"I swear if I don't get out of here I'm going to go nuts." Frankie practically growled at Boyd as he sat on the bed beside her.
"Frankie, it's only been three days. They'll let you go when they think your ready." Trying to pacify Frankie.
"I only had a baby for God's sake, women have been doing it for years. I just want to go home to my own bed." Her anger still there but slowly subsiding as Boyd stroked her knuckles with his thumb.
"You and Imogen will be home in no time, then you don't even have to move from your bed if you don't want to. I can't believe you managed to get the commissioner to agree to giving me a month off work." Sliding his arm around Frankie's back and hugging her.
"Yeah well, he wanted a pathologist, he had to pay for a pathologist." Closing her eyes as Boyd nuzzled her hair with his nose.
Just then the midwife knocked on the door and opened it, stepping inside and letting it close behind her.
"A little dicky bird tells me your itching to get home Frankie." The midwife walking over to the cot and looking down at Holly as she spoke.
Frankie glared at Boyd, Knowing he had to be the one who snitched on her.
"How about we get you checked over now, then the doctor can check this little lady over when he does his rounds. If you both pass you can go home." Frankie's face lighting up at the midwife's suggestion. "Dad, if you want to keep on eye on baby while I check mum over, it shouldn't take long." The midwife drawing the curtains around the bed as she turned her attention to Frankie.
Boyd sat down and looked at his daughter, her tiny hands sticking out from under the blankets. She looked so small and fragile, so not ready for the outside world. He could hear the midwife asking Frankie questions, to which Frankie answered. He wished he could have block out some of the questions and most definitely some of the answers. He had learnt more about Frankie in the past three days than he had ever learnt about his ex wife's Mary and Jenny in the whole time he was with either one of them. He reached into the cot and stroked the baby's hand, her fingers opening automatically so he could slip his pinky underneath. Imogen wrapped her tiny fingers around Boyd large one, Boyd smiling as his heart swelled with love for his daughter. He was so mesmerised with Imogen he jumped when the curtain around Frankie's bed was pulled open.
"That's you passed with flying colours, just this one here now and we can send you both home." The midwife snapping off her gloves as she stopped to looked at Boyd and the baby. "Doctors rounds start in an hour so hopefully you should be home just after dinner time." Leaving Frankie and Boyd alone again.
"You hear there, we might break outta here soon little one." Frankie reaching out to stroke Holly's head as she spoke.
"She'll pass. She's eating, sleeping and pooping, that's all they need her to do." Boyd removing his finger from Imogen's hand so he could pick her up.
Frankie watched as Boyd picked up their daughter, the baby looking so small in his huge hands. Even when he cuddled her against his chest she still looked so little. Frankie couldn't help smiling as Boyd went into his own world, his sole focus being the baby. Even though he hid his emotions well she could tell. No doubt as he looked down at their daughter he was reminded of his other children, of Matt, and of course of Luke. She reached over and brushed her fingers through his hair, the still floppy strands now grey and not brown like when she first meet him. He leaned his head every so slightly towards her, her nails grazing his scalp. All Frankie wanted to do was wrap him in her arms, wrap them both in hers arms. Shield and protect them both from the world, but very different reasons.
Boyd lifted Imogen up and kissed her forehead, his lips lingered on her skin as he whispered "I promise I won't let you down."
Frankie's heart broke a little at his words, the pain and turmoil thick in his voice. The moment was broken by a hard rap on the door and the doctor entering the room.
"Okay, let's get this little one checked over then checked out shall we." The doctor sounding cheerful as he looked at the baby in Boyds arms.
Boyd careful placed Imogen back in the cot, watching as the doctor undid the poppers on the front of her baby grow. By the time the doctor was done Imogen was screaming the place down. Frankie quickly got her redressed and picked her up, holding her close as she tried to settle her. Imogen was having none of her mother trying to pacifier her, her head turning as she rooted around wanting fed. Frankie sat down and quickly arranged her top so she could feed Imogen, the baby becoming instantly silent as soon as she latched. Boyd hovered protectively beside Frankie, his hand on Frankie's shoulder as he stood beside the chair.
