Everyone at the hospital was on tenterhooks waiting for news on Kayleigh and hoping John wasn't going to take another turn for the worse. As another hour passed by, Mandy came into John's room.
"Mandy?" Jan said surprised.
"Mandy – is Kayleigh with you? Please tell me she is with you. I need to see her" pleaded John.
"She's not with me John and she can't come and see you right now because…"
"Because she hates me…please tell her I am sorry...I'll do whatever it takes to make everything right again."
"John, she doesn't hate you…the reason she can't see you is because…"
"Mandy, can I see you outside" asked Jan.
"What ya doing Mum? I'm trying to talk to Mandy here!" John raised his voice.
"We won't be long love" Jan said as she left with Mandy.
"Bloody hell fire!" said John.
"It's alright John, keep calm eh?" Paul tried to keep John from getting worked up.
Meanwhile outside "what you playing at Mandy?"
"Kayleigh's had the baby Jan…a boy!"
"Oh my God! How is she?"
"Tired, happy…wanting John."
"Let me find the Doctor and we can tell him."
The Doctor came through and gave Jan and Mandy the nod to tell John.
"Right John…the truth about Kayleigh is that she doesn't hate you, you daft apeth…"
"Then where is she Mandy" John asked welling up.
"She went into labour…"
"Labour! But she wasn't due for another 3 weeks…where is she? How is she?"
"John calm down, she is fine…so is your little boy."
"A boy…she said she thought it would be a little boy…Jesus…I'm a Dad."
"Congratulations brother" said Paul.
"When can I see them Doctor" asked John.
"Soon John, I know Kayleigh hasn't had much rest so why don't you have a rest too then I'll organise for Kayleigh to come and see you…with the baby, you're not fit enough to be roaming around the hospital just yet."
"Ok…"
"Right everyone, lets leave John to rest and we will come back later, I'll bring you back some bits love" Jan kissed John goodbye.
Mandy, Paul, Jan and Steve, who had been waiting in the cafeteria most of the time to give everyone some space, all left the hospital to get themselves rested and freshened up to return later on.
John finally felt able to rest knowing Kayleigh wasn't avoiding him and was nervous and excited in equal measure about seeing Kayleigh and their new baby.
Kayleigh who had been awake for over 24 hours also was resting, Mandy had told her before she left that John was fine and she could see him soon. She was brimming with happiness at her now complete life. She couldn't wait to see John and tell him all about it, she was devastated that he wasn't able to be there with her and so they could have shared this moment together.
A few hours passed and Kayleigh was wheeled down to see John with their little baby boy, Kayleigh had butterflies in her stomach, John could still do that to her, even after being together and knowing each other for few years he still had that magical affect.
As the door opened, John was asleep, the nurse left Kayleigh beside his bed and Kayleigh just stared at him lovingly.
"That's your Daddy" Kayleigh started to well up.
"John, John" she gently nudged his arm, he started to stir "John, meet your son" she smiled.
John's eyes opened and he looked surprised "Kayleigh" he touched her face "my god I've been dying to see you."
"Me too…look…here's our baby boy…."
"Hello Champ" John touched his sons' hand "did Mummy do a good job getting you into the world?"
"Yes Mummy did…didn't think we were get you out did we?" Kayleigh laughed and smiled at John.
"I am so sorry I wasn't there love…I didn't even know, no one told me where you were as they didn't want to get me worked up…I thought you hated me and didn't want to see me – which was even worse."
"Why did you think I hated you?"
"Because of that stupid kiss."
"John I know everything…I know what you did…I know what Jess did…"
"Me missing me own sons' birth because I had to play the hero…I will never forgive meself."
"John, none of this is your fault, you are good man…and when we tell our little boy the story of his birth, he will know what a good, kind, thoughtful man his Daddy is…who his Mummy loves very very much."
John had tears in his eyes and sat up "can I hold him?"
"Of course…." Kayleigh stood up and passed John their son as she left him in Johns arms, she kissed John on the forehead and then the lips.
They sat as a family for about an hour when the police arrived.
"How are you doing Mr Redmond?"
"As well as I can be…especially with this little one" he nodded to his son in his arms.
"Congratulations…we have some more good news, we caught the fella that did this to you, he is at the station, he has admitted to the attack so there will not be a court case."
"John that's great news" said Kayleigh
"Thanks for letting me know…what was his name?"
"Anthony Bridge… did you know him?"
"No, I just wanted to make sure my son didn't get the same name" John chuckled.
"Well we will leave you to it, if there is anything else just give us a call but we will be in touch in a few days."
Kayleigh and John thanked the officers as they left.
"Right Kayleigh, time to get you back to the maternity ward" said an incoming Nurse "you need to get more rest."
"Oh…but I don't want to go yet."
"Can she stay a little bit longer?" pleaded John.
"Doctors orders for you as well I am afraid you both need to get some rest."
"It's only 8pm, all I have been doing is sitting in this bed."
