A/N: A small cute one-shot that came to me whilst walking home. Let me know what you think (:
Mary-Claire was searching frantically for someone to take the red headed green eyed toddler off her, her sister had made her babysitter whilst she went off to a meeting. Mary-Claire had tried Jac Naylor hoping being pregnant would soften her but she caught her on a bad day, she had been yelled at and told to go away, Chrissie was out of the question due to her exhaustion collapse last week and Gemma was on her day off she needed a mum to take the toddler off her desperately. Last choice was to ask Ms Campbell who she was worried to ask.
"Nurse Carter please explain why you have a child with you," Serena demanded an answer.
"You're a mum," Mary-Claire pointed out.
"Well considering Eleanor calls me mum that would make it rather obvious wouldn't it?" Serena asked one hand on her hip.
"Brilliant I need you to take care of Cassidy for me," Mary-Claire handed her niece to a shocked looking Serena, "I'll be about an hour… don't take her to the crèche my sister will kill me please." before Serena could disagree Mary-Claire ran off.
"Now hang on," Serena said to the spot Mary-Claire deserted, she sighed and put Cassidy on her hip, "Brilliant," Serena then looked at the toddler she looked a lot like Mary-Claire, Serena took a guess and guessed that red hair and green eyes must run down in their family, "Well let's hope you don't grow up to be as…petulant," Serena saw no other option but to look after Cassidy, it was under her mother's instructions that she didn't go down to the crèche, and being a mother herself she knew how important it was to have rules obeyed, "And you're very lucky because I have no other patients right now," Serena sat down at the nurses station desk and settled Cassidy on her lap. Cassidy turned her head, "Yes?"
"Bah," she pointed to the bag over where Mary-Claire was sitting, "Bah."
"Right," Serena guessed what the toddler wanted knowing too well what communication at that age was like, Serena dragged the bag over and opened it.
"Cat," Cassidy pointed to the toy cat, Serena took it out and gave it to Cassidy, "Ta."
"Got more manners than your aunt," Serena said Cassidy's cheeks were bright red she used the cat ear to bite on, "You're going to end up biting your poor kitty's ears off," Serena said in a high pitched voice, Sacha had to stop and double take to check if he was seeing right.
"I'm sorry but am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Sacha asked looking very amused, "Who's this?"
"Nurse Carter's niece strict instructions from Cassidy's mother to not allow her down in the crèche, make no sense," Serena answered Sacha was grinning, "What?"
"Nothing," Sacha lied in fact he found it highly amusing at Serena was actually acting like this.
"Sacha," Serena said replacing her high pitched voice with a stern tone.
"It's nothing," Sacha walked away and Serena rolled her eyes and looked down at Cassidy who was still biting the cat's ear.
"Poor kitty," Serena said, "Biting the ear… how would you like it?" Serena felt Cassidy slipping so she quickly pulled her back up, Cassidy turned around her big green eyes fixated on Serena, "What's your cat called?" Serena knew she wouldn't get a sensible answer but it was better than not talking.
"Cat," Cassidy repeated from earlier then she dropped it, "Uh-oh."
"Oh I know this game far too well," Serena said laughing Eleanor and constantly played it when she was a baby and enjoyed hours of dropping her toy dog on the floor and having Serena pick it back up to only have it on the floor again.
"Fall down," Cassidy said pointing to the cat stretching down her short arm trying to reach it, "Cat…" Cassidy whined, "Cat."
"Alright hang on," Serena knew if she didn't get it as soon as possible crying would happen, "Hold her gently," as soon as "Cat" was given back it was on the floor again, "Cheeky monkey."
"Uh-oh," Cassidy repeated trying to reach, "Fall down."
Serena put Cassidy on the floor and bent down again to get the cat named "Cat", "More like you threw her down there," Serena said tickling Cassidy's face with the cat, Cassidy squealed with happiness making Serena smile lightly, intrigued to see what torture Mary-Claire had been put through to entertain her niece Serena opened up the bag again, "What on earth is a Makka Pakka?" Serena asked taking a dvd, "Is this what children of your day and age are being subjected too?"
"Makka Pakka," Cassidy pointed to the dvd smiling, "Makka Pakka."
"Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?" Serena asked lifting Cassidy back up, "Makka Pakka whatever next."
…
"I'm not joking she was all gooey eyed," Sacha said to Michael, "Like a complete different person."
"Oh this is brilliant," Michael said grinning, "The great Serena Campbell going gooey eyed over a toddler," Michael tapped the mug with the spoon, "I can't see it."
"Saw it with my own eyes," Sacha said.
…
Serena walked into her and Ric's office, "I'm only doing this," Serena placed the disk into her laptop, "Because you seem to like this Makka Pakka thing," Serena sat on the sofa and kept Cassidy on her lap the laptop resting on the spare seat.
