EDITED 12TH JULY 2011. REWRITING CHAPTERS 1-10 AND THEN CONTINUING. Credit goes to Ithilya for the fic idea :D You rock!
I own nothing except OC characters. This is purely from my imagination and all reviews are welcomed! (I work better knowing they are there :P) Enjoy!
"Are roses blue and violets red? Say it isn't true. Don't tell me romance is dead. So wake up you sleepy head. Think of all the magic we could make.
All your dreams are just a kiss away." - Paloma Faith 'Romance is Dead'
Seven Men and a Little Lady
Chapter One
I
Bov opened his eyes, blinking in the weak morning light. He stretched, groggily, glancing across at the clock and wondering what woke him this early on a Saturday morning. He laid there for a moment, head throbbing in the grip of a hang-over and listened to the sound of a baby crying. He shut his eyes, willing for sleep to wash over him, still listening to the infant's wails.
His eyes snapped back open.
A baby crying?
Bov hauled himself out of bed, feet making no sound on the carpet as he moved through the flat. The wailing seemed to intensify in the living room. His brow creased in a frown. He moved over to the front door, unlocked it and yanked it open.
There was a baby on his doorstep.
Bov took a step back in surprise as he looked down at the small child, face red as it screamed. It balled its little fist, waving them in the air and kicked its legs. It was laid in a Moses basket and its blanket was partly kicked off. Nestled at its side was a note.
Bov snatched it up quickly, as if afraid the child would bite. The note shook lightly in his hands. His eyes scanned the words written in blue biro, and he visibly paled.
'Fuck.'
Bov paced the waiting room of the hospital, anxiously running his hands through his hair. He felt sick and his hands were still trembling. He couldn't believe this, he couldn't believe that-
'I got your call.' The door opened and Bov felt relief at the sight of his best friend. Pete came forward with nothing but concern on his face for his old friend. 'What's wrong, mate? What 'appened?'
Bov fumbled for the note in his pocket, before thrusting it at Pete. The blonde took it, unfolding it and reading. After a moment, he gave a bark of laughter and looked up. Bov scowled. 'Is this true?'
'Must be.'
'You're a dad?' Pete laughed, mostly out of disbelief, because out of all of them, Bov was the least likely to become a father, let alone have a serious relationship.
'Fuck you,' Bov muttered, continuing his pacing.
'Who's Toya?' Pete asked, eyes on the word written elegantly at the bottom of the note. Bov stopped pacing for a moment.
'She's this bird I fucked. But, I was drunk! It wasn't like she meant anything.'
'Shit, Bov, you ain't 'eard of condoms?' Pete couldn't help, but grin. Bov snatched the note back, ears pink.
'We were careful,' he hissed.
'Not careful enough, mate.' Before Bovver could response, the door opened and a young nurse peered in. She wore a neat white uniform and her brunette curls were pulled up into a bun. She had a kind smile.
'Mr Bovverington?' she asked. Bov stepped forward and the nurse gave a smile. 'She's fine. A little hungry, but we've given her a bottle- she's on a good eight ounces- but she seems pretty happy. You say your girlfriend left her with you?'
'H-Her?' he stuttered. The nurse gave a bright smile and nodded. She held out the leaflets that were clasped in her hands. 'Now, these will help you learn how to feed her and bathe her. There's also some numbers if you want to come to classes, which are helpful for first time parents-'
'I can't take her,' Bov blurted out, sounding panicked. The nurse gave him a look. She must have gotten a lot like Bov in here.
'She's your responsibility. You're her father.'
'Look, I don't know anything about babies, I've never- I can't!' Bov tried his best not to sound pitiful, but he could tell the nurse knew it by the sympathetic smile on her face.
'Mr Bovverington, as it stands, this little lady needs to be with someone she is safe with and loved by and at the moment, that person is you. We can have Health Visitors sent out to your home to help you with her if you need. However, if you really feel like you can't take her, I could call Children's Services and have them send a social worker out to you-'
'That's not nessassary,' Pete put in, much to Bov's dismay. 'It's just a little bit of a shock to him and I'd rather...' he glanced at Bov, then back at the nurse. 'Rather him not rush into things.' The nurse nodded in agreement, while Bov stood in stunned silence. He trusted Pete, he trusted Pete with his life and normally when he told Bov to do something it was the right thing to do. But, surely he was out of his mind? How could Pete even imagine Bovver looking after a baby?
