Chapter 14

…

8 1/2 Months

…

Kevin had gone over and over in his head how he'd broach the subject of getting married, maybe it was too soon. He'd thought about waiting to +ask, until after the baby was born, but every time he opened the drawer he saw the red velvet box looking back at him, taunting him.

"Come on…you can do this." He muttered to himself.

He grabbed the box and made his way down the stairs, Julie sitting on the couch, rubbing her back, discomfort on her face.

"Hey…you okay?" He asked.

"Mmmm….oh yeah fine. Just backache."

"It's not usually this bad."

"Yeah well, she gets bigger every god damn day Kevin. You try carrying this around all day and see how your back is."

Kevin looked on in sympathy as Julie's frustration was beginning to get to her, coming over to join her on the couch.

"I'm sorry, I'm being a grumpy bitch right now."

"You're allowed."

Julie saw the way he was watching her, nervousness on his face.

"You okay Kevin..you look, odd."

"Me, yeah I'm fine."

"Okay them, I'm gonna go get a drink."

"Before you do, I need to ask you something."

"Well…can you make it quick. I need a pee?"

Julie watched as Kevin reached in to his pocket and brought out the box, Julie's eyes going wide.

"Kevin?"

"I was gonna ask you this a few months ago but there was never a right time, but I need to do this. Julie Dodson, you've made me happier than I ever thought possible, you…the baby, it's made me grow up a lot, you've given me something I never thought I'd have."

"Kevin I…"

"Will you marry me…please."

Julie was about to respond when her features changes, a gasp escaping her lips. Kevin following Julie's gaze.

"You really did need a pee didn't you."

"No Kevin…I don't think that's pee."

Kevin looked at her oddly before realising what she meant, quickly getting to his feet.

"Oh shit, the baby?"

Julie could only nod before she cried out in pain as a strong contraction ran across her abdomen.

"Fuck…okay, okay…just stay right there and I'll go grab your bag."

"I'm not gonna run off anywhere am I…"

"I just meant I…"

"KEVIN…GET THE DAMN BAG.

"Right, back in a minute."

Kevin ran upstairs, Julie suddenly very nervous as she felt the pain building again, taking deep breathes, running a hand over the baby, trying to soothe her. She looked up when she heard Kevin running down the stairs and in to the front room.

"Okay, you ready?" He asked.

"I don't think I have a choice, do I."

"Lets get you to the car."

Kevin's arm went around her waist as he helped her to the feet, and out the door. She stopped before getting in to the car as the pain returned, Kevin running a hand up and down her back as he waited for the pain to subside.

"Kevin…do me a favour?"

"Yeah anything."

"Call Gill."

"As soon as we get there, I promise."

Julie could only nod as she allowed Kevin to help her in to the car.

…

Gill had just finished off her second glass of wine when she heard Rachel coming through the front door.

"Dinner's up." she yelled as she made her way in to the kitchen.

Gill got up and made her way in to the kitchen to see Rachel emptying the bag.

"You took your time?"

"Long queue, half and half?"

"Fine with me, I'll get another bottle."

"Yeah ok…hang on, what happened to the bottle I poured for you before I left?"

"You were gone a while."

"Thanks for waiting."

Gill came around the corner, wrapping her arms around Rachel's waist, pulling her close before kissing her.

"Sorry Sherlock."

"Mmmm, I suppose I can forgive you this once."

"Only the once." She laughed.

"Yeah well I…"

"Oh hang on kid…it's Kevin?"

Rachel went quiet as Gill answered her phone, mouthing a sorry to Rachel.

"Kevin…make it quick because Rachel and I are just….shit when, okay…yeah I'm on my way."

Rachel waited for Gill to hang up before finally speaking.

"What's up?"

"We have to go, Julie's in labour."

"Isn't it too soon."

"No, she's only got another what…two weeks. It's fine, you're gonna have to drive."

"Well see, you shouldn't have started without me."

"Yeah okay, just get the keys."

…

Julie was already in her room when Gill and Rachel arrived, pain evident on her face.

"Give me a minute Sherlock." Gill said before she entered Julie's room.

Julie looked up when she heard the door opening to see her best friend smiling back at her.

"Hiya slap."

"Gill…thank god."

Julie cried out in pain as Gill moved over to the bed quickly, taking tight hold of her friends hand.

