Andrew’s teddy that Nicky bought him when he took the twins in. He got himself a lion called Rory, an octopus called Pretzel for Erik, Aaron got a dinosaur named George and Andrew got a shark named…Shark. Andrew has slept with Shark in his bed every night since and the Monster’s have never said a word. Andrew nods and sniffs his runny nose as he starts slowly coming back to himself. “Home now?” Andrew manages to ask quietly. “Yes, Andrew. We can go home whenever you’re ready. But you can take as long as you need to” Betsy reassures and reminds him. They all stay quiet in the room for another twenty minutes before Andrew is ready to sit up and let Neil help him to stand up on his still shaking legs. Ruby tells them that the baby seems very healthy and advises Andrew to continue resting and reminds him he did really well today and that she is proud of him, causing Andrew to give her a small smile in thanks. Betsy drives them both back to the dorms, but she goes to a McDonald’s Drive Thru like the absolute saint that she is. Andrew orders some nuggets with a chocolate milkshake and smarties McFlurry. Neil gets himself a veggie wrap and orange juice. Betsy breaks her golden rule of: no eating in the car, as a one off on this occasion. Andrew breaks his nuggets into small pieces and eats them slowly. By the time they get back to the dorms, they’ve both finished their food. Betsy walks them both up to their dorm and makes them both a drink each before telling Andrew to call her if he needs anything, she’ll be available through the night. Neil says his and Andrew’s goodbyes to Betsy and then heads into their bedroom to get Shark out from underneath their duvet and brings him into the living room along with Andrew’s favourite fluffy blanket and their pillows. He sets up a little space in the living room for them and lets Andrew make himself comfy with Andrew’s back against his chest. Neil lets Andrew flick through the movie channels until he finds something that looks interesting. Neil has absolutely no idea what it is. Neil runs his fingers through Andrew’s hair until his boyfriend is asleep on his chest with both of their hands on Andrew’s baby bump. Neil falls asleep soon after. Neil wakes up sometime later to his phone buzzing in his pocket. He carefully moves himself to take it out without disturbing a still sleeping Andrew.
Allison
Hey Babycakes. Don’t forget about our spa day this Sunday. Remember you promised to come to this one. Bring the Monster too. He needs it. Als xxx
Neil smiles to himself as he feels Andrew beginning to stir on his chest. “Hey, Drew,” Neil says quietly. “How are you feeling?” Andrew nods. He’s still not up for talking much after this morning. Andrew sighs and relaxes more onto Neil again, closing his eyes again, but not sleeping. Neil takes a deep breath and asks Andrew about Allison’s suggestion. “Drew, would you like to join me and the girls for our spa day on Sunday? You don’t have to decide now, but it might be nice to help you relax a bit” Andrew shrugs “maybe” he barely whispers and snuggles himself back into Neil’s chest. Neil knows Andrew well enough to know that “maybe” usually means “yes” when it comes to anything non-sexual. Neil smiles at the thought of Andrew with a fox face mask on and cucumber pieces covering his eyes. Andrew and Neil take the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday off, away from the court. Andrew goes to see Betsy on Thursday morning after dropping Neil off at the court. Betsy is caring and careful as Andrew explains to her about his disassociation and panic attack from the appointment on Tuesday. He explains that he never got the chance to ask Ruby about the possibility of having a home birth. Betsy notes everything down and tells Andrew that she’ll talk to Ruby in more detail about Andrew’s history, to which Andrew agrees. Andrew heads back to the dorms instead of going to the stadium. He sends Neil a quick text, which he hopes Neil will actually see and that he hasn’t left his phone somewhere in the dorms again without charging it. He sends one to Wymack too, just in case. He knows that Wymack knows what happened on Tuesday and that he wouldn’t force Andrew to go to work if he wasn’t feeling up to it. Andrew goes back to helping Wymack out at the stadium on Friday morning, and then spends Friday afternoon staring at Neil’s beautiful face and ass as the Foxes play at home against the Austin Axolotls. The Foxes win, meaning that Neil is extra annoying all evening. They decide on not going to the Columbia House this weekend and opt to spend it with their friends in the Fox Tower basement, drinking and partying away. Andrew and Neil keep to themselves on one of the sofas. A few of the Freshmen come over and nervously congratulate Andrew and Neil on their pregnancy. Andrew stares at them blankly, but Neil thanks them with a smile. Sunday was an entertaining morning for Andrew and Neil - and anyone else who hadn’t spent the last two days drinking - as they watched everyone come out of their dorms with severe hangovers and looking like absolute death. The worst one of them all was the Freshman Backliner, Owen Marshall. Turns out that he had never drank before and this was his first ever hangover, so the rest of the Foxes had a tiny bit of sympathy for him - but not much. At around 1 p.m., Neil and Andrew make their way to the girls dorm, where Renée opens the door and greets them warmly before inviting them both inside. The smell of lavender and rose is already filling the living room. Quiet music plays in the background from the stereo and there is an array of different face masks spread across the coffee table, all with their own unique qualities. Fluffy blankets and pillows are spread across the sofas and floor, giving the room a homely and safe feel to it. Andrew likes this already. Neil places the bag that he’s carrying down on to one of the sofas and opens it to reveal the contents inside. He pulls the items out one by one: his fox onesie, Andrew’s shark onesie, Andrew’s fluffy pink blanket and finally his fluffy Official Palmetto State Foxes blanket. Andrew rolls his eyes at Neil’s blanket, but gives him a soft smile when he sees his own blanket and onesie. “I want you to feel safe” is all that Neil says as he hands the onesie and blanket to Andrew. Andrew goes to change in the bathroom and Neil goes into the girls bedroom. They both step out into the hallway at the same time and Neil notes how Andrew’s onesie looks slightly tighter than usual around his belly. Neil smiles as he realises that Andrew’s bump is beginning to show slightly. Andrew says a quick “yes” and Neil is over there in a heartbeat with his hands on the tiny bump. “Is it too tight?” Neil asks, concerned that the onesie is too uncomfortable for Andrew and the baby. “It’s still okay for now” Andrew replies and Neil gives him a small kiss on the lips before taking his hand and walking them back into the living room to begin their spa day. Dan offers the bigger of the two sofas to Andrew and Neil so that Andrew can lie down and be more comfortable. His bruising is almost healed, but he still gets twinges of pain if he moves around for too long. It feels a bit like having a pulled muscle. Neil sits down first and offers his lap for Andrew to rest his head. Andrew looks skeptically at Neil, not wanting to show this much vulnerability in front of his team mates. “Just lie down, Andrew. No one’s judging you here” Allison says with a half kind, half fed up voice. Andrew does as he’s told - probably for the first time ever in his life - and lays himself down on the sofa with his head in Neil’s lap. Neil starts running his fingers through Andrew’s hair, untangling the knots, whilst Allison looks at the selection of face masks and Andrew’s face in a back and forth motion. “I think we’re going to use a hydrating mask on your cheeks, and then a sensitive mask on your chin and forehead, and finally an exfoliating charcoal mask on your T-zone” Allison says as she picks each pot of face mask up one by one and showing them to Andrew as she talks. She hands Neil a headband and he places it over Andrew’s head and moves his hair out of his face. She goes to put the first one on his face but he flinches away violently. She backs away slightly and gives him an apologetic look, then her face softens “I promise I won’t hurt you” Andrew still looks a bit shaken at the thought of Allison touching him and Renée must sense that. “I can do it, Andrew. If you want me to?” Andrew takes a moment to think about it and then nods his consent. He goes to open his mouth to speak but Renée cuts him off “I will stop if you tell me to, I know,” she smiles and then opens the first pot of face mask and dips a brush into it. She kneels down next to the sofa. The mask smells like honey. “Close your eyes for me? I don’t want to get any in them” she asks softly. Andrew watches her for a moment and looks up at Neil, who is still running his fingers through his hair. Neil nods that it’s ok, that Andrew is safe. Andrew looks back at Renée and nods before closing his eyes. The coolness of the first application of the mask makes him shudder, but Renée simply apologises and gives Andrew a second to regain his composure before resuming the masks application. She finishes with the first one and then opens the second, followed by the third. Andrew opens his eyes again and sees Renée holding two cucumber pieces in her hands as a silent question. Andrew nods and closes his eyes again and then feels the cold cucumber as Renée sets them over his eyelids. Neil’s fingers are still running through his hair as his body begins to finally relax properly for the first time since he was injured a week and a half ago. Andrew is so relaxed that he doesn’t even notice when he eventually falls asleep. When Andrew wakes up again, he has no idea what time it is. He takes the cucumber pieces off his eyes and servays the room. It’s dark, the curtains have been pulled shut and the lava lamp on the bookshelf is now switched on, sending its silver glitter uo and down in its pink liquid. “Hey beautiful” Neil says in a fist voice and Andrew looks up to see his boyfriend’s smiling face. He has a white headband on with bunny ears and patches on his cheeks just underneath his eyes. His left hand is still in Andrew’s hair and his right is now resting comfortably on Andrew’s bump. “How do you feel?” Andrew tries and fails to hide a yawn. He’s not going to lie but he’s feeling really relaxed right now, but most of all, he feels safe. “Can I wipe the mask off your face, Andrew?” Renée asks sweetly and Andrew nods in a relaxed state. Renée instructs him to close his eyes as she gently removes the masks from his skin and applies a moisturiser to his face afterwards. “You’re glowing!” Allison exclaims in excitement once Renée is finished. “Honestly being pregnant makes you look so good” Andrew smiles in an awkward thanks. He’s not really sure how to respond to that. “Would you be up for doing this with us again? It doesn’t have to be every week, but you’re more than welcome to join us if you’re feeling a bit stressed. Babies can be a lot” Dan says with a hopeful grin. The girls don’t seem to be scared of him anymore and Andrew thinks that he may like that. “Sure” he shrugs and gets up to make his way to the bathroom. Andrew and Neil leave the girls dorm about an hour later, after Neil had his eye patches removed and face massaged by Allison. She had offered the same to Andrew, but he’d had enough of people touching him for one day. They head back to their own dorm and walk into a Kevin Vs Nicky showdown on Wii Sports Bowling. By the looks of things, Nicky is also shit at this game, too. Andrew spots Aaron in the kitchen when they arrive and goes over to talk to his twin. “Been told you want to see me” he says with as much a blank tone as he can manage in his relaxed state. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Aaron asks with a small voice. “I didn’t want to jinx anything” Andrew replies easily. “Is it just the one or did you get the twin gene?” “Just the one. And identical twins are random, not genetic. Fraternal twins are genetic” he says as a matter of fact. “Do you know what it is yet?” “No. I don’t know if I want to” Aaron nods. “Also, don’t call them it. I don’t like that” Aaron nods again in understanding and apologises to his twin, momentarily forgetting that the word offended him. “What happened with Josten and Frost?” Andrew asks, leaving no room for Aaron to avoid the question. Aaron takes a deep breath and sighs “he called you by your deadname. I don’t know how he found out what it was, but he called you by it. And he called you she and it and…” he trails off but Andrew gives him a look that tells Aaron he wants to know, no matter how bad it is. “He called you a tranny. If Josten hadn't punched him first then I certainly would have done. I’m sorry, Andrew” Andrew shakes his head “it’s not your fault” Aaron quickly changes the subject, noticing his twin's sudden discomfort at finding out what had caused the fight. “So…have you got any names in mind yet?” Andrew shrugs “I’ve thought of a few, but I want to talk to Neil about them first” “Would you…” Aaron is hesitant as he asks his question “name them after your old foster mum that you liked?” Andrew shakes his head “no. I don’t want to name my child after anyone that not in this family” Aaron smiles at that “what about Neil? “If Neil wants to name this baby after someone from his family, then that’s up to him” Andrew adds on with a shrug. “Just make sure that it’s a name that Nicky’s dyslexic ass can spell” Aaron says with a small laugh. Andrew laughs in return “noted” Andrew smiles at his twin and then makes his way back into the living room where Kevin is doing a terrible victory dance and Nicky is on his knees in defeat, with Neil laughing from behind them. “Neil” Andrew calls out and Neil turns around. “I’m going to bed” Neil nods and comes over to quickly kiss his boyfriend goodnight “I’ll be in in a minute” Andrew nods and kisses Neil again before heading off to his bedroom, still dressed in his onesie and climbs into the bottom bunk. He curls himself up on his side with his back to the wall and Shark in his arms as he rubs his pregnant belly and speaks to his unborn baby softly “goodnight, Little One.” With that Neil walks in and joins him in bed, his hand joining Andrew’s in the bump. “Goodnight, Drew” Neil whispers as Andrew drifts off to sleep. The next week is one again a mixture of Andrew looking through Exy tapes and new recruits files. He visits Bee and completes more of his blanket whilst getting advice from her about pregnancy and asks her some more questions, which she answers to the best of her ability. Anything that she didn’t know the answer to, she told him she would research it and get back to him during their next session. They had an away game on Friday which they won with a seven point gap. The Foxes spent their night celebrating in the Fox Tower basement. The following Wednesday is Halloween and the Monsters had agreed to once again let the Upperclassmen and the Freshmen join them for the Halloween party at Eden’s Twilight. Aaron is dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow, Kevin as a Mummy, Nicky as Hannah Montana, Dan as Princess Fiona, Matt as Shrek, Renée as an Angel, Allison as a Black Cat, Neil as Kevin Day, with a temporary queen tattoo to match, and Andrew as a Vampire Pumpkin. His outfit consisted of a long black cape, a black crop top with a fishnet crop top with long sleeves underneath it, his black skinny jeans and his black combat boots. Renée had helped him to paint a little pumpkin on his belly for his baby’s “first” Halloween. The Freshmen had come dressed as vampires, ghosts and for some fucked up reason, Jack came dressed in Kevin’s old Raven’s jersey with the number II stencilled on to his face. When questioned about it he shrugged and said “they’re scary.” Kevin visibly paled at the sight and immediately drank a glass full of vodka, before he was dragged off the dance floor along with Allison, Renée, Matt, Dan, Nicky, Aaron and all of the Freshmen. Neil and Andrew stay where they are at the table booth in the corner, Neil being worried about someone knocking into Andrew’s baby bump and hurting him again. Andrew taps his foot along to the music as he sits on Neil’s knee, drinking his lemonade and enjoying Neil’s company. When Nicky returns to the table, Andrew sends him up to the bar to get another round of drinks. The club has gotten busier in the last thirty minutes, and neither Neil nor Andrew want to risk going up to the bar and either losing their table or hurting their precious cargo. When Nicky finally returns with the tray of drinks, he is joined by Roland, who is carrying the second tray. “Not like you to send Nicholas up, Andrew” Roland comments as he places the try down onto the table. Roland must notice the way that Andrew’s hand is resting on his belly because he quirks an eyebrow at him. “Are you—?” “Yes,” Andrew replies blankly. “Oh my god” Roland says quietly and then his voice grows louder “wait! Oh my god! Holy shit, dude! That’s amazing! Congratulations! When are you due?” “May” “Shit man. I’m so happy for you. You really deserve this, honestly you do. After everything you guys have been through. Fuck man I can’t believe it” Roland wipes his hand down his face in amazement. “Thanks, Roland” Neil replies as he takes his drink off the tray and takes a sip. “Let me know if there’s anything you need, yeah? I’ll have someone serve your table so that you don’t have to keep coming up” Andrew nods and holds his glass up as a “cheers” to Roland before taking a sip of the fresh lemonade. Roland walks back to the bar with Nicky, both of them just as excited as each other. No wonder they always got on so well. Renée and Allison come back to the table for some drinks and off Neil and Andrew a dance, but both boys decline and continue watching their family from the sidelines. Everyone’s having a great night until Morgana-Faye and Christopher return to the table with a bleeding Ash in between them. Andrew stands up from his seat as soon as he sees the injured Fox. “What happened?” He asks. “some guy just punched Ash because they tried going into the men’s bathroom” Morgana-Faye informs them. “Go to the bar and see Roland. And tell him to get security to kick the asshole out. Then come back and we’ll go home” Andrew tells them. The three Freshmen nod and slowly make their way over to the bar where Roland takes them into the back office to get Ash some first aid. Nicky came back as soon as Roland went with the Freshmen. “What happened?” Nicky asks as he returns to the table. Andrew doesn’t answer that question, instead he tells Nicky to round up the Foxes because they are leaving. It takes almost half an hour to locate all of the Foxes and wait for Ash, Christopher and Morgana-Faye to return to the table before they can all begin filing out of the club and into various taxis and cars. The Upperclassmen get into the first taxi, taking Nicky with them, as he has a key for the Columbia House. Andrew makes the Monsters wait for the Freshmen to get into a taxi and gives the driver the address before leading the Monsters to the Maserati in the car park behind the club. By the time they reach the Columbia House, Owen is throwing up in the downstairs bathroom and Ash is explaining what happened to them. “Owen, okay?” Neil asks Nicky as he hears the young Backliner's retching. “It’s his second time drinking tonight. I think he had too many” Nicky replies as she gets a glass of water from the fridge. “I’ve told him that he can sleep in my room tonight. It’s closets to the bathroom in case he needs it” Neil swallows thickly at the thought of the young Goalkeeper going through the same thing as he did last year after his first night out with Nicky and the Monsters. He still hasn’t told Andrew about it, and he doesn’t want to tell Andrew now that Andrew is pregnant either. He doesn’t want to cause Andrew any unnecessary stress. So Neil puts it to one side of his brain for a conversation for another day when things have died down a bit, so long as Christopher is okay. Owen comes out of the bathroom looking a little bit worse for wear and Nicky ushers him into his bedroom. “Night guys!” Nicky calls out. “Night Nicky! Night Owen!” Everyone calls out in return. “Do you want to stay up for a bit longer with everyone else? Or do you want to go up to bed?” Neil asks Andrew, noticing that Andrew looks pretty tired. “Bed. But not to sleep yet” he replies and Neil sees a little tease of something in the way that Andrew smirks at him, so he smirks back in return. “We’re heading up to now, guys” Neil calls out and they get the same cheery and drunk reply from everyone as they head up the stairs. They take a shower together and after a quick “yes, or no?” From Neil, their lips crash together in a slow and tender kiss. Their hands trail over each other's bodies as they gently make their way to the bed, taking their time and keeping everything nice and slow and sensual. By the time they’ve finished having sex, Andrew is practically falling asleep on Neil’s chest. Neil walks them into their bedroom and lays his boyfriend down in bed. He kisses him on the forehead and they both say their good nights to each other before they’re both drifting off to sleep to the muffled sounds of laughter coming from their friends and family.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The next morning, Andrew and Neil decide to take things easy after the long and excitable night that they had before. They begin making out, sweetly and slowly, taking their time to kiss and touch each other's bodies. Andrew lays on his left side as Neil becomes the big spoon behind him, pressing into his boyfriend's pussy and setting a slow and steady pace. The breathy whines that Andrew lets out are amazing as he reaches behind himself to cup Neil’s cheek as he hooks his chin over the blonde's shoulder. Neil begins to speed his movements up as Andrew’s little whines turn into moans as he gets closer and closer to his impending orgasm. “Fuck” Andrew moans out “fuck, Neil, I’m gonna…I’m gonna cum” and then Andrew’s orgasm hits him, his body shaking and pussy squirting as he falls over the edge. Neil keeps up his pace, dragging out Andrew’s orgasm for as long as possible before he’s tumbling over the edge himself and filling up Andrew’s beautiful, pink pussy with his cum. Neil slows his movements right down again, to a slow rocking motion, as they both begin to come down together, breathing heavily in tandem with each other. After a few minutes, and once their breathing has returned to normal, Neil pulls himself out of Andrew, whilst kissing his neck and shoulder at the same time. Andrew moves his head to give Neil more access to his neck. His eyes are still closed from where he’s enjoying the moment. “I’m just going to go pee and get a cloth to clean us both up. Okay?” Neil says quietly and Andrew hums an agreement in response. Neil kisses Andrew on the temple, the blonde looking like he’s going to fall back to sleep for a bit, and gets out of bed and makes his way out of the bedroom and over to the bathroom. He pees and washes his hands, before wiping himself over with a wet cloth and then rewetting it to take back to Andrew to clean him up as well. He makes his way back to the bedroom and closes the door quietly behind him. As he turns around, he can hear soft whimpers coming from the bed. Neil walks over and sees Andrew still lying on his side, with his shoulders shaking as quiet little sobs make their way out of his mouth. Neil climbs onto the bed and gently places a hand on his boyfriend's arm. “Hey, Drew? What’s wrong? What’s the matter? What’s happened?” Andrew sobs even harder. “Hey, Drew, come here” Andrew turns himself over and straight into Neil’s open arms. Neil tightens his grip around him. “Oh, Andrew. You’re okay. I’ve got you, sweetheart” Neil tells him as Andrew sobs and whimpers into his chest. “Is it your hormones?” Andrew nods and Neil kisses the top of his head and rubs his hand up and down Andrew’s back, trying to help calm his hormonal and pregnant boyfriend as best as he can. “It’s okay, baby. Take your time. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere. I promise” Neil reassures him as he continues to run his fingers through Andrew’s hair. They stay exactly like that until Andrew has calmed down and his eyes have closed again, his breathing evening out as he finally falls back to sleep. Neil waits a bit longer before he carefully moves Andrew’s sleeping body off his own and climbs out of bed, creeping his way across the bedroom and out the door to go downstairs and into the kitchen. When Neil rounds the kitchen door, he’s met with the sight of a long night of partying spread across a trail of destruction. There are glasses everywhere, some are broken, some are still full of whatever monstrosity the Freshmen had mixed together, one glass is full of vomit. Neil pulls a face at the final glass as he walks over to the cupboard to get out his and Andrew’s mugs to make them both a drink. He gets out his PSU Foxes mug and Andrew’s shark mug. He makes himself a herbal tea and Andrew a peppermint hot chocolate melt. Whilst he’s waiting for the tea to brew and the chocolate to melt, he gets the toaster out of the cupboard, moves some of the shit off the countertops and sets about making both him and Andrew some toast. He gets out marmite for himself and strawberry jam for Andrew. As Neil is getting the tea bag out of his mug, a very pale looking Owen walks into the kitchen with Nicky trailing not too far behind him. “Where are the clean glasses?” Owen asks in a small voice. Nicky looks just as shit as Owen does, so Neil answers instead. “Second cupboard on the right” Owen nods his head in thanks and fills up a clean glass with water and begins to down it. “Take little sips” Neil instructs him “we’ve got some pain killers in the cupboard just over there” He watches as Owen goes over to the cupboard and rummages around until he finds what he’s looking for. The toaster pops and Neil places the toast onto the plates and adds the marmite and jam before he puts them onto a breakfast tray along with the two drinks and carries them back upstairs to his and Andrew’s bedroom. As he’s walking across the landing, Aaron comes out of his room - presumably heading for the bathroom. “How’s Andrew this morning?” He asks. “He’s…okay. He’s just…sleeping” Neil replies hesitantly. Aaron crosses his arms “Neil, how is my brother really doing? Tell me the truth” “He’s pregnant and hormonal, but he’s doing okay. I’m just taking some toast to him” he lifts the breakfast tray up slightly to show Aaron. Aaron nods his head “just…look after him, okay?” “Of course” Neil leaves Aaron and opens the door to the bedroom. He puts the tray down on the dresser and begins the gentle process of waking up Andrew by tracing his fingers over his face. Andrew begins to stir so Neil whispers in his ear “I’ve made you strawberry jam on toast and a peppermint hot chocolate” This makes Andrew’s lips turn up into a small grin as he sits himself up and lets Neil kiss his forehead. Neil grabs the breakfast tray and places it over Andrew’s lap, taking his own toast and mug off and giving Andrew more space to eat his food. They eat together silently as Andrew rips his toast into smaller pieces and sips his peppermint hot chocolate. He hums an approval at the taste. Not too sweet but not too plain. They both finish their food, so Neil gathers up their plates and cups and settles them back down on the tray, placing them back on top of the dresser, before climbing back into bed next to Andrew. Andrew rests his head on Neil’s shoulder and brings Neil’s hand under his shirt to feel his growing baby bump. The two of them sit together like that, the only sound in the room being their breathing and the occasional loud swallow from Andrew. “You ok, Drew?” Neil whispers into the silence. Andrew takes a deep breath “could you get me a glass of water? I feel—” “Yeah, of course I can” He lifts Andrew’s head off his shoulder, kisses his temple and climbs out of bed, taking the breakfast tray with him as he leaves the room. Neil goes back down to the kitchen, where a few more people have begun to gather in their hungover states. Neil bypasses the suffering Freshmen that are sitting around the kitchen table, eating toast and drinking coffee, and heads over to the sink to start placing his and Andrew’s breakfast stuff in the bowl. He grabs down a clean glass and fills it with cold water from the fridge before making his way back upstairs and into their bedroom. He opens the door to find Andrew not in bed. Neil looks around for a moment and then he hears the sounds of coughing, gagging and retching coming from the bathroom. Neil walks over and quietly knocks on the door “Drew? It’s me. Can I come in?” There are a few more retching sounds and then the flush of the toilet before the lock on the door is released and Neil peeks his head around to see Andrew sitting on the floor, next to the toilet, his back to the wall with his eyes closed as he tries to take some slow and steadying breaths. Neil takes a washcloth out from the sink drawers and wets it with cool water and sits himself down on the floor next to Andrew. Andrew cracks his eyes open and they instantly begin tearing up “I’m sorry” he shakes his head as he begins to sob. “Hey, Drew. You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. Okay?” He opens his arms out and asks the question “yes or no?” Andrew nods and his head falls into the crook of Neil’s neck as the warm tears flow down his cheeks as he continues to cry. “You’re pregnant, Drew. You’re pregnant and you’re hormonal, but you’re okay. Just take some deep breaths and take your time. Okay?” Andrew makes a little whining sound followed by another sob as Neil grips the back of his neck with one hand and uses the other to slowly rub up and down his back. Andrew’s sobs begin to quieten down and his breathing becomes less raged as he begins to calm down and return back to his normal self. “Do you want to have a shower?” Neil asks quietly against Andrew’s ear, to which Andrew nods. Neil stands up and then helps Andrew up off the floor. Andrew watches as Neil flushes the toilet again as they both stand. Neil walks them both over to the shower and turns it on, turning the handles to get the water to the right temperature for Andrew to stand under. “Stay” Andrew says and Neil nods with a smile. “Of course” After a quick “yes or no” Neil helps Andrew to get undressed and tosses his dirty clothes into the laundry basket. He undresses himself and then helps Andrew to climb into the tub and under the spray, before following him in. Andrew leans his head on Neil’s shoulder as Neil slowly massages shampoo through his hair, followed by conditioner. He runs his fingers through Andrew’s hair detangling all of the knots as gently and he can. He washes over Andrew’s body with shower gel and a sponge, taking his time to make sure that Andrew is relaxed and clean. Once he’s finished with Andrew, Neil rushes to clean himself. He wants to spend his day taking care of Andrew and making sure that he’s okay. Neil turns off the water and gets out of the tub, grabbing Andrew’s towel first and wrapping around his soaking wet boyfriend. He helps Andrew out of the tub and then grabs his own towel and begins the process of drying himself off. Neil wraps his towel around his waist, whilst Andrew wraps his around his whole body, tightly enough that he can see his baby bump showing. They head back into their bedroom where Neil gets out some comfy clothes for both him and Andrew. A pair of black joggers and an oversized HYDE T-shirt for Andrew along with his black armbands. Neil gets out a pair of grey joggers and one of Andrew’s Exy old jerseys along with his own armbands. Andrew’s bump is practically invisible underneath the baggy shirt. “Neil” Andrew begins quietly and Neil hums, coming to sit down next to Andrew on the bed. “I—” Before Andrew can say anything else, they hear a loud scream coming from downstairs. They look at each other with concern before hurrying out of the room and down the stairs and into the kitchen. When they arrive, they are met with the sight of Ash with two black eyes and an obviously broken nose. “Fuck…Ash” Neil starts but it’s Andrew who walks over to them. “I’ll talk to Roland. Get the people who did this prosecuted” Andrew tells them sternly. Ash shakes his head “no, it’s okay. I…I just want to forget that it ever happened” Andrew sighs and nods “okay” he whispers. “There’s some ice packs in the freezer if you want one” Ash nods and walks over to the freezer, taking out an ice pack and putting it directly on his swollen face. Aaron walks in and says “wrap the ice pack up so that you don’t get burnt by it” in lieu of a greeting. He looks at his twin and says “I need to go and pick Kate up from Melissa’s” before grabbing his keys and leaving the house. Ash nods towards Aaron just as the door closes behind him and Andrew passes him a cloth to wrap around the ice pack. “How’s the head feeling, Owen?” Nicky calls out with a laugh as he enters the kitchen. Owen is sitting at the table with his head in his arms, still nursing his glass of water that he got himself when Neil came down this morning to make his and Andrew’s breakfast. Owen makes an uncomfortable groaning sound and weakly lifts his hand to show a thumbs up. “Don’t worry, Owen, you’ll get used to it one day” Morgana-Faye chuckles. “Ash,” Neil begins “make sure that you get Abby to take a look at that when you get back” “You’re not coming back to campus?” Morgana-Faye asks. Neil looks to Andrew “I think we’re going to stay here and have a long weekend here. We’ve got plans” Andrew raises a questioning eyebrow at Neil, not knowing anything about any plans. Nicky gives an excited squeal. He knows about Neil’s plans for this weekend. Neil can feel the hole that Andrew is burning into his skull with how hard Andrew is staring at him. But Neil isn’t going to reveal anything to Andrew just yet. Instead, he just smiles at his boyfriend causing Andrew to roll his eyes at him. Neil glares at Nicky for making the fact that he’s been planning something for this weekend so obvious. “You better be watching the Trojans Vs Penn State game tomorrow night” Kevin says whilst biting another piece of his toast. Neil hesitates as he looks between Andrew and the rest of the Foxes “err…yeah…I’ll be watching” Andrew furrows his eyebrows and then walks out of the kitchen and into the living room where he flops himself down on the sofa and turns on the TV. Neil follows him into the living room a few minutes later with Andrew’s shark cup with the straw and hands it to Andrew. Andrew raises a questioning eyebrow at him once again. Neil gives a small laugh “it’s mango juice. I got Dan to pick some up for us” Andrew nods a small thanks and sits at the juice. It’s nice, it’s cold and refreshing and helps to get rid of the lingering taste of his morning sickness. Andrew stays on the sofa for the majority of the day with Renée, Neil, Nicky and Aaron coming to join him the most. The rest of the Upperclassmen and the Freshmen leave them to it. Neil goes as far as actually banning Kevin from the living room so that Andrew doesn’t actually end up stabbing him for being annoying. Everyone begins leaving the Columbia House at around 4pm, with the two cousins - and Kevin - being the last ones to leave at 5:30pm, leaving just Neil and Andrew to enjoy the quiet comfort of their home. Neil goes into the kitchen to find the takeout menus and smiles to himself at how tidy the Freshmen - minus a very hungover Owen and an injured Ash - have made the kitchen. They spent their day washing, wiping up, mopping and tidying after feeling bad about the mess that they had all made at the house. Even though they had all been told multiple times to not worry about it. Neil finds the selection of takeaway menus in the drawer underneath the microwave and takes them back into the living room and handing them over to Andrew so he could pick what takeout they would be getting tonight. Andrew ends up picking a local Chinese takeaway and tells Neil what he wants and Neil calls them to have their order delivered to them. The food arrives about an hour later and both are silent as they eat their food and watch Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The film is still on when they finish their food, so Neil takes their plates out and puts them in the sink to soak, before grabbing their pillows and blankets and making them both comfy on the sofa together. Neil sits on the sofa and Andrew lies down with his head in Neil’s lap as Neil cards his fingers through Andrew's hair with one hand and rests his other on Andrew’s bump, with Andrew’s hands joining on top of his. By the time the movie finishes, Andrew can barely keep his eyes open, a combination of hormones and just pure exhaustion taking over his body. They shower one by one - Andrew being too tired to do anything other than quickly wash himself and crawl into bed. They don’t do anything tonight other than give each other a quick kiss each before cuddling up together and falling asleep. They spend Friday in a similar way to how they spent Thursday evening, with their legs tangled together on the sofa as they spent the day watching movies and with Neil beginning to get excited for this evening's Exy match. They are both settled on the sofa - armed with all kinds of snacks and drinks - by 6:30pm, ready for the first serve to happen at 7:30pm. Neil is fully tuned into the game the second the Trojans dealer sets the ball into play. Even if not being on the court himself, Neil still feels the rush of adrenaline running through him. The Trojans play with a finesse and skill Neil could admire forever. Within the first ten minutes, the Trojans striker Jeremy Knox had already scored the first point and was running up the court in an attempt to score his second. Neil hissed as Penn State's goalie slams the ball to the opposite end of the court, blocking Jeremy’s shot. When the ball is passed up to Penn State's offence, Jean Moreau checks his stick hard enough to send his mark falling to the ground. Just as Jean is about to scoop up the ball and send it back to his strikers, the defensemen sends a gnarly punch to his rib just beneath the edge of his chest padding. Immediately, a whistle is blown signalling the game to a pause but Jean was already back to his feet shoving away his mark. Refs have to hold back the Penn State’s defensive man as he attempts to return the gesture to Jean. The first yellow card of the game is given to Penn State. The Trojans striker misses on their penalty shot causing Neil to curse and earn himself a pointed look from Andrew, who is curled up on the couch, with his legs in Neil’s lap, reading his book about what to expect during his pregnancy. By the end of the first half, Penn State is at a two-one lead. They effectively manoeuvre around the Trojans defence and score an impressive two shots on goal. By the middle of the second half, Penn State is winning three-one and Neil can sense that tension was building on the court. To his left, Andrews nods off with his book in his hands but Neil is too tense to pay him any mind. On the TV, Penn State earns another yellow card after getting into a fight with a woman on the Trojans defence. Neil can tell the Trojans we’re losing steam. They were one of the top ranked schools in the country but today it seems they would be bested by Penn State. Neil watches for the next fifteen minutes as time and time again, the Trojans defence was pushed back and scored on. The game ends in a 4-2 loss for the Trojans, something Neil hadn’t expected at all. Neil's jaw hangs from his mouth in shock as he watches Penn State celebrate their victory. Even though he’s just lost a major game, Jeremy Knox is still smiling like the Cheshire Cat with his golden retriever look in his eyes. Neil looks over at Andrew who just looks up over his book, looks at the TV and shrugs at Neil. Neil watches as Jeremy gives his post game interview “we played a great game tonight and I’m so proud of everyone on my team. Unfortunately, we didn’t win this one, but I know that every single one of my team tried their best and that’s all I can ever ask for” Andrew orders them both a pizza after the game and they eat it to the sound of Neil rambling and ranting about the game. Andrew almost expected Kevin to call and express his feelings towards the Trojan’s loss. Thankfully, for him and his sanity, Kevin didn’t call. Hopefully the rest of the Foxes had told him to leave Andrew and Neil alone for the weekend. Or maybe it has something to do with whatever Neil has planned for them. After their pizzas, Andrew takes Neil by the hand and takes him up the stairs to their bedroom where he proceeds to undress Neil and take him into his mouth and down his throat in one go, bobbing his head and breathing through his nose as Neil wriggles and writhes underneath him. Once he’s satisfied with just how wet and pliant his Junkie is, Andrew climbs up his body and sets himself down on Neil’s dick, setting a slow and steady rhythm. He bends himself over the top of Neil and crashes his mouth into his, all while teasing him with his tight, wet and warm pussy. Neil makes the most beautiful sounds as Andrew works himself over him, kissing his mouth, his jaw, his neck, taking his nipples into his mouth and playing with the sensitive bud. They’re not as sensitive as Andrew’s are, but they still make Neil’s back arch off the bed. Andrew speeds himself up and watches as Neil’s eyes roll to the back of his head as he cums inside of Andrew’s pussy. Neil’s chest heaves as he comes down from his euphoric high. Andrew continues to roll his hips against Neil’s slowly softening cock that’s still inside him. Neil noticed that Andrew still hasn’t come. Andrew lets out an excited scream when Neil lifts him off of him and flips them backwards so that he is on top of Andrew with Andrew’s head almost hanging off the foot of the bed. Neil begins eating Andrew’s pussy and uses his fingers to push his cum back inside as it starts leaking out. Neil uses his other hand to press down on Andrew’s bladder, causing Andrew to scream as he squirts all over the bed with the force of his orgasm. Neil continues to work over Andrew even after he’s cum, until Andrew is almost crying from just how sensitive his pussy is getting. Pregnancy hormones really do give you the most amazing orgasms. They both lie together at the bottom of the bed as their heart rates come back down, kissing lazily and slowly until Neil takes them both to the bathroom and showers them both off, cleaning the cum off of his dick and out of Andrew’s pussy. They get dried off, changed and head back to bed. Andrew places his head on Neil’s chest and listens to the sound of his Junkie’s heartbeat as Neil rubs his hand over Andrew’s belly. They fall asleep in that position together and both of them sleep through the night. Saturday is spent with Neil receiving several mysterious phone calls and text messages which he leaves the room to reply to. He has a small smile on his face that no one else would be able to notice if they weren’t as fine tuned to Neil’s emotions as Andrew is. Andrew spends his day lounging on the sofa and reading some more of his book. There’s so much that he still has to learn about. He’s reading each part week by week. He’s currently at week fourteen of his pregnancy.
Week 14
What's happening in my body?
The placenta is full of blood, and pumps out nutrients, oxygen and hormones, while removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. The placenta is firmly attached to your womb and links up with your baby through the umbilical cord.
Your blood and the baby's blood come into close contact in the placenta, but they do not mix. That's because you might be different blood groups, and mixing them up could be dangerous.
How should I sleep during pregnancy?
In the early days of pregnancy it's fine to sleep on your stomach. Your bump will not start showing until the 2nd trimester and sleeping on your stomach is unlikely to be uncomfortable. However, in your 3rd trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy), it's safest to go to sleep on your side as this helps reduce the risk of stillbirth. This advice applies when you are:
going to sleep at night
getting back to sleep, after waking up at night
having a daytime nap
Don't worry if you wake up on your back, just turn onto your side and go back to sleep.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 14 weeks)
You may still be experiencing pregnancy symptoms including:
swollen and bleeding gums (read about gum health in week 13)
pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as 'round ligament pains')
headaches
nosebleeds
feeling bloated (read how to cope with bloating on week 10's page)
constipation (read how to deal with constipation on week 16's page)
indigestion and heartburn (read about how to treat indigestion and heartburn on week 25's page)
sore breasts
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (read about vaginal infections in week 15)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the 'mask of pregnancy'
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
morning sickness (see week 6 for morning sickness advice)
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
mood swings (read about dealing with mood swings on week 8's page)
a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 8.5cm long from head to bottom, which is about the size of a kiwi fruit. The head is getting rounder and more in proportion with the rest of the body.
Your baby is kicking around, but you probably won't feel it yet. However, your midwife might be able to hear the heartbeat, using a handheld monitor placed on your tummy.
Inside you, your baby is doing something quite miraculous – having a wee!
Small amounts of the amniotic fluid are swallowed by the baby and pass into the stomach. The kidneys then kick in and the fluid is passed back out again as urine.
Your baby is about the size of a kiwi fruit.
Andrew places a hand on his belly and smiles at the thought that his baby is now the same size as the kiwi that Neil ate with his breakfast this morning. He wonders if his bump is obvious to anyone else. He feels massive already and it’s barely even there. “Drew,” Neil says as he enters the room “I’ve got you some mango” He is reading the section on weird pregnancy cravings. Is mango a weird craving? According to this chapter, some people want to eat dirt for some reason. Pregnancy hormones really are strange. Andrew accepts the mango and eats it as Neil settles down beside him, looking over to see what he’s reading. “Dirt?” Neil asks with raised eyebrows. “Apparently” Andrew shrugs. Neil laughs “Pregnancy is weird” Andrew eats a couple of pieces of his mangos before he asks Neil a question. “Neil” he says as he swallows a piece of mango and Neil hums in response “can you take a photo of my bump?” Neil’s face beams as he looks at Andrew “oh my god! Yes, Andrew! Of course I can!” He almost falls over with how fast he jumps up from the sofa. “Where’s the camera?” Andrew asks but Neil is already running out of the room and up the stairs. Andrew can hear him rummaging around and then the sound of his footsteps as he runs back down the stairs and back into the living room. “How do you want to do this?” Neil asks, so excited about the first bump photo that he looks like he’s about to explode. Andrew laughs at his Junkie’s excitement as he eats another piece of mango. “I don’t know. Maybe by the wall?” Andrew questions, now unsure about what he wants to do. “We don’t have to do this now, Andrew. You know that, right?” Neil reassures him. Andrew inhales deeply and lets it back out slowly before shaking his head “no. I want to do this now. I want us to have memories of our journey together” Neil nods and together they find a comfortable position for Andrew to stand and then lie as Neil takes what feels like a hundred different photos of his boyfriend’s baby bump. Neil and Andrew spend their evening eating even more mango and looking through the photos that Neil took. He’s not the best photographer, but he’s definitely improved since Dan let him borrow her camera over the summer when Neil went out with her and Matt when Andrew needed some space for a couple of days after his top surgery. They go to bed that night and Neil lies with his head on Andrew’s chest again, as Andrew runs his fingers through his hair, as they continue to look at the photos over and over again. Andrew leans over to open the top drawer of his bedside table and pulls out the latest scan photo of their baby and smiles at it as he brings it over for Neil to see. “Do you think we’re having a boy or a girl?” Neil asks as he looks at the photo. “Not sure. I don’t think there’s a way you can tell without the correct scan or until they’re born” Andrew replies as he also looks at the photo of the scan. “Do you know what you want to call them?” Neil asks quietly. Andrew nods “I have a couple of ideas” Neil sits up and turns to sit himself crisscrossed on the bed opposite Andrew “what are you thinking?” Neil asks with a beaming smile. Andrew shrugs “I like a few names. I like Lara and Isobel for girls' names. For boys I like Ben and Liam. But I also like some gender neutral names too. I like Dylan and Charlie. What about you?” “I don’t know. I don’t want to carry on my dads name. It was a family tradition. I was the third Nathaniel” “I thought your dad was called Nathan?” “Short for Nathaniel. He went by Nathan. My grandfather was called Nathaniel as well, but he went by Nate. And then there’s me who goes by Neil” “Neil isn’t short for Nathaniel. Neil is your own identity. The name that you chose” “I know,” Neil whispers. “So no names that you associate with him or his men. Same as I don’t want any names that remind me of my time in the foster system” “What names do you definitely not want to use?” Neil asks. He’s never asked about the names of the people who hurt Andrew in his past, worried that he’ll cross a boundary that Andrew doesn’t want to cross. “Drake” Andrew snorts “Steven, Samuel and Jesse. They were the main ones. They were the worst” “I always liked the name Jessica. But I wouldn’t want us to use it for our baby if it would trigger you in anyway” “The same goes for you. I never want to trigger you. That’s why I rejected a recruit last month” Neil gives him a confused look “her name was Lola and I told Coach no” Neil visibly shudders at the name and Andrew knows that he did the right thing. “I need to know the names that trigger you too, Neil. You don’t have to give them to me tonight, but it is something that we will have to think about at some point—” “It’s okay, Drew. I can talk about it” Neil replies with a soft and reassuring smile. “I don’t like Nathaniel or any variations of it. Lola, Romero, Malcolm, Patrick, even Stuart. I don’t want our baby to know that it’s related to a crime syndicate. I would maybe like to name them after my mum, but I know that you don’t like her and that it would probably be a bad idea” Andrew nods in understanding “Neil, if you want to name our child after your mum, then that’s okay with me. We still have six months until their due” Neil nods and they both settle themselves back down and prepare to go to bed for the night, after Neil tells Andrew that they have a busy day tomorrow, much to Andrew’s eye roll. The next morning, Andrew is sitting on the floor in the living room at the Columbia House with his back resting against the sofa as he tells his bump about how Gordon Ramsey's: Hell’s Kitchen works. It’s probably not the best show to be watching with how much the host swears, but Andrew enjoys it. Neil comes in from the kitchen with a chocolate cupcake, with a single candle in it, on one of their plates that they only use for special occasions, like Christmas or New Year’s. Andrew doesn’t notice that he’s there, too invested in what’s happening on the TV, until Neil begins singing. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Dreeeeew, happy birthday to you” Andrew looks over at him as he comes closer with the cake and a bag full of what appears to be cards and presents. He smiles at his Junkie before blowing the candle out. Neil doesn’t normally celebrate Andrew’s birthday. Andrew doesn’t enjoy them. But this year, Andrew is turning 21, and Neil is going to make sure that he gets Andrew something special to mark the occasion. Neil settles the cake down on the coffee table and places the bag of cards and presents in front of him and Andrew. Andrew looks at him with a sceptical look on his face and a raised eyebrow. “You have to open them in order, apparently.” Andrew gives him another look. Neil holds his hand up in defence “I didn’t plan any of this” Andrew doesn’t believe for one single second. Andrew takes the first card out of the bag and opens it. Inside it is the neat cursive handwriting that belongs to Renée.
Dear Andrew
Happy 21st birthday.
May your day be filled with so much hope and happiness.
Lots of love
Renée xxx
He takes out the next one which is from Dan and Matt. Then he reads Kevin’s. Then Nicky’s - which spills half a ton of glitter across the living room carpet as soon as he opens it. Andrew is not impressed by the mess. He follows it up with Alison’s next, Coach and Abby, Betsy, even Aaron sent him one - he hasn’t got one for him. He didn’t think that they were doing birthdays this year. They usually don't. The final card can only be from one person. Andrew smiles as he opens it. He opens the card and two tickets fall out and onto his lap. He picks one up and his jaw drops open when he sees what it’s for.
HYDE
5th November 2007
South Carolina Arena
Block B, Row 1, Seat 8
7:30 pm
He looks at the other ticket
HYDE
5th November 2007
South Carolina Arena
Block B, Row 1, Seat 9
7:30 pm
Andrew looks at Neil in pure shock and amazement. “They’re for tomorrow night. How long have you had these? How did you know?” Neil shrugs “I got the girls to help me during one of our Spa Sundays a few months ago. I just didn’t count on the fact that you’d be pregnant by the time it came to actually going” his voice grows quieter and softer “We don't have to go, Drew, if you don’t want to” “You want me to miss out on seeing my favourite band that only tours in the US every couple of years? No chance” “I cleared it with Coach Wymack. He’s known since the summer.” Andrew looks at Neil with his jaw dropped open “You bought these in the summer?” Neil nods “Coach kept them safe at his apartment for me. Coach gave them to me last week before we went to Eden’s” Andrew almost looks like he has tears in his eyes as he stares at them once more. Maybe this birthday won’t be so bad after all. Neil smiles and then nods to the card which lies abandoned in Andrew’s lap “you going to read that?” Andrew gives Neil fake murder eyes before picking up the card and reading what his Junkie’s terrible handwriting says.
To Drew
Happy 21st Birthday
I hate you
Junkie xxx
“Thank you, Neil” Andrew says just above a whisper as a smile begins to bloom across his face. Neil goes over to Andrew and kisses his cheek before Andrew turns his head and kisses him on the lips instead, starting off slowly and building up their speed until they are led in a tangled mess on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms. Andrew asks “yes or no?” to which Neil shakes his head, causing Andrew to pull back thinking that he’s somehow overstepped a boundary, but Neil just smiles at him and says “we have guests coming over and we need to shower and change” “Guests?” Andrew questions. “Yeah. Guests” Neil says with a smug smile but refuses to elaborate any further. They shower together, taking things slowly as they wash and kiss each other. Neil tells Andrew to wear something nice, so he picks out his favourite shirt that still fits him and a pair of jeans that feel like they're getting slightly on the tighter side. He heads back downstairs with Neil bouncing down the stairs behind him like the rabbit that he is. Andrew goes into the living room to wait for whoever is coming over to arrive by reading some more of his book.
Antenatal classes
Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy's has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.
Even if you've had children before, antenatal classes are still worth going to as you can meet other parents-to-be. The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.
He finishes reading the chapter just as the doorbell rings and he hears Neil run to get it. Andrew goes out of the living room to see who’s at the front door and is greeted with his mirror image - and Katelyn and Nicky. Aaron gives Andrew a small smile to which Andrew nods in return. Nicky almost jumps on Andrew with how excited he is to be here, but stops himself at the last second when he remembers which twin he’s about to leap on to. Katelyn is standing next to Aaron with a polite smile on her face “Andrew” Andrew nods at her with a blank expression and Aaron pushes his way into the house, obviously just as thrilled as Andrew is about having to celebrate another birthday. Nicky follows his cousins into the house and Katelyn goes back to the car to grab the box off of the back seat before she enters the house and Neil closes the door behind them all. The twins are sitting in the living room together in silence as Neil and Katelyn take the box into the kitchen and place it into the fridge for later. Nicky is already cracking the prosecco open to begin the twin’s birthday celebrations. “Nicky,” Katelyn begins with a half smile “just remember that Neil and Andrew don’t drink” “Yeah, but Neil doesn’t mind. Do you Neil?” Nicky replies. Neil shrugs “not really” Nicky pops the bottle open and takes a swig out of it before pouring three glasses, whilst Neil gets himself and Andrew a glass of mango juice with lemonade each. “I’ll make a start on the steaks, Neil, if you want to make a start on the latkes? I need to create the mustard marinade for the steaks to rest in” Katelyn says as Nicky pours himself another glass of prosecco. At this rate he’s going to be drunk before the marinade is even made. “Sure. I can do that. What should I put in them? Cheese, ham and chorizo?” “Sounds amazing” Katelyn replies with an excited squeal as she claps her hands. Neil gets to work with peeling and grating the potatoes whilst Katelyn starts mixing the white wine, mustard and olive oil together. Nicky pours himself another glass and turns the music on loudly, causing both Andrew and Aaron to come into the kitchen, forcing Katelyn and Neil to cover their food to stop the twins from spoiling their birthday dinner surprise. “What are you hiding?” Aaron asks with suspicion written all over his face. “Nothing” Neil and Katelyn reply simultaneously, trying and failing to hide their guilty expressions. The twins leave the kitchen and head back into the living room and sit themselves back down on the two sofas. “Steak and latkes?” Aaron asks with a smirk. “Definitely” Andrew replies. They sit silently for a few minutes until Andrew breaks the silence “I didn’t know that we were doing birthday cards this year” Aaron is surprised by what Andrew has just said “Katelyn got it and told me to write it. I didn’t—” “I’m sorry” Andrew says just above a whisper, causing Aaron to look over with raised eyebrows. “I didn’t get you one” “It’s okay” Aaron replies with pure honesty in his voice “I know you don’t like them either” They go back to sitting in silence again after that for a few hours until Katelyn calls out to say that dinner is ready. The boys head into the kitchen and are greeted to the amazing smell of their favourite meal: Mustard Marinated Steak with Ham, Cheese and Chorizo Latkes. “Called it” Aaron says smugly in Andrew’s ear making Andrew’s lips turn up at the corner. They all sit down - Nicky is smashed out of his mind after drinking almost the entire bottle of Prosecco - after Neil and Katelyn dish up the food and set it out in front of each seat at the table. Andrew smiles his real smile at Neil as Neil sits down in the chair opposite him. Aaron sits next to Andrew with Katelyn opposite him and Nicky sits at the head of the table. Katelyn pours each of them a glass of lemonade - partly in the hopes of sobering Nicky up - before they all start eating their meals. They finish eating and Katelyn instructs the twins to go into the living room and wait for them there. Aaron does as he’s told, but Andrew stays sitting at the table and glares at her until Neil tells him to go with a kiss to his mouth and a smile on his face. “Wait for me!” Nicky cries out as he runs with a stumble behind the twins. Nicky practically crashes into Andrew as he falls onto the sofa that Andrew is lying on. Andrew screams and pushes Nicky off him and sends him crashing to the ground. Neil must hear the scream because he comes running in only seconds later as Aaron is helping Nicky off the floor. Neil goes over to Andrew and checks that he's ok, and with Andrew’s nod he goes back to Katelyn in the kitchen. Andrew is just about to read another page of his book when the lights in the living room are switched off and he can hear the sounds of Neil and Katelyn singing. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Aaron and Andrew, happy birthday to you” Neil takes one cake over to Andrew and Katelyn takes the other over to Aaron and the twins blow out their candles at the same time, both with huge smiles on their faces. Soft snores come from Nicky who’s fallen asleep on the living room floor, now missing all of the birthday celebrations. Neil and Katelyn take the cakes back into the kitchen and cut them into pieces before bringing them back for everyone to eat. Neil and Andrew sit together on one sofa, whilst Aaron and Katelyn sit together on the other, with Nicky still sleeping soundly on the floor, as they all eat their slices of cake. Andrew is the first to finish and ends up finishing Neil’s when it’s obvious that it’s too sweet for him. “So…umm…Andrew, how…how are you?” Katelyn asks with hesitation. Andrew gives her a strange look “yeah. Fine” “Aaron told me…about…about the baby” “Okay?” Andrew looks at her confused. “Are you sure that it’s something that you want? You know, after everything that happened to you last year and—” “Katelyn! What the fuck!” Neil exclaims “what is wrong with you? You sound like Jack and Kevin!” “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to” she panics “I just…I just wanted to make sure that you…that you’re okay” “Neil, she doesn’t mean any harm” Aaron tries to reassure them. “I’m going to bed” Andrew announces and gets himself up off the sofa and leaves the room, his feet stomping up the stairs. “Why, Katelyn? Why would you bring that up now? Today of all days? He’s been doing so well. Why did you need to upset him now?” Neil says and then follows Andrew out of the room and upstairs to bed. Andrew is already curled up under the duvet with his back against the wall by the time Neil enters the room, but Neil knows he’s still awake. “Andrew?” He whispers as he switches out of his jeans and into his pyjamas “yes or no?” “Yes” Andrew whispers and Neil climbs in bed in front of Andrew so that they are lying with just inches between them. Neil reaches his hand out slowly enough for Andrew to tell him to stop if he wants him to. But Andrew doesn’t tell him to stop, so Neil brushes Andrew’s hair out of his eyes and tucks it behind his ear. “Are you really doing okay, Drew?” Neil whispers into the space between them. “Yeah. Yeah I’m okay” Andrew reassures him. Neil kisses his boyfriend on the forehead and places one hand on his bump and uses the other to stroke Andrew’s hair and the blonde closes his eyes and gently falls to sleep. The next morning, Andrew is the first to wake up. He watches Neil sleep for a few minutes before he gently extracts himself from Neil’s loving arms and goes to the bathroom to relieve himself. He doesn’t feel sick yet, but he probably will in about an hour or so. He goes downstairs and into the kitchen to make himself a hot chocolate and put the coffee on for when Neil, Aaron, Katelyn and Nicky wake up. He’s just adding the marshmallows to his drink when he hears the soft sound of footsteps coming down the stairs and into the kitchen. He turns around to see Katelyn standing with her head down, looking very anxious and embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Andrew…for…for last night. I honestly didn’t mean to upset you. I just—” “I know” Andrew replies and sees the look of relief that spreads across her face. “Coffee?” Katelyn smiles “sure, thanks” Andrew pours the coffee and hands the mug over to her for her to add her own milk and sugar. Andrew sits down at the table and offers for Katelyn to join him. Katelyn sits in the seat opposite him and they silently sip their drinks. “Are you excited about the concert later?” She asks him as a way to break the silence. “Yeah” Andrew says between sips of his drink. “I’ve never listened to their music,” she says awkwardly and quietly. “I don’t think you’d like them anyway” he says with a small smile. They sit in silence again and drink some more of their drinks as the rest of the house remains asleep. This time, it’s Andrew who breaks the silence. “I know you were just trying to look out for me with” he points at his bump “this” “I know it couldn’t have been easy, the trial” “It wasn’t” Andrew replies with tension rising in his shoulders. “I think you were very brave. I’m proud of you, you know” Katelyn tells him with a soft voice and smile. Andrew doesn’t say anything, he just gives her a smile as a thanks in return. “Hey” Andrew looks up and sees Neil standing in the doorway. “There’s coffee in the pot” Katelyn says quietly. Neil fills up his mug and makes his way over to the table “are you okay?” He asks and when Andrew nods, Neil kisses him on the cheek, squeezes his shoulder and takes a seat next to him at the table. “I’m going to go and see if Aaron’s awake” Katelyn announces and gets up from her chair. “I think I heard him going into the bathroom,” Neil informs her. Katelyn nods and leaves the room. “Do you want some breakfast?” Noe asks Andrew as the door closes. “Pancakes?” Andrew asks with puppy dog eyes, looking up at Neil and blinking through his eyelashes. “It’s always yes with you” Neil replies and kisses Andrew on the lips before getting up and getting the ingredients out of the cupboards to make enough pancakes for all five of them. He adds chocolate chips to the batter, but makes a separate batter with blueberries for himself. He cooks them, hoping that the smell will wake up the rest of the sleeping household. Within minutes Aaron, Katelyn and a very hungover Nicky walk into the kitchen just as Neil is dishing up the first plate of pancakes. He gives the first plate to Andrew, then to Katelyn, followed by Aaron, Nicky and then he finally plates up the blueberry pan for himself. Neil grabs the syrups and sauces out of the fridge and they all sit down around the table and begin pouring their selected sauces onto their food. Within minutes, everyone’s plates are empty and being loaded into the dishwasher. Nicky finishes his coffee alongside some paracetamol for his probably raging hangover. The five of them spend the day relaxing and recovering in front of the television, letting Andrew and Aaron pick the movies. The first movie that they all watch together is Cars - it’s Andrew’s favourite, and Neil wants him to take a nap before they go to the concert later. The second movie they watch is Greece - which is one of Aaron’s favourite movies. Katelyn taught Aaron some of the dance routines during one of their study sessions. Neil ends up loving the movie judging by the smile on his face. Andrew makes a mental note to make sure they watch it again. Andrew and Neil both head upstairs for a few hours to nap together in bed. They wake up and shower together, trading excited kisses and touches. They get dressed in between more kisses and wandering hands. Neil wears his favourite shirt that he usually wears to Eden’s Twilight, his black jeans and his black high top converse. Andrew wears his oversized HYDE shirt, his black jeans and his black combat boots with a stud belt and chain on his jeans. With the size of Andrew’s T-shirt, it’s almost impossible to tell that he’s pregnant. They kiss some more before heading downstairs to meet with Aaron, Katelyn and Nicky to get a lift to the stadium on their way back to campus. Katelyn is kind enough to let Andrew listen to his HYDE CDs in the car. Andrew tried to keep his face blank but he’s sure that Neil may have caught him smiling. Katelyn drops them off to the arena at 6 pm, an hour and a half before the concert starts. Andrew wanted to get there early to find their seats and to get used to the rapidly growing amount of strangers around him. He’s starting to feel a bit anxious about all the people, but he’s determined to see this concert. He’s waited years to see HYDE live. Neil had paid a little bit extra to get space on the side, slightly further away from all the people, but close enough that Andrew could see everything easily. Someone barges past Andrew as they walk down the corridor to go to the bar. Andrew panics as the guy brushes his ass as he tries to get past.
