It was six weeks after Josh found out about Nikki's pregnancy that his transfer at work was processed and he arrived in Glasgow the weekend before Nikki's 20 week scan. He'd insisted on taking the morning off work and sat in the hospital corridor with Maddy so Beth could accompany Nikki into the small room even though Beth had offered let him go in instead.
He stood from the hard plastic chair when he saw the door open, "is everything okay?" he asked when he saw the tears in Nikki's eyes.
Nikki nodded and handed him a small fuzzy photo, "meet your brother" she said softly.
"Oh Nikki" Josh whispered, he'd been worried he wouldn't be able to tell which end of the baby was which but this was obvious, "look at his little nose."
"He was sucking his thumb at one point"
Josh smiled, "it's nice not to have to call him it anymore" he said as he handed the photo back.
Nikki shook her head, "keep it, that copy's yours."
"Really?"
"Yeah" Nikki smiled.
Beth rocked Maddy's buggy, "has she been okay?"
"As good as gold" Josh reached over to tickle her stomach, "she's been chatting away".
"You're a friendly little thing aren't you beautiful" Beth smiled, "do you want a lift back to Nikki's?" she asked Josh.
Josh nodded his head, "please, I said I'd be back at work before lunch".
"You can drop him off before you take me to work if you like" Nikki said as she stroked her stomach softly.
"Is he kicking?" Josh asked.
Nikki shook her head, "he's wriggling a bit but he's not kicking, not yet."
"If he's anything like Maddy once he starts he won't stop until he's in your arms" she laughed as she began to walk out of the hospital.
Nikki arrived at school just as the bell rang for the end of morning break and she smoothed her lose shirt over her small bump as she made her way to her classroom, wondering how long it would be before her pregnancy became common knowledge.
"Miss, Miss" Nikki was stopped by Kacey as she walked towards the staffroom at the start of lunch.
"Kacey, what can I do for you?"
"Is it true?" Kacey asked quietly, "that you're having Mr Clarkson's baby?"
Nikki looked round to make sure no one had heard what Kacey had asked her before gesturing for the girl to follow her into the nearest empty classroom, "I don't want it becoming common knowledge just yet but yes, I am." Kacey said nothing but wrapped her arms around Nikki, taking the older woman by surprise, "hey it's okay" Nikki said softly as she heard Kacey begin to sob.
"I'm sorry" Kacey whispered as she pulled away and wiped at her eyes, "I still miss him sometimes."
"Me too" Nikki agreed.
"He'd have loved it you know" Kacey gestured to Nikki's stomach, "I bet he'd have spoilt you both rotten."
Nikki smiled sadly knowing the teen was right, Tom would have made sure their baby never wanted for anything. "You should get some lunch" Nikki told Kacey, "but you know you can come and find me if you ever want to talk to someone, I won't judge you for grieving."
"Thank you Miss" Kacey wiped at her eyes.
"You're welcome" Nikki smiled as she held open the door, "go and get something to eat."
Nikki made her way to the staffroom to retrieve her lunch from the fridge before making her way to Christine's office, the photo from the scan safely in the pocket of her blazer.
"I can't believe how clear it is" Christine smiled as she looked at the photo, "did you find out what you're having?" she asked as Nikki ate her lunch.
Nikki nodded, "a boy" she said quietly.
"Have you thought of a name for him?"
"I want to talk to Josh first but if it's okay with him I think I'd like to call him Tommy" she said as she ran a hand over the ever increasing swell of her stomach.
Christine smiled, "Tommy, I like that."
"You don't think it's too much of a cliché? Naming him after his dead father?"
Christine shook her head, "if you want to call him Tommy then you call him Tommy, I think it's a lovely gesture" she said before taking a good look at Nikki, "how are you feeling?" she asked, "is it getting any easier?"
"A little" Nikki nodded, "I can feel him moving occasionally now, I just try to remind myself that he's part Tom, and whilst Tom might be...this little one means that in a way he's still here" she said rubbing her bump gently.
Christine smiled, "he'll be a handsome little thing that's for sure."
"Beth and I are going to go shopping tonight, start choosing a few things now we know he's a boy."
"Are the two of you..." Christine shook her head, "I shouldn't have asked that, sorry."
"It's okay" Nikki smiled, "we're just friends, I erm, I kissed her when we were in Manchester, I think we'd both like to be more than friends but now isn't the right time. She stays over a lot and we share a bed but we've never done anything other than cuddle."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me Nikki, it's just nice to see you happy again."
Nikki smiled, "I feel like I'm finally getting my head around things, I think having Josh around has helped, sometimes he'll say something and I can almost hear Tom saying the exact same thing."
"He's got a wise head on his shoulders."
"He has" Nikki agreed, "I don't know what I'd have done without him and he's great with Maddy which is a bonus, he'll be able to babysit this one as often as he likes" she smiled.
"If you and Beth ever want to go out together, I'd be happy to watch Maddy for you."
"Thanks" Nikki smiled, picking at the chicken in her salad, "I'll speak to Beth, we erm, we might take you up on your offer."
"You're more than welcome to, she's adorable." Nikki would never have believed how close she and Christine would become, she now spent several nights a week in her company both with and without Beth and Maddy and she was the only person apart from Maddy and Josh that knew about her pregnancy although as much as she wished she could, Nikki knew that soon she wouldn't be able to hide her expanding stomach any more.
It was a little over a week later that Nikki and Beth took Christine up on her offer and dropped Maddy off at Christine's. "Are you sure you'll be okay with her?" Beth asked for what felt like the millionth time, "she shouldn't wake but I've given you two bottles in case she does, and plenty of nappies, will two bottles be enough, should I express another? We shouldn't be too late."
"Beth" Christine smiled as she put her hand on the young brunette's arm, "is this the first time you've left her?"
Beth bit her lip and nodded, "is it that obvious."
Christine nodded, "she's not the first baby I've looked after, I've got both your numbers and you've got mine so if you want to check on me you can call me as often as you like, and like you said, you'll only be gone a couple of hours and she probably won't wake up. If she does I'll check her a nappy, give her a bottle and then we'll have a cuddle until she drops off again."
"I'm sorry, I'm being overprotective aren't I?"
Christine shook her head, "you're being a new mum, trust me, I was the same with Connor and in a few months I know someone else who will be exactly the same" she laughed, gesturing to Nikki who was stood by the door, her phone in one hand texting Josh, her other hand tracing gentle circles on her bump, her cast having been removed a couple of weeks ago.
"Yeah" Beth nodded, "thanks for doing this for us" she reached under the buggy where Maddy was sleeping peacefully and passed Christine a large box of chocolates, "you might as well enjoy yourself if all she's going to do is sleep"
"Thanks" Christine laughed, "but you didn't have to get me anything, now you two get off before you waste your whole night."
"Thanks, we shouldn't be too late"
"Nikki's got a key, you're both welcome to the spare room if you're back late, just go out and enjoy yourselves"
Beth kissed Maddy's head, "I'll see you later Princess."
Nikki smiled at Beth, her phone now back in the pocket of her dark maternity jeans, she'd admitted defeat earlier that evening after spending almost half an hour trying to fasten her normal jeans, "are you ready to go?" she asked softly.
Beth nodded, "yeah."
"Come on then" Nikki held her hand out, "thanks for doing this for us Christine."
"It's not a problem" Christine smiled softly as she watched Beth slip her hand into Nikki's, their fingers fitting perfectly between each other's, she'd bet her life that the two of them would be together before Tommy was born, "you two enjoy yourselves, you deserve a night off."
Beth and Nikki smiled and said their final goodbyes before eventually leaving the house hand in hand, they certainly would enjoy themselves.