Here is some more! I hope you're all loving the new addition.
Chapter 20
It had been a sad night in the Fisher/Scotcher household. Jess and Harry had been fine until it meant going to bed and mummy wasn't there to say goodnight. Rob found it just as tough, his little girl had been born into the world and he wasn't able to be with her. Getting Harry and Jess to go to bed had been tricky and Harry had gotten himself all worked up, hence how the three of them found themselves waking up in Karen and Rob's bed. Harry was the first to wake and woke them all up by jumping on them.
"Let's go get Darcy and mummy!" Rob found it sweet that Harry was so excited, however it was only half 5 and Rob was shattered.
"Bud it's still early. It's only half past 5, go back to sleep before you wake up Jess"
"But I want to bring them home"
"We all do but we can't go until 9 and you need your sleep" rob knew how little of that he was to be getting soon with a newborn.
Rob was too tired to argue with Harry and eventually they both fell back to sleep. Harry didn't wake up again until a more reasonable hour, rob showered whilst the kids ate, there was a definite speed in everyone's step. The kids were all ready to go, everything they needed to bring home Darcy was already at the hospital all that was needed was to get there. The plan was for Rob's mum and Karen's parents to meet Darcy this morning before all going home to see aunts and uncles, welcome the new arrival properly.
Harry and Jess were looking a lot more confident in comparison to yesterday, the anticipation of meeting the baby no longer an issue.
"Slow down you two, Darcy may be asleep" rob warned them, they both calmed down as they waited outside the door. Rob quietly and slowly opened the door the kids pouring in to the sounds of a screaming Darcy and Karen completely and utterly fed up. Rob chucked down his jacket on the chair and scooped up Darcy.
"What's the matter my little cuddle bug?"
"I've been trying to feed her for an hour" Karen was borderline crying, she was frustrated and tired and had clearly had a rough first night with Darcy. Jess and Harry were a little taken back, they hadn't experienced a full on newborn scream yesterday and this was a little overwhelming. Rob had never had a newborn and yet he knew the right thing to do at the right time, he was determined to prove that he intended to do everything he could for all of them.
Darcy continued to scream, Karen's eyes were fighting to stay open, but her head was pounding. Rob's rocking did eventually seize the screaming, but it was clear Darcy wasn't happy.
"Are you ok mummy?" Jess asked sweetly,
"I'm just very tired Jess. Did you have a good night last night?"
Karen asked expecting it to have been smoother than hers.
"Well actually we were all up late, these two missed you. Harry got himself quite worked up so we all ended up in our bed. But then Harry woke up at half 5" Harry was clearly looking like he'd had no sleep. Karen opened her arms knowing that the look on his face was one that could be fixed by mummy. Karen was feeling really sore today so giving her son a hug was actually quite painful but it seemed to cheer him up a bit.
"I missed you"
"I missed you all lots too" Karen gave both her children a kiss.
"And you're coming home today, for definite" Jess needed to make sure.
"Yes we are, the doctor came
In earlier and thinks they'll discharge us at lunchtime."
Darcy had fallen asleep in Rob's arms so Karen took the opportunity to freshen up before their parents came to meet Darcy. She gave rob a loving kiss "we missed you" before getting herself together.
"she screams really loudly!" Harry commented
"Babies do, but she's ok now" Harry didn't look convinced which was quite amusing. Jess and Harry were clearly starting to get bored, rob was in the middle of changing Darcy so karen didn't have to once she was ready.
"Can I play the car game on your phone Rob?"
"Not at the minute bud, I forgot to charge it last night and nanny, grandad and grandma" he directed the last specifically at his little girl, "are going to phone me when they get here" Harry sulked in the chair. Jess was sat on the bed looking at the tiny baby grows that had been brought to the hospital for her sister, when Karen returned.
"How's she doing?" She peered over rob and endearingly rubbed his back.
"I think we are all good" Karen was slightly taken a back by the ease at which Rob was slipping into fatherhood. Karen remembered the arguments that were had at changing nappies, bathing and putting to bed with Charlie.
"Jess if you want to be helpful you could pop those into the bag over there" Karen asked sweetly Jess gracefully hopped off the bed.
"How you feeling?"
"Sore" Karen replied honestly. He wrapped his arms around Karen as they looked over there little girl, the moment was of course interrupted however by Jess.
"These look way too big for Darcy!" Jess declared arousing her little brothers attention. Karen turned around as she noticed the pad that Jess had yanked out of her maternity bag.