PANIC
That’s all Andrew can feel!
PANIC
He can’t breathe!
PANIC
He needs to get out! Neil grabs him by the wrist and takes him through a door and into a small, empty smoking area. Andrew begins taking some deep breaths as he shakes from the panic. This is why Andrew has never seen his favourite artist in concert. People brushing up and pressing together is triggering for him. After a while, Andrew is calm enough again to open his eyes. He opens them to see Neil standing guard in front of him, protecting him and his precious bump in the cramped space. Neil smiles at him and Andrew takes his hand, linking their fingers together. They walk back into the arena, hand in hand, grab some drinks from the bar and take their seats once more, ready for the concert to start. The lights go down. The crowd screams. The music blares.
Well I don't want to stop and see
The critic of the day
So I'm just gonna let them be
They're getting in my way
It feels like Armageddon
But without the catchy name
It's plain to see, plain to see
I won't let them fuck with me
I'm not afraid, of standing out
A hundred demons messing with my head again
I won't pretend, I won't back down
I'm not afraid, of standing out
I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
Andrew sings along at the top of his lungs. He jumps and moves to the music, not caring who can see him. Neil is happy to see just how much Andrew is enjoying himself. Andrew continues to sing along. He knows every single song. Neil wonders just how long he’s loved them for. The concert lasts for almost two hours. HYDE managed to sing all of Andrew’s favourite songs.
Let It Out
Pandora
Lion
Glamorous Sky
Midnight Celebration II
Who’s Gonna Save Us
Two Face
Sick
They finish their show with Andrew’s all-time favourite song:
After Light
Neil has never heard Andrew scream a song so loudly in his life
I hear the angels sing
But I hear the demons louder
Destruction chasing me
Pulling me under
Pulling me under now
I'm dying to get out
We will never be the same again
From the dark
We walk to the light
From the shadows
We learn to survive
When there's nothing to hide we will find
What comes next
After light
Destroy, rebuild
Now, now
Destroy, rebuild
Now, now
The concert finally finished. Andrew could barely speak with how loudly he was singing along to all of the songs. They wait for the majority of the crowd to leave the arena before making their way back out to the car. Neil gets them a cab home. Andrew spends the entire journey looking through the photos that Neil had sneakily taken of him during the concert. Neil’s photo skills have improved dramatically since last year. Maybe the concert is really why he kept asking Dan to use her camera over the summer. They pull up at the Columbia House and head inside to shower and get ready for bed. Neil had managed to get them tomorrow off as well. He really had planned this all out. Once showered and in bed, they share a very messy make-out session, both of them too tired to do anything else tonight. They fall asleep rather quickly. The next morning Neil is worked up to the feeling of Andrew scrambling out of bed and the sounds of his footsteps running to the bathroom. Neil gets up and follows his boyfriend, now used to his morning sickness. Andrew retches into the toilet a few times before coming up for air and accepting the water bottle out of Neil’s hand. “I thought that this had finally stopped” Andrew says solemnly between sips. “I think you’ve still got a few more weeks of it yet, I’m afraid” Neil replied just as quietly. Andrew whines and wrinkles his face up in disgust. “Apart from the morning sickness, how are you feeling this morning?” “Throat hurts and everything aches and I definitely have a blister from my boots” Andrew replies with a smile causing Neil to smile back. “Do you want to try and eat something or do you want to wait for a bit?” Neil asks as the colour begins coming back to Andrew’s cheeks. “Try” Andrew replies in a small voice. “I want some toast” “Okay, let’s go and get you some toast then” Neil helps Andrew up off the floor and Andrew heads into the bedroom to change his top - he’s got a bit of sick on this one - before they both head downstairs. Neil goes into the kitchen whilst Andrew heads into the living room. Andrew settles himself down on the sofa and turns on the TV, putting on an episode of Gordon Ramsey’s: Hell's Kitchen whilst he waits for Neil to make their toast. Neil comes in with two mugs first - one with black tea and the other with mango juice. He hands the mango juice over to Andrew and puts his mug of tea on the coffee table before returning to the kitchen to grab the two plates of toast. Andrew’s toast has a thin layer of Nutella on it and Neil’s has some marmite. Andrew tears his toast into little pieces, getting Nutella all over his fingers in the process, before eating them one by one. They finish eating and Neil takes both of their plates out into the kitchen to be ignored until later and comes back into the living room. “What do you want to do today, Andrew?” “You” he says with a smirk making Neil laugh. “Is that right?” Neil says seductively with his own smirk on his face as he crosses the room to Andrew. “Yeah” “Yes or no, Drew?” “Yes” Neil climbs on top of him, kissing him and gently rocking their clothed hips together as Andrew pants and moans underneath him. Neil moves his kisses from Andrew’s mouth to his jaw and onto his neck, leaving tiny little trail marks as he sucks and nibbles at his boyfriend’s delicate skin, soothing the sting with his tongue. Andrew’s breath hitches and catches as he gets more and more worked up, his pussy feeling so wet already. He thrusts his hips up more into Neil to try and increase the friction. It’s then that Neil lifts Andrew’s pyjama shirt up and over his head, revealing his chest scars and growing baby bump. He kisses his way to Andrew’s nipples, taking each one into his mouth and sucking on them, watching as Andrew’s back arches and he hissed through his teeth from the sensitivity. Neil carries on making his way downwards, making sure to kiss Andrew’s bump with so much care and attention. He kisses just above the band of Andrew’s pyjama bottoms before tugging at them with his teeth. Andrew lets out a breathy whine and Neil pulls them down and off revealing Andrew’s wet pussy, which is dripping with how worked up he is. Neil is about to begin making Andrew feel amazing, when his phone starts ringing. “Leave it” Andrew hisses and pulls Neil’s face back to his pussy. Just as the ringing stops, it starts again. Andrew rolls his eyes and lets Neil answer it.
“Neil, about time” Wymack’s voice cuts through the speaker. “Is Andrew with you?”
“Yeah, he is. What’s happened?” Neil asks as he sits himself up on the sofa in between Andrew’s naked legs.
“The ERC has just released a statement announcing Andrew’s pregnancy and exit from the Foxes”
“Oh shit” Neil mutters under his breath. Andrew leans himself up on his elbows and quirks an eyebrow at Neil. “Coach,” Neil begins and Wymack hums “I’ll…I’ll call you back.” He hangs up and slowly turns to face Andrew. “Drew” Neil says slowly “can I hold your hands? Yes or no?” Andrew looks at Neil with a confused expression “yes” Neil takes his boyfriend’s hands “Andrew, the ERC has officially announced your pregnancy” Andrew’s breathing immediately begins to pick up as panic begins to run through him. He lets go of Neil’s hands and wraps his arms around his bump, his breathing getting more and more shallow as he panics more and more. “Drew, it’s going to be okay,” Neil whispers. Andrew squeezes his eyes shut and goes through his breathing exercise until his heart stops racing in his chest and he can take in a full, deep breath. Neil is still right beside him when he opens his eyes again, keeping his hands to himself but now holding the mug of mango juice which he hands over to Andrew’s still trembling hands. “I wanted to be in control of when we told the public” he says so quietly that Neil barely hears him. “I know,” Neil replies just as quietly. “Do you want me to see if I can find the statement?” Andrew shakes his head “maybe later” Neil nods and grabs Andrew’s pyjama bottoms off the floor and hands them over to him for Andrew to put back on. Andrew redresses himself and pulls the blanket off the back of the sofa and over himself. “Can you” Andrew begins quietly “can you hold me?” Neil gives him a kind smile “of course I can” and he climbs in behind Andrew and lets Andrew lean back into his chest. Neil begins running his fingers through Andrew’s hair as they sit together, silently listening to each other's breathing, as Andrew falls asleep. About and hour later, Andrew shifts on Neil’s chest and lifts his head up to look in Neil’s icy blue eyes and says with a small voice “I want to read the statement” Neil nods and lifts Andrew off him to go and grab the laptop from the kitchen table, before returning to Andrew and setting up the laptop on the coffee table. Neil opens it and loads up the official ERC Twitter page. Andrew and Neil both read the statement together in silence.
@OfficialERC
The Exy Regulations Committee and Palmetto State University Foxes would like to announce the departure of our Goalkeeper:
Andrew Minyard
for the remainder of the 2007/08 season of Exy.
Andrew Minyard and his partner
Neil Josten will be welcoming their first child in the spring.
Andrew and Neil have asked for privacy as they prepare themselves for their new arrival.
Andrew lets out a long, slow breath that he didn’t know he was holding. “See? It wasn’t that bad” Neil says, trying to make sure that Andrew is okay. Andrew nods at the screen “Scroll down. I want to see the comments” Neil hesitates before nodding and scrolls the page down, revealing thousands of comments. They read through a few
@psunmberonefan
What joyous news! Congrats to Andrew and Neil! I’m sure that the two of you will make wonderful parents!💕💕💕
@andrewstitties
That kid won’t be the only one calling Andrew and Neil daddy
@minyardjostenday
OMFG NO HE BETTER NOT LEAVE HOW ELSE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO WIN😭😭😭
@bigmansean_
A man… is giving birth… right
@exyexyexy
Andrew Minyard leaving the team to give birth was NOT on my bingo card
@meganharriettm
Oh so you all constantly talk about mpreg but the moment it actually happens you don’t want it anymore🙄
@fuck_the_foxes
And that’s why you’re the worst team in the league🤣
@jostyard4eva
Congrats to the happy couple🔥
@girlloves_exy
That kids about the have the coolest parents in existence they’re sooo lucky
@number1andreillov
I wish Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten were MY parents😭
@gayforkevinday
Me and the baby can share Andrew’s titties trust🤞
@bestr8ordie
That baby would be better off dead than have that as a parent🤮
@ridemekevin
Eww so disgusting you should die
@kingriko1exy
That minyard girl calling that marine a rapist like no bitch he was just using you the way that Josten did. Too bad when I’m through with you, josten’s baby will be dead and mine will start kicking
“Turn them off” Andrew says, barely above a whisper, wrapping his arms around his bump and sounding suspiciously like he’s crying. Neil doesn’t question it, he just closes the laptop. He looks over and sees a single tear roll down Andrew’s already tear stained cheeks. He looks like he’s been silently crying for a while. “Drew,” he turns to face his boyfriend “we knew that people were going to find out at some point” “I know” he whispers “I guess I just wasn’t fully prepared for it” “Would you like to call Betsy and talk to her for a bit? We can drive back to campus so you can see her if you want” Andrew nods “I’ll call her first and see what time she can see me” “Okay. I’ll leave you to call her in peace” Neil kisses Andrew on the forehead and gets up to leave the room, taking the laptop with him as he leaves. Neil heads into the kitchen and places the laptop back on the table before placing his hands down and letting out a slow breath as leans against them with his eyes closed. That last comment had hurt him and he can’t even begin to imagine how it must have made Andrew feel. Neil takes a few more deep breaths and then begins the job of tackling the dishes in the sink, giving Andrew enough time to have a conversation with Betsy. Neil cleans all the plates and is just finishing cleaning the counters when he hears Andrew walking in behind him. He turns around to see the blonde with tear stain track marks down his cheeks and eyes and nose red and raw from crying. “Hug?” Neil asks with his arms open and inviting. Andrew nods and walks into Neil’s warm and protective embrace, leaning his head against the auburn Junkie’s chest. “What did Betsy say?” Neil whispers into Andrew’s hair as he rubs his hands up and down his boyfriend's back. “Can she see you?” Andrew nods “2 o’clock” he barely whispers back. Neil nods and kisses Andrew on the top of the head. “Let’s go and get ready to leave now so you can see if you can catch her early. I’ll go the the stadium and update Coach” Andrew nods again and Neil kisses his head again before he helps Andrew walk up the stairs to their bedroom in his trembling legs. Andrew sits on the bed, wrapped up in his fluffy pink blanket, whilst Neil packs their bags to go back to campus. Andrew stays wrapped in his blanket when they both head down to the car. He keeps it wrapped around himself as he sleeps through the entire drive back to campus. Neil has to gently run his fingers over Andrew’s face to wake up the sleeping former Goalkeeper once they reach Reddit Medical Centre. Neil holds Andrew’s hand as they walk into the medical centre and silently take a seat together outside of Betsy’s office. She opens her door bang on 2 p.m. and welcomes Andrew into the room, where he sits himself down on the sofa and hugs a cushion that’s shaped like a bee. Neil takes Betsy to one side and gives her a quick heads up as to what some of the comments on the post said this morning, and a note to call him once Andrew was finished so that he can take him back to campus. Betsy nods and shows Neil to the door before coming back in and making two drinks, one vanilla tea for herself and one glass of blackcurrant squash for Andrew. She places the two drinks down on the coffee table in between and gets her notepad and pen from her table, before settling herself down in her chair, ready to begin her session with Andrew. “Hello, Andrew. What would make the room feel safe for you today?” She says in her usual warm tone. “Why would they do that?” Andrew immediately asks, ignoring Betsy’s previous question. “Who’s ‘they’ in this context, Andrew?” Betsy asks in return, making a few notes in her notepad. “everyone” Andrew shrugs “it’s not one else’s business” “The ERC releasing the statement?” “And people making comments. Telling me how I should run my life. Trying to tell me that having this baby is a mistake and that I should just ‘get rid of it’. It’s not their choice, Bee” “Do you want to tell me who’s been saying these things to you, Andrew?” “Kevin. But all Kevin ever thinks about is Exy. Then the Cheerleader that my idiot brother is shagging. That stupid little bratty Freshmen kid too. Then there were the comments on the ERC post” Andrew pauses and takes a deep breath. “They mentioned him, Bee. They mentioned Drake and all I could think about was what he used to say to me” Bee looks at him with a sympathetic smile, letting Andrew say whatever it is that he needs to say without interrupting him in the process. They talk for what feels like hours. Betsy reassures him that she has no other appointments for today, and that he is more than welcome to stay for as long as he needs to. They talk and talk about the ERC and PSU announcing his pregnancy. About the comments left on the statement. About how he’s feeling and coping with being pregnant. All of which leaves Andrew feeling absolutely exhausted. Betsy tells him to lie down on the sofa and get some rest for an hour or two whilst Neil finishes up his practice. Andrew complies and lays himself down, letting Betsy gently place his fluffy pink blanket over him and dimming down the lights slightly in order for him to sleep, telling him that she’ll ring Neil as soon as she can. Andrew nods, closes his eyes and falls asleep. Andrew wakes up to the delicate feeling of someone running their fingers over his face and smiles at the touch that his Junkie is making. He blinks his eyes open to see Neil sitting down on the floor next to the sofa, with one hand tracing Andrew’s facial features and the other resting in his lap. Andrew slowly sits himself up as he blinks his eyes and adjusts to his surroundings. Neil keeps his movements slow so that he doesn’t startle Andrew too much so soon after waking up. He waits until Andrew is a little more lucid before he begins talking to him. “How are you feeling, Drew?” Andrew slowly nods and gives Neil a small smile. “Coach said that him and Abby will cook for us tonight and we can stay at Abby’s if you don’t want to be in the loud dorm” Andrew nods again and whispers “will there be ice cream?” Neil smiles brightly at Andrew’s question “yes, Andrew, there will be ice cream” They say their goodbyes to Betsy after another fifteen minutes of talking and make their way from her office to Abby’s house, with Neil driving the Maserati. When they arrive, they let themselves in and Andrew immediately goes to the sofa with his blanket and makes himself comfortable, whilst Neil heads into the kitchen to find Wymack and Abby. “Oh, hello, Neil,” Abby says as she turns around, holding something on an oven tray with her Palmetto State Foxes oven gloves. “I didn’t hear you two come in” “Andrew’s still feeling a bit fragile, so I didn’t want to make too much noise” Neil says as he makes his way to the fridge to get himself and Andrew a drink. He looks at the food that Abby is putting into the oven and raises an eyebrow in question. She notices and smiles “barbecue chicken, bacon and cheese tacos. A new recipe that I saw on TV last week. I thought that Andrew might like it” Neil smiles and nods. He knows that Andrew loves anything with barbeque sauce on it. This would be one of the most perfect meals for Andrew to eat, messy, especially with how Andrew likes to tear his food into smaller pieces, but a perfect meal nonetheless. “The food should be ready in about twenty minutes” Abby tells Neil as he heads into the living room to sit with Andrew and give him his drink. As soon as Neil sits down, Andrew settles himself against his boyfriend's chest as they watch the TV together in a comfortable silence. Wymack calls them both into the kitchen about twenty minutes later and the boys sit themselves down at the table just as Abby places a large plate of tacos and a salad bowl down onto the table. Neil lets Andrew help himself to the first taco as he dishes himself up some salad and puts a healthy amount on his plate. Neil takes his first taco just as Andrew is picking out a stray piece of chicken and slowly puts it into his mouth, humming approvingly at the taste. “Make sure you have some salad, Andrew” Abby says with a hint of authority in her face and voice as she leans over the back of the seat next to neil to put the bowl of garlic bread on the table “remember that the baby needs it, just as much as you do” Andrew stares blankly at her before picking up a piece of cucumber and taking a nibble out of it, screwing his nose up at it in the process. Abby shakes her head and smiles in amusement. Abby and Wymack finally sit down and join Andrew and Neil at the table. Andrew is already ripping his taco apart to make it into smaller pieces, whilst Neil is busy munching on some cherry tomatoes from the salad bowl. Both Wymack and Abby grab themselves some tacos and salad and the four of them eat together with Wymack and Neil discussing how today's Exy practice went. They discuss some more details for going to Seattle to watch high school Exy player Jamie Farham that Andrew put into the yes pile when he was looking through potential new recruits last month. By the end of dinner, all four of them agree that Kevin should go with Matt and Wymack, as Neil needs to stay at home with Andrew, just in case he needs him at any point. Wymack tells them that he will let Kevin and Matt know their plans and he will set up a meeting with him. After they've all finished eating, and Abby is satisfied with how much salad Andrew has eaten, Wymack clears the plates away whilst Abby makes a start on dessert. Andrew and Neil stay sitting at the table as they watch Abby put the dessert into the oven. She turns around and catches them watching her. Neil smiles at Abby whilst Andrew continues to stare at the food in the oven. He can smell what appears to be chocolate brownies coming from the food that Abby has just put into the oven. Abby takes the brownies out of the oven and cuts them into pieces whilst they're still warm and adds a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce to each bowl before adding the hot and gooey brownie. Andrew can hardly contain his smile, Abby always makes him his favourite desserts on bad days. It was a tip that Andrew had allowed Betsy to give out to the staff when he first began talking to her. Andrew’s brownies disappear in almost no time, whilst Neil struggles with his, finding the rich chocolate too much for his sense of taste. Andrew behaves and doesn't also eat Neil's brownie, although he is tempted to. He doesn't think that his baby will be too happy with him if he eats any more sugar and he doesn't want the sweetness to make his now overly sensitive sense of taste make him feel sick. Wymack and Abby both leave a bit of their brownies as well, the chocolate obviously being too sweet for them to finish too. Neil helps to put the plates and bowls in the dishwasher, whilst Andrew makes his way back to the living room and gets himself comfortable again on the sofa. Wymack, Abby and Neil all come to join him just as Andrew puts on an episode of Ghost Adventures. Neil settles himself down next to Andrew and Andrew leans his head onto Neil’s shoulder. Neil makes them both warm and comfortable together in the blanket. Abby settles down with a cup of tea on the chair on their right. Whilst Wymack settles down with a bottle of beer in the chair on their left. It’s pretty obvious from quite early on that Abby is afraid of ghosts as she jumps every time the team hears something on their cameras and recorders, which makes Neil laugh and Andrew smile. After about two and a half episodes, Neil looks down to see that Andrew has fallen asleep on his shoulder. Wymack and Abby notice too because Abby says with a whisper “you boys can stay here tonight. The bedroom is all made up for you” Neil looks at Andrew again and then nods at Abby “thanks, Abby” he whispers in reply as he works out the best way to carry his sleeping boyfriend to the bedroom without scaring him too much. “Drew” Neil begins just above a whisper as he moves himself slightly, causing Andrew to shift in his sleep “we’re going to stay here tonight. Can I carry you to the bedroom? Yes or no?” Andrew nods and Neil carefully stands himself up, whilst still supporting Andrew’s head, and gets ready to lift him. He lifts Andrew up so that Andrew is holding on to him like a koala and carries him to the bedroom with Abby just behind them. Abby opens the door, turns on the light and pulls back the duvet cover on the single bed so that Neil can gently deposit Andrew down into the bed and get him all tucked in, nice and safe for the night. “There’s clean towels in the top drawer and new toothbrushes under the sink. You know where to find us if you need anything” “Thanks, Abby,” Neil replies as he pulls Andrew’s pink blanket over him, before turning on the bedside lamp so that Abby can turn off the main light. Neil makes his way to the bathroom to pee and clean his teeth, getting himself and Andrew out a new toothbrush each and putting them into the toothbrush holder once he's done. He goes back into the bedroom where Andrew is curled up on his right hand side with his back pressed firmly against the wall, leaving enough space for Neil to climb into bed with him and still leave a small gap between them. Neil is careful to not wake Andrew as he climbs into the bed and pulls the remaining amount of duvet over himself after Andrew has used the majority of it as a cocoon. He turns off the light and rolls onto his left hand side so that he is facing his sleeping boyfriend and takes the opportunity to stare at his face. Andrew’s face is completely relaxed with his eyes closed and his long eyelashes resting on the top of his cheeks. His nose is rosy and slightly scrunched up, giving him a look of disgust as he sleeps. His lips are slightly parted as he lets out tiny little snores. Neil could watch him like this for hours. “Staring” Andrew mutters and moves his hand over to Neil’s side of the bed, linking their fingers together and bringing both of their hands to his baby bump. “Always” Neil replies and they both drift off to sleep. The next morning, Andrew wakes up in Neil’s arms, feeling a lot better than he did the day before. Neil gently kisses the side of his neck before they both get up and head into Abby’s kitchen to get some breakfast before they have to head back to the dorms to get showered and changed ready to go to practice. Neil finds some musli in Abby’s kitchen cupboard, whilst Andrew makes himself some toast. They both sit down at the kitchen table and eat their food before going into the bathroom to clean their teeth and then back into the bedroom to strip the bed and put the sheets in the laundry basket for Abby to wash later. Neil drives the Maserati back to the dorms and the two of them make their way up the stairs to the third floor and into their dorm. They hop into the shower together, washing each other's bodies as they exchange hot and messy kisses. Neil takes the opportunity to slip a finger inside of Andrew’s warm pussy and fingers him whilst Andrew throws his head back against the cold tiles as he moans softly with pleasure. Neil adds a second finger which causes Andrew’s moans to grow even louder as he grinds his hips against Neil’s hand to try and increase the friction between them. Neil uses his other hand to start rubbing at Andrew's clit, causing Andrew to fall over the edge and squirt all over Neil’s legs as he cums. Neil slows his fingers down and takes them out of Andrew’s pussy and licks them one by one before letting Andrew have a taste of himself on Neil’s fingers too. Neil finishes washing them both off and they get out of the shower and head into the bedroom to get dressed and gather their bags, ready to head over to the stadium. Andrew drives them to the stadium and they enter together, hand in hand, where they are greeted by their teammates. Neil kisses Andrew’s forehead and heads into the locker room, with Andrew heading into Coaches office. Andrew takes a seat in wymacks chair and leans back, kicking his feet up onto the desk. He takes this time to trace his fingers along his bump until Wymack comes in. “Comfortable there, Minyard?” Wymack says with an amused expression. Andrew looks up at Wymack and smiles. Wymack points his folder at Andrew and says with a proud tone “You’re starting to show there, you know” “Fifteen weeks today, Coachy Coach,” Andrew replies with a smile. Wymack returns the same smile and then puts a pile of folders down on the desk. “I’ve got some more of these for you to look through this morning whilst the others practice. Will you be okay with doing that?” Andrew nods “sure thing, Coachy Coach” “I’ll be on the court if you need me, but Abby’s in her office if you need anything. Andrew hums an approval and kicks his feet down to grab the first folder - Madison Heart - and begins reading through it. Andrew moves her into the yes pile and opens up the next folder. He reads through it and places it into the no pile and moves onto the next one and then the next. Andrew continues to read through potential recruits' folders until he hears the sounds of the team coming back into the lounge, ready to break for lunch. Andrew puts the folder that he’s reading down and leaves Coach’s office to go in search of Neil. Andrew waits just outside of the office door for Neil to come back into the lounge. Neil is the last person back in and his face lights up with a beaming smile. Neil comes over to him and kisses his lips with a hard press before asking “do you want to grab some lunch?” “Yep” Andrew replies against Neil’s lips. “What do you want to eat?” “Hmm…well I can think of one thing” Andrew replies with a smirk. “Andrew” Neil laughs “what about some pasta?” “Pastas good” They exchange a couple more kisses and head to the stadium canteen. They both grab some pasta and garlic bread. Andrew grabs himself an extra piece, saying that it’s for the baby which makes Neil laugh. They eat together and laugh with each other as they sit across the canteen table from each other. Luckily for them, the rest of the team leave them alone to enjoy their lunch. After the hours break Andrew and Neil head back to the lounge with the rest of the Foxes. Everyone takes their places on the various sofas around the lounge as they wait for Wymack to come out of his office and address them all about this afternoon's practice. Andrew knows that he doesn’t have to listen to any of this so he grabs his pregnancy book from Neil’s duffel and turns to:
Week 15
If you use public transport, you might want to order a "Baby on Board" badge to prompt other commuters into giving up their seat for you.
You might feel fine now, but as you get bigger, you will be more unstable on your feet, and falling over could be stressful and even dangerous.
What's happening in my body?
Your baby is growing quickly and comes with a lot of packaging (the amniotic sac and fluid) and their own food supply (placenta).
You could start getting the odd jabbing pain on the sides of your bump. This is known as “round ligament pain” – putting your feet up and resting can help.
Your skin could also feel a bit itchy. It might help to use an unperfumed moisturiser, wear loose cotton clothing and have a cool bath. If the itching gets worse especially at night, talk to your doctor or midwife.
Read about itching in pregnancy on the NHS website.
Changes in your pants
Have you noticed a lot of discharge in your pants? Many women get this.
There's more blood flowing around your pelvic area and that can cause your body to produce more of the milky fluid called leucorrhoea that keeps your vagina clean and free from infection.
See your doctor or midwife if:
it changes colour – it should be clear, white or creamy
it smells bad – it should smell slightly musky, not strongly of fish or anything else
it changes texture – for example, it starts going frothy or looks like cottage cheese
you get pain when peeing
you feel itchy or sore
Thrush
If you have a vaginal infection, it's likely to be thrush, which is a common yeast infection.
Signs include a lumpy white discharge, itching around your vagina, and stinging when you pee or have sex.
To help prevent thrush:
wear loose cotton underwear
use unperfumed soap or body wash
steer clear of sex until it's cleared up
There are more tips to beat thrush on the NHS website.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 15 weeks)
You may still be experiencing pregnancy symptoms including:
swollen and bleeding gums (read about gum health in week 13)
pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as 'round ligament pains')
headaches
nosebleeds
feeling bloated (read how to cope with bloating on week 10's page)
constipation (read how to deal with constipation on week 16's page)
indigestion and heartburn (read about how to treat indigestion and heartburn on week 25's page)
sore breasts
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (read about vaginal infections in week 15)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the 'mask of pregnancy'
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
morning sickness (see week 6 for morning sickness advice)
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
mood swings (read about dealing with mood swings on week 8's page)
a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 10.1cm long from head to bottom, which is about the size of an apple.
Your baby has been busy growing a soft layer of hair, called "lanugo", all over their body. Their eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to develop. Your baby's eyes are now sensitive to light.
Around now, your baby will start hearing too. Talk to your baby and they will probably hear you. They will also hear your heartbeat and any noises made by your digestive system.
Your baby is about the size of an apple.
“Andrew?” Andrew is still reading when Wymack finishes the team meeting. He is so deep in his own thoughts that he doesn’t even hear Neil calling his name. “Andrew?” Neil says again and Andrew looks up to see a look of concern on his face. “Are you okay?” “I don’t think I have any of these pregnancy symptoms” Andrew says quietly as he looks at Neil with sad eyes. “What if somethings wrong?” He asks in a whisper. Neil looks at Andrew with concern all over his face then knocks on Abby’s office door. Abby opens the door “you okay, Neil?” “Andrew thinks there’s something wrong with the baby” Abby looks at Neil then at Andrew “Andrew, come in here and let me have a look” Andrew stands up and walks over to Neil and they both go into Abby’s office. Andrew sits himself down on the edge of Abby’s medical bed with Neil sitting next to him. Abby closes the door and pulls her chair up in front of Andrew. “Can you tell me what’s concerning you, Andrew?” Abby asks gently enough to not make Andrew anymore worried than he already is.
“I…I…I don’t know” Andrew says quietly. “I just…I keep reading that pregnancy book and I feel like I’m not having any of the symptoms that they’re talking about. I just get the morning sickness sometimes, but even that’s not all the time now” Abby looks at him with sympathetic eyes “Andrew, every pregnancy is different. You may not experience all the symptoms that they are talking about. Or, you may just not have started experiencing them just yet. I think that your hormones are making you more anxious and worried than you need to be, but that’s perfectly normal, Andrew. You’re off your medication. You’re pregnant with your first child. You’ve had a lot to worry about recently. But I will talk to Ruby about your concerns and Betsy too, if you want me to” Andrew nods “yeah” he says quietly. “Try not to worry yourself too much, Andrew. I’m sure that everything is okay with you and the baby” Abby tells him reassuringly. Neil turns to face Andrew. “Why don’t you watch practice for a bit this afternoon. That way, if you think something’s wrong you can tell Coach and he can let me know. I don’t want you coming on to the court again after what happened last time” Andrew turns to face Neil and whispers an “Okay” before they both thank Abby and make their way into the locker room for Neil to change out before they head into the outer court where Neil joins the rest of the team in jogging around the court. Andrew goes over to the home benches and sits behind Wymack as the Coach watches him come over with a smile. “Minyard” Coach says to him with a nod. “Coach” Andrew replies with a nod of his own and turns his gaze to look at Neil running across the court, now doing drills. He watches as Neil takes shot after shot on the goal and practices his passes with Kevin, Sheena, Morgana-Faye and Jack. Each of them taking it in turns to be the one to make the pass towards the goal. Each of them score, apart from Jack, which makes Andrew silently laugh to himself as Jack gets more and more frustrated and more and more mouthy towards Neil. Andrew can’t wait to see Neil rip Jack a new one again. Andrew continues watching as Neil just stares at Jack and rolls his eyes at everything he says. Every now and then, Neil would look out towards the home benches and catch Andrew’s eyes, giving him a look that lets Andrew know that Neil is making sure that he’s still okay. Andrew nods in reply every single time. He’s feeling okay, just a bit anxious and a little bit sleepy, but he’s okay, Neil’s okay and the baby’s okay. They’re all going to be okay. Andrew remembers that he read that the baby would be able to start hearing his voice now and wonders if that applies to the rest of the outside world too. He wonders if they can hear what’s happening on the court, or when they’re back in the dorms. Can they hear Jack’s whinging? Or Nicky’s billionth loss at Rainbow Road on Mario Kart? Could they hear the concert on Monday night? Was it too loud for them? What if the heavy metal music scared them? What if they were having a panic attack inside of his belly and he had no idea? Andrew doesn’t notice that his breathing has picked up until a warm and calloused hand fits it’s way perfectly around the back of his neck and squeezes to the rhythm of his heartbeat. “Drew, breathe for me” Neil’s soft voice cuts through his thoughts as he tries to focus his mind on taking in nice slow and deep breaths. “That’s it, Drew. Match my breathing” He feels his hand being placed onto Neil’s chest as he tries to replicate his boyfriend’s breathing pattern. After a few minutes, Andrew manages to open his eyes to see Neil crouching down on the floor in front of him, his face full of pure worry. Just behind Neil is Aaron and Nicky wearing nearly identical expressions to Neil. “What happened, Andrew?” Neil whispers. Andrew tries to open his mouth to speak, but the words get stuck. “Andrew, it’s okay. Take your time” Neil reassures him as he lifts his hand in front of Andrew’s face. Andrew nods and Neil cups his hand onto Andrew’s cheek and uses his thumb to wipe away a tear that is slowly falling down his already tear stained face. “Do you want some water?” Aaron asks quietly from behind Neil. Andrew doesn’t take his eyes off of Neil as he gives a small nod. “Nicky, my bottle is by the racquet trolley” Neil says quietly, also not breaking eye contact with Andrew. Andrew sees Nicky leave out of the corner of his eye and then he returns a few moments later with Neil’s Palmetto Foxes ~ Josten 10 water bottle. Andrew would roll his eyes at it if he had the energy to. Neil pulls the lid open and hands the bottle to Andrew, who lifts it to his mouth with shaky hands, and takes a few small sips. He keeps taking small sips until the bottle is almost empty. Andrew doesn’t hear when Wymack comes over to them but he hears what he says to Neil. “Take Andrew back to the dorms when he’s ready. There’s only an hour left of practice today and you’ll be no good to me if your worried about him” “Thanks, Coach,” Neil replies. “As for you two, Hemmick and other Minyard, get your asses back on that court and into that scrimmage” “Yes, Coach,” Nicky and Aaron reply simultaneously as they both give Andrew one last look of concern before turning and walking away. “Minyard,” Wymack begins “call Betsy when you get home” Andrew nods and then lets his head fall onto Neil’s shoulder as he releases a long, slow breath. “Let me know when you’re ready to move, Drew,” Neil says quietly into his ear. “Ready” Andrew whispers in return. Neil gathers up their belongings and keeps a guiding hand at Andrew’s lower back as they walk out to the car. They take their time driving home. Neil stops at the shop and picks up a few tubs of ice cream and some more dried mango for Andrew to enjoy later. They get to the dorm and Neil puts the kettle on to make them both some warm drinks whilst Andrew gathers whatever pillows and blankets he wants from the bedroom and takes them with him into the living room. Before they both sit down, Neil quickly jumps into the shower and they both change into their comfy clothes. Both Andrew and Neil wear loose fitting T-shirts and joggers with fluffy socks. Andrew is already on the sofa by the time Neil has finished having his shower and sits himself up for Neil to slip in behind him. Andrew turns himself over so that he is cuddling Neil like a koala, chest to chest, with his head resting over Neil’s heart as the feeling of his boyfriend breathing underneath him begins to calm him. Neil runs his fingers through the knots in Andrew’s hair with one hand and runs his hand up and down his back with the other. Andrew is nice and calm and relaxed. He’s just content enough to lie here, on his boyfriend's chest, listening to his breathing and his heartbeat with their unborn baby tucked safely between them. He feels so calm and safe that he lets his heavy eyes fall closed and naps on Neil’s chest, with Neil being a protective barrier against the world for him and their baby. Neil continues to run his fingers through Andrew’s hair as he naps, noticing just how calm and relaxed Andrew has become since they got back to the dorms. With Andrew being so relaxed for the first time in ages, Neil is just happy to let him rest and nap in peace. Andrew smiles softly as he begins to wake up with the feeling of Neil still running his fingers through his hair. Neil must notice him waking up because he says in a soft voice “hey beautiful. Are you feeling a little better?” Andrew nods “how long was I asleep for?” “About an hour. Do you want anything to eat?” “Mango,” Andrew whispers quietly but doesn’t make any effort to move himself off Neil’s body. “Drew, I need to move you so that I can get your mango out of the fridge” Neil tells him softly to which Andrew whines in protest, causing Neil to laugh. “Comfy” Andrew whines. Neil laugh and shakes his head “okay, five more minutes and then I’m getting you up and getting you some mango” They stay exactly how they are for the next five minutes before Neil moves Andrew off of him and goes into the kitchen to get Andrew’s mango out of the fridge and make them both new drinks. There’s had gone cold hours ago. Neil returns to the living room with the drinks and mango and lets Andrew rest against him, turning on the TV so that it can play quietly in the background if Andrew doesn’t feel like talking. “What happened today, Drew?” Neil asks softly. Andrew takes a bite from the first piece of his dried mango, chews it and then swallows it before speaking. “What if the baby is like me?” Neil gives him a confused look, so Andrew explains. “What if they’re all fucked up in the the head like me and they need medication to make them normal? I don’t want my baby to need anything” Neil gives him a sad smile “I don’t know, Drew. But what I do know is that you are not, and I repeat, not fucked up in the head. Okay? You are perfectly normal the way that you are. And if our baby has anxiety, or depression, or bipolar or schizophrenia, then we'll deal with it together, as a family” “Promise?” “Always, Andrew. I’ll always promise anything for you” They sit in silence for a bit as Andrew continues to eat his mango and they both drink their drinks, until Andrew breaks the silence. “I might see if I can talk to Betsy tomorrow about when I can go back on my medication. I remember that Helen said it was dangerous before twelve weeks, but I’m at fifteen now” “I think that might be a good idea” Neil agrees and kisses Andrew’s forehead and they both sit and watch TV for the rest of the evening until the rest of the minetsefs return. Nicky asks them both a million and one questions about how Andrew is, how the baby is, how Neil is. Andrew just rolls his eyes at them as Neil tries to answer them the best he can. Kevin complains for the entire evening about Neil missing the final hour of practice. They have a game this week against the Miami Dolphins, and how they all need to be at every practice if they want to win. Aaron, meanwhile, checks on Andrew in as caring of a way as he can. He asks Andrew if he’s feeling okay now, to which Andrew nods, and then that’s the end of it. Aaron just leaves Andrew to relax with Neil in peace, saying that they can order food tonight to make it easier for them all to eat. Aaron orders them all a Chinese takeaway to be delivered. Nicky sets up a game of Wii Sports Bowling for them all to play whilst they wait for the food to arrive. Turns out that Nicky is also shit at this game too and that Andrew is a secret pro with a special shiny ball. By the looks on everyone’s faces, the rest of the Monsters didn't know that about him. Andrew just simply shrugs and takes his turn at bowling, immediately scoring a strike. The manage to finish one round by the time the food arrives, with the leaderboard being:
Andrew
Aaron
Kevin
Neil
Nicky
Aaron and Kevin set the food out on the coffee table for everyone to take what they want, whilst Nicky and Neil sort out the drinks. Andrew sits on the sofa and waits for everything to be ready, but he does sneak in a few prawn crackers whilst he waits. Neil brings his and Andrew’s drinks over and laughs when he sees Andrew stealing a sweet and sour chicken ball and shoving it into his mouth in one go. Andrew just gives him an innocent look in return. After a few more minutes, the food and drinks are all laid out and the Monsters all sit down together in the living room, ready to eat. Andrew and Neil take the large sofa, Aaron and Kevin take the bean bag chairs and Nicky brings the desk chair over to the coffee table. Andrew is the first one to reach over and start dishing himself up some food, taking some of the sweet and sour chicken balls, egg fried rice, chicken chow mein and prawn crackers. The rest soon quickly follow, grabbing as much food as they can fit onto their plates. They all start eating their food with the TV playing an Exy game that Kevin has out on quietly in the background. “Are you feeling better now, Andrew?” Aaron asks his brother. Andrew looks at Aaron then at Neil and then back to Aaron, before nodding “yeah, I’m okay now” Aaron doesn’t seem overly convinced, but he accepts the answer for what it is. “So how is my little niece or nephew doing in there?” Nicky asks with his usual excited squeal. “Nicky” Aaron begins, already rolling his eyes “you’re not their uncle. You’re their second cousin” “But everyone else gets to be the baby’s aunties or uncles” he replies with his brow furrowed and pouty lips. “Kevin’s not” Andrew quickly interjects, with a shrug of his shoulders, which gets a look of disapproval shot his way by the taller striker. “What about names? Have you thought about any?” Aaron asks, careful not to make his twin feel uncomfortable in the spotlight. Nicky listens with his full attention focussed on Andrew. Andrew and Neil look at each other, but this time, Neil is the one to speak. “We’ve thought of a few, but we don’t have anything picked out yet. We’ve still got twenty five weeks to go. We’re not even halfway yet” Aaron nods in understanding. “Can Nicky even spell any of them?” Kevin says over his shoulder as he now focuses on the Exy game on the TV that he promised not to watch during their meal time. Andrew, Neil and Aaron all let out small laughs, whilst Nicky makes another sulky and pouty expression with his face. “Yes, they will all be Nicky friendly names” Neil laughs. Nicky throws a sweet and sour chicken ball at Neil, but Andrew uses his goalie reflexes to catch it before it can get anywhere near his Junkie and eats it with a smug smile thrown in Nicky’s direction. “God I miss you being in the court” Neil says quietly in Andrew’s ear. His breath sending chills throughout Andrew’s body. God his pregnancy hormones are making him horny again. They continue eating with Neil also joining Kevin in watching the Exy game on the TV, leaving Aaron, Nicky and Andrew to clean up. Andrew is in the kitchen, bending down to put the plates in the small dishwasher when he makes a small whine, almost like he’s in pain. “Andrew, are you alright?” Nicky asks as he frantically rushes to his cousin’s side. Aaron comes over to his twin and moves Nicky out of the way before crouching down in front of Andrew. “Andrew, what can you feel?” Andrew closes his eyes and lets out a small groaning sound “I don’t know” he whispers “it feels like a stabbing pain in my side” his eyes begin to tear up “I’m losing my baby, aren’t I?” “Is it just here?” Aaron asks as he holds his hand just above Andrew’s bump. Andrew nods and Aaron places a careful hand to the side of his bump. “You’re not losing the baby Andrew. I think it’s your tummy muscles stretching as your bump is growing. Have you had this before?” Andrew shakes his head “my pregnancy book mentioned it, but it felt a lot sharper than I thought it would” he sniffles out as snot and tears roll down his face. “Let's let Neil know and get you to bed so that you can rest. Okay?” Andrew nods and Aaron stands up. They head towards the living room to find Neil still watching the game with Kevin. “Neil,” Aaron calls out. Neil turns around to see Aaron with an upset Andrew standing just behind him. Neil doesn’t think he’s ever moved so fast off an Exy court before. “Drew, what’s happened?” “He got a bit scared that he was losing the baby. I’ve told him he’s not, but he’s really distressed and could do with some sleep” Aaron tells him in a calm and delicate manner. Neil nods and goes over to his boyfriend, wiping the tears from his face. “Shall we go and get ready for bed?” Andrew nods and Neil says goodnight to Aaron and tells him to tell the others to keep the noise down, to which Aaron agrees. Neil helps Andrew get changed before getting himself changed and settles Andrew down in the bed. He runs his fingers over Andrew’s face and through his hair until his breathing evens out and he falls asleep with his head on Neil’s chest and their hands on his bump. Neil stays awake watching him and making sure that his boyfriend and their baby are definitely alright. The next day, Neil catches a ride to the court with Matt and the Upperclassmen whilst Andrew takes the Maserati with him to Reddit for his session with Bee. Bee’s door is already open when he gets there, but he still knocks before entering. “Hello, Andrew” Bee says with a smile “how are you both feeling today?” Andrew sits himself down on the sofa and shrugs “tired” Bee comes over to him with two mugs in hand and passes Andrew’s mug over to him. He nods to her in thanks before taking a little sip. This is the first hot chocolate he’s had in months. It’s finally not making him feel like he’s going to vomit up the past weeks worth of food. He smiles into his mug as he swallows the hot liquid and marshmallows. “Aaron popped in to see me earlier,” Betsy begins, “He said that you had a bit of a scare last night with the baby. Do you want to begin by talking about that?” Andrew keeps his eyes on his drink and says quietly “Aaron says it was nothing to worry about. Just my muscles stretching for the baby to grow” his voice turns to a barely audible whisper “I feel stupid now” Betsy lets out a small sigh “Andrew, you’re not stupid. You’re right to feel protective and worried about your baby. Being pregnant is hard, and it can be very scary at times. I understand that you’re feeling very anxious at the moment, but I can always, always promise you one thing” Andrew looks up to meet her eyes now. “You, Andrew Joseph Minyard, are not stupid. Not in any way shape or form” Andrew sniffs and nods. Why the fuck is he getting emotional now? Fucking hormones. “I’ve got my knitting bag over by my desk if you’d like to continue making your…whatever you’re making that I’m not supposed to know about?” She asks with a small chuckle at the end. Andrew nods again and legs out a quiet “yeah” Betsy smiles at him before getting up and walking over to her desk to pick up her bag of knitting items. She brings them back over to where Andrew is sitting and passes him over his project, which he accepts gratefully. “How do I knit a fox?” He asks once they’re both settled again. She smiles at him again and rummages around in the bag before pulling out a book and passing it over to him. Andrew looks at the book with confusion until Betsy says “it’s a knitting guide. It’s got so many different animals, letters and numbers in there. I thought you might find it useful” Andrew smiles at the book and nods. He really enjoys knitting with Bee. It gives him something to focus on, other than his pregnancy, Exy, or coursework. It gives him a breather and a break from his mind and body. It gives him the freedom to create and to be at peace, even if it’s just whilst he’s in these sessions with Bee. He wonders if he should ask to take his knitting back home to the dorms with him, but he doesn’t want Neil to find it and ruin his surprise. He’s got plans for this project, for his Junkie, for their baby. Andrew flicks through the pages of the book until he finds the animal section. They’re all in alphabetical order, so finding the page with the fox on it is pretty easy. He reads through the instructions silently. He only needs to read them once to understand and Renée what he needs to do. He sets the book aside and takes out the appropriate coloured yarn from the bag and begins the process of making the little orange fox to go as the centrepiece for his gift. He and Betsy knit mostly in silence for the remainder of their session with Betsy only speaking again with ten minutes left on the clock. “Have you considered when you’re going to start going to your classes again, Andrew?” She asks in a gentle tone. Andrew falters slightly with his stitch and shakes his head. “You’ll need to start going back to them soon. You’re past the twelve week mark now, Andrew. It might help to bring some normality back into your life” Andrew stops what he’s doing and stares down at his bump “what if people judge me?” He whispers. He’s not one hundred percent sure that he was meant to say that out loud, but it’s out there now, in the open, for everyone to hear. Betsy gives him a kind smile “no one is going to judge you, Andrew. I know that you’re still upset from the comments that people made about you online, but you’re safe here. You have a huge support system and your lecturers understand and know about what’s been going on.” Betsy takes a second to think before continuing “Maybe I could look into buddying you up with someone for your first few lessons back? You might find it helpful” “I don’t know,” he whispers, unsure about how to feel. He’s beginning to feel anxious again. “What about Harry? Would you let him buddy up with you for a while?” Betsy suggests. Andrew does like Harry. He wouldn’t call them friends per se, but he’s nice enough. And his mother is literally the woman sitting in front of him. Harry could never judge anyone, not with Betsy for a mother. Andrew takes a second to think about it “Okay” he says and Betsy gives him another smile. “I’ll talk to him when I get home later. And then we can work out a schedule to get you back into lessons until you’re due to leave in april” she suggests o and Andrew nods once again “why don’t we look at getting you back into lessons from December? That gives us another two weeks to be able to sort everything out for you, and for you to be able to talk to Neil. And maybe Harry, too” Andrew nods again “yeah, sure. Okay” Andrew asks Betsy about going back on his medication and she tells him that she’ll talk to Dr Helen and Abby to see what they can do. They conclude their session a few minutes later. Andrew is just under halfway through his fox, but he can always continue working in it next time he visits Bee’s office. They say their goodbyes and Andrew makes his way over to the stadium just in time to catch Neil before he goes on court. The two share a quick kiss and Neil asks Andrew how his session went. Andrew tells him about Bee’s suggestion to go back to class in December and to have Harry Dobson as his buddy for the first few weeks. Neil smiles at the suggestion and kisses his boyfriend on the lips once more before heading off through the doors and making his way into the court. Andrew goes to the bathroom to pee before making his way to the home benches to sit and watch the rest of practice. Their game against the Miami Dolphins is tomorrow and he can see the fear and nerves in the Freshmen defence line up and goalie’s eyes as they try to defend the home goal from Kevin and Neil. Neil’s been putting in every single one of his best moves in order to outsmart the younger members of the team. For all intent and purposes it works. By the end of practice, the Freshmen defence and goalie line up are soon able to block almost all of Kevin and Neil’s shots on goal. Neil and the rest of the team shower off whilst Andrew waits for them in the lounge as he watches Coach read through Maddison Heart’s file that he left on the older man’s desk earlier in the week. Coach nods and hums approvingly at what he’s reading and then heads into his office with his phone already to his ear and closes the door behind him. It’s not long after that that Neil comes out of the locker room and over to Andrew, capturing his lips with his own and pulling him into a searing and heated kiss. He breaks away when the door to the locker room opens again and the rest of the Foxes come bouncing out one after the other. “We’re going to have a movie night in our dorm if you guys want to join,” Freya informs them. The scars on her face, neck and arms glisten under the lights from where she’s just reapplied her scar cream. Freya’s confidence in her scars has grown over the few short months that she’s been a Fox after seeing how Neil never lets his scars stand in his way of anything. Andrew and Neil look at each other in silent question and it’s Neil who answers after seeing the look in Andrew’s eyes. “I think we’re going to head back to our dorm and get an early night tonight. But thank you for the invitation anyway though” Andrew gives Neil a knowing smile which Neil returns. Just over an hour later, Neil and Andrew are finally alone in the dorms. Kevin, Nicky and Aaron had all decided to attend the movie night at Freya, Sheena and Morgana-Faye’s dorm. Neil is sitting on the sofa in the living room when Andrew walks in, in just his boxers and an oversized T-shirt, and straddles his lap, grinding his hips down once before claiming Neil’s mouth with his own. “Yes or no?” Andrew whispers and Neil answers with an immediate “yes” Andrew begins grinding his hips on Neil again and kissing his mouth so deeply, letting the small moans fall off his tongue and out of his mouth as his pussy begins to grow more and more wet underneath Neil’s hardening dick. “Undress yourself? Yes or no?” Neil asks and Andrew doesn’t even answer before he’s pulling his T-shirt up and over his head, discarding it somewhere on the living room floor before doing the same thing to Neil. Neil lifts his ass up off the sofa for Andrew to slide his boxers off along with his own and throws them in the same vicinity as he threw their T-shirts. He climbs back onto Neil’s lap and recaptures his mouth, kissing his lips, his jaw and his neck, leaving behind small marks along the way as he bites and sucks at the delicate skin. Neil’s fingers trail down Andrew’s body. Starting from his face and going down over his chest, playing with his nipples, then going down down down to his already dripping pussy where Neil starts circling his clit lightly with one finger. Andrew pants at the sensation and grinds his hips against Neil’s hand in search of more friction. Neil adds a second finger to his clit and listens as Andrew’s pants become more and more intense. “I’m going to finger you open now” Neil whispers and Andrew lets out a small whine at the feeling and pressure of Neil’s fingers entering inside of his pussy. “Fuck” Andrew says underneath a breathy moan as he lets his head drop into the crook of Neil’s neck and begins panting and moaning in his boyfriend’s ear. “Fuck, it feels so good” “Do you want to cum on my fingers or on my dick?” Neil asks, keeping the pace of his fingers the same as they run repeatedly over Andrew’s G-spot. “Dick…I want your dick…inside me” Andrew gets out between breaths. Neil carefully pulls his fingers out, letting Andrew rest and take a breather for a moment whilst he strokes the slick up and down his dick, getting it ready for Andrew to take. “Ready, sweetheart?” Neil asks and Andrew answers by taking Neil’s dick in his hands and lining it up with the entrance to his pussy. He sinks down on it in one go, letting out a loud moan and throwing his head back as he feels the fullness of Neil’s dick stretching the inside of him. Andrew starts moving up and down, feeling the stretch after not fucking for over a week, “Fuuuuck,” he continues bouncing on it, speeding up his motions as Neil’s grins his hips tightly and guides his every movement. “Neil…I’m gonna…I’m gonna cum” Andrew cries out in pure pleasure. “Cum for me, Drew” Neil replies as he slams his hips up to meet Andrew’s pussy and ass even harder. “Ahh…fuuuuck…shit…oh fuck” Andrew cries out as his orgasm hits him. It’s the first one he’s had since Neil ate him out at the Columbia house after watching the Trojans Vs Penn State game. Andrew shakes and squirms in the aftermath of his orgasm, burying his face deeper into the crook of Neil’s neck, muffling the sounds of this amazing feeling. Andrew slows down the movement of his hips and catches his breath. “Do you want to continue?” Neil asks, always making sure that Andrew feels comfortable and safe when he’s at his most vulnerable. Andrew takes a second too long to respond. “One more” Andrew says “you need to cum as well” Neil turns Andrew’s face in his hands to make him look at him directly in the eyes “Andrew, I don’t need to cum. If you want to stop, we can stop” “Stop” Andrew replies shyly “I’m gettin tired” “Okay” Neil says as he pulls out of Andrew’s pussy. Andrew whines at the loss. “Lets go and get showered and then we can relax for a bit in bed before we go to sleep” Andrew nods through a yawn and lets Neil lift him off his lap. They walk to the bathroom, hand in hand, and wait for the water to heat up before stepping under the spray and letting Neil take care of them both. By the time they get out, Neil’s dick is no longer hard, but Andrew is yawning more and more as he fights to stay awake with his Junkie. They head into the bedroom where Neil dries them both off and selects out a clean pair of pyjamas for both of her to wear. Neil chooses his PSU pair and a pale pink set for Andrew. They’re a bit long for him as they used to be Nicky’s, but they fit perfectly over Andrew bump. They climb into the bottom bunk - Neil’s not letting Andrew anywhere near that ladder whilst he’s pregnant - and Andrew settles himself down in his spot next to the wall, curing up in a tight ball and burying himself under the covers. Neil climbs in and joins him a second later after turning off the main light in the room, keeping only the lamp on the bedside table on to make sure he doesn’t walk into anything. He reaches over to the night stand and turns off the light, allowing darkness to fill the room. Neil turns himself over so that he is facing Andrew, who appears to already be fast asleep, when a small “staring” falls from the sleeping blonde’s lips. Neil scoots himself closer and Andrew nestles himself into the space between his Junkie’s arm and body, letting Neil throw his arm around him tightly as he drifts off to sleep. Neil wakes up before Andrew the next morning to the sound of a text message buzzing through on his phone. He carefully extracts himself from Andrew’s grip and reaches over to grab his phone off of the night stand. He flicks it open to see a text from the Sunshine Boy himself
Jeremy Knox (Trojans)
Hey Neil! Congratulations to you and Andrew on the baby! Sorry for not texting you sooner, I didn’t want to overwhelm you guys. Good luck for the game later! You guys will crush it! Jeremy :)
Neil doesn't reply. Instead, he flips his phone shut and turns to look at the boy lying peacefully next to him. There is no tension to be seen anywhere in Andrew’s body. His face is completely relaxed and he looks so calm and at peace with the world for the first time in so long. If it wasn’t for the fact that Andrew is snoring like a fucking train, then Neil would think that his boyfriend was dead. But then again, the scoring could actually be coming from Nicky for once. If Nicky's been drinking then he’ll snore very loudly all night long. Neil takes another look at Andrew…it’s definitely Andrew snoring. Neil smiles to himself, happy that Andrew has been able to fall asleep and stayed asleep all night. His session with Betsy yesterday must have been a good one for him to be able to get everything off his chest and to feel so relaxed. Neil stays staring at Andrew for another five minutes before he gets up and heads into the kitchen to make himself some breakfast, followed by the bathroom for a quick shower and then back to the bedroom to get changed and grab his duffel bag ready for the Foxes morning practice session. Neil leaves Andrew a note - to let him know he’ll call him at lunch time - next to his pillow for him to read once he wakes up, being mindful not to wake the sleeping blonde, and then heads out of the dorm along with Nicky, Aaron and Kevin to drive to the stadium. They enter the stadium and take a seat on the larger of the three sofas as they wait for the rest of the Foxes to arrive. The others all arrive and Wymack comes out of his office to give his speech for the day. “Right then, Maggots, we’re up against the Miami Dolphins this evening. They’re new to our district and this is their first game away from home so I want you all to play nice and make them feel welcome. But with that being said, fucking crush them. I don’t want you to play dirty, but I want you to fight, because you don’t know how to die quietly, and win, because you don’t know how to lose. If we win this game then we automatically make it through to the Spring Championships. Lose and we have to win our next two games without fail. Everyone understood? Good. Great. Now fuck off and get your fat asses on that court. Day, Boyd, I need a word with you both in my office” Matt and Kevin head into Wymack’s office whilst Neil and the others head into their respective locker rooms and change out before they begin a three mile run around the outer court, followed by High Intensity Interval Training warmup and finally drills. They finish off practice with a scrimmage. After showering and changing back into his normal clothes, Neil goes into a quiet corner and rings Andrew. Andrew picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Drew,” Neil said with a cheerful tone. “Hey, yourself” Andrew replies, sounding like he’s just woken up. “How are you feeling?”
