Coming

Date/Timing: Oct 9 - 11, 2017. 
Setting: JFK airport, a jetliner, the main Johannesburg airport
Notes: Pietr's flight from Panama to Johannesburg would take about 39hrs, counting layovers, per Expedia. He would leave Panama late in the evening on the 9th, spend most of the 10th waiting in New York City and crossing the Atlantic before landing in Johannesburg on the morning of the 11th. Then the drive home would take another five hours. It's faster for Maarten to drive them to Koffiefontein than to wait for the next flight to Bloemfontein (the closest airport) and /then drive to Koffiefontein.
.
The gym leader goes down and Pietr celebrates with a little dance.
His mobile buzzes with an urgent text.
Saves his game, opens the messaging app—
maarten_inthe_middle: Baby's coming!!!
Pietr's heart stops.
p_a_vos: !!!
p_a_vos: N fkng us sitll
maarten_inthe_middle: Don't worry
maarten_inthe_middle: Daf n mama w bee
Exhales tension, forces his shoulders to relax.
p_a_vos: Gud
maarten_inthe_middle: Papa w prinses
maarten_inthe_middle: Going 2 have t-party w wil n mari
Smiles.
p_a_vos: Thnk thm 4 me
maarten_inthe_middle: Will do
p_a_vos: Griet?
A pause; Pietr drums his fingers against his mobile.
maarten_inthe_middle: Walkng laps n tryng 2 relax
maarten_inthe_middle: Finly gave up arguing w bby abt timing
maarten_inthe_middle: Bby obvs won
Chews his lip.
p_a_vos: Wanna b there!
maarten_inthe_middle: We kno
maarten_inthe_middle: 2 bad no transporters
p_a_vos: XD
p_a_vos: I wish
maarten_inthe_middle: Sumdy soon
Everyone in Pietr's peripheral attends the gate kiosk.
Pietr glances over.
The message board blinks to 'Boarding Now'.
Pietr sighs.
p_a_vos: Have 2 get on plane
maarten_inthe_middle: That's gud right?
p_a_vos: I guess
Deep breath.
p_a_vos: Tell griet i luv luv luv luv luv her n wanna be there more thn anythng
maarten_inthe_middle: Will do
p_a_vos: Thx
Pietr tucks away his mobile, hefts his duffel, trumps to the gate.
Shuffles onto the plane.
Finds his seat, stows his bag, plunks down.
Checks his messages.
Nothing.
p_a_vos: Update
maarten_inthe_middle: No change
maarten_inthe_middle: N bee luvs u
Pietr sighs.
p_a_vos: Luv n kisses n hugs n luv luv luv
A pause.
maarten_inthe_middle: She sez same
p_a_vos: ^u^
Engines /thrum and the plane reverses.
Pietr yawns.
p_a_vos: moving
maarten_inthe_middle: Sleep well
p_a_vos: :P
Pietr tucks the mobile in the seat-back pocket and's asleep—
He jerks awake, flicks his eyes around the cabin.
Deep breath.
Dives for his mobile, powers it up—
'No signal', taunts the the screen.
Pietr pouts, tucks away the mobile, dozes—
>Namesake<
He snorts back to consciousness as the plane jolts.
Bouncing stops.
Deep breath.
Dives for his mobile, powers it up—
'No signal', taunts the the screen.
Pietr prays for patience, drums his fingers on the armrest, falls asleep—
A jab to his arm.
"You mobile should work now," says the person in the next seat.
Pietr beams, barely doesn't hug the person, digs it out.
Powers up, tap-tap-taps his foot.
Buzzing!
Fumbles through to his messages.
/Lots!
maarten_inthe_middle: Midwife's here
maarten_inthe_middle: Halfway!
maarten_inthe_middle: Ne time now
maarten_inthe_middle: Pushing!
maarten_inthe_middle: Stll pushing
maarten_inthe_middle: BABY'S HERE!!!
maarten_inthe_middle: HEALTHY BOY!!!
