Letting Go Of The Past, Holding On To The Future.
Part Two.
Cuddles and Pandemonium.
Karen awoke content in the arms of her Rob; she almost had to pinch herself regularly to convince herself that she was the lucky lady that had him. Karen couldn't remember the last time she felt this happy not even with Charlie did she feel like this. Karen's eyes twinkled as she stared at the ceiling lost in her thoughts until Rob's perfect lips caressed her neck causing her cheeks to flush and her heart to pound. "what planet you on then", "huh?", Karen was a little confused, "You spaced out, what you thinking?", "Just thinking about us, how far we have come in the last 6 months", "You always over think things you", "I know", Rob silenced any further reply she had with a loving kiss, his lips giving her the energy to breath and live another day, he really was the missing piece to her puzzle. It was a Sunday morning which meant a long lay in, which often led to winks and whistles from their kids when they finally made an appearance from the bedroom. Karen felt protected in Rob's arms; time stood still nothing could snatch her from the comfort of his arms, the warmth of his body the tenderness of his lips that was until the phone rang. Harry was in bed still, he got the lazy chilled gene off his mum, Aiden was levelling up on his Xbox – well that's what they guessed from the swearing and moaning at the consol that leaked from his bedroom, Jess was staying at Vicki's wanting to be able to enjoy some girly time before the baby made and appearance and to be honest being with her best friend allowed her space to clear her head, this was going to be hard raising a baby on her own, her relationship with Aiden had ended a while back and she didn't want to go back their but it was hard with her mum and Rob being in a committed relationship they couldn't just avoid each other they lived in the same house! This only left for Bex to be on the other end of the phone so Karen answered, "What is it with you disturbing my Sunday lay ins Bex", Karen teased until her face suddenly dropped, the voice wasn't Bex, this wasn't some harmless catch up session with her eldest daughter, it was Vicki. Rob instantly began to become worried, he held Karen's hand as he watched her become more and more panicked, "Okay, you go with her and we'll meet you there", Karen hung up the phone jumped out of bed and began to chuck on a pair of jeans, one of her nice tops and finally slipped into her converse – because she was a trendy mum, as she explained what was going on to Rob. "What's happened, what's wrong Karen?", "It's Jess, she's gone into labour but Jess... she...she's passed out", "Karen grab your coat I've got the keys", he rushed over to her once dressed himself and snuggled in a reassuring embrace, it was quick but Karen needed it right now she needed that pillar of strength to get her through it, Jess's baby was a little early by only a week which was fine Karen wasn't worried though the fact her daughter had passed out wasn't filling her with excitement, the prospect of becoming a grandmother. "I'll meet you downstairs, I should tell Aiden", Karen smiled and left him to break the news to Aiden whilst Karen broke it to Harry. "Harry...", Karen burst in breathless, she was in a rush and filled with panic, "mum?", Harry sat up sleepily, "It's your sister, she's gone into labour but there are some complications", "Mum you go, I'll stay here I'll just get in the way, you call me as soon as you hear anything", "Come here you", Karen gave her son a big hug, he had grown up so much, the divorce hit him hard but had matured him, he had become so protective of his mum, which is why Karen was so pleased when he approved of her and Rob it meant a lot. "Right you won't be on your own for long, Bex should be on her way down to stay with you", "I'm 16 mum", "Yep and your still under my roof so Bex is going to take care of you, please harry", "It's fine, just go see Jess, phone as soon as you hear anything", Karen smiled with all the strength she had, she rushed out of Harry's room to bump into Rob and Aiden. "Ready", Rob calmly spoke, full of reassurance, Karen nodded. The touch of Rob's hands against her lower back sent tingles down her spine leading to a small smile crawling across her face. Their hands joined for support as they walked to the car.
