Hello everyone. Has anyone else got a look at the autumn trailer?! If not don't read on because I'm definitely going to spoil it for you...
CAL'S A DAD AHHHHH I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for this to play out! *tries to compose myself* okay, this trailer has given me so many ideas for new stories, this is one I have came up with playing with the idea of Cal having a daughter (of course). What I have come up with is probably not how it is going to play out when it eventually plays out on our screens soon but it is inspired by the autumn trailer and so it may contain some spoilers though I'm not sure I can spoil much if you already know Cal has a daughter (I'm still not composed I'm so excited I feel like hitting every key on my keyboard to try and express my excitement though that won't even be a good representation wowwww...I'm sorry *takes deep breath*). I've decided to make this quite dramatic as you all know I love writing both dramatic and emotional hopefully this will be both. I am writing as I am publishing and so you may have to bear with me for updates on this one. I'm sure the trailer has inspired many to write on this topic but this will be my take on it, I hope you all enjoy please let me know your thoughts. I'm super excited to get started with this one, probably because it's actually sort of based on the show and not some completely made up farfetched story made about Cal having a kid, it actually happens...wow.
Parts of this first chapter I had actually written a few months back when I posted the story "Good and bad things" about Ethan and his son Thomas. I actually planned it to be Cal who had the child though mid-way through writing the first chapter changed my mind completely and went from Cal having a baby to Ethan having a six year old, oh the fun of imagination. Anyways, the name of this story is taken from the trailer when Cal is talking to Charlie in the car, this is: "That's what's in me" I hope you enjoy and I'm sorry for rambling on for nearly an entire page, please forgive me, Kayxxx :')
That's what's in me – Chapter one
It was 7:15am. Ethan was up and ready to leave for his day of work, he would be out of the house by 7:30 as usual when he was on this shift. He was currently sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee, this was part of his everyday routine to get him ready and awake for what the day ahead would bring...little did he know the one measly cup of coffee wouldn't even come close to preparing him for what this day would bring. He sat doing something that he had been doing a lot lately; thinking about Honey. The relationship between the two had ended over a month ago now; however Ethan just could seem to shift the pretty tea girl from his mind. He didn't wonder why they broke up, that was obvious. They were the complete opposite, she made tea, he preferred coffee, he liked French movies, she liked Disney, she used to strip for money whereas Ethan had an incredibly sheltered life and would never dare step foot in a strip club, voluntarily that is. He dreamt of becoming a top consultant, she dreamt of becoming a beautician...Complete. Opposites. Of course the open minded doctor saw status as nothing, though he seemed to be the only one who thought that way, no one could actually understand what a doctor would want with a barista, even the barista herself couldn't get her head around it, she thought he was too smart for her and the fact that he found entertainment in things she couldn't even comprehend made her feel quite intimidated, though Ethan would never want Honey to change, he liked her just as she was. He told himself it was perfectly fine for relationships to have differences between the two components it would just take a bit of work, but to have practically nothing in common whatsoever, that's a hell of a lot of work to do. They called it off; Honey took off back to Manchester to start up her own business as a beautician and although her leaving tore at his heart, he was proud of her for chasing her dreams, he always did admire optimism.
His thinking was cut off when he realised he had reached the end of his morning coffee, meaning anytime now the post would be delivered as it would be around 7:20 and that was the usual time it would be delivered. Being a doctor can be extremely unpredictable, you can never be sure what your next patient will bring and so he would always make sure what he could organise in his day; he would, down to the minutes. For this shift in particular he would get up at 6:30, get a shower until 6:40, once dry, shaved and in clean clothes he would head downstairs for breakfast at 7:00, usually something quick like toast but sometimes if he really felt like pushing the boat out he would make dippy eggs and soldiers, however today he had toast with the Honey thoughts sidetracking his mind too much too focus on getting his eggs at the right dippy-ness for his soldiers. He would then sit and eat his breakfast whilst he tried to get through the next few pages of whatever book was on his latest agenda, then make his morning coffee at 7:15, finish it by 7:18, then he knew the mail would be delivered at 7:20 as their house was one of the first of the postman's journey, he would check through his mail, go and brush his teeth and ensure he left by 7:30, even if he was ready by 7:29, he would wait by the door until 7:30, it just felt right. Of course he had a completely different routine for different shifts and god forbid him trying to keep his routine intact when his brother Caleb was on the same shift. Cal's routine involved dragging himself out of bed 5 minutes before Ethan was set to leave having the younger man on edge constantly- not how he would want to start off his day, luckily Cal wasn't even due in work today and so would probably be spending the entirety of the day in bed.
His watch pointed to 7:20. He opened his door and made his way to the post box placed at the end of his pathway, as he opened it up he looked back his path at his door, he noticed something poking out between his two wheelie bins. As he approached it he could hear some strange noises coming from the object, grunting sounds, he actually debated leaving it there in case there was some sort of animal hiding away in there from the bitter winter mornings but once he noticed a pink blanket placed over the top of it he figured no animal could do that. He kneeled down before it and slowly pulled back the blanket, nothing could have prepared him for what was behind it. It was a car seat, in the car seat sat a baby...an actual baby, placed in his pathway. He watched it in astonishment. It let out a wail in fright as he pulled back the blanket which snapped Ethan into his caring mode he had naturally as a doctor.
