Chris just hung up the phone debating whether to go and take her to the hospital or not, he thought maybe he should seeing as he was still married to her... But another part of him just thought he should just leave her because after all it wasn't his baby... "Karen I don't know what to do... it's not even my baby so why should I take her to the hospital?""Because she is your wife still and once you did love her... this will probably be the last thing you ever do for this woman, and you don't know what is actually wrong with her, it could be serious Chris. Come on at least do it for the boys, they'll be scared out of their minds I expect!" "Well maybe she should ring the actual father of the baby instead of ringing me as if it's my responsibility which clearly it isn't!" Chris was getting mad at Jill now he wondered why he'd ever got involved with her and maybe he should have walked out on her a long time ago. "If you're saying that I should go and help her then you are coming with me," Chris added thoughtfully."Oh she'll be so pleased won't she!" Karen replied sarcastically, thinking Chris had gone a bit mad and not thinking straight at even considering the idea. "That's the whole point silly, it's a little thing called revenge... thank you Karen," he said kissing her, then pulling her up and they walked out to the car. They didn't make any effort to get back to Chris's in a hurry, but they were about to help Jill so she couldn't complain that much, after all Chris could have decided to just leave her screaming in pain. When they reached the driveway Karen stayed in the car while Chris went to knock, the first thing was his youngest son Tommy who came running to the door - petrified. "What's wrong with mummy?" he said, tears streaming down his face and the other two followed out to see what was happening. "She'll be okay don't you worry I've come to save her like a hero," Chris said picking up Tommy and carrying him upstairs to get Jill. She was right where he had left her before, but looking a lot more drained and collapsed on the bed. "Come on then I'm here, I don't see why I'm even doing this but I am so be bloody grateful for once in your life... So where's the real father of the baby then, shouldn't he be the one to rush you off to hospital eh?" Jill just gave Chris an evil stare, too tired to speak but she reluctantly followed him into the car. "Karen babe change of plan I don't know why I didn't think about this before but could you stay here with the boys please while I take Jill, and then I'll pick you up again afterwards," he explained getting Karen out the car and handing her Tommy to hold, leaving her in charge of a 4 year old, 6 and 8 year olds. Jill grunted at the sight of Karen but again was too weak to complain she got in the car and demanded Chris the whole way. Chris just dropped her outside the hospital and then drove off leaving her to fend for herself, and not regretting it. Traffic was beginning to build up as he made his way home during rush hour, and it took him half an hour to get back to the house, where he let himself in the house and Tommy came running up to him once more. "Is she okay?" The oldest, Jack asked. "Yes I'm sure she'll be fine," Chris reassured. "Right now what are we going to do? Have you had your dinner kids?""Yep Auntie Karen made us some tea while you were gone," Jack said innocently, and Chris very much approved of Karen's reference and both of them laughed at the name, but Chris was really happy that the children had taken to Karen so quickly as they'd never even met her before properly, only heard. "Ah did she now?" Chris said cheekily turning to look at Karen who had Sam sitting on her lap. "Well I'd say you're a natural," he added chuckling. "Well I've had my experience, haven't I?" she said. "Now why don't you three watch some tv while I talk to your daddy in the kitchen," said Karen turning on the tv for them, and then following Chris into the kitchen; then they shared a little kiss. "I just dropped her off outside to fend for herself, you have to admit it does serve her right for getting knocked up like that in the first place, and then leaving me to think it was my own... she should be bloody grateful I took her in the first place, a lot of men wouldn't!" Chris said in a hushed voice so the boys wouldn't hear but Karen could tell he was not at all happy. "I know you're very good for doing that you really are... If I was her I wouldn't have expected that of you, in fact I'd be ****ing terrified over what I'd got myself into!" Karen replied. "You're the one that said I should take her..." Chris said unhappily."Well I was just trying to say the right thing, it wouldn't have been right to just leave her would it? She's probably just miscarried, or maybe the baby will be born a bit early? She could even be a bit further along than she thinks you never know." Karen pointed out."Hmm... Well you know what, I reckon she doesn't even know who the father is because she hasn't mentioned it at all, and well I told her about you, I told the truth, and she's not said one word. Wow this is going to get complicated when we get a solicitor involved... Everything's messed up.""Oh don't worry everything will be okay I promise you," Karen said helpfully and encouragingly. "Don't you think you'd better tell Emma where you are in case she comes back?" Chris pointed out realizing he'd dragged Karen away a bit quickly. "Yeah I'd better give her a ring eh?"*10 minutes later* "She wants me to go back she has something to tell me god knows what it is now but she said it can't wait so I'd better go, I'll ring you when I know and I might even pop back over!" she said and then let herself out saying goodbye to the boys, and then Chris went upstairs to lay down for a bit to think things through some more, he wondered if Jill was having the baby or lost it, who the father was and when she'd be back home, whether she'd have the nerve to ask him to collect her. But most of all he thought of how much he loved Karen and couldn't believe how stupid he'd been not to realize she felt the same way long before he did, and tears came to his eyes. "Daddy can I have a cuddle?" A little voice came from behind the bedroom door, it was Sam."Of course you can buddy, hop up here then," he said reaching his arms out to scoop him up and give him a big warm hug. "Daddy why are you crying?""Because I don't know what to do, don't worry you'll understand one day. I love Auntie Karen..."