“We’re okay”
Neil can hear the clattering of a teaspoon in the background as Andrew stirs what is probably a hot chocolate on the other end of the phone. “I’m heading back to the dorms now. So you need me to pick anything up on the way?”
Andrew hums as he thinks about his answer and then says “ice cream”
“Drew” Neil laughs “we’ve got so much ice cream already”
“Are you trying to starve me and our unborn child by not making sure our freezer is topped up with ice cream?” Andrew asks sarcastically.
Neil rolls his eyes, not that Andrew can see it “okay, fine. I’ll get you some ice cream. I’m also picking up some sandwiches on the way so text me with what you want. Okay?”
“Okay”
They say their goodbyes and Neil heads out of the stadium and to the Maserati. He stops off at the shop on the way back and grabs the ice cream that Andrew has requested and a baguette for them both, before driving back to the dorms. He runs up the three flights of stairs and enters the dorm to find Andrew sitting on the sofa, wrapped in his fluffy pink blanket, like a burrito, with a hot chocolate in his hands as he watches something on the TV. “Hey” Neil says as he takes off his coat, hangs it on the coat pegs and takes the bag of shopping into the kitchen. He takes out the ice cream and puts it in the freezer. He grabs the two sandwiches and brings them with him as he joins Andrew in the living room. “Hey” Andrew replies, looking over his shoulder from under his blanket. “I’ve got you a sandwich” Neil says as he passes Andrew the brown paper bag with a baguette inside. “It’s ham and cheese” “Thanks. What have you got?” Andrew asks, indicating to Neil’s baguette. “egg and cress” Andrew turns his nose up in a disgusted fashion causing Neil to laugh. They eat their sandwiches in relative silence and spend some time exchanging kisses and touches before they head out to the Maserati and over to the stadium to begin preparing for tonight’s game. The Freshmen look nervous as they pace around the lounge. The only one who’s not looking like he’s affected one bit is Jack. Neither Andrew or Neil have forgiven him for what he did to Andrew and their baby, or for the comments that he made about them both afterwards. They just hope that he learns something in the mandatory LGBTQ+ sessions that he has to do every Monday with Betsy. Neil gives Andrew a quick kiss before turning into his Vice Captain mode and heads over to the Freshmen to check in on them all with Dan. Andrew leans himself against the wall, away from the crowd of people and sees Renée coming towards him. “Hello, Andrew,” she says in her sweet voice. “Renée” he replies with a nod. “How are you?” She asks. Andrew rolls his eyes “fed up of people asking” Renée gives him a sweet smile as a way of an apology. “Are you watching from the benches tonight or staying in here?” “Benches” Andrew says with a blank face “keeping an eye on him” he looks past Renée and straight at Neil who is over at one side and talking to William. The young goalkeeper is nodding along to whatever it is that Neil is saying to him. “He’s very happy, you know. He doesn’t talk about your relationship or the baby much, but he’s so happy, Andrew” Andrew smiles, just a little bit, but he knows that Renée can see it. “Anyway, I’ll leave you alone to have some peace before the game” she holds out her hand just next to his arm and waits for Andrew’s nod before squeezing his arm and turning away with a smile still on her face. Andrew continues to watch as Wymack comes out of his office and calls the Foxes over to sit on the sofas to listen to his game speech. Andrew doesn’t listen. He doesn’t need to. He’s not even playing. He’s just here to make sure that he Junkie doesn’t do anything stupid. And to make sure that Kevin doesn’t go in search of any bottles of vodka if they lose the game. Andrew absentmindedly runs his hands over his bump, feeling the little baby inside him make his tummy flutter as it grows and moves around. It almost feels like butterflies, as if he’s on the roof again. God he misses going up onto the roof in the middle of the night with Neil. The last time that he was up there, he was deciding whether he should keep this baby or not. Andrew is very happy with the decision that he’s made. “Drew” Neil calls and Andrew blinks at him “we’re going to get changed now and then head out for our warm ups. Do you need me to grab you anything before I go?” “Just my blanket” “In my bag. I’ll leave it on the bench for you when I go out” Andrew nods and Neil presses a kiss to his forehead before heading into the locker rooms to change out and prepare his team mates for the game. Andrew walks over to Wymack’s office and leans against the open door frame. “Ah, Andrew, just the man. Myself, Kevin and Matt will be travelling to Seattle in January to have a meeting with the player that you recruited, Jamie Farnham” Andrew nods. “Renée will be playing a full game today, I’ve sent William back to the dorms. Poor kids so sick he can barely breathe” “Why did he come in if he’s sick?” Andrew questions out of curiosity. “The same reason as you do, kid” Andrew nods and fidgets in the doorway. Wymack stops what he’s doing, look at Andrew and sighs “I know what day it is next week, Andrew” Andrew shrugs “it’s just a day” he mutters so quietly that Wymack can just about hear him. “It’s not just a day though, is it? You can always come in here if things start to feel like they’re getting too much for you. Have you spoken to Neil about it at all?” Andrew shakes his head. Wymack gives him a soft look “he’ll understand, Andrew. He was there too, remember. And so we’re Nicky, Aaron and Kevin. I’ve already had Kevin sleeping at my apartment all week” “I’m all good, Coach” Andrew says but Wymack knows the lie. “Now you sound like Neil” Wymack retorts, accusingly. Andrew lets out a small laugh and a tiny smile. “But seriously, kid, we’re here if you need us” Andrew nods “thanks, Coach” he says quietly. “On another note, Betsy told Abby and I that you're going back to lessons next month. That will be good. A bit of structure and routine again” Andrew shrugs “I suppose” Wymack lets out a deep breath, claps his hands on his desk and stands up “right then, kid, let's go out there and show these Dolphins what the Foxes can do” Wymack gestures for Andrew to lead the way to the court as the rest of the Foxes jog across the lounge from the locker rooms to the court to begin their warm up laps and stretches. Andrew heads out with Wymack and Abby, and takes a seat on the home benches, finding his pink blanket that Neil had brought with them to keep him nice and warm. He wraps it around himself and sits down as he waits for the starting lineup to be called onto the court. The Foxes and Dolphins finish their warm up and drills on the court and all leave to get ready to be called back on to take their starting positions. Andrew gives Neil his signature two fingered salute, which Neil returns, just as the Orange Notes begin playing the teams fight song and the Vixens start their choreography. The commentator starts talking and intrudes the Dolphins starting lineup first as each player jogs to their position on the court. After the final Dolphins player is in position, it’s the Foxes turn to be called onto the court. “Number One, Captain Danielle Wilds, Offensive Dealer. Number Ten, Vice Captain Neil Josten, Starting Striker. Number Two, Kevin Day, Starting Striker. Number Four, Matthew Boyd, Backliner. Number Nine, Renée Walker, Goalkeeper. Number Eighteen, Owen Marshall, Backliner” The six of them jog to the positions and the referees lock the court doors behind them and blow the whistle to prepare them for the game that’s about to commence. Being on the court never fails to amaze Neil. Time after time, game after game, the adrenaline high never fades. With a quick glance, Neil looks over to the home bench, where Andrew is sitting with a blanket pulled around his shoulders. It’s then Neil decides he will win this game for Andrew and their baby. With the first blow of the whistle, Allison sends the ball up to the Foxes side of the court where Miami's two starting strikers start sprinting towards it. Cursing himself for being distracted by his boyfriend - albeit how cute he was - Neil starts running only after Miami has already set off. Thankfully, because Kevin practically has nothing to live for other than Exy, the taller man is already up ahead with the Dolphin strikers and takes a clean check to one of their sticks, popping the ball right out. Running up the line, Neil looks Kevin’s way and makes eye contact with the striker. Kevin throws the ball up to Neil, who after 9 steps takes a shot into the upper right side of the goal. Neil hears the crowd roar as the goal lights up red. He turns around flashing a big smile Andrew’s way even though he knows the other man won’t be able to see it. By the time the first buzzer rings signalling the end of the first half, Neil is a sweating and panting mess as he slowly jogs over to the bench and makes his way to the locker room. After a quick check-in with his teammates, he goes over to Andrew and offers him a quick peck on the cheek. “Listen up,” Wymack instructs, quickly quieting everyone, “I know we’re up five-two but that’s a point gap that is a hell of a lot easier for them to close than I would like.” Wymack pauses, “Renée, I know playing a full game isn’t easy but keep the energy up. I have a feeling they’re going to come back with more aggression in the second half.” He was right, Neil realises once the second half begins again. The Dolphins come back out with an unexpected energy and within the first few minutes, yellow cards are being handed out. Matt takes a nasty punch to the stomach after he manages to check a Dolphin’s player's stick. Neil hisses through his teeth, catching the tell tale signs of his team losing patience. By the time the final whistle blows, the Foxes win the game 7-3. After a quick chant of “good game” and the line for handshake, Neil is finally able to relax as he walks through the open doors of the court and sees Andrew sitting there and waiting for him. Neil bounces over to him with a huge smile on his face as sweat drips down his forehead. “What did you think?” Andrew stares at him “I think you need to work on your footwork” he says in a sarcastic tone. Neil slaps his arm and gasps in mock offence “Oi” he laughs. Neil gathers up his water bottle and towel as Andrew grabs his blanket and they make their way into the locker room to listen to Coach’s debrief before press duty. Andrew, Neil, Ash and William are all excused. Freya usually is, however she has volunteered to do her first press duty alongside Dan. Neil takes a quick shower and is back out in the lounge with Andrew before anyone else. “Do you feel up for joining the party in the basement back at the dorms?” Neil asks Andrew. Andrew nods “I’ll go for a bit” They wait for the rest of their group to come out of the locker room and all pile into the Maserati with Andrew behind the wheel as Nicky demands that they stop off so that he can get some alcohol and party snacks for everyone to share. Andrew reluntly stops at the shops and waits in the car with Neil whilst Nicky, Aaron and Kevin all go off in search of drinks. It feels like forever, but eventually they make it back to the dorms. They just about have enough time to all get changed before heading down to the basement rooms where the Upperclassmen have already started the celebrations, with the Freshmen arriving not long after them. The Foxes drink and party and celebrate another win for the season and their automatic promotion to the Spring Championships. Kevin, for some unknown reason, decides that he’s going to go around and tell all of the Foxes everything that they did wrong during the game. The Freshmen look like they don’t know what’s hit them as they ask each other “so what would he be like if we lost, then?” Drunk Andrew thinks to himself. It’s almost midnight when Andrew starts yawning from his seat on one of the sofas. It’s the girl's old one from last year. Every year, Allison will redecorate their entire dorm with brand new furniture, saying that the old furniture is out of fashion for this year. Andrew turns to Neil who is sitting next to him and talking with Brittany. “I think I’m going to head back to the dorms. I’m tired” “Okay” Neil replies as he begins getting up. “You don’t have to come back if you don’t want to. You can stay down here with the others if you want to. I’ll be fine on my own” “Are you sure?” “Yeah” Neil nods at Andrew's decision and gives him a kiss goodnight before watching as Andrew leaves the basement room and heads towards the lifts to go up to the third floor. Andrew reaches his dorm and heads inside. It’s so peaceful and quiet without the others here. He heads into the bathroom to pee, clean his teeth and take a quick shower. Then he goes into the bedroom and slips himself into his comfiest pyjamas before climbing I to the bottom bunk and burying himself underneath the duvet and blankets. He closes his eyes and lets sleep take him. There’s the unmistakable sound of the bedroom door clicking open. The flick of the switch as the lights are turned on. And then the sound of footsteps entering the room that have Andrew freezing and holding his breath in fear. He can feel himself shaking as he tries to not move a single muscle. He knows from too many dark nights, that the more he tries to move or struggle, the more it will hurt and the more angry they will get. So he stays perfectly still. He doesn’t move. He doesn’t breathe. He doesn’t do anything until he feels someone touch him. His natural instinct is to lash out at whoever is touching him. He feels his fist connect with something hard and then a yelp as whoever it is cries out in pain. Andrew’s eyes are open now but he’s not seeing anything. He can just feel fear and pain, pain and fear as he sits up and pushes himself further and further into the corner of his bed, as close to the wall and in as tight of a ball as humanly possible. “—Lights” is all he hears as the room goes dark again and the only sound that he can hear now is the sound of his ragged and harsh breath as he shakes and sobs. He knows he’s crying, but he can’t help it. There’s no point in asking them, in telling them to spot. They wouldn’t listen to him anyway. “—drew”
“Looking so pretty for me Allanah Jane”
“Fuck me, you’re so tight”
“Good girls say please”
“Andrew” Andrew’s world suddenly snaps back into focus as he sees Neil’s face being silhouetted by the lamp on the bedside table. He can see the look of pure horror and concern on his face as Neil watches him closely but keeps completely out of touching distance. Andrew can feel the hot tears flowing down his face and off his chin and they drip onto his lap. “Neil” he cries with a broken sob. “Yeah” Neil says just above a whisper “it’s me. You’re safe Andrew, you’re safe” Neil reaches his hand out towards Andrew’s chest and Andrew knows exactly what Neil’s not saying. Match my breathing, Drew. Andrew nods and lets Neil carefully rest his hand in the centre of his chest and places Andrew’s hand in the centre of his own, breathing in deeply and slowly until Andrew is able to match it again, breath for breath. “What happened, Andrew?” Neil asks him gently after Andrew has managed to calm his breathing down. “The…” Andrew struggles to get his words out and he has to take a few more breaths before trying again. “The door. I thought…I thought you were…you were…him” “Who?” And then the penny drops and Neil’s face goes completely white, all traces of blood gone within a second. “Oh my god, Andrew. I’m so sorry” he says so quietly that Andrew just about hears him. Andrew just closes his eyes again and goes through one of his breathing exercises from Betsy. Neil lets him do this uninterrupted until Andrew opens his eyes again. “Hold me? Yes or no?” Andrew whispers. “Yes, Andrew, of course,” Neil replies. He slowly stands up, making sure that Andrew can track each and every one of his movements as he gently sits himself down on the bed next to Andrew. He opens his arms up and lets Andrew lean into him in his own time. Andrew leans against him and Neil slowly moves his hand up and starts stroking his fingers through his distressed boyfriend’s hair. “I’m so, so sorry, Drew” Neil whispers in his ear. Andrew is so exhausted by the time that he’s settled on Neil’s shoulder that his eyes begin to fall shut as he fights to keep them open, to make sure that he’s safe. “Sleep, Drew. You’re safe now” Neil tells him and Andrew knows that he can believe him. Andrew lets his eyes full shut and drifts off to the sound of Neil’s calm and soothing voice reminding him that everything’s going to be okay. It’s about 4:30 in the morning when Neil hears the front door to the dorms open and the jangling of keys as Aaron returns. He knows it’s Aaron by how quiet he’s being. Aaron knows that Andrew would be asleep by now and doesn’t want to wake him. The bedroom door cracks open slightly and Aaron pokes his head around the corner, the hallway light illuminating him from behind. He looks straight at where Neil is sitting with a sleeping Andrew still leaning against his shoulder. “Everything okay?” Aaron whispers. “Panic attack” Neil whispers in reply “he thought I was—” Neil doesn’t need to finish that sentence because they both know who Andrew thought Neil was, and judging by the way that Aaron’s face has dropped, he suspected the same reason too. “I’m going to grab some water. Do you want anything?” Aaron continues to whisper. Neil gently turns his head to look at Andrew’s sleeping form. The blonde’s head is resting on his shoulder, his left hand gently cradling his ever growing bump whilst his right grips lightly onto the hem of Neil’s shirt. “Can you get Andrew some water? He’ll need it when he wakes up” Aaron nods “yeah sure. Are you sure that you don’t need anything?” Neil gives him a small smile “nah, I’m all good” Aaron nods again and retreats his head out of the dorm and shuts the door as quietly as he can. Neil can hear the light switch in the kitchen being flicked on and the soft padding of Aaron’s feet as he walks around the dorm, collecting everything that he needs. A few minutes later, Aaron carefully and quietly reopens the bedroom door and slips inside. Neil holds his breath, expecting Andrew to startle awake and begin panicking again. Neil breathes out a sigh of relief when Andrew doesn’t wake up. Aaron puts Andrew’s bottle of water on the bedside table and sits down on the bottom bunk on the opposite side of the room. “Do you want me to take over and keep watch so that you can get some rest? You played a full game tonight. You must be shattered” Aaron asks, looking at his twin with so much concern and worry on his face. Neil shakes his head “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep now anyway” Aaron nods in understanding and mutters a quiet “same.” Aaron takes a few sips of his water. “Have you been having them too? The nightmares about…about that night?” Neil nods “a few. You?” Aaron sniffs and nods “every night for the last few weeks. I just keep seeing his face” they both look at Andrew who is still sleeping soundly against Neil’s shoulder “and hearing the way that he laughed. And then the trial over the summer and everything that he had to say and admit.” A realisation must hit Aaron because his eyes widen and he turns his gaze to Neil “he was pregnant during the trial, wasn’t he?” Neil nods “we didn’t know at the time, but yes, Andrew was pregnant during the trial” Aaron lets out a shaky breath “I’m…err…I’m just going to go and see if Nicky’s outside. I locked the door when I came in and I don’t think he has his keys again” “Okay” Neil replies as Aaron stands up and heads out of the dorm. They stopped locking the dorm door when Nicky kept losing his eyes at Eden’s Twilight and kept getting locked out every night after practice. Neil knows why he’s really going. Aaron can’t stand the thought of his twin being scared, or hurt, or in pain. They stopped locking the dorm door when Nicky kept losing his eyes at Eden’s Twilight and kept getting locked out every night after practice. Aaron doesn’t come back for the rest of the night, and neither do Kevin or Nicky. He must have made them stay at Matt’s dorm to give Andrew the privacy that he needs. Neil stays awake, watching Andrew, for the rest of the night as the blonde sleeps peacefully next to him. The weekend is a blur of hungover Freshmen and Upperclassmen wandering around Fox Tower like zombies as the effects of an entire weekend's partying takes its toll on their exhausted bodies. Andrew and Neil spend it relaxing in the dorms or driving around in the Maserati when things become too much for Andrew to handle in the dorms. So much music, shouting, screaming, fighting and general noise that Andrew begins to struggle. Hours and hours of Neil driving them around until the early hours of the morning once Andrew has managed to fall asleep for a couple of hours in the passenger seat of the car. Neil isn’t so worried about himself sleeping, he’s not the one that’s four months pregnant. Andrew, Neil and Aaron all wake up at different points of the night, panting and sweating as the events of last year repeat themselves over and over again in their memories and nightmares. Neil wakes up on Tuesday night and discovers that Andrew’s bed is empty. He checks the rest of the bedroom, followed by the dorm and then he runs up the stairs to the roof but finds no evidence of the blonde. He comes back into the dorm and finds Andrew's shoes and the keys to the Maserati missing. He rushes to find his phone to see if his boyfriend has sent him a text or left a voicemail, but he finds nothing. Neil decides to head back up to the roof and make some calls. He tries Andrew’s phone first, but he doesn’t pick up. Neil grows more concerned because Andrew always, always answers his calls. He calls Wymack next and the older man picks up on the fourth ring “if you're calling for the whereabouts of your boyfriend, he broke into my apartment a couple of hours ago” Wymack says in lieu of a greeting. “Is he still there?” Neil asks, slightly relieved but with a hint of panic still in his voice.
“Yes, Josten, he’s still here”
“I’m on my way” Neil hangs up before Wymack even has a chance to reply and races downstairs to Matt’s dorm and bangs on the door until someone opens it. “Neil?” Matt says with a sleep filled voice as he squints at the light coming from the main hallway. “Are you alright?” “Can you give me a lift to Coach’s place? Andrew’s there” Matt doesn’t even hesitate “let me grab my shoes and keys” Seconds later, they are in Matt’s truck and on Perimeter Road and heading towards Wymack’s apartment. Neither Neil or Matt speak during the twenty minute journey. They only speak once Matt drops Neil off by the curb and they say their goodbyes to each other. Neil enters the code to the building and heads inside and takes the lift up to Wymack’s floor. He knocks on the door and waits for the older man to answer it. “At least you know how to knock” Wymack says instead of hello. “How is he?” Neil asks immediately. “Sleeping on my couch. He went down about an hour ago” Wymack opens the door wider for Neil to step inside and Neil heads into the living room to find Andrew wrapped up underneath a thick duvet, which he’s pulled up over his ears. He goes over and crouches down on the floor next to him and carefully strokes his fringe out of his eyes and off his face. Andrew’s face looks calm and peaceful again, but still has the streaks of tear tracks and the reddened skin around his nose and eyes. He must have been really bad. “I didn’t hear him leave our dorm” Neil whispers as he watches Andrew sleep. “He said he didn’t want to wake you” Wymack replies with a caring tone and then switches it to pure sarcasm when he says “that clearly doesn’t apply to me though. I heard that little fucker break my goddamn door. Again” Neil smiles and then his face turns sas again “sorry” “What for, kid?” “For not being there to help him” Wymack takes a deep breath and then moves to go and sit down in his armchair “he said that you’ve all been struggling to sleep this week, which is completely understandable. Why do you think I gave you all a week off practice” Neil shrugs so Wymack continues. “He told me that you were finally resting. You’ve spent so long looking after him that you forgot to look after you” Neil nods as a tear slowly makes its way down his cheek and wipes the snot from his nose with the back of his hand as he sniffs, causing more tears to fall. “I’ve got an old camping bed that you can sleep on if you’re staying the night too” Neil looks over his shoulder at Wymack and nods, sniffing again “yeah” Wymack claps his hands onto his thighs as he stands up and heads towards his office to find the camping bed. He comes back into the living room and moves the coffee table out of the way, setting up the bed for Neil next to where Andrew is sleeping. Neil still doesn’t sleep that night. Instead, he spends the rest of the night watching over Andrew and making sure that he’s watching the blonde’s back and keeping him safe from harm. They both go back to the dorms late on Wednesday morning. Andrew has his sixteen week scan late this afternoon and Neil wants him to be relaxed for it. They leave the dorms at around 4:30pm. Andrew’s appointment isn’t until 5:30, but Neil wants to get them there early so that Andrew has some more time to relax before going in. They arrive at 4:55 and take a seat in a quiet corner of the waiting room, where Andrew takes the opportunity to read through this week's section of his pregnancy book.
Week 16
Your baby is growing quickly and about to have another growth spurt. You will probably have put on some weight over the past few weeks too.
What's happening in my body?
You may see a midwife around now, who will weigh you and discuss how you're getting on, and you might get to hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time.
You will also get the results of any blood tests that you had during your booking appointment.
You will probably have been offered a test for 3 infectious diseases: HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. If an infection has been picked up, then your midwife or doctor will talk to you about the best ways to protect your health and reduce the risk of passing on the infection to your baby.
Your blood pressure will be checked and you will need to provide a urine sample. This will be checked for signs of protein that could show if you're at risk of developing a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.
Constipation
Constipation is common in early pregnancy – it's when you find it really hard to poop. It can make you feel bloated, sick and give you a tummy ache.
Try to:
eat foods that are high in fibre, like wholemeal bread, fruit and veg, beans and lentils
exercise regularly
drink lots of water
avoid iron supplements (but talk to your doctor or midwife before ditching any medication)
Read more about easing constipation in pregnancy on the NHS website.
Carbon monoxide alert
You cannot see, smell or taste it – but carbon monoxide gas is a killer. You can be exposed to this harmful gas through breathing in cigarette smoke, and can also come into contact with it through faulty or poorly ventilated cooking or heating appliances.
If you've already got a carbon monoxide detector at home, check it's working. There's usually a test button – if it does not beep, the battery may need replacing or you need a new detector. You can pick one up at most supermarkets.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 16 weeks)
Everyone's pregnancy is different but if you feel unwell and it's getting you down, speak to your doctor or midwife.
Your pregnancy symptoms may include:
swollen and bleeding gums (week 13's page has information about gum health)
pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as 'round ligament pains')
headaches
nosebleeds
feeling bloated (read how to cope with bloating on week 10's page and constipation)
indigestion and heartburn (read about dealing with indigestion and heartburn on week 25's page)
sore breasts
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (week 15's page explains about how to treat vaginal infections)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
morning sickness (read about dealing with morning sickness on week 6's page)
weird pregnancy cravings (read about pregnancy cravings on week 5's page)
a heightened sense of smell
mood swings (week 8's page has information on mood swings)
a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 11.6cm long from head to bottom, which is the size of an avocado.
Your baby is starting to pull faces now, but any smiling or frowning will be completely random, as there's no muscle control yet.
The nervous system continues to develop, and this enables your baby to start moving their arms and legs. Your baby's hands can form fists and they may start punching around inside you too.
You might be able to feel your baby kicking from week 17 onwards.
Your baby is about the size of an avocado. “Andrew Minyard” ruby calls out across the waiting room. Neil and Andrew stand up and follow her down the corridor to her room. “Come on in boys and take a seat” she says with her usual caring tone as she holds the door open for Andrew and Neil to walk through. Andrew and Neil sit next to each other on the bed as Ruby rolls herself over on a wheely stall. “How are you feeling at the moment, Andrew? Any concerns regarding your pregnancy that you want to talk to me about?” Andrew looks at Neil. He’s still not really in a speaking mood. This week has been really rough for him. “It’s okay” Neil reassures Andrew and Andrew nods before tuning to Ruby. “It was hurting,” he says. Ruby gives him a soft look “where about?” Andrew points. “Can I? Ruby asks and Andrew nods. Ruby uses careful fingers to press down on his belly. “Aaron said that he thinks it was just Andrew’s muscle pulling from where the baby is growing” Neil tells her. Ruby smiles “I think your brother might be right on this occasion. Even though you are stretching very slowly, sometimes your muscles can stretch a little too far for comfort and it can cause you to have some pain. But it’s nothing to worry about though. It’s all part of the process of bringing this little one into the world” Ruby takes her hand away and looks at Andrew again. “Does that reassure you a bit more, Andrew?” Andrew nods. Neil looks at his boyfriend again “do you want me to ask her about the birth?” He asks softly and Andrew nods again. Neil looks at Ruby who has the most caring and patient smile on her lips. “Can you talk to us about home birthing? It’s what Andrew would prefer to do if possible” Her smile grows “of course. What I’ll do is I’ll give you a leaflet pack to read in your own time at your own pace, and if you have any questions about anything specific that you read or that you want to know about then you’re more than welcome to ask at your next appointment. Or you can let Dr Betsy Dobson know and get her to email me through a list of questions and I can get the answers back to you as soon as I can. How does that sound?” Andrew and Neil look at each other and smile. “How about we do your general checks now and then your scan, Andrew?” Ruby suggests and Andrew nods, letting Neil jump off the bed so that he can lean himself back against it. “Is there anything that you don’t feel comfortable with me doing today, Andrew?” Andrew looks at Neil who answers for him “nothing internal” Ruby gives them both an understanding nod. “Okay, Andrew, what I’m going to do is I’m going to have a little feel of your tummy and I’ll use a measuring tape just to make sure that you're growing how you should be. You've got a bump now, it’s only small, which is fine, but I just want to make sure that you’re nicely on track. Then I’ll do a quick blood test to check for anything such as high or low blood sugar or any infections. Would you feel comfortable giving me a urine sample today, Andrew?” Andrew shakes his head. “Okay. I will just ask you, have you had any issues with going to the toilet at all? Any pain or burning?” Andrew shakes his head again. Ruby smiles and nods “okay that’s good. And then the final thing I will do will be your sixteen week scan and then we can have a nice little look at your baby. Does that sound like a good plan to you?” Andrew nods again. Ruby comes over to the side of the bed “I’m just going to get you to roll your shirt up for me, Andrew” Andrew rolls his shirt up to just below his top surgery scars whilst Ruby puts on a pair of purple latex gloves. “You've got a lovely little bump there, Andrew” she smiles as she puts on her second glove. “I’m going to press around on your tummy now, Andrew” Andrew nods and Ruby places her hands gently onto his bump, lightly at first so that he can get used to the feeling of her touching him, before she presses a little bit firmer into the muscle. “Everything feels good to me, Andrew, so I’m going to use the measuring tape now. It might feel a little bit cold. Okay?” Andrew nods and Ruby picks up her measuring tape from her desk and begins measuring Andrew’s bump. She measures from top to bottom, and from left to right. She also measures the side of his bump to see how far out it comes. She writes each measurement down in Andrew’s file. “Your measurements look good too” she says with a smile as she puts the measuring tape away. “Would you like a quick break before I do your blood test or are you okay to continue?” “Continue” Andrew whispers and then looks to Neil for support, holding his hand out for his Junkie to take. Andrew stretches out his right arm for Ruby to tie the tourniquet on to and then prepares her needle. She cleans his arm with an alcohol wipe and leaves it to dry for a few seconds. “Are you ready, Andrew?” She asks and Andrew nods, closes his eyes and squeezes Neil’s hand a little bit tighter. “Sharp scratch” She inserts the needle and takes the blood that she needs before removing it and presses a gauze to the tiny puncture wound, holding it there for a second as she places the test tubes into a sample box. “All done, Andrew. Can you hold that one on your arm for me whilst I cut some tape?” Andrew takes over from Ruby, placing his fingers into the gauze and holding it in place. Ruby puts some tape on the edges and Andrew relaxes his arms. “Would you like a break, Andrew?” Andrew shakes his head and Ruby nods. “I’ll just bring the ultrasound machine over and we can take a look at that little baby of yours” Ruby moves to the other side of the room and brings over the ultrasound machine and switches it on, pressing a few buttons and adjusting the settings. “I’m going to put the gel on you now, Andrew” she warns before she squirts a blob of gel onto Andrew’s bump. Andrew shivers at the sudden coldness. Ruby moves the probe across his bump as she searches his womb for the baby. Her smile brightens when the baby appears on the screen. She soresses some buttons and the machine makes a few beeping noises before she looks up at Andrew and Neil, who are still holding hands, and smiles brightly at them again. “Would you like to see your baby?” Andrew and Neil both nod simultaneously, and Ruby turns the screen around, showing them their little baby that’s growing inside of Andrew’s belly. “Oh my god. They look like an actual person now” Neil says with wide eyes as he looks on in amazement. “Look, they’ve got your nose, Drew!” Neil points excitedly at the screen. Ruby responds with a bright laugh “Neil, that’s your babies bottom that you’re looking at” Andrew turns to glare at Neil who is turning bright red with embarrassment. “It’s okay, Neil” Ruby continues to laugh “it’s a very common mistake to make” Andrew shakes his head at Neil as he tries not to smile and turns his head back to face this little baby on the screen. “Are they okay?” He asks in a whisper. Ruby continues to move the probe around and nods “everything’s looking perfect so far. Baby seems to be very happy and healthy in there” she turns to look at Neil and Andrew again. “Would you like some photos?” Both boys nod and Ruby presses a few buttons. The machine beeps a couple of times and then begins to make a whirring noise as five photos of the scan begin printing out. Ruby hands them over to Andrew, who holds them, smiling and runs his finger over the image, the same way as he has done with each of his previous scans. “So tiny” he whispers at the image in his hands. “I’m going to wipe the gel off of you now, Andrew” Ruby says and then she uses a blue paper towel to wipe away the excess gel and lets Andrew readjust his shirt back to normal. They stay and talk for a while longer. Ruby asks them if they have any more questions and both boys shake their heads. Ruby gets the leaflet about Home Birthing out of her desk drawer and hands it over to Andrew, telling him to give her a call if he’s got any questions. They say their goodbyes to Ruby and head out to the Maserati. Neil drives them back to the dorms to collect their bags before they head over to Abby’s for their Thanksgiving celebrations, making sure to take the photos of the scan with them. Neil parks the car and takes Andrew’s hand as they walk up the driveway together and opens the front door without knocking. Abby must hear the door opening because she pokes her head around the corner of the kitchen with a smile. “Oh hello you two. How are you both?” “Hi Abby. All good thanks. How are you?” Neil replies with a smile of his own. “Not too bad. I’ve just sent Kevin, Aaron and Nicky out to pick up the pizzas. They couldn’t be delivered here for some reason” Neil nods and he and Andrew take off their coats and shoes, leaving them in the hallway of Abby’s house. Neil heads into the kitchen to get something to drink for himself and Andrew, whilst Andrew takes his spot on the sofa and begins flicking through the TV channels. “Josten” Wymack says with a nod as he prepares some of the food ready for tomorrow. “Coach” Neil says in reply. Neil gets two mugs out of the cupboard and finds the gingerbread hot chocolate that he knows Abby has bought for Andrew and makes him a cup, adding some whipped cream and marshmallows to the top. He makes himself a black tea and takes both the mugs into the living room. Andrew has put on a film that Neil doesn’t recognise. It’s got a cowboy and a spaceman in it. Neil has no idea what’s going on but Andrew seems to be enjoying it. The front door clicks open and the sound of Nicky echoes throughout the house. “We’re baaaaack!” “Lovely, boys. Just put the pizza boxes down on the coffee table and get some plates for everyone” Abby calls out from the kitchen. Aaron is the one to bring the plates over to the living room. “How was the scan?” Andrew looks at his twin and shrugs, then looks away from him and back to the TV. “Ruby said that everything looks to be fine” Neil tells him instead. Aaron nods “that’s good” and then heads back into the kitchen before returning with Wymack, Abby, Kevin and Nicky. Each of them taking a seat and grabbing an empty plate. “Tuck in boys” Abby tells them and they all begin opening the various pizza boxes and taking slices of pizza. Wymack opens the pizza box closest to him and turns his face up in disgust “which one of you absolute cretins ordered pineapple on pizza?” Everyone immediately looks at Kevin. Kevin sounds offended when he tries to defend himself “Pineapple is healthy” “Kevin no” “Pineapple does not belong on pizza. How many times have we had this discussion?” The others watch on in amusement as father and son argue over which toppings are acceptable to have on a pizza. Wymack clearly wins the argument. The rest of the evening is nice and chilled out. They all sit together and watch a movie - another one that Neil has no clue about. Something to do with a lost fish. Andrew and Neil head off to bed not long after the movie finishes. Andrew doesn’t want to be touched tonight, but he wants Neil to be close to him. Neil doesn’t even need to ask why, he just does what Andrew needs him to do. Andrew wakes up panting in the night and Neil gives him a bit of extra space to calm down in his own time. Neil asks Andrew if he wants to talk about it, but Andrew shakes his head. They both know what it was about. Andrew manages to calm himself down and eventually falls back to sleep to the sound of Neil’s soothing words. Somehow, both Andrew and Neil manage to sleep through the entire night - minus a pee break each - and both wake up in the morning feeling okay. They look at each other silently before Neil finally speaks “morning” he whispers softly. “Morning” Andrew returns in a sleepy voice. He feels calm, being here with his Junkie and their baby. He feels safe. “I think Abby said she’s doing pancakes for breakfast” Neil says as he reaches for the loose strand of hair that’s falling into Andrew’s face. He waits for Andrew’s nod before gently tucking it behind his ear. “We didn’t get any gifts for anyone” Andrew says with a guilty feeling in his chest. He knows that Wymack and Abby will have spent money buying presents for all of them. “I think people will understand” Neil gives Andrew a reassuring smile which Andrew tries to return, but it still looks sad. “Come on, let’s get up” They both get up and get changed into some comfy clothes and head into the living room where everyone else is already waiting and watching TV. “Good morning, Neil. Good morning, Andrew” Abby says as she nods to each of them in turn. “Would you boys like some pancakes?” They both nod and Abby gets up and heads into the kitchen. Andrew and Neil take a seat on the sofa that they’ve basically claimed as theirs and get themselves settled under the blankets. Abby brings in everyone’s pancakes and they all eat them, adding syrup and toppings that are laid out on the coffee table. The day goes smoothly, filled with board games and card games. Monopoly almost causes a couple of murders to occur so Abby ends the game early before anyone can get hurt or anything can get broken. The evening is filled with more games, food and of course, the annual USA Vs Canada Exy game. Neil, Kevin and Wymack watch the game like hawks, making comments and taking notes as the two teams battle it out on the court. Andrew uses this time to go into the bedroom take a well deserved nap. It’s been a long day for him and he’s feeling tired. Aaron and Nicky help Abby clean up the mess in the living room and kitchen. The game finishes at around 11p.m. with the USA winning 6-4. Everyone decides to stay at Abby’s place for another night, rather than driving back to the dorms in the icy weather. Neil says goodnight to the others at around 11:30p.m and heads down the hallway to the bathroom to go pee and clean his teeth. When he goes to enter the bedroom, he can hear crying coming from inside. “Drew?” He asks with concern as he quietly enters the room and turns the light on. He can’t see Andrew anywhere in the room. He’s not in the bed, or in the corner where he would usually be if he was having a nightmare. He follows the sounds of harsh breathing over to the bed as as he approaches, the breathing stops. Neil slowly crouches down and looks underneath to find Andrew curled up, in a state of pure fear and panic as he cradles his bump as if he’s trying to protect himself from something…or someone. His eyes are screwed tightly shut as he holds his breath, trying not to move or create any sound. Neil slowly, oh so slowly, lies down on the floor and looks under the bed. He keeps his hands where Andrew can see them as he carefully slides a hand towards his terrified boyfriend. “Drew” Neil begins softly “it’s okay. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. You’re at Abby’s house, in our room. It’s just the two of us in here” He repeats it over and over again like a mantra until Andrew finally manages to open his eyes and Neil begins guiding him through one of the breathing exercises that Betsy had taught him for situations such as this one. Eventually Andrew’s breathing calms down enough that he begins trying to speak. Neil doesn’t want to stop him, but he doesn’t want Andrew to rush either. It’s another few minutes before Andrew is able to get the words out. “Drake,” he says in a way still so detached from himself that it makes Neil shudder, “Drake used to say that he’d love to see me pregnant. That he would get me pregnant. That no one would care about me if I told them that he got me pregnant” Neil doesn’t know what to say. Andrew has never told him this before. He doubts even Betsy knows this information about Andrew. “Andrew” Neil lets out in a soft whisper “will you let me call Betsy so that you can talk to her for a bit? I think you need her right now” Andrew takes a second before he nods. Neil takes his phone out of his pocket with slow movements, letting Andrew track each and every one. He scrolls down his contacts and finds Betsy’s number before ringing it and putting the phone on speaker. The call is answered after four rings and Betsy’s voice comes through the line “hello, Neil. Are you okay?” “Hi, Betsy. Andrew had a really bad panic attack and flashback. He needs you” Neil replies feeling so helpless in this situation.
“Is Andrew with you right now?”
“Yes. We’re at Abby’s and he’s hiding underneath the bed in our room. I’ve managed to calm his breathing down but he really needs to talk to you”
“Of course, Neil. Move the phone closer to him if you can and I’ll talk to him”
Neil moves the phone a bit further under the bed and watches as Andrew stares at it, unable to speak. “I’m going to leave you to talk to Betsy, Drew. I’ll be in the living room if you need me. Okay?” Neil tells him, but Andrew doesn’t respond.
“It’s okay, Neil. I’ve got Andrew from here” Betsy replies in her kind voice.
Neil stands back up as slowly and quietly as he can, trying to not make any sudden movements that could set Andrew off into another state of panic again. He quietly leaves the room and heads back into the living room where Wymack is still sitting in the armchair and watching the late night news on the TV. The older man looks up when he sees a distressed looking Neil enter the room. “You okay there, kid?” Wymack asks with a look of concern on his face. “Andrew had a really bad panic attack. He’s on the phone with Betsy now” Neil replies with a tired and broken voice as he slumps himself back down on the sofa. “You want one?” Wymack asks as he holds up a glass and a bottle of whisky. Neil takes ambient to think about it “yeah, just the one” Wymack pours a glass and hands it over to Neil. Neil sniffs it. It’s very strong and then takes a sip from the glass. Immediately, he pulls a face as he drinks the disgusting beverage, causing Wymack to laugh. “Was it about…you know? With Andrew?” Wymack asks, purposely avoiding saying Drake's name in an attempt to not upset Neil anymore than he already is. Neil nods and lets out a quiet “yeah” They finish off their drinks and Neil tells Wymack that he’s going to check on Andrew. The pair say their good nights and Neil heads back down the hallway and into the bedroom that he shares with Andrew. He opens the door to find Andrew asleep in the bed with Neil’s phones next to him on the pillow. Neil walks over and sees that the call is still connected. He picks it up and takes it off of speaker mode and moves over to the other side of the room in an attempt to not wake Andrew up with his talking. “Betsy?” Neil asks into the receiver.
“Hello, Neil,” Betsy replies. She sounds tired. Neil looks at the time on the phone and finds that it’s almost 2a.m.
“How is he?”
Betsy sighs “he’s upset and distressed, but we’ve had a very good talk. I gather that he’s fallen asleep now”
Neil looks over to where a sleeping Andrew is laying in the bed, all curled up on his side and tucked in underneath the duvets and blankets. “Yeah, he’s sleeping now”
Betsy makes a sound that sounds like a sigh of relief “I’ll leave you boys to it then. But make sure that you call me if either of you needs anything else”
“I will do”
“Take care of yourself too, Neil”
“You too, Betsy” Neil hangs up and plugs his phone on charge before he goes into the closet in the bedroom and grabs out the spare pillows and blankets and sets up a little makeshift bed on the floor next to the one he normally shares with Andrew. The last thing he wants to do is scare Andrew all over again. He lays himself down and turns his head so that he can see the face of the blonde sleeping soundly next to him. “I’ll protect you, Andrew. I’ll protect both of you. I promise” Neil whispers to him before shutting his eyes and falling to sleep. Neil decides that they should go back to the dorms on Friday so that Andrew can have some time to rest over the weekend. He’s due to start his classes again in just over a week and Neil wants him as relaxed as possible, not only for himself, but for the baby too. Neil asks Nicky and Kevin to stay with Aaron and Matt for a few nights to give Andrew a chance to get himself settled and into a routine where he can relax and recover from this week's events. Both Nicky and Kevin agree, and the pair grab a few things from their dorm before heading next door to Matt and Aaron’s. Andrew and Neil Serpens most of their time on the sofa and the bean bag chairs. Andrew curls himself up in a ball on his side as he watches movie after movie on the TV. He still doesn’t have the energy to speak after his conversation with Betsy last night. Neil takes a bean bag chair and brings it closer to the sofa. He wants to be as close to Andrew as possible without physically touching him. He makes sure to check in with Andrew on a regular basis, watching to see if his boyfriend nods or shakes his head. Once again, Neil has absolutely no idea what these movies are. Something about a boy under some stairs and magic in a boil castle. There appears to be an entire series of them. Neil makes some popcorn to make sure that Andrew eats something, more than anything else. He makes sweet popcorn for Andrew and salty for himself. Usually, Andrew would shovel the sweet tasting corn into his mouth in big handfuls, creating a mess all around him. But today, he’s eating the pieces one by one. Neil isn’t too concerned though. He’s just happy that Andrew is eating something. On the Saturday evening, Neil masks Andrew if he wants to join in with the girls' Spa Sunday this weekend. Andrew nods, but doesn’t say anything else. The following afternoon, Neil and Andrew make their way down the hallway to the girls' dorm. Andrew still hasn’t spoken since Thursday night’s panic attack. Neil reminds Andrew that they can leave at any time and no one will mind. Andrew feels a bit more relaxed at that. Dan is the one who opens the door when Neil knocks and invites them both inside. It’s pretty much an identical set up to the last time they did this. There’s candles all around the room, letting off different aromas and scents. There’s soft spa-like music playing quietly from the CD player. There’s also an array of face masks, oils and other items laid out on the coffee table. The boys head into the bathroom to get changed into their onesies. Neil turns around to give Andrew some privacy, but when he turns to face him again, the blonde has an upset look on his face. Neil looks at him properly and sees that his onesie is still undone. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Andrew’s shoulders begin to shake as he begins to sob quietly, bringing his hands up to his face and crying into them. “Is your onesie too small?” Neil asks cautiously. Andrew nods and sobs even harder. “Can I hug you, Andrew? Yes or no?” It’s the tiniest “yes” ever but Neil wastes no time in wrapping his arms around his upset boyfriend. He runs his hands up and down Andrew’s back, pulling his head into his shoulder. Andrew shakes even more. Neil begins rocking them slightly from side to side, hoping that the movement will help calm Andrew down as he whispers soothing words into his ear. Eventually, Andrew manages to stop shaking, so Neil pulls himself away, but keeps hold of Andrew’s arms as he carefully guides him to sit down on the closed toilet lid. Andrew’s face is a red and snotty tear stained mess. “We can get you a new onesie, Drew, that’s not a problem at all” Neil moves his hands down to Andrew’s waist and taps his thumbs on either side of Andrew’s bump. “You’re growing our beautiful baby inside of you. We knew that this was going to happen to you sooner or later. We can go shopping next week before you have to start going back to classes. How does that sound?” Andrew sniffs and nods with a small smile. “Can I kiss your bump? Yes or no?” Neil asks, not breaking eye contact with Andrew. Andrew smiles “yes” and Neil dips his head to be in line with Andrew’s bump as he places a delicate kiss to the soft skin. “Our beautiful baby and my beautiful boy” Neil says as he brings Andrew’s forehead down and places a kiss right in the centre of it. Neil asks Allison if any of the girls has a onesie that Andrew could borrow for today. She smiles and goes to look for one, coming back a few minutes later with a soft pink one in her hands. “It might be a bit long, but it should fit him nicely” Allison says with a smile as she hands the bundle of material over to Neil. Allison was right, of course, the onesie is extremely long on Andrew but his bump is completely hidden underneath the fluffy fabric. He matches his blanket now. The rest of the evening goes smoothly. Renée applies the face masks to Andrew’s face, following Allison’s advice of which mask Andrew needs for where. All of them relax and unwind, letting the sound of music and the scent of lavender relax them all in the safe space of the dorm. That’s until they are all interrupted by shouting coming from outside the dorm. Allison is the first one to get up and run to the door, eager to see what all the drama is about and hopefully get some good gossip out of it. Dan, Renée, Neil and Andrew all move to the door a few seconds later when the shouting intensifies. “You’re a girl! Just accept it!” Jack shouts at Ash. “I’m not a girl!” Ash shouts back, looking visibly distressed. This must have been going on for a while. “Well you're not a boy!” “How are you actually this stupid!” “I’m not stupid!” “Well clearly you are!” “Hey, hey, hey, hey” Matt says as he comes out of his dorm and down the corridor towards the commotion “what’s going on here?” “That thing” he points at Ash “won’t accept the fact that it’s a girl just like that thing over there” he points at Andrew. Andrew doesn’t say anything, he just stands completely still behind Neil. Neil can feel him shaking again. “I’ve got him” Renée whispers in Neil's ear and then the shaking form of his boyfriend is being led away back into the living room. “Right first of all,” Matt begins stepping right up into Jack's personal space, making the striker seem ever so tiny “Ash is not a thing. Ash is a person. The same goes for Andrew. Ash is non-binary and Andrew is transgender. Neither of them identify as girls, women or females. Do you get that? Ash identifies as they/them. Andrew identifies as he/him/him or any other male related word. You will not, and I mean NOT, misgender your teammates again. Do you understand?” Jack doesn’t say anything, he just stares at Matt with a disgusting grin on his face, as if he’s proud of himself for what he said. That grin grows even bigger before he says “this is a team filled with a bunch of fag—” Jack doesn’t even get a chance to finish his slur before Matt punches him to the floor. He lands a few extra blows to Jack’s face for good measure before stroking away and looking at the bleeding striker on the floor. Jack spits some blood and then smiles at Matt with a bloodstained grin. Matt turns around to face Ash “are you alright?” Ash nods but no one believes it. “Come into our dorm for a bit. We need to call Coach, Abby and Betsy about this” Dan says matter of factly. “Matt, stay out here and make sure that he doesn’t go anywhere” she turns her gaze to look at Jack who is still on the floor “see how I didn’t misgender you there” before taking Ash into her arms and guiding them into the safe haven of the girl’s dorm. Neil is the first back inside the dorm and notices that Andrew and Renee aren’t in the living room anymore. They must have gone to the bedroom when Andrew became too overwhelmed. Neil decides that he’ll leave them for a few minutes and let Andrew talk to Renée in peace. Instead, he focuses his attention on Ash. Dan sits Ash down on one of the chairs and wipes the tears from their cheeks with her thumbs. Ash’s brave face finally gives way and they fall straight into Dan’s open arms as quiet little sobs begin to spill from their mouth. Neil can’t quite make out what Dan is saying to Ash, but he can see Ash nod their head every now and again. It’s not long until Wymack’s booming voice can be heard coming out of the lift as he obviously approaches a beaten up Jack in the hallway. Matt comes into the dorm a couple of minutes later with an ice pack on his hand. Neil looks at him with concern until Matt smiles “it’s not broken. It’s just sore” Neil nods and then heads over to the girls bedroom. He knocks on the door before the quiet voice of Renée says “come in” He opens the door to find Renée sitting sideways on her bed with Andrew asleep with his head in her lap. “He fell asleep about ten minutes ago” she whispers as Neil slowly approaches them and crouches down to be at the same level as Andrew. His face looks just as blotchy and red as it did earlier in the bathroom. Neil looks at him with sad eyes. “He was exhausted” Renée explains “he told me about Thursday night and we talked about it, from both of our experiences” Neil’s gaze snaps to Renée who just nods silently at his silent question. “I’m sorry” Neil says so quietly he’s not sure if Renée would even be able to hear it. “Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t you who did it” she replies with a reassuring smile. The three of them stay like that until someone knocks on the door and Renée and Neil turn to see Betsy poking her head in. “Can I come in?” She asks quietly, to which Neil and Renée both nod. Betsy goes to sit down on the bed as her and Neil help to slide Andrew’s head from Renée’s and into Betsy’s. The pair leave Betsy to it and go back into the living room where Ash is now sleeping on the sofa with one of the girls' blankets pulled over them. “I’m going to be reporting this incident to the ERC first thing, so you will all need to write a statement about what happened here tonight” Wymack informs them loudly enough for them to all know he’s being serious, but quietly enough that he doesn’t wake up a sleeping Ash or Andrew. “Go back to your dorms and get some rest. We’ll talk about this next week” He leaves, closing the dorm door behind him. His voice grows louder again as he talks to Jack in the hallway. Matt heads back to his dorm to get changed before returning and spending the night on the floor in the living room, keeping a watchful eye over Ash in case the Defensive Dealer wakes up at all. Dan, Allison and Neil gather as many blankets and cushions from their two dorms as possible and set up a makeshift sleeping area on the floor, similar to what they all did after Neil came back from Baltimore. It takes a while for everyone to get settled and comfortable, but eventually they all end up falling asleep, one by one. Neil is one of the first ones awake in the girls’ dorm the next morning. He gets himself up and makes himself a coffee - black, no sugar - and settles himself back down on his blankets as he sips the hot beverage and looks around at the rest of his teammates sleeping. He hears the click of the bedroom door open and is surprised when he sees that Betsy is still here. She smiles at him and whisper a “good morning, Neil” “Morning” Neil whispers in reply. “Andrew’s been asking for you” Neil immediately puts down his coffee and heads into the bedroom where he finds Andrew sitting up, still in Allison’s onesie, with his pink blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He looks so cozy and warm. Neil smiles when he sees Andrew’s calm face. He looks like he’s managed to sleep pretty well. Betsy must have stayed awake to watch over him all night judging by the yawn she tries and failed to stifle. “Morning, sweetheart” Neil whispers as he approaches Andrew. Andrew’s voice is rough from disuse “morning” “What would you like to do today?” Neil asks, trying to make sure that Andrew stays comfortable and relaxed through the day. It’s been a very tough and emotional week for them all, but especially for Andrew. Andrew shakes his head “I want to go home” Home being their dorm room. They’re not due to go back to the Columbia House until Christmas, even then, they’ll probably spend Christmas ast Abby’s and go back for New Years. Neil nods and together they take their time gathering up their belongings and carrying them back to their own dorm. Betsy stays behind in the girl’s dorm to talk to Ash and check in with them once they wake up. The Defensive Dealer still sound asleep on the sofa. The boys spend the day lazing around in front of the TV. Nicky and Kevin still haven’t returned. Neil guesses that Matt has til them to give Andrew some space for a few days after what happened last night. They already know about what happened at Thanksgiving last week. Later on in the evening, they decide to move to the bedroom. It’s warmer in there and more comfortable for Andrew’s aching and growing body. Andrew decides to read another chapter of his pregnancy book and find out what his body is going to be going through this week, whilst Neil begins sorting through the discarded clothes that are strewn across the floor and sort them into the laundry basket ready to be washed tomorrow.
