Chapter 52

Time for a step in time ...

Joey and Lauren lay were in bed, Joey fast asleep but twitching everyone and then, but Lauren was wide awake. She lay curled into Joey, really hoping she wasn't going to have to get up, that Amber would settle and she could finally get some rest.

Another 10 minutes past and instead of settling like she'd hoped, Amber was just getting louder. She sighed and got up, careful not to wake Joey in the process.

Lauren switched the light on in the nursery rubbing her eyes as she did. She looked over at the crib seeing Amber standing up holding onto the bars, her little face red and blotchy from where she'd been crying "what's all this noise about baby ?"

Amber continued to cry holding her arms out to Lauren as she walked across to her "come on little lady… Daddy's got to be up in" Lauren looked at the ladybird clock on the wall "in 2 hours for a lecture baby, and Mummy's really really tired" Lifting Amber from the cot Lauren held her tight to her body. Amber cries not ceasing like they usually did when she was held.

Beginning to pace the little room, Lauren ran her hand soothingly over Ambers back, feeling her daughter begin to settle she began singing to her softly. A few minutes later Lauren looked down at Amber, she wasn't sleeping but was quite. "That's better beautiful girl"

As if on cue Amber let out a scream. "Maybe not" Lauren sighed sitting in the rocking chair, her 8 month old squirming against her. "Amber, come on baby…"

Amber carried on crying, incessant screaming that Lauren couldn't stop, never had she tried her parents like it before, she was usually a very happy baby, never really creating much work for Lauren or Joey. Lauren tried sitting her back in the cot but Amber as having none of it, She tried giving her a bottle to which she just pushed away. "what's the matter, ay ? your never normally like this… oh dear" Lauren gently patted Ambers back as she hiccupped. She was expecting the hiccup to have helped but it didn't Amber just screamed louder.

"Lauren?" Joey popped his head around the door seeing his girlfriend and daughter looking equally upset in the rocking chair.

"I'm sorry I didn't want her to wake you up… you've got a lecture this morning" she smiled weakly at him, bouncing Amber gently on her knee.

Joey shook his head "I'm not worried about that, right now I'm more concerned about her" he looked down at Amber and took her into his arms. "shh Amber come on Daddy's got you… look where's bunny?" Joey walked over to the cot taking Amber's rather scruffy looking bunny from the blankets. "Here it is" Amber took it into her hands for about 5 seconds before dropping it to the floor and reaching over to Lauren. "You don't look happy at all do you baby?"

"she's been like this on and off since tea time."

"is she teething again ?" Joey asked

"no...Does she feel warm to you though ?" Lauren asked placing her hand across Amber's head, Joey repeating the action after Lauren.

"A little…I'll get the thermometer" returning to a still screaming Amber, Joey took her temperature "it's a little high… I'll get a cool flannel or something"

Joey walked back into the room with a cool flannel, his heart breaking at the scene. Lauren was crying in the rocking chair, Amber doing the same. "come here baby… let Daddy put this on you head" he reached across to Lauren tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Why you crying beautiful?"

"Because I should have noticed something was wrong… her cheeks are really red" wiping her eyes Lauren placed a kiss to Amber's head "you should go back to sleep"

"you think I'm going to be able to sleep now? I'll go make us some coffees and I'll do another bottle see if she'll take it…"

Joey left going to the kitchen to make the coffees like he'd said. He worked around the kitchen in auto pilot mode, too tired to really think what he was doing. The sound of the kettle caught his attention. He let the drinks cool slightly while he sorted a bottle for Amber.

"Joey… She's been sick" Lauren yelled in panic to her boyfriend. Joey sped to the nursery, the coffees long forgotten.

"it's alright… don't panic" he reached over and took Amber from her "go and get yourself cleaned up and then we'll go to the hospital ok ?"

Joey held Amber close to his chest, her crying reduced a little since she'd been sick but there was no doubt she was ill. Seconds later she was being sick again and Joey could tell she was beginning to wheeze. He gently rubbed her chest to try and ease the raspy breaths, "come on sweetie"

"I'm ready…" Lauren reappeared taking Amber and wrapping a blanket around her tightly,picking the old floppy bunny up from the floor as they left.

so as life was starting to settle, their baby gets poorly . what's wrong with Amber ? back tomorrow xxx