Boyd woke to constant pressure on his abdomen, which turned into a steady thump as he looked down at a mop of brown hair. Frankie was curled up against him, the baby moving around as she slept. The movements gradually grew less as the baby fell asleep again. Frankie slept through it all, her hand on his waist as her breath blew across his chest. Boyd lifted his hand from Frankie's hip and brushed her hair away from her face, his fingertips brushing her cheek. Boyd was in awe of how Frankie had slept through the baby kicking. If Amelia was even half as beautiful as her mother then he would be beating the male population away with a stick when she was old enough to date. Frankie stirred in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering a few times before she slowly opened them slightly. Boyd bent and kissed her forehead, keeping his lips on her skin as he whispered good morning to her.
"Morning. I need to pee." Frankie mumbled sleepily as she sat up and kicked the blankets off.
Boyd watched as Frankie got out bed and ran both hands over her bump, making her way around the bed and out the door. Boyd sat up and scratched his fingers over his beard, stretching out the arm Frankie had been sleeping on. When Frankie came back into the bedroom she climbed back into bed, sitting up beside Boyd.
"You want any breakfast?" Boyd asked as he slid his arm around Frankie's shoulders.
"Yeah, but haven't you got work today?" Frankie asked as she turned her head and kissed Boyd's bare shoulder.
"Nope, not until Monday. Apparently having a chemical attack in your office entitles you to time off. That wouldn't have been so bad had I not already booked the bloody weekend off anyway. Grace, Spencer and Felix are happy, I'm gaining a day." Boyd's hand running up and down Frankie's arm as he talked.
"So, I get you for three days now instead of just two. I wonder what I can do with you?" Frankie's hand disappearing under the blankets causing Boyd to gasp when her hand reached its destination.
"Frankie!" Boyd hissed as her hand explored his body.
Frankie ignored him, a huge smile on her face as she continued her ministrations. Soon Boyd didn't care as Frankie slid down the bed and her head joined her hand under the blankets. When Frankie reappeared she was licking her lips and Boyd had a very satisfied grin on his face.
"You won't want breakfast now then." Earning himself an elbow to the ribs as Frankie sat back up beside him.
"That was starters, and your daughter wants breakfast." Taking Boyd's hand so he could feel Amelia.
"Okay, I'll get breakfast, won't be long." Turning to kiss Frankie but stopping when he remembered where her mouth had just been.
Frankie laughed when she saw his quick change of direction from her lips to her forehead. Getting herself comfortable Frankie watched Boyd leave the room then come back after about ten minutes with his clean clothes in his hand. Frankie was smiling as she watched him getting ready, Boyd methodically dressing and looking at himself in the mirror. He was a perfectionist, and he always looked good, no matter what he did or didn't wear.
"You want anything before I go and get breakfast?" Boyd moving to stand on Frankie's side of the bed looking down at her.
"No, I'll just keep the bed warm. Where are you going for breakfast?" Frankie eyeing him curiously.
"A place that does amazing takeaway breakfasts, that's all you need to know." Winking at Frankie before turning and walking away.
Frankie listened to Boyd walking down the stairs, then a few minutes later the front door opening and closing. She could hear the sound of his car starting, the engine loud in the quiet street. Once he had pulled away the street and house was quiet again, the only sound coming from the clock on the wall. Frankie shifted the pillows about behind her and lay back, her hands cradling her bump.
"So, Amelia, what shall we do with daddy this weekend?" The baby still and quiet as Frankie looked at the picture on the dresser. "Mel, I hope your happy wherever you are, we miss you." Frankie's fingers stroking her bump as she talked to the picture of Mel Silver.
Mel's death had been the catalyst been Boyd and herself, her death causing so much pain, misery and heartache. Yet her death played an instrumental part in the creation of not only the conception of her baby but also bring Boyd and her together. If Mel has still been alive there wouldn't have been a memorial service, there wouldn't have been a need to getting roaring drunk and break down on Boyd's shoulder. He wouldn't have had to escort her home, hold her as she cried, kissed her as she looked at him. Frankie rolled on her side and let the tears fall, one Mel was gone, replaced by another who would most certainly live up to her namesake. Frankie must have cried herself to sleep as she woke to the gentle touch of fingertips across her cheek, a pair of big browns eyes searching her eyes when she opened them.
"Hey, are you okay? What's with the tears?"Boyd asked as he wiped away a small tear that was still attached to Frankie's cheek.
"Just remembering Mel." Giving Boyd a watery smile as she went to sit up.
"Well, Mel wouldn't want you to starve so here's breakfast," Boyd said cheerfully as he passed Frankie a white polystyrene carton with steam coming out the sides.
Frankie took the carton and flipped it open, taking in the contents of the box. Bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, hash brown, tomato, mushroom and beans. All that was missing was the toast and tea.
"Tea is there," Boyd pointing to the nightstand, "and if you want toast I can go make some.." Frankie smiling at the sweet gesture.