"How you doing?"

"Hurts…how the hell did you do this."

"With a lot of drugs."

"Gill…I'm scared."

"Hey come on, you are one of the toughest women I know. You're gonna be okay, and I'll be right out there."

"Where's Kevin."

"He's just outside with Rachel, this will be over quicker than you know."

"You think."

"I'm sure of it."

Julie started her breathing exercises when she felt the pain building again, Gill taking hold of her hand again as she helped her through her contraction.

…

Kevin watched from the other side of the door, Rachel coming up beside him

"You okay Kev?"

"I hate seeing her like that."

"She's tougher than she looks, bitch from the black lagoon remember?" Rachel laughed.

"What if I can't do this."

"Do what."

"Be a dad?"

Rachel was about to speak when Janet called out to them.

"Hey Jan."

"How's she doing?"

"Yeah, okay so far we think. Gill's in with her now."

Janet took a look through the door, hearing the pained noises coming from Julie as Gill held on tightly to her best friends hand.

"I remember it well." Janet smiled.

She turned back to Rachel and Kevin, seeing the worried look on the young man's face.

"Come on Kevin, she's be fine. I know it looks bad but trust, it will be over before you know it, and you get a beautiful daughter at the end of it."

"I've never had to do anything like this before Scotty."

"You'll be fine, just be there for Julie, go on."

Kevin sighed before finally taking the steps in to the room, taking over from Gill as the midwife came in to the room. Gill kissing Julie's cheek before coming out to join Rachel and Janet.

"Kevin looks like he's about to take his last breathes." Gill laughed.

"First time dad." Janet smiled.

"Why don 't I go get us all a coffee while we wait." Rachel asked.

"Good idea Sherlock, thanks."

Rachel squeezed Gill's hand before walking away down the corridor.

…

Julie held on to Kevin as the midwife told her to breathe through each contraction, the pain almost unbearable.

"How much longer?" She cried.

"Julie you're nearly there, just a few more pushes and she'll be here."

"I can't I just…"

"Come Julie, you can do this. You can do anything." Kevin encouraged.

"Kevin I…I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Getting us in to this in the first place."

"Julie come on, push for me." The midwife instructed.

Julie pushed on her orders as Kevin's arm found it's way around Julie's shoulder as she cried through the pain.

"Okay, one more big push for me."

"I can't…I can't."

Kevin turned Julie's face to look at him, tears falling down her face when she looked at him, before he kissed her firmly on the lips.

"When this is over, you and I are getting married, I love you, you're the strongest woman I know. You can do this, I love you…come on, one bog push…do it for me." Kevin pleaded with her.

Julie nodded her head before focusing on what the midwife was saying, taking in a deep breath before pushing with what little energy she had left in her, a short burst of pain before she felt her daughter leave her body. She fell back against the pillows, the cries from the child filling the room as the midwife checked them both over before passing the baby to Julie, who took her in her arms, smiling down at her new daughter, Kevin taking a seat beside her on the bed.

"We did it." Julie sniffed.

"We? You did all the work."

"She's perfect Kevin."

"Just like her mother."

Julie looked up at him, kissing him before looking back at their daughter.

"We still need a name for her Kevin."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that actually."

"You thought of one?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Go on?"

"Ellie."

"Ellie…I like it."

"Ellie Dodson, nice ring to it." He smiled.

"Lumb?"

"Huh."

"Ellie Lumb, we are getting married after all, that is…if you still want too."

"Are you kidding me, of course I do." He smiled before kissing her.

The door to the room opened, Gill, Rachel and Janet coming in slowly.

"Are we allowed to see this kid or what slap?" Gill asked.

"Of course you are, come on over."

Gill quickly moved to Julie's bedside, Julie passing the baby to her friend.

"Gill, meet Ellie."

"Ellie, it's beautiful, hello gorgeous girl…I'm your god mother, anything you ever need kid…I'll be there."

Rachel watched from her spot beside Janet, seeing how right Gill looked with a baby in her arms. Gill looking up to see Rachel smiling at her.

"What Sherlock?"

"Nothing, everything's perfect."

Kevin took hold of Julie's hand as she rested her head on his shoulder, happy to have everyone she loved beside her. Sleeping with Kevin might have been a mistake, but she would never change what happened for anything.

…

-Fin