"That's a lot of food Bub," Josh said as Nikki walked in loaded down with shopping bags a few days later. "Is there anything left in the shops?" he teased.
Nikki smiled; things had been less tense around the Holiday house since Nikki had spoken to Sally. She still hadn't spoken to Josh about everything, but things were definitely less tense.
"Well smartie," she teased back "Since you're standing there, there's more food in the car."
"Nikki, what's with all the food?" he inquired, placing the last of the shopping bags on the floor.
"The crew are coming over for dinner," Nikki told him. "Well most of the crew. The CO can't make it. Something about his niece's birthday, I think."
"Bub? You really up for this?" Josh asked, thinking about the plans he had for them tonight.
"Josh? Why wouldn't I?"
"It's just…you look really tired. And cooking…I don't want you overdoing anything," saying the first thing that came to his mind.
"Joshua Holiday, it's 4.30 in the afternoon. People are coming over in a few hours, there is no way we are cancelling dinner now," scolded Nikki.
Josh actually physically stepped back, seeing a glimpse of the Nikki who had been shutting him out. Not wanting to make things worse, he busied himself putting shopping away.
Josh walked back in a short time later, finding Nikki had spread out all of her food preparations on the breakfast bench. She looked frantic, he knew the look only too well, but she wasn't moving at a frantic pace. If anything she was moving like she was ready to curl up and sleep.
"Bub?" Josh called out to get her attention. "Nikki?" still she seemed lost in her own world. It was almost as if walking in the kitchen was taking all of her concentration and energy
"Nik?" Josh again called out, as he approached her, moving to tap her gently on the arm.
"Oh…Josh," Nikki replied startled.
"Nikki, go and have a nap before you fall over," Josh told her.
"But…Dinner," protested Nikki, who was really too tired to even formulate any type of argument.
"I can cook…You aren't good to anyone if you're tired, especially not to our little Button," he told her, leading her out of the kitchen.
"But…"
"Shh…" lightly placing a finger on her lips. "Now, rest for a while."
"My dinner menu Josh," she continued to object.
"What was the plan? I do know how to cook Nik."
"Well…Tagliatelle with spinach, mascarpone and parmesan, Baked Mushroom with garlic and thyme, and those Chocolate pots," she finished.
"Nikki, I can do that. I also know where the cook books are, if I need them."
"And use the white espresso cups for the chocolate pots, they are in…"
"Yes, I know where they are," he said leading Nikki into the bedroom, drawing the blinds.
"And you'll call me if you need me?"
"Yes!"
"And you won't forget to finish the pasta in the sauce so it gives it more flavour?"
"Yes!"
"And…"
"Mrs Holiday!" Josh growled, cutting her off "I'll be fine, I can cook and I won't burn the house down. Now please put your head down, I'll call you if you're not awake on time," he ended, kissing her and leaving before she could say anything more. Nikki was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
A few hours later, Josh was just finishing up the washing up, everything else finished. The mushrooms were in the oven, only needing to be quickly cooked when everyone arrived, the pasta was simmering and dessert was in the fridge setting. He was just double checking the pasta, thinking he would go and wake Nikki after he was finished, when the doorbell rang. Checking the clock, he found whoever it was at the door was at least 45 minutes early.
Opening the door he found the Blake's standing on his doorstep.
"You're early!" he said sounding surprised
"Yeah I know," replied Swain "But Sal here insisted coming over early to see if you guys needed help."
"Well I think I've got everything under control. Nikki's actually asleep; I was just about to go wake her. But come in, come in," Josh told them, moving out of the doorway. "Make yourselves at home; I'll go check on Nikki."
Josh walked into their bedroom to find Nikki awake, obviously just haven woken up as she was still lying down.
"Hey," he greeted softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed "Swain and Sal are here, but everything is under control. You feeling better?"
Nikki nodded, surprisingly not freaking out that the Blake's were early.
"So why don't you get ready. Sal said to take your time, no rush," he advised her.
Nikki smiled as Josh left to entertain their guests.
'Tomorrow. After tonight,' she told herself. 'After tonight I'll talk to him.'
