Thanks everyone for reading the first chapter, without further ado here is the next one :D
Chapter two -
Kate was shocked to hear it was Nikki's voice on the phone and not work. By the time Kate ha answered the phone, Mike was interested in the conversation that was going on.
"Nikki, Nikki? What is it? What is the matter?" Kate said very concerned for Nikki.
"Kate! Kate! Help me, help me," Nikki shouted.
"Okay Nikki, can you tell me what's up?" Kate asked trying to calm Nikki down.
"It hurts, it hurts," Nikki replied crying.
Kate knew exactly what was the matter, she had been in the same position as Nikki is in now. Nikki was in labour and Kate knew it. Two months early wasn't good thought, whatever happened to Josh watching over her.
"Okay Nikki, it is okay, I'm on my way over, just stay where you are, I have a key. Just remember your breathing, stay on the phone," Kate said.
"I'll try, please hurry Kate, I'm scared." Nikki cried down the phone.
"I know, I'm coming, I'll be there soon," Kate said calmly down the phone.
Kate turned to Mike who was wide awake after hearing this conversation.
"What? Is she okay?" Mike asked.
"Mike, she is in labour," Kate said covering the mouth piece on the phone so Nikki wouldn't hear her.
"Oh god, not good, two months early, will she baby survive?" Mike whispered knowing Nikki was still on the phone.
"I hope so, if it is as half as strong as Nikki and Josh, I'm sure it will," Kate said still not knowing what gender the baby was.
"Okay, go, just go, but promise to ring me," Mike said.
"I will," Kate said giving Mike a kiss and grabbing the keys.
She ran outside into the car and drove as quickly as she could to Nikki's it was early so the roads were all quiet.
She arrived at Nikki's about 10 minutes later, to find it still dark.
Kate had spoken to Nikki throughout the journey but she knew she shouldn't have.
Kate told Nikki that she had just parked the car and was coming up the drive, just so it didn't alarm her when she did come in.
Kate walked in, turning lights as she went until she found Nikki on the floor in the bathroom in agony.
"How long have you been like this?" Kate asked trying to help her up off the floor on to her bed.
"Well I got up to go the loo and then I noticed your note on the door and laughed, but I didn't feel right, my stomach hurt, and then my waters broke and the contractions started. And I rang you, I'm sorry that I woke you up," Nikki said still tears in her eyes.
"Nikki, don't worry about waking me up I'm your birthing partner your friend I want to be there for you. Right, now let's get you to hospital, do you want me to drive or do you want me to call an ambulance?" Kate asked.
"Can you drive?" Nikki asked because she didn't like fuss and it was only twenty minutes away and they could get there quicker than an ambulance probably.
"Okay, let's try and get you downstairs," Kate said to Nikki.
Nikki didn't say anything she just nodded and took Kate's arm. She didn't like relying on people. They both did, to be honest Nikki thought Kate acted like a mum looking after her, but they were both alike. Both stubborn and both hated replying on people.
"Kate, did I do this?" Nikki asked a bit calmer now.
"Do what chick?"
"Bring earlier labour on? I mean I slept in a graveyard to be with Josh it is my entire fault, if this baby dies it is all my fault," Nikki said through tears.
"Nikki, look at me this isn't your fault, the baby just wants to come now and this baby isn't going to die, you are both going to be fine, stop worrying and concentrate on your breathing now," Kate ordered.
Nikki listened to Kate, after all she had been there herself, she knew what it was like so it would be good advice from Kate.
Kate helped the heavily pregnant Nikki into the car, after that Kate quickly got into the car on the other side and started the engine.
"Next time Nikki, you'll be in this car, you will have a little one with you. Are you excited?" Kate asked knowing full well that she was so excited to meet them but also relieved to not having to carry the weight around anymore.
"I am, I can't wait, but this pain, it kills, I don't know how long I can put up with it," Nikki said again in tears.
"Well, were nearly there now," Kate said in a calming told.
"Oh Kate, what would I ever do without you," Nikki said.
"Well, that's good because I don't know what I would do without you either," Kate said which lightened the mood in the car.
"Oh God, how am I going to lose all this weight? How you manage it?" Nikki asked.
Kate just laughed.
"You will find out when the baby comes along," Kate said through laughing.
It didn't take long to get to the hospital due to what time it was in the morning. Kate pulled up outside the hospital and shouted to the porter that was there to bring over a wheel chair.
The porter ran over with the wheel chair and threw a glanced concerned look at Kate. Kate helped Nikki into the chair and the porter pushed her through to the maternity suite as quickly as he could because by this stage Nikki was screaming, whilst Kate was trying to calm her down.
They were ushered in one of the private rooms and a young female midwife came into the room.
"Okay, Nikki, this baby is coming now, it is too late to give you an epidural but gas and air is quite good at killing pain," the midwife said.
Nikki jumped at the chance anything to kill this pain.
Kate held Nikki's hand through the whole thing, she was better than a birth partner. She was her best friend and the only person other than Josh she would have wanted here.
Nikki was given the gas and air which helped keep some of the pain but not too much.
"Okay, Nikki, this must be one of the quickest labours I have ever seen in my ten years of working here, so not much pain left," The midwife said quite satisfied.
"I wish it was quicker," Nikki shouted.
Kate was still doing her job at calming Nikki down but laughing along with her, it seemed to help.
They had only been at the hospital about an hour, but to Nikki it felt so much longer.
At 4:44 in the morning of Friday the 9th of July, Nikki's baby was born.
