PART 1
When Jenny arrived home that evening from the hospital, she could hear yelling coming from inside. She stayed outside for a short while, but as it continued she realised she would have to go in and make the peace. Again.
Pushing open the door, she was almost knocked over once more by her nephew, but this time he had a grin in his face, a makeshift sword and what looked like a bed sheet tied around his shoulders.
"What-"
"Sh! I'm hiding from the evil pirate!" He rushed from the room and left a slightly shocked Jenny in his wake, but the shock turned into amusement when she saw Dennis walk into the room wearing a pirate hat and an eye patch.
"Don't ask."
Jenny watched him disappear after Thomas and was wondering what was happening in her home when Alison appeared.
"Not you too? What is going on in here?!"
Alison smiled and pulled off the green wig she was wearing before sitting gratefully at the table. "When they were looking for the tent Thomas found a box of costumes someone had left in the shed, and when I walked in to pick him up Dennis apparently kidnapped me and Thomas has been trying to save me ever since."
"…I can't say that dressing up is something I ever expected Dennis to do."
"Apparently Thomas told him he's being bullied at school and had been too worried to tell him because Dennis' temper has been so quick lately. I think Dennis is trying to make it up to him."
Jenny caught a vase that Thomas knocked as he ran once more through the house. "Well if either of them break anything they'd better replace it!"
…
That night as they lay in bed, Dennis had just put the bedside lamp out when Jenny spoke.
"Dennis?"
"Mmm?"
"…You looked quite dishy as a pirate."
In the dark, Dennis smiled before turning to kiss her. "Thank you. Though if what happened here today ever got out, my reputation would be ruined."
"I'm not sure anyone would believe me."
"Unless they were in the surgery this afternoon."
Jenny gave a soft laugh and kissed him back. "When you rushed in I thought Joyce Jowett was going to have a heart attack, I've never seen someone go so red!"
"Aye, I think perhaps I should have calmed down a bit before coming in."
Jenny pulled Dennis' head back to her and captured his lips again. "Nonsense. I liked it, and that's all the matters."
…...
PART 2
Dennis decided to take 2 weeks off to spend time with Sarah when she first came home, but the phone began ringing about 5 minutes after they got home then once an hour ever since.
Dennis sighed as he listened to Alf, a kettle in his hand. "Look, Ventress! If you can't find something look for it! I don't care if you have to mess up my desk, because I don't know where every piece of paper is in the whole station! Like I've told you all week, only call me if you have a REAL problem."
Dennis hung up the phone with a slam, then flinched as the baby began crying. A moment later Jenny entered the room was a smile and took the kettle from him. "That was definitely your fault, so you can try and get her back to sleep this time."
…
Dennis entered the nursery and gently picked his daughter up. As had happened every time he picked her up, she stopped crying, but he now knew from experience that as soon as he put her down she would start again. He walked over to the rocking chair by the window and sat down with her instead. "You've been awake almost all day, you know. You should get some sleep before more people start descending on you to tell you how cute you are and pinch your cheeks."
As he spoke, her eyelids began to grow heavy, and by the time the kettle had boiled downstairs, she was fast asleep in her cot once more.
...
Jenny glanced up when Dennis walked in. "That was quick."
"Apparently I've got quite the knack." He took the offered cup of tea. "Or at least a lot of experience with those who need babying." He nodded his head towards the phone as he took a sip.
"I told you wanting two weeks of peace and quiet was asking too much." Jenny kissed his cheek then led Dennis through to the front room.
"Ventress called me to ask where a form would be. How should I know, he's the one who does the filing." Dennis sat next to Jenny and kissed her shoulder as she rested back against him.
They'd only been sat for a few minutes when the knocking on the front door began and upstairs, Sarah cried out.
Jenny gave a sigh, and then stood. "This time I'm taking Sarah."
"Don't leave me to socialise again, Jen. Jenny!" He called after her as she disappeared upstairs with a smile on her face.
He didn't mind talking about his daughter, or showing her off, but he was tired of the small talk, the offers of cream cakes, the frowns when he refused to eat any, and the knowing looks at one another when Dennis refused to make tea for them. Everyone seemed to think he was an unsociable man who should be placated. As he stood to answer the door, he realised that belief was probably his own fault.
"Mrs Ventress! How lovely to see you. Come in."
