Chapter 41

Sidney came home after practice and Karen was at home sitting on the couch watching TV. He dropped his keys on the table by the door and went to go sit with her.

"You know that hook thing hanging on the wall that ironically says 'keys'? It's a place to put your keys when you come in."

"I keep forgetting its there. I've always just put them on the table."

"And you've always found them on the floor because they end up getting knocked off."

"I know. I'll move them later" he said slinking into the cushions.

"Aww poor baby, did we have a tough practice today?"

"I swear, you'd think Coach Dan would take it a little easy on me since I did find him a place to live."

Karen just started laughing "are you serious? He might be grateful and thankful but that doesn't mean you'll get to slack off."

"It wasn't that."

"Then what?"

"He told Flower to take it easy on everyone else and when it was my turn in the shoot out he got me and I ended up losing."

"And the penalty for losing was..."

"Juice boy" he said whining. Karen couldn't hold her laughter in and let it out. "You think this is funny? Had to serve Gatorade to everyone and they didn't hold back on the ribbing." He saw her still laughing "will you stop, it's not funny."

"I'm sorry, really" she said kissing his cheek "is there other 'boy' positions?"

"Yeah but I think the coaches make them up as we go along. The one everyone hopes to not lose is mustache boy at the first practice of the month."

"Um, what?"

"If you're the last one to lose the shootout at the beginning of the month, you have to grow a mustache and keep it for the whole month."

"By the time yours would come in, the month would be over."

Sidney shot her a look then laughed "true."

"Maybe you just need to practice your shootout shots more often and trick Flower so you don't lose."

"Gee, why didn't I think about that."

"Shut it smartass."

"Hey, I have a question" he said picking up her hand and holding it "did Natalie say anything at work today about Max being in a mood?"

"Not really but she was acting strangely. She would talk to me and act like she wanted to tell me something but then backed off saying never mind or we'll talk later. What was Max like?"

"Like he was angry at me."

"Why was he angry?"

"Don't know, he wouldn't talk to me."

"Sorry stud, but I can't help you out since I don't know." Just then the doorbell rang and they looked at each other "your turn."

"I got it last time."

"If I remember correctly, we both got it together last time, so it's your turn."

"We need to come up with a better system" he said groaning as he got up to answer the door. When he did, Max and Natalie were arguing on the other side only stopping when they saw Sidney standing there "hey guys."

"Hey Sid, is Karen home?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, come on in." They both came in and headed to the living room.

"Hey Nat, Max. What brings you guys here?"

"We, well I need to talk to you guys about something important" Natalie started.

"I still don't think you should do this Nattie" Max said interrupting her.

"Max, she's my friend and I want to help her."

Karen and Sidney just looked at each other "what's going on?" she asked.

"I want to help."

"Help with what?" Karen asked but saw Max throw his hands in the air and leave the room. She looked at Sidney and he just nodded and ran after him. "Nat, is something wrong?"

She sat down and was almost crying "he doesn't want me to do this."

"Do what? Nat, I'm sorry but I'm not fully understanding you."

Meanwhile, outside...

"Max, you know you can talk to me about anything. What's going on?"

"I know we're all friends but I don't know if I really agree to this."

"You're not making sense Max."

Max took a deep breath "Nat decided to be the surrogate to carry yours and Karen's baby."

"She what?"

"Ever since we had dinner a month ago, it was all she talked about helping her friend."

"And you don't like the fact your wife wants to carry another man's baby?"

"I'm sorry Sid. You know I would do anything and everything for you, but I don't know about this."

Sidney just saw the fear and concern in his friend's eyes "Max, I love Karen to death but I'm leaving this decision to her. They're friends, she might say yes to this."

"I want you guys to have a family Sid, I do but I don't know about you using Nat."

"Why don't we head inside and all talk about this ok?" Max just nodded his head and they went back in the house to talk to the girls.

Sidney saw Karen sitting on the couch confused and went over to sit with her. He just smiled and kissed her temple.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on" Karen said to everyone.

"Karen, we're friends and we've been friends for a long time now. We would do anything for each other."

"I know Nat, we're practically sisters."

"And I want to help my sister" she said looking to Max before looking back to Karen "I want to carry yours and Sid's baby. Let me be the surrogate."