Cassidy smiled as her favourite character appeared, "Makka Pakka," she pointed to the screen.
What the heck is this rubbish? Serena thought to herself.
Ten minutes in Serena was feeling completely brainwashed, "Hum dum, ,Agga pang,
Ing, ang, ooo. Makka Pakka, Appa yakka, Ikka akka, ooo," Serena joined as the song came on for the third time, clapping Cassidy's hands together.
"Please tell me I'm seeing things?" Jac Naylor said from the doorway arms folded she looked amused, "What on earth are you doing?" Jac walked in and shut the door.
"Babysitting for Nurse Carter," Serena answered she turned her head to face Jac.
"I mean that song I can see you're babysitting," Jac sat down on Serena's chair and got comfy.
"Don't ask," Serena studied Jac's face, "Everything OK?" Serena asked kindly, Jac looked close to tears.
"Well I was feeling a bit low but seeing you sing like that has cheered me right up," Jac said placing two hands on her bump grinning, "Who is she?" Jac sat forward.
"Mary-Claire's niece for some reason Cassidy's mother, didn't want her in the crèche," Serena paused the dvd and put Cassidy on the floor keeping an eye on her. Cassidy went over to Jac.
"Yes?" Jac asked looking down Cassidy lifted her arms up, Jac looked up at Serena for answers.
"She wants up," Serena translated the arm movement, "Well lift her up then."
Jac put her hands under Cassidy's arm pits and lifted her up onto her lap, Serena chucked her the toy cat.
"Careful she'll start playing up and down," Serena sat crossed legged on the sofa.
"That is?" Jac asked confused.
"She'll throw the toy on the floor, you'll pick it up, she'll throw it down again…Eleanor could play it for hours," Serena looked at Cassidy and smiled lightly, "She likes you," Serena observed, Cassidy looked content on Jac's lap she had the toy cat back in her mouth, "That poor cat," Serena scolded but it didn't sound like she meant it.
"Why is she doing that?" Jac asked wondering how something that was constantly on and off the floor could be so tasty.
"I'm taking a guess on teething," Serena answered walking over to the one year old she knelt down, "Hey if anyone walked in they'd think she's your kid."
Jac smiled lightly and rested her chin on Cassidy's head, Cassidy tried to get down but was trapped between Jac's arms she began to cry as she didn't like being trapped, "Off." she kicked her legs.
Jac released her grip and Cassidy went straight back to Serena, "Made quite an impression on her," Jac said laughing, Serena held onto Cassidy's hand.
"Don't give me that look I've already had Sacha do it," Serena said grumpily, Jac had a thoughtful look in her eyes. Serena lifted Cassidy back onto her lap and sat on the floor, "Do you have any idea what Makka Pakka is?"
"How should I know?" Jac asked astounded at how Serena would think her of all people would know, "You're better off asking Sacha or Chrissie."
Cassidy started to get fussy and began to cry, "Hey shh," Serena said trying to calm Cassidy, "Oh look at your cheeks."
"Do they go that red?" Jac asked curious she might as well get some information.
"Depends on each child," Serena stood up with Cassidy she allowed the toddler to wrap her arms around her neck, Serena stabilised her by placing one hand on her bottom and rubbed her back, "Eleanor was terrible had Edward and myself up for hours… and would only sleep for about half an hour before screaming the place down," Serena carried on pacing Cassidy was still crying, Serena turned to Jac, "You try," Serena handed Cassidy to Jac, "It's good practice."
Jac stood up and took the toddler resuming the position Serena had her in, "Surely you should get the mum on the phone?" Jac asked she paced, "We're going to have none of this," Jac said to Cassidy who tilted back and looked at Jac, "So time to stop crying."
"Oh trust me do that and she'll think Mary-Claire can't handle her niece…. It's fine we'll just settle her," Serena sat on the sofa and signalled for Jac to hand Cassidy to her.
"Good luck, sounds like this one is not settling," Jac handed the crying toddler back to Serena?
Serena tried to what she did with Eleanor she laid her on the sofa on her back, Cassidy carried on crying her fist clenching, "Look in the bag and see if there's anything."
Jac unzipped the bag and searched through she saw nappies, bottle, pacifier, blanket, and then she found teething gel, "This?" Jac held the tube up.
"Perfect," Serena took the tube and placed some on her index finger, "Pressure from rubbing the gel on helps relieve the pain… they didn't have teething gel when Eleanor was a baby so Edward and I used cold flannels and teething rings," Serena rubbed the gel against Cassidy's swollen gums causing her to calm down crying, "There that's better," Serena patted the toddlers stomach, "This is why I didn't opt for Paediatrics," she carried on patting gently then Cassidy's breathing went heavy and her body relaxed.
"But you opted to have a child?" Jac frowned.
"Could've been my only chance," Serena said to Jac, "Took it whilst I could."