Gazes heavenward, exhales, wipes his eyes on his sleeve.
maarten_inthe_middle: 19:47 10-10-17
maarten_inthe_middle: Bee's giggling,gr8
maarten_inthe_middle: Jrs chatty lil thing
maarten_inthe_middle: Dnt worry, plnty o pix
maarten_inthe_middle: Sho u whn ur here
maarten_inthe_middle: 1st meal!
maarten_inthe_middle: 1st nap
maarten_inthe_middle: Meeting prinses n granpappa
maarten_inthe_middle: 'he's icky' - prinses
Chuckles.
maarten_inthe_middle: 2nd nap
Nothing more.
Blinks.
p_a_vos: Wht's hppnening?
Wills the mobile to vibrate.
maarten_inthe_middle: Sry
maarten_inthe_middle: Evey1 sleeping
p_a_vos: Its k
p_a_vos: How's bby?
maarten_inthe_middle: Lemme chck
Shuffles toward the departure gate for his flight to Bloemfontein, tapping a finger against the side of the mobile.
maarten_inthe_middle: He's sleeping
maarten_inthe_middle: Bee says hi
p_a_vos: OMG <3333333333333
p_a_vos: I txt her?
maarten_inthe_middle: Plz don't
Pietr's heart twitches.
maarten_inthe_middle: Bth hands on bby
Pietr exhales.
maarten_inthe_middle: But!
maarten_inthe_middle: I hold cam so u can see!
p_a_vos: !!!
p_a_vos: ^u^
Looks around frantically for a chair.
There!
Dives into the waiting area in front of an empty gate, bounces his heels.
Mobile buzzes.
Video app!
Blurry, blurry, focus!
Griet, hair loose and down, beams, and gives a tiny wave around the bitty, perfect baby cradled against her chest.
Pietr waves enthusiastically, then wipes his eyes.
““He can't wait to meet you,”” she says, grinning. ““Just saving his energy for then.””
Pietr sparkles, wipes his eyes on his shoulder.
Griet chews her lip.
Pietr queries.
““I named him 'Isaac'.”” Shifts against her pillows. ““I hope that's alright.””
Pietr grins, nods.
““Pappa wasn't impressed.””
Pietr sighs, 'of course not.'
Isaac yawns, flexes itty-bitty fingers.
Pietr's heart aches.
Griet yawns.
Pietr flutters.
““Okay, okay, I'll go back to sleep.”” Stifles another yawn. ““See you in a few hours, Dandelion.””
Pietr blows a kiss to the camera.
““Love you!””
Pietr puts as much love and worship into his smile as he can.
Griet smiles, then lets her eyes drift closed.
Pietr wibbles.
The image on-screen blurs with motion—
Maarten!
Pietr smiles.
““Hey, Piet.””
Pietr bobs his head.
““Daf and I wanted to pick you up, but my porcupine-hugging—””
Pietr breaks up laughing.
““—so funny?””
Pietr raises his eyebrows.
Maarten pouts. ““Your wife yells when I curse in the house, so I have to get creative.””
Pietr snickers.
““You're lucky you're my brother or I'd be tempted to leave your butt in the city.””
Pietr applies puppy-dog eyes.
Maarten snorts. ““See you in a few hours.””
Pietr flicks a salute.
Maarten grins and the call disconnects.
Pietr sprawls back in the chair, checks his watch.
He sighs, then loads up his game-in-progress, settles in for the long wait for his flight.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Maarten
Category:Maarten (ficlet)
Category:Elize (mention)
Category:Val (mention)
Category:Wil (mention)
Category:Marieke (mention)
Category:Rianne (mention)
Category:Pietr sleeping in vehicles
Category:Pokemon (reference)
Category:Conversations via SMS
Category:Conversations via video
Category:Griet
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Griet (ficlet)
Category:Izzy
Category:Izzy (ficlet)
Category:Isaac (mention)
Category:Dafne (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images