Chapter Twelve
Seven months passed and the time came for both Kriss and Lilimay to have their babies. Lilly went into labour first with Arnold by her side. It took sixteen hours for Billie-jean Rimmer to make her way into the world. Lilly screamed in paid as she pushed Billie out but cried with joy as her baby daughter was placed in her arms. Arnold was with her every step of the way and the proud grandfather punched the air
"It's a girl" he announced "Billie-jean Rimmer"
Dave stood up and pleaded with his once best friend "can I see my daughter?"
"I'll ask Lilimay" Arnold answered "I'm not promising anything though!"
Lilly was cuddling baby Billie but also crying. Arnold walked in and saw how upset his daughter was
"What's wrong darling?" he asked, "tell me"
"I just wanted mum to be here" Lilly sobbed "I wanted her to see Billie-jean and love her like I do!"
"Your mum did love Billie-jean" Arnold promised "and so do I, she was looking forward to being a grandmother so much!"
"You promise?" Lilly asked, "You're not just saying that?"
"No" Arnold answered, "I promise"
"Thanks" Lilly smiled "I needed that"
"Dave's here, he wants to see Billie-jean"
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that it was up to you but that I'd ask for him"
"Thanks dad"
"So what do you want me to do about Dave?"
"He can come in and see her if Kriss comes too"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah""
Arnold went back out to where everyone was waiting
"Lilimay says that Dave can come and see the baby if Kriss comes at the same time"
"a heavily pregnant Kriss got up and waddled into Lilly's room and over to her bed. Dave followed displaying that smug git grin that Arnold hated
"Let's see her then" Kriss smiled "she's gorgeous Lilly, well done!"
"Thanks Kriss" Lilly smiled "do you want to hold her?"
"Yes please" Kriss answered "I'll hold her while you talk to Dave"
Kriss took Billie-jean and waddled into the medibay with her.
"Dave" Lilly called "I would like to discuss our daughter"
"Okay" Dave answered, "I'm listening"
"Do you want to see Billie then?"
"Yeah" Dave told her, "of course I do"
"Okay" Lilimay sat up "this is what I'm prepared to do!"
"Go on" Dave answered "I'm willing to consider anything"
"you bring Llewey and Jim-Bexley here every month to see Kriss, don't you?
"Yeah"
"Once a month, when you bring the boys to see their mum you can spend half an hour with Billie-jean, but either me or Arnold will be with you, I can't trust you to be alone with her!"
"Okay" Dave agreed, "I'm happy with that!"
"Okay" Lilly smiled "go and get Kriss back with Billie-jean and you can have a hold"
Dave didn't get a hold of Billie-jean. Kriss came into the room still holding Billie-jean
"Krissie darling" Dave started "something's happened, your trousers are soaking"
"I know" Kriss hissed as she handed Billie-jean over to Lilimay "my waters have broken!"
"My god" Dave shouted "onto the bed"
There wasn't time to get Lilimay and Billie-jean out of the room, within the hour Kriss new baby girl was born. Dave was with her throughout
"Wow Kristine" he shouted "she looks just like you and Chloë and Izzy"
"She's beautiful" Kriss smiled "just gorgeous"
"She's just like you" Dave told her "can we call her Emily?"
"No" Kriss responded, "Her name is Lorena"
"Lorena Lister?" Dave laughed, "That sound horrible"
"Well it's a good job that's not her name then isn't it!" Kriss spat "her name is Lorena Kochanski, you are not her father, you are having nothing to do with Lorena, she's mine, just mine"
"But, Kriss" Dave started "I love her, she's my daughter, I'll never ever hurt her"
"You said that about me and Chloë"
"Yeah I know"
"Why Dave, why are you hurting us?"
"I don't know, I wanted to get my own back on Rimmer!"
"By hurting Chloë?"
"I'm sorry"
"It's not Chloë's fault that Arnold's her dad, she didn't ask to be born"
"I know, she says she hates me"
"To be honest, Dave I'm not surprised, you know how close we are , why did you beat both of us up, you can't have beaten me up to get back at Arnold"
"I was jealous Kriss, I'm sorry"
"Jealous? Why?"
"Because you and Chloë have got such a strong bond, you're so close, a lot closer than you are with the others and…"
"Chloë's not yours"
"Well, yeah"
"You are pathetic Dave Lister, you hurt a young child because you are jealous, get out, Dave" Kriss screamed "leave us alone"