"It's okay, come and eat yours before it gets cold." Frankie patting the bed beside her as Boyd moved back around the bed and sat down beside Frankie, still fully dressed minus his shoes.
The silence as the ate was surprising for both of them, neither of them normally able to stay quiet for more than a few minutes at a time. Boyd finished first, closing his carton and putting it on the floor beside the bed. He turned and looked at Frankie who by the looks of it was busy pushing her food around the carton.
"If you're full just leave it." Boyd nudging Frankie's shoulder before Frankie looked at him.
"This child is squishing everything, I just don't have the appetite I used to have." Giving up on the food and closing the lid.
Boyd took the box and put it with his before standing up and carefully removing his clothes, hanging them up neatly before joining Frankie in bed. Frankie moulded herself to Boyd, his arms going around her as best as he could. He felt her yawn against his chest, which caused him to yawn.
"Who knew doing nothing could be such hard work." Frankie managed to say as she hooked her leg through Boyds.
"You're not doing nothing, you're doing an amazing job of looking after our daughter. And doing that is hard work, I, on the other hand, have done nothing but go get breakfast. I'm just going to be here for moral support, and to fall asleep if you do." Boyd getting comfortable as Frankie closed her eyes.
Boyd woke to an empty bed, the sheet beside him cold. He hadn't even felt Frankie get up and that surprised him. Getting out of bed he considered putting clothes on but the house was warm enough, obviously, Frankie had put the heating on when she got up. Padding barefoot in just his boxers he made his way downstairs, finding Frankie sat at the kitchen table with a cup of steaming tea in her hand.
"Hey, you should have woke me. You okay?" Boyd stopping behind Frankie as he leant done and kissed her neck.
"Mhhh, I woke up and needed the loo, then little madam needed a snack." Pointing to the empty plate on the table.
"What did you have?" Picking up the crumb-covered plate and putting it in the sink.
"Marmite on toast." Seeing Boyd spin around to look at her.
"That's disgusting. You need a top of that?" Pointing to her cup as he flicked the switch on the kettle.
"No, I'm good thanks. You got any plans for the rest of today?" Frankie asked as Boyd made his cup of coffee.
"I suppose I should go home, I do actually live there. You got any plans?" Taking a seat beside Frankie at the table as he took a sip of his coffee.
"None. I was considering getting some fresh air, maybe going for a walk. Or I could come with you?" Frankie watching as Boyd smiled.
"Sure, if you want. We can take a walk on the heath before tea." Boyd taking a drink of his coffee as he watched Frankie.
"That sounds like a plan to me. I'll go get washed and ready." Finishing her tea before standing up and putting the cup in the sink.
Frankie went to move past Boyd but he stopped her, bringing her to stand between his knees. Frankie looked down at Boyd, placing her hands his bare shoulders. Boyd looked up at Frankie, slowing running his hands up her thighs before stopping on her hips. Frankie was surprised by how fragile Boyd looked as he lowered his gaze from her face to her bump. Boyd slowly leaned his head towards Frankie, Frankie seeing what he was going to do before he actually did it. Frankie lifted her hand from his shoulder and managed to lift her t-shirt up before Boyd's head touched her body, his forehead coming into contact with Frankie's warm, taut, bare skin stretched across their growing child. Boyd shifted his hands from Frankie's thighs to either side of her bump, Frankie's hands going to either side of Boyd's head. Frankie watched as Boyd took steady even breaths, his fingertips brushing her skin. After several minutes Frankie licked her lips and broke the silence.
"You okay?"
Boyd didn't move, just took a deep breath and let it out even slower than before.
"I'm okay, just processing everything. When Grace phoned and said you were in the hospital, I thought I'd lost you both. Then yesterday seeing Felix like that, my first thoughts were of you, what I would have done if that had that been you lying there unconscious. Pregnant or not, god Frankie, I can't lose you, either of you." Boyd's voice breaking on the last few words.
Frankie did her best to wrap her arms around him, his position and the baby making it more difficult. She managed to hold him as best as she could, tilting his head a little so she could see his eyes.
"Peter Boyd, let me make this abundantly clear. Neither Amelia or I are going anywhere. I hit the magic eight months on Thursday, then we're in the home run. A few weeks, that's all we have to wait then we'll both get to hold out daughter. Finally see her mop of brown hair and beautiful blue eyes, even if they turn brown in a few months. I can't promise everything will run smoothly, but I can promise neither of us will leave you intentionally, or without a hell of a fight. I," Frankie swallowing the lump in her throat before she finished speaking. "I love you."
Boyd nudged his chair back and stood up quickly, Frankie taking a step back in fright at how quick he moved. She was sure her confession had scared him off. When Boyd was at his full height he all but dragged her against him, his arms going around her back as he leaned over and kissed Frankie with such force and conviction Frankie was still in shock.
"I love you, too." Putting just enough of a space between their lips so he could speak.
Frankie was crying, and Boyd was using some serious restraint to not cry himself.
