Chapter Text
And tomorrow did come, but he never took the pill.
Now, that decision was biting him back in the ass.
To be fair, it is not that he did not want to take it, he just forgot, between waking up, washing himself, stealing some shirts from Erling, saying goodbye, and then going to the airport to go straight to the states, well, you could say that taking a little tiny pill wasn't a top priority on his mind, it should have been, but it wasn't.
In the group fase it was all fine, he was feeling great, really, at his top, missing Erling as always, of course, but they texted every day, good morning and night texts, congratulations texts, and when they had time, late night calls for the sole purpose of hearing each others voice.
Everything started going side ways two days after the group phase ended, he started feeling exhausted, just some light training would make him want to sleep for ten hours, and he was so hungry too, he would devour his plate and ask for seconds while his other teammates, even the alphas, were in the middle of their first plate.
But the worst part? The omega in him was going crazy, his mind was always looking for Erling, his face, his body, his scent, he had to stop himself to literally text him every minute of the day, he didn't understand, there have been periods that they had to be apart, and yeah, he missed him like crazy, but it was never like this, he never had to build a nest just to feel completely surrounded by his alphas scent, he never had to beg him to stay on call just a little bit more so he could keep hearing that voice that melted him, and he definitely never started whining when the scent in the shirts that he borrowed started fading.
So yeah, he knew something was wrong, his teammates definitely knew something was wrong, they kept giving him worried looks, even Harry had to coax him to get some rest while the others kept training, even Erling could tell that something was wrong, he could sense it in the way his tone became more worried over calls, but he still tried to give his best.
The problem came in the round of 32, that mourning he woke up just to throw up everything he eat for dinner, he felt sick all morning, his teammates giving him worried looks and urging him to rest, that maybe he shouldn't play that day, but he refused, he had to do it, for his country, for himself, for all the people that judge him for being an omega, so he went out on that pitch, gave his everything, even if he didn't score, his team won, they passed to the round of 16, even though the second he was of the pitch he went to the bathroom to throw up.
"Jude, you have to go to the medic mate" Harry said while petting his back, a bunch of their teammates behind him looking worried.
"Yeah mate, you look awful" "You should really rest" they said in agreement to their captain, but even then, Jude just shook his head. "I'm fine, really, must have been something I eat" Harry looked at him, but didn't argue. "Fine, we'll go out and celebrate, but you are going to stay at the hotel and rest, understood?" Jude gave a nod in agreement, then keep throwing up in the stadium toilet.
As said, the team went out for some drinks, and Jude was resting in his room, nuzzling the shirts with the fading scent of his alpha when a notification poped up in his phone.
Erling: You were amazing today, as always, congrats on the win babe!!!
That made him smile, so he opened the chat and responded quickly.
Jude: thx, can you call rn?
He didn't get a response, instead, his phone lit up with an incoming call, and he didn't wait two second to respond.
"Hey, there is my beautiful mate, how do feel?" Just the sound of his voice made him calm down instantly, all the sickness in his stomach went away in a matter of seconds. "Fine, just tired, I was kinda sick today, but I'm better now that I hear your voice"
"You were sick? And you still played?" The worry in Erlings voice was palpable, he could almost imagine him furrowing his brows. "yeah, it was nothing, really, my stomach was upset" as always, Jude dismissed it.
"You didn't go to the teams doctor?" But the alpha was just as stubborn, even more when it came to his lovers health. "No, Erling, it's fine, really, surely it's the stress, after all, we're at the world cup, right?" He was trying to convince the alpha, but at the same time it sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
"Fine, but if I hear that you are still sick I'll take a plane and drag you to the doctor myself" Jude chuckled at that. "Yes yes, I know big guy, I promise I'll take good care of myself" it was a lie, but Erling didn't have to know that.
They talked for hours till they were both to tire to even speak, and Jude went too sleep thinking about that sweet voice that he loves so much.