Week 17
You might start to feel your baby move now. You will not be able to tell exactly what they're up to, but soon you could be feeling every kick, punch, hiccup and somersault.
What's happening in my body?
Week by week, your baby's getting bigger, and so is your placenta, which is feeding your baby and also removing waste. By the end of your pregnancy the placenta will weigh around 500g, which is as heavy as a packet of pasta.
Your waist will start to vanish as your womb moves up and out of your pelvis. This will make you look more obviously pregnant.
Around 1 in 10 women feel stressed or anxious during their pregnancy, and hormones can make even small problems feel overwhelming.
If you feel sad or worried, talk to your doctor or midwife – there's a big support network out there for you.
Your baby's
Many women spot the first signs of their baby moving between 18 and 24 weeks.
Inside your tummy, you might feel:
bubbling
fluttering
rolling
You might find that your baby moves more:
after meals
when you listen to loud music
when you rub your tummy and talk to your baby
when you are relaxing
Stretch marks
Depending on your skin colour, you might notice pink, red, purple or brown streaks over your stomach and breasts. They may also appear on your bottom and thighs.
These are stretch marks and affect up to 8 in 10 women. They are usually caused by hormones and your skin stretching. They usually fade to silver and become much less noticeable after your baby is born.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 17 weeks)
You may be getting a few aches and pains as your bump gets bigger. Your symptoms should be manageable, but talk to your doctor or midwife if they're not.
Your signs of pregnancy could include:
tiredness and sleeping problems (week 19 has information about feeling tired)
swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information about gum health during pregnancy)
pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as 'round ligament pains')
headaches
nosebleeds
bloating and constipation (read about bloating on week 16's page)
indigestion and heartburn (week 25 talks about digestive problems)
sore breasts
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections (see week 15 for vaginal health)
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
mood swings
a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 12cm long, from head to bottom. That's roughly the size of a pomegranate.
Your baby can:
move their eyes, although they'll stay shut for now
react to loud noises
open and close their mouth
Your baby's fingernails are starting to grow and will have their own unique fingerprints. Even identical twins have different fingerprints.
Your baby is about the size of a pomegranate.
“Ah” Andrew shouts as he sits bolt upright and grabs hold of his bump as he winces in pain. Neil looks at him, concerned “what’s up?” Andrew’s face looks as though he’s in shock as he continues to hold his bump “I…I don’t know.” His face grows extremely concerned and he begins sobbing. Neil tries not to show he’s scared when he says “I’m going to go and get Aaron or Katelyn.” He gets up and rushes out of the dorm as Andrew takes some slow and deep breaths. A few minutes later, Neil returns with Katelyn bust behind him. “What is it? What’s all the panic about?” Katelyn asks as he crouches down in front of Andrew. “He said it hurts” Neil replies from next to the door. “Are you alright?” Katelyn asks in a caring way as she sits herself on the edge of his bed. Andrew looks at her worried and confused “it felt funny” “Funny how?” Katelyn asks, needing to get as much information from Andrew about what he’s feeling as she can. She doesn’t want to disturb Abby and Wymack on their rare Friday evening off. Andrew shakes his head and shrugs “I…I don’t know. Like something moved” Katelyn gives him a knowing smile and hovers her hand above Andrew’s bump as she waits for his yes or no. Andrew nods and Katelyn gently rests her hand against his bump “here?” Andrew nods again. “Like a little kick?” She smiles. Andrew smiles at her in return as relief floods through his body “the baby kicked?” He asks, utterly amazed. Katelyn laughs softly as she nods. Neil lets out a sigh of relief from his spot next to the door “that’s a relief. I thought he was about to have the baby in here then” Katelyn shakes her head and says with a reassuring smile “there’s nothing to worry about. It’s perfectly normal” Andrew still looks bewildered and amazed “I mean I’ve felt flutters before, but I have never felt anything like that” “Yeah, well they’ve been cooped up in there for months. They’re just stretching their legs and saying hello” Katelyn laughs as Andrew feels another kick and turns to face Neil, his face beaming with amazement and joy. “They did it again” “I felt them” Katelyn says with a huge smile. Neil takes a careful step away from his spot at the door “can I have a go?” Andrew nods “come here” Neil goes over to Andrew and lets Andrew guide his hand to the correct position on his bump. Neil doesn’t feel anything and his face drops “oh just my luck, they’ve gone to sleep now.” Neil suddenly jolts at the same time as Andrew. “Did you feel them?” Andrew asks excitedly. “Yeah” Neil says just as excitedly as Andrew “oh my god. It feels so creepy. Doesn’t it feel weird though?” Andrew shakes his head “not now that I know what it is, no” “It’s not creepy” Katelyn tells him with a reassuring tone “it’s perfectly normal” Andrew continues to smile at Neil as they both hold their hands to the baby’s kicking feet. “So we don’t need to call Abby?” Neil asks Katelyn, wanting to make sure that his boyfriend and their baby are both definitely okay. Katelyn smiles again “no need at all” she tells them as she stands herself up “I’ll leave you two alone to enjoy the rest of your evening” “Thanks, Katelyn,” Neil says as he moves next to Andrew’s side from the floor. “Yeah, thanks, Katelyn” Andrew also says, causing Katelyn’s face to look slightly shocked. “It’s no problem at all. Night night.” She leaves and Neil and Andrew stay exactly how they are as they continue to feel the baby kick and move inside of Andrew’s belly.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Anything?” Neil asks Andrew as the pair sit on the bed together following the events of the night before.Andrew shakes his head “I think they’re still sleeping” he replies quietly, almost as if he doesn’t want to wake up his sleeping bump.“We could go to the mall today if you’re feeling up to it. They have a quiet hour between nine and ten” Neil suggests and Andrew hums an agreement.It’s already 8a.m, so Neil heads into the kitchen to begin making them both some breakfast whilst Andrew jumps in the shower.By the time Andrew has showered and dressed, Neil has finished making them both boiled eggs with soldiers. Andrew smiles at the fox shaped pieces of bread that Neil has created. He was given the fox cookie cutter by a fan and he uses it every time he makes boiled eggs with soldiers.Andrew sits himself down as Neil brings his plate over to him and goes back to the counter to get his own and their juice.They finish eating and Andrew washes up whilst Neil takes a shower and gets dressed.They head downstairs to the sounds of a still sleeping Fox Tower and get into the Maserati with Neil driving them the 40 minute journey to the mall.The car park is still pretty much empty when they arrive, so they park as close to the doors as possible. Just as they’re getting out of the car, the first few snowflakes of the season begin falling. It’s only light for now, but both Andrew and Neil know how quickly that can change.The first store that they go to is H&M. They have to go to the women’s section for maternity clothes. Andrew tries not to look at the massive sign on the wall that says
Female Maternity Wear
Andrew feels the fabric of each T-shirt as he looks through each of the clothing rails, feeling how soft they are for his delicate and sensitive skin. The last thing he wants is to be anymore uncomfortable than he already is.He picks out a T-shirt that is so soft it feels like a cloud. He looks at the pale blue colour and turns it to look at the design on the front
Mama To Be
He frowns at the text on the T-shirt and puts it back.Are they all going to be like this? Andrew thinks to himself.He looks through a few more and finds one that he likes. It’s a pale yellow colour with a duck and their ducklings on the front. The little ducklings make Andrew smile and he drops the T-shirt into his shopping basket.He finds a few more animal themed T-shirts and adds them to his basket before heading to the checkout for Neil to pay.Andrew doesn’t really want Neil to pay, but Neil tells him that today is his treat and that Andrew can get whatever he wants and Neil will pay for it all, no matter what the cost of it is.Andrew tries and fails to hide his blushing cheeks.They leave H&M and head further down the mall and into another store.They get a few things in Next, followed by John Lewis. They head into Primark and head down to the basement levelThey head over to the corner of the Men’s section where all the onesies are hanging in neat rows along the back wall.There are so many different designs and styles to choose from. There’s a Pikachu, Tigger, Lion, Giraffe, Eeyore, minion and so many more that Neil doesn’t even know where half of the characters are from.Andrew heads over and reaches out to feel the soft material of the Eeyore onesie. He likes this onesie. The hood is Eeyore’s face, so when you pull it up over your head, it makes you look like Eeyore.Andrew spots the tiny baby version of it and makes a mental note to buy it later once the baby is born.He finds himself a new fluffy pink onesie that is almost identical to his one that’s now too small for his bump, and puts it into the basket that Neil’s been carrying around all morning.He adds in a couple of pyjama sets and an oversized hoodie that covers him completely from head to toe.He will not be cold this winter.After Primark, Neil treats Andrew to a hot chocolate and a cake at Costa Coffee. They queue up and Neil looks up at the menu on the wall completely bewildered. There are so many different options for drinks and food. He looks over and sees Andrew looking at one of the Christmas cookies through the glass counter.“You want the cookie?” Neil asks with a quiet voice.Andrew looks at Neil, then back to the cookie and gives a small nod.“What drink would you like?”Andrew doesn’t hesitate when he says his answer “Chocolate orange hot chocolate. What are you getting?”Neil hesitates and looks back up at the menu board.“Hi, can I take your order?” The lady behind the counter asks.Neil looks at the woman, still slightly confused “Chocolate orange hot chocolate, green tea and the snowman gingerbread cookie”“Sure thing. That will be $11.25 please” the cashier informs Neil and Neil watches Andrew visibly shudder at the word.Neil inserts his card into the card machine and enters his pin. He takes it out and the lady tells him to wait at the end of the counter for a few moments whilst she makes it.Neil taps his pinky against Andrew’s pinky and Andrew links them both together. The touch is small, but it’s enough for now.They wait at the end of the counter for their drinks then take them over to a quiet little table in the corner of the Costa and sit down together.Andrew takes his cookie out of the paper bag and begins breaking it up into pieces, offering a piece to Neil who takes it and hums an approval at the first bite. He takes a second bite, but this time, he bites a piece of icing and he shakes his head at the sweetness of the top.Andrew holds his mug between his hands and uses it to warm his cold fingers up. He takes a sip and eats a piece of cookie and repeats.Neil takes his time drinking his green tea, also using the warm cup to warm up his cold hands.“How’s the baby feeling?” Neil asks after taking another sip of his drink.Andrew takes a second to focus of his body and on his baby “moving”“Kicking?”Andrew shrugs “just moving”“Are you uncomfortable? We can go home if you are”Andrew shakes his head “no more than usual. I’m fine to stay out for a bit longer”Neil nods as he accepts Andrew’s answer.They finish drinking their drinks and then take a walk to the Christmas market.They don’t buy anything whilst they’re there, but it literally looks like Nicky’s idea of complete and utter heaven. So many lights, carol singers, stalls.For Andrew, it’s his idea of hell. Too many people, too many noises, too many smells.“I’m ready to go now” Andrew says as he gets bumped for what feels like the millionth time in the last five minutes. “They keep getting too close to my bump”Neil nods as he takes Andrew’s hand in his and they head back to the car and make their way back to Fox Tower with their shopping bags in tow.They pull up in the car park and Neil goes around to the back of the car to get the bags of shopping from the boot.Andrew stands just off to the side and watches as Neil refuses to let him help as Andrew tries to stifle a yawn behind his hand.Nicky spots them as he’s heading out of Fox Tower and he practically bounces as he runs over to them.“Oooohhh pressies! Are they for me? They better be for me! Oh my god have you just bought baby stuff? Holy shit! Oh my god!” Nicky’s hands go up to his face as he jumps up and down with excitement.“Nicky” Neil says “we just went to get Andrew some new clothes”Nicky looks at Andrew who has his usual bored expression back on his face.“Oh my god! That’s so cute!” Nicky jumps up and down with even more excitement.“Nicky” Andrew says firmly, causing Nicky to instantly stop his jumping when he sees Andrew’s serious and tired face.“Sorry, I’m just really excited to be an uncle” Nicky says, his voice going quieter.“You’re not the baby’s uncle, Nicky” Andrew says with an eye roll as Neil closes the boot to the car. Nicky looks at them both with sad, puppy dog eyes as he lets out a small whine. “Help Neil carry the bags” Andrew says and then he walks off in the direction of Fox Tower.Neil and Nicky watch him as he leaves. Nicky helps Neil out by taking some of the bags and they both make their way into Fox Tower and up to their floor.They go into their dorm and find Andrew already curled up in bed and snoring softly as he sleeps.Nicky begins cooing over a sleeping Andrew so Neil pushes him back out of the dorms and locks the door behind him, making sure that Andrew can rest and nap in peace.Neil quietly places the bags that Nicky left in the hallway into the bedroom before he crawls into bed next to Andrew and watches the blonde as he sleeps next to him.Andrew shuffles himself closer to Neil so that their bodies are flush together with his bump in between. He slips Neil’s thigh between his legs and grinds himself down on it a few times as he makes himself comfortable.Neil kisses his boyfriend on the forehead as they both begin their nap in the silent dorm.Neil wakes up again with a groan as he hears Andrew whisper quietly next to him.“Yes or no, Neil?”“Yes” Neil whispers back in return.Andrew presses his lips to Neil’s and they begin slowly making out with Andrew rocking his hips against Neil’s thigh again as he lets out soft and delicate moans.Neil taps Andrew’s waist and Andrew nods at his silent question before helping Neil take off both their joggers and boxers, pressing his slick pussy back onto Neil’s thigh with his legs gripping tightly around each side.Andrew continues to grind his hips down as more breathy moans and whines fall from his mouth. His eyes are screwed tightly shut and his head falls backwards as he mouth drops open, savouring the feeling and the intensity.“Gonna cum, Neil” Andrew says through a breathy moan just before his body tenses up and his breathing stutters as his orgasm washes over him.Neil kisses Andrew’s neck as Andrew continues to rub his pussy against Neil’s thigh.“Fuck you from behind? Yes or no?” Neil asks once Andrew stops moving and begins panting into his neck.“Yes”Neil moves to the far end of the bed as Andrew rolls himself over and up onto all fours, pushing his dripping wet pussy out for Neil to get a full view of it.Neil crawls up behind Andrew and begins kneeding his ass cheeks, rubbing them and squeezing them, before he starts biting them and kissing over them to soothe the markings afterwards.He licks up Andrew’s pussy from clit to ass making Andrew shudder from the sensitivity left over from his orgasm.Neil continues teasing Andrew until Andrew growls at him and tells him to “get on with it, Neil”Neil lines himself up and pushes himself deep into Andrew’s pussy, causing both of them to let out guttural moans as Andrew’s tight heat stretches around Neil’s hard cock.Neil starts his thrusts off nice and slow, making sure that Andrew is comfortable with the feeling. Once Andrew begins relaxing into it more, Neil speeds his movements up, causing Andrew to moan and curse even louder than before as another orgasm begins creeping its way through his body.Andrew presses his hand against the wall at the head of the bed as Neil fucks him even harder. His eyes rolling to the back of his head as the feeling intensifies once more.Andrew lets Neil push his head down onto the pillows as Neil fucked into him even deeper.“Oh my god…fuuuuck…Neil…fuuuck…gonna cum, Neil…gonna cum” Andrew babbles out as Neil lifts his ass even higher and fucks him even harder and faster until Andrew is squirting all over the sheets with the force of his orgasm.Neil speeds his fingers up on Andrew’s clit as he continues to fuck his boyfriend to the point of overstimulation until he cums deep inside of Andrew’s pussy.Neil collapses on the bed next to Andrew and the pair share a slow, but messy, kiss as they both come back down from their highs.“How was that?” Neil asks between breathless kisses.“So good” Andrew replies against his mouth, pressing his fingers into Neil’s mouth after fingering Neil’s cum back inside his pussy.Neil sucks on Andrew’s fingers and then kisses him again, making Andrew taste both himself and Neil on his tongue.They continue kissing for what feels like an eternity before Andrew pulls away with a grimace on his face.“What’s wrong?” Neil asks, pulling back to give Andrew some more space just in case he needs it.“The baby’s kicking again” Andrew replies with a small smile as he grabs Neil’s hand and places it with his own on his bump where his baby’s foot is kicking inside of him.Neil smiles with amazement. Neil knows that this feeling will never get old.“Did we wake you up, little one?” Neil asks Andrew’s bump as he moves himself down the bed and gives the spot under his hand a gentle kiss.“Oh my god, they're going mental” Andrew whines as he throws his head back against the pillows that are lined up next to the wall.Neil lifts his head up to look at Andrew “is it hurting?” He asks with concern.Andrew shakes his head in reassurance “it’s just a bit uncomfortable”Neil nods, satisfied that Andrew is not in any pain. He continues to lie next to Andrew with his head resting just next to Andrew’s kicking bump as he runs a soothing hand over it and follows it up with some more gentle kisses.Eventually, their kissing dies down and Andrew cuddles himself into Neil’s chest and closes his eyes whilst Neil rubs one of his hands up and down Andrew’s back and keeps the other one resting on Andrew’s waist.Andrew is so relaxed against him with his eyes closed and body relaxed.“How are you feeling about going back to class tomorrow?” Neil whispers against Andrew’s hair.“Fine” Andrew shrugs “Betsy said that Harry will be buddied up with me for the first few days”Neil nods against Andrew’s head “that’s good. Harry seems nice”“He has Bee as a mum,” Andrew says in agreement “how could he not be nice”Neil hums in agreement to that and watches as Andrew snuggles his bump into him more.“We should get some food soon” Neil tells Andrew, gently shaking his shoulder to get his attention. “We have some salmon that needs using up and I can make us some latkes to go with them”Andrew lets out a yawn “sounds good to me” and wraps his arms around Neil even harder, pinning the Striker against his chest and growing baby bump.Neil gives Andrew an amused laugh “Drew, I need to to let go of me so I can go and cook”Andrew whines in disagreement and squeezes Neil even tighter before finally releasing his boyfriend so he can go to the kitchen and begin preparing the food.Whilst Neil is busy cooking, Andrew takes the opportunity to read some more of his pregnancy book. He enjoys seeing how his baby is growing inside of him and learning about what is happening to his body, even if he is still finding pregnancy quite scary.
Week 18
You may feel your baby move for the first time around now. If so, it may feel like a gentle fluttering sensation.
What's happening in my body?
You might be starting to feel a bit clumsier as your belly gets bigger. Your breasts may have gone up a size, too, particularly if it's your first pregnancy.Your blood pressure is probably a bit lower than it was, so do not leap up from the sofa, or it could make you feel dizzy.Your baby has been moving around for the past couple of months, but you might not have noticed. You may start feeling some movement now though – it feels like a bubbling or fluttering inside your belly.You may also notice a line down your stomach, called the "linea nigra" (Latin for "black line"). This is normal skin pigmentation and nothing to worry about. It will probably vanish a few months after the birth.
Your anomaly scan
You'll be offered an anomaly scan at around 18 to 20 weeks.This is a scan that looks at your baby in detail to see if there is anything unusual about their development and appearance. It can pick up a range of conditions, but not all of them.The scan will not hurt you or your baby, but it may feel a bit uncomfortable as the sonographer may have to apply a bit of pressure on your stomach to get the best possible view.
Is it a boy or a girl?
The sonographer may be able to tell you at this scan, but not everyone wants to know, and it's not always the hospital policy to reveal the sex of the baby.If you do not want to know, tell them before you start your scan appointment.
Free prescriptions and dental care
Did you know that prescriptions are free during pregnancy? NHS dental treatment is also free.You just need a Maternity Exemption Certificate or card (MatEx). Ask your midwife, GP or health visitor for the application form FW8.Your certificate will be valid for up to a year after your baby's due date or date of birth.2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 18 weeks)Hopefully you are feeling more energetic and able to manage your pregnancy symptoms now.If you are struggling with day-to-day life, talk to your midwife or doctor, they are there to support you.Your signs of pregnancy could include:stretch markstiredness and sleeping problemsswollen and bleeding gumspains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as "round ligament pains")headachesnosebleedsbloating and constipationindigestion and heartburnsore breastsleg crampsfeeling hotdizzinessswollen hands and feeturine infectionsvaginal infectionsdarkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"greasier, spotty skinthicker and shinier hairYou may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:morning sicknessweird pregnancy cravingsa heightened sense of smellmood swingsa white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 14.2cm long from head to bottom. That's approximately the size of a bell pepper.Your baby's hearing, feeling, swallowing and sucking reflexes are developing this week.They will also be doing a lot of wriggling around and moving their arms and legs.Your baby is about the size of a bell pepper“Drew” Neil’s voice cuts through Andrew’s distracted brain, causing him to look up at the red head. “Dinners ready”Andrew nods and lays his book back down on h the bedside table before getting up from the bed and making his way into the living room where Neil has already brought the salmon and latkes in, along with a glass of mango juice with lemonade.Andrew eyes the food as he sits himself down and takes a first sip of his drink.“I thought that the bubbles would be nice” Neil says unassuredly as he takes a seat next to Andrew on the sofa.“It is. Thank you” Andrew replies with a gentle smile in Neil’s direction.They both pick up their plates, with Andrew using his bump as a makeshift table, and begin eating. It’s not very often that Neil cooks actual food. Usually it’s just something from a can or the freezer, but Matt had been giving him cooking lessons over the summer so that he could do something nice for Andrew. He even learnt how to make a cake, although he hasn’t told Andrew that information just yet.“Is the salmon okay?” Neil asks, worried that Andrew wouldn’t like his first attempt at this particular dish.“It is, very good”Neil smiles as he watches Andrew eat the now tiny chunks of salmon and latkes. He knows it’s one of the only non-sweet foods that Andrew actually likes. That and anything pasta related.They finish eating and Neil dumps the plates in the sink to soak alongside the several pans and trays that he used and comes back in with fresh glasses of the mango juice and lemonade.They settle themselves down in front of the TV, with Andrew lying back against Neil’s chest and Neil’s hands resting on his baby bump, and begin watching a friendly Exy match between Chile and Argentina.Neil looks down during halftime and finds Andrew sleeping on him. Tiny, little snores making their way out of his mouth as he curls himself up against Neil’s chest. Neil watches him for a moment longer before the gameplay resumes. He spends the remainder of the game flicking his gaze between the action happening on the screen and his boyfriend's beautiful, sleeping face.The game ends with a 4-3 win to Argentina.Neil lightly traces his finger over Andrew’s face. It’s the safest way of waking Andrew up if you don’t want to get punched or stabbed in the middle of the night. Andrew makes a small whine of disapproval that he’s being woken up from his nap so soon, but Neil simply tells him that it’s time for bed.The two of them head into the bathroom to quickly pee and clean their teeth before heading into the bedroom and changing into fresh pajamas and climbing into bed together.Andrew curls himself up onto his left side again, keeping his back pressed firmly against the wall. He read that sleeping on his left hand side is safest for the baby, so he makes himself comfortable against the pillows that line the wall.Neil lies on his right hand side, facing Andrew and hooking his left leg in between Andrew’s thighs. Andrew grinds down on it a couple of times as he settles himself down for the night. They give each other a kiss goodnight before closing their eyes and falling asleep.They both sleep through the night with Andrew having to get up a couple of times to pee. The baby deciding to make themselves comfortable right up against his bladder.Each time that Andrew returns to the bed, Neil makes sure that his priority is making sure that Andrew is comfortable again. He knows that the baby can make Andrew feel uncomfortable and out of control sometimes, and that sleep is one of the most precious things in helping Andrew’s mental health.Both Andrew and Neil collectively groan with annoyance when Kevin’s alarm goes off at some ungodly hour in the morning, waking everyone in the bedroom up and causing a lot of swearing.Neither Neil or Andrew knows what time Kevin and Nicky came back to the dorms, but neither of them heard the boys enter which makes Andrew uncomfortable with worry.Kevin and Nicky get themselves up and ready before leaving the dorms to head to morning practice. Coach has given Neil the week off morning practice whilst Andrew gets settled back into a routine for going back to classes.The pair make an unspoken decision to go back to sleep for a couple of hours. Andrew’s first class isn’t until 10am today and Neil can’t really be bothered with his 9am trigonometry class. He can just catch up at a later point.Neil’s alarm goes off at 8am and the pair exchange a few lazy morning kisses before getting up. Neil heads into the kitchen to make some breakfast, whilst Andrew heads into the bathroom to shower.It’s the routine that they’ve always done. It makes sure that they both have enough space to get ready and to do what they need to do without being in the way of each other and causing too much friction too early in the morning. Plus the fact that food is still making Andrew feel sick in the mornings, so it’s best that he doesn’t smell whatever it is that Neil is cooking. He’ll be fine with some toast.It’s almost as if Neil can read his mind. By the time Andrew has finished getting dressed and ready after his shower, Neil has finished eating his food and has a plate of toast on the table ready and waiting for Andrew to eat.Andrew sits down at the small table and Neil kisses him on the temple before heading into the bathroom to shower and get himself ready for the day.Andrew’s first class is only down the path from dorms, but Neil doesn’t want to risk Andrew being too tired to focus on his first day back, so he drives them to Andrew’s first building.They give each other a kiss goodbye as Andrew gets out of the car and heads inside to his first lesson of the day.Andrew takes the stairs up to the first floor, being careful to keep himself as close to the banister as possible and avoid the mass of people that are rushing up and down the narrow staircase.He reaches his classroom and is one of the first to enter. He'd rather get there a bit early and be able to choose his seat, rather than risk being a few minutes late and have to sit somewhere that he doesn’t feel safe or comfortable.He chooses the seat in the back corner, closest to the door just in case he needs to leave for any reason. There have been a few classes that Andrew has needed to remove himself from when they’ve been a little bit too close to home for him to cope. Luckily he knows that Neil is only in the building next door and that he would come to Andrew’s aid if he needed him to.He gets himself settled at his desk with his notepad and pen - not that he needs to take any notes with his memory - and waits as the classroom slowly begins filling up.Andrew looks up to see Harry Dobson entering the classroom and waiting for Andrew’s confirming nod before walking over to sit at the desk next to him.“Hey” Harry says with a smile that is so similar to Betsy’s that it instantly makes Andrew relax.“Hey” Andrew returns but doesn’t smile. He knows that Harry has seen the way that his shoulders have released all the tension that was built up inside of them from the anxiety of returning to class, but Harry doesn’t say anything about it.“I made a copy of my notes from the lessons that you missed. I don’t know if they’ll be much help, but it gives you a rough idea of what we did” Harry tells him whilst handing Andrew a blue folder.Andrew takes the folder with a small “thanks” and begins quickly flicking through it. The folder is filled with neatly written and typed out notes. Each page has the date, lesson title, lecturer, class notes and questions and answers that students had asked throughout the lessons. Andrew is really grateful for this.“How are things with…?” Harry begins to ask, indicating to Andrew’s bump that he’s concealed beneath his hoodie.“Good” Andrew replies “we’re at eighteen weeks now”“I think my mum worries about you. She doesn’t want you to lose any of the progress that you’ve made over the last year or two. Not that she’s said anything to me about it. I can just tell”“Your mother is very observant”The teacher claps his hands, drawing all the students to his attention as the lesson begins.Andrew takes a few notes here and there, whilst Harry writes all of his notes out in the same format as he did for Andrew, with so much detail you could hardly see the page beneath his writing.Around halfway through the lesson, Andrew hisses with discomfort as the baby decides that now is the time to do some yoga inside his belly.Harry looks over at him with so much concern and worry in his face “are you okay, Andrew?”Andrew nods through gritted teeth, squeezing his eyes shut as he rubs where he can feel the tiny feet kicking just below his waist. “The baby is kicking”“Are you in pain?”Andrew shakes his head “no, it’s just uncomfortable”Harry’s face doesn’t fully relax until Andrew looks at him and reaches out for his classmate's hand. Harry hesitates as he gives it to Andrew, but Andrew places it right where the baby is kicking and watches as Harry relaxes at what Andrew is describing.“See,” Andrew begins with a whisper “it doesn’t hurt. It’s just annoying at times, but at least I know that they’re okay”Harry nods and Andrew lets him keep his hand there for a few moments longer before removing it and letting go.They finish off their lesson and Harry waits with Andrew in the classroom for Neil to arrive and walk with them to their next lesson.Andrew can also tell that Neil is worried about people knocking into him and potentially hurting his bump by the way that he walks protectively in front of Andrew.They stop off at one of the vending machines so that Andrew can get himself a hot chocolate and Neil gets a coffee. Harry declines their offer for a drink and neither of the boys push him.Neil kisses Andrew goodbye again outside of his next lesson and watches as Andrew and Harry both walk inside and once again take the seats at the back of the classroom, closest to the door.Neil lets out a sigh of relief that Andrew is finding being back at his lessons good so far, even if it’s only been just the one for now.They meet up for lunch in the canteen. It’s too cold outside to be able to eat comfortably and Neil doesn’t want to risk Andrew getting sick during his pregnancy or on the run up to Christmas. This will be his first ever proper Christmas, so neither Neil or Andrew want to take any chances.Andrew only manages one of his afternoon lessons before asking Neil to come and take him back to the dorm, the exhaustion finally getting the better of him.Neil doesn’t hesitate to pick him up and Harry promises to take down as many notes as he can for Andrew to look at in his own time.Neil takes Andrew back to the dorm where Andrew immediately crashes out on the bed as Neil sits himself at the desk to do some coursework and homework. He may as well get the schoolwork out of the way before practice and the weekend so that he can spend that time with Andrew.Andrew wakes up again a couple of hours later, so Neil suggests that they eat the leftover food from last night.Neil makes sure that the salmon is completely hot before serving it to Andrew. He’s not willing to risk Andrew or the baby getting sick with food poisoning.They spend an hour on the sofa together, watching a series that Andrew put on. As always, Neil has absolutely no clue what is going on, but it appears to be about a group of friends living in an apartment building and something about a sofa on the stairs and people laughing. He doesn’t really care what it is, just as long as Andrew is happy.They shower together, exchanging kisses and touches to each other's bodies without being sexually intimate. Andrew is too tired to do anything more than just kiss. Neil helps Andrew to wash his hair and to wash away the stresses of his first day back in the education system.They climb into the bottom bunk, with Andrew making himself comfortable next to the wall that is aligned with pillows and cushions. Neil snuggles in to Andrew, and as always, he holds Andrew baby bump as they kiss each other and the baby good night and both drift off to sleep.They wake up in the night to a very loud Nicky re-entering the dorm and announcing his arrival extremely loudly with Kevin and what sounds like Aaron telling him to “shut the fuck up.”“But they look so cute” Nicky’s voice is still closer to a shout than it is a whisper.“Nicky, be quiet,” Aaron whispers to him in a stern voice.“But look at them, Aaron”“Go to bed, Nicky”“Come on, Nicky. We need to be up in the morning” this is Kevin sounding completely fed up with the situation.“Why were you even at the Freshmen dorm in the first place?” This is Aaron, again.“Party. Duuuuhhhh”“Nicky,” Neil’s voice cuts through thick and stern “shut up and go to sleep”Not another word is said as bedding and clothes are moved around and the sound of the front door closing as Aaron leaves to go back to his own dorm.Neil looks at Andrew whose face is scrunched up. It’s the same face that he pulls when the baby is kicking.Neil places his hand back onto Andrew’s belly and sure enough, he can feel what he assumes to be little feet kicking away. He rubs his hand over the area to try and soothe the baby into sleeping and to hopefully relax Andrew again.The rest of the week is spent in a similar manner. Andrew goes to all of his morning classes, with Harry giving him the notes for the lessons that he missed the day before. Followed by lunch and then one class in the afternoon. Neil collects him after class and they head back to the dorms so that Andrew can nap whilst Neil goes to practice.Wymack doesn’t mind that Andrew isn’t coming to the stadium as much recently. He cares more about Andrew’s health and the health of the baby, and if peace, quiet and sleep are what Andrew needs, then so be it.On Wednesday, Andrew skips his afternoon classes altogether and heads to his appointment with Betsy at Reddin Medical Centre instead.He tells her that his classes are going well and reassures her that Harry is doing a good job at keeping him up to date with his lectures that he’s missed.Bee has a small, but proud, smile on her face as Andrew praises her son’s behaviour.Andrew tells her that he’s worried about people bashing into him and knocking his bump. She gives him one of her warm smiles as he stands up from her chair and goes to get something out of her bag. She sits herself back down and hands Andrew a small bag with a little ribbon attached to it.Andrew opens the bag to find something round inside of it. He pulls it out and realises that it’s a badge. He reads the words on it and smiles to himself.
Baby On Board
“I thought you might like to wear it now that you're back on campus full time. It will help people to know that you need a little extra space and help if needed” Betsy explains.Andrew nods at her in thanks and puts the badge back in its bag for now.They finish their session and say their goodbyes before Andrew heads back to the dorm and crashes out on the sofa whilst the others are still at practice.He really should do some homework or coursework, but he’s too tired to even think about it, let alone write any of it.As Andrew is getting showered and changed in his dorm, he notices that his throat is starting to get a little sore. It’s probably nothing, but he sucks on a Strepsil anyway and goes into the bedroom to take his nap.By the time he wakes up, Neil has returned to the dorm along with Nicky, Kevin and Aaron as the group quietly play Mario Kart on the Nintendo Wii.Andrew wraps himself up in his fluffy pink blanket and goes into the living room to join his family. He snuggles himself up next to Neil, who places a kiss on the top of his head as Andrew rests his head on the Striker’s shoulder.Nicky makes a face of complete awe, whilst Aaron and Kevin don’t even bat an eyelid at the couple's behaviour.Andrew realsies that he must have fallen asleep again, because he is woken to the sensation of Neil gently tracing his fingers over his face and the smell of food.“Dinners ready, Drew” he says with a quiet voice.Andrew nods sleepily and rubs the sleep out of his eyes as he stretches and yawns. He places his hands on his bump and rubs them around on it. The baby has been nice and quiet this afternoon, probably also benefiting from taking a nap.The five of them eat their food together.Neil notices that Andrew hasn’t eaten much of his and asks him if everything is okay. Andrew just nods in reply and says that he’s got a sore throat and a bit of a headache. Neil looks at him with so much care and worry, that he has to reassure Neil a few times that he’s fine. It’s probably just stress and lack of sleep from being back in class and out of routine with it all.Neil offers to run Andrew a bath so that he can relax for a bit in it, to which Andrew agrees.Neil runs the water so that it’s nice and hot, but not too hot for the baby, and adds in some of Andrew’s lavender and camomile bubble baths that he keeps hidden away under their bed to stop Nicky from stealing them.Neil leaves Andrew in the bathroom with a quick kiss to his cheek as Andrew sinks himself down into the love warm water Andrew underneath the bubbles.Not many people know this about Andrew, but he loves his bubble baths. They’re just a lovely way to rest and relax after a long day of classes, practice, stress and Kevin.He is still relaxing in the bath when the baby decides that now is the time to wake up and start having a party inside his belly. Andrew rolls his eyes as his calm and relaxed state is rudely interrupted by someone’s little feet, but he doesn’t mind one bit. He’s just happy that the baby is happy and that’s all that matters.He washes his body and hair and relaxes a bit more before the water begins getting a little bit too cold for comfort and he decides that now is the time to get out.His head is still hurting and his throat feels scratchy. Andrew just shrugs it off and continues getting ready for bed.Neil joins him in the bedroom a little while later, and the pair share some kisses until Andrew has to pull away. He’s really not feeling too great now.“Are you okay?” Neil asks with concern as Andrew squeezes his eyes shut.“Headache” Andrew replies with a whisper as he uses his thumb and index finger to rub over his forehead and temples.“Have you taken anything for it?”Andrew shakes his head “don’t want to hurt the baby” he whispers.Neil nods and kisses Andrew’s forehead in the hopes of helping to relax the former goalkeeper a little bit more.Andrew doesn’t sleep too well and by the time Kevin’s alarm goes off in the morning, he’s feeling absolutely shit.His head is pounding, his throat is raw, his nose is blocked and running and his coughing makes it sound like he is choking to death.So much for not getting sick whilst pregnant he thinks to himself.“Hey, Drew” Neil says with a quiet voice as he sneaks back into the room after going for his early as fuck morning run, “how are you feeling this morning?”Andrew can barely croak out an answer with how swollen his throat is feeling “Worse”“I’ve got you some cold and flu tablets and a bottle of water” Neil informs him as he comes to sit down on the edge of the bed where Andrew is still snuggled under the duvet.Neil lifts his hand and hovers it over Andrew’s forehead in a silent question and Andrew nods. Neil uses the back of his hand to feel his partner’s sweaty and clammy forehead.“Drew, you’re burning up”Andrew makes an uncomfortable groaning sound as he shivers and pulls the duvet back up over his head, the light making his headache feel even worse.“I don’t want you going to class today” Neil tells him and Andrew gets out a tiny groan of approval in response.“Take these, Drew, and then you can go back to sleep” Neil says as he holds out the two cold and flu tablets and the bottle of water towards Andrew.Andrew sits himself up slightly and takes the medication and drinks half the bottle of water. He pulls a face from the pain in his throat as he swallows.Neil tucks him back into the duvet once he’s finished the water and kisses him on the forehead before telling Andrew that he’ll be back to check on him at lunchtime.Andrew nods, closes his eyes and falls asleep.Neil sticks to his word and comes back to the dorms to check on Andrew again at lunchtime, giving him lore medicine and making him eat some lunch.Andrew doesn’t want to eat, the pain in his throat is still getting worse and so is the coughing, but he knows that the baby needs the nutrients, so he agrees to eat some tomato soup.Neil stays with him for the whole hour, leaving right as he first afternoon class is starting. He’s going to be late but he doesn’t care. Andrew and the baby are more important than being on time to algebra.Andrew goes back to sleep for a bit after receiving a text message from Harry letting him know that he’ll take all the notes for the classes that Andrew misses and type them all up to give to him when he returns. Andrew is grateful to have a friend like Harry.Neil, Kevin and Nicky all quickly pop into the dorm to collect their Exy bags before afternoon practice, with Neil making Andrew drink another bottle of water before he leaves again.Andrew decides to try and get up to use the bathroom and get a change of scenery for five minutes whilst the cold and flu tablets are still in his system. He doesn’t like taking medication still, but he knows that it’s for the baby’s health as well as his.Andrew starts coughing so much when he’s in the bathroom that he throws up in the toilet and has to spend another five minutes on the floor as he recovers his breath.He’s shaky and shivery, but his head still feels really hot. He really doesn’t feel well at all.He’s still on the bathroom floor when Neil, Nicky and Kevin come back to the dorms.Neil calls out for him, but he doesn’t have the strength or the energy to answer him. He knows that Neil will find him here eventually.The bathroom door quietly creeks open and Neil’s auburn hair appears around the side “hey” he says in a gentle tone “can I come in?”Andrew nods and Neil lets himself into the bathroom and comes over to sit on the floor with Andrew.“How are you feeling? Any better?”Andrew shakes his head.“Worse?”Andrew nods.Neil lifts his hand to Andrew’s forehead and Andrew relaxes into the cool touch as Neil feels just how hot his fever is making him.“Do you want to go back to bed for a bit? I can get the others to leave” Neil says with a soft voice that he only ever uses with Andrew.Andrew nods, so Neil helps to lift him up onto his aching and shaky legs, and helps him back into the bedroom.Neil tucks Andrew under the blanket and kisses him on the forehead and leaves the room, coming back a few minutes later to grab Nicky and Kevin their bags and a change of clothes. Both of them will be sleeping elsewhere tonight, and heads back out again to hand them over to their owners.Neil quietly comes back into the bedroom and sits himself down on the bed. Andrew moves his head so that it is resting in Neil’s lap and Neil begins gently running his fingers through his sick boyfriend's hair and detangling all the knots, relaxing Andrew further into his lap in the process.“I’ll stay with you instead of going to night practice tonight” Neil whispers, but Andrew shakes his head.“Go” he whispers in return, so Neil plants a kiss on his temple as the blonde begins drifting off to sleep in his lap.Andrew wakes up feeling even worse than he did earlier. Maybe it’s because of the unusually cold winter they are having this year, or maybe it’s some weird pregnancy hormone that he’s not experienced before. Either way, he feels like complete and utter shit.Neil had left before Andrew had woken up from his nap to go to his night practice with Kevin, leaving Andrew to rest in the quietness of the empty dorm.Andrew sits himself up in bed, his head is pounding. He brings his hands up to rub over his eyes to try and alleviate some of the blinding pain and pressure there, but it does nothing to help him.He takes a few deep breaths and decides to try and stand up and grab some painkillers from the bathroom cabinet. As he stands, a huge wave of dizziness runs over him. He has to grab the frame of the bunk bed in order to not fall to the floor.I don’t want to be alone, he thinks to himself and goes in search of his phone which he finds plugged in on his bedside cabinet. He unplugs it and smiles at the thought of Neil making sure that his phone was charged just in case he needed it.He calls:
JUNKIE
But when the phone begins to dial out, he hears a familiar noise coming from another room.Andrew follows the noise, on unsteady legs, out of the bedroom and into the living room where he finds Neil’s phone, vibrating and playing that song about runaways, on one of the bean bag chairs.Andrew takes a deep breath and sighs as he tries not to cry. He really feels like shit now. He’s feeling sick and dizzy and he just wants Neil to come home and—Andrew spots the keys to the Maserati on the desk and walks over to pick them up. He can drive to Neil and nap on the benches whilst he finishes his practice.Andrew just slips on a pair of trainers. He’s still in his sleep clothes: a long, worn out, old band shirt that used to be Nicky’s, but fits perfectly over his growing baby bump and a pair of Neil’s soft gym shorts. He doesn’t even have his armbands on. He doesn’t even know where they are. But Andrew doesn’t care, all he cares about is getting a hug from Neil and looking after his little baby who’s slowly growing inside of him.Andrew makes his way out of the dorm and holds onto the wall for support as the dizziness begins to grow even stronger.He can hear voices coming from the floor below, the football team probably celebrating a win - or a loss, they appear to celebrate pretty much anything.Andrew stands at the top of the stairs and takes some deep and steadying breaths before he slowly starts making his way down them.He rounds the corner at the middle of the stairs and can see some of the football players in the hallway.“Yes, scary Minyard, looking good” one of the players calls out.The world begins to spin and turn to its side as the sound around Andrew becomes muffled and black spots enter his vision.Then it all goes black and he feels himself fall.“Minyard? Hey, can you hear me, dude?”Andrew can hear a voice that he recognises but can’t place.“Come on, Minyard, open your eyes”“N-Neil?” Andrew slurs out. He tries to move but is immediately overcome with pain in his right arm and head. He can feel something warm and wet running down his face.“Hey, no, don’t move. Someone’s gone to your floor to get your team from their dorms”“Ahh” Andrew cries as the pain shoots through his arm again.“Andrew!”He knows that voice. It’s Aaron.Andrew opens his eyes just as Aaron runs over and crouches down in front of him.“Andrew, what happened?” Aaron asks as he hovers a hand over Andrew’s head.“He fell down the stairs” one of the football players begins “I think he fainted”“Fuck” Aaron says, his fear is clear on his face. “Where does it hurt, Andrew?”“Head…Arm” Andrew gets out weakly after a few tries.“Andrew, this is very, very important, can you feel the baby moving?”Andrew takes a second as tears begin to roll down his cheeks. He takes a deep breath “I don’t know” he begins to sob into the pool of blood that has formed around where his head is lying on the carpeted floor. “I want Neil”“Where is he?”“Night practice”“Is that at the Exy court?” One of the football players asks.“Yeah” Andrew replies.“Let me go and get him,” the footballer suggests.Andrew looks at Aaron and nods.The football player hurries off down the stairs and over to The Foxhole Court.“Has anyone called an ambulance?” Aaron asks with concern as Andrew’s eyes begin to close again.“Yeah, I am” a girl says from just behind him.“Andrew?” Aaron starts and Andrew painfully opens his eyes “we’re going to get you to hospital and get them to take a look at you. At both of you”Andrew begins to close his eyes again and Aaron shakes him slightly as a last resort to keep him awake.“No, Andrew, don’t sleep. Okay? Stay awake with me”Andrew holds his good hand out towards his twin in a silent question, which Aaron immediately accepts and tightly squeezes his brother's hand.There’s sirens wailing in the distance as the ambulance arrives. A couple of the other football players rush downstairs to escort the paramedics in and show them where Andrew is still lying at the bottom of the stairs.The paramedics come over and Aaron moves out of their way, letting Andrew’s hand go in the process, causing Andrew to become scared and frightened.“I’m right here, Andrew” he calls out from behind the paramedics who are opening their bags and taking out so many different pieces of equipment that Andrew doesn’t even try to begin to understand.“Andrew, I’m just going to put this oxygen mask over your face to help you breathe” one of the paramedics says as she gently places the mask over his nose and mouth.The cold flow of the oxygen comes as a shock to Andrew, making him jolt.“I’m also going to pop this cannula in the back of your left hand and give you some pain relief through it”“No” both Andrew and Aaron say at the same time.Andrew’s eyes dart around the room and land on Aaron’s.“He can’t have morphine”The paramedic nods “have you ever had entonox before, Andrew?”Andrew looks at Aaron for help.“Yeah, he has” he looks back at his injured twin and explains “it’s gas and air. The same thing that Abby gave you on the court when—”Andrew doesn’t need any more of an explanation and gives a small nod.The paramedic sets up the gas and air and attaches it to the oxygen mask so that Andrew doesn’t have to hold anything.“We’re going to put a neck brace on you now, Andrew, and then we’re going to move you onto a spinal board and take you to hospital”“Aaron?” Andrew says weakly with a tearful voice.“I’m still here, Andrew. I’m coming with you” Aaron reassures him, which makes Andrew sigh in relief.The paramedics put the neck brace on Andrew and carefully roll him onto the spinal board, causing Andrew to cry out as the pain in his arm gets worse as he’s moved.Some of the football team help the paramedics to carry the spinal board down the stairs and into the awaiting ambulance - the lift are Out Of Order again.Andrew clutches Aaron’s hand in an iron grip as they make their way to the hospital.The ride feels like it takes forever before the ambulance stops and the doors are opened.Andrew is wheeled into a room and is immediately surrounded by different medical personnel.“This is Andrew Minyard. He is twenty one years old and he is nineteen weeks and three days pregnant. Witnesses have said that Andrew fainted and fell down a flight of stairs, landing on his right side. He has a laceration to his right temple and possible broken wrist and dislocated elbow. Andrew can’t be given any opioids, so therefore, he has had entonox, which has slightly relieved some of his pain” the paramedic says as the medical team begin the process of transferring him from the stretcher to the hospital bed, keeping him on the spinal board in the process.“Andrew,” a voice says and Andrew’s eyes dart around to see who’s saying his name. They land on a young woman in pink scrubs to his left. “Can you feel your baby moving?”“I…I…I don’t know” he replies with a very shaky voice.Andrew lets out a small scream when someone touches his right arm. He tries to pull it away, but that just causes him even more pain.“Andrew, my name is Dr Stone” Andrew looks to see a woman who looks to be in her late thirties with a thick Australian accent to his right. “We’re going to make you a bit more comfortable and then we’ll have a little look at your baby. Do you know who your midwife is?”“Ruby” he replies quietly with tears in his eyes. He’s not sure if it's from the pain in his arm or the fear in his heart.“Is she at this hospital?”Andrew tries to give a small nod but can’t move his head due to the tightness of the neck brace.“Can we see if we can find Ruby on the maternity ward please?” The doctor calls out to someone that Andrew can’t see.“Where’s Neil?” He asks.“He’s on his way, Andrew” Aaron replies “but I’m still here”Andrew flexes his left hand towards where he can hear Aaron and feels the relief run through him when he feels Aaron squeeze it.“I’m not going anywhere, Andrew, I promise”The doctor comes back into his view.“Okay, Andrew, what I’m going to do is I’m going to use this Doppler on your tummy to try and try to listen to the baby's heartbeat. So what I need you to do is to try and stay nice and relaxed for me. Okay?”Andrew gives her a small scared look “okay” he whispers.“I’m going to lift up your shirt and put a little bit of gel on you” she warns him.Andrew can feel Dr Stone lifting up his shirt and then the blob of cool gel as it lands on his belly. He tries not to shiver at the cold sensation. All Andrew can do is hold his breath as he waits for the doctor to locate his baby and see if there’s still a heartbeat.Andrew watches as Dr Stone’s face tenses up as she moves the probe around on his bump and then he hears it:His baby’s heartbeat.Andrew is absolutely overcome with relief as Aaron squeezes his hand again.“They’re okay, Andrew. Your baby’s okay” Aaron whispers next to him.“The heartbeat sounds lovely and strong, Andrew, but we’ll get you a proper scan done in a bit once we’ve got you all sorted out” Dr Stone says with a bright smile.Andrew lets out a shaky sigh of relief as he continues to listen to the beautiful noise that’s still filling the room.Dr Stone leaves the Doppler on his belly for a minute longer before she removes it, leaving Andrew feeling lost without the sound. “Alright, Andrew,” Dr Stone begins again. “We’re going to get the radiologist down here to give you some X-rays and make sure that nothing is broken. We’ll protect the baby from the X-ray with a lead lined vest that we’ll put over you”Andrew looks at her and nods again. He’s in so much pain now that he’s had the chance to hear that his baby’s okay and there’s nothing else to distract him from it anymore.Aaron stays close to him until the radiologist comes in and he has to leave the room whilst the X-rays are being done.He closes his eyes as the radiologist moves the machine around and he tries to keep himself as relaxed as possible.Ricky, the footballer guy from the floor below, drops Neil off at the curb right in front of the doors to the Emergency Department.Neil doesn’t even know if he thanked him for the lift, because right now, the only thing that Neil can think about is Andrew and the fact that Tom told him that he couldn’t feel the baby moving.Neil runs into the Emergency Department and straight over to the desk, barging past a line of people as he frantically searches for Andrew’s name on the patient board behind the reception desk.“Can I help you, sir?” A woman asks from behind the desk.Neil tears his gaze away from the board and looks at the woman with so much intensity in his eyes. “I’m looking for Andrew Minyard”The woman hums “and your relation to the patient?”“Boyfriend”The woman types away on her keyboard as she searches up Andrew’s name “he’s in room 528. Go up to the fifth floor and to the right”“Thanks” Neil says before walking around the corner and then sprinting to the lifts with everything he’s got in his body at this time of night.Neil is anxious as he waits for the world's slowest lift to arrive down from the seventh floor and then even more antsy once he's inside it and waiting for it to reach the fifth floor. He just wants to see Andrew and check that him and their baby are okay.The lift dings as it finally reaches the fifth floor and he takes a right and sprints down the corridor again, looking left and right into each room for any signs that Andrew is in one of them.He spots Aaron’s blonde hair sitting on a chair in the corridor and runs over to him, calling out his name. “Aaron!”Aaron’s attention immediately goes over to Neil as he stands up and puts his hands out to catch the running Striker.“Where’s Andrew? How is he? Is the baby okay? What happened?” Neil asks all at once, clearly out of breath from running so fast. His heart is pounding in his chest as he waits for Aaron to answer him.“He fainted on the stairs. He’s just come back from having an X-ray, but he’s okay” Aaron informs him.“And the baby? Aaron, how’s my baby?” Neil’s still panicking. He will keep panicking until he finds out about them.“There’s a heartbeat. The baby’s okay” Aaron reassures him and watches as Neil exhales a long sigh of relief.“Where is Andrew now?”“He’s in there,” Aaron says, pointing at the room in front of them. “The staff are just getting him settled”Neil nods and looks at Aaron as he walks closer to the door to see if he’s allowed in.Aaron nods in return “you can go in. I told him I’d stay out here to look for you”“Are you coming in?” Neil questions as he places his hand on the door handle.Aaron shakes his head “no, you go. He needs you more than me now”Neil nods and presses the handle of the door down and quietly opens the door, revealing a battered and bruised Andrew lying in a hospital bed with a nurse to his left, stitching up a wound on his head.“Andrew” Neil breathes a sigh of relief as he sees his boyfriend looking at him with his hand stretched out for Neil to grab hold of. Neil wastes no time in making his way to Andrew’s bedside and kisses his boyfriend on the forehead. “What the hell happened, Andrew?”Andrew looks at the nurse, it’s obviously no longer a speaking day for him, the stress and anxiety and too many people making him freak out and shut down.The nurse stops what she’s doing and smiles at Neil “Andrew’s got a chest infection, but we’ve given him some antibiotics and it should clear up within the next week or so. He’s also sustained a cut to his head, which I’m just stitching together. A fractured wrist, which will need to be in a cast for six weeks, and a dislocated elbow. We’ll need to sedate him to relocate it, but he asked if we could wait for you to arrive before beginning the procedure”“Ohh, Drew” Neil says so softly as he strokes the hair out of Andrew’s face and rests his hand in his boyfriend’s hair. “What about the baby?”The nurse smiles again “we’ll do a scan once he’s had his elbow relocated, but we’re monitoring them and they seem to have a lovely and strong heartbeat going on”Neil releases a shuddering breath at hearing that his and Andrew’s baby is okay.“What pain relief has Andrew had?” Neil asks, concerned that Andrew hasn’t taken anything at all because Neil wasn’t with him.“He’s had some paracetamol. He didn’t want anything stronger. And he’s also had some entonox, which he’s still got if he needs to use it” the nurse nods her head to indicate the pain relief that’s lying on Andrew’s bump.Neil looks at Andrew and can see the slight pinch to his eyebrows from where he’s trying to mask his pain.“Do you want the pain relief, Drew?” Neil whispers softly and Andrew gives him a small nod.Neil brings the entonox up to Andrew’s mouth and lets Andrew bite down on it and take a few deep breaths in and out, watching as the crease between his eyebrows diminishes with each breath that he takes.The nurse finishes stitching up Andrew’s head wound and tells them that the doctor will be in, in a bit, to sedate Andrew and relocate his elbow. Neil thanks her and she smiles back in return before leaving the room.Neil continues to run his fingers through Andrew’s hair and hold his bump as Andrew continues taking nice, deep breaths on the entonox, his eyes fluttering closed every now and then from the exhaustion that he’s experiencing.“Why don’t you try and sleep for a bit?” Neil suggest “I’ll still be here for when they take you in to have your arm sorted”Andrew is reluctant, but he nods. He’s so tired and anxious, and all he wants to do is curl up next to Neil and sleep in his own bed.Andrew closes his eyes as Neil keeps stroking his hair, not letting his boyfriend go for even a second. The more he rests, the sooner he’ll heal.Neil takes the entonox out of Andrew’s hand and lays it down next to Andrew’s side so that it’s easy for him to grab if he needs it.An hour passes by, and then another, before there is a knock at the door and a familiar face pops into view.“Hello, Neil” Ruby whispers as she sees a sleeping Andrew lying on the bed. “I’ve got some monitoring to put onto Andrew’s bump to track the baby’s heartbeat during his procedure. But I don’t want to put it on him if he’s sleeping”Neil nods, turns to his sleeping boyfriend and begins gently tracing over his face with his fingers. Andrew smiles and leans into the sensation.“Drew” Neil says quietly “Ruby is here. She needs to put something on you so that she can monitor the baby whilst you’re sleeping”Andrew inhales deeply and nods as he slowly wakes himself back up. Ruby waits patiently for Andrew to be ready.“Oh, Andrew, you’ve been in the wars a bit, haven’t you?” She says with a sympathetic smile on her face. She walks closer to the bed so that Andrew can see what she’s holding more clearly. “This is a baby monitor that goes on your bump. I will strap it around your waist like this” she demonstrates on herself by wrapping the device around her own waist and lets Andrew see how it will sit on him. “This little round section will sit just over the baby and I’ll be able to trace the baby’s heart rate and make sure that they’re happy inside you whilst you’re asleep. Would that be okay to do, Andrew?”Andrew looks at Neil and then nods at Ruby.The pair help Andrew to lift his hips up off the bed so that Ruby can slide the strap underneath him and secure it to his bump. She lines the circle up until the baby’s heartbeat can be heard filling the room.No one mentions the shuddery breath that Andrew releases upon hearing his baby’s heart again.