Grace hadn't been gone long when the door opened, Boyd barrelling in with a bag in one hand and a nurse close behind him.
"Frankie, Oh shit, Frankie." Boyd taking Frankie in from head to toe totally ignoring the nurse behind him.
"It's okay, nurse." Frankie telling the nurse she could leave as Boyd took two strides and was at her bedside.
"When Grace phoned, I thought, are you really both okay?" His eyes scanning her face before he looked down at her bump.
"Yes, both fine. Here, feel." Taking his hand and letting him feel the baby moving.
Boyd felt the baby moving, his shoulders dropping as he locked eyes with Frankie. They were both okay, Frankie and their daughter.
"Grace said she takes after both her mum and her dad." Tears again gathering in her eyes as Frankie felt Boyds thumb caress her bump. "I was so scared, Boyd." The tears now rolling down her cheeks.
Boyd didn't hesitate, just pulled her into his arms kissing her head as she sobbed against his chest. Grace chose just that moment to open the door, drinks in hand smiling. Frankie didn't look up but Boyd did, his hand running up and down Frankies back as he saw Grace.
"Hi, Grace." His voice a mere whisper as he continued to sooth Frankie.
"Hi, Boyd. You got here quick." Placing the cups on the table and seeing him notice there was three.
"No point being a policeman if you can't use your rank to get a police escort here, blue and twos on of course." Turning back to face Frankie as he kissed her temple.
"Naturally. Yes, one is yours." Seeing his eyes drift back to the cups on the table. "Did you bring some things in for Frankie?" Grace looking around the room for a bag.
"Down there, I just hope it's okay." Pointing to the floor on the other side of the bed.
"I'm sure it will be." Seeing Frankie shift and turn to her, a huge wet patch visible on Boyds purple shirt.
"You okay?" Grace giving Frankie a quick smile as she saw her wipe her eyes.
Frankie nodded her head as Boyd passed her the hankie Grace had placed on the table. Wiping her face she placed the hankie on the bed and felt Boyd shift a little. She hung on a little tighter as he tried to move, she didn't want to let go.
"Frankie, I'm not going anywhere. I just need to shift my back, standing like this is not agreeing with me." Twisting his back as he spoke.
Frankie did loosen her grip, but only so she could shuffle over the bed to make room beside her. Boyd watched her, saw what she was doing, and smiled. Grace just watched in disbelief as he climbed up beside her, watched as she moulded herself to him. Grace moved closer and took her cup from the table, moving the two remaining cups closer to the occupants of the bed.
"You two going to be okay?" Seeing Frankie close her eyes as she tried to snuggle closer to Boyd.
"I think so." Boyd squeezing Frankies shoulder as he kissed her hair.
"Thanks, Grace." Frankie's voice muffled due to a mix of Boyds chest and yawning.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Boyd. Night, Frankie. You take it easy okay." Turning to the door and putting her hand on the handle.
"Thanks, Grace. See you in the morning." Boyd smiling at Grace as she opened the door and went to leave.
Grace closed the door behind her, stepping out into the corridor and looking through the window into the room she had just left. Boyd had turned more towards Frankie, both his arms now securely holding her to him. No matter what they had said to each other the night before, what had or hadn't been said or done over the last few months, this was it. The moment both of them realised what was important, what really mattered. They needed each other, and not just for the baby's sake. Frankie was his safe place, somewhere he could be himself, be with someone who knew every little detail of his personality and could stand tall as he raged against the injustice of the world or hold him as the world came crashing down around him. Boyd was Frankie's safe place, the place she didn't have to be one of the lads, where she could let her guard down, let him see the vulnerable girly side to her. Grace walked away, a small smile on her face, they would be just fine.
"I'm sorry, Frankie." Boyds voice breaking the silence in the small hospital room.
Frankie heard what Boyd had said, his words stirring her from the sleepy haze.
"What for?" Her tired brain not really processing much other than she was warm, comfortable, pain free, the baby was fine, and she was cuddled up safely against Boyd.
Boyd looked down at Frankie, her eyes heavy and bloodshot.
"It doesn't matter, we'll talk later. Go to sleep." Stroking her cheek with his finger as her eyes shut completely.
Boyd leaned his head against hers, his beard making the hair on her head ruffle up. She was asleep with minutes, her body exhausted from the stress it had been put under, stress he felt entirely responsible for. The more he had thought about what she had said, about his own actions six months ago, the more he saw what a arsehole he had been. He should have went after her, tracked her down and talked to her, even if it was just about her resigning. What had happened between them the night of Mel's memorial service was inevitable, years of flirting, playful banter and sexual tension all coming to a head. The timing was wrong, but them being together wasn't.
Without disturbing Frankie he managed to reach for his coffee, finishing it in a couple of mouthfuls. Just as he put the cup back on the table the door to the room opened slowly, a nurse poking her head around the door.
"Visiting times finished now, Sir." Boyd digging around in his pockets as he tried not to disturbed Frankie too much.
He found his badge and held it up, seeing the nurse close the door and step further into the room.
"I won't stop to long, she's just went to sleep." Looking between the nurse and a still sleeping Frankie.
The nurse picked up the chart from the end of the bed, flicking through it as she read the notes.
"Okay, Sir. Rounds are at about ten so we'll need to wake her then. I'll let the other ward staff know you're stopping until then." The nurse looking at him as she placed the chart back on the end of the bed before leaving the room as quietly as she could.