But morning came again, and with it the sickness, it was the same story all day, he ate too much, tried to train, got tired but kept going until he had to rush to the bathroom to throw up with a pack of alphas and betas behind him with worried looks, but as always he played it down, saying it was okay, but deep down he knew it was not.
That feeling became more evident in mexico, he didn't know if it was the altitude, or the flight, but he felt horrible, everything he ate ended up in the toilet, his teammates were at edge, worried sick about him.
"Mate, you sure you don't want to visit the doctor?" Declan said after training the day before the game against mexico. "No, I told you, I'm fine" Declan was unsure, so he put a hand on Judes shoulder. "Jude, I'm serious, you have been sick and tired all week, even your scent has changed, if I didn't know better I would think that you are pregnant, please, listen to me and go see the doc" his eyes showed nothing but worry over his friend and teammate, but those words stayed in his mind, there was no way...was it? No, he couldn't, he took the pill, except he didn't, and in that moment all color drained from the omegas face.
"I got to go, I'm fine, really" Jude said while almost running out of the lobby and into his hotel room, he needed to breath, there was no way, he was always so responsible, he always took it, but not this time, and now there was a very real possibility that he could be pregnant, I sounded surreal, but it was not, in fact he was almost sure, all the weird things he's been feeling, it all was the symptoms of a pregnant omega, little tears started to fall from his eyes, when his phone started ringing, it was Erling, he didn't know if he should've pick up, but he did it anyways.
"hey, game's tomorrow, how are you feeling babe?" His tone was slightly worried, but it was sweet as always, but Jude didn't respond, trying to calm down, because if he talked Erling would know that something was not right, and he didn't want to make him worry, not the night before the game.
"Jude, are you there?" The omega took a deep breath to calm down. "Yes, just, I'm tired, training was brutal" he tried to sound natural, even tho his words wobbled a little. "It's okay, just wanted to check in, rest well, and good luck for tomorrow, I love you" he could hear that his alpha was worried, and the omega in him was urging to tell him, to make him come by his side and kiss all of the worries away, but he couldn't, after all, Erling also had a game tomorrow. "Yeah, good luck to you too big man, I love you" and with that the call ended and Jude broke in tears.
He cried his eyes out all night, wondering how he could've been so stupid, so reckless, his whole country, and his teammates were counting on him, he was in the middle of the biggest tournament in football for god's sake, he couldn't be pregnant, he cried and cried until he was to tired.
And again the morning came, and all the horrible symptoms that have been haunting his body now mingled with sadness and uncertainty, he did his routine as normal, now the worried looks and comments of his teammates were just another part of it, Kane again suggested that he stayed on the bench, but no, Jude had to be on that pitch, he had to.
And so he did, he played like there was no tomorrow, like this was his last game, he scored, and almost immediately, he scored again, all his emotions were a turmoil in his chest, he was full of adrenaline, when the final whistle blow he fell to the ground, panting, he heard the crowd sing his name, and suddenly all his problems disappeard, he loves this, his career was his everything, he didn't know what would he do if he had to give it up.
After the celebrations, after when they were all back at the hotel trying to decide were to go partying, Harry approached him. "Jude, you did incredible today, how are you feeling? Still sick?" His tone was proud, and his scent confirmed it, he could trust in Harry, right?
"I need a favor Harry" he was desperate, who else to ask for help than his captain? "Sure, what is it?" Jude hesitated but took a deep breath and gathered the courage to ask. "I need a pregnancy test"
In the back of his mind, he thought that it would be a great moment to have a camera and take a picture of the face of absolute surprise of his captain. "Jude...are you sure?" He whispered, looking at him like a he had grown a second head. "Yes harry, just, please, I need to be sure" and Harry, the gentleman he was, just nodded.
-
So here he was, sitting in the toilet, closed door, waiting for the timer he put to ring, he was thinking of all the things that he did wrong, over and over again.
The sharp ringing of his cellphone hit him and he stood up to check the little plastic tube that could change his entire life, and when he did he almost fainted.
Two lines.
Positive.
He was so fucked.