Chapter 3

Rebecca yawned as she lolled in Smithy's arms, idly watching the flashing colours on the TV, her gaze flicking over to Mickey each time he moved, frowning at him as he fidgeted.

"You got fleas or something!" Nick rolled his eyes, glancing at Mickey as he slumped back against the settee.

"How long's left?" Mickey frowned, "They can't be doing all that warming up for ages."

"You're just like a kid!" Nick sighed, shaking his head.

"No he ain't." Smithy tore his eyes from the screen, glaring at Mickey. "'Becca's better behaved than he is." He spat, Mickey having to hold back a snort as Rebecca almost smirked at him.

"Da?" Rebecca looked up at him, pointing at Mickey. "Icky 'tilly."

Smithy smirked and nodded. "Very."

"Tilly?" Mickey looked suspiciously at Rebecca. "What's Tilly?"

"Silly." Smithy smirked nastily in Mickey's direction, shifting Rebecca so she was laid over his chest, her thumb gradually making its way to her mouth as she yawned again, her head lulling against Smithy's as she fell asleep.

Nick smiled slightly, watching her. "Awww..." He chuckled. "She's almost as cute as you are asleep, Smithy."

"Piss off." Smithy growled, slowly and carefully levering Rebecca into his arms, managing to stand up without disturbing her, carrying her towards the stair door. "Don't let him touch anything." He muttered turning his back as Mickey leant forward for another can, knocking it flying off the table.

Mickey cursed and leant forward to pick it up, not taking his eyes from the screen. He yawned as his fingers found the ring pull, opening the can, cursing loudly as the foam from the can being shook escaped, spraying everywhere.

"Mic-" Smithy started as Rebecca screeched, her hands balled into fists as she cried, grizzling at being woken up.

"I'm gonna swing for you." Smithy muttered at Mickey, as he turned, going back to his seat beside Nick trying to calm his daughter down.

Mickey muttered apology after apology after apology, trying his best to clean up the spray, his t-shirt suffering the worst.

"Mamama." Rebecca cried, wriggling round in Smithy's hold, obviously tired. "Damada."

"She looks a little warm…" Nick frowned, leaning closer. "She ok?"

"She was a bit off all morning," Smithy frowned. "Charlie gave her something…and she shut up."

"What did she give her?" Nick asked, stroking Rebecca's hand with his thumb as her fingers closer around his index finger.

"…Dunno." Smithy blinked, gently passing Rebecca to Nick as he stood up, going through to the kitchen, looking in the cupboard where the medicine was stored.

"Can't be that hard, surely…" Nick stood up with Rebecca, carrying her through to the kitchen, "Anything that says suitable for kids?"

Smithy fiddled inside the cupboard, looking at all the medicine, pulling four things out. "They're all hers…"

"What they for?" Nick asked, bouncing Rebecca.

"…Dunno." Smithy shrugged again. "Couple of 'em was when she had that colic thing…one was when she had something in her eye…" He nodded at the eye drops laid on its side.

"Well she ain't gonna want them." Nick pushed the drops to the back of the counter, studying the other bottles. "…Which one's which?" he asked, as both men stared mystified at the three bottles.

"Charlie always did the medicine." Smithy scratched his head. "For all of us."

"Could ring her and ask?"

"She ain't been out in ages." Smithy frowned. "Should let her enjoy it."

"But Becca needs the medicine…" Nick tried his best to shush Rebecca, cuddling her

"Yeah," Smithy picked up the kitchen extension, dialling Charlie's mobile number, holding Rebecca's hand as he waited for Charlie to pick up.

Charlie giggled as Vicky spun her round the dance floor, slumping into a booth as she paused for breath, reaching out for rest of her drink as she tilted her head, hearing a shrill beeping above the music. "Whass'that?" She slurred softly.

"What?" Amber hiccupped, glancing over from where she was draped over Dan.

"Ringing!" Charlie shook her head slightly trying to clear it, before giggling more as her head spun. She reached over for her bag, fiddling for an age inside, before pouting as the noise stopped. "All goooooone!" She pouted as Leela leant in, taking her mobile from her hand, looking at the missed call, squeaking loudly as the phone started ringing again.

"This ain't the time for phone sex, baby." Charlie cackled as she answered, sobering as she heard Rebecca. "Whasamatter?" she shouted over the music, clambering over Dan's lap on her way to the ladies toilets.

"She's just-" Smithy's eyes narrowed as he heard Dan's comments to Charlie. "What are you doing?"

"Climbing over Dan." Charlie said innocently.

"Why?" Smithy's eyebrow raised and he nodded at Nick to take Rebecca into the living room as he leant on the counter.

"Cos he's in the way!" Charlie giggled as she nearly fell, managing to get free of Dan, and stumble over Amber to the toilets. "You want me to come home?"

"Sounds like you're having too much fun there." Smithy muttered sullenly.

"Awww." Charlie chuckled softly. "You don't have to be jealous, baby."

"I'm not." Smithy shifted slightly. "Just tell PC Casper I heard what he said." Smithy's eyes glinted evilly. "And the panda cars need washing."

"You can't do that." Charlie chuckled. "You know-"

"Watch me." Smithy said with a smirk, tilting his head. "What bottle did you give Rebecca this morning?"

"Bottle?" Charlie blinked. "I made some up, check the fridge."

"No, medicine." Smithy picked up the nearest medicine bottle, studying the label. "There's some stuff on-" He looked to the door as Mickey called out. "What's going on?"

"Kicked off!" Mickey called out, switching off to everything else around him, glued to the TV screen, ignoring Rebecca as she glared at the side of his head, as Nick sat beside him.

Smithy's paternal instinct fought against the armchair footballer in him and he edged towards the door. "There's some stuff on the back about what they're for."

"Can you see the Calpol?" Charlie asked, rolling her eyes slightly as she heard the noise from the TV getting closer. "Give her a spoonful of that. I'm on my way."

"No!" Smithy frowned. "You can't come home-"

"As touching as your group bonding is." Charlie frowned. "If Becca's ill, I'm on my way." She hung up, walking back to the table to gather her stuff.

Smithy grunted darkly, hanging up, annoyed at the possible threat to his football as he lifted the bottle marked Calpol from the side, carrying it and a spoon through, measuring out a spoonful.

"She says this one." Smithy glanced at the TV as he crouched in front of Nick, the spoon hovering in mid-air, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Rebecca shifted slightly, glaring at Smithy as she clapped her hands, grumbling. "DA!"

Smithy jumped, spilling the contents of the spoon onto the carpet, using Rebecca's teddy to rub it in quickly. He poured another spoonful out, giving it to Rebecca, who licked her lips, and opened her mouth in anticipation of more. "Mmmnama!" She grinned hopefully at him.

Smithy looked from the spoon to her, arching an eyebrow. "S'medicine." He said suspiciously. "Can't have any more."

"More."

"No."

Rebecca blew a raspberry at him, pouting as she hid her head in Nick's chest, sulking for all she was worth.