I have been so nervous about tonight for the past few weeks now, and I know it's ridiculous but I can't help but worry. Our friend and Franky's old boss, Amelia is going on 'date night' with her husband Greg and we are babysitting. What makes me even more terrified is the fact that we are keeping Benjamin overnight and his parents will pick him up some time on Saturday. I haven't really expressed to Franky yet just how worried I am that I will not be a good mother to our baby. I have only held Benjamin the once, and that was when he was a few weeks old, to be honest he's the only baby I ever remember holding my entire adult life, which is crazy but I don't have many, if really any at all friends with children.
Benjamin will be here in less than one hour. I really hope Franky knows what she has agreed to by signing us up for this, I mean I know we need the practice and stuff but I have signed us up for parenting classes that we start when I reach 30 weeks, and I'm only 18 weeks now so that's still in the distant future.

Crap, that's the doorbell! Franky called me half an hour ago saying she was stuck in traffic and was going to pick up food on her way home as well, but Benjamin is here now!

"Just coming!" I shout as I move as fast and as carefully through the house as I can.

"Hi Amelia, Greg how are you both? Hi Benjamin." I coo over little Benjamin, he's gotten so big since I last saw him, well that was over five months ago now I guess, huh, 'they do get big fast' I reflect as I look at him.

"Hi Bridget, thank you so much for doing this, is Franky here?"

"She was stuck in traffic then picking up some takeout but shouldn't be long."

"Well I hate to just dump him on you like this, but our reservation is in 20 minutes."

"Not a problem, just bring his stuff through to the Livingroom and I'll get it all sorted." Greg carries Benjamin in his car seat, as well as a travel crib and Amelia has his overnight bag, just like Franky they won't let me carry anything heavy.

"Okay Bridget, I guess that's us then. We'll just let ourselves out, thanks again so much for tonight, we totally owe you and Franky when the time comes!" Greg says to me as they rush out of the door, closing it behind them.

"Okay Benjamin, it would be so good of you, baby boy if you wait until your aunt Franky gets here before you wake up." I am now surrounded by various items of baby paraphernalia, I'm not sure what most things are used for but that will all change soon. Right okay, first things first, let's get this travel crib set up so he can have a proper sleep.

FRANKY POV

I feel dreadful, I should have been home an hour ago but between the traffic and a massive line at the Thai place we like, I have managed to leave Bridget on her own with a 6-month old baby for over half an hour now. I step through the door to my home and am instantly greeted by the screams of Benjamin, coming from the Livingroom. 'Everything's going smoothly then, I see' shit my wife is going to kill me.

"Gidge, where are you baby? Sorry it took so long there was a line and traffic was a nightmare" I listen out for a reply but don't get one, Benjamin is crying so loud she probably can't hear me.

I step in to the Livingroom and see my wife, sitting on the floor crying her eyes out, as she stares at something on the ground. I run as fast as I can to her and sit down beside her.

"Gidge" no reply.

"Gidge" still nothing.

"Bridget! What's happened? Baby look at me why are you so upset?" I stare at her waiting for a reply, she doesn't meet my eyes so I pull her in to my body.

"I'm sorry Franky, I'm so, so sorry!" She gets out between sobs. Oh god why is Bridget apologising? My brain is going into overdrive thinking of worst case scenarios.

"What for baby, tell me please." My voice is starting to shake with emotion as well and I'm going into a panic.

"Oh Franky! Sorry! I know that this meant so much to you." Oh God no, this is worse than I thought, something's happened with the baby, that's why she's acting so devastated. I start crying as well as we sit there for what feels like forever but in reality has only been a minute or two.

"I mean, Amelia and Greg must be so used to doing it, that's probably why I didn't find any instructions when I took it out the bag." What the hell? I just look up at her with a confused look on my face.

"Instructions for what, Gidge?"

"The travel crib Franky! Benjamin can't get put down for his nap until I set up the crib, I tried but couldn't! I changed him, fed him and played with him but he's exhausted and I can't put it up!"

I look around and Benjamin is red in the face from crying so much and toys are scattered everywhere.

I take Bridget by the arm, and with a bit my force than I intended to use make her turn to look at me in the eye.

"Bridget! You had me so fucking scared when I saw you in that state!" I only just manage to choke out.

"I thought something must have happened to Peanut because you were crying so hard!" This time it's Bridget trying to calm me down as she holds me tight.

"Oh God Franky I'm sorry, I never even thought, I just got so upset when I couldn't even put a travel crib together, it pushed all the fears I've been having about being a terrible mother to the surface I guess, I just couldn't take it, and he was crying so much and nothing I did was enough, I'm sorry!" Wait, Bridget thinks she's not going to be a good mum to Peanut?

"What, no Gidge you are going to be great, trust me it's going to be different when it's our kid, Benjamin just doesn't know us that's all, we're going to have a bond with Peanut and we'll know exactly what it is they need okay, believe me baby."

"Okay Franky I trust you, I'm still so sorry though, I never should have reacted like that over something so trivial."

"Babe, this is why you need to talk to me and let me know what you're feeling, okay? Your hormones are everywhere right now so you're bound to be having these thoughts, just promise me you'll talk to me in the future okay."

"Yes darling, I promise I'll come and talk to you if something is bothering me again. Thank you, I love you."

"I love you too, Bridget. Oh and you little Peanut." I bring my hand to Bridget's belly and rub circles over it.

"I swear my stomach is growing by the second now" Bridget says looking down at my hand.

"That's fine with me, just more of you to love." I give her a quick kiss.

"Right Gidge, I'll attempt to sort out this travel crib contraption thingy, you get the little guy and play with him on his mat or something and try calm him down, okay?" she nods and takes Benjamin out of his car seat, deposits him on the floor and lies sideways next to him, ticking his tummy and making funny noises. 'she has nothing to worry about, she's going to do just fine' I think as I set up the crib.