I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus.
"Mummy, Mummy!" Piper yells excitedly as she runs up the hall.
Mindy moans and rolls over checking the time "4:58 am." She so did not get this early rising thing from me Mindy thinks to herself and decides in that moment that if she has to be awake at this time then he was going to be as well. She turns to push him awake and notices that the bed is empty a note in his spot.
"Min, had to go into the hospital, delivery.
Try and be home as quick as I can.
Love you, Danny
Mindy had just finished reading the note when Piper jumped on to the bed. "Piper, honey not so loud your sister is still sleeping" Mindy says glancing down at her expanded belly.
Piper nods and starts to rub Mindy's belly "Sorry mummy, sorry baby sister I'm just so excited! Oh and there is something that I really need to ask you" Piper whispers dramatically. Mindy smiles at her beautiful daughter a magical combination of the both of them and pulls her into her arms.
"Why are you so excited for Piper?"
"Mummy don't be silly you know why I'm excited it's Christmas today! I can't wait to open my presents and give you and daddy yours and of course see Uncle Morgan!" Piper rambles on.
"Oh? Is that today? I thought Christmas wasn't until next week?" Mindy says tickling Piper her laughter echoing throughout the quiet house.
"No mummy its today how could you forget the most important day of the year besides my birthday." Piper's face then grows serious when she realises that something is missing. Piper gets up and walks over to the bathroom to check in there and then comes back out hands on her hips "Mummy where is daddy? Does this have something to do with what I saw last night?" Mindy laughs "Piper, daddy had to go and deliver a baby he will be back soon I promise, but I'm more interested in hearing about what happened last night."
Piper goes shy all of a sudden and slowly walks to sit back on the bed. "Please don't get mad at me, but I needed to go to the toilet and on my way back to my room… I just had to have a quick look… I wanted to make sure that Santa had come… I didn't know if he would be able to find us since we moved. So I just went to the bottom step and Santa was standing there and I was so excited, but then I saw you mummy and you and Santa were…." Piper looks down at her hands then back at Mindy's face "You were kissing."
Mindy smiles remembering her trying to convince Danny that he should dress up as Santa because she just knew that Piper would love it and because she thought that he would look good in a Santa suit (which he did by the way) when a sharp pain rocks her body. Piper is still talking when she is brought back to reality by the pain.
"It wasn't just a kiss on the cheek, it was a full on blown disgusting kiss with mouths and stuff, but not the type you and daddy give me it looked really gross…" A voice interrupts her from the doorway.
"What looked gross?" Danny asks leaning against the doorway.
Piper squeals and jumps off the bed running towards Danny who envelops her in his arms. "Daddy" Piper screams "Your home. Can we open presents now" Piper asks looking between the two of them expectantly. Danny laughs kissing Piper on the head. "Of course we can sweetie" Danny places her on the ground and Piper begins to run off when she stops and turns "I love you daddy" Danny smiles "I love you too Piper." Piper smiles and then she is gone.
Danny stares after her waiting until he hears her reach the lounge room before he turns around to his beautiful wife. Danny smiles at Mindy "Sorry I had to go. Babies don't care that it's Christmas. They want to come when they want to come most of the time," Danny says pointing at her belly. Mindy was a week over due and he was getting impatient he just wanted to meet his second little girl all ready. Danny walks over to Mindy and bends down to kiss her "Oh Danny I know they have minds of there own sometimes " Mindy says kissing him back. Another wave of pain courses through her body as Danny pulls back to sit on the edge of the bed. Danny notices and a look of worry crosses his face. "Everything okay min?"
Mindy nods "Just you know… going into labor. No big deal contractions are really far apart…"
"Whoa…." Danny says standing up. "Mindy why didn't you say something sooner. We need to get you to the hospital" Danny yells rushing around looking for the overnight bag they had packed two weeks ago.
"Danny no" Mindy reaches out her hand to stop him. "We cant not yet Piper is so excited. We have to let her open her presents first then we will go."
"Mindy, Piper will understand. Your going into labor that isn't something that you can really hold off happening" Danny says running his hand through his hair. Danny moves to the door and yells down the hall "Piper can you come up her please sweetie daddy needs your help."
Danny turns back to face Mindy "Why aren't you worried, considering all the complications we've had with this pregnancy and also the fact that we nearly lost the both of you a couple of months ago, I would have thought for sure that you would be stress barfing to max" Danny says sinking on to the bed his hands covering his face not wanting Mindy to see the tears that were beginning to form.
The memory lingers between them in the silence. That night had been the scariest night of his life. The sight of the blood on there bed sheets and the all too sudden fear that something bad was happening had taken over the both of them. He had sworn sitting by Mindy's bedside that he was never going to let anything hurt her again and in that moment it just confirmed to him that he could never live his life without her no matter how unbearable she could be sometimes.
Mindy reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry Danny. I'm being ridiculous, I'm just really afraid and I figured that if I waited just a little bit longer….but maybe we should go better to be safe then sorry"
Danny turns to face Mindy just as Piper walks into the room
"Mum, dad" Piper says a look of worry forming on her face "What's going on is this about last night….do you not love mummy and more because it was only Santa Claus….I think she should get a pass for that"
Danny laughs and pulls Piper into his arms "Its not about that but I am intrigued to hear about what happened between mummy and Santa Claus, but that going to have to wait. Mummy is about to have your baby sister so Daddy has to get her to the hospital do you think you could ring Uncle Morgan and see if he can come look after you?"
Piper looks at Mindy who just nods her head "OMG, really like right now my baby sister is coming! Cant I come with you I promise I will behave."
Danny sighs and then looks at Mindy who says "Okay you can come but you still have to call Uncle Morgan so he can meet us at the hospital so you have someone to wait with does that sound good?"
Piper jumps out of Danny's arms and runs too the door mumbling to herself "I'm totally flummoxed Santa Claus managed to get me the one thing I wanted after all."
Mindy extends her hand out laughing as she does "I guess we better get moving then." Danny takes her hand and just as she stands up her water breaks. Mindy manages one smile before her world turns to black.