"I'll come back tomorrow…they only want me to stay the night."
"Ok love" John passed their little boy back "hang on, we haven't even named our little lad yet?"
"Sleep on it and we will discuss tomorrow – I already have a hundred."
"Aye I bet you have" John laughed.
Kayleigh gave John a lingering kiss on the lips "I love you" she whispered.
"I love you too" he whispered back.
As John lay in his bed looking at the ceiling praying that he will be discharged so he can be with his family, a visitor arrived.
"Hi John"
"Jess?"
"I said that I would pop by – I wanted to make sure you were ok and say thank you."
"No bother…I'm meant to be resting mind" John sat up.
"I am so sorry about what happened…the police told me they caught the person that did this."
"Aye, good job an all."
"How's Kayleigh?"
"She is ok, she gave birth to our child today – the stress of everything brought the labour on."
"Oh I am so sorry…is everything ok?"
"Beautiful…thank you."
John was being quite short with Jess, he didn't blame her, but he was so close to losing everything, she just reminded him of all the fear he had laying there waiting for Kayleigh.
"Well, I will you rest, the Doctor said not to keep you up too long…I just wanted to make sure you were ok and like I said to say thank you for all your help."
"Thanks."
"See you then John."
"Yep see ya."
Jess left and John let out a big sigh.
A few moments later Paul and Jan arrived just to drop some things off to John so he could change once he was feeling up to it.
"Bloody hell, I am meant to be resting, it's like the Trafford centre in here."
"We are only dropping these bits off…eh, was that Jess I saw leaving?" asked Paul.
"Yeah – she just wanted to say thank you and check I was ok" John said irksomely.
"Eh mate – if it wasn't for her you would have been a goner."
"How'd ya mean?"
"Well, when you collapsed and were bleeding – she were the one who knew what to do – me and Steve were we useless – she stopped the bleeding and coordinated us to keep you with us."
"Christ! Why didn't no one tell me before – I was right off with her then!"
"No point worrying about that now John – you have a family to think of now" added Jan.
"Which by the sounds of it I may have missed if it weren't for that Jess – can you go after her Paul?"
"What now?"
"Yes now! Please – I just want to draw a line under it all."
"Alright – if I can catch her."
Luckily Paul was able to find Jess and bring her back to see John.
"I just wanted to apologise for how I was before – Paul told me what you did – so really it is me that should be thanking you – I am grateful for what you did, more than you will ever know. I wouldn't have met my son or seen my Kayleigh again."
"You don't need to thank me at all – I did what anyone would have done – but not everyone would have done what you did John."
"Well I am just glad that we both came out of it relatively unscathed…could have been a lot worse" John tried to lighten the mood.
Jess gave John a hug and kiss goodbye and they wished each other well, Jan and Paul also left and John was back on his own with his thoughts.
He thought back to a time before Kayleigh, a time where he really didn't have that much to live for, a time where he was so inward and lost, until Kayleigh found him. He thought long and hard, that it was not Jess or the Doctors who saved his life – it was his love for Kayleigh and now his little boy. He knew the others all played their part in saving his life after the stabbing – but Kayleigh had saved his life forever. John welled up at his thoughts and realised that no matter what may come his way he could survive it – because he had Kayleigh. With that thought he went to sleep.
Five days later and John was finally coming home. Kayleigh had cleaned the house and Mandy and Jan had took in turns staying with her to help with the baby.
"I am so happy John is coming home, finally we can be our little family" Kayleigh said as she was making a cup of tea for Jan and Mandy waiting for Paul to bring John home.
"I think he is excited too love" Jan said.
"And little Harry cannot wait to have his Daddy back."
"I still cant believe you talked John into Harry" laughed Mandy.
"Why? There's nothing wrong with Harry!"
"No I know – but your argument for it – I cant believe he gave in based on your argument."
"What that Prince Harry is my favourite royal and is ginger and as we are a dying breed this is a tribute to gingers?" Kayleigh laughed at the memory.
"Yeah – that!"
The ladies all laughed.
"Oh I think a car has just pulled up" Jan went to the door to check.
"Here he is" announced Paul "let's start the hero's welcome"
Kayleigh ran over to hug him, and Jan put the kettle on to make him a cup of tea.
Once everyone had left and as the night drew in and everyone was in bed – Harry sleeping in a Cozi sleeper next to them John hugged his wife tight and kissed her shoulder as they both looked on with amazement at their son.
"I can't believe we made that" said John.
"That!? That! He is a he John!" Kayleigh jokingly stated.
"Not an it then?" John chuckled.
"No!" she smiled at John and turned to kiss him on the lips.
"Thank you John."
"For what?"
"For fighting through what happened for us, we wouldn't have coped without you."
"You would have – and I had a lot of time to think in hospital – you would have coped love. It's me that wouldn't have coped if I lost you – I don't know how I coped before you. This – you, me, him – us – I love it!"
"I love it too."
They hugged again – the new family of three.