"Oh your two really do have a knack for finding the really intimate parts of pregnancy out" Karen rolled her eyes at Rob
"Well seen as you know so much you could always take over right about now" Karen teased rob.
"They aren't for Darcy, they're for me" Jess looked over at her mum as if asking for further explanation.
"When you have a baby you bleed a lot afterwards" unlike Harry who was grossed out Jess was simply fascinated and just put it back in the bag.
"Well that faded out quickly... Thank god!"
Darcy began to cry again just as Rob's phone vibrated,
"Your mum and dad are here"
"Oh Darcy you can't meet Nanny and Grandad while you're crying" Karen picked her up in hope of soothing her but figured she must be hungry again! Karen sat down and began feeding as her mum and dad walked in with Rob. Harry and Jess were excited to see their grandparents and were spoilt with hugs and kisses.
"Well we were already for you until she decided that she actually wanted her feed now and not when she was meant to have it"
"Oh Darcy you wouldn't be being hard work. Not my granddaughter."
"Your dads been up since 5 this morning with excitement"
"Well you weren't the only one, Harry was too" rob added sweetly.
Karen finished feeding which meant that Ellen and Jim got to properly meet their new granddaughter. Ellen scooped her up and admired every little feature.
"She's beautiful, she looks so much like both of you. I could eat you all up Darcy. I could" Ellen was besotted as were all the family. Jim got to hold his granddaughter as Ellen had hugs with her older grandchildren.
"How did she sleep?" Ellen asked.
"She woke up about every hour"
Karen replied exhausted
"But she is completely worth it and I wouldn't change her for the world" Karen looked up at Rob with complete and utter adoration.
"I hate that I couldn't have helped you"
"Aye, you were looking after those two, that was more help than I could have asked for"
Rob and Karen were so in love and completely ready for their next chapter together, as a family. Rob's mum arrived shortly armed with as many gifts as Karen's parents as well as a sweet balloon. She moved quickly towards Jim to admire her granddaughter.
"Congratulations, she's absolutely gorgeous" she had a cuddle before making sure Harry and Jess felt included.
"Jess in that bag is a little something for you two"
"Oh Cathy you didn't have to do that"
"It's only chocolate, but had to congratulate the new big brother and sister somehow" Jess and Harry gave Cathy a big hug and said thank you.
"I bet you're ready to be going home" Cathy stated
"More than ready, sick of the sight of these four walls. I just can't wait to have her at home" Karen was sat resting looking over at Darcy who was now asleep. Harry was sat with Rob whilst Jess and Jim were mucking around with a rubber glove they had found, blowing it up and scratching each other's shoulders.
"Seriously you two, you're like a couple of clowns sometimes." Jim and Jess had a very special relationship and Karen could only hope Darcy grew up to have a similar one.
"Do you know what I'm excited for most Rob?" Harry asked Rob
"What?"
"Being able to show everyone at show and tell that I'm a big brother"
Karen had over heard
"In pictures though right?"
"Of course, Darcy's only a baby. She's too little to come to school, we don't want to lose her like when I lost bullseye." Harry was very sweet sometimes he did have a very vivid imagination though at times. Jess had gathered round her little sister who was waking up and began playing peek a boo, Karen wasn't really sure how well Darcy was taking to it but Jess was enjoying herself.
"Ok Jess I think you may actually be scaring her now sweetheart" nanny stepped in. Finally the doctor they had all been waiting for emerged,
"We are all happy for you to leave now, we just want you to sign these discharge forms" which Karen did as Rob already began to get Darcy ready to leave. He wrapped her up sweetly in her new little coat that Harry had chosen and placed her into her car seat and draped her light blanket over the top. Jess gently rocked the car seat as Harry tried to be helpful by carrying the balloons. Jim grabbed the maternity bag and Cathy and Ellen the bags of presents so Karen could walk down with her eldest daughter whilst watching Rob protectively hold onto the car seat that held his precious little girl.
Everyone helped to load up Rob's car, the women placing in the presents and Jim the bag. Jess got in the car whilst Rob and Karen fussed with getting the car seat to fit in its stand, Jess was doing a good job of entertaining little Darcy in the process. They'd finally got her sorted and turned around to get in the car to see Harry let go of the balloons, it was probably to have been expected.
Harry felt awful though and turned around immediately to his mum and Rob.
