Never Let Go.

‘Kieran’s POV’

This was not supposed to happen. I was not supposed to go into labor early, I was to carry this baby to term to make sure that she is perfectly healthy and happy. She was not supposed to make her debut in the middle of May when her due date is weeks away. But I guess Lennan had other plans.

I had felt fine all day long, no contractions, no pain, my water didn’t break. I was fine, so I of course went to the game with Lauren. I felt so fine I even wore maternity jeans in an attempt to look less like a bum compared to the other wives. We made it through the first period just fine, well we meaning Lennan and myself were fine the guys on the ice not so much. They were currently getting their asses handed to them by the Blackhawks.

When the second period started so did the “uneasy” feeling I had in my stomach, as usual Lennan was kicking the crap out of my ribs when I felt the first sharp pain of contractions. Birthing classes prepare you for how to deal with them but they don’t prepare you for how damn bad it actually hurts. Leaning over the edge of the box I continued to watch the game, the ice was my focal point keeping me focused on that and not the pain. They came slow at first maybe a little less than a 15 minutes apart, but they still hurt. Each time one hit I placed my hand on my stomach and tried to calm the feisty child down, “Not now Len, daddy’s kinda busy.” That theory didn’t work, this child is just as hard headed as her father.

While sitting down in between the second and third period I felt the rush between my legs and quickly looked to my left at Lauren whose eyes were just as wide as mine. “Uh oh.” Her mouth hung open for a moment before we were crowded by other wives, “We have got to go to the hospital, NOW.” My eyes darted from pair to pair at the women surrounding me, the guys downstairs are a team and so are we. They have my back, “Uhh, yeah. But… Jamie?” I gestured towards the ice, Fiddler’s wife spoke up “We’re getting killed he can leave, I’ll call downstairs somebody get her into a car.” Just like a sports team huddle the women broke apart, Jess and Lauren pulling me from the seat and others were sent on the search for my husband.

I found myself 20 minutes later in a wheelchair at UT Southwest Hospital, Lauren had managed to call my parents, and my OBGYN while Jess drove to the hospital leaving Josie with Chrissy Fiddler. It all happened so fast I wasn’t even sure if they had alerted Jamie or not, I was playing a waiting game with my child and my husband. A nurse set me up in a birthing suite we had toured weeks ago and got the glorious pain meds flowing. Lauren came in the room carrying my pre-packed hospital bag with my cell phone between her ear and shoulder, “Yeah, we’re here. She’s in some pain but not pushing yet… Uh huh, Jamie’s on his way, or should be. I’ll let her know, bye Kil.”

She tossed the pink printed bag onto floor and handle my phone to me, “Your brother and Morgan are leaving now, parents are on their way and well Jame should be here soon too.” I tried to smile but my contractions had other plans, squeezing my eyes shut I groaned. “Mother of God, that epidural cannot come fast enough!!” Lauren laughed and checked her phone as she sat on the edge of my bed rubbing my back, “You ready for this Kier? She’s going to be so beautiful.” Lauren held my hand and I nodded, “I am so ready for her to get out of me.” We both laughed when there was a knock at the door, “Come in,” we both yelled and the door popped open slowly. “Kier? Babe, I didn’t miss anything did I?” a flustered Jamie Benn came through the door, his hair a mess dressed in basketball shorts and a Stars hoodie. “Nothing exciting, other than my water breaking in the box. That was thrilling!” .


He looked relieved, as he got closer Lauren squeezed my hand and stood from the bed. “I’ll give you two some space and intercept the other visitors, I love you” she kissed my forehead, “and I love you too Lenny Lou, be nice to your mama.” She kissed above the fetal monitor on my stomach. “We love you too Lo, thanks for everything.” Lauren grinned as she walked towards the door shooting us a wink at the end, “That’s what Godmothers are for.”

‘Jamie’s POV’

Via the doctor’s advice Kieran was taking her last nap before becoming a mom, her pain had subsided after getting the epidural and we were now waiting for her to finish dilating. My parents had taken off for the airport and were currently on the first flight to Dallas from Canada as my brother sat out in the waiting room alongside Cody, Lauren, and Tyler. We knew it was going to be a long night but they wouldn’t take no for an answer, they were staying until Lennan made her appearance. As Kieran slept I couldn’t help but watch her, these were the final moments where it was just the two of us, and soon there would be three. Our precious baby girl was finally going to be here and I could talk to her in person and hold her in my arms. Frankly I’ve never been so excited to be in a hospital.

You know that part where they say labor is beautiful? Well I’m not sure what kind of birth they were watching but I have to say they were wrong. Labor is terrifying, and I have decided my wife is a superhero for giving birth to our daughter. She may have squeezed the absolute shit out of my hand, totally throwing the fact that I need it to play hockey out the window but it was still so amazing that I didn’t care. It took barely 30 minutes and almost more curse words than being in a locker room after an overtime loss but she is finally here.

Lennan Victoria Benn is officially here, and my God is she beautiful. 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 23 inches of pure perfection even at 3 weeks early. She has Kieran’s nose and lips, but she did get my dark hair and a lot of it. The minute the nurse handed her to Kieran wrapped in that tiny pink blanket I felt my eyes sting with tears as I fell so in love with her. I could hear Kieran whisper, “She’s perfect” as she looked into the cocoon of blankets and I couldn’t agree more as I stood beside her peering at my daughter. The two of us soaked in the moment, just the three of us for the first time taking in the beauty of the child we had created until the nurse took her away for a few tests.

Looking over Kieran had her eyes closed and I knew she was tired and probably in some pain still but she was even more beautiful to me than she had ever been. Placing a kiss on her sweaty forehead I whispered how much I loved her, and a thank you for bringing our little angel into this world. Her blue eyes opened and she gave me that smile, “I love you too, I can’t believe she’s finally here.” Wiping the tears from my eyes I leaned down to kiss my wife, “Me either, we did good babe. We did so good.”

Notes