"Right Aiden remember what I said, you stay calm. Jess doesn't need an argument with you the minute she wakes up", "If she has put my baby in danger I won't be happy", "Aiden!" Rob scowled, "Jess is the mother of your baby and whether your together or not she is going to need your support. Whatever happens isn't her fault", "Aiden please", Karen was quiet, she wasn't angered by Aiden she was too lost in her own thoughts, her grandchild and daughter were in that hospital and it wasn't going to all be positive news like they had hoped, this was meant to be a day of joy but it had already got off to a bad start. Aiden stormed off ahead after disobeying his dad. "Come here", Rob stopped, wrapping his arms around his beautiful lady as she broke down on his shoulder, "My baby girl", "I know... I know. She's going to be okay, we got to show her how strong we are if we want her to be strong", Karen smiled through a tear stained face, Rob's hand cupped her face as he wiped away her tears with his thumb. "There we go, can see all of that beautiful face again", Karen blushed, "Oh stop it Scotcher", "What so a handsome guy can't compliment his beautiful girlfriend once in a while", "Who said anything about handsome", Karen teased, Rob had this way of calming her down that nobody else could master. Whatever situation, whatever had happened Rob could always cheer her up, fix her back together. "I think we better go, not sure what Aiden has in mind but to be honest"," Rob he's scared like we all are it's understandable", "But that doesn't excuse his behaviour", "Look he hasn't done anything yet, let's just go find them aye", they walked up to the hospital feeling like they had wasted precious time as they attempted to sort themselves out before approaching a what would be distraught Jess. The pair of them headed up to the ward to find Aiden sat outside head in hands, "I'll sort him out you go on in see Jess, I'll be out here, not going anywhere", Rob squeezed her hand a little before they departed one another, gave Karen a tiny bit more strength to get through all of this, to be there for her daughter. Karen walked into find her daughter awake and responsive. "Mum", "I'm here, don't you worry, Vicki called me", Karen looked around the room for her but she wasn't there, "she went to get a drink", Jess interrupted her mum's thoughts. "So how are you feeling", "Fine now, but I'm scared mum I'm really scared", "Aye, shh, don't be scared you're going to do this, your my strong little girl, you have proven over the last year you can get through anything". A tear rolled down Jess's cheek, a hug was shared, a hug that could only be reciprocated by mother and daughter. The nurse burst in with a reassuring smile, she had been good to Jess all the staff had, and they hadn't judged her for being so young they were simply there. "Right Jess just going to check how dilated you are", Jess nodded, scared at the idea of being prodded and poked, "It will feel a little uncomfortable that's all", Karen whispered in her ear, Jess found this reassuring and it got her through the examination. "I'd say your about 8cm, only 2 to go but that could still be another 3 hours", Jess's heart sank, she wanted to see her baby to check it was okay, she was nervous and anxious. The nurse left them to it and Rob made his way in taking the hint that her examination was finished.
"Rob", Jess was just as happy to see him as she was her own mother. "hey, how you feeling?", "Not too bad, just a little nervous", "That's normal, I was so nervous when Aiden was born that I blacked out hitting my head on the post of the bed and knocked myself out", Karen and Jess burst out laughing until Karen suddenly thought, "Did you miss the birth", "No luckily Naomi was in labour for another 6 hours, I made it in my wheelchair", Karen found it sweet how he was so proud of himself for making it to the birth of his own son despite the pandemonium. She loved how he was putting Jess at ease with his stories, Karen could see the difference in her posture, and she wasn't so uptight she was relaxed. Well that was until Aiden made an appearance, "If you have hurt my baby you won't hear the end of it, you hear me Jess", "Whoa, Aiden!", Rob pulled back his son, "GET OFF ME!", "Aiden you need to leave, you have every right to see your baby but you can't do this to her, Jess is just as scared as you are", "I haven't done anything, the baby is just coming early, I passed out in shock", "Son you need to leave", "You just said yourself I have every right to be here", "Yes, but without distressing Jess, now leave before it's the security guard chucking you out and not me, wait outside", Aiden was fuming Jess could see all the hurt in his eyes. She hated Aiden for what he did but she was also pleased with him of how he was willing to support the baby despite their separation however his over protectiveness in the last few months had now come down to this. Rob sighed and paced, Karen's arms linked around his waist as she calmed him down, just like he did for her and then the buzzer started ringing. "MUM", "Rob what's happening", Jess was panicked, the nurses and a doctor rushed in checking the machinery and Jess's well being, "Jessica your baby's heart rate has lowered we need to deliver this baby now", "I don't want an operation", Karen's hand was placed in her daughters she wasn't leaving her until she really had to, Rob's arm was wrapped around Karen as they sat at the bedside of Jess. "Jess we really need to do this operation, we think the cord may be wrapped around the babies neck", "Oh god, no not my baby", Aiden rushed in "What's going on", "Jess is going to have to have a C section, the baby's heart rates dropped", Aiden suddenly did something no one expected him to, "Jess I'm here, forget what I said, as long as your both okay", he stood next to her holding her hand, the sparkle in Jess's eyes were back, despite everything they were pulling together for their baby. Rob was secretly proud of his son and shot him a proud smile. "Right Jess were going to take you down now okay, you can have your birthing partner with you", This was originally Karen, her mum it seemed right she knew everything she was going through having been through a C – section out of choice with Harry ( 2 natural births had taken its toll on Karen and she opted out the third time) But Karen felt it was wrong of her to be there, "Aiden, go with her she'll need you more than ever", "Karen, you sure I mean she's your little girl", "and she's the mother of your baby, you don't want to miss this bit", Karen and rob stood up, Rob's arms around her a little confused himself. Once they had left the room Rob turned to Karen, "are you sure you don't want to be with her", "This is Aiden's moment and if he wants to be there then he should", "I'm proud of you", Karen blushed, "Why?", "Because your just so amazing", Karen giggled, "Come on Scotcher we better start going down I shall call Harry on the way, let him know what's going on". Rob smiled his arm wrapped around her waist as they walked down. Appearing as a couple that had been together for years rather than a matter of half a year to any outsider.
