Passing Through

Part Twenty Five

 Chapter Twenty Five

September ended without Bo or Natasha having time to realise. There was no chance to think about time passing as neither had time to deal with work, friends, and life whilst still making room for each other. They managed to spend at least five of the following ten days together.

That second Sunday saw the team away somewhere down South. They were travelling back after another victory on Monday, and Natasha was working hard, whilst never being far away from her phone, waiting for that all important text to say Bo was home, as avid as a heroine addict desperate for their next fix.

As she was about to go insane with concern, the bell over the door tinkled and she looked up to see Freya enter the cafe, smirking as she crossed to the counter.

"Hey, friend." Natasha smiled, reaching out to tickle the little man attached to her hip, Benjy. "Hey, little man." Then looking back at Freya, she grinned, "what can I get you?"

Freya was still smiling, "well, tea, a cookie for this monster and maybe a piece of carrot cake would be good, but I'm here really for two things."

Natasha half turned to grab Benjy a cookie, "OK, sounds ominous."

"Not at all." Freya was such a nice person that she imagined that she got away with whatever she wanted, Coop was powerless to resist her, that much was obvious. As she grimaced, Natasha knew that the same could be said for her, she'd not be able to say no to the other woman.

"Well, firstly, the guys only have a Friday game this week, so I was hoping that you and your hunk might want to join our dinner party on Saturday...very informal, but it's Lizzie's birthday, and she's feeling a bit out of sorts after having Seth, so I figured we could invite a few people around, obviously her and my brother, Blake and his wife..." when Natasha raised an eyebrow, she added, "the team captain, Oscar loves him and my husband played college hockey with his brother, and then you two. My parents are having the kids, a brave move on their part, but if nothing else Lizzie needs the space."

"OK, I can't speak for Bo, but I would love to come. What's the other thing?"

Freya took the cup of tea that her friend had prepared, and sipped it, hiding her grimace, "well, Sunday afternoon, three o'clock I think, there's a mini Hornet training session, the kids playing with the team, I've been nominated to work the refreshments. Teas and coffees for the parents, nothing much, I was just wondering if you'd help me...and maybe make us a cake? Oscar will pay for it, there is a budget, I'm doing two cakes, but a nice carrot cake would be a great fundraiser for the young team."

Natasha rolled her eyes, but smiled as she did it, "not blackmail at all."

Freya grinned, "I knew you'd do it. Natasha, you are amazing!"

The cafe was fairly quiet, so grabbing a mug of coffee, Natasha followed her across to a window table and sat opposite.

"So things are good? With the hottie?"

Natasha laughed, "he's not that hot."

"If I wasn't married I'd be chasing him everywhere."

"Ha, things are good, we're spending a few nights together every week. The team schedule doesn't make it easy."

Freya nodded, "You just wait til you have kids and you're on your own with rugrats."

She rolled her eyes dramatically, but thoughts of the future, thoughts of children both made her feel sick. It was the last thing she needed. Fortunately, as the blood drained from her face, Freya didn't seem to notice, and the door bell, more customers arriving, seemed like a heaven sent relief.