Chapter Thirteen

1.30 am, the home phone in the flat was ringing Kristine and Dave woke up but didn't get to it quick enough so they rolled back over and tried to get back to sleep. Dave managed it but Kristine didn't. As she tried Yvonne opened the door.

"Kristine" Yvonne called "it's your sister, she says she's gone into labour"

"Typical" Kristine muttered to herself "it would be today wouldn't it"

"She says it's the real thing" Yvonne assured her "she says she's 100 sure"

"Alright" Kristine sighed "I'm up now" she took the phone from Yvonne "hello Rosie" she paused "hold on, I'll put you on speaker" she looked at the phone and pushed a button labelled 'hand's free' "go on then Rosie"

"I've started" Rosie sobbed over the phone "and mum and dad say they're not going to take me to the hospital"

"Why not?" Kristine asked her

"Because they want nothing to do with the baby"

"What about Moose?"

"It's half past one in the morning, Moose is not going to get up, you know that!

"Okay" Kristine sighed, "I'll jump in the car, I wont be long" Kristine put the phone down and smiled "Dave…" she pleaded

"I'll get dressed" Dave sighed

"I'm going back to bed" Yvonne interrupted "if you need us call us"

"Yeah, thanks Yvonne" Kristine got up and gave Yvonne the biggest hug ever

"I'm ready" Dave jumped up "ready when you are"

"Thank you" Kristine gave him a hug "I'm so sorry about this"

"No bother" Dave looked at Kristine "I love you so much y'know"

"I know" Kristine leant forward to kiss him "I love you too"

When the two of them arrived Rosie was in advanced labour on the top step of the Kochanski mini-mansion.

"Oh my god" Kristine sighed "she's having the baby on the steps"

"Come on" Dave opened his car door "if we get to her quickly we might be able to get her to the hospital"

Kristine ran over to her sister while Dave walked behind. Nothing would have prepared Kristine for the sight that met her

"Dave" Kristine called "phone for an ambulance, I can see the baby's head"

"What?" Rosie started to panic "you can see the baby's head?"

"Yeah" Kristine said softly "here hold my hand and push"

Rosie did as she was told and gradually the first of Paul and Victoria Kochanski's grandchildren made it's way into the world a full five minutes turned up.

"It's a baby girl" Kristine cried, "Rosie, you've got a beautiful little girl"

"I'm going to call her Aimée-Leigh" Rosie told Kristine "Aimée-Leigh Kristine Kochanski, because you brought her into the world, I couldn't have done it without you"

"Rosie" Kristine knew the subject of Aimée-Leigh's father was a bit of a raw nerve for Rosie but Kristine was determined to find out his identity "Aimée-Leigh's father…"

"It's Hollister" Rosie interrupted "but I don't want him to know about Aimée-Leigh at all, I don't want him involved"

"I think you need to tell him" Kristine suggested "you can get some child support from him"

"I don't want his money, Kristine, I want to look after Aimée-Leigh myself"

"Rosie, where are you going to live?"

"At home, with mum and dad, they're not going to throw me out"

"You don't know that Rosie"

"I'll come and live with you then, Kriss"

"I'm sorry Rosie, but no you can't"

"Why not?"

"There isn't any room"

"Oh,"

"I really think you need to talk to Frank"

"I can't" Rosie pleaded, "I don't have his number"

"It's okay Rosie, I've got it"

Kristine put her hand into her bag and pulled out her mobile phone and company phone list

"You can't use that in here" the paramedic informed her

"I'll call him later" she told Rosie "I promise"

For the rest of the journey everyone was in complete silence. The only sound in the ambulance was the radio but that didn't go off very much. When they arrived at the hospital Kristine simply settled Rosie and baby Aimée-Leigh into maternity before dashing off to tall Captain Hollister.

Kristine came back half an hour later with Dave and Captain Hollister in tow

"Here he is, Rosie" Kristine pulled Hollister's arm forcing him to shuffle forwards "the father of your baby"

"Hello Rosalind" Hollister forced a smile "what is the baby's name?"

"Aimée-Leigh" Rosie answered, "Her middle name is Kristine"

"That's a beautiful name" Hollister put his finger on Aimée-Leigh's cheek "I can't believe how much I love her, thank you Rosie"

"It's okay" Rosie smiled "I love her too"

"Here" Hollister wrote Rosie a cheque for £300 "buy something for Aimée-Leigh, if you need any more let me know"

"Thank you, but you really don't have too"

"But Rosie, I want too"

They stayed at the hospital until they were politely asked to leave by the nurses. They dropped Hollister off at home before going back to their cosy flat. Kristine and Dave went into their room and simultaneously collapsed on the bed

"It's been a long day" Kristine complained "a very long day"