The Best and the Worst

Gilbert hadn't seen Maddie happier than on the day he came home from slaving away at the closest McDonalds to find her running down the hallway, a tiny pink stick between her slender fingers.
"Gil!" She jumped into his arms with so much force, Gilbert wasn't sure how he stayed upright.
"Vhat's going on?" He asked her, surprised.
"I'm pregnant!" She shrieked, shoving that little stick thing into my face.
"Whoa Maddie, vatch it!" He stepped backward an inch so the pregnancy test wasn't right in his face. "Jou peed on zhat!"
She looked down at the stick, then back up at Gil. She set the test down before leaping back into his arms, screaming with pure excitement.
"You're gonna be a daddy!" She giggled giddily.
"I am!!" He shouted back. Now that the pee stick wasn't in his face, He could take in the news at full capacity. They were on their way to building that family they had wanted since the first moment they laid eyes on each other.
"We need to celebrate! I'll call papa and Alfred!"
The weeks went on joyously from there. Every night, as they sat down for dinner, Maddie listed off hundreds of names, most of which were the names of hockey players or stand-up comedians. They had started buying little things on the side for the spare room they were going to use as a nursery, and they were putting all the extra money from their tiny pay checks into their savings accounts for emergencies. There was never a moment in those few weeks where Maddie wasn't smiling.
However, that one night came when she woke up screaming. Gilbert jolted awake, turning on the lamp next to their bed, heart pounding to the rhythm of some sort of techno song.
"Vhat's happening?" He asked, turning her way. He joined her screams when he saw how much blood was all over their bedsheets. Maddie started to cry, doubling over and holding her stomach.
Gilbert hopped out of the bed and quickly urged her to stand up. He lead her to the bathroom and ran back to the bedroom to get her more clothes. He was in panic mode, yet still found the calmness to get everything cleaned up while she could barely move.
When he returned from their laundry room, he found her changed and sobbing on the floor. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the car.

The doctors had told them what they already knew. Maddie had miscarried. She was devastated. Gilbert was heartbroken too, but not nearly as much as his wife. She curled up in their bed and didn't move for weeks. Gilbert had to force her to eat and cradled her every night until she fell asleep. Seeing her like this was a massive change from how happy and sugary she had always been. He could barely handle it. He just wanted her back on her feet again.
It took a lot of planning and chats with Francis and Alfred over the phone. But in the end they decided that what she really needed was closure.
"Maddie," Gilbert nudged her awake a month after the incident, smiling softly at her when she opened those beautiful eyes of hers. Even worn and distressed, they were stunning.
"What?" Her voice was slurred with a tiredness that shouldn't have been there. She was sinking further into depression and, if Gil didn't help her swim upward, he might never get her back.
"I have somezhing to show Jou." He lifted her into his arms and carried her without complaints to their tiny backyard. A trail of candles bordered a pathway Francis had made to lead them to the tiny headstone Alfred created out of wood. On it was a name that made Maddie look to Gilbert with tears in her eyes.
"Sydney?"
"Ja. Ve didn't know zhe sex but Jou really like Sydney Crosby and isht gender neutral...so-"
"Gilbert, you're the best husband anybody could ask for." Maddie squirmed out of his arms and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry for taking this so hard."
"Isht alright. I'll do anyzhing Jou need me to do to make Jou happy again." He kissed her cheek softly. "I don't like seeing Jou cry."
"Gil, let's try again in a few months, okay?"
"Ja. Ve shouldn't let zhis discourage us."

They did end up trying again about a year afterward. However, this time was a lot different from the first. Maddie wasn't nearly as excited when she announced their success. She was more fearful than anything.
Around the same time that the other baby miscarried, she was afraid to go to sleep. The best Gilbert could do was make her comfortable by holding her close and stroking her hair. He sang to her a few times and, even though he wasn't exactly Celine Dion, he managed to sooth her anyway.
By the time eight months had passed, the fear had calmed down quite a bit. During her checkups, which Gil always tried to be there for, they were constantly assured that everything was going fine.
As the due date grew closer, Gilbert took time off of work. They had enough money saved up to hold them down for a week or two.
The time came one morning, a few days before her due date. Gilbert didn't even bother hesitating. He, dropped his bowl of cereal, scooped her into his arms and rushed her to the hospital.
The twelve hours that followed were painful for both Gilbert and Maddie. Maddie was definitely in a lot more pain, but Gilbert was on edge. Neither of them remembered much of it, but they did remember after it was all over, when the doctors and nurses came in with the next generation, all cleaned up and swaddled in a pink blanket.
They placed the child into Maddie's arms, not complaining when a tired and hungry Gilbert jumped into the hospital bed to get a closer look at his new daughter.
"Vhat do Jou vant to name her?" He asked, running a careful finger over the infant's cheek.
"Anne."
"Like Anne Murray?"
"No silly!" Maddie giggled weakly. "Like Anne of Green Gables."
Gilbert chuckled. "Jou're zhe cutest."
Maddie looked down at Anne fondly. "I think we may have a new contender for that place."
There was such a difference between her now and her a year ago. It wasn't that long since he had thought her best was on their wedding day, or that her worst was when she got fired from Boston Pizza. But bests and worsts change over time.
Hopefully theirs wouldn't have to ever again.

Oh look one where Canada doesn't die. Didn't see that coming Didja?