“There we go, Andrew. Is that comfortable?” Ruby asks and Andrew replies by nodding and then takes some deep breaths on the entonox again. The movement making his arm scream in agony.“The doctor will be here soon, Andrew, and Neil will need to wait outside when the reduction on your elbow is done” Ruby warns him. She can clearly see the fear that immediately spreads across Andrew’s face and in his eyes as he frantically looks towards Neil. “I will stay here with you, Andrew. You won’t be alone”That helps to calm him, but only a little bit. Both Neil and Ruby know how scared Andrew is of hospitals.Neil helps Andrew do one of his breathing exercises whilst they wait for the doctor to arrive, keeping both Andrew and their baby calm.There’s a knock at the door, and Dr Stone enters with a nurse just behind her and walks over to Andrew’s side.“This is Ellen, she’s the nurse that’s going to be assisting me today” Dr Stone begins as Ellen waves just behind her “and I know that you are already familiar with Ruby”She comes closer to the bed and crouches down so that she is at eye level with Andrew. Her arms crossed on the edge of the bed as her tone changes to being careful and supporting.“I’m going to talk you through the procedure now, Andrew, and then we’ll get started. Okay?”Andrew gives a short nod and grabs Neil’s hand who holds it firmly in his own, giving Andrew’s hand a reassuring squeeze.“I’m going to give you some medicine through your IV which will make you feel a bit woozy for a moment or so, but it will send you off to sleep. I’m afraid that Neil will have to wait outside for this to be done”Andrew immediately shakes his head and grips Neil’s hand even tighter.“Can I stay whilst you sedate him? It will help him” Neil asks, knowing that Andrew will most likely turn violent if he’s left on his own.Dr Stone looks at how distressed Andrew is and listens to how his fear is affecting the baby’s heart rate. She nods. “Okay. But once he’s asleep you will have to wait outside I’m afraid”Neil nods, but Andrew doesn’t loosen his grip on his hand, in fact, he grips it tighter again.“Once you’re asleep and Neil is outside, I will gently pull on your arm and manipulate the bones back into the correct position and put a backslap on your arm to hold it in place. You’ll need to stay in overnight so that we can monitor you for any signs of concussion or reaction to the procedure, and keep and eye on your pain levels and monitor your baby”“We’re Exy players. We know the concussion procedures” Neil tries to argue, knowing full well that it won’t make any difference. Andrew will stay in the hospital if it means that the baby can be looked after and kept an eye on.“I’m just going to get set up now, Andrew, and then we’ll begin” she smiles at him again and stands up to go over to the counter with the nurse and begin preparing the medication and other things that they need.Andrew breathing picks up as panic begins to settle in him. He grips Neil’s shirt so hard that Neil thinks Andrew’s palms are going to bleed from the pressure caused by his nails digging into his skin.“Breathe, Drew, you're okay” Neil tries to reassure him, but Andrew is still panicking.Dr Stone comes back over and crouches down next to him again. “Andrew” she says calmly “we can take as long as you need, but the longer you wait, the more upset and distressed the baby is going to get. Okay? Take some nice deep breaths for me. In through your nose” she breathes in “and out through your mouth” she breathes out and repeats until Andrew’s breathing has calmed down. He’s still shaking with how scared he is, but his breathing rate has returned to normal and the baby’s heart rate goes up to a more stable rate.Andrew begins sobbing, so Neil cradles his scared boyfriend into his chest and holds him as he continues to let out heartbreaking sobs and shake in his arms.Dr Stone holds up the syringe of medication for Neil to see and Neil gives a small nod as a go ahead for her to begin the procedure.Andrew's sobs quieten down and he eventually becomes silent as the sedation takes hold and Neil rests his boyfriend’s head back onto the pillow and kisses him on the forehead.“I’ll be back later, Drew. I promise” he whispers to his sleeping boyfriend before leaving the room to Ruby's reassuring smile. He should probably ring Wymack, Abby and Betsy and let them know what’s going on whilst he waits.He walks down the corridor and finds Aaron waiting in the Family Room with a coffee in his hands as he stares blankly at the wall in front of him.“Aaron” Neil says, causing Aaron to come out of whatever trance he was caught in.Aaron clears his throat before asking “how is he?”Neil comes in and takes a seat next to Aaron on the sofa “they’ve sedated him to have his arm done. I wasn’t allowed to stay”Aaron nods “that’s normal protocol”“I need to let Coach know what’s happened” Neil tells him.“No need” Aaron replies and Neil gives him a confused look. “I’ve already called him. And Abby and Betsy. The team also knows. I’ve told Dan to give them the basic details”Neil nods and the pair fall into a comfortable silence that neither of them breaks as they wait for news or updates on Andrew.It’s almost 5am when someone enters the room and tells Neil that Andrew can have visitors now. They tell Neil that he’s still sleeping and he will do for a few hours yet.Neil waits no time in getting himself back to Andrew’s room and back to his boyfriend’s side.Neil enters Andrew’s room to find the blonde curled up on his left side with a blanket pulled up to his chin and his right arm resting on a pillow on his side.Neil notices someone in the corner of the room and turns to see Ruby sitting in a chair with a kind smile on her face.“I didn’t want to leave him alone unless you were here” she explains “I’ll leave you alone now so that he can get some rest in peace. But everything went well” she smiles as she leaves.Neil pulls up a chair and sits at Andrew’s bedside. He presses a kiss to the top of his temple, just above his stitches, and takes his hand in his own. He uses his other hand to gently run his fingers through Andrew’s hair.Neil watches as Andrew sleeps silently for the next few hours. His face is completely relaxed and calm as he sleeps. Neil wishes that Andrew could sleep this calmly more often.Andrew takes in a deep breath through his nose, swallows and smiles to himself in his sleep.“Drew?” Neil says softly as he wipes a stray tear from Andrew’s cheek.Andrew lets out a sigh through his nose and whispers in a very groggy and hoarse voice “the baby is kicking”Neil’s mouth immediately turns up into a smile as he removes his hand from Andrew’s and places it on the blonde’s bump, feeling as the little feet kick away. He lets out a shuddery breath of relief.Even though they could hear the baby’s heartbeat all night, Andrew hadn’t felt them move once since the accident, but now, Neil can see how much more relaxed Andrew has become, even if he is pulling faces at the feeling.“Try and get some more rest, Drew. Your body needs it” Neil whispers as he continues to feel the baby kicking away.Andrew gives him a small nod and lets the remainder of the medication lull him back to sleep. Neil falls asleep soon after, with his hand still resting on Andrew’s bump and his head laying on the bed next to it.Neil is woken up by the sound of Andrew groaning and him shifting as he regains consciousness after his procedure last night.“Hey, Drew. Good morning” Neil says softly “how are you feeling?”Andrew licks his lips a few times and swallows before trying to answer. It takes him a couple of goes before he’s able to whisper “tired” he takes a few more breaths “sore”“You will be, Drew. Why don’t you try and get a bit more rest? It’s still really early”“Time z-it? His words are still a bit slurred from the medication.“Just after 7am” Neil informs him.“Stay?” Andrew asks as he makes a grabby hand for Neil with his good hand.“Always” Neil replies, taking Andrew’s hand back in his as his boyfriend closes his eyes once again.A nurse comes in to check on Andrew about an hour later, but doesn’t do much whilst he’s sleeping. She just looks at the monitors on his chest and his bump and makes some notes on his chart before leaving again.Neil takes the opportunity to also try and get some more sleep. He’s been here since around 2am and was running around in the court before that. He didn’t even shower or change after Tom had come running in and told him that there had been an accident and that Andrew was hurt and on his way to hospital with Aaron. He’s tired and smelly, but he doesn’t want to leave Andrew when the former goalkeeper could wake up again at any moment.Andrew blinks his eyes open and his gaze immediately lands on the auburn haired mess that’s curled up in the chair next to him. Neil has his face smooshed against his hand and his hood up as he dozes peacefully, whilst holding Andrew’s hand with the other.“Junkie” he says with a quiet voice and watches as Neil begins to stir and looks up to meet his eye.“Hey” Neil says softly “have you been awake for long?”Andrew shakes his head.“Do you need anything? Are you in any pain at all?”Andrew shakes his head again.Neil releases a long breath, places his hand in Andrew’s hair and watches as the former goalkeeper melts into the touch. “I was so worried about you, Drew. I promise that I will never leave you when you’re sick ever again”“Tried to phone you” Andrew gets out after a few tries. His voice is still sounding tired.“What?” Neil is surprised.“I tried…to call you. Your phone…was in the dorm” Andrew sniffs as he finishes his sentence and tears start rolling down his cheeks. “I was coming…to find you. I needed you…and you weren’t there” Andrew is full on sobbing now and trying to bury his face in the blanket.“Oh god, Drew, I’m so sorry. I had my phone on charge in the living room so that you could have the charger in the bedroom. I must have forgotten to pick it up when I left. I was too busy trying to Kevin to be quiet so that he didn’t wake you. I promise that from now on I will always keep my phone on me. No matter what”“Pinky promise?” Andrew says, holding out his pinky finger towards Neil who links his finger with Andrew’s.“Pinky promise”They keep looking at each other without breaking eye contact until a nurse enters the room and does some checks on Andrew.She asks him about his pain levels, how he’s feeling, if he’s got any questions and notes all of her finding down on his chart before informing them that Ruby will be down in a bit to do an ultrasound of the baby.The nurse leaves and Andrew yawns, still feeling sleepy after a long night of stress and pain. Neil tells him to close his eyes for a bit longer And that he’ll wake him up when Ruby arrives. Andrew nods and closes his eyes again for a while.He wakes up again to the sound of low voices chatting in the room and looks around to see Ruby talking to Neil.“Hi, Andrew” Ruby says with her usual kind smile “I told Neil not to wake you. You need the rest”Andrew nods and Ruby brings the ultrasound machine closer to him.“You know how this all works now, Andrew, but do you have any questions for me at all?” Ruby asks, making sure that Andrew feels safe as always.Andrew shakes his head.“Can I roll your shirt up, Andrew?”Andrew nods and lets Ruby roll up his shirt to just underneath his top surgery scars.“I’m going to put the gel on you now” she warns him and then squirts a blob of gel directly onto his skin.Andrew shudders at the coldness, the same way as he always does.Ruby moves the probe around until she finds the baby and turns the screen around for Andrew and Neil to both see.“Someone’s decided to show us their bottom today” she says with a laugh and points at the screen “that’s the back of your baby’s head. This is their spine going down here and the bottom, and then the little legs all tucked up”“Is it normal for the baby to be lying like that?” Neil asks, concerned that something might be wrong after Andrew’s fall.Ruby gives them both a reassuring smile “yes it’s perfectly normal, don’t worry. Baby is a bit bigger now, so they move around more to try and stretch out and get some space. You’ve probably been feeling them kicking”Andrew nods.“Everything looks lovely and healthy as always. I won’t print you anything off today as I’m seeing you next week and hopefully the baby will be lying in a better position for some photos” she says as she takes the probe off of Andrew’s belly and Andrew watches as the screen goes black.Ruby wipes the excess gel off of Andrew’s belly and rolls his shirt back down.She doesn’t stay for too much longer today, just long enough to write down the information from the scan onto Andrew’s chart and to confirm a time for Andrew’s visit to her next week. She says her goodbyes as she wheels the ultrasound machine out of the room.Andrew closes his eyes and breathes for a few moments. Neil kisses him on the forehead, causing Andrew to smile.“I hate you,” Andrew says softly.“I hate you, too” Neil replies and kisses Andrew on the lips.Dr Stone comes back in about an hour later and says that Andrew can be discharged, much to the relief of both Andrew and Neil.Neil goes to get Aaron from the Family room and the three of them wait as Aaron calls Wymack to come and pick them up.Wymack texts Aaron about forty five minutes later to say that he’s outside.Neil helps Andrew to slowly sit up in the bed and gently manoeuvres him so that he is sitting with his legs dangling over the edge as Neil helps him to get into the wheelchair that the nurse had dropped off for them.Neil is gentle as Andrew groans in discomfort, his ribs and knee having severe bruising from the impact of the stairs, and the baby deciding to start moving again.Neil slowly deposits Andrew down into the wheelchair And lets Aaron push it so that he can hold his boyfriend’s hand as they make their way down to the car park and out to Wymack’s car.Neil carefully helps Andrew into the front passenger seat and reclines the chair to make Andrew more comfortable for the drive home. Neil climbs in behind him and leans himself forwards so that he can see Andrew the entire time. Aaron silently sits in the back next to him And also watches his brother as Wymack drives them through the snowy December streets and back to Fox Tower.Neil helps Andrew out of the car and puts Andrew’s arm around his neck to support his weight and his around Andrew’s waist. He holds onto Andrew’s hand that’s resting over his shoulder and they walk slowly to the doors that Aaron is already holding open for them.The three of them get into the lift and go up to the third floor and out into the hallway that is filled with the rest of the Foxes.The Freshmen stare as a battered and bruised Andrew emerges from the lift with Neil holding him up and making sure that he’s alright.“Alright, Foxes” Dan calls out as she emerges from her dorm and claps her hands to get everyone’s attention “lets leave Andrew, Neil and Aaron alone now. They’ve had a long night and need peace and quiet. Come on, back to your own dorms. Lets go” she ushers the ogling Freshman back down the corridor and into one of the dorms before returning to Andrew, Neil and Aaron. “We’re here if you guys need anything. Okay?”All three of them nod and enter the Monster’s dorm.Neil settles Andrew down on the sofa and gets him his pink blanket whilst Aaron makes him a hot water bottle and gets him something to eat and drink. He hasn’t had anything since yesterday evening.Aaron tells Neil that he’ll keep an eye on Andrew so that Neil can finally shower and get changed into something that’s not his disgusting Exy kit.Neil nods and heads into the bathroom to shower, shave, clean his teeth and brush his hair, before moving into the bedroom to get changed into some joggers, a hoodie and some fluffy socks.He comes back into the living room to find Andrew and Aaron fast asleep with Andrew’s head resting on Aaron’s shoulder and his pink blanket draped over both of them.Neil goes back into the bedroom and gets one of the spare blankets from the wardrobe and drapes it over the twins before making his way out of his dorm and over to the girls dorm in the hopes of being able to see Matt.The events of the last twelve or so hours have really taken their toll on Neil, but he refuses to show his distress in front of Andrew.He knocks on the door and when Matt opens it, Neil falls forwards into his chest and lets the overwhelming emotions take over with full force.“It’s okay, Neil. It’s okay. Let it all out. Come on, buddy, let’s get you inside” Matt says as he wraps his arms around Neil’s shaking form and guides him into the girl’s dorm and into the bedroom where they can have some privacy.Neil sits down on Dan’s bed, Allison’s is covered in everything from makeup to clothes. Matt crouches down in front of Neil as Neil sobs into his hands.“He’s home now, Neil” Matt says softly “he’s home and he’s okay”Neil nods into his hands as another painful sob falls from his mouth.“Why don’t you lie down in here and sleep for a bit? Hmm? I’m guessing that Aaron is with Andrew”“Yeah,” Neil says quietly.“Come on, bud, lie down and get some rest. Your exhausted and that’s not going to make you feel any better”Neil nods and lies down on Dan’s bed, curled up in a little ball as Matt draped a blanket over him.“If Aaron or Andrew knock at all, I’ll let you know. Otherwise I’m going to make sure that no one disturbs you”Neil nods again. Matt gives him a small kiss to the top of his head “sleep well, okay, bud. Love you”“Love you too, Matt” Neil says and then he closes his eyes as Matt leaves the room.It’s dark again outside by the time Neil wakes back up from his nap. He heads into the girl’s living room and finds Freya, Morgana-Faye and Brittany in there alongside Dan, Renée, Matt and Allison.“Hey, buddy” Matt calls out with a cheery tone “how are you doing?”“Fine” Neil replies and the others eye roll at his response.“Aaron messaged. He said that Andrew’s awake but he didn’t want to wake you” Dan informs him.Neil nods “I’m going to go and check on him”“Okay” Dan whispers.Neil leaves the girl’s dorm and heads back to his own, opening the door without needing his key because Nicky has once again lost his and keeps getting locked out.Neil spots Aaron in the kitchen straight away and walks over to him.“How’s Andrew?” Neil asks softly.Aaron is making what looks like cheesy toast. “He’s okay. He spoke to Betsy earlier and he’s getting his proper cast put on tomorrow at 10am. I’m just making us some food. Do you want one?”Neil nods and then heads into the living room and finds Andrew sitting up on the sofa with his broken arm resting on a pillow, his a large, blue bruise that’s spreading across his eye and temple from where his head hits the ground. He’s still in the basketball shorts and old band shirt that he was wearing last night.“Hey, beautiful” Neil says as he walks over and kisses the top of Andrew’s head. “Are you feeling a little bit better?”Andrew nods.“Have you had some pain meds?”Andrew nods again.“Yes, or no to kiss you on the lips”“Yes” Andrew whispers back and Neil leaves a delicate kiss to his lips that leaves Andrew’s skin feeling warm and fuzzy.Neil then leans down and kisses Andrew’s bump. They both smile at each other as they look into each other’s eyes. Neil thinks that Andrew still looks tired.“I’ve cut yours up so it’s in small pieces, Andrew” Aaron says from the doorway as he carries in two out of the three plates of cheesy toast and he hands them over to Neil and Andrew, before returning to the kitchen to get his own.The three of them eat their food in silence, none of them wanting to bring up the events of the last twenty four hours.Afterwards, Neil suggests that Andrew take a bath and get an early night. He’s been awake for so long and is still feeling some of the effects of the sedation and pain medication.Andrew agrees, so Neil runs him a bath with some lavender bubbles and helps Andrew to get undressed and climb into the tub safely. Neil washes Andrew’s body and hair, being mindful not to get his temporary cast or his stitches wet.Neil helps Andrew to get dried and dressed, and helps him to carefully lie down in bed. Andrew winces at the plain in his ribs as he tries to get comfortable with his arm resting on another pillow.Neil climbs into bed next to him and gives Andrew a kiss goodnight, which a sleepy Andrew returns, before they both close their eyes and fall asleep for the night.The next morning, Aaron takes Andrew to get his permanent cast put onto his arm, whilst Neil heads over to The Foxhole Court with Wymack and Dan to begin setting up for this year’s Christmas banquet that’s being hosted by the Foxes as they are the reigning champions of Exy for this season.Matt also joins them to help put up some of the higher up decorations and do some of the heavy lifting, alongside most of the Freshmen and the rest of the Original Foxes.Neil and Matt are putting up one of the Merry Christmas banners above the AWAY goal with Allison guiding them by telling them to move it “up…no down…Neil that’s up you need to go down…yes…Matt no…oh shit, Neil, Aaron’s here”Neil lets go of the banner and drops it as he hurries down the ladder and across the court to when Aaron is standing next to the HOME goal.“Where’s Andrew?” Neil says as he approaches Aaron.“Lounge” Aaron replies and places a hand on Neil chest to slow him down “Neil, he’s fine”“I know but…but I just need to check”Aaron nods and removes his hand from “I’ll go and help Matt” he says with a smile.Neil smiles back in return and runs towards the lounge. He opens the door to find Andrew sitting on the sofa and talking to Abby about something that Neil can’t hear.Abby looks up from where she is sitting on the chair next to the sofa and smiles when she spots Neil standing in the doorway and pats Andrew on the knee before she gets up and walks past Neil, giving him a pat on his shoulder on her way by.Andrew looks over his shoulder at Neil, his eye is still very bruised. He gives Neil a small smile.Neil walks over to Andrew and cups Andrew’s cheek, letting Andrew rest the weight of his head in the palm of his hand. Andrew closes his eyes and lets Neil’s warmth engulf him.“How’s the arm?” Neil asks with a quiet voice, looking down to see Andrew’s arm in a black player cast from the base of his fingers to just underneath his shoulder and resting in a white sling across his chest.“It’s okay” Andrew replies, looking into Neil’s eyes.“We don’t have to go to the banquet if you’re not up for it, Drew”“We’re going” Andrew says with a sleepy voice. He’s been up since early this morning to have his cast changed at the hospital. “Plus I want to see you in your cute, little suit” he says with a smile as he brings his hand up to cup Neil’s cheek.Neil lets out a small laugh. “Do you want to go back to the dorm or do you want to stay here?”“Stay. Someone’s got to keep an eye on you and make sure that you don’t make all the decorations orange”“Oi” Neil laughs, “not everything is orange. I’ve made sure that there’s some white in there too”“Neil,” Andrew begins “Christmas is traditionally green and red”Neil turns a confused look to Andrew “Since when did you care about the traditions of Christmas?”“I don’t. I just like winding you up” Andrew leans in and kisses Neil on the lips. “Come on, Junkie, help me up”Neil rolls his eyes and helps Andrew up and they head onto the court to help the rest of the Foxes finish decorating.Andrew helps Allison with arranging where each decoration is going to be placed, whilst Neil helps the rest of the Foxes to put up the actual decorations with Andrew and Allison’s ‘professional’ guidance.After many, many hours of decorating and putting up trees and tinsel and making The Foxhole Court look festive, the Foxes decide to call it a day and head back to the dorms for pizzas and a movie night in the girl’s dorm.Allison treats everyone by buying all of the pizzas and drinks.Andrew and Neil make themselves at home on the bigger sofa, with Andrew lying with his back to Neil’s chest and his arm resting on one of Renée’s pillows as he and Neil eat their pizza straight from the box, whilst the movie plays in the background.After a few hours, Neil hears the sounds of Andrew’s soft snores coming from where he’s laying on Andrew’s chest.Renée comes over with a blanket and drapes it over Andrew and Neil. Neil silently that’s her with a small smile and begins running his fingers through the blonde’s hair.Dan turns the volume on the TV down a little bit so that Andrew can sleep in peace.Another movie finishes and Neil gently wakes Andrew up and the pair head back to their own dorm with Kevin. Nicky has opted to stay with the girls so that he can start getting ready for the banquet first thing tomorrow morning.Andrew, Neil and Kevin go to bed and go to sleep for the night.Andrew wakes up with a smile to the feeling of Neil’s lips against his in a gentle kiss.“It’s banquet day” Neil says with a smile against Andrew’s lips “I can’t wait to see you in your cute, little suit”“Shut up” Andrew whispers back.“Can you two at least wait until I’ve actually left the room before you start getting all PDA and shit?” Kevin whines from his bunk on the other side of the room.“Shut up, Kev” both Andrew and Neil reply in unison.Kevin grumbles and leaves the room, slamming the door closed behind him, which causes Andrew to wince at the loud noise.Neil runs his hand over Andrew’s back whilst Andrew calms his breathing down a bit.“The baby’s awake” Andrew says with a groan against Neil’s shoulder.Neil moves his hand from Andrew’s back to his bump “I think someone’s excited about their first Christmas banquet”“Absolutely not. This child is not going to like Exy. Nope. Na-uh”Neil gasps in fake shock “Andrew, how could you”Andrew leans back in for another kiss.“Is Renée helping you to get ready later?” Neil asks.“Yeah”“What are you wearing?”Andrew walks his fingers up Neil’s chest “you’re just going to have to wait and see”“Tease” Neil says and leans back in to kiss Andrew once again. “Do you want to do anymore today?”Andrew shakes his head “just kissing today. My head hurts a bit”Neil goes to get out of bed “I’m going to get your pain meds”Andrew hums an approval as Neil goes to the kitchen to get Andrew’s medicine and a bottle of water.Andrew takes the medicine and washes the pills down with a few sips of water before letting Neil help him up and they head into the kitchen to start making some breakfast.“Pancakes or waffles?” Neil asks.Andrew hums as he makes his decision “pancakes”“Okay” Neil replies “why don’t you go and sit down for a bit whilst I cook these. I can get you some mayo juice too”Andrew nods and heads into the living room.Neil heads in and joins Andrew a few minutes later with two plates full of pancakes. Andrew’s pancakes are covered in Nutella with a few strawberries, whilst Neil’s are covered with blueberries, banana, strawberries and icing sugar.Neil hands Andrew his plate and Andrew stares at it before he turns a sad look towards Neil.“Drew?” Neil asks with concern.“I can’t cut them small,” Andrew replies with a small voice.Neil gives him a sympathetic look “let me cut them? Yes or no?”“Yes” Andrew whispers.Neil takes Andrew’s plate back and cuts up the pancakes into tiny pieces, then passes the plate back to Andrew.Andrew smiles at him before stabbing his fork into the first piece and taking a bite.They finish eating and spend the rest of the day chilling in front of the TV until Renée and Allison come in and tell the boys that it’s time for them to start getting ready for the banquet.Neil kisses Andrew goodbye and leaves with Allison to get ready in the girl’s dorm.Renée sits down next to Andrew on the sofa and asks Andrew softly “how would you like to get ready?”Andrew’s thought about it for the last few weeks, but he had to adjust his plan slightly to fit around his cast. “I want you to help me shave my face and get into my suit and style my hair. I want to surprise Neil like we did next year”Renée nods and helps Andrew up and gets to work making look amazing for Neil.She helps Andrew to dry shampoo his hair and style it. Followed by shaving his face and finally, helping him get into his suit and tying up his tie.Andrew looks at himself in the mirror, at his perfectly accentuated baby bump in his black suit jacket with his black shirt and orange tie with Neil initials hidden on the inside.Andrew helps Renée decide between two of her dresses. He ends up choosing the shimmery white dress with the pastel rainbow petticoat flowing underneath and the orange bow around her waist.Allison is driving Neil to the banquet so that neither Neil or Andrew can get a sneaky peak at each other’s outfits before they both step onto the court.Renée drives the Maserati, with Andrew’s permission, to The Foxhole Court and they both head inside to find the Foxes that have already arrived whilst they wait for the rest of the Foxes to join them.Renée grabs herself and Andrew a non-alcoholic prosecco each and Andrew goes into Coach Wymack’s office to wait for Neil so that they can see each other for the first time in private.There’s a knock on the door a few minutes later. Andrew looks up from where he is nosing through some of Wymack’s paperwork where he’s sitting at the desk and sees Neil for the first time.Neil is wearing an orange suit with a white shirt and a navy blue tie. He looks absolutely stunning.“How do I look?” Neil asks barely above a whisper.Andrew answers him by walking over to him, putting Neil’s face into his hands and kissing him so deeply that Neil can’t help but smile back with flushed cheeks and embarrassed eyes.“You are amazing” Andrew tells Neil as he presses their foreheads together.“I need to see yours properly now” Neil motions to Andrew to eat and back a few steps and Andrew shows off his suit that perfectly accentuates his baby bump and makes his hazel eyes sparkle. His black cast and white sling are both decorated with orange tinsel.“Drew” Neil breathes out when he sees his boyfriend properly for the first time. This is the first time that Andrew has really looked pregnant in any of his clothes. “You look so beautiful” Neil says also barely above a whisper as he continues to look at Andrew with so much love and admiration in his eyes.“Shut up, Junkie” Andrew replies and walks back over to steal another kiss from Neil’s lips before they have to actually head out and be social and well behaved for the night.Dan and Neil lead the Foxes onto the court for the banquet to begin and everyone takes their seats at their designated table with the Trojans.The banquet goes to pan for the first time in Collegiate Exy history with not a single punch thrown or insult flung. Another positive of not having the Ravens as a team anymore.The Foxes and Trojans both make it through to the Spring Championships and the rest of the night is spent celebrating, drinking, dancing and socialising with their teams and friends.The Foxes have a lazy weekend to recover for the many hangovers that the majority of them appear to be experiencing. Some of them really just never learn.On Christmas Eve, Andrew has his twenty week scan at the hospital, and the first scan since he left the hospital last week after his accident.Neil drives them both to Palmetto General Hospital and they walk in together, hand in hand, and get Andrew signed in at the reception desk before tweaking a seat in the waiting room.As always, Andrew uses the time they have to spend waiting in the waiting room for their appointment to read another chapter of his baby book. He didn’t read anything last week, so this week he’s making sure that he studies every single word of it.
Week 20
You're now halfway through your pregnancy!
What's happening in my body?
You may have your anomaly scan this week. The sonographer will be checking your baby's development and will also examine your placenta (that's the pancake-shaped organ that feeds your baby and removes waste).You might find yourself being woken up at night by sudden sharp pains in your calves.It's probably cramp, which is common in pregnancy and caused by muscular spasms. Rub the muscle hard or pull your toes up towards your ankle.Exercising more in the day could help you avoid this.Maternity Certificate to claim maternity pay and benefits.Ask your doctor or midwife for a Maternity Certificate, also known as a MAT B1 form. It's issued from 20 weeks onwards.You'll need it to claim maternity pay and benefits.Whooping cough vaccinationWhooping cough is on the rise – but you can protect your baby from this dangerous condition by having a vaccination.The NHS recommends that all pregnant women should have the vaccination. Usually this is offered around week 20, but you can have it from week 16 to week 32.The immunity that you get will be passed on to your baby through the placenta and then offer protection until the routine 6-in-1 vaccine that most babies have at 8 weeks old.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 20 weeks)
Your signs of pregnancy this week could include:tiredness and sleeping problemsstretch marksswollen and bleeding gumspains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as "round ligament pains")headachesnosebleedsbloating and constipationindigestion and heartburnsore breastsleg crampsfeeling hotdizzinessswollen hands and feeturine infectionsvaginal infectionsdarkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"greasier, spotty skinthicker and shinier hairYou may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:morning sicknessweird pregnancy cravingsa heightened sense of smellmood swingsa white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 25.6cm long. That's approximately the size of a banana.Measurements are now taken from head to heel. In earlier weeks, babies are measured from the head to the bottom because the legs are curled up and hard to see.They are now covered in a white, greasy layer of "vernix". It's thought this protects their delicate skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid. This slippery layer also helps babies to make their way down the birth canal.Your baby will be getting more active each day. As well as kicking, punching and turning around, your baby could be sucking their thumb – this develops their sucking reflex, which they'll need to feed once they're born.You may start to feel a bubbling or fluttering in your belly – this could be your baby moving around.“What did you learn this week?” Neil asks as he peers over at the page that Andrew is reading.Andrew quotes a line from the page “The baby is about the size of a banana”“That’s tiny!” Neil exclaims, probably a little bit too loudly as other people in the waiting room look in their direction.Andrew gives him a hard glare “you wouldn’t be saying that of you were the one who had to push this out if your—”“Andrew Minyard?” Ruby's voice calls across the waiting room.Andrew and Neil both get up from their seats and follow her silently to her room, with Andrew making himself comfortable on the bed.Ruby looks at Andrew’s still bruised face and broken arm with sympathy. She only saw Andrew a week ago when he was experiencing one of the most vulnerable moments of his life, yet she keeps her tone soft and gentle as she speaks. “How are you feeling, Andrew?”Andrew nods “good”“How’s your arm?”“Cast will be off in just under six weeks” he replies apathetically, almost rehearsed.Ruby gives him a soft smile “and how’s the baby feeling? Any movements or things that you're concerned about?”“They’ve started kicking. And no concerns”Ruby nods her head in understanding before explaining to Andrew everything that she is going to do today. “I need to do an internal examination today, Andrew, just to make sure that there hasn’t been any complications from your accident. But Neil can stay with you and we can take as long as you need with it. Okay?”Andrew closes his eyes, lets out a shaky breath and nods.Ruby gives him a moment before continuing “I’ll feel over your belly and check your bruising on your side too, again it’s just to make sure that everything is okay. And then we’ll do the scan. Does that sound like a good plan to you?”Andrew nods and lets out a small “yeah”Ruby starts by lying the bed flat, rolling up Andrew’s shirt and carefully feeling around his bump, being mindful not to accidentally press too hard on any of the bruises on his right side that were caused by his fall.Andrew winces slightly at one tender spot which Ruby accidentally touches, but she is quick to apologise and gives Andrew a minute to regain his composure before continuing with her examination.She does the internal examination next. She makes sure to explain everything to Andrew and uses a model to show him exactly what she needs to do.Andrew grips Neil’s hand and buries his face in Neil’s chest as Ruby uses her fingers to gently feel inside of him and check that there is nothing compromising his cervix.She gives a slightly shaking Andrew a few minutes alone with Neil as she steps out to get the ultrasound machine from another room, giving Neil enough time to calm Andrew’s panicking mind back down with soft words and gentle touches to his scalp.By the time Ruby returns, Andrew is fully calm again and ready to see his baby once more.Ruby sits the bed up slightly and gives Andrew the usual warning about the gel being cold before she applies it and uses the probe to locate the baby inside his belly.Her face is full of concentration until she reveals her tell-tell smile and angles the screen towards the boys.“Here they are. Still nice and healthy” she laughs a little before continuing “and this time not showing their bottom to us”Andrew stares at the baby on the screen, still amazed that he is really growing this inside of him, that his body, the one that was beaten and tormented and tortured, can create something so beautiful.“Would you like to know the sex?” Ruby asks with a smile.Andrew’s head snaps from the screen to Neil’s face and then to Ruby “I-I don’t know” he whispers.“Can you really tell?” Neil asks as he looks from Andrew, to Ruby, to the screen and back again.Ruby nods.“Drew?” Neil says softly. It’s Andrew’s body and Neil isn’t going to make him find out anything if he doesn’t want to.“I don’t know if I’m ready to know” he whispers in reply after a few moments of silence.Ruby nods in understanding “I can write it down on a piece of paper and pop it into an envelope for you if you’d like. That way, the two of you can decide when and where you open it, but you don't have to open if you don’t want to”Andrew and Neil look at each other in a silent question before Andrew nods.Ruby smiles and heads over to the other side of the room and writes something down on a piece of paper and puts it into an envelope marked with Baby Minyard-Josten on the front. She comes back over and hands the envelope over to Neil, who puts it into the little photo holder that they bring to every scan to put the scan photos in to keep them safe.Ruby lets them both look at the screen for a few minutes longer before printing off some photos and handing the long strip over to Neil. “I’ve printed you off a few extra in case you want to give them to anyone from Christmas” she says with a smile.Neil and Andrew look at each other. They know exactly who’s going to be getting a photo of their baby for Christmas tomorrow.Ruby finishes up and wipes the gel off of Andrew’s belly and the three of them say their goodbyes and with each other a merry Christmas and a happy news year before Neil drives them back to the Columbia house to begin their festivities.Neil parks the car on the driveway and rounds the other side to help Andrew get out and takes his hand as they walk to the front door.As soon as the door opens, they are hit with the intense smell of the gingerbread that Nicky is making. It’s a tradition every year that Nicky makes gingerbread people and houses that he gives to his family on Christmas Day.“Neeeeeiiiilllll! Annnndddddrrrreeewwwww!” Nicky squeals as he runs out of the kitchen, leaving a trail of flour And dough behind him as he pulls Neil into a tight hug. He goes to hug Andrew but stops himself, waiting to see if Andrew will give him permission. Andrew nods once so Nicky wraps his arms around his younger cousin and gently hugs him. “How did it go? Did you see the baby? Is it a boy or a girl? Do you—”“Nicky” Neil’s voice says firmly enough that Nicky stops his rapid fire questions. Neil kisses Andrew on his temple and tells him to go upstairs and get into something comfy and take a nap. Andrew nods and heads upstairs. Neil lets out a sigh and answers all of Nicky’s questions “yes, the baby is fine. Yes, we saw them. No we don’t know what we’re having”Nicky lets out a small and disappointed noise at still not knowing if his baby cousin is going to be a boy or a girl.“Nicky” Neil begins “It’s Andrew’s body, it’s his choice”Nicky nods sadly and quietly retreats back into the kitchen to continue making his gingerbread.Neil heads upstairs and finds Andrew already sleeping in their bed. He changes silently and climbs in next to him and spoons him from behind, being careful not to knock Andrew’s injured arm off of the pillow that it’s resting on, and closes his eyes to also fall asleep.They spend the rest of the day exchanging lazy kisses in bed, looking through all of the scan photos from right back when they had their first, to making a few special presents for a few special people for tomorrow and finally by spending their evening downstairs with Nicky, Aaron, Katelyn and Erik watching Christmas movies and eating some of the gingerbread pieces that didn’t quite go to plan. All in all, it’s a very chilled and relaxed Christmas Eve, a complete contrast to the one that they had last year.Everyone decides to go to bed at a reasonable time and get some well earned and deserved rest before the big day tomorrow. They are due to be at Abby’s house for the Christmas dinner to be served at 1pm.On Christmas morning, Neil and Andrew (and probably Aaron, Katelyn and Erik too) are awoken by the bellowing sound of Nicky’s voice echoing throughout the house.“ITS CHRRRRIIIIISSSSTTTTMMMMMAAAAASSSSS!”Andrew groans and scoots himself further backwards into Neil’s arms and Neil tuck his face further into the crease of his neck, leaving behind tiny kisses across Andrew’s neck and shoulder as he does so.“Merry Christmas, Andrew” Neil whispers into Andrew’s ear.“Mmm” Andrew moans at the sensation on his neck “happy fucking whatever, Junkie.” Andrew turns himself so that he is lying on his back with Neil hovering over the top of him.“Yes or nod, Andrew?” Neil asks with a look of pure love in his eyes.“Yes” Andrew breathes out and Neil leans in to give him the most deep and passionate kiss that they have shared in a long time.They kiss each other and let the sounds that come from their lips melt each other as they enjoy the moment.“OH MY GOD!” Nicky screams from somewhere downstairs “SANTA’S BEEN!”Andrew and Neil break their kiss apart and Andrew rolls his eyes “he’s almost thirty by the way”Neil laughs and kisses Andrew one more time before getting up and helping Andrew to get up too.The pair get changed into their Christmas jumpers that Nicky had bought for them all and head downstairs along with a sleepy looking Aaron and Katelyn. Erik is already in the living room with a very overly excited Nicky who’s bouncing like a child on sugar.Andrew, Neil, Aaron and Katelyn all join Erik on the sofas and prepare themselves as Nicky begins handing out the first of the Christmas presents. He’s bought so many that Andrew thinks that every single thing under the tree might be from Nicky and Nicky alone.He hands the first present to Erik who opens it with a smile and holds it up for everyone to see. It’s a jumper that says Happy Gay-Mas on the front in big rainbow letters with Christmas lights looping around them.The next present is for Aaron who opens it up and also smiles as he holds it up. It’s a new lab coat with Dr Minyard stitched into the left breast pocket in blue.Katelyn is the next to open hers. It’s a replacement of the dress that Nicky accidentally ruined at the banquet after he spilled his cocktail all over her. Katelyn stands up and hugs Nicky for his thoughtfulness.Nicky hands Neil and Andrew their presents and tells them that they have to open them at the same time.Andrew and Neil do so and both smile when they see what Nicky has bought them. They both have identical presents, but one is in blue and the other is pink. Neil has the blue teddy bear and onesie with World’s Best Cousin written on the front, whilst Andrew has the pink version.“We still don’t know what you’re having so I got you both” he says with a proud smile.Andrew’s eyes begin to fill with tears, a mixture of his hormones and his gratefulness for the gift. “Nicky” he whispers “it’s beautiful. Thank you” he says the last part as he looks up to meet Nicky’s eyes which are also beginning to fill with tears.Nicky continues to hand out gifts right up until Aaron says that they all need to start getting ready to head over to Abby’s for lunch.They all get ready and take two separate cars to get back to Palmetto. They can’t fit everyone into one car this year with the addition of Katelyn and Erik.They arrive at Abby’s at pretty much the same time as each other. Andrew actually drove at the speed limit for probably the first ever time in his life. His protective parental instincts are taking over him.The six of them walk into Abby’s house to the smell of the Christmas turkey cooking and the sound of Elf playing on the TV in the living room.“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” Nicky shouts at the top of his lungs as soon as they walk through the door.Abby walks out of the kitchen with her Christmas apron and hat on, closely followed by Wymack, who is also wearing a Christmas jumper and hat.“Oh Merry Christmas to you too, Nicky” Abby says as she goes in for a hug.“Kevin get your miserable ass out here and greet your teammates” Wymack bellows from the other side of the hallway.A sulky looking Kevin emerges from one of the bedrooms a few minutes later and makes his way into the hallway to greet the new arrivals.The baby must also be able to smell Abby’s cooking because Andrew feels them as they begin to start kicking. He rubs his hand over his bump as he tries not to make the expression on his face noticeable to the others.Wymack must notice his expression because he claps his hands together and says “Right. Nicky, Kevin and Aaron you’re in the kitchen with Abby. Neil, you're laying the table. Andrew, Katelyn and Katelyn the three of you can make yourselves at home and relax before lunch is ready. I’m not making guests do any of the work”“Andrew isn’t a guest” Nicky whines.“Let me know when you get pregnant, Nicky and I’ll swap the jobs over” Wymack replies.Nicky makes a pouty face and heads into the kitchen with Aaron, Neil, Abby and Wymack, whilst Andrew, Erik and Katelyn all make themselves comfortable on the sofas.Katelyn and Erik make conversation with each other, but Andrew is just content to watch the films that are playing on the TV. Abby’s DVD collection has gotten better since he upgraded last summer.“God damn it, Hemmick, not like that” Wymack’s voice comes through from the kitchen. “Abby, do you have any more?”“In the left cupboard” she calls out in reply “no, Nicky, other left”The sounds of Aaron and Neil laughing are followed by a whining sound from Nicky.Lunch is ready just over an hour later, and Andrew, Erik, Katelyn and Neil all take their seats at the table whilst Wymack, Abby, Kevin, Nicky and Kevin bring the dishes of food out and lay them out on the table for everyone to grab.Each plate already has the basics on it: turkey (a vegetarian alternative for Katelyn), stuffing, Yorkshire pudding and potatoes. Everyone can add their own vegetables and sauces to their food once they’re all seated.Abby makes sure that Andrew has at least three of the vegetables that are on offer as she is still worried that the baby may not be getting all of the nutrients that they need.Andrew takes some of the carrots, broccoli and sweet potato mash before completely drowning his plate in gravy.Surprisingly enough, Abby doesn’t need to convince the rest of her Foxes to eat their veggies.They pull their crackers and put on their paper crowns and laugh at the shit jokes and crappy prizes that fall from them.There’s a lot of laughter and chatter as they all eat together. This is their first Christmas that Neil has had and the first one with his new family. It all starts feeling a little overwhelming.His breathing picks up and his vision begins blurring slightly at the edges. He’s struggling to eat his food as he tries not to panic.“Neil?” Abby’s gentle voice says as she lowers herself down next to Neil’s chair.The rest of the table have also stopped eating and are all staring at Neil, waiting for him to respond.“I-I’m fine” Neil whispers the lie with so much ease it makes him feel sick.“Josten” this is Wymack “go and take a moment. Andrew go with him”Neil nods and he and Andrew leave the table and head into the bedroom that they will be staying in tonight.Neil starts hyperventilating as soon as Andrew closes the door behind them both.“Neil” Andrew tries to reach through to him as Neil’s breathing becomes more and more rapid by the second. “Abram”Neil’s breathing stops and his gaze slowly moves towards Andrew.Andrew nods and slowly walks over to his boyfriend “You’re at Abby’s house. You’re here with your family. You’re in the bedroom with Andrew. You’re safe” Andrew repeats himself until Neil’s breathing begins slowing down “that’s it, Neil. Slow breaths. You’re okay”Neil breathes in a shuddering breath as tears continue to stream down his face and drip off his chin onto his shirt and the carpet.“Neil, sit with me? Yes or no?” Andrew asks quietly.Neil nods and Andrew waits for him to take a seat on the bed with his back against the wall and knees drawn up under his chin, his arms wrapped tightly around them.“Abram? Can you talk to me?” Andrew whispers as he sits himself down next to Neil.Neil sobs even harder into his knees as his shoulders shake “mum” he manages to get out.It’s so quiet that Andrew isn’t sure that he heard him correctly. “Your mum? What about her?”“Christmas” Neil sobs and his shoulders shake again.Andrew lets out a sigh in understanding “you miss her, don’t you?”Neil nods.“Neil, Junkie, listen to me” Andrew says in a soft and caring voice that he only ever uses with Neil “you’re allowed to miss your mum. This is the first time that you’ve celebrated a Christmas properly since she died. You didn’t even know it was Christmas Day last year, and the year before, Neil I don’t even know where you were, but I know that you weren’t safe. But you’re safe now, Neil. You have a family who love you and who care about you, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be mad at you for missing your mum”“Drew?” Neil lets it out as a small whine.“I’m here, Abram, I’m right here. Yes or no?”Neil nods and lets himself be wrapped up in Andrew’s arm as he tries not to knock Andrew’s broken one.“It’s okay, Neil” Andrew whispers into his ear “just let it all out”Neil continues to cry into Andrew’s neck for what feels like an eternity, but is probably only about fifteen minutes, before he passes out from exhaustion.Andrew calls Abby to come in and she helps him to manoeuvre Neil into bed so that he can get some rest.Abby offers to stay with Neil so that Andrew can finish his food, but Andrew declines her offer, telling her that they will finish their food together when Neil wakes up.Abby nods in understanding and leaves the boys alone so that Neil can sleep.Andrew cards his fingers through Neil’s hair as he sleeps.Neil sleeps for a few hours before waking up underneath the duvet with Andrew still holding him like he might disappear.Andrew smiles at Neil when he realises that he’s awake “hey, Junkie. How are you feeling?”“I’m sorry” Neil whispers.Andrew shakes his head “you have nothing to be sorry for, Neil. Nothing at all”Neil buries his head further into the crook of Andrew’s shoulder and stays there as Andrew kisses the top of his head.Neil’s stomach begins to rumble loudly in the silence of the room.“Are you hungry?” Andrew asks, keeping his voice quiet still.Neil nods “yeah”“Abby said that she would warm our Christmas dinners up for us when we’re ready”Neil nods and takes a few breaths “I’m ready”Andrew gives Neil a few seconds to breath a bit more and then nods “okay”They walk out of the bedroom together, hand in hand, and into the living room where Abby, Wymack, Aaron, Katelyn, Nicky and Erik are sitting on the sofas and chair and watching a Christmas movie that Neil doesn’t recognise.Abby smiles as she sees them walk down the hallway. She stands up and heads into the kitchen to reheat their food.Andrew makes sure that Neil manages to get into the kitchen without the others causing a fuss around him that might cause him to become upset again.Abby places Neil and Andrew’s plates down on the small kitchen table along with a cracker each, like they had at the dining room table earlier.Andrew notices that Abby has cut his food up into bite size pieces, knowing that Andrew would struggle to do it himself with his broken arm. Andrew gives Abby a small smile in thanks as he and Neil take their seats opposite each other.Abby smiles at the both as she silently leaves them to eat their Christmas dinner in peace.Andrew offers a cracker to Neil who pulls the other end and wins. This small moment makes Neil smile as Andrew places the orange paper crown onto Neil's head. They pull the other cracker and Neil places the blue paper crown onto Andrew’s head.They smile at each other as they eat their Christmas dinner together for the first time as their tiny family. This time next year, they’ll have a new addition to add to the table. Their first Christmas as a family of three.They finish their meals and put their plates in the dishwasher before joining the rest of the group in the living room.Andrew and Neil take a seat next to Kevin on the sofa and Andrew lets Neil snuggle up to his bump as they watch some more Christmas movies. Neil had no idea that there were so many.“Die Hard is not a Christmas film” Aaron says as the movie begins.“It is. Look at it. It’s snowing and there’s trees everywhere” Nicky tries to argue back.“Did you know that It’s A Wonderful Life wasn’t meant to be a Christmas movie?” Andrew begins out of nowhere “it was originally released in May, but it did really badly. So they re-release it at Christmas and the rest is history” he drags the final part out to prove his point.The Die Hard argument stops as everyone stares at Andrew who just goes back to watching the movie and running his hand through Neil’s hair as he relaxes against him.“We haven’t opened any presents” Katelyn says with a soft voice as she looks towards Andrew and Neil “we wanted to wait for you two to join us first”“Eeeeeeeek! Presents” Nicky shrieks, causing Neil to jump as he continues to lie against Andrew’s bump.Andrew calms him again by placing his hand on the back of Neil’s neck and squeezing slightly. Neil relaxes in Andrew’s hold again. Andrew makes sure to give Nicky a murderous glare for scaring Neil again.“We can do presents if you’re all feeling up to it” Abby says, checking in on all of her Foxes and not just Andrew and Neil.Everyone nods with Nicky being the most excited.Abby nudges Wymack’s arm for him to get up and get the presents from under the tree.He comes back over with the sack full of gifts and begins to hand them out one by one.Nicky reads the label out loud as he’s handed his first gift from his Coach “To Nicky, Merry Christmas, love from Abby and Coach.” He opens the present and throws the ripped up wrapping paper.Erik is next to receive a present, followed by Aaron, Katelyn, Kevin, Andrew and finally Neil.Aaron and Katelyn hand their gifts over to Abby and Wymack, followed by Kevin and then Nicky and Erik.“Andrew?” Kevin begins “didn’t you bring anything?”“I think Andrew and Neil have had other things to worry about recently, Kevin” Wymack replies to his son.Kevin shrugs.“Ignore him. The baby is a big enough gift in itself” Abby says with a smile.They all stay up for a little bit longer until Andrew begins yawning and Neil is practically asleep in his lap. Andrew wakes Neil up enough to get him to walk to their bedroom and get into their Christmas pajamas. They both go to the bathroom and clean their teeth before returning to the bedroom and climbing into bed together. Both of them fall asleep within minutes.Andrew wakes up before Neil, his baby kicking him more violently than usual causes to be awake this early on Boxing Day.He decides to get up and go to the bathroom to pee to see if that calms them down a bit. It doesn’t. He decides that he’s not going to get anymore sleep this morning and heads into the living room to watch some TV.When he walks into the room, he finds Abby and Wymack already sitting on the sofa and drinking what Andrew presumes to be coffee.Abby looks up when she hears him approach “oh, good morning, Andrew” she says brightly.“I wasn’t expecting any of you to be awake this early, but you especially, Minyard,” Wymack adds.“The baby is kicking too much. I can’t sleep” Andrew replies as he sits himself down on the sofa that he and Neil have claimed as their own.“Would you like a hot chocolate?” Abby asks and Andrew nods in reply. Abby gets up and heads to the kitchen, coming back a few moments later with Andrew's favourite mug that she has at her house filled with hot chocolate.“Thanks” Andrew says as he accepts the mug that is topped with whipped cream and marshmallows with sprints of cocoa powder to finish it off.The three of them sit together and silently sip their drinks and watch a few early morning TV shows as they wait for the rest of the house to wake up.Neil is the next person to walk into the living room. Andrew smiles and reaches out for him as soon as he sees his boyfriend. “Are you feeling better this morning?” He whispers to Neil as Neil comes to sit next to him.“Yeah” Neil replies and then looks up at Abby and Wymack “I’m sorry about yesterday” he says even quieter.“Oh, Neil” Abby begins, but Wymack continues.“You have nothing to be sorry for, kid. Holidays are a hard time for you Foxes. I know that more than anyone”Neil nods and Abby offers to get him a cup of coffee which Neil accepts.Andrew and Neil look at each other and silently decide that now would be the best time to give Wymack and Abby their Christmas presents, even if they are a day late.Neil grabs the two envelopes from their bedroom and passes them over to Abby and Wymack who look at each other and then the boys in surprise. They really weren’t expecting Andrew and Neil to get them anything this Christmas.“You have to open them at the same time” Neil tells them.Wymack and Abby nod and open their envelopes simultaneously and tears well up in both of their eyes when they see what’s inside.It’s a photo of Andrew and Neil’s latest scan with Will You Be My Grandpa? written on Wymack and Will You Be My Grandma? on Abby’s.Abby and Wymack don’t even need to think about it before they both answer at the same time “oh, boys” Abby breathes out as Wymack smiles and covers his mouth with his hand as he tries to hide his emotions.“Of course we will, kids” Wymack says as he looks down at the photo of the tiny baby that’s still growing inside of his goalies belly.Everyone has tears in their eyes during this beautiful moment until it is shattered by the loud sound that can only be synonymous with Nicky as he sings Christmas songs at the top of his lungs as he skips his way into the living room.Wymack takes his and Abby’s photos and takes them into the kitchen where he can hide them from prying eyes until Andrew and Neil decide that they are ready for photos of their baby to be out on display.By the time Wymack comes back into the living room, Erik has also joined them, though he is a lot less hyper than Nicky is.Soon afterwards, Aaron and Katelyn join them too and followed finally by Kevin who yawns as he enters the room.The day is spent eating leftover food and playing board games until the Colligte Exy Charity Match starts in the evening. The match is played by two of the teams who haven’t made it through to the Spring Championships. This year it’s the Austin Axolotls Vs the Miami Dolphins. The match ends with the crowd throwing teddy bears onto the Outer Court for the various Children’s Cancer and Hospice charities that the ERC donate to every year.After the game, Andrew and Neil head back to the Columbia house with Aaron, Katelyn, Nicky and Erik following in the other car behind them.As soon as they all get back to the house, they all head upstairs and go to bed.The next day Nicky spends the entire day going on and on about Neil and Andrew doing a gender reveal instead of the Foxes having a New Year’s Eve party when he accidentally overhears Neil and Andrew discussing the envelope containing the baby’s gender.Andrew spends the day ignoring him, but decides to bring it up at his session with Betsy that afternoon.“Well, Andrew, a gender reveal might be a nice distraction from everything that’s happened recently. You deserve a break and the party seems like a nice idea. However, the choice is completely up to you and Neil, and only you and Neil” Betsy tells him after he expresses his worries to her about it.“What if we get it wrong?” Andrew says quietly.“How do you mean, Andrew?”“They got it wrong with me” he looks down at his bump and strokes it with his thumb.Betsy gives him an understanding look “then you can do it again with the correct one” she says with a smile, knowing that’s what the Foxes did for him when he returned after having his top surgery over the summer.They talk some more about it before Andrew hands Betsy her Christmas present from him and Neil.Betsy opens the envelope to see a photo of the baby scan with the message Will You Be My Grandma? written on it, the same as they did for Wymack and Abby.Betsy smiles at the scan and looks at Andrew “I would love nothing more”Before Andrew leaves her office, Betsy makes sure that he takes his Christmas card and his folder from Harry with him. She tells him that Harry wishes him a speedy recovery and that he will take as many notes as Andrew needs whilst he’s away from classes again.Andrew thanks Bee and heads outside to wait for Neil to come and pick him up.Neil picks Andrew up and they discuss what Andrew and Betsy spoke about during his session and agree to do the gender reveal, but on one condition, that it is as low-key as possible. They don’t want the press to get hold of such a private moment between Andrew, Neil and their family.They arrive home and tell Nicky and Aaron. Nicky practically screams with excitement and makes a call to Wymack to tell him that the Foxes will need to use the basement room at Fox Tower for New Year’s Eve and Wymack agrees to get it authorised.Nicky is so excited by the idea that he calls all of the Foxes and tells them before Neil and Andrew even get a chance to think about it, so they set up some ground rules and inform the Foxes that they want it to be as small and low-key as possible.Allison and Nicky will be in charge of the decorations. Renée will be in charge of keeping the envelope with the baby’s gender safe and away from prying eyes, as they know that she is the only one that they can truly trust to not open it without their explicit permission. Dan, Morgana-Faye and Sheena are left in charge of making the drinks menu for the night. Matt, Kevin, Owen and Christopher are in charge of the games for the event. The rest are made to help make the decorations and set everything up in the basement room over the course of the next few days.The Foxes all arrive at Fox Tower to begin setting up on the morning of New Year’s Eve, with everyone knowing the tasks that they need to complete to make this the perfect night for Andrew and Neil.They finish with the decorating by mid afternoon and everyone heads up to the dorms to get showered and changed into either blue or pink. If the Foxes think that the baby is going to be a boy, then they have to come dressed in blue. And if they think the baby’s going to be a girl, then they have to wear pink. Only Andrew and Neil get to wear a mixture of the two colours.Dan, Allison, Nicky, Renée, Christopher, Ash, Shelley, and William all arrive dressed in pink. Whilst Kevin, Matt, Aaron, Sheena, Morgana-Faye, Jack, Freya, Owen and Brittany come dressed in blue. It’s almost a fifty-fifty split between the team.Everyone is already down in the basement room when Andrew and Neil arrive and everyone cheers as they enter the room and look around to see all of the decorations, food, drinks and games that the Foxes have organised and arranged for the night.A handmade banner with
Baby Minyard-Josten
Boy or Girl?
