NHL Imagines

Baby Barzal (Mat Barzal x Reader)

The room was filled with your screams the encouraging words from your boyfriend, Mat, and all the doctors. You had gone into labor the day before your due date, so everything was in order.

If you were being honest, you started to freak out the moment your water broke, but you knew that Mat was going to freak out so you couldn't. If both of you freaked out together, it wouldn't be good. So, you had to take some deep, calming breaths and stay calm.

Mat was at practice when it happened and you took the time it took for him to come home to make sure everything was packed and to get a handle on the fact that in a few hours, you were going to have a baby.

Mat realized something was up the moment he stepped in your apartment and saw the hospital bag out with your coat.

"(Y/N)?" He asked, quickly looking around the apartment.

You came out of your room and would have run right into him if he hadn't stopped you.

"What's going on?" He asked, his eyes still wide.

"My water broke about an hour ago." You told him, and as suspected, Mat went into a pre-parental freak out.

You tried to talk to him, but Mat zoned right out and sat down on the couch. You actually had to call Tito to come over for help because you couldn't drive yourself to the hospital since you were in labor, and you didn't want Mat to drive because he was still out of it. Tito was happy to help and super excited to meet the little one, and he promised he was never going to let Mat live down his little freak out.

Your labor was long and hard and painful and you swore at Mat for "doing this to me you fucker" more times than you want to admit. And Mat just smiled and nodded. He knew that you were only saying that because you were in a lot of pain and a human was going to come out of your vagina, so if you wanted to yell and swear at him, he would take it with a smile.

Mat stayed by your side through the hours, getting you water, wiping your forehead and holding your head. When it finally came time to push, Mat positioned himself behind you, one hand gripping yours, the other keeping your sweat soaked hair out of your eyes.

He helped the doctor count for your pushes and whispered reassuring and motivating words in your ear between contractions.

And you pushed and you pushed and you pushed.

It was agony, true agony.

The pain was unlike anything you had ever experienced.

Mat repeated to you in soothing and motivational tones how great you were doing and how excited he was to meet the baby.

And finally, your baby was here.

You felt the infant leave your body and you and Mat heard the baby's cry. "It's a boy!" The doctor called and then clamped the cord and looked up at Mat. "Do you want to cut the cord?"

Mat nodded and slowly and carefully got out from behind you so that he could cut the cord. If he was being honest, the whole thing was very gross, but at the same time it was wonderful.

The baby was then passed to a nurse who cleared its airway and wiped it off a little before she wrapped the baby in a blanket and passed the child to you.

Mat followed the baby and sat down on the side of your bed to look down at you and the baby. You cradled the baby on your chest and just looked down into the baby's beautiful eyes, they looked just like Mat's, if they stayed that colour. Mat, like you, was captivated by your newborn.

He reached out with shaking hands to cup your hand, which was supporting the infant. You felt him release a shaky breath.

"Hello." Mat whispered to the child and brought his pointer finger out to stroke the baby's cheek.

The baby continued to cry and you felt a tear hit your shoulder. Mat was crying.

"Do you want to hold him?" You asked Mat and he nodded.

You gently passed the baby to Mat, who cradled the small infant in his arms. "I'm your daddy."

You leaned over towards Mat so that you could rest on his shoulder.

"I love you so much. You did a great job cooking this guy up." Mat said and the kissed the top of your head.