"How about we get washed and ready, then go to mine. I'll make lunch and then we can go for a walk. When we get back I'll order a takeaway, maybe even light the fire and we can watch a movie together. How does that sound?" Reaching up to wipe the away the tears from Frankie's face.
Frankie nodded her head in agreement before standing on her tiptoes and kissing Boyd on the cheek. Boyd slowly let go of Frankie and watched as she walked out of the room, quickly following her with a glint in his eye. Frankie was halfway up the stairs when Boyd caught up with her, his hands wandering over her thighs and backside as she climbed the last few stairs. When she reached the landing she turned and looked at Boyd, seeing that impish grin on his face.
"I take it we're sharing a shower?" The smile oh Boyds face growing as Frankie caught up with his line of thought.
The shower took three times longer than normal, Boyd making sure he returned the earlier favour from Frankie. When they finally did arrive at Boyd's house it was closer to tea time than lunch time. Boyd talked Frankie into going to a small snack van for a late lunch when they were out walking, making sure they walked the long way home to burn off the extra calories. Boyd let Frankie chose what takeaway they had, even gathered extra cushions and a blanket for her while they sat on the settee eating and watching a movie. When he felt Frankie falling asleep by nine-thirty he gave her a gentle nudge, asked if she wanted a lift home. Frankie half sat looking at Boyd as she did.
"You have a bed, don't you?" Frankie broaching the subject of stopping over.
"I do. A nice big king size one with a mattress less than a year old on it." Wondering if the conversation was heading in the direction he thought it was.
"So, will there be room in that king size bed for and an extra person with a huge bump?" Frankie biting her lower lip after asking indirectly if she could stop over.
"As long as that person has brown shoulder length hair, a beautiful set of brown eyes, and the bump contains an amazing little girl who will take after her mother, then I'm sure I can make room in my bed for them." Giving Frankie a hug as he kissed her hair.
"Good, now sit back so I can get comfortable again." Frankie shifting about as she snuggled back against Boyd.
Boyd cuddled her in, watching the film but also her as well. When the film finished he knew she had been asleep through most of it. Somewhere during the film she had gone from being right up against his side to lying with her head in his lap, his fingers stroking through her hair.
"Frankie's wake up, it's bedtime." Stroking her cheek as she tried to push his hand away. "You can't sleep here all night, your back and the baby will not be happy if you do." Frankie finally opening her eyes and looking at Boyd.
"Fine, but only because you're right." Frankie begrudgingly admitting as she went to sit up, Boyd supporting her as she did.
Boyd locked up while Frankie changed into the t-shirt Boyd has given her, stopping on the landing as she waited for him to join her. Boyd led the way into the bedroom, Frankie looking around his personal sanctuary as she changed for bed.
"You getting into bed or looking around all night?" Frankie blushing at being caught snooping.
Frankie did climb into bed and buried her face into the pillow, Boyd's unique mix of aftershave, shampoo, and body wash filling her nostrils. Boyd switched the light off and climbed in beside her, spooning up behind Frankie as she curled back into him.
"Night, Frankie." Boyd's words soft and low against the back of her neck.
"Night, Boyd." Her words more of a yawn than actual words.
Boyd and Frankie spend Saturday and Sunday doing as little as possible. Long walks on the Heath was as strenuous as they got, other than the random sex that one or the other of them managed to instigate. The places and positions they managed to have sex in surprising even Frankie given her size.
On Sunday night Frankie found herself naked on the settee with an equally naked Boyd behind her. The room was dark bar the glow from the roaring fire in the hearth, the throw Boyd had pulled off the back of the settee barely covering them.
"Maybe we should consider going to bed. I can drop you back at your place on the way in tomorrow if you want me to that is." Boyd's nose nuzzling Frankie's neck as he kissed the warm soft skin.
"Save me getting a taxi home. What time are you leaving?" Frankie's fingers linking his on the underside of her bump.
"About seven, or I can leave a bit earlier or later if you want me too?" Boyd continuing to kiss Frankie's shoulder and neck as he spoke.
"Seven is fine. Shall we go to bed before we either freeze or I fall off." Squeezing Boyd's hand before letting go.
Boyd untangled himself from around Frankie so she could get up, the blanket falling on the floor as she stood up. Frankie waited for Boyd to stand up, seeing him pick up the throw before he draped it over her shoulders.
"I thought we were going to bed?" Taking hold of the edge of the blanket so it didn't fall.
"We are, but you're naked and it's cold on the way up." Seeing Frankie smirk at how sweet he was being.
Boyd cheeked the fire over before they headed upstairs to bed, Frankie again being the first one in bed.
"Have you had a nice weekend?" Boyd asked Frankie as she snuggled up against his chest, the baby kicking between them.
"I have, it's been nice having you to myself." Frankie kissing his chest as she wrapped her arm over his waist.
"I have another weekend booked off in a fortnight, how about we do the same again then?" Boys feeling Frankie growing heavy against him.
"Mhhh, sounds good." The words slurred and sleep laced.
"Go to sleep." Boyd closing his own eyes as they both fell asleep together.