Meanwhile, Karen had driven back home where Emma had told her to go and she said it was important, but nothing in her voice really gave away whether it was good or bad news, and Karen had ideas whizzing around her head the whole journey back, and she desperately hoped she wouldn't get stuck in traffic. It was just getting dark and the sun was blinding and shining brightly as it began to disappear behind the clouds slowly. Karen let herself in the house rushing in to find out what Emma's news was. "Emma? Where are you darling, what have you got to tell me?" Karen asked not knowing whether to be worried or excited over the news."In the lounge mum! Come sit down!" Karen walked in the lounge to see Emma and her boyfriend Josh sitting very closely on the settee hand in hand, and she took a seat opposite them waiting in anticipation."Are you pregnant?!" Karen asked hoping she wasn't, she was too young to be ruining her life with a child, she had so much more to experience before child birth, however Karen didn't want to sound too put off by the thought in case she was pregnant and then that would upset Emma..."No don't worry I'm not pregnant," she replied laughing as Karen took a deep sigh of relief. "I'm engaged!" she exclaimed happily not being able to contain the announcement any longer, and then hugging Josh tightly again. Karen then gave her daughter a humongous hug squeezing her tightly and tears welling up in her eyes as she did so."Congratulations baby!" she said and then releasing her from the firm but warm cuddle and wiping a tear as it rolled down her cheek, Emma herself welling up a little bit too."And you better look after her," Karen said to Josh, laughing."Oh you don't have to worry about that I certainly will," he assured her and then Karen hugged Josh too."This is amazing news both of you," Karen said absolutely ecstatic for her daughter, she couldn't wait to start organizing the wedding and everything, from the dresses to the venue..."Look at my ring!" Emma said enthusiastically, thrusting her hand at her mother, she was so pleased with it."It's absolutely beautiful, you did an incredibly good job picking this one," she said to Josh, thinking it was the most sublime and exquisite thing she'd ever seen in her life, it was simple yet made a statement, a gold ring with a simple decorative diamante on top and fitted Emma's finger with perfection. "Thank you, it's kind of a family thing, it was my grandmothers, and she passed it down to my mother, and now you have it," he said."Well it's beautiful," Karen said, getting up to go and get the champagne from the kitchen and returning with three glasses. She poured the bubbly carefully into each glass and made a toast to them both wishing them many years of happiness. "Emma, would you mind if I rang Chris quickly and told him? He's probably wondering where I am actually...""Of course mum," she said sweetly, while Karen went out into the hallway to make the phone call and Emma and Josh got incredibly close and had shared a romantic kiss while Karen was out of the room."Chris, Emma's engaged!" Karen burst out as soon as he picked up the phone."Oh wow, fantastic! Tell her congratulations from me won't you? Gosh I'm glad it's you calling for a moment I thought it might be Jill," Chris laughed at the end. "Yes of course I will, gosh you should see the ring it's absolutely beautiful... my daughter's all grown up now isn't she," Karen sighed."She is indeed, she'd going to have a wonderful life Karen, she's been bought up too well! Okay I'll let you go and celebrate with them, and I'll see you at the rink in the morning yeah?""Okay bye Chris... I love you..." she sighed again and put the phone down and then joined Emma and Josh again, they stayed up quite late and just spent the evening just chatting about anything and everything, and they told Karen all about the proposal and how it all happened...