"It's alright bud, they're only balloons"
"She'll hate me now!"
"Aye she could never hate you, your her big brother. She loves you too much" Karen reassured her little boy before helping him with his seatbelt.
Rob took this moment to then wrap his arms around Karen, "I can't quite believe we are taking her home"
"Boy are those two in for a shock with the amount of crying" Karen laughed, yes the evenings were about to get interesting.
The car journey was very uneventful, the siblings had time to bond as Jess held her little hand the whole way home and Harry commented on all the little faces his sister was making. Karen was sat in the passenger seat listening to her children, she couldn't have been more happy. She placed her hand on Rob's thigh and looked at him a look only love could provide. They finally arrived home, rob sweetly helped Karen out of the car before taking the car seat. Jess and Harry stood sweetly by their mummy who had wrapped an arm around each of them.
"Shall we go in then?" Rob asked sweetly. They all headed for the door, this was the big moment, Darcy would finally be home. Rob unlocked the door with his spare hand and they all walked in quite calmly and slowly, rob placing the car seat down in the lounge. Jess and Harry having taken off their shoes were quick to sit around her, whilst Karen needed to rest and was sat down on the sofa looking slightly uncomfortable and exhausted, it wasn't long before her eyes were closing and she was dozing off.
Rob walked back into the room having done the same as Jess and Harry to find Karen asleep. Rob went to pick up Darcy whilst addressing the elder two.
"Let's leave mummy to sleep for a while and go through to the kitchen" Jess and Harry did as they were told, rob shutting the door behind them. Rob knew how exhausted Karen was and knew it would only get worse so gave her the time now. Jess and Harry both sat up at the table and began to draw pictures, rob overlooked whilst gently soothing his little girl.
Rob couldn't quite believe this was happening, here he was watching Jess and Harry play together nicely whilst holding his little girl, his daughter. However as always moments this peaceful didn't last for ever and suddenly
"Eurgh!" Harry moaned
"Rob Darcy's been sick" Jess commented, forcing Rob to look down at the sick that was projecting out of nowhere.
"Oh Darcy" Harry and Jess were finding it slightly amusing watching Rob freak out at baby sick, maybe he'd found his one fault at fatherhood. To top things off nicely the doorbell rang,
"Jess that will either be Auntie Emma or Sarah so can you grab that?" Jess was definitely the big mature sister suddenly and did as she was told.
She opened the door to see her Auntie Emma with Noah and Ella.
"Hello big sister" Emma greeted her kissing her niece's cheek.
"Where's mummy and Rob?"
"Well mummy's asleep and Darcy's just been sick ... Everywhere!" Emma was quite amused at Jess's description, knowing that for a newborn it would probably be quite accurate. Emma gave little Ella to her cousin whilst telling Noah to be quiet, before going to help Rob with Darcy.
Since Karen was asleep, Emma found a baby cloth that was in her own bag still and used it to clean little Darcy up whilst Rob held her.
"There we are missy, but you are definitely going to need a change now"
"Thanks Em" rob was grateful
"I didn't want to wake up Karen and these two weren't much help"
"First fountain of sick?"
"Yep" rob replied laughing at the appropriate description.
"I will just go change this one, we can't have you smelling of sick before everyone's even met you Darcy" rob said sweetly to his little girl.
Jess let a fidgety Ella get down but no one noticed her leave the room.
"So what's it like being a big brother and sister?" Emma asked them sweetly.
"I love it" harry declared which warmed his auntie's heart.
"I can't believe how tiny she is!" Jess added on. Noah was looking quite apprehensive about meeting little Darcy and was sat having a cuddle with his mummy. Meanwhile in the lounge, Karen was suddenly woken by two little hands. Her eyes opened and for a moment she was quite thrown, her own little girl being way too little to be walking around, then she realised.
"When did you get here monkey" Karen was always happy to see her niece and nephew. She scooped up Ella who just wanted to say hello and headed to the kitchen were she could hear everyone talking.
"Anybody lost a little monkey?" Karen directed at her niece,
"Ella! She didn't wake you did she?"
"She did but it's fine. I wanted to see you all when you got here anyway" Karen passed Ella to Jess since her mummy's hands were full.
"Where's rob?" Karen asked.
"Oh Darcy had a sick explosion"
"Add poo explosion to the mix and you may be more on the right lines" rob added on his return now carrying a much cleaner and contented baby.
"Wait are you telling me you just dealt with sick and poo?" Rob didn't stop amazing her.