'Shall I fetch her?' The nurse asked. Bov just nodded. He needed a cigarette. The nurse disappeared, returning a few moments later with the little girl. She was dressed in clean clothes and was sleeping, one fist balled by her head. The nurse came forward, pressing the child into Bov's arms. 'If you have any more queries, do come in and I'll be happy to help.'
Bovver waited until the nurse had gone, before looking up at Pete. He mouthed wordlessly for a moment, before Pete opened the door and the two left the hospital. 'Mate, you're holding her wrong,' he said after a moment. Pete stopped, taking the girl from his friend's arms and holding her correctly. Bov ran his hands over his face.
'How the fuck do I look after a baby, bruv?' he asked, looking completely helpless. Pete sighed.
'Look, let me look after 'er for the afternoon. I'll take her over to me mum's, she'd love that. Go see Toya. You remember where she lives, don't you?' Bovver nodded, hesitating.
'I…' Bov began, before exhaling heavily. He looked wearily up at the infant in Pete's arms. 'I 'ave to tell the lads first.'
Swill stared at the baby with wide eyes, mouth gaping, watching as she wailed. It was loud, high and his eardrums seemed to have gone numb.
'Maybe you shouldn't 'ave that fag near 'er,' Swill said finally. Bov glanced up, before handing the baby to Pete. He moved over to the armchair and sat down, hands trembling as he stared at the burning end of his cigarette.
'Where'd she come from?' Keith piped up, Ned nodding at his side. Bov shrugged.
'Some bird left her on my doorstep. What the fuck was I supposed to do? Just leave her there?'
'Maybe you should take her back?' Keith replied. 'Mate, you're in a firm. You can't go around with a baby strapped to your fucking back.'
'You can't give 'er back!' protested Swill, coming forward to stroke the top of the baby's soft head with his finger. Her wails quietened a little. 'Does she 'ave a name?'
'A what?'
'A name,' Swill replied, looking back at him. A slight grin pulled at his lips. 'She's gotta 'ave a name.'
Bov shrugged and Swill was quiet for a moment, brow furrowed in thought. 'Abbey,' he said. Bov glanced up. 'Abbey, like the pub,' Swill continued. 'I think it's great.'
'Fine, whatever,' Bov grumbled. 'She ain't hanging around.'
'What do you mean?' Dave asked, from where he was standing in the doorway, watching as Swill took the baby from Pete. 'Son, sit down before you drop her.'
Swill grumbled under his breath, but sat down on the sofa next to Ned, cradling the small child in his arms. He began to coo, speaking nonsense in baby talk and Bov shook his head.
'Keith's right, I can't keep her. I 'ave my reputation to think about.' Abbey had stopped crying now, just staring up at Swill with big blue eyes.
'Which one was Toya?' Dave asked, changing the conversation, because Swill was staring at Bov which something borderline disgust.
'The one with big tits,' Ned said, before catching Bov's look. 'And… and dark 'air.'
'I 'ave to go and see her,' Bov said, getting to his feet. 'Look after the kid while I'm gone.'
Pete nodded, no one attempting to stop Bovver as he walked out, taking a deep drag of his cigarette as he went.
'Hmm… Come here, big boy,' Toya smiled, taking Bov's hand and pulling him towards her. Their lips crashed together, his hands on her waist as they stumbled back onto the bed.
Her hips bucked against his, soft, hushed moans falling from her plump lips as he sucked and nipped at her throat.
She was quite a prize; picked her up from a nightclub in town after Swill's birthday. She was some commercial model for a cheap company in Surrey.
She thought she was it. Bov just saw a good fuck.
'Oh, please,' Toya groaned, nails digging into the bare skin of his shoulders as she arched her back and easily, he pushed himself into her, deep inside her, up to the hilt. 'Oh, God, yes!' she cried as he began to fuck her, the hot, heady musk of their sex in the air.
They'd be no regrets until the morning after. And no consequence for months to come.
REEEEVVVIIIIEEEEW