A/N: Still no Tony Grounds
Thanks for all the reviews. It's nice to know people still love this show.
The Other Half of Me.
Molly shifted in the bed, trying to find a comfortable position, as she watched Charles pace back and forth rocking their sleeping baby girl. The peace was short lived as Molly heard a commotion outside. Charles looked towards the door with a quizzical look on his face. She could hear voices talking over one another before a much louder and sterner one carried over the rest. "If you think you can get away with doing that in a Maternity ward again gentlemen, I will have no hesitation in lobbing the lot of you out of here. Visiting hour or no visiting hours. Understood?" Molly giggled when she heard a chorus of "Yes Ma'am," from a sheepish sounding 2 Section. The ward matron was a formidable woman who took no prisoners. Charles thought she would have done well in the Army and told her so…it hadn't gone down to well.
Molly turned as the door creaked open expecting to see the faces of 2 Section. Instead she was met with the face of a huge brown teddy bear wearing a green beret. Molly laughed as the door opened fully and the lads filed in. "In trouble again lads? I can't take you lot anywhere can I? Wheelchair racing. Wheelies. In a maternity ward? Really!" Charles joked moving to greet them all. 2 Section had the decency to look contrite.
"So where is the little Miss then Boss?" Nude Nut asked as he moved towards the edge of the bed.
"Right here," Molly replied from her seat on the bed.
"Molls!" 2 Section chorused as they moved over to greet her.
"Cor she don't half look like you Molls" Baz Vegas joked.
"Poor thing," Fingers sniggered, earning a high five.
"Oi any more of that an I'll have to tell the lads why you really came to visit the med tent out in Africa Fingers," Molly replied sternly. Fingers gulped and stared at the floor.
"Ahhh proper rinsed Fingers" laughed Mansfield as Fingers flipped him the bird. "Ay Boss! You better watch out. She'll be a heart breaker all right. If she is anything like her mum," Mansfield Mike commented as he kissed Molly's cheek. "Alright Darlin'?" He added.
"There'll be none of that lads. I can assure you. My daughter isn't going anywhere near boys till she's at least 30. Even then they'll have to get through me first." Charles declared. His brow drawn down in a deep frown. "Fancy a hold Mansfield?" Mansfield Mike looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"Nah your all right Boss." He replied nervously. The rest of the lads laughed.
"How about you Kinders?" Molly said cheekily, noticing the smug look he gave Mansfield." To her surprise he shrugged and moved forward carefully taking the baby into his arms. "So come on then, Don't keep us in suspense. What's her name?" expertly placing the baby over his shoulder and patting her back. The room all stared at Kinders in amazement. "What my sisters got two kids under 4. So what?" he grumbled defensively.
"Well out with it then," prompted Baz Vegas.
Molly and Charles looked at each other nervously. After a deep breathe Molly spoke up. "Lads meet Ava Dylan James." Silence filled the room.
"That's lovely" Nude Nut muttered grinning broadly. All of a sudden Kinders got a strange look on his face before it creased in disgust.
"Ummm Molls…. you might need to sort this little lady out," Passing Ava back to Molly as quickly and safely as possible.
"Well then. Which one of you muppets would like the honours?" Molly looked around a smirk hovering at the corners of her mouth as 2 Section looked at each other in alarm as they understood what was wrong. A split second of silence before they all began firing off excuses at once.
"Uh nah" stuttered Mansfield. Baz and Nude Nut, who were too busy fighting over the remote control for the spare bed, missed the exchange.
"Nude Nut, Baz Vegas. Lovely!" Charles grinned as both boys looked up, confused by the sudden laughter that had filled the room. "No worries lads. Think of it as latrine clean. You both had plenty of practise if I recall."
The rest of the section sniggered as Baz Vegas took Ava uncertainly, holding her as far away from him as he could. She simply stared at him, her brow creased, as if she was trying to figure him out. Under Molly's watchful and patient eye, the boys had managed to successfully remove Ava's baby grow. Nude Nut was staring intently at the nappy in his hand, twisting it back and forth as though it was a Rubik's cube.
" 'ere Nude Nut, you might wanna put it under her Bum you numpty. It ain't any good anywhere else," Molly laughed, clearly enjoying how uncomfortable they were.
"Oh come on Molls, give us a hint at least," whined Baz Vegas, clearly as clueless as Baz Vegas. Charles, taking pity on them nudged Nude Nut out the way and finished the job before picking her up and rocking her back and forth as he jigged around the room. The boys continued to chat amongst themselves occasionally offering to hold Ava. Molly lent against Charles. "You know, If Ava grows up with this lot looking out for her I know she'll come to no harm," She muttered gently so the lads couldn't here. Charles sat thinking for a minute.
"You know. That's not a bad idea. With me and the lads vetoing all these stinky boys none of them will pass the inspection. I'll make sure of it," Charles grinned as if the problem was suddenly solved.
"Stinky boys?" Molly giggled with a raised eye brow.
"Stinky boys," Charles clarified with a nod of his head. "That's the way she will see ALL boys when I'm done explaining things to her. She wont want to go anywhere near them. Well, except me, Sam and the lads obviously!"
"Obviously!" Molly echoed with a look that clearly said "My husband is in full daddy mode and has gone completely mad."
They were interrupted by the door opening and everyone turned to see a stern faced, broad-shouldered, foreboding figure frame the doorway. 2 Section immediately quietened and, on reflex, stood to attention, as if they had been caught doing something they shouldn't have. Charles watched fascinated, as the ward Matron strode in sending a scathing look at the boys. He could almost see the lads shrink under her gaze. Even on a good day the "Murderous Mollies" as the lads had nicknamed Molly's mood swings, didn't hold a candle to this woman. Just what had the rabble done that she could whip them into shape with a mere look? Her Majesty's finest indeed. Charles took her in and had to bite back the sudden urge to laugh. Molly nudged him with her arm. He leant over and whispered "She reminds me of Miss Trunchbull from Matilda." Molly's eyes widened as she gave the woman the once over. Her shoulders began to shake as she tried in vain to hold in her laughter.
"Visiting hours are over gentlemen. Mrs James needs her rest. Out!" The matron barked. 2 Section jumped to attention, Nude Nut carefully passing Ava into Charles' waiting arms. "We'll catch you later Molls, Bossman!" Fingers said, sending a sideways glance at the matron who stood waiting by the door.
"Fall out Boys!" Charles ordered, watching in amusement as the boys filed out of the room sending waves and farewell greeting over their shoulders as the Matron followed them out.
"Well we know who to call if we need to sort that lot out. Do you think the Army would hire her?" Molly joked.
"HA, you think? She even scared me." Charles muttered with a mock shiver.
"Aww poor baby!" Molly mocked patting him on the head. "Did the big bad Matron scare little old Charles?"
"Oi, less of the old please Dawes." Charles replied with a glare as she leant against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gently touched is daughter's cheek with the other. They sat looking at their sleeping daughter.
"Lady Luck sure has been good to us aint she," Molly whispered.
"Indeed she has Dawse," Charles answered, kissing her forehead. "Indeed she has."
A/N Well this is where I intended to leave A Request. I may come back and do some missing scenes. If anyone has any requests please let me know.