"Like me," Jac agreed, "She likes you," Jac looked at the red head toddler who had grasped her tiny hand around Serena's finger, "What if my child doesn't like me?" Jac asked.
"Every baby needs their mother… it's a special bond during those precious years," Serena didn't have the heart to release her finger from the toddler's grasp, "It's hard I won't lie to you Jac... but you'll be fine."
Jac smiled and looked down at her bump, "You're the least person I'd expect to get a baby to sleep."
"Edward used to say I had a magic touch," Serena said fondly, "I was the only one who could get Ellie off to sleep without losing my mind."
"Apart from when she had teething problems?" Jac asked.
"Yes well when you're up for hours on end with very little sleep, and your partner is complaining of not being able to sleep… I may have snapped once or twice," Serena admitted she felt Cassidy wake up, "Cat nap over?" Serena asked the toddler she didn't expect an answer and Jac shook her head, Serena sounded like Johnny expecting an answer off someone can't even look after herself, "Yeah you awake now?" Serena couldn't help it, it was like a natural instinct in her.
"She's not going to answer you," Jac said shaking her head.
Cassidy looked at Serena her massive green eyes staring right at her, "You'll be surprised how much toddlers know Jac."
"You sound just like Mo," Jac said Serena frowned, "She keeps going on and on… she means well but, I'd rather learn myself."
"You always learn yourself Jac," Serena said comfortingly, "First babies are always hard…always have been, always will be."
"Then why do we have them?" Jac asked looking at Cassidy, "Why if they're such a handful why do we do it?"
"Because," Serena walked over with Cassidy, "Because they'll be the reason why you spend eighteen years worrying constantly and even then you never stop, they'll drive you round the bend but you love them. It comes from… it's going to sound cliché," Serena prepared Jac for the most cliché thing she had ever said, "It comes from in here," Serena used her index finger to point at Jac's ever growing stomach and then she used it to point to hers, "And even after the baby is born… you get a tugging from inside every time they cry or you feel they're in trouble, it's just a feeling."
"Cassidy's turned you all soft," Jac said and she sat forward, "Amazing how the niece of the biggest mouth I know is so quiet."
"Here why don't you read to her?" Serena dug into the bag and took out called Goldie Locks and The Three Bears, "Go on," Serena gave Cassidy to Jac, "She won't bite."
"I'm not doing the voices," Jac said taking Cassidy.
"It's automatic," Serena pointed out, "Go on then."
Jac opened the book and held it in front of Cassidy, "Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in."
"You could be a bit more enthusiastic," Serena criticized, "Like: Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in." Serena sounded really high pitched making her and Jac laugh.
"More like you've swallowed helium," Jac then carried on, "At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl."
"Do the voices," Serena ordered smiling, "Go on."
"Oh you do it," Jac said, "I don't want to sound ridiculous."
Serena took the book and Jac gave Cassidy to her, "Right," Serena held the book in front of Cassidy and carried on where Jac left off.
"This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed. "Don't laugh," Serena said darkly to Jac, Jac couldn't hold it in she fell backwards laughing, "It's how you do it."
"I'm sorry," Jac said laughing, "But… it's just…it's so weird seeing you act so maternal and read so ridiculously high pitched."
"I can always get you to do it," Serena frowned.
"No you do it better," Jac composed herself and leant over to see the book and listen.
"So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl. This porridge is too cold," she said, So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge. "Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up," the final part Serena tickled Cassidy on the stomach, "Yeah she ate it all up," both women softened hearing the toddler laugh happily.
"Who needs books when you can just get you?" Jac asked jokingly, "What else is in here?" Jac dug into the bag, "What is this Iggle Piggle thing?"
"Oh god knows," Serena answered book now abandoned, "Shall we," Serena said to Cassidy, "Finish off that dvd?"
"Makka Pakka," Cassidy grinned.
"Better not play that song," Jac said.
"Makka Pakka," Cassidy pointed to the dvd case, Serena placed the laptop on the floor and sat on the floor with Cassidy, Jac joined then legs stretched out so she could be comfy.
Serena clicked play and the song came back on, "Good practice for you," Serena said jokingly.
"Please no child of mine is being brainwashed by such rubbish and they banned the Teletubbies?" Jac asked shaking her head the ridiculous children's programme on the laptop.
…
One hour later and two confused consultants and one sleeping toddler later, it was time for Cassidy to be handed back, "Nurse Carter should be back from her break," Serena checked the time, "Well I'm stuck," Cassidy was asleep on her lap and Serena couldn't move, Jac being in her current condition couldn't either.
"So what do we do?" Jac asked.
"The only thing we can do," Serena got out her pager, "We page… Sacha, Michael or Edward."
"Your reputation is on the line," Jac said looking at Serena, Serena paged Edward knowing he wouldn't dare take the mick.
