"Your daddy is cheeky calling in sick like that" Nikki said to Darius as they waited for his bath to run. The young boy had woken up only half an hour ago and was already wide awake. Edward and Graham were the ones who were not morning people. Darius laughed and reached out to the bath where the water was still running, he made small grunting noises when Nikki held him tightly and he looked back at her expectantly. "Not yet baby, the water isn't ready"

Darius looked back at the water and caught sight of the yellow rubber duck that was floating innocently on the water, looking at his mother he then pointed at the duck and clenched and unclenched his hands. Nikki smiled and leant over the side of the bath to pick the rubber duck up, shaking it free of excess water she handed it to her youngest son who grinned and instantly placed it in his mouth. Nikki couldn't help but giggle when the baby kicked against Darius who was sitting right up against her stomach. He looked down at her stomach, the duck still in his mouth and then back at Nikki. The baby kicked again and Darius started to sniffle slightly and his eyes filled with tears.

"Hey it's alright baby" Nikki laughed and took his hand in hers and placed it on her stomach. Darius tried to pull away but Nikki held his hand firmly to her stomach. The baby kicked again and Darius looked up at Nikki who was smiling, he boy took this as an incentive that what was happening was okay and smiled slightly. Some stray tears leaked out of his eyes where he couldn't force them back and Nikki wiped them away. She then placed a kiss on his cheek and checked the bath water, satisfied it was at a good temperature for her son to bathe she turned the taps off and preceded to undress him.

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"Darius was a bit wary of the baby" Nikki told Harry as they sat on the sofa that afternoon while Edward and Darius watched their daily show about animals, today it was about snakes which Edward found more fascinating than Graham did. Harry turned away from the screen which showed a large Anaconda making it's way through the water, to look at the woman in his arms.

"Really?" he asked, surprised

Nikki nodded and turned slightly so she was facing him.

"The baby kicked against him and I think it shocked him, he almost cried as well"

"Well it must be a shock to him" Harry told his wife "He probably has no idea what is going on and seeing you getting bigger and…"

"Are you saying I'm fat?" Nikki asked suddenly and Harry closed his mouth quickly and shook his head.

"No, I'm just saying…"

"That I'm fat" Nikki said almost hysterically and forcibly moved Harry's arms away from her and moved further away from him on the sofa.

"Mummy need hug" Edward asked from the floor were he was sitting and stood up to walk over to her. Nikki smiled and leant down to pick him up. He wrapped his arms around her neck and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Wuv you"

"Love you" Nikki repeated and Edward grinned.

"Baby okay?" Edward then asked and looked down at his mother's stomach and placed a gentle hand on it. "Baby move?"

"The baby's asleep"

"Not sleep time for Edward" the boy said and shook his head and pointed to the television where the snake program was still on "Mummy watch snakey with us?"

"Mummy is yes" Nikki nodded

"Mama sit on floor?" Graham asked from the floor and Nikki couldn't resist the innocent brown eyes that looked her way.

"Okay then" Nikki nodded and stood up with Edward in her arms then seated herself on the floor leaving Harry feeling very alone on the sofa as Graham crawled over and sat next to Nikki. He knew however that Nikki wouldn't stay angry with him for long and he smiled as he looked at his family. The moment was broken when they heard Darius cry from upstairs and Nikki turned to him, he knew that he was forgiven by the look she had in her eyes.

"I'll go get him" he smiled and Nikki beamed and looked back at the television just as the program finished and announced that the next program would be about sharks.

"Sharky" Graham shouted and clapped "Mama sharky"

"I can see" Nikki smiled and looked at the time, they had been watching the television for just over an hour and they normally turned it off for a rest after than but Nikki decided to let them watch the next show considering it was about their obviously favourite animal. "Graham move away from the television sweetie" she said to her son who had got to close to the screen and he looked back and did as he was told. She shook her head humorously as she saw how engrossed they were with the sharks on screen and stood up slowly placing one hand on her stomach. Harry walked in carrying Darius and Nikki walked straight up to her husband and kissed him.

"I'm sorry" she said shortly and he just smiled and nodded before placing Darius on the carpet where he crawled over to the box of toys in the corner of the room then looked up at the television. "Oh dear" Nikki whispered as she saw her son smile at the animal on screen. Harry just chuckled and wrapped one arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"He's alright" he mumbled into her hair.

I had to have Darius with a yellow rubber ducky, it was just a cute image. ;)

xxx