Karen sat there in shock before the tears filled her eyes. She looked between the three of them and Sidney just smiled rubbing her back "I'm sorry Nat, I can't let you do that." She got up and left the room heading to the kitchen. Sidney got up and followed her with Natalie and Max behind him.

"Baby, this is a good thing. What do you mean you can't let her?"

"Karen, it solves all your problems of finding someone who you trust and won't ruin Sid's career."

"Why are you against this Max?" Karen asked in front of everyone.

"I love you Karen and value your friendship so much but I can't watch her go through this when it’s not my child."

"Max, it's not your choice?" Natalie sniped back at him.

"See this is just one reason I can't let you do this. I don't want to be the reason why you guys are fighting."

"Baby" Sid said walking over to her "what's really going on?"

"Nat, this is such a huge decision. Your body and mindset are going to change drastically. You have to really, really be sure you want to do this."

"Karen I am really, really sure" she said walking over to her "let me help you have that baby you always wanted."

"Can Sid and I talk about this and I'll call you later?"

"Absolutely" Natalie said hugging her friend "I want to do this, let me" she whispered. They let go of each other and Sidney walked them to the door. Karen stayed in the kitchen staring off into space.

Sidney came back and saw her standing there "at least its perfect timing."

"Yeah it is. I totally didn't see this coming Sid. She asked me how much longer I would be taking the pills and I told her I had about a week left not really meaning anything about it. I love that she wants to do this but I don't know."

"Look at it this way she's your best friend. We trust her and she's married to Max, she knows about keeping this entire private between the four of us. Who else would be perfect to carry our baby?"

"Out of all my friends no one. Sheril smokes and Diane is a lot older than us. Nat seems like the perfect match."

"Karen, what's wrong?"

"Everything will change for her Sid. Her body will change and her hormones will be off the charts. Her life will get turned completely upside down. Plus, a lot of people know she's married to Max. There's going to be talk that the baby will be theirs. What happens after she gives birth and oops, there's no baby for them to take care of."

"Maybe if all four of us can agree on this, we can go to the media and tell our story so everyone is clued in."

"Yeah good, tell all of Pittsburgh and the world that Sidney Crosby's wife can't give him his own child" she said before storming off.

"Not what I meant Karen and you know it" he said following her.

"I know" she said stopping by the stairs "I'm sorry Sid."

"Baby" he wrapped his arms around her "I love you and if you don't want Nat to do this, I'll call her right now to tell her. If we don't find someone else, then we have another option. I've said it all along, this is your decision."

"But I need it to be your decision too."

Sidney looked deep into her eyes "then I think we should let her help us."

Karen let a few tears fall "I think we should too."

A couple weeks later, Sidney and Karen met up with Max and Natalie at the hospital. Karen had an appointment a day ago and her doctor told her she was good to go with her eggs. She just needed to run a few tests on Natalie and they should be able to implant the embryos before leaving that day.

After the doctor examined Natalie, she went to put a rush on the tests as the four of them sat around the room to talk. Max was still a little weary on the idea but after talking to Sidney some more, he knew he would be fine helping out his friend.

"If you guys would excuse me, I am going to run to the bathroom before Dr. Johnson gets back with the results."

"Why not use the one in here?"

"I can imagine what goes on in a bathroom here and I think I'll use the public one down the hall." Karen left and headed to the bathroom. A couple minutes later, she was coming out of the bathroom when she saw Dr. Johnson at the nurse’s desk. "Did you get the results back for Nat?" she asked coming up beside her.

"Yeah I did."

"And, good news I hope" Karen said with a smile that soon faded when she saw the look the doctor gave her. She told her what the results said and Karen couldn't stop her breathing that had become erratic.

"Are you ok? Maybe you need to sit for a minute."

"No" she said calming down "I'm ok but are you sure?"

"I'm sorry Karen. Do you want to tell them?"

Karen shook her head no "I don't think I can" she whispered.

"Ok. Are you coming in?" Karen just shook her head no again and watched Dr. Johnson head into the room to tell her friends and husband the news. She thought about their reactions and saw a door leading outside. She took a walk to get some air and hoped for the best.

"Dr. Johnson" Natalie said as she walked in "well? Am I ok to do this for Karen?"

"I'm sorry Natalie but we won't be doing the procedure today."

"Is there some problem?" Sidney asked "Where's Karen?"

"She didn't want to come in."

"Oh no, what's wrong?" Max asked holding Natalie's hand.

"Nothing's wrong Max, but Natalie....you're already pregnant with your own child."

"I'm WHAT?" she asked astonished.

"You're 3 weeks pregnant so you won't be able to be the surrogate for Sidney and Karen."

"Does Karen know?"

"Yeah, I just told her outside."

"I need to find her" Sidney said leaving the room.

"Sid wait" Max said going after him "I'm sorry man, we didn't plan for this to happen."

"I know Max and Karen will understand too. Let me go find her and see what's going on." Max let Sidney find Karen before walking back into the room. He saw Natalie sitting there with tears streaming down her face.

"Nat, it's going to be alright."

"She is going to hate me Max."

"No she's not beautiful. Karen will know we didn't plan this to happen and will be fine after it sinks in. They can still find someone else baby." Natalie just leaned into Max's chest and hoped he was right.

Meanwhile, Sidney had found Karen outside the floor on the overlook. He walked over to her and stood behind her putting his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them lightly.

"Karen...."

"Don't Sid, please. I can't hear any words of encouragement right now of how this will still happen for us, or we can still adopt now and have our own later. I can't hear any of that right now."

"Then what can I do?" he whispered. Karen turned around and Sidney saw the sadness. He let her wrap her arms around his waist burying her face into his shoulder, letting her cry out what she felt inside. He wrapped his arms around her and held tightly not letting her go. "They didn't do this intentionally baby."

"I know" she said between sniffs "not like I told Nat to put Max on a 'no sex clause' until after the procedure."

Sidney smiled remembering their 'no sex clause' during the playoffs "I don't think Max has the same strength as I do to adhere to that." Karen lifted her head and smiled at him "this is another reason why you didn't want to use your best friend for this."

"How can I face her when I'm not going to want to hear her apologize every time she sees me? I know this wasn't intentional but it still hurts having a dream almost become a reality then have it pulled out from under you."

"Baby, she'll understand if you just talk to her."

"I don't think I can right now."

"Ok, how about I go tell her and Max that I'm taking you home and you'll call her later." Karen just nodded and hoped Natalie understood to give her a little space for a day at least. Sidney kissed her head and left her on the overlook. She turned around and looked back at the scenery of the skyline and prayed that everything would work out. Sidney found Max and Natalie coming out of the room and he told them what Karen wanted.

"No, not going to happen" Natalie said going towards the door until Max stopped her.

"Baby, let her have a while alone. She'll call you when she ready to talk."

"I believe she's ready to talk to me now." Sidney and Max just looked at each other when Natalie walked outside. They decided to leave them alone for a few minutes and went for a walk. "What the hell do you mean you don't want to talk to me?"

"Nat, please."

"I know you're hurting and I know you feel like I did this on purpose."

"I know you didn't do it intentionally."

"Then talk to me. Tell me this won't change our friendship."

Karen turned around and saw the look on her face "it won't Nat but how am I supposed to be happy for you right at this moment when we both were supposed to be happy."

"I know this is why you didn't want to use me to help you but I struggled with the consequences and still wanted to help you. Maybe after my baby is born, then we can try again for you."

"I don't know Nat, maybe the reality of this dream was for me to never have a child of my own" she said turning back around to face the skyline.

"This will still happen for you when you want it. Don't be mad at me Kiki, I'm going to need you as I go through this."

"I'm still going to be here Nattie, but please, at least give me a little time to process this."

"How much time?"

Karen shrugged her shoulders "maybe a week or two."

"I can live with that, but after three weeks and you don't talk to me, I will tie you down and make you talk to me then."

"Fair enough" she said hugging her "congratulations Nat."

"Thanks Karen." She watched Natalie leave her alone and saw Sidney standing at the door. Karen wiped her eyes and walked over to him. He opened his arms and she fell into them for a minute before they walked inside.

“I’m going to need to talk to Dr. Johnson for a minute before we leave.”

“Yeah, I think we need to figure out what the options are now” Sidney said agreeing with her. They left to go to her office and find out what they needed to do.