Edward knocked and walked in to his shock he saw the scene, "So Sacha wasn't lying then?" Edward asked folding his arms and grinning, "You do go all gooey eyed."
"Oh don't you start… remove Cassidy from my lap please," Serena ordered, "Just don't wake her."
"Yeah, yeah I know," Edward knelt down and gently picked up Cassidy Serena stood up and took her back, "Want a hand too?" Edward asked Jac.
Jac shook her head and stood up, "Well I've seen a different you this afternoon," Jac said teasing Serena, "Next thing you'll be asked to babysit all the time."
"Not going to happen," Serena said and she felt Cassidy move, "Is she about to cry?" Serena asked Jac.
"No but she looks like she's about to be sick," Jac answered backing away slowly. She couldn't contain her laughter as white milky contents poured down Serena's pack.
"Don't you dare," Serena said darkly to Edward who was trying not to laugh, "Now please take the child I need to change my top," Serena handed Cassidy to Edward, Cassidy immediately started to cry not liking being handed to a stranger, "What did you do?" Serena asked Edward, she couldn't be bothered with thinking about dignity considering a baby had just spewed up all over her she changed her top and took the toddler back, "Took us ages to get her settled," Serena said to Edward glaring.
Jac took the blanket from outside the bag and thought it could be helpful, "There you go," Jac said gently to Cassidy, Cassidy took the blanket in her small hand and nestled her face in it, "Problem solved."
Serena felt Cassidy relax and put Cassidy into a rocking position, "Mary-Claire owes me."
"Big time," Jac added Cassidy held out her tiny hand and wrapped it around Jac's finger, "No you're going back to Auntie Mary-Claire."
"As soon as she's settled not having her screaming down AAU," Serena said maternally, "Yes we shall be getting you back to sleep before handing you over… else they'll think I tortured you."
Cassidy smiled, "Cat," she said using her free hand to point to the toy cat on the floor, "Cat."
Edward knelt down and gave it to Cassidy she cuddled the toy and yawned, "Amazing how something so small can get tired so easily." Serena said looking down at Cassidy; who had the blanket in one hand and the cat toy in the other resting on her chest, still wide awake but she was beginning to look sleepy.
"And it's amazing how someone as hard as you can go all mushy when handed a toddler," Jac sat down on the sofa Edward laughed and sat on Serena's desk chair.
"Remember when James made you look after Ava for the day?" Edward asked remembering the time that himself and James cooked up a plan, to get Serena in the baby mood; as she was struggling to get excited so bringing in Ava was the only option, they left her and Ava in the staff room Ava was about two at the time and after about an hour they came back to find Ava asleep on Serena and Serena looking very content.
Serena sighed it was true someone so small always bought the softer side out of her, "You can always take over," Serena said to Jac, Jac frowned, "All you do is keep still."
"No," Jac said sitting back, "As much as I enjoy it, it's much better watching you."
"I'll be sure to remind you of that when you want a babysitter… I shall enjoy watching you go all gooey." Serena joked and paced around trying to send the toddler of to sleep, it took her about half an hour but finally Cassidy was asleep.
"You do realise you're going to have to go into the ward now right?" Edward asked grinning, "I look forward to seeing the faces."
Serena glared at Edward and signalled for him to open the door, she walked out and avoided the many looks of shock around her, "Is it really that unbelievable?" Serena asked walking behind the nurses station to give Cassidy to Mary-Claire, "You owe me."
"Thank you so much," Mary-Claire said taking Cassidy, "Let me buy you a drink or something."
"You can start by replacing the top your niece vomited on and also you can put on some decent music I can't get the Makka Pakka song out of my head," Serena walked away, "And stop staring god if you do that to Ms Naylor I'll accompany in castrating you all."
"Aww Mommy Rena," Michael said bravely, "Did Cassidy make you go all soft and fuzzy inside?"
Serena shook her head and then Sacha and Chrissie decided to wind her up, "Makka Pakka,
Akka Wakka,
Mikka Makka moo! Makka Pakka,
Appa yakka,
Ikka akka, oooHum dum,
Agga pang,
Ing, ang, oooMakka Pakka,
Akka wakka,
Mikka Makka moo" the pair sang clapping their hands whilst Serena glared and walked away, "Say good night to Iggle Piggle from me," Sacha called over Serena gave him a rude finger sign.
"And the Ninky Nonk," Chrissie needed a laugh since she hadn't laughed that much in ages, "Wow underneith the steel exterior break away you find a heart."
"She was a bit embarrassed earlier when I found her," Sacha said grinning.
"Hey Naylor you know who to go to babysit now," Michael grinned, "Just send Maconie Junior to Rena."
"Told you it was weird," Sacha said and then everyone got back to work.
A/N: Couldn't resist it I just had to write it let me know what you think (:
