Free Solo

106

"Is it possible for Hope to come get the babies then bring them to us at our hotel?" Christen questions. "Audrey...Audrey's not doing to good being away from them or you."

"What do you mean?"

"She's crying herself to sleep at night, she doesn't wanna go to training...Daan she's even floated around the idea of quitting just so she can see you guys."

"What?" I question.

"I've never seen her like this Daan." Christen says.

"Send me the address." I say. "I'll bring the kids."

"Alright." Christen says. "Shit she's coming bye."

Christen hangs up so I pack my diaper backpack up until I have everything I'll need. Once my backpack is packed I wrap my babies in their swaddling blankets then I put on my backpack.

"Ready?" Viv asks.

"Huh?" I question as I bring my babies into my arms.

"We don't have a rental car with baby carriers in them so you're gonna need someone else to drive so you can hold onto your kids." Viv says. "So you ready for me to drive."

"Sure." I say.

"Then let's go." Viv says then we leave the room.

Once out of the room Viv and I head down stairs, leave the hotel, then we get in the car and head to the hotel that my girlfriend is staying in.

When we get to the hotel I text Christen that we're here then Viv and I get out of the car and carry Paris and London into the hotel.

"There they are." Viv says then a group of women approach us.

"Thank fuck you're here." Ali says as she hugs me.

"Is it that bad?" I question.

"Well she's currently being talked into staying here by Hope." Ash says.

"So it's bad." I say.

"Yeah." Christen says. "We'll take you to her."

"Thank you." I say then Viv and I follow the group of women up to Audrey's room.

Once at Audrey's room someone opens up the door then we head into the room.

"Audrey someone's here to see you." Ali says.

"Who?" My girlfriend says then everyone moves out of the way to reveal me. "Daan?"

"Hi Audi." I say as I walk to my girlfriend. "Paris and London need some Mama time."

"I missed you." Audrey says as she hugs me and our babies.

"I missed you too." I say then I kiss my girlfriend before she grabs our children.

Once Audrey has our kids the two of us sit down on her bed with Hope while the rest of her Aunts sit on the other bed in the room.

"What's going on Audrey?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" Audrey asks as she holds Paris and London.

"Why do you wanna quit?"

Audrey doesn't answer me so hold her hand to get her to look at me.

"Is this about what happened with the kids?" I ask.

"No." Audrey quickly says. "............Maybe."

"Baby it's okay to still be upset about what happened." I say. "You just need to talk to somebody about it."

"Wait what happened?" Alex asks.

I look at my girlfriend and watch her sadly nod then I look at her Aunt's and teammates.

"When I was pregnant, I was originally pregnant with triplets." I say.

"But you had twins?" Ash says in a confused manner.

"It's called a Vanishing Triplet." Audrey says. "Vanishing Triplet is a fetus in a multi-gestation pregnancy which dies inside the uterus and then is partially or completely reabsorbed."

"So..." Christen says as Kelley takes Paris and London from Audrey.

"At one appointment there were three babies then a week later there were only two." Audrey says then she starts crying.

"Audrey." Hope says as she sits down next to her daughter. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"You didn't know we were having triplets." Audrey says as she starts sobbing.

"It's okay babygirl." Hope says as she holds her daughter. "Let it out baby. Just let it out."

Hope holds Audrey for awhile until my girlfriend eventually cries her self to sleep.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Daan." Hope says as she covers her daughter up.

"Audrey helped me come to terms with it." I say as I lay Paris and London next to their Mama.

Moments after Paris and London are next to their Mama, Audrey rolls over and wraps an arm across our babies.

"Aww." Kelley says.

"I guess Audrey hasn't come to terms with it?" Christen says.

"I guess not." I say as I run my fingers through Audrey's hair. "Do you know why it would affect her so much that she wants to quit?"

"She thinks it's her fault." Hope says. "During her teen years a certain dickhead who forced me to marry him told her that she would be a terrible mother...i guess in Audrey's mind that she thinks the triplet died because of her."

"Nothing could've prevented it." I say.

"She knows that." Hope says. "But she wants to be the best parent she can be so she's upset that her baby died and she wasn't able to help the baby in any way."

"So she wants to quit so she can protect us."

"Exactly." Hope says. "But we're not gonna let her because we all know how much Audrey needs to be on the pitch."

"I'd hate to see Audrey without football in her life." Tobin says.

"It's not a good sight to see." I say.

"Too loud." Audrey mumbles.

"Sorry Audi." I say then I lean down a kiss her head. "Go back to sleep baby."

"Mokay." Audrey mumbles. "I sorry."

"It's okay Audrey." I say. "Everything'll be okay."