I'm sorry I've taken so long to update this, I had a massive writer's block and no idea where to take it but I've got some more ideas now & I feel like I've been writing none stop for the past few days so hopefully it shouldn't be too long before the next update. I'd love to know if anyone's still interested in reading this.
Several weeks passed in which Dylan and Rita spoke to each other only when it concerned a patient, they were professional during their shifts, but once they were finished they each went to their own homes and didn't speak again until the next time they had to treat a patient together.
It was for this reason that Dylan was surprised to find Rita approach him in the staffroom one evening after their shifts, "can I have a word?" she asked and Dylan simply nodded in response as he shrugged on his coat. "I've got an appointment with my midwife tomorrow morning, I know it's short notice and it might be a bit boring but you erm, you're welcome to come if you want to." She'd made the decision that it would be Dylan's choice whether or not he was a part of the baby's life, she'd give him opportunities but it would be his choice to involve himself or not.
"I'm working" he told her, "as you say it's very short notice so I won't be able to get the time off. I erm, I hope everything goes well though" he said before nodding curtly at Rita, picking up his bag and walking from the room before she could even tell him Connie had already agreed to let him have the time off.
"You alright?" Dixie bumped into Rita as she walked out of the staffroom.
"Yeah" she nodded, "you?"
"Yeah, I was just looking for you actually, I wondered if you fancied a night in round mine? Takeaway, couple of crap films, I might even treat you to some non-alcoholic wine."
Rita nodded, "yeah okay, on two conditions."
"Shoot."
"We go to mine so I can get my pyjamas" Dixie nodded, "and you let me crash in your spare room so I don't have to drive home later when I'm knackered."
Dixie laughed and slung her arm around Rita's shoulder as they walked out of the department, "I think you've got yourself a deal there, and if you're lucky I might even let you choose which takeaway we order from"
"Dix" Rita said softly as she sat curled on Dixie's sofa in her pyjamas later that evening, "can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can Darl', what is it?" Dixie came over and passed Rita a mug of tea.
"Will you be there? I mean when I have the baby, will you be there with me?"
"You want me to be your birth partner?"
Rita nodded, "yeah."
"I, I'd be honoured Rita, are you sure though, what about Dylan?"
"I trust you, I know that if you say you'll be there then you'll be there. I don't think Dylan's bothered" she whispered, "I told him I've got an antenatal appointment tomorrow, I told him he could come, he wouldn't even think it, he didn't even ask for the hour off he just said he wouldn't be able to come, I mean if he asked, if he asked and got told he couldn't have the time off then I'd understand" she whispered, tears filling her eyes, "but he didn't ask and when I told Connie I needed the time off she told me, she said if Dylan wanted to come she'd cover for him herself. I just...I want the baby to have a father, I don't want him or her thinking they were all some big mistake but Dylan just acts like he's not interested, I don't know if I can do it Dix, I, I want to give him the chance, I don't want to be the one to shut him out but I don't know if I can keep doing this. I don't want him letting the baby down."
"If he's not there, he's going to be the one that misses out" Dixie said softly as she held Rita close before asking, "do you want me to come? Tomorrow I mean?"
Rita shook her head, "you don't have to."
"I will though, if you want me to be there."
"Can you get the time off? I know it's short notice…"
"I'll fix it Darlin' don't you worry about it, what time?"
"10.30."
"Perfect" Dixie smiled, "I'm not on shift til 12, I'll meet you in the staffroom?"
Rita nodded and wiped at the tears that had fallen from her eyes, "thank you."
Dixie smiled and gently laid her hand on Rita's stomach, "anything for my little niece or nephew."
Rita smiled softly as she felt Dixie's hand gently stroking her stomach, "We'll find out in a couple of weeks, you can come to the scan if you want, if you can get time off?"
"Of course I can" Dixie nodded, "write down your appointments for me and I'll sort it, I said you wouldn't have to do this on your own Rita, I meant that."
Rita nodded and dropped her head onto her friend's shoulder, "we're lucky to have you Dix."
Dixie smiled softly, "I get to be cool Auntie Dix, I'm the lucky one" she said softly before telling Rita, "I've already started buying things, I'm going to spoil this little one rotten."
"Really?" Rita chuckled, "can I see what you've got?"
"Yeah" Dixie smiled, "I'll go get them, there's plenty of time for me to buy more surprises" she laughed, kissing her fingers and placing them on Rita's stomach before heading off upstairs, returning a few minutes later with a large mothercare bag, "here you go."
Dixie placed the bag on the sofa beside Rita and Rita felt her eyes fill with tears as she began looking through the bag, "Oh Dix" she whispered as she pulled out a bear, it's brown fur the softest thing Rita had ever felt in her life, "thank you" she whispered, "thank you so much" she said as she carefully sat the bear on the sofa beside a Dumbo vest and matching sleepsuit.
"You don't need to thank me Darlin' just wait until I find out if it's a boy or girl, you won't be able to move for all the stuff I'll buy" she winked, "that's my favourite" she grinned as she saw Rita pull a picture book from the bag.
"Please don't dance in my ambulance" Rita laughed as she read the title, "Dix… I don't know what to say."
"That you love it all."
"I do" Rita beamed, "I absolutely do, I haven't bought anything yet, I mean I've looked at things but…"
Dixie squeezed Rita's hand, "you've got plenty of time, you're only 15, 16 weeks?"
"16" Rita nodded.
"There we are then, you've got plenty of time to get everything you need and I don't mind coming with you to carry all the bags when you're ready to get everything."
"You're the best Dix, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Dixie smiled and put the baby things back in the bag so she could put it on the floor and sit back beside Rita, "you'd do exactly what you're doing now, you'd get on with things, you'd do what you need to do and be an amazing Mummy to that little one. I get that you want him or her to know Dylan, but if they don't… half the ED have got their name down to be aunties and uncles. If Dylan decides fatherhood isn't for him, well there are still going to be so many people willing to support you and love that little baby. You're not on your own Rita, I can't promise you much but I can promise you that."