"Everything is fine. I'll pass these notes on to the midwife who can arrange to discharge you both. Enjoy your new baby." The doctor smiling as he looked at Frankie and Boyd.
Once the doctor was gone Boyd sat on the bed and looked at Imogen, the baby half asleep as she still attempted to feed. Frankie was stroking Imogen's head and cheek, the movement making her close her eyes as she fell back to sleep.
"Here, pass her to me." Boyd bending down and holding out his hands for the baby.
Frankie passed the baby over, arranging her clothing without even looking as she focused on Imogen. She knew Imogen could cry, she had been born screaming the place down, yes she hadn't really cried since, not like she just had. Frankie could tell that Imogen's distressed crying had upset Boyd, his arms wrapping around the baby as if to shield her from the world.
"She's Fine Boyd, they had do the checks." Standing up and moving over to where Boyd had sat down in the chair.
Frankie slid her hand up to the back of Boyds head, her fingers playing with his hair as she tried to ease him down. She pressed a kiss to his temple, half sitting on the arm of chair as she leaned against his shoulder.
"I know she's fine, doesn't stop me wanting to break his fingers for making her scream though." Sliding an arm around Frankie's waist.
"Come on, help me pack up. We can go as soon as the midwife comes." Kissing Boyd one last time before standing up.
Boyd sat and held the baby as Frankie packed the last few bits of her stuff away, checking the bathroom twice before she shut her bag. Frankie yawned as she sat back down on the bed, she was tired and it wasn't even dinner time. Frankie's eyes started to droop, her last thoughts before she fell asleep were of Imogen asleep in her dad's arms. She was woken by a knock on the door, a midwife coming in with her discharge notes. Frankie signed some forms, her mind still sleepy as the midwife wished them all the best and said to stop by the desk on the way out.
Boyd had already put Imogen's coat and blanket on her, the baby looking even smaller if that was possible, as he strapped her into her car seat. Boyd picked the car seat up in one hand, Frankie's bag in the other. Frankie just looked around as he took two strides and stopped at the open doorway.
"You right to go home?" A small smile on his lips as she asked.
"Yeah, I'm ready to take out daughter home." Coming to stand beside him so they could walk up the corridor together.
At the desk Frankie signed Imogen out of hospital, the staff checking Frankie's ID bands with the ones the baby still had one. When they were happy, they wished the new family well and let them leave, Frankie feeling out of place as she walked along Boyd. He lead the way out the hospital and up to where he had parked the car, placing Frankie's bag on the floor so he could open the car. He opened the back door and slotted Imogen's car seat inside, doing up the seat belt and making the seat was secure. He then took Frankie by the arm and guided her around the car and into the back seat beside the baby.
When he got in the driver's seat he looked in the rear view mirror, Frankie and the top of the baby's car seat visible. He started the car and switched the heating on, he didn't want anyone getting cold. He wouldn't have said he was a careless driver normally, yet today he drove more carefully than he normal did. When he finally parked up outside their house he looked in the mirror and saw both Frankie and Imogen were sound asleep. He really didn't want to wake Frankie, but he had to.
"Frankie, wake up, we're home." Turning in his seat to look at Frankie.
Frankie stirred and blinked a couple of times, her eyes finally focusing on Boyd.
"Go open the door, we'll freeze waiting for you to unlock fort knocks." Frankie said as she reached across and undid the seatbelt keeping the carseat in place.
Boyd took Frankie's bag with him when he went to unlock the door, dropping it behind the door and returning to get the car seat out the car. Frankie walked slowly behind him, dragging her feet up the stone steps. As she stepped inside the house she shut the door behind her, leaning against it and looking around. The house looked exactly the same as when she left it three and half days ago, yet it felt different somehow. Everything was in the same place, nothing had been removed, no furniture had been added, but it was still different.