When Nikki headed into living room a while later, the room was full of the Hammersley crew.
"Hey," Josh whispered in her ear, coming over to hug her and then leaving his arm resting around her waist.
"Hey everybody," Nikki called out "Sorry about my lateness," she apologized
The others greeted her, mingling around.
"Aun'y Nik, Aun'y Nikki," little Chloe called out, tugging on Nikki's pants. Josh lent down to pick her up.
"No!" grumbled Chloe "No Unclie Josh, I want Aun'y Nikki," struggling to hug Nikki from Josh's arms, trying to strech over.
Leaning over, Nikki took Chloe from her husband. "See I'm wanted," she teased Josh.
Sidling up her husband, Sally whispered in Swain's ear "No matter what either of them thinks, they're going to make great parents."
Swain smiled as he turned to look at the pair with his daughter.
"Hey," called out Spider "Most of the crew is here, but where's Nav?"
"Over there with Chloe, it's her house remember?" Buffer told him.
"No, Janelle. Our navigator," Spider replied
"Oh…" that shook Nikki's mood "I didn't have her number, sorry guys. Next time," Nikki told everyone.
"Oh," Spider sounded disappointed, sticking his lower lip out. "Man, wish she was here. Cool gal, missing the party"
Sally walked over to Nikki for support. Running a hand over Chloe's back, she murmured to Nikki "It's okay, your house, enjoy your dinner."
In the meantime Chloe seemed like she was on a mission, she was struggling to get out of Nikki's arms. "Aun'y Nikki," she whined, trying to get Nikki attention away from the conversation that Nikki had started with Bomber and Kate. "Aun'y Nikki, down!"
Nikki grinned amused as she watched Chloe toddle off in search of something. Turning back to her conversation it wasn't long before Chloe was tugging on her pant legs again.
"Aun'y Nikki, present. Come sit," Chloe told her. Nikki had very little choice but to follow the young Blake. Pulling Chloe on to her lap as she sat down, she settled back against a sea of cushions.
"Where's Unclie Josh?" questioned Chloe.
"Josh?" Nikki called out "Chloe wants you!"
"Kitchen, coming," he replied, passing over an oven mitt to Sally, who offered to check on the food.
"What's up pumpkin?" Josh asked kneeling down to Chloe's level on the couch.
"Present!" said Chloe, reaching over to pass a wrapped parcel to Nikki.
"Oh! What's this?" Nikki asked
"Present!" insisted Chloe "Open."
Swain looked over at the trio, searching for his daughter. When he saw what was happening, he was torn whether to make a scene and stop his daughter or go hide. He decided to find Sally in the kitchen.
"Sally?" he called out entering the kitchen "Chloe's just given that present to Nikki."
"Oh no…" Sally expressed, hurrying back into the living room, only to find Nikki about to open it. Nothing she could do now.
Nikki peeled back the wrapping paper to find a soft teddy bed complete with a seaman's uniform.
"See Aun'y Nikki, Navy bear for baby!" Chloe squealed loudly.
The whole room stopped to look at Nikki and Josh. Nikki turned to look at Sally and Swain
"Sorry," mouthed Sally
Turning back to Josh, she just nodded her head.
"Surprise!" Josh started
"Well that wasn't really the plan, but I'm 12 weeks pregnant," announced Nikki.
Silence…
"Dinner's ready!" announced Josh, to break the tension.
That loosened everyone up…People rushed over to the couple to congratulate them, Swain picking up Chloe, so she didn't get squashed.
As everyone made their way into the dinner room, Nikki made her way over to Sally.
"Thank you Sal for the bear, it's perfect," she said, hugging Sally
"I'm so, so sorry. Chloe wanted to give you a bear. It was meant for later, when no one else was around. I'm sorry," Sally apologized.
"Sally, don't worry, it's fine. It's not your fault."
Nikki smiled at Josh, who moved over behind his wife wrapping his arms her.
"Perfect," she whispered.
'Well at least that's what I can believe for tonight,' she said in her head
*sigh* Hmmm...I know where I'm heading with the story line, it's just trying to get all the little other parts to fall into place.