Is hanging up on the far wall next to a karaoke machine. Why there is a karaoke machine Andrew will never know, he just hopes that it was left over from the last party that someone had down here.Matt starts the music and everyone begins the celebrations of a New Year’s Eve Gender Reveal.Everything is going smoothly. There’s a pin the diaper on the baby game and mocktails that are parents themed, a book to write wishes and advice for Andrew, Neil and the baby, and finally a cake with blue and pink icing that Andrew and Neil can only assume is going to be how they reveal their baby’s gender.After about an hour, Allison and Nicky decide that they’ve had enough of being sober on New Year’s and bring out a bottle of vodka that’s been hidden inside of one of the sofas for as long as anyone can remember and start making everyone do shots.The music gets turned up even louder and the baby starts kicking Andrew really hard. They obviously don’t like the loud music. Andrew can’t breathe with how overwhelmed he’s feeling and decides that he’s going to get some fresh air on the roof.Renée watches as Andrew slips out without telling anyone and heads over to Neil who is talking to Matt and Dan and pulls him to one side.“I think that you and Andrew should open this” she says as she hands Neil the envelope containing the piece of paper with the baby’s gender in it.Neil takes it and starts looking around for Andrew and realises that his boyfriend has gone.“I think you know where he is” she says softly “go to him” she gently places her hand on his arm.Neil nods and makes his way through the now very roadway Foxes and out of the basement room and into the lift up to the top floor. He gets out and takes the stairs up to the roof.H the door is already open when he arrives and he can see Andrew’s silhouette being illuminated by the moonlight. Andrew isn’t smoking, but Neil knows that he would be if he wasn’t pregnant.Neil walks over to him and sits himself down beside his boyfriend and lets Andrew’s head drop onto his shoulder.“It’s cold out here” Neil says as he rubs his hands together to try and warm them up in the December chill.Andrew doesn’t say anything, he just stays cuddled up next to Neil’s warm heat that’s radiating from his body.“Have you been out here long?” Neil asks and Andrew shakes his head.They sit together in silence for a while until Neil moves to get the envelope out of his back pocket and holds it up for Andrew to see.“Renée gave me this” he says as he lays it down on their legs.“Open it” Andrew says quietly as he looks from the envelope to Neil and back again.Neil picks up the envelope and carefully undoes the seal and pulls out the folded piece of paper.They both take a deep breath and with a silent “yes or no” from Neil and a nod from Andrew, he unfolds it and they both smile at the words that are written in Ruby’s beautiful cursive handwriting.
It’s A
Girl
They look at each other with tears in their eyes “happy New Year, Drew”“Happy New Year, Junkie”“Happy New Year, Baby Girl” Neil says as he cradles Andrew’s bump and kisses as the fireworks begin going off to ring in the New Year.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It’s two days into the new year and Andrew is in the basement room with Renée whilst she practices her kicks on a punch bag and Andrew reads this week's chapter about his pregnancy. Neil and Kevin both got up at some ridiculous hour this morning to go to the court to help Wymack clear out the old gear equipment from the cupboard.
Week 23
Week by week, you're hitting new milestones in your pregnancy as your baby prepares for life outside the womb.
Around this time, your baby is practising breathing, and getting into patterns of sleeping and waking.
What's happening in my body?
Your breasts may start leaking colostrum, which is an early type of milk. Breast milk gives your baby a good start by boosting their immunity so they can fight off infections.
This week, you may start to get rib pain as your rib cage expands to accommodate your bump. You could be feeling a bit more breathless than usual as the growing baby puts pressure on your lungs.
The best remedy is to put your feet up and relax. If you're worried about any symptoms of pregnancy, talk to your midwife or doctor.
Whooping cough vaccination
Have you had the whooping cough vaccine? It's usually offered to pregnant women at around week 20 but you can have it from week 16 to week 32.
Whooping cough is on the rise – but you can protect your baby from this dangerous condition by having a vaccination. If you have not had it yet, speak to your midwife or a GP.
Stay sun safe
Did you know that even on a cloudy day, your skin could burn? Unfortunately, this is more likely to happen when you're pregnant, as your skin is more sensitive.
Cover up and head for the shade if you're going outdoors when the sun is at its strongest. That's between 11am and 3pm, from March to October.
Remember to:
choose a high-factor suncream (15+) with at least 4-star UVA protection
apply a thick layer of suncream to all exposed skin
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 23 weeks)
It is really important to look after your mental health before, during and after pregnancy.
It will help you start thinking about how you feel emotionally and what support you might need in your pregnancy and after the birth.
This week, your signs of pregnancy could also include:
tiredness and sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 28.9cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a large mango.
Your baby's limbs are now in proportion. Over the next few weeks, you're going to be kicked around by your baby and will start to see your tummy move too, which looks very strange.
Get to know your baby's rhythms and talk to your midwife if the kicking slows down.
Your baby is about the size of a large mango.
Attention please! Attention please!
Fire has been reported in the building!
Please leave the building immediately via the nearest exit!
Do not attempt to use the lifts, but exit the building immediately!
Renée immediately stops her kicks and helps Andrew up from where he is sitting on a chair in the corner of the room. They begin making their way to the exit towards the stairs and out of Fox Tower.
Attention please! Attention please!
Fire has been reported in the building!
Please leave the building immediately via the nearest exit!
Do not attempt to use the lifts, but exit the building immediately!
Andrew and Renée join the other residents of Fox Tower in the lobby as they all try to squeeze through the double doors to begin making their way across the car park to the designated Fire Safety Zone. Andrew is bumped and bashed multiple times as the crowd makes its way forwards.By the time that Andrew and Renée have gotten outside, they can see smoke coming from one of the windows on the third floor. They both know exactly which dorm this is. All of the Foxes do.“Nicky, did you set fire to the dorms?” Dan asks as she joins the Foxes in their designated area.Nicky panics as he answers “Well…I was…yeah” he looks down at the floor with guilty eyes.Andrew begins rubbing his bump as the baby starts kicking from all the adrenaline that it’s just experienced. He winces slightly when he feels a particularly hard kick.“Andrew?” Renée begins “are you okay?”Andrew hesitates before he nods, but none of the other Foxes are convinced.“Andrew, come and sit in my truck for a few minutes until we’re allowed back inside” Matt suggests.Andrew isn’t going to say no to the opportunity of sitting down. His back has started aching recently from the weight of the baby growing.Andrew follows Matt over to his truck and lets Matt help him into the driver's seat, where he sits sideways and watches as the fire engines begin arriving at the dorms and start tackling the fire inside the Monster’s dorm.“Andrew!” Andrew hears a shout from across the car park and looks over to his left to see Wymack’s car with Neil running towards him with Kevin and Wymack not too far behind him. Neil reaches Andrew and cups his face in his hands as he looks him up and down, checking for injuries. “Are you okay?” He asks in a panicked state.Andrew nods “she’s just kicking” he whispers in return, making sure that the others can’t hear him say the gender of the baby, as he takes Neil’s hand and places it on his bump where their baby girl is happily kicking away inside of him. “She’s been giving me backache today. She’s getting heavier”“Were you—?” Neil starts as he turns his head to look at Fox Tower as the fire fighters finish putting out the blaze.Andrew shakes his head “I was with Renée. She wanted to spar, but…”Neil nods in understanding when Andrew doesn’t continue because everyone knows that he can’t spar whilst he’s pregnant, but he can at least give some advice and support to his friend in need. He won’t ask any questions because Renée has trusted Andrew to her issues and it isn’t Neil’s place to ask.“Minyard” Wymack says as he walks over and joins him and Neil at Matt’s truck “did you breathe in any of the smoke, kid?” Wymack says with concern laced in his voice. “I need to know if I need to get you both checked out” he looks at Andrew’s bump and then back to Andrew’s face again.Andrew shakes his head “no, we’re okay. Just…tired” he says with a sigh as he rubs his hand on his bump as he tries to soothe his still kicking baby.Wymack nods and then says with all seriousness “let me know if anything changes, okay”Andrew nods and Neil replies with “thanks, Coach”Coach Wymack nods again and then makes his way towards Fox Tower to speak with the fire officer about what happened.“Nicky” Neil turns to face the guilty looking man “what happened?”Nicky looks at the rest of the Foxes with tears building up in his eyes “I…I was trying to bake a cake. For Andrew and Neil” he looks up through wet eyelashes at Andrew and Neil who are staring at him with the looks of pure confusion in their faces. “I wanted to…to say…sorry, for ruining your baby reveal on New Year’s”Neil and Andrew look back at him, their faces now with small smiles - well Neil’s has, Andrew’s face is apathetic as always.“I put it in the oven and then I fell asleep. I forgot to set a timer or an alarm to wake me up. I only woke up when I heard the fire alarm and I could smell burning” Nicky looks down at the floor again “I’m really sorry, everyone” he says so quietly that he doesn’t know if the Foxes even heard him.“Nicky,” Neil says with a calm voice “thank you, for trying. It means a lot to us”Nicky sniffs as he wipes his nose on his sleeve, leaving behind a snotty, wet mess.Wymack comes back over to the Foxes and claps his hands to get their attention “okay Foxes, listen up. The dorms will be closed for the next few weeks whilst the university goes through their insurance and fixes the damage that was caused. For now, Kevin, you will be staying with me. Andrew, Neil, Aaron and Nicky will go to Abby’s. The rest of you are going to be staying in the spare dorms on the other side of campus. Anyone have any questions? No? Good” he turns to look at Nicky “Nicky, I have spoken to the chief fire officer, and he believes that you are not at fault. Appears to be a fault with the electrics connected to the oven, but they will need to do a full investigation first.”Nicky nods, but still feels guilty for being the reason that the whole of Fox Tower has to move out.“I have a question, Coach,” Brittany says as she raises her hand. Wymack nods at her so she asks away “what about collecting our things from the dorms?”Wymack nods “one person per dorm can go in and collect on the essential things that you will need. There is severe smoke damage to the third floor, so the fire officers don’t want too many people going in there for too long. If any of you don’t want to go in and retrieve items, then we can look into buying you a few things with the team card and claim it back on the insurance”The Foxes all nod.Wymack continues “Andrew, Neil, Nicky and Kevin, you won’t be able to go into your dorm as that is where the main investigation is taking place, so we will lend you some money with the team card and put it through the university’s insurance”The four boys nod and Nicky bursts into tears as he realises that he made his family homeless.“Nicky, I’m requesting that you get yourself checked out at the hospital. You’re in shock and you breathed in some of the smoke. I’m not taking any chances. I will drive you”Nicky nods.“As for the rest of you, nominate someone to go into your dorms to collect your items. Anyone who isn’t entering the dorms please let me know so I can send you all to the mall”The Foxes discuss between themselves and their separate dorms who’s going to collect what from which dorm, whilst Wymack takes Nicky to get checked out at the hospital. Matt volunteers to go into all of the dorms and asks the girls and the Freshmen for permission to go through their things. Each of the Foxes give him a list of essential items that they need and he heads inside with a fire officer to retrieve everyone’s stuff. They would still need to go to the mall later on to get some of the less essential items that he won’t be allowed to collect. Matt tells them that he will drop everyone’s stuff off to them later.Neil drives the Maserati with Andrew, Aaron and Kevin to Abby’s house, whilst the others start making their way over to the spare dorms on the other side of campus.Neil parks on Abby’s driveway and the four of them make their way into the house. Abby is already expecting them because she greets all with a warm and caring smile as she makes her way across the hallway to them.“Oh, boys” she breathes out “I’m so glad that you’re all okay” she walks closer to them, hugging Kevin and Nicky and kissing them both on the tops of their heads, before stopping herself at the last second when she goes to hug Andrew and Neil.Neil nods first and Abby wraps her arms around him and kisses the top of his head too. She lets go and looks at Andrew, expecting Andrew to say no, but she is shocked when Andrew nods. Abby gives him a small smile as she lets Andrew make the first move, not knowing how much contact the former goalkeeper can handle right now.“How is the baby feeling, Andrew?” She asks gently into his hair as she rests her chin on the top of his head. Andrew takes Abby’s hand and lets her feel his bump. The baby has calmed down a little bit in the last couple of hours following the fire. Abby smiles and kisses the top of his head too before telling them to all go take a shower and use the spare clothes that they all keep in their bedrooms for when they unexpectedly stay over.One by one, Andrew, Neil, Kevin and Aaron all take their showers and return to the living room where Abby has made them all some lunch and gives Andrew a quick once over in the privacy of his and Neil’s shared bedroom. She tells Andrew that both him and the baby seem to be fine, but she’ll keep an eye on them for a few days just to be sure.Andrew agrees and asks her about getting the whooping cough vaccine whilst he’s staying with her. He doesn’t like needles. Abby agrees and tells him that she’ll get the appointment arranged. She lets Andrew go and join the others in the living room and get some food as they wait for Nicky to be released from the hospital and for Matt to come over with some of Aaron’s stuff.Kevin and Neil turn on an Exy game and that’s when Andrew and Aaron both check out. Aaron gets up and goes to help Abby begin preparing their dinner in the kitchen. Andrew lays his head down in Neil’s lap and closes his eyes to try and get some rest. He can sleep in front of Kevin, Aaron, Neil and Abby. He feels safe around them and he knows that none of them would ever let anything happen to him or the baby.Andrew wakes up to quiet voices coming from around him in the living room. He opens his eyes to see Wymack talking to the others.Neil looks down and sees Andrew’s eyes are open “hey” he whispers as he rubs his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair. “Nicky’s home”“Is he okay?” Andrew whispers back.“He’s fine, Drew. He’s just taking a shower before dinner”Andrew nods and gets Neil to help him sit up, his arm still in plaster after his fall just before Christmas.“How’s she feeling?” Neil whispers in Andrew’s ear and he holds Andrew’s bump to help steady him.“She’s okay. She’s still sleeping” he whispers in return, quiet enough for the others to not hear.“Evening, Minyard” Wymack says when he notices Andrew is awake and sitting up.“Coach” Andrew says with a nod of acknowledgment.Abby calls out to say that dinner is ready and the boys head over to the dining table and all sit around it. They each help themselves to a serving of lemon and herb chicken, mash, peas and gravy. Wymack tells Andrew that if he eats all of his peas, he can choose what they all watch for the rest of the evening with no questions asked, much to the groan of Kevin who just wants to watch some random Exy game that Andrew couldn’t give two shits about.Andrew gives a sly smile. He knows exactly what he wants to watch.The incentive to piss off Kevin by depriving him of his precious Exy is enough to make him eat his peas, even if he isn’t very keen on them.Neil and Kevin are told to help Abby clear away the dishes and put the dessert in the oven. It’s an upside down treacle sponge pudding with custard, one of Nicky and Andrew’s favourites.Andrew is told to go and set up whatever it is he wants to watch on the TV and that the others will bring in the dessert when it’s ready.Andrew sits himself down on the sofa and gets himself and his bump comfortable with cushions and blankets, just as Neil comes in with both of their desserts and sits himself down next to his pregnant boyfriend.“What are we gonna watch?” Neil asks as he hands Andrew his bowl and a spoon.“West Side Story” Andrew replies with a blank expression as he takes the bowl from Neil and rests it on the pillow that’s covering his bump. He still can’t use his right hand until the plaster comes off in a few weeks. For now, he has to use his left hand which is proving to be difficult.Aaron, Kevin, Abby, Wymack and Nicky all come in to join them and Wymack presses PLAY on the remote to start the film that Andrew has chosen. He hasn’t told anyone, apart from Neil, what they will be watching.The opening titles of West Side Story begin playing and everyone looks at Andrew with the faces of since when the fuck did Minyard like musicals?Andrew just simply shrugs and goes back to watching the film and eating his pudding.Nicky has seen this film hundreds, maybe even thousands, of times and sings along to every single song, whilst Andrew quietly hums as he leans his head onto Neil’s shoulder and taps his finger to the rhythm of the songs.When the movie ends, Nicky is told to go and have an early night by Abby and to let her know if he feels unwell at all in the night. She also suggests the same thing for Andrew, noticing how exhausted the former goalkeeper looks after an eventful day like today.Nicky, Andrew, Neil and Aaron all head into their bedroom after saying their goodnight to Abby, Wymack and Kevin.Andrew and Neil take a shower together. Neil washes Andrew’s hair whilst making sure to not get Andrew’s plaster wet. Neil kisses Andrew’s neck and the former goalkeeper falls into the feeling, tilting his head to give Neil more access.“Yes or no?” Neil whispers into Andrew’s ear.“Yes” Andrew replies with a breathy whisper.Neil spins Andrew so that they are chest to chest and runs his hand down Andrew’s body and in between his legs where he begins circling his clit with two fingers. Andrew lets out a quiet moan as he hides his face into the crook of Neil’s shoulder and the feeling or his orgasm edges ever closer. Neil speeds up his motions and Andrew cums with an almost silent scream as he shakes his way through his orgasm. Neil kisses him a few times before turning off the shower and helping Andrew step out of the tub.They get into their soft pajamas in the bathroom, knowing full well that they will be coming straight back off again in just a few moments, and make their way into their bedroom.The door is barely closed before they are on each other's mouths again and kissing passionately against the wall with Neil crowding Andrew in and taking him apart with his tongue, taking their clothes off and throwing them somewhere across the room.Neil trails his kisses from Andrew’s mouth down to his collarbone, his chest, to each nipple as he bites and soothes them, before continuing his way down, down down to Andrew’s pussy where he places a gentle kiss against the soft, pink skin.“Fuck” Andrew lets out a shuddery breath as Neil licks him for the first time.Neil inserts his fingers into Andrew’s pussy and starts fingering him open, all whilst still licking his pussy and looking up to watch Andrew through his long eyelashes as Andrew quivers with the feeling.“Neil” Andrew says in a cut off moan “fuck I’m gonna cum”Neil speeds up and Andrew caves as he orgasm runs through him. Neil keeps licking and fingering Andrew as Andrew struggles to keep his moans and gasps quiet in the silence of Abby’s house.Neil lets up, stands and picks Andrew up in one clean motion. Andrew wraps his legs around Neil’s naked body as Neil carries him over to the bed and sits himself down with Andrew in his lap.“Yes or no, Drew?” Neil asks, breathlessly.“Yes” Andrew replies as he already begins grinding down onto Neil’s body.Andrew lifts himself up just enough for Neil to insert his dick into him and moans into Neil’s neck at the stretch of the intrusion.Andrew wraps his arms around Neil’s neck and lifts himself up for the first time before coming back down and then repeating the motion over and over again until his cumming with another cut off moan and gasp.They keep going, with Andrew having multiple orgasms until Neil cums inside of him with a cut off moan of his own as both of their bodies shake with the adrenaline and rush of their orgasms and Andrew’s over-stimulation.They kiss and breathe in tandem as they both come back down from their orgasms, with Neil holding Andrew close before lying them both down in the bed and letting Andrew roll off of him so that he can sleep comfortably on his side next to him.Neil turns himself over so that he is living face to face with Andrew and cups his cheek, whispers softly “we could have lost you today. I thought that I had lost you”Andrew mirrors Neil’s gesture and whispers in reply “you made me a promise and I’m making it back to you. I’m staying. I’m not going anywhere. Ever”They look into each other's eyes for a few moments longer before kissing once more. Neil leans over Andrew and turns the bedside light off, letting them both fall asleep whilst holding each other throughout the night.Andrew and Neil are both awoken by Andrew’s phone. Andrew groans and snuggles himself further into Neil’s body. It’s too early on a Saturday morning for this. It’s the weekend and Andrew is still recovering from his accident and his many, many orgasms that Neil gave him last night.The phone beeps again and this time, Neil rolls himself over to pick it up off of its charging place on the bedside table, much to Andrew’s disapproving groan. He was comfy in Neil’s arms.Neil looks at the too bright screen and sees that Allison had sent about a thousand messages on the Foxes’ Group Chat.
AlliePallie: Foxes shopping trip at the mall. Be there at 11am. All of you are coming. No excuses.
AlliePallie: I’m talking to you two @StabbyMinyard @BabyDaddy
MattyB: Who wants to get the team card from Coach?
NickLovesDick: Me!
CaptainCrunch: Nicky you’re banned from the team card! Remember?
NickLovesDick: That was ONE TIME!
MattyB: Coach still hasn’t recovered
AlliePallie: @BrittanyBitch @PokémonAsh @FrostyKnickers @SeaShells @MorgyFaye @DontDrinkOwen @YoungGoalie @FreyIsBae @MeanerSheena @ChrisMurph Here’s the address
AlliePallie:
[AlliePallie Sent A Link]
AlcoholsBestie: As long as we can go to Exites
DrugsAreBad: Shut up Kevin
“Neil” Andrew says from his spot underneath the duvet “we want cuddles”Neil smiles at Andrew and the thought of both him and their baby girl wanting to cuddle him. Neil puts the phone back down on the bedside table and snuggles back down into the duvet and lets Andrew wrap himself around his body like a koala and smiles into Neil’s side.“She’s moving a lot this morning” he says with a smile still firmly placed on his lips and sleep still lacing his voice. He guides Neil’s hand down to his bump where Neil can feel his baby girl moving around inside of Andrew. “What did the chat want?” Andrew asks after a few moments of peace with his little family.Neil speaks, keeping his voice quiet “we’re going to the mall. We have to be there at 11am”“What time is it now?” Andrew asks through a yawn.Neil looks at the clock next to Andrew’s phone “9:10am”Andrew groans into Neil’s chest “it’s so early”“We could sneak off and look at some baby stuff. We need to start buying things soon” Neil suggests.“Or we could just stay here and…” Andrew starts kissing up Neil’s chest, to his shoulder, his collarbone, neck. Making his way upwards until his mouth is on Neil’s “yes or no, Josten?” Andrew whispers against his lips.“Yes” Neil breathes out in reply.Andrew climbs on top of Neil, making sure not to separate their lips as he slips his hand between them both and stroking Neil’s dick.Neil lets out a shuddering breath between kisses “fuck, Drew”Andrew trails his kisses down Neil’s body until he’s sucking on Neil’s dick in a way that has Neil arching his back off the bed and seeing stars.“Oh my god, Andrew” Neil moans as Andrew speeds up his motions “fuck…I’m gonna cum, Drew”Andrew takes Neil deep into his throat and swallows around Neil, causing Neil to spill down his throat. Andrew continues to suck and swallow Neil dry. He eventually pulls off of him and opens his mouth to show Neil his load on his tongue before closing his mouth to swallow it without spilling a single drop.Neil is a sweaty and breathless mess on the bed, his chest rising and falling rapidly as Andrew comes to sit himself down on his lap and reclaim his mouth with his.“And you really want to go outside?” Andrew says with a sly smile against Neil’s lips as he keeps kissing his boyfriend.Neil hums and pretends to think about it “we’re going”Andrew groans and falls flat against Neil’s chest.“Come on. I’ll buy you some cookies”Andrew puts on a pouty expression that Neil doesn’t believe for a second “fine”“Good. Then come on, get up. We need to shower” Neil says as he taps Andrew’s waist, causing the former goalkeeper to climb off of him so that Neil can climb out of bed and drag them both to the shower.They shower and get dressed before heading into Abby’s living room to find Aaron, Nicky and Abby with Kevin and Wymack having breakfast together at the table.“Good morning, boys” Wymack says from behind his newspaper “did you have a good…morning?”Nicky sniggers, causing Abby to hit him around the back of the head “stop that”Andrew freezes, immediately turns on his heels and heads back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Neil stands in the doorway to the living room, completely baffled as to what everyone is talking about.“I don’t understand—” Neil begins but is cut off by Abby.“Go and check on Andrew”Neil looks at Abby with a confused expression before nodding and making his way back to the bedroom. He can hear Andrew’s quiet sobs from outside the door. Neil knocks and opens the door and slightly locks his head through to see Andrew with his head in his hands and his shoulders shaking as he cries softly to himself.“Drew?” Neil asks as he steps through the door and into the bedroom “what’s wrong? I don’t understand. I—”“They heard us, Neil. They heard…everything” Andrew replies as he breaks down again.It takes a moment before Neil realsies what Andrew means, and then it hits him “oh god. Oh no. How? How could they have? Like everything, everything?”Andrew just nods and he continues to cry.“I’m so, so sorry, Andrew. I didn’t mean—”“It’s not your fault, Junkie” Andrew looks up at Neil and holds his hand out towards him “I should’ve been more careful”“But—”Andrew shakes his head “it was me who wanted to. This is my fault”“Oh, Andrew” Neil looks at his boyfriend with a silent yes or no, and when Andrew nods, Neil wraps his arms securely around him and strokes his hair as he rocks them both from side to side.A little while later there is a soft knock at the door and Abby’s voice comes through from the other side “Andrew, can I come in?”Neil looks at Andrew who nods so Neil calls out “yeah”Abby quietly opens the door “it’s okay, Andrew. The others have gone now. I’ve sent them to the mall early”“I’m sorry” Andrew sniffs as he wipes his nose in his armband.“Oh Andrew” Abby says with a kind laugh “what do you have to be sorry for? Eh? It’s all part of growing up. I’ve seen and heard a whole lot worse”Andrew looks at her and nods, still hiding his face partially in Neil’s hoodie.“Can I give you a hug?” Abby asks gently, being prepared to move away if Andrew says no.Andrew nods and untangles himself from Neil and lets Abby wrap her arms around him instead as she too strokes his hair and rubs his back “what happened today is nothing to be ashamed about. Okay?”Andrew nods against her chest.“And I would say ‘make sure that you use protection’ but I think I’m a little bit late to that one”This causes Andrew to let out a small laugh.Abby pulls back from the hug and cups Andre’s face in her hands “I am so, so proud of how far you have come. You arrived here, broken and hurt, but you kept all of those feelings bottled up inside of you. And now, look at you now, Andrew. You’re finally who you were meant to be and you’re happy, Andrew. You’ve found yourself a wonderful partner in Neil and you’ve taken so many steps to get to where you are today. I will never not be proud of who you’ve become” she uses her thumbs to wipe away his tears away “there’s some pancakes left in the kitchen of you want some”Andrew nods, so Abby lets him go and watches over her shoulder as he leaves the bedroom. She turns back and stands up in front of Neil, cupping his face in her hands the same way as she did with Andrew. “And you, Mr Neil Abram Josten, have still got so, so much to learn. It will take time, but you will get there. There is nothing that you can’t come to me, David, Betsy or your teammates about. We all want to make sure that you can make the most out of every single moment in your life. I’m proud of you too, Neil”Neil looks up at her with a teary smile.“Now go and get yourself some pancakes before Andrew eats them all”“Can I have a fruit bowl instead?” Neil asks quietly as he sniffs.Abby chuckles “of course you can”They leave the bedroom together and head into the living room to find Andrew eating his pancakes with what appears to be half a jar of Nutella poured over them. He looks a lot calmer now.Neil sits himself down opposite Andrew and Abby comes over a few minutes later with a fruit bowl for Neil containing all of his favourite fruits.They eat and clean their teeth with both boys getting changed into different clothes before deciding that they will go to the mall but do their own little shopping trip instead. Abby tells them that Wymack can help them bring home any of the baby furniture that they decide to buy.Neil drives them again as Andrew is not allowed to drive with his broken arm and they make their way to the mall. Andrew sends Renée a text to let her know that he and Neil will be doing their own thing. She doesn’t question it, but just tells them to enjoy themselves, be safe and let her know if they need any help with getting anything to the car.Neil parks the car as close to the doors as he can, which isn’t very close at all on a Saturday lunchtime. It’s practically at the other end of the car park. Neil offers to drop Andrew off by the doors but Andrew calls him an idiot and tells him to shut up. Neil laughs and parks the car in the next available space that he sees.They walk across the car park and into the shopping centre. They head over to the map next to the stairs and look at the shops and decide which ones they want to visit. They need to get new clothes, bags, books, and replace all the things from their dorm that was destroyed or smoke damaged in the fire. Neither Neil nor Andrew want to risk Andrew wearing clothes that have been covered in smoke and ash whilst he’s pregnant. They also look at stores where they can start buying items that they’ll need for the baby.Their first stop is Primark, where Andrew saw the cute Eeyore onesie when they went on their shopping trip at the start of December. Andrew makes sure to find that same onesie and puts it in his basket, along with the rest of the Winnie The Pooh characters.They both buy some new clothes, filling up the trolley that Neil has been crashing into everyone and everything. Andrew is tempted to take over pushing it himself.They go to Next and get even more clothes. Andrew is using the fire as an opportunity to finally sort out Neil’s terrible choice of clothes. They even venture into the kids section and start looking at baby clothes and onesies. Andrew picks up a few and adds them to their basket. He wonders if Wymack will try and get them to use the insurance money to pay for them.After Next, they head to the other end of the mall and head into John Lewis and start looking at the baby furniture, working out what they need to buy and how much it will cost. Andrew created a list back in October of items that they might need, but he has found so many more things that are far more important.They look at cribs and changing tables before deciding that they liked the set that they saw in IKEA in October.They look at buggies and prams and find one that they like, so they decide to order it for home delivery to the Columbia House. They’re using the spare empty bedroom upstairs as a nursery.About an hour later, Renée texts Andrew to say that the rest of the Foxes are stopping for lunch and to see if he and Neil would like to join them. Neil agrees, so Andrew asks Renée where they’re eating and lets her know that they’ll be there in a bit.Andrew and Neil pay for the items in their basket and make their way to the food court to find the rest of their teammates.They find them in Nando’s And join them at their table.Dan collects everyone’s orders and heads up to place them at the counter.She returns and the chattering amongst the Foxes begins with questions flying at Andrew and Neil about their shopping trip left, right and center. All they reply with is that they’ve replaced their clothes and bedding from the fire.Once the food arrives and everyone has begun eating, the questions turn to Nicky about how he has, once again, managed to get the entirety of Fox Tower moved to the other student accommodation building for the third year in a row.This leads to some very over dramatised stories of how Nicky has started each of the fires in the dorms, with big hand gestures and lots of apologies along the way.Neil looks at Andrew and notices that he hasn’t eaten any of his chicken. Andrew looks at him and says with a small voice “I can’t cut it”Neil leans across the table to pick up Andrew's plate and brings it in front of him and cuts his chicken up into little bite sized pieces. The other Foxes notice but don’t say anything. Neil hands the plate back to Andrew who gives him a small smile that only Neil can see as a way of thanks.Andrew starts eating his chicken with a small smile on his face. He loves Nando’s lemon and herb chicken with the creamy mash and garlic bread. Neil makes sure to share some of his veggies with Andrew with the promise of having a nata afterwards.Andrew eats all of it and even some of the veggies, so Neil keeps his word and buys him a nata and Andrew quietly eats it whilst the rest of the Foxes decide which shops they’re visiting for the afternoon.They work out a list and split themselves off into groups, a mixture of Veteran and Freshmen Foxes in each. A few of the Freshmen Foxes have never been to the mall before and the older Foxes don't want them getting lost.Renée asks Andrew and Neil if they want to join her, Allison, William, Ash and Freya. Andrew and Neil agree and join them as they go to a makeup store that neither Neil, William or Ash understand. Andrew and Renée go off separately in the store to look for some hair dyes for her hair. Neil watches as Allison helps Freya pick out a foundation that matches nicely with her skin tone, but also covers her facial scars.Together they pick out a foundation, eye shadow, lipstick and other things that Neil doesn’t understand.After purchasing Freya’s makeup and Renée’s hair dye, they head to a clothes shop, followed by another one and another one, until Andrew tells Neil that he’s getting too tired to continue.Neil lets Allison and Renée know that he and Andrew are going and they say their goodbyes before heading back to the car and driving to the Columbia House.Andrew sleeps throughout the drive, so Neil makes sure he goes slowly so that his boyfriend can rest for a little bit longer.Neil is careful when he wakes up Andrew to not spook him and they walk into the house together with Neil carrying the bags from their day of shopping.Andrew goes and gets himself settled on the sofa and turns on the TV, whilst Neil takes the bags of clothes up stairs and then heads into the kitchen and grabs some mango and cookies for Andrew and a fruit bowl for himself, along with a couple of drinks each, before bringing them into the living room and sitting himself down next to Andrew on the sofa.Neil hands the bowl of mango and cookies over to Andrew, who accepts it gratefully, and covers them both with a blanket as Andrew flicks through the various films in their film folder.They decide on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Andrew hums his way through the songs and bobs his head along to the music. Neil has got absolutely no clue what’s going on in this film, nor any of the films that the Foxes have made him watch for that matter.Nicky, Kevin and Aaron arrive at the house in the middle of Toot Sweets, which causes Nicky to start singing along at the top of his lungs. He’s the reason Andrew knows any of these musicals in the first place. When Nicky took the twins in, he used films as a way of getting them to bond and get to know each other. Andrew soon realised that he has more in common with his annoying cousin than he first thought.Nicky comes bouncing into the living room and practically throws himself on top of Andrew and Neil, causing both of them to immediately shove him off.“What the fuck, Nicky?!” Neil exclaims “what the fuck did you do that for?”Nicky panics as he untangles himself from the blankets on the floor “Sorry…I’m sorry…I just—”Neil turns to face Andrew who is frozen in his seat “Drew?” He whispers as Andrew silently shakes beside him “Are you okay?”Nicky looks up from his spot on the floor “Andrew?”Aaron comes into the living room doorway and sees what’s currently happening with Andrew “Nicky, leave” he says as he ushers his cousin out of the room before stepping inside and closing the door as quietly as he can behind himself.He lowers himself down so that he is crouching on the floor in front of his twin and the redhead and keeps his voice quiet as he speaks “Andrew, I need you to try and slow your breathing down. Close your eyes and take some slow, deep breaths for me. Okay?Andrew’s still hyperventilating, but he manages to flick his gaze to Aaron who nods at him encouragingly. Andrew closes his eyes and attempts to take a breath in. It’s shuddery and tear filled, but it’s a breath. His breath out is just as ragged.“Well done, Andrew, and another just like that” Aaron keeps encouraging him.Andrew keeps taking the slow, deep breaths until his breathing returns back to normal. He slowly moves his hand for Neil to take. Neil holds it tightly and rubs his thumb along the back of Andrew’s hand.It’s a few more minutes before Andrew is able to make himself speak again “I’m sorry” he whispers so quietly that Aaron and Neil barely hear him.“Hey” Neil begins in a whisper “you have nothing to be sorry for. Okay?”“Yeah, Andrew” Aaron also whispers “Nicky shouldn’t have done that. I think he’s just a little…” he uses his hand to emphasise his point “over excited”Andrew nods, he knows what his cousin is like.“Do you want to go upstairs for a bit?” Neil asks, still keeping his voice quiet.Andrew nods “yeah”Aaron and Neil help to untangle the blankets from around Andrew’s legs and help him stand up. Andrew gives his twin a small smile as he and Neil leave the room and head upstairs, where they get changed and turn in for an early night. Neil holds Andrew as he sobs quietly to himself until his breathing finally evens out and he eventually falls asleep.There’s a quiet knock on the door and Aaron slips his head inside, causing Neil to look up from where he’s still running his fingers through a sleeping Andrew’s hair.“Is Andrew okay?” Aaron whispers into the bedroom.Neil looks down at where Andrew is sleeping with his back to Neil’s chest, his bump being accentuated by the duvet and his arm resting on the giant, cuddly fox teddy, and nods, whispers back “he’s sleeping”Aaron nods “I’ve got you both some bottles of water.” Aaron enters the room as silently as possible and places the two bottles on the bedside table before looking at the sleeping form of his twin “will you give him a hug or something from me?”Neil nods and gives Aaron a small smile “of course”Aaron And Neil say their good nights to each other before Aaron leaves and Neil snuggles himself behind Andrew, kisses his sleeping boyfriend’s cheek and goes to sleep.Sunday is spent as a lazy day for Andrew, who spends most of the day resting in bed whilst Neil sorts through the bags that Matt had managed to get from their dorm after the fire. Most of the clothes are salvageable and are placed into the laundry basket, whilst others, unfortunately, weren’t quite so lucky.Neil also uses this time to sort through some of Andrew’s small clothes and replace them with the new items that they had bought on their shopping trip with the Foxes yesterday. He boxes up the small clothes, ready for when Andrew is able to wear them again, and places the boxes in the corner of the room to be dealt with at a later time.The afternoon and evening are spent with Andrew and Neil looking at different paint colours for their baby irks nursery on Andrew’s laptop. They decide that they like the look of the shade Pretty Pink from B&Q alongside White Cotton and Wild Primrose for the details that they want to add to her walls. Andrew had described to Neil earlier that day what he wanted their little girl’s room to look like, and Neil had agreed and said that it was perfect.They look at other wall decorations that would match the furniture that they also ordered from IKEA that would be delivered to the Columbia House later on in the week. They decide on a few things, such as paintings, photos and stickers, alongside a certain font of letters that they liked the look of to write her name above her cot when they finally decide on one.Aaron quickly pops into their room later on in the evening with some chicken and bacon pasta bake for them both to eat as Andrew still doesn’t feel like going downstairs. The events of the last few days finally catching up on him and making him feel too overwhelmed. Aaron only stays long enough to hand over the bowls of pasta and some drinks and check to see if his twin is okay before exiting the room and leaving Andrew and Neil to it.All of the Foxes are given the week off practice, much to Kevin’s constant complaining, as they all get themselves settled in their new dorms and houses whilst Fox Tower is being redecorated, again.Neil drops Andrew off at the stadium to get his whooping cough vaccine from Abby. She had been given special permission as she is the only person that Andrew Andrew trusts around him with needles. Neil waits for him outside of Abby’s office and then drops Andrew off for his weekly session with Betsy.Afterwards, they go back to the Columbia House and have another quiet evening, just the two of them. They take a bath together and relax in the bubbles until it’s time to sleep.The rest of the week it’s spent sorting out the spare upstairs bedroom that no one has ever used. It’s currently just full of boxes that the twins and Nicky never opened after moving in. Most of this stuff could probably be thrown away, but Andrew knows that Nicky most likely wants to keep the majority of it for ‘sentimental values’.When Nicky bought the house and moved the twins in, he gave them the upstairs to have as their own private area to be teenagers and do whatever they liked with no questions asked. It was a safe place for them to grow, learn, scream, and cry. Nicky used what was originally the dining room as his bedroom. It was only supposed to be a temporary thing, but he felt comfortable knowing that the twins were safe upstairs, and that if he was sleeping by the front door he’d be able to hear if one of them went out in the middle of the night. Most nights he’d find Andrew sitting on the front porch with a cigarette in his hand as he blew the smoke into the cold night air. Nicky wouldn’t disturb him, rather he’d just let Andrew have the space that he needed, even though all he wanted to do was to run over, wrap his arms around his younger cousin and tell him that everything was going to be okay. Aaron would go out and come back so high that Nicky was surprised that he didn’t float.Andrew made sure to move anything that he thought either Nicky or might want to keep into a separate pile for them to sort through themselves at a later date.They’re sorting through what appears to be a box full of Nicky’s old school books when Neil says something completely out of the blue “I want to tell mum about the pregnancy.” He says it without looking up from the tiny, child sized T-shirts that he’s folding, that once belonged to Aaron.Andrew stops what he’s doing and looks over at Neil who is folding and refolding the same T-shirt over and over again like a nervous tic.“Neil”Neil shakes his head “ignore me. It’s a stupid idea anyway. She’s in California. I don’t even know why I said it. I…just—”“Abram” Andrew says firmly enough to catch Neil’s attention. “If I can get cleared to fly, then it’s a yes. We’ll go and see your mum”Neil looks up at Andrew with tears filling his bright blue eyes, making them shine even brighter than they normally do. “Really?”Andrew cups Neil’s face in his hands and nods “yes, really. But I need you to promise me one thing”“Anything,” Neil whispers.“I need you to tell me when it becomes too much” Andrew makes sure that his voice leaves no room for any loopholes or disagreements.Neil nods “I promise”Andrew kisses him and wipes the tears away from his Junkies eyes before asking him if he’s okay, to which Neil nods and they go back to sorting through the boxes in the room.Later that day, Andrew asks Abby if she can set up a doctor's appointment to see if he is fit to fly to California for a few days. She gets him an appointment arranged for the day after tomorrow. He also calls Bee and tells her about his and Neil’s plans to go to California and tell Neil’s mum about the baby. Betsy knows where Neil’s mum is buried. Neil had given Andrew permission to tell her after his father’s trial was over. They work out a plan that would not only work for Andrew to be able to avoid certain areas of the state, but also aid Neil in seeing his mother.When Andrew arrives home, they decide that the best place to stay would be with Jean, Jeremy, Cat and Laila for a couple of days as they live close to the beach where Mary is buried. Neil calls Jeremy who is more than happy to have them stay for a few days and even says that he’ll give them a list of places to visit for when they’re there.The next day is spent sorting through even more boxes, only this time, Aaron, Nicky and Kevin all help, although Kevin spends the entire day moaning about not playing Exy.Nicky gets distracted when he finds a photo album of tiny Aaron and spends almost an hour cooing over photos of the tiny blonde. Aaron can’t he,o but look at Andrew in shame for having photos of the childhood that Andrew never had.Neil makes sure to lock this in his memory for when their baby girl is growing up. She will have all the photos they can get of her so that she can look back on them when she’s older and they can tell her the stories of how each photo came to be.The day after, Andrew goes to the doctors with Neil and gets the all clear to fly to California for a few days. Not only did they need to check to see if the baby would be safe, but also Andrew’s broken arm in the pressure of the plane. The doctor says “seeing as your arm is almost completely healed now, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to fly. Just make sure that you get yourself checked out if you start to feel unwell whilst you’re away and get someone to reassess you before you fly home.”Andrew and Neil book their flights as soon as they get him and inform Coach Wymack that neither of them would be at the stadium for the majority of next week. Wymack tells them to be careful and to say hi to the Trojans for him.Andrew gives Aaron permission to drive the Maserati and drop him and Neil at the airport.They check-in and go through all of the usual security checks. Andrew is exempt from going through the X-ray scanner due to his pregnancy, so they have to pay him down by hand on the other side which makes him almost have a panic attack.They speed through the duty free section and find their gate in a secluded area where Andrew can relax a bit after the TSA man patted his bump one too many times, causing his baby to start moving around more than he would like at this ungodly hour of the morning.Neil made sure to bring some of his homework with him to do whilst they wait to board the plane and to do during the flight too.Andrew uses this time to read about this week in his pregnancy book.
Week 24
Your baby is now considered "viable", which means they could survive if they were born right now and given the right support.
What's happening in my body?
You may start to feel really hungry, there is no need to eat any more until the 3rd trimester of your pregnancy (week 28 onwards).
You're likely to be putting on weight, but do not worry if you can barely see your bump, as every pregnancy is different.
Alcohol
It can be hard to give up alcohol, but remember:
alcohol goes to your baby
the risks for your baby include miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
If you would like some help or advice, ask your midwife or doctor.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 24 weeks)
Week by week, you may be developing various new symptoms.
Around now, you could be getting pains around your ribs, back, breasts, bottom, stomach, etc. This is partly due to your pregnancy hormones loosening up your ligaments and muscles, and your growing baby pushing on various parts of your body.
This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:
tiredness and sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 30cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a corn on the cob.
Everything is in proportion, but your baby is smaller than a baby who's been in the womb for longer.
If your baby was born now, there is a chance they will survive outside the womb. Baby units for premature babies (called neonatal units) can help them breathe, feed, keep warm and fight infections.
Your baby is about the size of a corn on the cob.
Flight 462 to LAX please make your way to Gate 7. Your plane is now ready for boarding.
