Hey guys just wanted to say thank you again to Girlwednesday whos help made this chapter possible.
Jeff stirred from his sleep to find himself in the same plastic chair that he had been sat in all night.
He rubbed at his eyes in attempts to make himself alert, he had intended to return home the night before however he always felt guilty about leaving Polly on her own.
He got to his feet and walked over to the incubator, she was still so tiny and vulnerable. This reminded him of himself last year after Dixie's attack. He remembered that he rarely left her side unless he absolutely had to.
The young baby's eye's flickered open upon sensing the presence of another being. She brought her gaze up and transfixed her eyes on her father. "Morning Princess, nice to see you up bright and early."
She lifted her hand slightly almost as if she was waving at him. He chuckled to himself she really was getting stronger everyday. She hadn't kept her eyes open for long and she had settled back down for another nap.
He sighed to himself, at times like this he often thought of John and Sophia. Over the years since the divorce he had learned to adjust to life without them however now he was missing them more than ever. When he had first found out Dixie was having his baby he had thought that it would fill the gap left by them, however it hadn't it just made him miss them more.
He hadn't even told them about Polly, that's how minimal contact had been.
He knew that they would love her just as much as he did.
Sophia had always wanted a sister and he imagined John would make a great older brother, who would protect her.
The sound of someone clearing their throat caused him to look around.
"Ay up." Came the northern accent of his wife.
"Blimmin heck Dix, you scared the life out of me." She merely smiled before gesturing to a carry cot that she was holding in her opposite hand.
"Are you ready for this?"
"No."
"Well tough, this is happening mate." She chuckled handing him the cot 'Here make your self useful and get this set up.'
Polly was no longer attached to various different machines she had gradually been taken off each one as her health had improved and now she was left only attached to a small heart monitor.
With help from Katie their midwife Dixie and Jeff moved Polly from her small plastic cocoon to her new carry cot.
'Hey baby girl you ready to come home?' cooed Dixie tickling Polly's stomach and laughing as her daughter's face scrunched up and she wrinkled her nose at the sensation.
'C'mon Jeffrey we best be getting off before they get wind of this in the ED'
Jeff winced remembering the party the ED members had thrown them after Polly had been born he swore he had a hangover for at least two days after that one and Dixie still hadn't quite forgiven him for throwing up in her bed.
As they left the neonatal ward they didn't turn back and headed straight for the lift, for the past 3 months it had taken a lot of will power from both of them to even sign out never mind keep walking without looking back.
Dixie remembered when she had received a call from the ward and had almost started hyperventilating as the number came up on screen at 2 am, however they had asked her to come and get Jeff who had been stood staring at the sign out book for an hour seemingly in his own world.
Jeff was lost in his own thoughts over the past couple of months it had been stressful for the both of them Dixie had refused to stay home and often took on double shifts, Jeff soon realised this was so she didn't have time to feel lonely.
The couple where shaken from their thoughts as the lift dinged reminding them where they were.
Walking out of the metal box Jeff held his daughter's carry cot as hard as he could anxiety getting the better of him, however Dixie was hovering just as close to the cot as it was possible.
'I think we may just get away with this one' muttered Dixie as the couple moved to make a swift exit from the hospital.
'Spoke to soon' Muttered back Jeff as they rounded the final corner and found themselves on the receiving end of party poppers and shouts of congratulations.
Glancing at each other they plastered on smiles although in reality all either of them wanted was to get their little princess home safe and sound.
'We've waited 3 months...'
'...We can wait another half an hour more' they stated to each other at the same time laughing at their sudden ability to read each other's minds.
'Come on guys reveal your little star then' urged Linda.
'Can we do this in the staff room please' offered Charlie he could see the staff's excitement but knew the need for professionalism they where still in a hospital.
Finally, the small party was broken up by an incoming traffic accident and the new parents sighed in relief, they were proud of their little girl she had not fussed once while being passed from person to person and was now sleeping happily in Dixie's arms.
'Please can we just get outta here?' begged Jeff stroking a hand over Polly's head.
Dixie handed over their sleeping daughter careful as to not wake her and began to pack away the presents the others had gotten them.
'You might wanna put her down' explained Dixie as she went to grab the baby bag.
'What, why?'
'Just put her down and you will see' she teased hiding something behind her back.
Jeff looked at his best friend like she had grown a second head before turning to very gently place his daughter away making sure she was snug before turning to face Dixie again, only to find a small package being thrust into his hand.
'Wha...'
'Just open it Jeffrey'
As he pulled away the silver packaging he smiled at what he was left with, a small pink onesie. However, this was not what had smiling. The front of the onesie had the words 'Daddy's No.1 Princess.'
'Its...'
'Perfect' finished Dixie.
Jeff smiled at his best friend she really knew him too well and he couldn't wait to get Polly in her new outfit and take as many photo's as the camera would hold.
'Hey earth to Jeffrey!' Shouted Dixie waving a hand in front of the man's face.
'Sorry what?' He replied shaking his head in an attempt to shake his thoughts away.
'I said we should get goin' She explained moving to make sure Polly was secure in her cot before moving to leave the room.
Jeff gathered the remaining items and followed his best friend out of the hospital, finding her juggling with Polly as she tried to remove the car keys from her back pocket. He chuckled to himself 'stubborn cow'
He continued to watch in amusement as she tried to work out how best to get her keys without having to put her daughter down, 'Why don't you just break the window and unlock the door' he sarcasticly shouted as he stalked up behind her putting his hand in her pocket and retrieving the keys.
'Oh Jeffrey did you just try and cop a feel?'
'Narr Princess, been there, done that, got the baby grow'
'Haha open the door will you'
Once the small family arrived at their home they all sighed in relief Polly had slept through the entire car journey and was now a very hungry little girl so Dixie had taken her up to the nursery to feed her, leaving Jeff sat on his own being sucked back into his thought's over his other two children.
He sighed getting up he picked up his mobile from the dinning table and began to scroll through the contacts until he came across the one name which had been ever present in his thoughts for the past few months.
Pressing hard on the call button he held the small device to his ear drumming his fingers at the ring tone.
Finally, a small voice appeared from the other side of the line 'Dad? Is that you?'
