The Captain's Heart

seven

11th August 2021 - 17 weeks and 3 days pregnant.

'Wow...' Lia says softly, amazement written all over her face as she stares up at the screen causing Leah to smile.

'Amazing, isn't it?' Leah replies smiling as they watch the little baby wriggling around on the screen. This is her third scan so far in the pregnancy, but it's the first one that someone other than her mum has attended.

'So what are you wanting to do with the sex then? Do you want me just to tell you or are you planning a reveal and would rather I write it down and put it in an envelope for you to open?' Demi, the ultrasound technician, asks.

'Can you write it down please?' Leah replies and Demi nods her head. She clicks a button to turn the big screen off and turns the smaller screen out of view of the pair before spending a few minutes doing some checks and selecting some pictures to print off for the blonde.

'I'll just go grab your pictures and your envelope, okay? You can get yourself cleaned up and sorted.' Demi says smiling as she passes the blonde some tissues to clean the gel off her stomach.

'Thank you.' Leah replies softly. Demi leaves the room and Leah uses the tissues to wipe her stomach before pushing herself into a sitting position and lowering her shirt.

'Thank you for letting me come today, Le... I just- That was absolutely amazing.' Lia says softly causing the blonde to smile as she swings her legs off the edge of the bed.

'Thank you for coming, Wally... It's so funny to see them on the screen, isn't it? Makes it feel more real, even though it is real. I mean I'm getting the bump to prove that it is real now.' Leah replies smiling.

****

'So, Wally has an envelope containing the sex of the baby.' Leah says smiling as she stretches her legs out over Beth's thighs causing the blonde to smile.

'Oh how exciting! When do we get to find out?' Beth asks, her hands absentmindedly rubbing the blonde's thighs as she glances towards Lia.

'Tomorrow... Well Le gets to find out tomorrow, it's up to her when you guys find out.' Lia replies causing Leah to smile, her hand resting on her stomach as she closes her eyes.

'So are you guys going to be raising the baby together?' Imogen asks quietly; she's still trying to find her way around the team despite everyone making her feel so welcome.

'Me and Wally? No... We're just friends, I'm having the baby on my own. Wally is with Caitlin.' Leah replies.

'Oh... Oh I'm so sorry. I just- You guys are so close.' Imogen says, her cheeks flushing red as she shakes her head.

'Don't worry about it... We probably do appear more couple-like for people who don't know, I guess.' Leah replies smiling at the brunette.

'So you're doing it completely on your own then?' Imogen asks and Leah nods her head.

'Mm-hmm... I just- I have endometriosis which they've said could limit my chances of conceiving so I just decided to go for it.' Leah replies and Imogen nods her head.

'Katrina on the Australian national team, she's due to give birth to her baby any day now and she's doing it on her own... I think it's a pretty amazing thing to do.' Imogen says smiling.

'Yeah? I think at times it's quite a scary thought to be doing it on my own, you know? I am so looking forward to having my own little baba here though.' Leah replies smiling, her thumb gently brushing across her stomach.

'You're going to be the best mama.' Beth says grinning.

****

'I promise I won't tell Le... I can act really surprised when she tells me.' Beth says causing Lia to laugh as she shakes her head.

'I am not telling you the sex before I tell Leah... You wouldn't be able to keep it a secret, you'd be far too excited.' Lia replies.

'I bet Caitlin knows... I'll be able to wear her down, if not I know Steph will be.' Beth says glancing around the room for the Aussie.

'Caitlin doesn't know. No one knows other than me and that's the way it's staying until Leah's had her reveal.' Lia replies causing the blonde to sigh.

'I'm just excited.' Beth mumbles causing Lia to laugh.

'You're just impatient...' Lia replies smiling.

'What if I was to say what I think it is and you can just blink if I'm right?' Beth asks.

'Absolutely no way, Bethany Jane Mead... You need to learn some patience.' Lia replies shaking her head as she glances over at where Leah is lying on an exercise mat talking with Imogen.

'You're no fun, Wally.' Beth moans.

'You're like an insistent toddler.' Lia replies patting the blonde's shoulder before walking away from her leaving Beth to groan as she makes her way over to Leah and Imogen.

'Wally's being mean.' Beth moans.

'Wally's just not telling her the sex of the baby.' Lia shouts from the other side of the gym causing Leah to laugh.

'You literally have like less than twenty-four hours to wait until you know, Beth.' Leah says raising her eyebrows.

'I'm just so excited.' Beth replies and Leah nods her head.

'I know and I'm so grateful that you're so excited but I know if Wally tells you, everyone will know by the end of the day.' Leah says.

'Not true.' Beth replies.

'Absolutely true.' Katie says as she walks past.

****

'How do I know what is best?' Leah asks glancing between the bottle sets and the breast pumps.

'I think a lot of it comes down to personal preference, baba... Obviously, things will be different depending on when you decide to go back to training but I'm sure you could make either of them work.' Amanda replies.

'I'll just pick up a bottle set because I'm going to have to use them at some point, aren't I? When I'm at games and stuff.' Leah says and Amanda nods her head.

'There's nothing wrong with being prepared for both situations.' Amanda replies watching as Leah picks up a set of bottles and drops them into the basket.

'How did the scan go today then?' Amanda asks as they continue walking around the store.

'It went really good... Wally absolutely loved it. She's got the sex in an envelope.' Leah replies smiling.

'Oh how exciting. It's good that Wally finally got to go to a scan and see it.' Amanda says and Leah nods her head.

'Mm-hmm... She was so excited.' Leah replies smiling.

'When should I start feeling movement and stuff?' Leah asks as they continue walking around the store, the blonde occasionally picking up bits and putting them in the basket.

'Anytime from now really. I mean you'll likely be nearer twenty weeks because it's your first but it can really be anytime from now.' Amanda replies watching as Leah brushes her hand across her stomach. There is a definite bump beginning to form now, it's not overly noticeable but all her training clothes are certainly beginning to get a bit tighter now.

'I can't believe how quickly it's going... I feel like it was only yesterday I did the transfer and now I'm nearly halfway through.' Leah says and Amanda nods her head.

'Baby will be here before we know it.' Amanda replies smiling.