“Can anyone with Priority Seating please make their way forwards. Thank you” a lady at the gate calls out.Neil and Andrew pick up their bags and make their way forwards. Neil had bought the priority seating so that there would be less chance for anyone to knock into Andrew’s ever growing baby bump and to give Andrew the time that he needs to calm himself down before the plane takes off.They get to their seats and sit down. The tension in Andrew’s body is the only thing that lets Neil know that he’s only seconds away from having another panic attack. Neil holds his hand out for Andrew who takes it with a tight grip.“Slow breaths, Drew” Neil says softly as the other passengers begin boarding the plane.Andrew follows Neil’s instructions and soo the plane is getting off down the runway and up into the sky.Neil had hoped that Andrew might have fallen asleep for a little bit once they got up in the air, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Neil spends the whole flight talking Andrew back down from near panic attacks as the plane continuously hits turbulence in the air.They land and have to wait for the rest of the passengers to disembark before they are able to do so. They collect their one suitcase from the baggage reclaim and head out into the arrivals where they find a very smiling Jeremy and a grumpy looking Jean waiting for them to arrive.“Andrew! Neil! Over here!” Jeremy exclaims as he waves his hands as soon as he spots the Starting Striker and former Goalkeeper.Jeremy hugs Neil and tries to go for a fist bump with Andrew who completely blanks him.Jeremy offers to take the suitcase and they follow him and Jean out to the car and head to their house not too far away from the university.They get to the house and Jeremy shows them around. There’s a living room to the left of the hallway, the kitchen is at the far end of the same hallway with a door that leads into the back garden. On the right of the hallway is the stairs that leads up the stairs to the bedrooms and the main bathroom which Andrew and Neil would be sharing with Cat and Laila. Three bedrooms lie upstairs. Cat and Laila’s room is the one nearest the bathroom with Jean and Jeremy’s in the middle. They have the master bedroom with the ensuite as Jean and Jeremy needed to have more privacy. The very end room is the spare guest bedroom with a large double bed that Andrew and Neil would be staying in for the next few days.Jeremy leaves them to get themselves settled in and give them time to unpack. He also suggests that they both take a nap for a few hours.Neil and Andrew both accept that offer and settle themselves down in the comfy bed and get some shut eye for the next couple of hours.Andrew fidgets more than he sleeps. His fear of flying still lingering over him and the thought of trying to sleep in an unfamiliar bed makes him feel even more anxious. Neil snuggles himself right behind Andrew and reminds him that he is safe, that the baby is safe, they are all safe, until Andrew manages to close his eyes and rest for a few hours.Andrew could have quite easily slept all day but someone decided that they were going to use his bladder as a football and now he had to pee. Usually he’d try to leave without waking Neil up, but when he rolls over to look behind him, he finds Neil already sitting up and watching an Exy game silently on his laptop.Neil pauses the game when he sees Andrew moving “hey Drew. Are you feeling okay?”Andrew nods “I have to pee” he replies, sounding annoyed that his nap has been rudely interrupted.Andrew goes to the bathroom and pees, then goes back to the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed and looks at Neil. He closes the lip of the laptop, causing Neil to look at him.“How would you like to do this?” Andrew asks with a gentle tone.Neil’s eyes drop as he tries to think of an answer.Andrew will give him as long as he needs to decide how he wants to do this. It will be the first time that Neil has gone back to the beach since he buried his mum there three years ago.“I want to take her some flowers” he whispers “and a scan of the baby” he looks up at Andrew with pleading eyes.Andrew nods “yeah, we can do that, Junkie”They use Neil’s laptop and work out a route to take to the beach that would avoid Oakland. The two places are just across the bridge from each other and Andrew doesn’t want to let his own pain and hurt distract him from what Neil needs.Jeremy offers them to use his car, so that they can have a safe space to go to if things become too much for either of them. He also gives them some sandwiches and drinks in a little hamper, along with a picnic blanket, just in case they decide to stay there for the day. Andrew accepts the hamper and the key and takes Neil’s hand as they walk out to the car together.Andrew checks in on Neil throughout the duration of the thirty minute drive. Each time Andrew asks Neil if he’s okay, Neil’s answer gets smaller and quieter, until it is barely a nod as Neil watches out of the window as the sea comes into view.Andrew parks the car and lets nei, take his time getting out. He’s not going to rush this, even if it takes Neil all day.Neil stays where he is and takes some deep breaths before nodding once and getting out of the car without saying a word.Andrew gets out and rounds the car to find Neil staring at something in the car park next to them.“Junkie?” He asks softly, coming up beside his boyfriend.“That’s where…the car…I—”Andrew understands what Neil is saying as soon as he spots the scorch marks on the ground in front of him.“That’s where the car was parked” Andrew states in a quiet voice, making Neil nod. “Neil, we don’t have to do this now. Not if you’re not ready—”“I’m ready” Neil says as he takes another deep breath and forces himself to put one foot in front of the other as he makes his way to the coastal path which leads down the steps and onto the sand.Andrew walks carefully behind him, making sure that he keeps a tight hold on the hand rail as they make their way down the steep and slippery steps.They get onto the sand and Andrew watches as Neil looks around. He looks lost, confused.Andrew walks over to his boyfriend “Neil?”Neil looks at Andrew and sniffs with tears in his eyes “I don’t know which way I went”Andrew offers Neil his hand which Neil takes after a few seconds of hesitation. “Lets try this way, Junkie” Andrew suggests and gently tugs Neil’s arm in the direction that he means.Neil nods and follows, biting the end of his sleeve nervously as he does so.They walk about halfway along the beach before Andrew stops them next to a large rock. He’s already exhausted from today and it’s only just begun.“I still can’t remember where she is. It was dark when I did it so I didn’t look around much—” Neil says, his voice beginning to show signs of panic.“Neil” Andrew says softly, but loud enough to cut Neil from his racing thoughts “she won’t mind where you are. You’re here and so is she.” Andrew looks around at where they are and makes a suggestion “why don’t you use this rock as her place? That way you know where to walk to next time we come”Neil turns around so quickly that Andrew wouldn’t be surprised if he got whiplash “she won’t mind?” He asks, so shyly, like a child trying to tell their mum that they’ve broken her favourite vase.Andrew shakes his head and hold out his hand for Neil to take “no, Neil, she wouldn’t”Neil helps Andrew to stand before laying the flowers down in front of the rock, right in the view of the ocean.Andrew takes the photo of the scan out of his hoodie pocket and hands it over to Neil with an encouraging nod.Neil turns around so that he is facing the sea “Mum?” He says into the distance. Andrew stays next to his Junkie’s side in silent support. “Mum, it’s Abram. I…I have something to tell you…and…and I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it.” Neil hesitates as he finds the words that he wants to say. “This…this is Andrew,” he looks at Andrew who gives a small wave at the sea “he’s my boyfriend and…” he hesitates again as he looks to Andrew for support, but Andrew just nods at him with encouragement to continue in his own time “we’re…umm…we’re having a baby” Neil lets a smile creep onto his face as he gets into the flow of what he’s saying “we’re having a baby and it’s a girl. She’s due in May and I really wish that you could meet her. I…I brought one of the scans for you to have. I’m not entirely sure what you’re meant to do with it, but I wanted you to have it anyway.” He looks at the scan and begins describing his baby girl. “She kind of looks like a weird blob. I don’t know if she’s going to look like me. I hope she doesn’t. I don’t want her to look like him. I want her to look like you, or Andrew, or maybe a mixture of both?” He crouches down and digs a hole in the sand next to the flowers and places the scan inside before covering it back over with the sand and standing up again. “I miss you, mum” Neil is crying his eyes out by the time he’s finished speaking and Andrew doesn’t waste a single second to pull his Junkie into his arm and hold him tightly as he cries big, fat tears into the crook of his neck.Andrew guides Neil backwards until they are both sitting on the rock. Neil keeps his head on Andrew’s shoulder as he continues to sniffle before speaking softly “I know what I want to have as her middle name”“Yeah?” Andrew whispers back, just as softly.Neil nods and lifts his head up before whispering the name into Andrew’s ear.“Is there a reason behind the name?” Andrew asks, connecting how Neil came up with the name whilst on this beach.Neil takes a breath before he answers “It was my Mum’s middle name”Andrew nods and thinks the name over before smiling at Neil “yeah,” he agrees “yeah I think I like it”“You don’t have to, you know? I know how you feel about my mum—”Andrew cuts him off “Neil, I’ve already told you” he turns himself to cup Neil’s rosy cheeks with his cold hands “if you want to name our little girl after your mum, then I am fine with that”“Promise?” Neil asks through a whispered sob.Andrew makes sure his voice is firm when he replies “promise”They stay sitting on the rock, with Neil’s head on Andrew’s shoulder, as they watch the waves lap at the shore and the boats out in the distance.Andrew tries And fails to suppress a shiver which immediately has Neil sitting up “we should go”Andrew looks at Neil as he continues to stare out at the sea “are you sure?”Neil looks at Andrew again “you’re shivering”“It doesn’t matter. We’re staying until you’re ready to leave, not me” Andrew replies, making sure to get his point across.Neil stays still for another minutes before looking at Andrew with sad eyes “I’m ready to go now”Andrew nods and pushes himself off the rock and walks away to give Neil a moment alone to say goodbye to his mum. He watches as Neil talks to the ocean again and adjusts the flowers next to the rock before coming over to where Andrew is standing. Andrew takes his hand and the two of them walk back along the beach, up the stairs and get into the car.As soon as the car door closes, Neil’s composure crumbles as he begins sobbing into his hands again.Andrew rubs his back over the centre console and lets Neil do whatever it is that he needs to do.Andrew takes his time with driving them back to the USC House, giving Neil enough time to recollect himself so that he doesn’t look too upset in front of the Trojans.Andrew uses the house key on the car keys that Jeremy gave him to let them both into the house. He and Neil quietly make their way up the stairs and into the guest bedroom.Andrew helps Neil to get changed out of his cold clothes and into his warm joggers and hoodie before getting him to lie down in the bed, under the thick winter duvet.Andrew strokes Neil’s hair until the Striker's eyes begin to get heavy and he closes them. Andrew waits until Neil’s breathing has evened out before kissing him on the head and heading to the bathroom to pee and then go down stairs to give the keys back to Jeremy.He finds Jeremy making himself a disgusting looking smoothie in the kitchen. Jeremy jumps when he turns around and sees Andrew standing silently in the doorway.“Jesus! Fuck, Andrew!” Jeremy exclaims as he almost shits himself upon seeing the pregnant former goalie. Andrew watches as Jeremy regains his composure and picks up his smoothie, bringing it to his lips “how was the beach?”“Good” Andrew replies, giving away no clues to how the day actually went.Jeremy nods and accepts his response.Andrew studies Jeremy and notices that he’s hesitant about something “spit it out, Knox” Andrew demands.Jeremy takes a deep breath “Jean and I want to start a family after we’ve both finished at USC”Andrew waves his hand at him in a go on gesture.“Are you…do you…”“Just ask your question, Knox”“Is being pregnant setting you back? I’m worried that when I get pregnant it’s going to make me feel…I don’t know…but just…not right”Andrew takes a moment to assess how he’s feeling. How being pregnant is affecting him. How not taking his testosterone is affecting him. How the thought of giving birth is affecting him. How the thought of being a parent and caring for this baby is affecting him.“It will take time” Andrew says with a shrug “we didn’t plan this. It wasn’t our choice to create them, but it was our choice to keep them. Whatever you and Jean decide to do, you will decide to do it because you want to do it, not because you have to”Jeremy nods “yeah, okay. Thanks, Andrew”Andrew gives Andrew his salute and puts the key down on the kitchen table before heading back upstairs and climbing into bed next to an already sleeping Neil.Andrew wraps his arm around his boyfriend’s waist and pulls Neil’s head into his chest. Neil snuggles himself in even closer and the two fall asleep together.Neil and Andrew spend the next two days in California. It’s not the best weather but it’s nice to be out in a new city. They go to a quiet meal with Jean and Jeremy and pay as a thank you for letting them stay at their house.Andrew struggles during the flight home, but Neil helps distract him by reading the next chapter of Andrew’s baby book to him in preparation for what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks.
Week 25
Welcome to week 25! You'll need to tell your employers now, if you have not already, so that you can get maternity pay and benefits.
If your partner plans to take paternity leave, they will need to tell their employer too. Did you know that female partners are also entitled to paternity leave?
What's happening in my body?
You could be starting to get a bit puffy and swollen in your face, hands and feet.
This is probably completely harmless and caused by water retention – but do mention it to your midwife or doctor. They will want to check your blood pressure, just in case it's a sign of a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia can happen in the 2nd half of pregnancy or after the baby is born.
If you get any other signs, such as splitting headaches, vision problems, or pain just below the ribs, then call your doctor, midwife or NHS 111.
Feeling gassy after eating
Are you burping a lot? It's very common around now. You may also be feeling more full than usual.
After eating or drinking you could get:
burning in your chest
bloating
nausea
This is probably indigestion and heartburn. Digestive problems are caused by your growing baby taking over some of the space where your stomach used to be.
It can help to:
eat smaller meals, so you do not feel too full afterwards
eat healthily and avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods
cut back on drinks with caffeine (like tea, coffee and energy drinks)
sit up straight when you eat
give up alcohol and cigarettes
If you're pregnant and single
Around 1 in 4 families are single-parent families. You may be worried about money or how you'll cope. It's important that you talk to people about how you feel and ask for help if you need it.
You can also talk to your doctor or midwife about local support groups that can advise you on everything from benefits to childcare.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 25 weeks)
This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:
tiredness and sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 34.6cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a courgette.
This is an active time for your baby. A loud noise could make your baby jump and kick, which should not hurt but might take you by surprise. You might even feel the occasional hiccup.
Your baby is now peeing into the amniotic fluid. By now, most of the liquid around your baby is urine, which provides cushioning and helps keep the temperature snug and stable.
Your baby is about the size of a courgette.
Once the plane lands and they get through passport control, Neil collects their suitcases from the conveyor belt and make their way into the arrivals.They find Matt waiting for them and he greets them both, taking one of the suitcases from Neil.They make their way to Matt’s truck and head to the Columbia House. Matt offered to pick them up after Aaron had messaged Andrew to say that he was going to be staying at Katelyn’s for the duration of the Fox Tower repairs, and Kevin would be staying with Wymack again.Matt drops them off and Andrew heads upstairs to wash the smell of aeroplane off his skin whilst Neil unpacks the suitcases.By the time Neil has finished unpacking and discarding the dirty clothes into the laundry basket, Andrew is already in bed and safely tucked into his fluffy, pink blanket.Neil takes a quick shower and climbs into the bed next to his boyfriend and leans over to kiss him on the cheek.“Are you feeling okay?” Neil whispers into Andrew’s hair.Andrew rolls over with an indecipherable look on his face “shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”Neil shrugs “I’m fine”“Neil” Andrew begins “that what you say when you’re not fine”Neil hums and shrugs “I promise I’m okay” he whispers.Andrew doesn’t believe him but he lets the conversation drop.The pair cuddle up together in the bed and drift off to sleep in each other's arms.The next day, Neil and Andrew head to the hospital so that Andrew can finally get his cast taken off his arm after a very long six weeks.They sit in the waiting room for just over half an hour before Andrew is called in.Andrew becomes uncomfortable when the male nurse who meant to be taking off his cast touches his arm without permission.Andrew begins to panic, so Neil steps in and asks for a few minutes to calm Andrew down and for a female nurse to take over.The male nurse rolls his eyes and leaves, being replaced by a female nurse five minutes later.She is very delicate and caring in her demeanor and makes sure that she is clear and patient with her explanation of what’s happening.She takes the cast off Andrew’s arm and helps him to slowly stretch out his arm a few times to test his range of movement in his elbow and wrist.Their nurse seems happy so she lets Andrew leave and wishes him good luck with his baby.Neil thanks the nurse whilst Andrew leaves without saying a word.Andrew and Neil stop off at the maternity unit next and Andrew gets his latest scan.Ruby is very happy, as always, with Andrew and the baby’s progress.“Can I see her?” Andrew asks quietly.Ruby smiles “you found out that your having a girl then”Andrew smiles and nods.Ruby turns the screen around and lets Andrew and Neil take a look at their baby girl on the screen before she prints off the scan photos.Ruby is happy with everything and the three of them say their goodbyes before Neil drives him and Andrew out for lunch.They go to a little café, not too far away from the hospital and get some food.Neil orders himself a BLT sandwich and a coffee, whilst Andrew opts for a tuna and cheese melt and a hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream.They spend the rest of the day cuddling up on the sofa in front of the TV, reading through a baby name book to try and get inspiration for a first name to match the middle name that Neil had chosen whilst they were away in USC, and to cross off the ones that don’t fit.
Names for Baby Girls:
Isabella
Chloé
Emily
Grace
Kaitlyn
Lily
Mia
Olivia
Sophie
Rosie
Amelia
Ava
Hannah
Jessica
Lucy
Charlotte
Ellie
Emma
Megan
Ruby
Sarah
SophiaAndrew drives them both back to campus on Monday for their classes. He wears his Baby On Board badge that Abby gave him for Christmas as he walks around the crowded campus to his classes.Harry hands him a folder, one for each lecture, and talks him through everything that Andrew missed whilst he was away. Andrew is grateful as always for besty having such a thoughtful son.Harry joins Neil and Andrew to walk Andrew to each of his classes.By the time it gets to his final afternoon lectures, Andrew is too tired to continue as always so he heads off to the stadium to meet Neil there early and watch as his Junkie runs himself ragged on the court before practice.Andrew watches from the home bench as Neil scores shot after shot in the empty goal, before Wymack calls Andrew into his office to look through some more potential recruits.Andrew looks through the folders, but doesn’t find anyone of any interest and places all of them in the NO pile.Andrew joins the rest of the Foxes at the home benches when practice begins and once again enjoys the view of his Junkie’s ass as he bends over on the court to tie up his shoe laces. He has to avert his eyes when the baby starts kicking, as the sharp punches and kicks begin to make him feel uncomfortable.“Are you okay there, Andrew?” Abby asks with a caring voice.Andrew nods “she’s kicking”. Andrew instantly realises what he’s said, but Abby doesn’t even bat an eyelid, she just smiles.“Just as long as you’re not in pain. I know that the baby moving can be quite uncomfortable at times”Andrew nods and the pair go back to watching Jack trying to start an argument with Dan, who is doing a very good job at ignoring the little shit.How Jack still has a place on the team after what he did in October, Andrew will never know.Practice ends and Andrew drives him and be back to the Columbia House. Nicky tries to convince them that they should go to Eden’s because they haven’t been in months, but Neil reminds him that Andrew is still very much pregnant and that Eden’s is a terrible idea. Plus it’s a Monday. No one goes clubbing on a Monday unless they’re insane.Andrew and Neil end up spending their night relaxing in the bath together with face masks on and doing a skincare routine, before taking an early night, ready to drive back to campus tomorrow. They need to get themselves into a routine for when the baby is born and they both return to their classes.On Wednesday, Andrew goes to visit Bee in her office whilst Neil and the others are at afternoon practice.He asks her if he can start his knitting again and she quickly heads out to her car to grab her knitting bag with both of their projects in. They spend the rest of the meeting knitting and discussing baby items that Andrew and Neil will need to buy before the baby arrives. Bee makes sure to write a list of everything that they will need and even puts down a few shops and websites that they may find of interest to what they are looking for.Friday is ignored by both Andrew and Neil, whereas Nicky and the others decide to make a big song and dance of the day - Nathaniel's birthday.Andrew ends up dragging Neil back to the Columbia House hallway through practice when it becomes very apparent that the sleepless night from the night before is really taking its toll on Neil’s mental health for this day.Andrew makes sure to wrap him up in one of Neil’s onesies and his blanket, and orders some Chinese takeaway food and lets Neil watch all of the Exy games that he wants on TV. Neil doesn’t even make it the full way through the first game before his head is on Andrew's shoulder with soft snores coming from his mouth. Andrew pulls the blanket up higher on both of them to keep them both nice and warm until Neil is ready to move upstairs to bed.The weekend is spent looking at more ideas and making mood boards for their baby girl’s nursery. They look at some of the websites that Betsy had written down during Andrew’s session on Wednesday and find a few items that they like and end up ordering them.The crib arrives in the early afternoon. Neil starts on the process of trying to put it together with the all but useless IKEA instruction manual, whilst Andrew reads the next chapter in his book and watches on in amusement as he Junkie becomes more and more confused by the second.
Week 26
As you approach the 3rd trimester, you might be feeling more tired, and a bit more clumsy and uncoordinated.
That's understandable. It's hard carrying around extra weight and also your centre of gravity will have changed with your growing bump, and that affects your sense of balance.
You may need to allow yourself more time to do your usual activities, like your daily walk to the bus stop.
It's important to stay active but your body's changing all the time, so be patient with yourself.
What's happening in my body?
There is a lot of activity going on inside your bump at the moment.
If you're worried that the movements have slowed down or stopped, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away.
You may be getting more leg cramps now, particularly during the night.
Try doing foot and ankle exercises. Just pulling your toes upwards could help, or rubbing the muscle where it hurts.
'Baby brain'
Are you getting a bit more forgetful? If you keep losing your keys, then you could have what some people refer to as "baby brain".
This is not a medical condition, or scientifically proven, it's just something that some pregnant women report. It could be caused by tiredness and having a lot on your mind.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 26 weeks)
This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:
tiredness and sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts – a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 35.6cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a cucumber.
Around now, your baby's eyes will be opening for the first time and the next trick will be to learn how to blink.
It's a myth that all babies are born with blue eyes – the colour will depend on the parents' genetics, and brown is very common.
You will not know the permanent colour for a while, as they can keep on changing right into adulthood. However they will have probably settled on a colour by the time your baby is aged 3.
Your baby is about the size of a cucumber.
The following week is filled with classes, practices, meetings, antenatal classes, an Exy game and more nursery decorating.Neil spends the majority of the antenatal class looking confused at the toy doll that they are made to practice changing the nappies on because it’s “too still”. They both, however, end up learning a lot more than they thought from the class and come out with even more leaflets and suggestions on where to buy items for the baby.The evenings are spent looking through more catalogues and websites at even more furniture, buggy’s, prams, pushchairs, baby bottles, bassinets, baby clothes, changing tables and so much other stuff that they had completely forgotten that they even needed. Andrew gets out his list that he wrote right at the start of his pregnancy and the pair of them tick off each item that they have already bought and highlight the ones that they’re interested in getting before she arrives.On Friday, the Foxes play at home against the Binghamton Bearcats and win Seven - Six within the final few seconds of the game with Freshman Striker Morgana-Faye scoring the winning goal.The Foxes decide to celebrate their victory by having a party at Katelyn’s dorm with the rest of the Vixens as they live in the other building that is still open, following Nicky’s cooking failure at the start of the month, which left everyone in Fox Tower homeless for the foreseeable future.The night is spent with drinking, partying, dancing, games and some really shit karaoke. Whoever thought it was a good idea to let a very drunk Matt up on the ‘stage’ has a lot to answer for. Andrew thought that his ears were physically bleeding and permanently damaged from whatever that was.Andrew and Neil leave after Matt’s questionable performance and head back to the Columbia House once again and get another early night, after exchanging a few kisses in the shower and Neil giving Andrew at least three orgasms in the process.Neil gets up early on Saturday, goes for a run, cooks breakfast and makes a start on painting the nursery the first coat of white before Andrew has even realsies that it’s morning yet.They both agreed, along with Abby and Ruby, that Neil should be the one to do the painting as the fumes from the paint could be extremely harmful not only to Andrew but to the baby too.Neil spends all weekend locked in the nursery, whilst Andrew stays downstairs in the living room and does some more of his knitting whilst watching a kids TV show called Something Special, that uses Makaton as a form of communication. Andrew makes a note for him and Neil to begin learning Makaton and Baby Sign to help them communicate with their baby girl a little bit easier whilst she’s unable to tell them what she needs or wants.Renée comes over on Sunday to help Neil with the pink coats of paint and agrees to come back the following weekend to help paint the little flowers on the walls and to move in the furniture and decorations.She also takes photos of Neil decorating to show Andrew and to also put into their pregnancy photo album that they hope to one day show their little girl when she’s finally old enough.That evening, Wymack informs all of the Foxes that they are able to move back into Fox Tower from tomorrow morning. The group chat suddenly comes alive with people making plans to move back in. Wymack agrees to give them the day off to move in and get settled again, but 5o be back at practice for 6am on Tuesday for extra training to make up for it.Matt collects everyone’s new furniture in his truck and meets everyone at Fox Tower for them all to start the long process of moving back in.The Monster’s dorm had to be completely stripped out and fully redecorated as the kitchen was completely burnt to a crisp and the rest of the dorm severely smoke damaged.Andrew and Neil take a few bags of clothes that they brought with them from the Columbia House up to the dorm and are surprised to find Kevin sitting on the floor in the living room and crying his eyes out.“Kevin?” Neil asks as they walk through the door. “Are you okay?”Kevin shakes his head and wipes his nose in his sleeve. “My mum,” Kevin sobs And sniffs violently.“Your mum’s dead, Day” Andrew says apatheticly and goes to sit himself down on the brand new sofa that was bought with the Fox Tower insurance money.“This was the only photo I took from the nest of her”Neil and Andrew look at each other in stunned silence before both looking at the photo that Kevin is holding in his hands. It’s a photo of a young Kayleigh Day after playing in the first ever officially sanctioned Exy match. Her long, ginger hair is let down over her left shoulder with her loose curls at the end. The photo is mostly burnt around the edges. Andrew and Neil both know that it’s the one that Kevin keeps pinned up in his cupboard in the kitchen, opting to keep it in there rather than by his bed, for some unknown reason.“Can’t you just get a new one?” Neil asks, not really understating why Kevin can’t just go on the internet and choose from the thousands and thousands of photos of Kayleigh on there.Kevin shakes his head “this was the one from her house…our house” he whispers the final part.Andrew gets up and decides that he’s had enough of dealing with Kevin and drags Neil to the newly decorated bedroom to finally put their bags down and to text Wymack to come and deal with his crisis of a son.Matt, Nicky, Neil and Aaron help to carry the majority of the heavier pieces of furniture up to the dorms, whilst the girls and the freshmen, and Andrew, use the time to decorate the dorms to their liking again as the majority of them will be in the same dorms again next year.Andrew gets bored of decorating and dealing with Kevin’s breakdown and Nicky’s constant apologies and unnecessary stress and drama, and decides to read his baby book on the roof instead, where he can get some peace and quiet.
Week 27
Congratulations! You've reached the final week of your 2nd trimester and are two-thirds of the way through your pregnancy.
Next week you'll start the 3rd and final trimester.
What's happening in my body?
You're probably putting on a few pounds now, and may be feeling bloated and constipated.
This is partly because your stomach is being squeezed by your growing baby, and partly due to the pregnancy hormone, progesterone.
It might help to drink lots of water, choose high-fibre options (like brown bread and wholewheat pasta, rather than white) and eat lots of fresh fruit and veg.
The best sleeping positions during pregnancy
Should you sleep on your back or side? The NHS guidance says that sleeping on either side is better than sleeping on your back.
That's because after week 28, research suggests that sleeping on your back can double the risk of stillbirth. It's also more likely to give you backache, constipation and piles.
Here are some tips for a safe and sound night's sleep:
support your baby bump with a pillow
keep your knees and legs bent
put another pillow between your legs
do not worry if you roll onto your back – just roll onto your side again
Fit to fly?
This is probably the last week you can fly anywhere without a "fitness to fly note".
If you need to fly after this week, you will need a note from your midwife or doctor to confirm that your pregnancy is uncomplicated. Check the cut-off dates with your airline.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 27 weeks)
You may be feeling tired now, so nap when you can.
You might be snoring more. Snoring is very common in pregnancy as your nasal passages are more likely to become swollen and blocked.
Your signs of pregnancy could include:
tiredness and sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts - a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 36.6cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a head of cauliflower.
Your baby's lungs are now capable of breathing, and your baby is also getting plumper by the day.
A few weeks ago, your baby looked a bit like a wrinkled prune. Now the folds of skin are being filled out by fat, and all their organs are maturing, as your baby prepares for life outside the uterus (womb).
Your baby is about the size of a head of cauliflower.
Andrew hears the roof door open and knows that Neil has come up to join him. Neil comes over and sits down next to Andrew on the edge of the roof.“What you doing?” Neil asks brightly.“Thinking” Andrew replies.“What about?”Andrew tilts his head to lean on Neil’s shoulder as he thinks “I want to have her at home” he says quietly.Neil looks at him with a slightly confused look “I already know that, Andrew. We’ve already spoken to Ruby about it”“I want to make a proper plan, Neil. I want us to be ready”“What have you decided on?” Neil asks.Andrew takes a deep breath and tells Neil exactly what he wants to do during his birth. “I want to be at the Columbia House, in our bed. I want you, Betsy and maybe Abby to be there. I want you and Ruby in the room when she’s born. And I want to feed her myself, in our bed, with you by our sides. That’s that I want for her birth”Neil nods at everything that Andrew says and doesn’t question or change any of Andrew’s decisions, knowing that he’s probably been thinking them through for months on end.Andrew stays with his head on Neil’s shoulder as they watch the sunset over the Palmetto State University Campus, until Wymack texts Neil to let them know that he’s taken Kevin home with him.Andrew and Neil go back down to their dorm and relax in the bath together, somehow managing to beat Nicky to it. If Nicky got in there first then he would never leave.They both relax in the bath before going into their new bedroom and climbing into the bottom bunk of their new bed. The fresh sheets smelling clean and thick, warm duvet and Andrew’s pink, fluffy blanket.Andrew slides himself in and places his back against the pillow covered wall and lets Neil put one of their new pillows in between his legs to help make his aching back feel a little bit better. Neil snuggles in next to him and lets Andrew rest his head on his chest. He strokes Andrew’s hair until Andrew’s breathing evens out and they both fall asleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Andrew and Neil are lying on the new sofa in their dorm at Fox Tower. Neil’s resting his head on Andrew’s ever growing baby bump and kissing it every time he feels their baby girl kicking away inside of Andrew’s belly. It’s almost as if they’re playing a game together. One kick equals one kiss. He’s been doing this for what feels like hours with an Exy game on in the background and Andrew led underneath him, peacefully reading his book.
Week 28
Welcome to the 3rd and final trimester!
Over the next few weeks, you will probably start to feel a bit more uncomfortable and tired.
What's happening in my body?
You may be getting a bit of heartburn and indigestion. That's down to your growing baby and hormones affecting your digestive system.
Your back will also be under strain, due to the extra weight you're carrying around. Your joints and ligaments will also be looser than usual.
Your ankles, feet and face could be puffing out a bit, particularly when it's hot.
This is probably due to water retention, but get it checked out, just in case it's pre-eclampsia. This is a condition where you may feel perfectly well, but then your blood pressure can get dangerously high, very quickly.
Rest can help with a lot of your symptoms, so make sure you get lots of it – but if you are worried about anything at all, talk to your midwife or doctor.
RSV vaccination
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus which can cause a lung infection in small babies called bronchiolitis. This condition can make it hard for your baby to breathe and to feed.
The NHS recommends having the RSV vaccination at around week 28. It can be given later, right up until you go into labour. The vaccination can reduce the risk of getting severe bronchiolitis by 70% in your baby's first 6 months of life.
The immunity that you get will be passed on to your baby through the placenta and then offer protection from the day they are born.
Make sure you know about some of the harmful infections in pregnancy so you can do your best to avoid them.
Here are 3 ways you can protect your unborn baby:
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly if you're in contact with children or nappies, as they could carry a virus called CMV (cytomegalovirus).
If you have a cat, wear gloves when emptying the cat litter tray, or ask someone else to deal with it. Cat poo can contain a bug that causes the dangerous toxoplasmosis infection. You should also wear gloves when gardening, in case you come into contact with animal poo.
If you have not had chickenpox, let your doctor or midwife know if you come into contact with anyone who could be infectious. The disease can be spread from 2 days before spots appear until they have all formed scabs – usually 5 days after spots appeared. Avoid being around anyone with chickenpox until they have no new blisters or moist crusts on their spots.
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds are common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes, and they can even strike when you're asleep.
Here's what you can do:
sit or stand up – do not lie down
pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes
lean forward and breathe through your mouth
put an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) at the top of your nose
3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 28 weeks)
You may start getting new symptoms now, such as nosebleeds and indigestion.
Your signs of pregnancy could also include:
sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
nosebleeds
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts – a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 37.6cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of an aubergine.
Your baby's heart rate is changing all the time. Around week 5 or 6, when a baby's heart is first detectable, it is around 110 beats per minute (bpm). Then it goes up to around 170 bpm in week 9 and 10.
Now, it's slowed down to around 140 bpm and it will be around 130 bpm at birth.
That's still a lot faster than your heart rate, which will be around 80 to 85bpm. This is partly because babies' hearts are so small that they cannot pump much blood, but they can make up for this by going faster. It also helps to keep them warm.
Your baby's heart can be heard through a stethoscope. Someone else might be able to hear it by putting an ear to your pregnant belly – give it a go, but it's tricky finding the right spot.
Your baby is about the size of an aubergine.
“It says here that you might be able to hear her heartbeat” Andrew says, causing Neil to look up over his bump, thus ending his little game with the bump. “Someone else might be able to hear it by putting an ear to your pregnant belly.” “Yes or no, Andrew?” Neil asks.Andrew smiles “yes”Neil rests his ear against Andrew’s bump and moves himself around to try and find the right spot.“Anything?” Andrew asks quietly.Neil snaps his head up and whispers as if he’s shouting “shh. I’m listening”They stay quiet for a few minutes as Neil moves around a bit more, when suddenly he says “wait”Andrew freezes, not knowing what Neil means.“I can hear her, Drew” Neil whispers so quietly, almost like he’s trying to not wake her. “Hello Little Girl. I’m your Papa”“Papa?” Andrew asks with a small smile on his lips.Neil lifts his head and looks over to face Andrew before nodding a few times. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I think I want her to call me Papa. It doesn’t remind me of anything bad, so…yeah” Neil shrugs.Andrew smiles again and nods “Papa Neil” he says to no one in particular. He likes the sound of it from his mouth and the feel of it on his tongue.“Have you thought about what you want to be called?”Andrew takes a moment to think about before shrugging “Daddy, maybe. I want her to associate me with something gentle. I don’t want her being scared of me”“Why would she be scared of you, Andrew?” Neil asks, surprise lacing his voice.Andrew places his book down on his chest, brings his hands to his face, leans backwards against the armrest and sigh. “I’ve got…issues” he waves his hand around to emphasise his point. Neil remains silent as he lets Andrew get his worries and concerns off his chest. “I’ve got depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and PTSD. Not to mention all the other shit that I’ve been ‘diagnosed’ with in my life. I’m scared, Neil. I’m scared that one day I’m going to fuck up and it’s going to hurt her…I’m going to hurt her. I don’t want her to—” Andrew covers his eyes as he lets out a sob.“Andrew” Neil whispers as he gets off the sofa and crouches down next to it, making sure to move slowly enough that he wouldn’t spook Andrew.“I was seven the first time that…that I can remember it happening to me. What if there was more before? They were families that were supposed to care about me and—”Neil can see Andrew rapidly spiralling out of control of his own head. He needs to calm him down and fast. “Drew, listen to me. You’re not them, okay. You’re not anything like them. Any of them. You, Andrew Joseph Minyard, are the most kind, caring, thoughtful, beautiful, amazing person in the world. I could go on, but we’ll be here forever if I had to tell you just how much of a good person you are. You won’t hurt her. I promise.”Andrew's voice is barely above a whisper when he asks “How do you know?”“Because I know you, Drew. I know that you would never hurt her. Well not intentionally, anyway. Everyone has accidents. I mean just look at Aaron. He was definitely an accident”Andrew lets out a small laugh at this and then brings his right hand down to rub over his bump. Neil moves his left hand to join Andrew’s as they feel their little girl kicking away inside of Andrew’s belly.“See” Neil begins “she knows she’s safe” he leans over and kisses Andrew on the forehead “I’ll go make you a hot chocolate.” He stands up and makes his way into the kitchen to get Andrew his hot chocolate and himself a green tea.Neil returns a few minutes later with the two drinks in his hands and waits for Andrew to sit up fully before handing the hot chocolate over to him.Andrew takes it with both hands and smiles as he takes a sip, pulling the drink back and leaving a blob of whipped cream on the end of his nose.Neil laughs and wipes it off, letting Andrew lick it off his finger and sucking on it gently.Andrew pulls himself away after a few seconds and continues drinking his drink.They both finish and Neil suggests that he runs a bath for both of them to relax whilst the others are still out of the dorm. Andrew agrees so they head into the bathroom and fill the tub, adding in a rose scented bubble bath, before stripping and climbing in.Neil climbs in first and helps Andrew in before sitting down and helping Andrew down, pulling Andrew’s back to his chest.He watches as Andrew’s eyes close as he relaxes in the hot water.Neil wets Andrew’s hair and massages in some shampoo, watching as Andrew’s eyes flutter shut as he relaxes even more. He washes it off and rubs in some conditioner, running his fingers through Andrew’s hair to detangle the knots. Neil washes that off too.“Neil?” Andrew whispers softly as he stays relaxed against Neil’s chest.“Hmm?” Neil replies, looking down at his calm and pregnant boyfriend.“Yes, or no?” Andrew asks as he guides Neil hand down his body and towards his pussy.Neil lets out a small “yes” and Andrew brings his hands downwards.Andrew lets out a sigh of pure pleasure as Neil begins rubbing small, tight circles on his clit.Andrew moans at the sensation and arches his back to feel it even more.Andrew leans his head to expose his neck for Neil to begin kissing and sucking on as Andrew moves his hips more and more against Neil’s fingers.“Neil…fuck” Andrew whines “more…shit”Neil reaches down even further and inserts his fingers inside of Andrew’s pussy and Andrew lets out a loud moan and arches his back even more at the sensation as Neil finds his G-spot.“Fuck…Neil…gonna…gonna cum”Neil doubles down on his efforts and brings Andrew to orgasm, keeping his fingers going as Andrew continues to enjoy his high and Neil continues to whisper in his ear and suckle on his neck.“Bed…Neil…I want to continue on the bed”“Okay” Neil whispers into Andrew’s ear.He gets them both out of the bath and lets Andrew kiss him.Neither of them get dressed or wrap towels around themselves as they make their way to the bedroom.Neil closes the door behind them and lies down on his and Andrew’s bed. Andrew climbs himself on top and straddles his legs over Neil’s hips.Andrew grinds himself down a couple of times before taking Neil’s dick and putting him inside of his pussy. Andrew’s eyes roll to the back of his head as he takes Neil’s length at full.He begins moving himself up and down, leaning down to kiss Neil fiercely. Andrew moans into the kiss as he continues to make himself feel good on Neil.Andrew has two more orgasms whilst riding Neil until Neil cums inside of him and the pair roll over to cuddle as they come back down and settle in to sleep for the night.Neil wakes up in the middle of the night to Andrew fidgeting beside him.“Drew? Are you okay?” Neil asks, his voice still full of sleep.“Can’t get comfy” Andrew replies, sounding like he’s been trying to get himself comfortable for a while.“Are you in pain?” Neil asks, scared that maybe his boyfriend has gone into early labour in his sleep.Andrew shakes his head “no. She’s just not comfortable to lie with. She’s really pressing into my side” he says through a groan.“Is there anything that I can do to help?”Andrew sighs “I don’t know. I feel like my spine is being compressed and my ribs are being crushed.” Andrew rolls over onto his back and looks at Neil with an impatient expression “why does pregnancy have to take so long?”Neil lets out a small laugh and rolls onto his side to get a better look at Andrew’s face. “Would it help if I put some pillows in between us for you to lie on?”Andrew shrugs “maybe”Neil nods once and gets up out of bed to go and look for the spare pillows in the airing cupboard outside of the bedroom door. He comes back into the bedroom about a minute later, armed with as many pillows as he can carry.Andrew sits up and helps Neil to arrange them around himself to make his baby girl as comfortable as possible in the hopes that maybe he’ll be able to sleep for an hour or two at least before their alarms go off for their morning classes.Neil places one of the pillows between Andrew’s legs, hoping that maybe it will lessen the pressure being put onto his back and side.They snuggle back down, with Andrew resting his bump on some of the pillows, and try to get a few more hours of sleep.Neil kisses Andrew’s cheek before leaving him to sleep for a while longer and head to the stadium for morning practice.He decides to run so that Andrew can drive to the main campus for his classes instead of having to walk.Neil is the first one to arrive and heads over to Abby’s office and knocks on the door.She opens it with a warm smile “good morning, Neil. Are you okay?”Neil nods “Andrew’s been really uncomfortable all night”Abby nods and opens her door wider, inviting Neil inside.Neil sits himself sideways on the bed as Abby gathers Andrew’s file and lets Neil explain what’s been going on.“He’s very uncomfortable when he sleeps. He says it feels like the baby’s putting pressure on his ribs and back. He was awake for most of the night”Abby nods as she writes down everything. She puts her notes to the side and smiles at Neil “I think what Andrew might need is a pregnancy pillow”“What’s that?” Neil asks, not fully sure on the difference between a normal pillow and a pregnancy pillow.Abby smiles and leans back in their chair as she gives Neil a short explanation “a pregnancy pillow is a special pillow that is designed to give people who are pregnant a bit more comfort and support. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes.” She scoots her wheely chair backwards towards her desk and indicates for Neil to come and join her as she begins tapping away at her computer.“These are the different shapes and the ways that Andrew could lie on them to give himself some more comfort and support” Abby says as she scrolls down on a page on a baby website that Neil hasn’t seen before. He wonders if Andrew has been on this site already.
Pregnancy pillows also come in a wide variety of shapes and can be positioned in several different ways. The more common options include the following:
Wedge
The wedge pregnancy pillows come in triangle or crescent shapes and, just like it sounds, they’re designed to wedge underneath whatever part of your body needs support.
For example, slide it underneath your belly when you are on your side or use it to prop your head up. And if you’re using it to support your belly, make sure to adjust it as your baby bump grows.
Bean
Similar to the wedge, the bean-shaped option is ideal for targeted support exactly where you need it.
Straight Tube
The straight tube pregnancy pillow is a long, full-length body pillow that provides support for the front half of your body. When lying down on your side, hug the pillow and put it in-between your legs so that one is on top of the pillow and the other is underneath.
Keep in mind that if you need back support as well, this might not be the pillow for you.
U-Shape
The other three shapes we’ll mention are the U, C, and J shapes. These “alphabet” pregnancy pillows are perfect for 360-degree support, depending on how you sleep.
The U-shape has you covered on both sides with an opening at the bottom and is perfect for supporting your head, neck, back, and belly. The advantage to this shape is that you have back and belly support at the same time and can roll over without having to move the pillow with you.
A negative of this design is that these pillows are quite large, which could be an issue if you’re sharing the bed or need to store the pillow when you’re not using it!
C-Shape
In the shape of the letter C, this pillow also provides all-around support for your body, including your ankles. The opening is on the side, and most pregnant moms put the opening by their belly.
Although, as with all pregnancy pillows, there’s no right or wrong way to use them.
One downside of this shape is that you’ll have to flip it every time you roll over so that the opening is on the side you want it on.
J-Shape
J-shaped or candy-cane-shaped pillows take up less space than C or U pillows, but they don’t support both your back and belly at the same time.
As for the long section of the pillow, use it to support either your back or belly, then choose whether to put the curved part under your head or between your legs.