"Hey shh, it's okay don't cry" he spoke softly as he rocked the chair back and forth. He looked around for any signs as to why this baby could've been left here, behind the baby he found a bag which he opened, there where nappies, bottles, wipes, toys, everything but what he wanted to find; an answer to why this baby had been left at his doorstep.
He stood up with the chair and placed it on top of the wheelie bin as he thought. He noticed a lady stood across the road with her son, who was more than likely on the school run, "Excuse me? Is this your baby?" he asked her. She gave him a confused look and then hurried her son off down the road.
Ethan looked back down at the baby, "Don't worry little one we'll find your parents won't we?" he forced out a smile. He turned to his house, "Cal!" he shouted up the stairs.
"Hi is this your baby?" He asked as he caught another mother walking passed, she shook her head, "Did you happen to see who left her here?" he asked, yet again she shook her head.
"Right, thanks...for nothing" he mumbled to himself as picked up the baby and made his way toward the door, his intention being to call the police, but before he reached his house he noticed something fall from the car seat.
"Oh what's this eh little one you've brought mail" he smiled as he picked it up and began to read.
He felt his heart sink as he read it, he was completely staggered. He looked back up at the baby who he now looked at in a completely different way...he was lost for words.
"...Cal!" He managed to call, "Caleb!" He roared up the stairs as he got the baby indoors and sat her chair on the floor, "Cal!" he yelled once more.
His elder brother appeared at the stop of the stairs and let out a yawn as he made his way down to see what all the shouting was about, "Ugh what?! I'm not in today Ethan so I plan on sleeping for the majority-" his moaning was cut off when he noticed the car seat hidden behind his brother's legs, "what's that?" he asked as the baby let out another grunt. Ethan looked at him worryingly; he still couldn't find any words. He handed him the letter that he had found. Cal looked at him warily as he took it...
"Cal, it's Taylor, Taylor Ashbie. I know I'm probably the last person you want to hear from but this is Tobi, our daughter. Having her made me realise I'm not cut out to be a mother, I can't handle her. I thought about putting her up for adoption but then I realised you're half reason I'm in this mess anyway, so she's your responsibility now, good luck, believe me you'll need it."
Cal felt his entire body drain, he looked back up at his brother who was kneeled down beside the small baby, "What? Ethan please say this is some sort of sick joke?" he whispered.
Ethan placed is hand in the baby's, she wrapped her tiny fingers around his thumb, he smiled completely captured by her innocent gaze; "Hello little Tobi, oh you're lovely aren't you? I'm your Uncle Ethan-" Cal cut him off.
"Stop it!" he shouted.
Ethan shot a snarl up at his brother and then looked back down to smile at the baby, "And this here is your daddy look" he pointed towards Cal.
"Stop it!" Cal roared as tears built in his eyes.
"We'll make you feel wanted won't we?" Ethan spoke softly as he bobbed the baby's hand up and down causing her to smile.
Cal stormed out of the house quickly almost taking Ethan with him as he rushed passed.
Ethan gave daggers to his brother's back as he left, "Well, it might take him some time" he smiled as he looked back down at Tobi, "well, he did say he wanted to commit to something" he stated sarcastically
"Come here, let's take a look at you shall we?" he unbuckled her from her chair and picked her up, "Oh you're a little cutie aren't you?" he smiled as he held her close, she was an incredibly cute baby. Ethan never did take to babies much and vice versa, but Tobi was so cute he almost felt worried in case he squeezed her too hard in cuddles. The baby continued to grunt and squeal as he held her, "You're shivering, how long were you out there eh?" he whispered as he inspected her, he felt her head with the back of his hand and then felt her hands and feet, realisation grew across him suddenly. He buckled her back into her car seat and hurried out of the house with her, hoping Cal hadn't taken the car.
"Cal!" he called as he rushed to his parked car, his brother sat in the driver's seat gripping onto the steering wheel staring blankly ahead.
Ethan opened up the back seat and strapped the baby in, funnily enough he knew how to strap babies into cars as he'd helped many new mother's to their cars as they left the hospital. He then took a seat next to Tobi and watched over her warily.
"What are you doing? Get it out of the car Ethan" Cal sighed still staring ahead, his voice sounded almost mournful.
"That 'it' is your daughter Caleb and she's ill, very ill in fact" Ethan snapped in reply as he tucked her pink blanket in around her.
"What?" Cal called as he looked over his shoulder at them.
"Her temperature is high, her hands and feet are cold, she's grunting, shivering extremely, and now I'm starting to notice wheezing as she's breathing, now drive" he ordered.
"What? Is she okay? Has she got a rash?" Cal spoke concerned as he leaned over from his seat to get a look at the baby.
"Just drive!" Ethan yelled.
Cal quickly turned back around and started up the car, pressing his foot down hard on the accelerator and speeding away down the street.
"It's okay Tobi, luckily your awful excuse of a mother left you on the doorstep of two doctors" Ethan smiled as he took hold of the baby's hand once more.