"Yes" rob looked quite confused but soon realised that she was comparing this to her last pregnancy and bringing Harry home.
"Well I'll be honest, I'm struggling with the sick but it will only get better right" rob made a funny face at the end which only made Karen want to kiss him more.
"Thank you" she told him as she gently brushed her daughters cheek.
"Shall we all go into the lounge now mummy's awake it will be more comfortable in there" Jess stated quite sweetly before ushering everyone out, she was clearly very proud of her little sister.
They all went through Karen and Rob sweetly fussing over their little girl. Jess and Harry and Noah were all on the floor sitting calmly. Emma decided that maybe she should keep hold of Ella for now. Karen sat down with Rob and Darcy who began to get fussy.
"Your ok" Karen tickled her belly whilst Rob held her in his arms, she soon stopped.
"Seriously you two, it's like you were made to do this" Emma commented sweetly. She was so glad that Karen had found someone again.
"Darcy just proves how far you've come, that you have a future that doesn't involve being tied to..." Emma stopped not wanting to say a certain persons name. Karen nuzzled into Rob,
"I know that I'm really lucky" Karen looked up at Rob before sharing a kiss.
"Now I think Rob that Auntie Emma might just be dying for a hug" Emma's eyes sparkled, Ella went and sat with Jess whilst her mummy initially met her new niece.
"She is beautiful" Darcy let out a little grunt,
"I think that means she likes you" Jess added sweetly.
"What does it mean if she's sick on you?" Rob enquired out of interest,
"Then she must REALLY like you" Jess giggled and Karen pretended to make out that Rob smelt of sick.
"Oi you two" he warned.
"Seriously though, I can't get over how well you coped with that. Darcy's my third and I was practically crying when she wouldn't feed earlier" rob was touched that Karen was thinking so highly of him.
Noah got up to enquire about his little cousin, he gently held her hand as Jess and harry had done.
"She's so tiny"
"She is, do you remember when Ella was as tiny?" Noah shook his head.
"Well when you met Ella for the first time we all thought you were going to give her a kiss..." Karen knew where the story was going and couldn't help but laugh, rob looked at her intrigued,
"But then you sneezed all over her head" Noah laughed it was quite sweet, he did then go and give her a hug "sorry Ella." Ella was fed up of being fussed over and shrugged him off.
"Ella play nicely" Emma warned.
"Ella shall we go and meet Darcy?" Ella seemed to calm down and be intrigued by Jess's suggestion.
"She really is the best big sister" rob whispered to Karen who now found herself welling up. Jess held Ella back, Ella was only little so they let Ella gently touch her new baby cousin. She began to press her
"Careful Ella" then she'd do the same thing but harder. They knew she didn't mean it really and was her way of understanding but the look she gave after she'd done it was quite a picture.
"You have to be careful, Darcy's only little" Jess tried to explain, Ella wriggled round for a hug from Jess,
"Ella will you give Darcy a kiss?" Her mummy asked, Ella thought about it but then leant out so Jess moved her closer. The moment was very sweet.
It wasn't long before Craig and Sarah arrived and the rest of the introductions could be made. Craig held his baby niece in his arms
"So you did say I could throw her in the air yeah?"
"Not even funny" Karen replied knowing her brother too well, she looked over at Rob whose body was practically poised to leap up and catch her. Karen rubbed his thigh to calm him down which made him laugh.
"I think the daddy senses are tingling" Sarah added sweetly at Rob's reaction before being passed her baby niece.
"I never thought I'd ever be meeting Rob's little girl" Sarah spoke honestly, no one ever seemed special enough for their rob but then he met Karen and everything changed.
"But I promise you Darcy you are one very lucky girl. Daddy gives the best hugs, he'll read you stories and add in all the voices, he'll give you a piggy back home if you're too tired to walk, he'll be ready to fight off all those boys that will be queuing around the block. And then you have your lovely mummy, which is why you're so beautiful because let's face it you didn't get your looks from daddy. And not only did you get such a perfect mummy and daddy you've got a big brother and sister to blame everything on you, to give you things that mummy and daddy say no to, to protect you from the school bully and to teach you everything you will ever need to know. You're a very loved little girl." Everyone was crying tears of happiness at Sarah's gorgeous little speech. Rob wrapped his arms around Karen as if to say he really would be here for all of that, the loving kiss simply signed his name on the dotted line of the contract of parenthood.