Neil listens as Abby reads out the description of each pillow and the different ways that it can help. When she is finished, he points at the screen and says “that one. I think that one would be good for Andrew”“Would you like me to order it for you? I can have it delivered to the stadium so that someone is able to sign for it” Abby replies, looking at Neil as he continues to study the screen.“Yes. Thanks Abby” he says with a nod of his head and a smile.“No problem at all. I’ll put it through on the team card as a medical purchase” she says with a sly grin that Neil returns.Neil leaves Abby’s office just as the rest of the team are beginning to arrive.He changes out with the rest of the team and begins running his laps around the Outer Court with Matt and Dan, before Dan lets him take charge of the regular warmups, getting him prepared for when he’s captain next year.After the warmups, they begin their practice, splitting off into their different sections for the Freshmen to have one-to-one training with their veteran teammates.Dan takes Christopher and Freya, Kevin takes Jack - he still won’t listen to a word that Neil says, Matt, Aaron And Nicky take Owen, Alison takes Ash and Shelley and Renée splits her time between helping Brittany and William - the latter has been struggling with his coordination recently following a seizure during the winter break.The older Foxes coach and give advice to their younger Freshmen and go over each of their opponents that they will have to face in their upcoming game against the UV Catamounts.Matt comes over and helps Renée out with a struggling William towards the end of practice. William began to get upset when he couldn’t lift his racquet anymore, so Matt helped support him.Coach Wymack calls an end to the practice and gives some final notes before sending his stinky maggots off to get showered and changed before their classes.Neil is the first one out of the showers and waits for Matt to give him a lift back to Fox Tower to check on Andrew.Neil enters his dorm and finds a tired looking Andrew in the kitchen making himself some breakfast and drinking his only coffee that he’s allowed for the day.“Hey” Neil says as he approaches his boyfriend and wraps his arms around him from behind “did you get any more sleep?”Andrew shrugs “a little bit. She’s very active today, and keeps kicking my bladder. I peed more than I slept.” Andrew turns around in Neil’s arms and rests his face in the crook between Neil’s neck and shoulder and lets out a long breath.“You don’t have to go to class today if you’re not feeling up to it” Neil whispers, rubbing his hands up and down the blonde’s back.Andrew shakes his head and speaks, his voice muffled by Neil’s neck “I have a mock exam to take today. I missed it last week”Neil nods “what time?”“Eleven”Neil looks over at the clock that is hanging on the wall in the new kitchen and sees that it’s only 9am. “What are you cooking?”“Bacon and eggs. Do you want some?”“Only if you let me cook whilst you sit down and take some weight off your feet. You look exhausted, Drew”Andrew nods into Neil’s neck and steps back. Neil kisses him on the lips and forehead and lets Andrew sit down at the new table with his mug of coffee whilst Neil takes over with the cooking.Neil heads over to their fridge and gets some bacon, eggs and sausages out and then heads back to the stove where he begins preparing the food, ready to be cooked.Neil uses a tiny amount of butter, he doesn’t want the food to be too greasy for Andrew and their baby. He adds everything to the pots and pans and turns the eggs into scrambled eggs. They’re his favourite and he’s found a way to make them that Andrew loves too.“Do you want the bacon and sausage mixed in with the scrambled eggs or do you want them separate?” Neil asks as he flips the bacon and sausages over to cook the other side.“Separate”“Do you want toast too?”Andrew nods and Neil smiles. He gets the bread out of the bread box and places it into the toaster.The toast pops up just as the bacon, eggs and sausages are finished cooking. Neil plates everything up and serves the food to Andrew before placing his own plate down.Neil watches as Andrew lips curl up into a smile as he eats his breakfast. Andrew rubs a hand over his bump as his baby girl continues to do her happy dance at the feeling of having food.“Is she okay?” Neil asks with a nod towards Andrew’s bump.“She’s happy. So I’m happy,” Andrew replies simply.Neil smiles at that. He smiles at the way that Andrew smiles. At they way that their baby is growing. At the way that his family has gone from being just him, to and his Foxes, to him, Andrew and their baby girl. His found family is going by the minute and Neil has never been so happy to have survived everything that he went through.“Staring” Andrew says through a mouthful of eggs.“Always”“Junkie”Neil chuckles to himself and finishes his food. He clears up their plates and puts everything into their new dishwasher. The university had them added to each dorm after the fire in the hopes that cleaner dorms would cause less damage if there was ever another fire.It’s just after 10:15 when Neil finishes clearing up the mess from breakfast, so he and Andrew clean their teeth and grab their bags ready for their day in their classes.Neil drives, the baby kicking too much for Andrew to be able to focus on the road. Neil wonders if Andrew will even be able to concentrate on his exam with how active she’s being today.Neil parks the car in the closest space he can find to Andrew’s building and walks hand in hand with Andrew to where his mock exam is taking place.Neil kisses him on the lips and forehead before Andrew walks into the classroom and takes his seat near the back, next to Harry Dobson who also missed the mock exam due to having the flu the week before.“Hi Andrew” Harry says with a quiet voice that he uses when he’s near Andrew. He knows from his mum that loud noises can upset Andrew easily. “How are you?”“Good. Tired, but good” Andrew replies in just as quiet a voice.Harry goes to say something else when the teacher walks in and speaks with his booming voice “your exam will be two hours long. If you need any extra paper, then please raise your hand. You may start by writing your full name, date and student ID number on the front of your exam paper. Do NOT open your paper until I instruct you to”Andrew writes his full name on the front of his exam:Name: Andrew Joseph MinyardStudent ID Number: PSU310582254Date: Wednesday 6th February 2008Andrew smiles to himself as he writes his full name on an exam paper for the first time since he legally changed it over the summer. Last year he still had to write ‘Alanah-Jane’ on all of his coursework and exams, even though he was going by ’Andrew Joseph’.“Your exam will start at 11am and last two hours. Your time starts…now” the teacher calls out and the class all flip papers over to the first page.Andrew barely needs to read the questions for the exams and he’s already writing down his answers. His eidetic memory is perfect for exams.He can hear the rest of the students groan as they read the first question. It’s very obvious who hasn’t studied or showed up to lessons, but Andrew doesn’t judge them, he just carries on writing down his answers.He’s just over half way through his exam when he starts feeling really uncomfortable. Andrew shifts in his seat, trying to adjust his position in the hopes that the baby will calm down. He takes a few slow and deep breaths and runs his hand over his bump, hissing as he gets a sharp twinge in his lower abdomen.“Andrew?” Harry whispers from the desk next to him “are you okay?”Andrew whispers a quiet and scared “I don’t know”“No talking!” The teacher calls out from the front of the classroom.Harry raises his hand “Sir, I don’t think that Andrew’s alright”The teacher comes over to where Andrew’s desk is and towers above him “Mr Minyard” he says mister like he still wants to call Andrew miss. “What is the problem? Finally realising that you’ve missed too many lessons to be able to take the exam easily?”Andrew shakes his head and whispers “my stomachs hurting”“That just sounds like an excuse to me”“Sir, Andrew is pregnant” Harry tries to defend him.“Well, he should've been more careful then, shouldn’t he? Boys don’t get pregnant” the teacher says unkindly.All of the class had stopped writing and are all turning around in their seats, watching the scene unfold in front of them.“Sir, what the fuck?!” One boy exclaims.“You can’t say that!”“Andrew, you shouldn’t have to put up with this, dude”“Everybody shut up!” The teacher shouts, causing everyone, especially Andrew, to jump at the noise. “Get on with your exams in silence. You still have forty five minutes left”“Not until you apologise to Andrew and let him leave to see the nurse” a girl near the front - Jenny? Maybe? - says.“Mr Minyard, you will remain seated and you will stop disturbing the rest of the class. The rest of you, sit back down and continue.” The teacher walks back to the front of the class “the time that you have lost will not be added at the end. The exam will still end at 1pm”Andrew continues to rub his bump and hiss as the sharp pain continues.“This is insane!” Maybe Jenny exclaims as she still refuses to finish the exam “he’s clearly in pain”“I’m okay,” Andrew says quietly.“Mr Minyard has said that he’s okay, so you may continue to take your exam now, Miss Saunders”Andrew sniffs as he tries to hide just how uncomfortable he actually is and wipes the stray tear that’s falling down his cheek.“No, I’m getting Professor Lincoln” Jenny says as she stands up from her desk and goes to leave the room.“Miss Saunders, if you leave now then you will fail your exam with immediate effect”Jenny looks at the teacher and then to an tearful Andrew “I’ll be two minutes”Andrew nods in thanks as Jenny leaves and returns a few minutes later with Professor Lincoln who comes straight over to Andrew’s desk and crouches down beside him.“Andrew, can you tell me what’s wrong?” Professor Lincoln asks with a calm and caring voice.Professor Lincoln is a former midwife who now teaches the medical students that study midwifery in this building.“It’s really hurting” Andrew whispers through his tears.Professor Lincoln looks at the rest of the students who are watching their conversation “could we clear this classroom please? Everyone is to go to my classroom and we will arrange for your exam to be rescheduled”“Can I stay with him?” Harry asks from Andrew’s other side.“Andrew? Do you want Harry to stay?”Andrew nods “can you call Neil?” Andrew quietly asks Harry who nods and gets his phone out of his bag and begins to dial Neil’s number.“Can I have a feel of your bump, Andrew?” She asks gently”Andrew nods “yes”Professor Lincoln carefully touches Andrew’s bump “is it just here?”Andrew nods again “am I losing her?” He asks so scared and quietly.Professor Lincoln smiles “no, Andrew, you’re not losing her. I think what’s happening is that she’s turning herself around and getting herself into a more comfortable position. It can be quite uncomfortable with how much she’s stretching her legs. How many weeks are you, Andrew?”“Twenty eight” he replies quietly.“Okay, so you’ve still got a little way to go. What I think will be best is if we get you out of this classroom and to somewhere more comfortable. Harry can stay with you until Neil arrives” she says as she wipes the tears from underneath Andrew’s eyes and Andrew nods.Harry and Professor Lincoln help Andrew to slowly stand and walk down the corridor to the staff room where they sit him down on the comfy chairs. Professor Lincoln helps to get Andrew comfortable and offers to make him a drink and get him something to eat, which Andrew accepts.Andrew is just about to start eating the ham sandwich that Harry has gotten him from the canteen when Neil comes bursting through the door.“Andrew! Are you okay?” Neil asks as he hurries over to where Andrew is sitting and crouches down in front of him. “What happened?” He asks Andrew, whilst also looking at the Professor.“He’s okay, Neil. I explained to Andrew that the pain he was feeling is the baby getting herself into a new position. She is most likely turning herself around, which involves quite a lot of stretching and kicking”“Is he in labour?” Neil asks in complete shock. “He can’t be in labour. He’s only twenty eight weeks”Professor Lincoln smiles “no, Neil, he’s not. But he is very tired and quite upset. I would suggest getting him checked over by his midwife, just to be on the safe side”“We don’t have another appointment until March” Neil says as he strokes Andrew’s hair.“I will talk to your team nurse and see if she can get you a checkup arranged, but for now, I would recommend plenty of rest and some gentle exercises such as yoga to keep your muscles loose and core strong”Andrew nods.“Now finish your sandwich whilst I make the call”Andrew eats his sandwich and then settles his head on Neil’s shoulder now that Neil is sitting beside him. Neil rubs a soothing hand on Andrew’s bump as Andrew closes his eyes, the exhaustion finally catching up to him.Professor Lincoln puts her phone back in her pocket and quietly comes over to where Neil and Harry are sitting with a sleeping Andrew and smiles at the gentleness that Neil is providing Andrew with.“I’ve spoken to Miss Winfield and she is going to get an appointment arranged for Andrew” she whispers, being mindful to not wake up Andrew by being too loud. “And as for Andrew’s exam, I will make sure that it gets rearranged for when he’s feeling a bit more like himself. I know it’s not my course subject, but there are exceptions that can be used and I believe that this is on the list”Neil thanks the professor and they wait a little longer in the staff room for Andrew to wake up before Neil takes him down to the car and back to Fox Tower.Andrew gets himself settled in their bed with his fluffy, pink blanket draped over himNeil drops their bags off into the living room and comes back into the bedroom and settles himself on the edge of the bed and runs his left hand over Andrew’s bump as Andrew looks at him with a half sleepy expression on his face.“Is she a little more settled now?” He whispers.Andrew nods and whispers in reply “yeah”“Why don’t you try and sleep for a bit? Yeah? You haven’t slept much recently and that can’t be helping. I’ll ask the others to go to the girl’s dorm when they get back so that you can have some quiet”“Okay” Andrew whispers.Neil leans over and kisses Andrew’s forehead “close your eyes” he whispers “get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up”Andrew nods sleepily as he closes his eyes and lets sleep pull him under.Neil stays with Andrew until his boyfriend’s breathing evens out and he tucks Andrew further into his blanket before kissing his cheek and leaving him to rest.Neil goes into the living room and messages Aaron to ask if he can keep Nicky and Kevin and the rest of the Foxes away from their dorm for the afternoon. Aaron replies asking if everything is alright. Neil replies to tell him that Andrew is sleeping. Aaron replies with a thumbs up.Neil unpacks a few of the leftover boxes that are in the living room from when everyone moved back into the dorms two weeks ago. He puts the rest of Andrew’s books onto their new bookshelf. He sorts them by author and makes sure to put all of the series in the correct order. Andrew has only managed to replace a few of his books, but he’s replaced the ones which are his favourite. Neil will find a way to make sure that he gets the rest again.He unpacks the games and puts them in the cupboard at the bottom of the TV stand. He does them in order of genre: racing games, dancing games, board games.Neil finishes unpacking the last of the boxes that he can and begins tidying up the rest of the mess in the living room before Andrew wakes up and the others come back to get their gear for afternoon practice.Aaron enters the dorm just before 3:30 to collect his, Nicky’s and Kevin’s gear bags. Aaron comes into the living room and sees Neil sitting on the floor and flicking through one of his text books.“Where’s Andrew?” Aaron asks.Neil looks up from his book “he’s sleeping in the bedroom. He’s okay. I promise”“He better be, Josten. Or I’m holding you responsible” Aaron says with slight heat in his voice. He takes a breath and evens out his voice before asking “what happened?”“He had some pain during his exam, but apparently it’s just the baby moving into position to be born. He thought that he was in labour, but he wasn’t”“Has he got an appointment with his midwife?” Aaron asks.Neil nods “Abby’s sorting one out for us. She’s going to let me know when she’s made an appointment”Aaron nods “do you want me to stay here so that you can go to practice? I have a load of revision that I need to do”Neil takes a moment to think about it before answering “I’ll let Coach know”Neil goes into the bedroom to check on Andrew and finds that he’s still sleeping on his side with the duvet tucked up underneath his chin and snoring softly. Neil goes over and kisses him on the cheek and whispers a goodbye.He collects his, Nicky’s and Kevin’s gear bags from the living room and heads out to knock on Matt’s door, hoping to catch a lift with the Backliner.“Hey, buddy. Do you need a lift?” Matt asks as he answers the door with a bright smile.“Only if it’s okay with you” Neil replies small and uncertain.“Yeah, dude, of course it is. Let me just grab my bag” Matt quickly disappears inside of his dorm and reappears moments later with his gear bag slung over his shoulder. “I need to knock on Dan’s door. I’m giving her a lift too. Allison and Renée are going out after practice. Hopefully on a date”“They’re dating?” Neil asks with obvious confusion. How has he not noticed this? “Dude, you really are oblivious sometimes. You know that, right?” Matt replies with a laugh as they approach the girl’s dorm.Matt knocks and Dan comes outside, followed by Renée and then Allison.“Ren, you’ve got a bit of lipstick—” Matt says as he points to his own neck.“Oh fu— Allie!” Renée exclaims as she tries to cover up her neck with her hands and tries to rub the lipstick off.Matt shakes his head with a chuckle as the five of them make their way to meet Kevin and Nicky downstairs.Matt, Neil, Dan, Kevin and Nicky all pile into Matt’s truck, whilst Renée and Allison go in Allison’s porsche.They arrive at the stadium and all head inside, the Freshmen arrive at the same time.“Neil” Abby calls from her office door and Neil heads over. “I’ve spoken to Ruby and she’s got an appointment for Andrew to see her tomorrow afternoon. And I’ve also ordered the pillow for Andrew. It will be here tomorrow”Neil smiles “thanks, Abby”“No problem at all”Neil heads into the locker room and changes out before joining the rest of the team on the sofas in the lounge for Coach Wymack’s debrief of their training session this morning.Wymack gives all of his notes to each Fox and tells them where they need to improve for their game at the end of next week.After Wymack’s notes, the Foxes all go to begin jogging around the court. He catches Neil’s arm before he heads towards the court, causing Neil to stop.“I’m assuming that Aaron is with Andrew after what happened in his exam this morning?” Wymack asks with concern for his player.“Yeah. He offered to stay with him whilst I came to practice. I hope that’s okay” Neil says.Wymack smiles “of course it is. Andrew could do with the rest from what Abby’s told me. And Aaron’s been very worried about him recently”“I know” Neil replies in a small voice.“Go on, kid. I want you leading the scrimmages. I’ve already cleared it with Dan”“Yes, Coach”Wymack holds the door open and Neil goes through them and joins the rest of the team as they start another lap. “Three more laps, Foxes” Neil calls out as he leads them past the home benches.He takes over from Dan with the warmups and the scrimmages, calling out stops when he needs to change up the strategy and gives guidance to his team.He gives the team their notes at the end of the session and lets each Fox know what they need to improve and focus on over the next week.Wymack breaks them all around 6pm and Neil heads back to the dorms with Matt, Dan, Kevin and Nicky.Neil asks Kevin and Nicky to give Andrew some space for a while longer and both agree - Nicky very reluctantly.Neil enters his dorm and finds Aaron in the living room, with Andrew nowhere in sight.“Where’s Andrew?” Neil questions as he looks around the room and then down the hallway toward the kitchen.Aaron looks up from his phone “he’s in the shower”“Is he okay?”Aaron nods “he woke up about an hour ago. I made us some food. There’s some left over if you want any”Neil nods “thanks Aaron” before heading into the kitchen and dishing himself up some of the cottage pie that Aaron has left in the oven for the rest of the monsters to eat when they get home.Neil eats it as quickly as possible as the shower continues to run in the bathroom.The shower cuts off and Andrew emerges from the bathroom with wet hair and a towel wrapped around his body as heads into the bedroom to get dried and dressed. He turns to smile at Neil as he makes his way down the hall.Neil finishes his food and heads back into the living room to wait for Andrew to get himself dressed and comfy.Aaron is already standing with his bag slung over his shoulder, ready to go. “I’m going to leave you two alone now. I think Andrew would like a cuddle from you and I don’t want to be third wheeling my twin and his boyfriend”Neil huffs a laugh “thanks Aaron, for staying with him I mean”Aaron nods “he’s my brother. I want what’s best for him. Even if that does mean that I have to put up with you” he says the last part with a sarcastic tone.Neil laughs “thanks Aaron”“I’ll see you tomorrow” Aaron says with a smile before putting his bag dither on his shoulder and heads towards the door to leave.“See you tomorrow,” Neil says.Neil sits himself down on the sofa and pulls the blanket over himself.Neil hears the bedroom door clock open and closed and Andrew appears in the living room a few seconds later.“Hey” Neil says with a bright smile.“Hey” Andrew says quietly in return.Neil holds his arm out in invitation and Andrew comes over and sits down next to Neil, cuddling himself into his boyfriend and letting Neil throw the blanket over him as well.Neil kisses the top of Andrew’s head and wraps his arm around Andrew. “How are you feeling?”“Stupid” Andrew says quietly.“Stupid? What for?” Neil questions, keeping his voice just as quiet.“For today”“What about today, Drew?”“For thinking that I was losing her” he takes a breath and whispers “again”Neil kisses the top of Andrew’s head again “you’re not stupid, Drew. You’re being a parent. You can feel her every single day.” Neil wipes the tears that are falling silently from Andrew’s eyes and down his cheeks. “You’re allowed to be scared, Drew”Andrew lets out a small whine and curls himself further into Neil’s side.“Do you want to watch a movie or do you want to get an early night?” Neil asks once Andrew is a little more relaxed.Andrew only takes a second to think of his answer “early night” he whispers.Neil nods and takes Andrew’s hand as they both go to clean their teeth and get into their comfy pajamas and climb into bed together. Andrew cuddles into Neil’s side and Neil runs his fingers through Andrew’s hair until his breathing evens out and Andrew falls asleep. Neil knows that he’ll be awake again in only a few short hours, feeling uncomfortable with the baby moving around inside of him.Andrew does wake up again throughout the night. The next morning, Neil once again lets Andrew sleep in for as long as he can whilst Neil and the rest of the Foxes are at morning practice.Neil walks into the lounge with Matt and Dan after meeting up with them in the car park.“Neil?” Abby calls out from the door of her office.Neil smiles and heads over to her and into her office.Abby smiles as she gets a box from her desk and hands it over to Neil. “It’s arrived for you about half an hour ago”“Is that the pillow?” Neil asks, his eyes wide and bright with excitement.“It is indeed” Abby says with a smile just as bright as Neil’s. “I’ll keep it in here until you’ve finish practice”“Thanks Abby”Neil gets changed and heads onto the court for Dan to lead today's practice. He listens to Dan and Wymack’s notes, picks up the pillow from Abby’s office and gets a lift back to the dorm with Dan and Matt.Neil struggles with his keys as he holds onto the box and tries to open the door. He gets it open and walks into the living room with the box in his hands, eyeing Andrew who is reading on the sofa.“What the fuck is that?” Andrew asks Neil, looking up from where he was reading his book. “It’s a pregnancy pillow” Neil replies, holding the package up with a bright smile. “I asked Abby to look into ordering one for you to help you sleep a bit better”Andrew tilts his head and looks at his boyfriend with a skeptical expression.“Abby helped me look at the different types and I think this one would be the best one for you” Neil hesitates before saying “but if you don’t like it then I can ask Abby to return it. I just thought that it might help. I—”“Neil” Andrew says long and slow “shut. Up.” He holds his hand out “Show me the pillow”Neil smiles and opens the box, revealing the pillow inside. Neil pulls it out and opens the plastic wrapping and pulls out the soft pillow.Andrew eyes the pillow before taking it from Neil and goes back over to the sofa. He lets Neil help him arrange the position of the pillow so that it’s comfortable against his body.“Will you try and sleep for a little bit?” Neil asks as he drapes the blanket over Andrew’s body.Andrew nods and closes his eyes before saying a small “thank you, Junkie”Neil kisses his forehead and leaves Andrew to sleep. Their morning classes can wait, Andrew and the baby being happy and fully rested is more important.Andrew joins the Foxes at the stadium for their game against the UV Catamounts today.He’s waiting in the lounge for the Foxes to finish changing out and to head onto the court for warmups. He can hear the cheers and commotion the crowd is creating in the stands. It’s so loud in here, it will be even louder for him and the baby. He’s not sure how much the noise will affect her during the game. Maybe she won’t like it.Neil is the first out of the changing rooms, comes over to Andrew and kisses him on the lips.“Hey” Neil says with a smile against his lips.“Hey, yourself” Andrew smiles back and leans in to deepen the kiss, making the most of his boyfriend until he has to leave him to go and play his silly little ball game.The door to Wymack’s office opens and the Coach clears his throat, breaking the pair apart.“Put him down, Josten” Wymack says, rubbing a hand down his face and shaking his head lightly.“Yes, Coach” Neil replies, but sneaks in one final kiss from Andrew before the pair say their goodbyes and Neil heads off to gather the other Foxes to start the warmups.Wymack walks over to Andrew and speaks to him in a soft and caring voice. “How was your checkup?”Andrew nods “good.” Andrew had his appointment with Ruby this morning. She told him that the pain was most likely being caused by stress and advised him to rest for a while. Other than that she gave him a full clean bill of health.“Are you coming out to join us on the benches, or would you rather stay in here?” Wymack asks, knowing that the noise might be a bit too much for Andrew at the moment.“Benches” Andrew replies, confidently, but then speaks a little quieter when he asks “but can I come back in here if it gets too much?”Wymack nods “Yes, Minyard, you can use my office if you need to”Andrew nods and walks to the benches with his Coach, as he looks around at the cheering crowd in the stands. People begin cheering and chanting his name as he makes his way to the home benches and sits himself down next to Neil’s towel and water bottle. He doesn’t make any effort to wave at them. He rubs his bump, making sure that his baby girl is comfy in there. He feels her little feet kicking away happily and smiles to himself at the feeling.Andrew watches as the Foxes and Catamounts finish up their warmups and half listens in when Dan, Neil and Coach give them a few last words of motivation and encouragement.The starting Foxes lineup and the commentators begin calling out each of their names one by one as each Fox jogs to their starting spot on court.Andrew watches Neil as he jogs to his place and stands with his racquet already in position to make his first move.The referees lock the doors and the buzzer sounds, signalling the start of the game. Andrew is barely watching the game itself, he’s more interested in watching the way his Junkie throws himself around the court. He flicks his gaze to the goal to see Renée reaching and sending the ball flying back down the other end of the court. Neil scores just a couple of minutes later and Andrew smiles a smile that no one else will ever notice and rubs his bump again, “that’s your Papa.”At the end of the first quarter, the Foxes are up two-one with Kevin scoring the other goal. Wymack subs out Allison and sends Ash on to take her place. He asks William if he wants to try a quarter today and the young Freshman nods, so Wymack calls Renée out too and William jogs in for his first game in goal.Renée comes over and sits herself down beside Andrew and leans in to him to ask “how is she finding the game?”Andrew nods “she’s moving a lot. I think it might be too loud for her”Just as he says that, Kevin scores another goal, causing the Foxes fans to start jumping in the stands.“You can take a break in the locker room if you need to,” Renée says through her kind smile.Andrew shakes his head and points at Neil “I need to make sure that he doesn’t do anything stupid”Renée laughs and gently bumps her shoulder into Andrew’s. He smiles at the contact.The Foxes finish the first half with a five-four lead over the Catamounts, and Coach debriefs them in the lounge and tells them his swaps for the second half.Renée congratulates William on his first ever quarter as a Fox and his smiles so just how proud of himself he is too. He goes into Abby’s office for his post game checkup, the same way as he does after practices and scrimmages.Brittany would be taking over in goal. Jack replaces Kevin. Dan swaps with Christopher and Owen swaps with Matt.They all go back out to the court and the second half of the game gets underway with the Catamounts scoring just a minute in.Andrew isn’t sure what’s happened, but suddenly the whistle is blown and the game comes to an abrupt stop. He stands when all he can see is auburn hair crouching down on the floor. He walks closer to the plexiglass before realising that Neil is crouching over Ash.Abby rushes in and assesses an injured Ash, before Aaron comes over to help Abby carry him off and into the awaiting arms of Dan as the pair slowly walk them to Abby’s office. The pain on Ash’s face is clear as day to see as the three of them walk past Andrew.The fouling Catamount is given a red card and the game resumes just a few moments later.The Catamount fans are clearly not happy with the decision that’s been made as they begin throwing their rubbish and bottles towards the court walls in protest.Dan jogs back out from the locker rooms and Andrew decides that this is the right time to take a break from the court, so he gets up and makes his way towards the locker room and lounge.He goes into the men’s changing rooms first and pees, his baby girl has decided to make herself comfortable right against his bladder and it feels as if it’s being crushed. With his bathroom break taken care of, Andrew heads into the lounge and grabs his pregnancy book out of his bag that Neil made him bring, and makes himself comfortable on the sofa until the end of the game.
Week 29
Are you feeling excited? Or nervous? Or maybe you're a bit of both? Being pregnant stirs up all kinds of emotions.
The important thing to do during pregnancy is to talk to friends, family, your midwife or doctor, and discuss anything that's worrying you.
What's happening in my body?
You might be feeling a bit breathless, as your baby pushes against your lungs. It puts a strain on your body carrying extra weight around too.
You may feel irritated when people tell you to enjoy your sleep while you can, as it's not very easy right now.
You could be getting leg cramps. Plus if the baby's pressing against your bladder, you may be going to the bathroom more often throughout the night.
Babies seem to have a habit of being really active just as you want to go to sleep. They have their own sleeping and waking patterns, and you'll be lucky if your schedules coincide!
Get to know your baby's patterns. If you notice that they change or stop, contact your midwife or hospital.
Rest when you can in the day. It's best to try and sleep on your side – try supporting your body when you lie down by putting a pillow under your bump and another one between your legs.
If you feel unable to cope because you're just too tired, talk to your midwife or doctor.
Can I tell if I'm having a boy or a girl?
You may have been told the sex of your baby at your anomaly scan, but sometimes it's tricky to get a proper look. Also it may not be your hospital's policy to reveal the sex before the birth.
It's not possible to tell your baby's sex from any of the following things.
The position of your bump
Some people think a neat high bump means you're carrying a boy, while a rounded low bump indicates a girl. In fact, the differences are more to do with:
your height
your muscles
how many babies you've already had
how much you eat in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate
Some people say that if it's over 140 beats per minute, it's more likely to be a girl, but there's no science to back this up.
RSV vaccination
Have you had the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine? It's usually offered at around week 28 but can be given later if needed, right up until you go into labour.
Having the vaccination can lower your baby's risk of a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which can make it difficult for your baby to breathe and feed. If you've not had it yet, speak to your midwife or a GP.
3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 29 weeks)
You could be feeling awkward and uncoordinated. It takes a while to get used to having a bump. Your sense of balance could be all over the place, as your centre of gravity changes.
If you fall over, do not panic – you've got plenty of padding in there – but let your midwife or doctor know.
This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:
sleeping problems
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts
a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 38.6cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a butternut squash.
Your baby is now perfectly formed – over the next few weeks, they have lots to do, like maturing their organs and gaining fat.
For the past few weeks, your baby has been covered by a greasy white layer of something called "vernix" that protects the skin and soft, downy hair for warmth. This starts to disappear now.
Your baby is getting ready to make an entrance in about 11 weeks' time.
The door to Abby’s office opens and Ash slowly walks out and makes their way into the men’s changing room. There’s a shower stall in there with a chair that someone put in there when Matt fractured his ankle during Andrew’s Freshman year. No one has taken it back out again since and sometimes the girls will use it too if one of them is too injured to stand after practice or a game.After about fifteen minutes, Andrew decides that he has to pee, again, so he drags himself up and into the changing room, hoping that Ash will either still be in their stall or will be fully dressed by now and is just making the most of the quietness.Andrew does not expect to see Ash wrapping their chest so tight in bandages that their skin looks bruised and there are clearly some areas which have been bleeding from how much the bandages have been digging in underneath their gear.“What are you doing?” Andrew asks with a firm voice that causes Ash to jump and freeze in the middle of wrapping another bandage around themselves. “I asked you a question.” It comes out harsher than intended, but Andrew knows from first hand experience just how dangerous what Ash is doing can be.Andrew stands next to them as Ash stares frozen at their locker and whisper in a voice so quiet that Andrew almost misses it “I can still see them”Andrew’s tension softens in understanding as he realsies what Ash is referring to.“I’m not flat” Ash whispers again as a silent tear falls from their eye and rolls down their cheek.“Listen to me,” Andrew says in a voice that leaves no room for argument, but is still as caring as he can make it “I have some binders in my dorm that have never been opened. I obviously don’t need them anymore, so you are more than welcome to stop by tomorrow and pick them up. But you must promise me that you will never, ever wrap your chest like this again. Do you understand?”Ash nods as more tears escape their eyes, so Andrew leaves the changing room to give them a moment's peace before the rest of the Foxes begin making their way in to shower after the game.Andrew re-enters the lounge to find Neil looking at him with a worried expression. Andrew goes over to his boyfriend and Neil immediately asks “is everything okay?”“Yeah”“Why did you leave?” Neil asks with concern, lacing his voice.“I don’t want her picking up their bad habits” is Andrew’s easy reply, but he knows that Neil knows the truth. It was too loud, too much, I needed to get away for a while.Neil gives Andrew a quick kiss before he has to go and do press duty with Dan and then head off to get showered and changed into his normal clothes.Andrew catches Ash’s eye as they leave the changing room and head towards the exit. Ash gives Andrew a small smile which could only mean thank you, before they push the door open and make their way towards the car park.The final score for the game was nine-seven. The Foxes won, so Allison and Nicky were already planning the after party that they were going to age back at Fox Tower. Andrew shook head when Nicky tried to convince him to join, saying “but it may be one of your last parties that you will be able to attend before the baby is born,” but that still didn't change Andrew’s mind. He just wants to curl up in his bed with Neil and the really soft pregnancy pillow and try to get as much sleep as possible whilst he still can.Andrew waits for Neil and the rest of his group to finish getting showered and changed before they all climb into the Maserati and make their way back to Fox Tower so that they could begin partying.Nicky was talking a mile a minute about something that Andrew wasn’t listening to and was still going even once Andrew had parked the car and they were all piled into the lift up to their floor. He only stopped when Aaron went into his own dorm room and Andrew and Neil shut the bedroom door behind them as Nicky went into the living room and Kevin to the kitchen.Both Andrew and Neil got changed into their pajamas and settled themselves in for the night. Andrew took his usual place next to the wall and led on his left side with his pregnancy pillow snaking around his body as Neil made himself come next to him. Both were asleep within minutes. There’s a knock on their dorm room door the next morning and Neil gets up from where he’s cuddled on the sofa with Andrew and makes his way into the hallway to open it. He opens the door to see a distressed looking Ash standing outside and fidgeting nervously. “Hey Ash. What can I do for you?” Neil says with his cheery Vice-Capiatin’s smile. Ash stutters as they speak “do…do you have a binder that I could borrow?” Neil looks at them confused “err…sure…I have my old maths one from last year that I don’t need anymore” “They don’t mean that kind of binder, Neil” Andrew says as he walks up behind his boyfriend. “Oh?” Neil says puzzled and then he sees the way in which Andrew raises his eyebrow, “ooohhhh…right…I see” he then sees Andrew unspoken question “I need to go to Allison’s dorm anyway. She’s going to try to convince me to convince you to go to pregnancy yoga” Neil laughs at Andrew’s eye roll and kisses his boyfriend's lips before heading out.“I have a few spare ones in my bedroom” Andrew says and turns away from Ash and heads into the bedroom. He opens a draw and rummages near the back of it before pulling out three sealed bags. He turns around to find ash hovering in the doorway. “What size do you need? I have medium, medium or large” “Errm…medium” Ash replies quietly. Andrew looks at the bags and chucks one of them onto the floor, discarding it as useless. “These are two unopened medium sized binders” he says as he passes them both to Ash. Ash’s eyes light up as he hesitantly takes them from Andrew’s hands. “You’re not even going to ask me why I don’t have my own?” Andrew shrugs “why would I? You need them. And I am not going to stop you from taking them.” Andrew says with a blank tone. Ash gives him a small smile and begins to turn away before quickly turning back around “how much did it cost you? Your top surgery?”Andrew gives Ash an understanding look “around $10,000”Ash’s expression drops. “The school has funds that are there to help people like us, you know. Neil paid for mine, but if you talk to Abby or Betsy about it then they can help you get everything arranged” Ash nods and says a quiet “thanks. And thanks for—” Andrew nods in return and Ash turns around and begins leaving the dorm. Andrew calls out just before he exits into the hallway “if you want to know anything else about it or if you need another binder, then you know where to find me.” Ash smiles and this time they do leave. Andrew picks up the discarded binder off the floor and puts it back into its place in his draws. He’s always made sure that he keeps a few spare unopened packets for if any of the other Foxes ever need them like Ash did today. As he turns around, he catches a look of himself in the mirror. His bump is really showing now. He smiles at his reflection as he rubs his hands across his belly “hello baby girl” The rest of the week is filled with practice and classes. There’s a game for the Foxes at home again this week, so practices are focused on reviewing the footage from last week's game against the Catamounts and finding things for each other to improve on for this week's game against the Nevada Tornadoes. It was originally an away game, but the Tornadoes stadium was hit by an actual tornado, so the ERC asked the Foxes to host instead.Andrew’s class resit their mock exam that Andrew ruined for everyone last week, but no one mentions what happened last week, apart from to ask him if he was feeling better, which he answered with an honest “tired, but okay”At the end of the exam, Harry walks with Andrew to meet Neil before afternoon practice when Harry unexpectedly asks “does she have a name yet?”Andrew turns to face him and quirks an eyebrow at the young Dobson.“You said she to Professor Lincoln last week” Harry states matter of factly.Andrew huff a laugh through his nose “we’re still deciding”“You’re having a daughter” Harry says again with a bright smile.“Yes” Andrew replies with a smile of his own, “yes, we are” On Saturday morning, Neil kisses a still sleeping Andrew on the cheek before he puts on his running shoes and grabs his keys before heading out of the dorm for his early morning run. It’s Saturday today and the Foxes won their game yesterday against the Nevada Tornadoes six-five, so the majority of them will be suffering through their hangovers for most of the day. Neil jogs down the stairs and out of the doors to Fox Tower and runs towards Perimeter Road, heading towards Palmetto Park about ten minutes away. He knows that he can usually reach the park in around five minutes if he really puts his mind to it. He’s a little under halfway there when he notices a black car following behind him. Neil looks over his shoulder, wondering if it’s Andrew in the Maserati coming to watch him run or maybe even drag him out for breakfast instead. But it wasn’t Andrew. Neil knows those black tinted windows all too well, but he doesn’t want to stop. He picks up his pace and runs towards the park, hoping to hide himself under the shady trees and lose the car that’s trailing him. But it doesn’t work. He’s just about to cross the intersection when the scar screeches to a holt in front of him. Neil stops in his tracks, about to turn around, when two Japanese men in black suits step out of the car and grab Neil by the arms. Neil struggles as he tries to get them to let him go. He doesn’t want to go with them. He doesn’t want to face whatever this is. He wants to stay here, with Andrew, with their baby, with his family. The two men push him to the ground where Neil continues to struggle more, until a damp cloth is out over his nose and mouth and everything fades to black. ~ Andrew stretches across the bed as he begins waking up, after finally being able to sleep comfortably for the first time in what feels like forever, thanks to Neil getting Abby to buy him his pregnancy pillow. He reaches his arm over to Neil’s side of the bed, expecting to find him there or at least feel his warmth from where he’s not long left to go on his run, but he finds it cold. Freezing cold in fact. Andrew opens his eyes to find himself alone in the bedroom. He knows that Nicky and Kevin didn’t come back to their room last night after the party, but Neil always comes back to bed after his runs. Andrew reaches for his phone and checks the time. 10:03 am Neil is never back later than 9 am on a weekend run. He knows that Andrew likes to wake up next to him, especially if it’s been a bad night for him. Andrew gets out of bed and leaves the bedroom, heading to the bathroom and knocking on the closed door, just in case Neil is in there and he’s just being quiet so that he doesn’t wake Andrew up. But when there is no answer, Andrew opens the door and finds the bathroom empty. Andrew heads into the kitchen and finds that empty too. The only evidence of Neil being here this morning are his and Andrew’s mugs out on the counter, ready for Neil to make both of their drinks when he got home from his run. Andrew then checks the living room and is shocked to find that he isn’t in there either. He’s not going to panic. Neil’s probably just seeing Matt or the girls, or maybe he’s gone to the court with Kevin. Andrew thinks to himself. He calls Neil’s phone and hears that song about Runaways playing from inside the bedroom. Andrew goes back in there and finds Neil’s phone on the desk. He promised Andrew that he wouldn’t forget to take his phone with him anymore after what happened to Andrew at Christmas. He does something that he wouldn’t usually do, he heads to Matt’s dorm and knocks on the door, hoping to find the auburn haired idiot in there. Andrew knocks loudly, but there’s no answer. He goes down the hallway to the girls dorm and knocks loudly on their door too. Everyone must have stayed there last night after the party instead of going back to their own rooms. A very tired and disheveled looking Dan answers the door, wrapping her dressing gown around herself. “Andrew? Are you okay?” She asks, surprised to see Andrew Minyard at her door. “Is Neil in here?” He asks, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. Dan shakes her head “no, he’s not. He left with you. None of us have seen him since. Is everything okay?” She asks, looking at his baby bump. Andrew hesitates as he speaks “he hasn’t come home from his run” “Oh fuck” Dan whispers under her breath. “Matt!” She calls out over her shoulder “can you come here for a minute pl—” she stops herself from saying the word right at the last second. Matt appears, looking just as shit as Dan does, and stands behind her at the door. He smiles at Andrew. “Andrew, what a lovely surprise. You good?” “Matt, where’s Neil?” Dan asks looking at her boyfriend over her shoulder. Matt scratches the back of his head “umm run maybe?” Andrew shakes his head “he should have been home over an hour ago” “Have you tried calling him?” Matt asks like it was the most obvious thing in the world to do. Andrew holds Neil’s phone up, the fox charm dangling down from the side indicating that it’s Neil’s and not Andrew’s. “Shit” Matt mutters under his breath. “Aye yo, Kevin, where’s Neil, dude?” Matt says loudly as he heads into the living room of the girls dorm. “Come inside Andrew” Dan says and opens the door wider for Andrew to step through and they both follow after Matt into the living room. They walk in just as a very hungover Kevin is finishing his sentence “—run maybe?” “He hasn’t come back” Dan reiterates and then her face drops “oh god” “What is it?” Matt asks, noticing how suddenly pale his girlfriend has become. “When is Neil’s contract up with the” she looks around the room and whispers “Moriyama’s?” Andrew’s face pales and his breathing picks up as the sudden fear rushes through him. “Hey, Andrew” Matt says standing in front of him “hey, breathe dude. In and out. Andrew breathe for me buddy” Andrew albeit collapses to the floor, his breaths coming out fast and ragged as the panic completely takes over him. “I’m calling Abby” Dan says as she deals with an also panicking Kevin. “Breathe, Andrew. Follow my lead. In, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four. Come on Andrew, you need to breathe for the baby” Matt continues as Andrew gets dragged deeper and deeper into his panic. “Oh for fuck sakes, Kevin! Not on the new carpet” Dan cries out as Kevin empties his stomach onto the girl’s floor. The other original Foxes begin waking up due to the commotion, with Dan and Matt informing them on Neil's contract possibly ending and his subsequent disappearance. Abby, Wymack and Betsy all arrive, and Wymack calls an emergency meeting in the basement party room for the Foxes to attend for a head count and a welfare check. He’s not going to tell the Freshmen Foxes why, just telling them that it’s part of his job as their Coach to make sure that they’re all alive after such a big party the night before. Andrew and Kevin stay in the dorm with Renée and Aaron, whilst the rest are told to wake up the Freshmen and meet Wymack downstairs in five minutes. Betsy and Abby join Andrew on the floor as he continues struggling to get air into his lungs. “Andrew,” Abby says softly “I need you to slow your breathing down for me. Baby is starting to get a bit upset in there and I don’t want her to get hurt because you’re not breathing properly. Can you listen to Betsy for me whilst she takes you through an exercise?” Andrew doesn’t answer, he’s so lost in his panic and clutching at his bump where he can feel his baby’s unhappy protests at the lack of oxygen that she’s receiving. But he can’t help it. He can’t slow his breathing down as much as he tries. He feels like his going to pass out. Everything’s starting to get fuzzy and blurry around the edges. It feels like the darkness is closing in, until it does completely. ~ Neil can feel the coldness of the concrete floor that lays beneath him. His head is pounding and he definitely has a couple of broken ribs. He groans as he tries to figure out just where the fuck he is. He hears foot steps getting closer and closer to him and then feels someone’s boot digging into his stomach as the person kicks him over so that he’s now lying on his back, his eyes squinting against the light. “Up!” A harsh Japanese accent orders, and when Neil doesn’t move, he feels hands grabbing him and dragging him onto his unsteady legs. “Move!” The same voice commands. Neil’s legs don’t cooperate and more hands join the ones that are already on him as they begin dragging him across the room by his arms. “Kneel!” They drop him back down on the floor, just catching himself on his hands moments before his head would’ve hit the floor. Neil can barely move to bring himself up from the floor when he hears a familiar voice coming from the other side of the room. “Ah, Nathaniel Wesninski. So lovely to see you again” Neil watches as the silhouette comes into the light and he is once again face to face with Ichirou Moriyama. Ichirou looks just like he did the last time Neil saw him when he negotiated his contract at the end of last season, only this time he looks a little more tired. “What are you doing on the floor? Get up” Ichirou demands, leaving no room for any answers in his tone. Neil scrambles to his feet and dusts off his legs, only for his hands to come back smeared with blood. Ichirou looks at him, offended. Neil quickly bows “My Lord” and waits for Ichirou to tell him to stand up straight again. Ichirou watches Neil, closely assessing him as Neil keeps himself in his tight bow. “Sit” Ichirou orders, clicking his fingers at the red and black leather chair, closest to Neil, by the coffee table. Neil quickly sits himself down. The quicker he is, the quicker he can get out of here and back to Andrew. Ichirou dismisses the other men from the room and begins pacing around, rubbing his hands together in a menacing kind of way, before heading over to the small whisky bar and pouring himself a glass. He keeps his back to Neil when he speaks. “So,” he begins, long and slow “I hear that congratulations are in order” “My Lord?” Neil questions, unsure by what he means. “You and Minyard, are expecting a baby” Ichirou turns around and takes a long sip of his drink. Neil’s mouth hangs open as he realises exactly why he’s here. He’s going to be executed. Ichirou walks slowly over to him “I do apologise for taking so long to meet with you” he puts a lot of emphasis on ‘apologise,’ “I’ve been extremely busy myself and haven’t had the time to have you over to discuss the issue of the matter” Neil gulps. He really is going to die today. This is when Ichirou hands him his execution date, or worse still, just shoots him dead on the spot. The same way as he killed Riko all those months ago. “I need to make it very, very clear to you what this entails for your contract with the Moriyama family.”
Ooohhh fuck…
Ichirou walks around the chair that Neil is sitting in and comes to leans against it behind Neil’s head, swirling his glass of whisky before taking another sip. “This child that you are creating, will also be part of your debt.” Neil moves his eyes towards where Ichirou is speaking behind him, not daring to move his head as he tries to keep his breathing under control. “If you put even a single hair out of line, your child will become collateral damage. Is that made clear?” Neil is almost too stunned to remember that he has to speak “y-yes, Sir” “Good” Ichirou comes around from behind Neil to sit on the chair directly opposite him on the other side of the coffee table. “I’ve recently had a child myself, therefore I know how much you wish to keep them out of harms way” Neil nods frantically. Ichirou finishes his whisky “ahh” he sighs as he relaxes back into his chair. “You are to stay here tonight. There is no way for you to return to your team now. Transportation shall be provided in the morning” Neil nods and stands slowly, making sure that Ichirou really is finished with him. When Ichirou doesn’t protest the movement, Neil bows low again “thank you, My Lord” and waits as one of Ichirou’s bodyguards leads him out of the room and down the hallway to a bedroom, where he is locked inside to finally come to terms with what he’s just agreed to do. ~ Betsy keeps a watchful eye over Andrew as he sleeps on the sofa in her office. She’s closed her office today whilst she deals with the fallout of Neil’s sudden disappearance. Matt had carried Andrew to Betsy’s car and into her office without waking him after he passed out on the living room floor of the girl’s dorm. Aaron and Nicky had gone with them, worried about Andrew and the baby’s condition after he didn’t wake up. Matt laid Andrew down on the sofa and let Abby assess him after she arrived a few minutes later. She told them that “Andrew is exhausted. His body is just resting” which only slightly reassured them. Betsy ushered them all out of her office so that she could make it into a quiet and sanctual space for Andrew to regain consciousness in without being too distress by the change in his surroundings. Betsy drapes one of her soft blankets over Andrew’s sleeping body and strokes his hair a few times, knowing that the feeling is comforting to him. She heads over to the little kitchenette near the back of her office and begins preparing the items that she’ll need to make Andrew a hot chocolate for when he wakes up. There is a knock at the door and Betsy looks up to see her son, Harry popping his head around the door. He whispers a quiet “can I come in?” Betsy nods and Harry bypasses a sleeping Andrew and heads towards his mum. He holds out a paper bag towards her. “I got you some lunch” Betsy takes the bag and gives Harry a quick kiss on the cheek before looking inside and seeing what her son has bought her for lunch. She smiles at what she sees. “Thank you, Harry” “There’s a sandwich in there for Andrew, too. I don’t want his baby to get hungry if he’s sad about Neil” Betsy smiles “that was very thoughtful of you. I will let Andrew know when he’s woken up” Harry nods and the pair say their goodbyes to each other before Harry leaves. Betsy puts the meal deals in the fridge. She’ll wait until Andrew is awake to eat hers with him. He’s more likely to eat something if someone else is also eating with him. She walks over to her chair and sits down to watch Andrew as he sleeps off the remainder of his panic attack as she waits for him to wake up. ~The car has barely stopped and Neil is being thrown out of it. He hits the pavement, hard, and has the wind knocked out of him as he lands on his already injured and painful ribs.It’s dark outside when he finally manages to get his breathing under control enough to open his eyes and take in his surroundings. He’s on the other side of campus, near to the construction site for the new university building.Neil slowly, oh so slowly, uses the metal fencing next to him to pull himself up to standing and then uses everything and any surface that he can get his hands on to help him get back across campus and into Fox Tower.He has no idea how long he’s been gone, he just knows that it was too long.He doesn’t know how long it’s taken him to slowly drag his aching body across campus, but finally, finally, he sees Fox Tower and gives his final push to get himself to the doors. He practically body slams himself into the door, trying to keep himself up long enough to make it to his dorm.He presses the button to the lift and the doors open straight away. Neil climbs in and leans himself in the corner at the back, trying as hard as he can to not let his legs give out from underneath him.He’s so close.The lift dings as he reaches the third floor and he turns down the hallway and towards his dorm room. The door is already open when he finally arrives.He staggers his way down the hallway towards the voices coming from the living room, using the wall to keep himself up. He feels like he’s about to pass out at any moment.He turns into the living room to see Aaron and Katelyn at Neil’s desk, with Aaron in the seat and Katelyn sitting on the desk itself. He doesn’t hear everything that they say but he Neil catches the end of it “I’m doing this for Andrew and the baby, not because I like Neil”Katelyn must hear something because she turns around from where she is sitting and catches Neil as he leans himself against the door “oh my god! Neil!” She exclaims as she comes running over with Aaron just behind her “are you okay? Come here and sit down”“Where’s Andrew?” Is all that Neil can say as he realsies that he’s not in the room.“With Dobson. Probably planning to give birth as a single parent” Aaron jabs and Neil gives him a murderous glare.“What do you mean single parent?” Neil asks as Katelyn presses against his ribs, causing him to hiss at the pain.“Three days Neil! You’ve been missing for three days! We thought you were dead!” Aaron shouts at him.Neil tries to stand up “I need to see Andrew” but is pushed straight back onto the sofa by Katelyn.“You’re not going anywhere until Abby’s checked you out” Katelyn tells him. “Babe, phone” she holds her hand out expectantly to Aaron who passes her the phone and she puts it to her ear for only a few seconds before someone answers. “Abby, hi it’s Katelyn— oh you don’t need to ring the hospitals anymore— Neil’s here— yes he’s injured but otherwise alive— the dorms— okay— Thanks Abby” she puts the phone down on the sofa next to Neil as he stays kneeling in front of him “she’s on her way”Neil nods and looks at Aaron when he quietly asks “how is Andrew?”When Aaron looks like he’s about to rip Neil a new one, Matt and Renée come running into the living room.“We heard shouting” Matt says and then his gaze lands on Neil’s battered, bloody and bruised face. “Jesus, fuck Neil! What happened?” He asks as he crouches down in front of his best friend.“Had a run in with an old friend” Neil says through a pained laugh that no one finds amusing.“I’m going to give Betsy an update” Renée says and Neil doesn’t miss the way Aaron looks at her in silent question “he was still awake when I left him”Aaron nods as he accepts her answer and Renée heads out into the main hallway to give Betsy a call.There’s a knock on the doorframe a few minutes later and Neil turns his head to see Abby and Wymack at the door.Abby comes in and sets her medical bag down on the coffee table whilst Wymack tells the Foxes to leave them to it. Matt offers to stay but Neil shakes his head. Matt gives him a sad smile before following the rest of the Foxes out of the dorm. Neil hears the front door close and Abby sets her medical kit up, ready to tend to Neil’s injuries.It’s a lot of antiseptic wipes, tape, gauze, plaster, bandages and ice packs before Abby is finished putting Neil back together. He was correct in thinking that he had some cracked ribs, so Abby tells him that he won’t be able to play for the remainder of the season.Neil tries to protest the decision, especially after what his meeting with Ichirou was about, but Abby insists that he’s not to play for at least twelve weeks minimum and then she would review him after the baby is born.Neil sulks silently to himself before asking if he can go and see Andrew. Abby hesitates but then nods. Neil has no idea how badly his sudden disappearance has affected Andrew and their baby.Abby drives Neil over to Reddin Medical Center and walks with Neil to Betsy’s office as exhaustion pumps itself through Neil’s veins.Abby gives the door a quiet knock before hearing Betsy’s quiet “come in” and opens the door.Neil rushes in and goes over to the sofa where he can see the tufts of blonde hair and part of Andrew’s face sticking out from underneath the blankets. He gently traces Andrew’s face to slowly rouse him from his sleep.It takes Andrew a minute to realise that he’s not in danger. He flicks his gaze to Neil’s face and his eyes grow shiny with unshed tears “Neil” he says with his voice breaking as he reaches out for his boyfriend's arms to pull him into a hug. Neil winces at the pain and Andrew begins pulling back, fearing that he’s hurting Neil, but Neil just pulls him closer to himself again.“Where have you been?” Andrew cries through a broken and messy sob.“It doesn’t matter now,” Neil quietly says into his hair as he continues to hold the blonde’s shaking form. Neil’s hand trails down Andrew’s body to rest on his bump and he breathes out a sigh of relief when he feels a little kick that causes Andrew to jump slightly at the movement. “All that matters is you”He kisses Andrew on the forehead and lays the blonde back down on the sofa and tells him to get some more sleep and that they will deal with the rest another day.
Allison:
Is the monster joining us for Spa Sunday? Xx
Neil:
I’ll ask him in a bit. He’s still sleeping
Allison:
Okay, Babycakes Xx
By the time Betsy dropped Andrew and Neil off last night, it was pretty much this morning. The sun was already beginning to rise, but Andrew hadn’t stopped shaking since Neil walked through the door into Betsy’s office, alive. Bruised but otherwise alive.Neil watches Andrew as he continues to sleep. Andrew’s been holding Neil in a tight bear like grip ever since they both got into their bed in the early hours of this morning. He hasn’t let go since, and Neil isn’t going to make him anytime soon.There was a moment whilst he was sitting in Ichirou’s office that Neil didn’t think he would ever see Andrew again. He didn’t think that he would ever be able to see his baby girl being born, or hold her for the first time. Her first steps, her first words. Walking her to her first day of school. He feared that he would miss it all.Andrew slowly begins to stir beside Neil and Neil watches as his boyfriend blinks his eyes open, making sure to keep his gaze locked on Andrew.“You stayed,” Andrew whispers with a sleepy sounding voice.“I’m never leaving” Neil replies and strokes his fingers through Andrew’s hair, causing the blonde to give him a small smile. “Are you hungry?”Andrew nods, so Neil gets up, very slowly And painfully, and makes his way into the kitchen to attempt to make some food. His ribs are in agony as he tries to reach up to the cupboard to get his and Andrew’s mugs down to make a start on their drinks. He makes Andrew a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, and himself a spiced camomile and vanilla with roasted chicory root tea. Allison bought them for him for Christmas. They are apparently supposed to be calming. Neil wonders if they’ll really work.He takes the two mugs back into the bedroom and sees Andrew talking softly to his bump whilst he cradles it and traces his fingers over the skin. Neil smiles as he puts the mugs down and Andrew looks up at him before continuing his quiet conversation with his baby girl.Neil heads back into the kitchen and sets about making himself And Andrew some toast. He smothers Andrew’s in strawberry jam and his own with a light spread of marmite.He carries both plates into the bedroom and passes Andrew his before settling himself down on the bed next to Andrew. Andrew has to support Neil’s back as his ribs scream out in pain as he moves a little bit too fast.The two of them take their time to eat their breakfast and drink their drinks.Andrew is still tearing his second slice into pieces when Neil asks “would you like to join the girls for spa Sunday later?”“Only you and Renée can touch us” Andrew replies and Neil knows exactly who he means by us.Neil nods and texts Allison to let her know. She replies with a thumbs up just a few minutes later.They finish their food and Andrew takes a shower first, leaving Neil to take his painkillers and slowly make his way back to the kitchen to put their plates and mugs into the sink. He can’t bend down far enough to put them in the dishwasher without causing himself too much pain.Andrew emerges from the bathroom and heads into the bedroom to get dressed whilst Neil takes what appears to be the world's slowest shower.Andrew sits on his bed and reads another chapter of his pregnancy book whilst he waits for Neil to finish taking his shower.
Week 30
You're three-quarters of the way there now!
You might already feel like you're ready to drop, but you and your baby have some more growing to do over the next few weeks.
What's happening in my body?
You may be having trouble sleeping and then when you do, you may be having disturbing dreams.
Try to remember these dreams are not real. They are fuelled by your hormones and the anxiety that you're probably feeling about the big changes ahead.
Talking about your dreams will help you put everything into perspective.
If you are feeling under stress, talk to your midwife or doctor.
3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 30 weeks)
It's probably more of an effort now to walk up the stairs without getting out of breath – that's because your baby is pushing against your lungs.
Your signs of pregnancy could also include:
sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts – a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
RSV vaccination
Have you had the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine? It's usually offered at around week 28 but can be given later if needed, right up until you go into labour.
Having the vaccination can lower your baby's risk of a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which can make it difficult for your baby to breathe and feed. If you've not had it yet, speak to your midwife or a GP.
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 39.9cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a cabbage.
Your baby's eyes can now focus. Their vision will continue to develop inside and outside the uterus (womb).
After the birth, your baby will be able to focus on your face, when you're around 20 to 25cm away. However, they will not be able to follow moving objects with their eyes until they're about 3 months old.
Your baby is about the size of a cabbage.
Think about baby clothes you might need
It's time to get a few baby clothes if you need them. You won't need loads because your baby will grow out of things very fast.
Neil eventually emerges from the bathroom with his towel wrapped around his waist as he carefully makes his way into the bedroom.Andrew can see the severity of the bruising that covers Neil’s entire body. Deep blues and purples all over his chest and stomach. His knees are ripped and raw, cuts beginning to scab over.He beckons Neil to come over to him and asks a quiet “yes or no?” once Neil is standing in between his legs.Neil replies with a “yes” and Andrew leaves delicate and tender kisses over the bruises on Neil’s chest and abdomen.Andrew continues kissing Neil’s injuries until Neil is shivering from still being naked after taking his shower. Andrew lets him go and Neil gets changed into his clean onesie. He doesn’t want anything that’s too tight on his already painful skin.With Neil finally dressed, they both grab their blankets and make their way to the girl’s dorm.Neil knocks and is greeted with a very smiley Allison as she opens the door.She opens the door wider for Neil and Andrew to step through and the three of them head into the living room, where Dan, Renée and Allison have already set everything up for them to all have a lovely, calm and relaxing afternoon.Dan is lighting the final candles on the desk whilst Renée is turning on the colourful lava lamps that the girls have carefully placed around their living room.Neil winces as he sits himself down on the sofa to the left of the living room. Andrew makes himself comfortable on the other sofa.Neil had told Allison that Andrew only wants either him or Renée to touch him today, which all three girls agreed to.Renée sits herself on the floor next to where Andrew is lying on the sofa.“What mask would you like, Andrew?” Renée asks, keeping her voice soft and calm.“Honey. My skin feels dry” Andrew replies confidently.Renée smiles and picks up the jar of honey face mask and the brush and begins applying it to Andrew’s face.Andrew shivers at the coldness of the first stroke, but then he closes his eyes and trusts Renée to keep him safe.Once Renée is finished, she sets the mask and brush aside and Andrew opens his eyes. Renée turns herself to pick something else up off the coffee table. She turns back around to face Andrew and holds up a lilac coloured packet in front of Andrew.“Allie and I found this when we were out last week. It’s a bump mask. It’s supposed to help soothe any itching or aching that you might be experiencing” she says, keeping her voice as soft as always as she explains the mask to Andrew. “Would you like to try it? If you don’t like it I can wipe it off”Andrew nods and whispers “yes.” He unzips his onesie, exposing his bump to Renée. The rest of the girls have turned their backs to give Andrew a bit more privacy.Renée opens the packet, pulling out the sheet mask and unfolding it, before gently draping it over Andrew bump.Andrew shivers again at the coldness on his belly. He feels his little girl kick. Maybe she can feel it too?Renée holds up two slices of cucumber, and with Andrew’s nod of approval, she places them over his eyes, finally letting him relax.Allison finishes applying Neil’s rose water mask to areas of his face that aren’t cut or too bruised. She helps Neil apply a soothing balm to his bruises and cuts across his chest, back and knees.The five of them spend the rest of the day relaxing together, and after they all wash their face masks off, Matt comes to join them to have a movie marathon for the rest of the evening.Andrew and Neil return to their dorm, sated and relaxed as they cuddle up next to each other in their bed and sleep soundly through the night.Andrew decides to stay in the lounge during practice this week, whilst Neil captains the team from the sidelines with Wymack.Wymack tasked Andrew with sorting through more recruits in his office. So far he’s found a girl named Amira Siddiqui, a refugee with no remaining family. Andrew adds her to the yes pile and leaves the office to head to the bathroom in the men’s changing room.He pees and freshens himself up before returning to the lounge to read another chapter of his pregnancy book. He’s getting so close to the end now. In approximately nine weeks, his tiny baby will finally be in his arms.He sits himself down on one of the sofa and opens the book to the correct page.
Week 31
This might be hard to believe, but you are almost there!
You're very unlikely to go beyond another 9 or 10 weeks. You could have your baby in just 6 weeks, which would not be considered early.
What's happening in my body?
Your baby and bump are still growing.
In a couple of weeks, you will both go through a final growth spurt. Your baby still has lots of fattening up to do before the big day arrives.
If this is your first baby, then your midwife or doctor will probably check the size of your uterus (womb). This can be estimated by measuring up your stomach, from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your bump.
They will also gently feel your belly to work out which way up your baby is positioned. Some babies will be head down, ready for birth.
You may have felt your baby move into place and seen your bump shift downwards.
If your baby is head up, there's still time for them to get into position. Some babies will not move down into the pelvis ("engage") until labour starts.
If your baby stays head up, in the "breech" position, that could affect the type of birth you are able to have.
In some cases, if the baby is in an awkward position, or the placenta is blocking their way down, then your midwife or doctor might recommend a caesarean. You can talk to them about the risks and benefits before you make a decision.
Feeding: breast or bottle
Have you thought about how you would like to feed your baby?
Breastfeeding is great for your baby because:
breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight infections
your baby is less likely to get stomach bugs and develop breathing problems
it's available whenever your baby needs it
However, not everyone is able to breastfeed. There may be health reasons why you can't – for example, if you are taking medication that could go into your breast milk, or if you're recovering from surgery.
You can still get your baby off to a great start by feeding with formula and lots of cuddles.
Right now, your baby will be practising sucking, which is a vital skill for feeding.
RSV vaccination
Have you had the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine? It's usually offered at around week 28 but can be given later if needed, right up until you go into labour.
Having the vaccination can lower your baby's risk of a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which can make it difficult for your baby to breathe and feed. If you've not had it yet, speak to your midwife or a GP.
Baby sling safety
Many parents use a sling or baby carrier instead of a pram to keep their baby close to them.
If you decide to use a sling, make sure you know how to use it safely, as a small number of deaths from suffocation have been linked to slings.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) advises the safest slings are the ones that hold your baby solidly against your body, in an upright position.
Make sure you can see your baby, that their face is not restricted, and their airways are always clear.
The "Ticks" rule to keep your baby safe when wearing a sling or carrier is:
T – tight
I – in view at all times
C – close enough to kiss
K – keep chin off the chest
S – supported back
3rd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 31 weeks)
Are you getting fake contractions? You may feel your bump tighten up for 20 to 30 seconds, then relax again (it should not hurt).
These are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are often referred to as "practice contractions".
They're perfectly normal and harmless. However, if they're painful, or you start to get them at regular intervals, it could be a sign of early labour, so contact your midwife or doctor.
Your signs of pregnancy could also include:
sleeping problems
stretch marks
swollen and bleeding gums
pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb ("round ligament pains")
piles
headaches
backache
indigestion and heartburn
bloating and constipation
leg cramps
feeling hot
dizziness
swollen hands and feet
urine infections
vaginal infections
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
greasier, spotty skin
thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
mood swings
morning sickness
weird pregnancy cravings
a heightened sense of smell
sore or leaky breasts – a white milky pregnancy
discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 41.1cm long from head to heel.
That's approximately the size and weight of a coconut.
Your baby is very active, moving around, sucking their fingers and doing the odd somersault.
Day by day, your baby is getting plumper and looking less wrinkled. The amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby is increasing because your baby is now able to pee.
Your baby will start to recognise voices outside the womb, so encourage your partner and any other children to talk to your bump, to help create a strong bond between them.
Your baby is about the size of a coconut.
Action stations
For the first few months, you'll need a crib, carry cot or Moses basket.
If you're borrowing a cot, then ideally you'll need a new mattress. It should fit snugly with no gaps and be clean and waterproof.
Do not use pillows or duvets, as they can cause your baby to overheat or even suffocate.
Instead, get a baby sleeping bag or layer up with light blankets.
“Andrew?” Ash’s quiet voice cuts through Andrew’s reading. He’s never heard them this quiet before.Andrew looks up at Ash’s scared looking face and tilts his head in silent question.“Can I…can you…” Ash takes a deep breath before trying again “can you tell me about…about the surgery?”“They chop your tits off” Andrew says with a blank expression before realising that it was the wrong thing to say judging by the look on Ash’s face. He sighs and closes his book, setting it aside before sitting up straight and asking “what do you want to know?”Ash sits down on the sofa next to Andrew “everything. I want to know everything”Andrew nods “it’s a double mastectomy. They make an incision underneath each breast and remove all of the tissue. They relocate nipples to make them more proportionate to the rest of your body. It’s done under a general anesthetic and takes approximately two and a half hours. I was able to start walking around again the next day, but it was extremely uncomfortable. You’ll have to sleep sitting up slightly for about two weeks, maybe longer, depending on how comfortable you’re feeling”“How long could you not play for?”Andrew huffs a laugh “depending on how you heal, about six weeks. But Abby made me stay off the court for longer. And then we found out about” he pints to his belly to indicate his bump.“How much did it cost?” Ash asks.“Between six and nine thousand dollars. Again it depends on many different factors. Did you speak to Betsy about having it done?”Ash nods “Betsy suggested talking to you, but I didn’t want to because you had a lot going on with the baby and your accident and Neil going missing and—”“It’s okay”Ash smiles “how long did you have to wait?”Andrew replies honestly “I went private, so the wait was shorter. It still took about a year, which is extremely short for the regular waiting list”Ash nods and smiles “I want to get on the waiting list. I want to have the surgery”Andrew smiles as the rest of the Foxes pile into the locker room and Neil comes over to leave a lingering kiss on Andrew’s lips before taking Andrew with him into the shower.