Following Boyd into the living room she saw he was lighting the fire, something he didn't normally do. Imogen was still in her car seat, her face the only part of her visible. Frankie went to take coat off but was stopped when she had it half way off. Boyd was behind her, helping her pull it off.
"Take her out and get comfortable, I'll go get her Moses basket and bring it down." Seeing Frankie smile as she watched him.
Frankie undid the straps on the car seat, lifted the baby out and sat down on the settee with her laid out on her knee. With some careful manoeuvring she got her coat off and sat back, Imogen lying on her chest with her head on Frankie shoulder. She placed a hand on the baby's back, more for reassure than anything else. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, she was finally home.
When Boyd carried the Moses basket into the living room his heart seemed to stop momentarily as he took in Frankie and their daughter. It had been too long since there had been a baby in the house. Matt was seven now, turning eight in just over two months. He was only two when Jenny had left, the house returning to his dark, cold past with just him living in it. The house had changed with each woman who had entered his life, each removing the previous occupant completely and adding their own mark. Frankie had been different, completely different. Yes, she had removed some items, but only insignificant small items. All the pictures stayed up, Mary, Boyd and Luke, Jenny, Boyd and Matt, even pictures of just Mary and Luke and Jenny and Matt had stayed up. She had respected his past enough to keep it alive through the pictures, pictures that would now be added to with images of Imogen.
He placed the Moses basket beside the settee and sat down, shuffling along so he was flush with Frankie. Frankie instinctively turned towards him, her hand still firmly on Imogen's back. She opened her eyes and looked up, brown eyes meeting brown eyes.
"I'm so glad to be home." Feeling Boyd wrap one arm around her and the other on Imogen as he rested a hand on top of hers on the baby's back.
"I'm glad your home too, both of you. Still doesn't seem real though, that your both here with me." Seeing Frankie tear up at his words.
"Where else would we be? We belong here, with you, as a family. We both love Peter." His given name being used to show him just how deeply she meant what she said.
"Thank you, Frankie, for everything." His words sound hoarse as she swallowed.
"What do you need to thank me for? I haven't done anything." Frankie genuinely confused by his words.
"How can you say that. You've given me everything. You loved me when I thought I was done for. You made this place into a home again, and you gave me our daughter. You gave me back my life, made it worth living again." His thumb brushing across Frankie's cheek as she cried at his words.
"And I've taught you how to articulate words, feelings, and make a meaningful sentence with them. Grace will be proud." Trying to make light of the situation as a way to deflect like they both did quite frequently.
"Piss off Frankie, you know what I mean." Leaning his head down to rest against Frankie's.
"Let me put Imogen down, then we can talk properly." Frankie lifting the baby from her chest and standing to place her in the Moses basket.
As she sat down she felt herself being tugged down so she was sat sideways in Boyd's lap, his arms going around her waist. He buried his face against her chest, inhaling deeply.
"You smell like hospitals, and baby's, and you." His nose nuzzling deeper into Frankie's shirt.
"Yeah, well be careful what you're doing, you could end up very wet if you keep doing that." Seeing him tilt his head so he could look up at her, a confused look on his face. "They don't belong to you anymore, your daughter had officially claimed them when I woke up this morning. I woke up leaking everywhere, a new experience to add to the other new ones, which seems to be the theme for the past few days." Laughing when she saw the comprehension dawn on his face as he moved his head slowly.
"I forgot about that happening. Jenny bottle fed Matt so it wasn't so bad with her. You may have to keep reminding me, just in case I forget." Smirking as she eyed up her chest.
Frankie yawned as she got comfortable, the heat from the fire, the warmth of Boyd's body, and his arms around her making her feel safe and sleepy. Of course, there was also the fact she had given birth just over three days, her body still on a rollercoaster as it adjusted. Boyd held her as she fell asleep, getting them both more comfortable as he lay down, Frankie draped over his body. He could see the Moses basket from where he lay, his daughter sleeping peacefully in it. He let out a sigh, a smile on his lips as he kissed Frankie's head. His family was home, where they all belonged.