Charlottes accident came with a surprising silver lining, Duffy had been forced to start her maternity leave early to look after her. Well it was a silver lining for Charlie anyway. Trying to get a two year old to be careful and understand her limits after such injuries was obviously very difficult and Duffy didn't feel it was fair to put that stress on her mother so there really was only one other option. Still despite been glad she was finally out of the firing line at work that came with the stress of knowing she wasn't really getting any rest, Charlotte was handful at the best of times never mind now. He had tried to casually suggest that Kate help out a bit, something she was happy to do, but it had been met with a fierce backlash. Typical. She never did like to make things easy did she? Oh no she had to be as bloody minded as humanly possible didn't she? Sighing he rested his head in his hands, this was not getting the paperwork done.
Before he could spiral into overthinking much more a knock at the door distracts him before Josh's face appears in front of him.
"Everything alright? You look rather stressed there." Shutting the office door purposely behind him he remains stood with a small smile of his face.
"Ah yeah. Just a bit." Trying to reassure his best friend with a smile failed rather spectacularly resulting in Josh sighing before taking a seat.
"Care to share?" When he wasn't forthcoming he raises one eyebrow. "Duffy causing this stress by any chance?"
"How'd you guess?" He replied with a hollow laugh.
"Well having a heavily pregnant wife is stressful enough never mind when she's a stubborn as Duffy and put a hurt toddler on top of that results in a particularly difficult time."
"When you put it like that..." Letting out a sigh he finally looks up. "Duffy's still in such a state over Charlotte, she barely lets her out of her sight. That's not helped by Charlotte suddenly getting so clingy, she wants Duffy all the time. I think she must know the baby is coming soon even though she doesn't really understand any of it."
"Two year olds understand a lot more than you think. She's probably picked up that everything is about to change from you both. She'll soon settle. As for Duffy I think you are rather out of luck there, she'll be better once Charlotte is out of plaster but you'll probably have a newborn to cope with by then but you need to remember it's only been a couple of days."
"The rate she's going we will have a newborn sooner than planned." The tone of his voice took a considerable dip, stress seeping out.
"How far gone is she now? Surely she's not got long left anyway?"
"34 weeks now. I know it's just Charlotte was early and Peter was too. For once it would be nice to have a baby arrive on time."
"Oh I thought she was closer to 36 weeks. Still you never know Charlie. This baby might have the last laugh and be a late baby." Unable to stop a laugh which only got louder at Charlie's outraged face he was glad he was past this stage.
"Oh for gods sake don't say that to Duffy! She's fed up enough as it is. I don't think I could cope with that."
Being stuck inside was never Duffy's strong point, rather quickly she found her patience dwindling not helped by her hormones in the slightest. Of course if she was honest with herself she'd admit that Charlottes accident had really shaken her thus the real reason for her short temper but she wasn't keen to admit that. It was one thing treating kids at work, never easy but to see your own baby needing stitches and with broken bones shook her more than she ever expected. Charlie had quickly found himself at the receiving end of her temper over it not that he blamed him for one second, she knew what a terror Charlotte was but simply because he was there and she'd got a fright. Poor Peter hadn't dealt with it well either, he'd never seen anything like that and to see both parents in such a state over it hadn't helped. Forcing herself off the couch, she found herself wanting to sleep more and more often lately, and heading to open the front door she stifled a yawn.
"Hello, come in. He's nearly ready." Smiling at her ex she steps back from the door to let Andrew in. "Peter!"
Following Duffy into the lounge he fails to resist the temptation to glance around his surroundings, not that he wasn't in and out of her house often but his nosy nature caused him to glance around for changes often. "Ah that's fine."
"Tea? Coffee?" Moving her hands once more to her back she glances behind Andrew to the stairs, looking for signs of her eldest.
"Oh no thanks. You all okay?" Unable to stop the 'pfft' sound at his question, if only!
"Well Charlotte fell at the pool the other day and has stitches in her head and a broken arm but everyone else is fine."
"Oh god! I bet that gave you all a fright." Grimacing he couldn't imagine how difficult that was, especially right now.
"Yes! Well everyone expect Charlotte. She's just moody because she can't rush around like normal. So if Peter is a bit off that's why. He's been really out of sorts because of it"
"Ah toddlers eh? That's fine, I'll keep an eye on him. I'm sure he'll be fine. We will keep him busy" Thankfully they had rather a busy weekend planned, perfect timing.
"Oh yes. Talking of which...hows yours?" She of course was referring to Daniel, Andrew's two year old with his wife Victoria.
"Fine causing chaos as always." Finally hearing the sounds of his son rush down the stairs his smile broadens. "You keeping okay?"
"Ah yes, just willing it to end now." Her concentration is quickly broken by Peter rushing into the room. "There you are!"
The late afternoon light filtered into the lounge shining against her hair as sat curled up of the sofa reading her book at Charlie's instance. He'd been upstairs trying to distract Charlotte with the camera, she was rather a bit of a poser and quite liked the idea of being a 'model.' It at least kept her entertained for half an hour. Camera still in hand he enters the lounge but briefly stood in the doorway, smiling a bit like an idiot. She was just so naturally beautiful, taking his chance he quickly snapped a photo of her but it also grabbed her attention.
"Oi!" Glaring up at him from her book her eyebrows furrowed in anger. "You promised you were taking photos of Charlotte, not me!"
"Sorry." The smile on his face proved he wasn't sorry, not even a tiny bit. "You just look so beautiful."
"Hardly!" He was not winning her round. "Fat and exhausted maybe but not beautiful."
"Nonsense! You aren't fat, you are pregnant and I don't have any photos of you from this pregnancy. You have to let me have at least one."
"Hmph! That was my plan! You took plenty last time Charlie." Grinning at her he finally takes a seat beside her, placing his arm around her shoulder.
"But you didn't get this far into your pregnancy with Charlotte, so I need photos." Rolling her eyes she shakes her head.
"Oh you don't half talk crap Fairhead."
Leaning in he quickly steals a kiss, a large goofy smile still on his face. "Love you."
"Hmm. I guess I love you too."