New Beginnings

Perfect

 "Thanks for getting me an appointment with you," I said to Penelope as we sat in the salon on campus getting our hair done the next afternoon.

"No problem," she smiled, "We're getting our nails done too after this."

"This is fun," I remarked, "I haven't done a lot the past few months, other than class," I laughed half heartedly.

"I'm glad you said yes," she smiled.

"Don't get pregnant in college," I laughed.

"I don't plan to," she laughed.

"I didn't either, but look at me now," I laughed, "I probably just should've stopped going to school."

"But you're doing it," she replied, "And you're kicking ass," she grinned, "Don't cut yourself down, don't doubt yourself, you're the most capable and badass person I know, you've got this and that little girl is going to have one kickass mom. Ian's not too bad either," she winked.

"Thanks Penelope," I smiled.

"No problem," she smiled, "Now, I was thinking, you should get your nails done all white with a little gold strip across the top, it'd be so cute with your dress."

"What are you getting?" I asked.

"Black acrylic nails," she replied, "My dress kind of has a lot going on so I figured I'd keep the nails simple. You should get fake ones."

"They'd be great except for the fact that I'm having a kid in like a week and I'd rather not have to deal with my damn nails," I laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," she sighed, "You okay?" she asked as I moved around in my chair, taking a deep breath.

"Just fake contractions, I've been having them, it's fine," I replied, "Doctor said it was nothing."

"Alright, let me know if it is something and I'll call Ian," she replied.

###

"I'm home," I called out as I walked into our apartment a few hours later, "All I have to do is get my dress on and then I'm ready to go."

"I'm ready," he replied as I walked into our room where he was tying his tie.

"You look sharp," I smiled, "I like it."

"And you already look beautiful," he smiled, kissing me on the cheek.

"Thank you," I smiled, grabbing my dress from the closet.

"Want me to get the zipper?" he asked as I tried to zip it myself.

"That'd be great," I laughed, "Think you could buckle my shoes too?" I grinned.

"Of course," he chuckled as I walked over to grab my shoes from their place next to the dresser.

"Thanks," I smiled as he buckled my second shoe, "Ready to head out?"

"That I am," he replied, extending his hand to help me up, "Let's go."

###

The ceremony was in the auditorium, which sat about 1,000 people and tonight it felt like it was full of people and it was incredibly hot and stuffy, making it extremely difficult for me to sit through the two and a half hour ceremony.

The team had won two team awards and the last team award was coming up in five minutes when it hit me.

My water broke.

"Ian, Ian," I hissed, "We need to go."

"There's five minutes left Nat, you'll be fine," he laughed quietly.