Boyd turned his attention back to Frankie, her head on his shoulder, face turned into his neck. Frankie sleeping was a beautiful sight to see, her small hand resting on his hip, fingers through the belt loop. She was so peaceful, so relaxed, things that awake Frankie rarely was. He could get used to this, having Frankie beside him every night as they slept. He closed his eyes, resting his head back against Frankie's. He wanted to savour the moment, etch every detail into his memory. This was one of them perfect moments he never wanted to forget.
"Boyd." Frankie's sleep laced voice breaking into his thoughts.
"Hey." Lifting his head and moving back a little so he could look at her.
"I need to pee." Clearing her throat as she sat up full and looked around. "It's dark outside, how come you're still here?" Looking up at the clock as Boyd sat up and swung his leg off the bed.
It was then she spied his badge on the table open.
"More misuse of your badge superintendent." Her eyebrow raised as she half smiled at him. "Since you're here you can help me then. Bring that bag with you and I'll get changed out of this thing." Tugging at the front of the hospital gown she was wearing.
Frankie got out of bed and steadied herself, her balance off due to lying down so long. Boyd got off the bed and walked around it to join her, bag in hand liked she asked. When they reached the bathroom door he hesitated, not really sure if he should follow her.
"Again with the chivalry. You're going to see and hear and lot worse at the birth than me peeing, get in here." Grabbing a hold of the front of his shirt and pulling him into the room.
Frankie use the toilet while Boyd got the clothes out he had brought in for Frankie.
"Help me untie these damn things will you." Frankie asked as she got more annoyed with the ties on the gown.
Boyd got two undone before giving up, his own temper rising with the small strips of cloth. Frankie managed to lift the whole thing up, and with Boyds help pull it over her head.
"Which do you prefer?" Boyd holding up a button up shirt in one hand and a faded t-shirt in the other.
Frankie took them both, feeling them first before bring them up to her nose to smell them.
"This one." Throwing the t-shirt back at him.
"What's the difference?" Looking at her as she slipped the shirt on and started to do up the buttons.
"This smells like you." Smoothing the shirt out over her bump once the buttons were done.
"I brought you some of these as well." Holding up a pair of his cotton boxer shorts. " I wasn't sure how much would be covered, so you know, just in case." Seeing Frankie grin at the shorts in his hand.
"Perfect. Mine don't fit anymore, and since I have no plans to do this again I wasn't going to buy any." Taking the shorts and attempting to put them on.
"Will you sit down before you fall over." Moving quickly to her side as he closed the toilet seat lid and got her to sit down.
Once they had both got the shorts on her she stood up and looked herself up and down in the mirror.
"Suits you." Boyd looking her over as she glanced at his reflection in the mirror.
"Which bit?" Her hands resting on her hips as she watched his reflection.
"All of it. The shirt, the shorts, the perfect baby bump and glow you seem to have. It all suits you." Moving to stand behind her as his hands joined hers on her hips.
"Smooth, you just keep it up with the compliments." Leaning back against his chest so he was supporting them both.
"I mean every word of it." Kissing her temple as she slotted her fingers through his linking their hands together.
"Is everything okay In there?" A voice on the other side of the bathroom door asked making them both jump.
"Yes, thank you. Just getting changed." Frankie managed to reply as she felt Boyds grip on her hips tighten just a little.
Frankie squeezed Boyds hands before letting go. She walked towards the door and opened it, stepping out to be greeted by a nurse who didn't look overly happy.
"I heard you still had a visitor. It's time for bed now, so let's check on baby then get you all settled, you can see your visitor again tomorrow after a good nights sleep." The nurse looking Boyd up and down as she pulled the sheets back on Frankie's bed so she could get in.
Frankie didn't miss Boyd clench his fists, then reach onto the table for his badge which was still open. He made a big show of putting it away after helping Frankie onto the bed.
"Let's have a listen in on baby then we'll leave you in peace." Picking up the Doppler and gel from the table before looking first at Frankie then Boyd.
"He's the father." Reaching for Boyd as the nurse eyed him again.
The nurse didn't say anything else, just waited for Frankie to lift up her shirt exposing her bump. The gel was cold as always but Frankie didn't mind, her focus was on Boyd, his eyes fixed on her bump as the nurse spread the gel around with the Doppler then switched it on. Three or four seconds later the sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the small room, Boyd transfixed as he heard it. He finally managed to drag his eyes to Frankie, a huge grin on her face as she watched him.
"That's her?" The awe and wonder in his voice as he asked making Frankie smile more.
"That's her. That's our daughter." The room going silent again as the nurse switched the Doppler off and passed Frankie some tissue.
The smile on Boyd's face was priceless, he just stood grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. Frankie wiped the remains of the gel off and pulled her shirt in. The nurse went to lift the sheets to tuck Frankie in but Boyd stepped in front of her and stopped her.
"I think I can manage that before I leave." Pulling the blankets up and over Frankie's legs.
The nurse stepped back, picking up the chart and writing on it as Boyd tucked Frankie in.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, okay. I think the phone charger I bought in should fit your phone. It's got one of them multi-plug things on the end." Passing her the charger out the bag. "I'll call around yours and get you some of your own stuff if you want me too, or I can just improvise again." Leaning towards her as he went to kiss her cheek.
Frankie preempted him, turning her head just enough so his lips brushed hers. He didn't pull away, just kissed her a couple of times before finally standing up straight again.
"Get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow." Turning to walk away but stopping when he head his name.
"Boyd," waiting for him to face her. "Improvise." Pulling the shirt sleeve down as she said it.
Boyd just inclined head a little, letting her know he understood. He left the room, stopping to look through the blinds just as Grace had done when she left.
"Night Frankie, night Amelia." His words whispered as he walked down the corridor to go home.