Karen and Rob were waiting patiently outside; they were dazed Rob's hand protectively around Karen's when they suddenly heard the cries of a new born baby. Karen and Rob instantly looked at one and other smiles pouring across their faces, Rob jumped up lifted Karen in his arms and swung her round in a circle, "I think that means we're grandparents Mrs Fisher", "I think it does", Karen bit her lip, she couldn't believe it. Aiden walked out to the corridor to tell them all, a tear in his eye, "Jess had a beautiful baby girl", Karen felt a tear fall down her cheek, Rob and Karen now had a gorgeous baby granddaughter. "how's Jess?", Karen was so proud of her it was beyond belief, "She is doing great, they have taken her up to the ward, shall meet you up their", Karen and Rob smiled, "A granddaughter", Rob had to say it aloud for it to feel real not that it had even sunken in yet. Karen just nodded and found her lips smothering Rob's with happiness. The couple practically bounced up the ward as they headed to the room Jess had been placed in. "Didn't know you had so much energy", Karen joked as Rob danced his way around the nurses who just laughed. "Come on Scotcher your making a show of yourself", Rob took her hand as they slowly approached the room it had been a long couple of hours but the baby was finally here, a beautiful baby girl. "You ready to meet little Scotcher", Karen grinned, "As I'll ever be", Rob knocked on the door. Aiden whispered to come in. The door opened and Karen and Rob where suddenly taken by this new found joy! They joined Jess's bedside together completely in awe of their gorgeous baby granddaughter. "I am very proud of you", Karen had to say it, it was just bursting out of her, her little girl had just had her own little girl. Karen gave her daughter a kiss before sharing a loving embrace with Rob as they were introduced properly to their gorgeous little granddaughter. "Karen, Dad meet baby Bella Grace Scotcher", "Bella", Karen instantly smiled, it was such a gorgeous name, so beautiful. Rob was finally having a little weep as he was passed his granddaughter for the very first time, Karen was sat next to rob, Bella's hand wrapped around her finger the rest of her body content in her granddad's arms. Aiden got a few pictures, Jess peered over proudly and so happily, her little girl was gorgeous, it was her own little girl. "Jess and Aiden you should be very pleased parents, little Bella is gorgeous. Does Nanny want to hold her", Karen was shocked by suddenly being called nanny it was no longer Rob teasing her it was true, and she really was nanny. "Of course she does", Karen was so good with her, the start tremble of Bella's lip faded once Karen soothed her whilst she rocked her. "Bit of a natural at this aye Karen", Rob teased, "years of practice", Rob was starting to get a few ideas in his head but he wasn't planning on sharing them too soon. Rob wrapped his arm around Karen as they continued to stare down in complete awe of the beautiful baby. "well today definitely ends those Sunday lie ins", they all laughed, "Oh don't think I'm letting them go Scotcher, it's Jess and Aiden's baby we no longer have to lift a finger to a screaming baby in the middle of the night again", Karen's words were almost flirtatious. "I don't know about ever again", Rob mumbled under his breath so only he could hear well he thought till he saw Aiden's "get in their dad" wink. "We should probably leave you guys in peace, we'll drop by tomorrow with Uncle Harry aye Bella", Karen gave the family a hug before leaving with Rob. "She is gorgeous", Karen was just oozing with happiness, "She is a spitting image of her nanny" Karen blushed after her previous comment. They headed to the car arm in arm, "You were so good with little Bella", "I have had three kids Rob, which reminds me I need to text Harry before we get home, send him a photo of Bella", Rob wanted to bring up the question but felt now was a little premature, a story for another day. Karen sat in the car, rob offered to drive home as she tapped away to Harry – Bella Grace Scotcher – she can't wait to meet her Uncle Harry, she has a special cuddle waiting. Mum x