Chloë LlewellynThe More the Merrier19/02/2006

Chapter Six

Dave had agreed to look after Chloë, Llewey, Jim-Bexley, Alicia-May and Theo. In fact, he jumped at the chance. He had become so close to Chloë and Theo and felt so much like their Dad that sometimes he had to physically stop and remind himself that naturally, he wasn't. The thing that kept him going was that it didn't really matter. Dave had established such a strong bond Chloë during the first few weeks, visiting him Kriss and Chloë in the medi-block, helping her to leave Arnold, never and easy task with a new baby. And Theo, well Dave delivered Theo and also had a special bond. There was nothing Dave could do, but love them, plus they were so cute and both so much like Kriss it was hard not to love them.

Arnold also jumped at the chance to look after Jemimah, Lilimay and Junior. He wanted to be a proper father to them, all of them. If they were going to be staying, which they probably were Jemimah needed a father too. Chloë and Theo were so lucky, they had two, it wouldn't be fair if Jemimah didn't have any. Arnold thought about how Dave had taken Chloë and Theo on, in a way Arnold was very grateful to Dave, Arnold knew that if anything happened to him Dave would be a good father to them.

Kriss made her way down to the officer's club where Yvonne was already waiting. Kriss walked right up to Yvonne, attempted a small smile but failed, instead she threw her arms round Yvonne and squeezed her.

"I'm sorry Krissie" Yvonne smiled "I've missed her friendship"

"Me too" Kriss wiped her eyes "let's catch up"

They sat down at a table after helping themselves to drinks

"So" Yvonne started "tell me all about your children, let's start with Chloë"

"You know about Chloë" Kriss responded

"No I don't" Yvonne smiled "I haven't seen you since you were three months pregnant with her"

"Oh sorry" Kriss laughed, "Chloë came naturally, a few weeks early, me and Arnold split up six weeks after she was born"

"Why?"

"He wasn't being a good father, he kept getting drunk"

"What did you do?"

"I walked out, I left him"

"Good for you, seems like you did the right thing"

"Yeah" Kriss wiped her eyes "I suppose I did"

"What happened after that?"

"the night I left Arnold I slept with Dave"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I didn't love Arnold anymore, I didn't really love him at all I just loved sleeping with him really"

"Oh, I see"

"But I loved Dave, I mean I am deeply in love with Dave, I wanted him so much and it just happened"

"Oh, okay"

"So I started having a relationship with Dave"

"What about the twins?" Yvonne asked, "What are their names?"

"Llewey and Jim-Bexley" Kriss sighed "they came nineteen and a half months later, I was so scared when I found out I was going to have twins, but eventually I decided there was nothing I could do about it so I just accepted it"

"Yeah, well, that's the only thing you can do really"

"It was a very long horrible birth"

"How long?"

"Sixteen hours"

"Oh you poor thing" Yvonne shook her head "that must've been horrible"

"Yes, yes it was"

"Who comes next?" Yvonne asked "Theo?"

"No" Kriss answered "Alicia-May"

"Oh yes, sorry"

"We nearly lost her" Kriss could feel tears forming in her eyes, she always got upset when she spoke about Alicia-May's terrible first few months

"Why, what was wrong?" Yvonne noticed Kriss' tears and put her arm around her best friend "oh sorry, you don't have to tell me"

"It's okay" Kriss responded "she was born three months early, almost didn't make it"

"Oh" Yvonne didn't know what to say "sorry"

"It's okay" Kriss wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand "she's fine now"

"How old is she?"

"Nearly nineteen months"

"Wow" Yvonne smiled "she's tiny"

"Yeah" Kriss forced a smile

"Then came Theo" Yvonne mentally and emotionally prepared herself for what Kriss was going to say "why don't you tell me what happened?"

"Please" Kriss begged "promise you wont tell Dave, you're my closest friend, please, promise me"

"Okay" Yvonne agreed reluctantly "I promise"

"Once Alicia-May came out of hospital we had two small celebrations"

"Two?"

"Yeah, well I went to one and Dave went to one"

"Oh, I see"

"Anyway I got a bit drunk and Arnold got a bit drunk, and the next thing I know it's the morning and I'm naked in Arnold's bed"

"Oh dear" Yvonne shook her head "and that's when Theo was conceived, yes?"

"Oh, no" Kriss smiled "me and Arnold had an affair"

"What?"

"We had an affair"

"How long for?"

"Seven months"

"Seven months?" Yvonne yelled, "How did you manage that?"

"We didn't do it very much" Kriss assured her "didn't get the opportunity with four kids and a boyfriend with a very big sex drive"

"No, well, you wouldn't would you?"

"Anyway, Dave proposed to me, so I broke it off, with Arnold I mean, but he had the sexual magnetism virus, and got me into bed that way"

"Oh, okay"

"That's when Theo was conceived"

"What happened when he was born?"

"Dave delivered him with Chloë by my side"

"Quick birth?"

"Very"

"How long?"

"About twenty minutes"

"Poor you"

"Anyway that was three weeks ago" Kriss displayed a huge grin "I'm married now!"

"Married?" Yvonne gasped "who to?"

"Dave" Kriss giggled, "I love being married"

"Who officiated?" Yvonne looked puzzled "at the wedding I mean?"

"Kryten" Kriss noticed Yvonne trying to work out how a service mechanoid with a groinal attachment used for hovering and as a sex aid would be able to officiate at a wedding "it's not official" Kriss assured her "just symbolic, we're going to make it legal as soon as possible"

Yvonne took a long sip of her Bacardi and Coke "you've had a lot to deal with in the last five years"

"Yeah" Kriss threw the last of her seventh Jack Daniel's and Coke down her throat "tell me about Lilimay and Arnold Junior"

"Well" Yvonne took a deep breath, "I slept with Arnold and got pregnant, nine months later they were born, that's it really"

"Oh" Kriss was disappointed "how did you manage to hide them?"

"I kept them in a wardrobe"

Kriss nodded and looked at her watch "God, is that the time?"

"What?"

"It's half past midnight, I've got to get back"

"Okay" Yvonne smiled "we'll walk back"

Kriss tried to get up but stumbled, she couldn't walk straight

"Whoa, Kriss" Yvonne ran to catch her as she fell "I think you're drunk"

"No" Kriss giggled, "I'm not drrrrunk"

"Yes you are" Kriss assured her "you stay here, I'm going to get someone"

Kriss watched Yvonne leave before attempting to get up and follow her. Kriss managed three steps before she collapsed and threw up. She was sick three times before passing out face down in her own sick

"She's in here" Yvonne called to Arnold "she's too heavy, I couldn't lift her"

Yvonne and Arnold saw Kristine lying on the floor

"Oh my god" Arnold ran up to her and cleared her nose and mouth before checking her breathing, "it's okay" Arnold confirmed she's breathing, but we better get her back to Dave"

Arnold threw Kriss over his shoulder, he was making his way down to Kriss and Dave's quarters when he felt something warm down his back, he paused "She's been sick again hasn't see?" Yvonne nodded "smegging hell!"

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