Kate helped settle Nikki and she had to have her chance at holding the baby before she rang Mike. This was way more important than ringing anyone at this point in time.
Nikki handed the baby over to Kate, as soon as she did, Nikki fell asleep. She was exhausted.
Kate sorted the baby out for her, and just sat in the chair next to Nikki and nursed the baby. She hadn't cried once yet and Kate knew instantly that Nikki had a good baby that didn't need a lot of attention to be happy.
An hour late Nikki woke up, "Kate sorry I fell asleep, I shouldn't have left you with the baby"
"Nikki will you stop worrying, you need you sleep right now, especially with this one now, make the most of it while I'm here," Kate said.
Nikki just stared at the little boy in Kate's arms.
"Nik, you have one gorgeous little boy, well done," Kate said looking at Nikki smiling.
"I know he is beautiful, he just looks like Josh. Kate, I have been thinking about something and meaning to ask you, but I just don't know how to do it," Nikki said to Kate.
"What is it chick?" Kate replied.
"Well, Erm... I was wondering whether you minded me calling the baby Josh, you know after his dad and I totally understand if you don't want me to because he is your only boy and all so I ..." Nikki was stopped mid sentence by Kate.
"Nikki, I would never stop you for calling your baby Josh, it suits him very well. ET would be honoured that you called him Josh after him. Oh Nikki, I am so proud of you," Kate said.
"Thank you Kate, that really means a lot to me," Nikki replied.
Kate looked down at the baby that she was still holding.
"Well, Joshua Holiday, meet your mummy," Kate said handing over the baby for Nikki to hold.
Nikki took the baby with both hands careful not to drop him, he was so small and adorable and Nikki really didn't want anything to happen to this little one. It was the only thing that she had left of her Josh.
"Kate?" Nikki said to bring Kate out of her daydream about Nikki and little Joshua.
"Yeah chick?" Kate replied.
"I was wondering if you would be his God mother, I am going to ask Josh's sister as well but she just lives so far away and I was wondering whether you would," Nikki asked.
"Of course I would love to be, it would be an honour to be his God mother," Kate replied.
"That was one thing I wanted to ask you, but the other was would you be his adopted aunty and Mike his adopted uncle because I don't have any brothers or sisters and his other aunty is miles away?" Nikki asked hesitantly.
"Of course," Kate replied to Nikki.
Kate turned round and looked at Josh, "Well Josh, meet your aunty Kate," Kate said as Nikki laughed.
"I can't believe he is so well for being two months premature," Nikki said smiling.
"Oh Nikki, Erm...When you were sleeping the doctors came in, but were going to leave again but I asked them to tell me what they wanted, I hope you didn't mind?" Kate asked.
"No, course not, what did they want?" Nikki replied.
"They came to check on Josh and they were pleased with him, in fact they were very pleased with both of you and said that if you felt up to it, they were going to discharge you, when you are ready that was," Kate said smiling.
"Oh that it great news, I can't wait to leave here. Well, someone is certainly watching over me, especially these last few days," Nikki said through the smile.
"Okay, right I still haven't told Mike you have had the baby, so I will go outside and ring him, do you want me to do anything for you?" Kate asked.
"Oh god, I still haven't told Josh's mum and dad," Nikki said.
"Would you like me to ring them for you?" Kate asked.
"Would you not mind? It would be a great help," Nikki said as if she had a million and one things to do.
"No, course I don't mind, I shouldn't be too long," Kate said turning to face the door.
"Thanks Kate," Nikki said just before Kate walked out the door.
Kate went and stood out of ear shot of Nikki before she dialled the number for her house. On the third ring Mike picked up the phone, cheerful as ever.
"Kate? How is she is the baby okay?" Mike asked as concern over took cheery.
"Yeah, she is fine, she has a gorgeous baby, and they are letting them out today" Kate replied all happy.
"Oh that is great news, what did she have?" Mike asked as happy as ever.
"Ah, now that is a surprise, you will just have to wait," Kate laughed.
"Oh that is not fair, so when are you going to tell me? Has she picked a name yet?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, again you will have to wait," Kate said.
"Erm...okay, so have you asked her if she wants to stay at ours at first, till she gets settled? We both know how difficult it was at first," Mike stated.
"I've not asked her yet, but I think she will," Kate said.
"Okay, you ask her and I will sort out something else, ring me half an hour before you leave. And I will tell the others for you, one less thing you have to sort out," Mike said.
"Okay, sort something else out?" Kate asked.
"Ah, now you will just have to wait and see," Mike laughed, getting one over on Kate was a rare thing.
"Okay, I will see you soon," Kate stated.
"Alright, I love you," Mike said.
"I love you too," Kate said before hanging up to call Josh's mum.
Kate dialled Josh's mums number after she hung up from Mike. Josh's mum was so excited that she had a grandchild, Josh's sister hadn't had any children yet.
Again, just like Mike, she hadn't told Josh's mum what the child was and it was a surprise.
Kate must have been out the room for about ten minutes, and when she came back in to the room, Josh was in the cot next to the bed Nikki was in and she was up and dressed.
"What you doing?" Kate asked when she walked back in the room.
"Oh I just can't wait to get out of here, I hate hospitals," Nikki replied.
"Right...okay. well I've told Mike and he said he will inform the others, and I've rang Josh's parents as well. However, I haven't told them it was a boy or what his name is because I thought it would be a nice surprise for you to tell them," Kate said.
"Oh Kate, that is a lovely idea, thank you for doing that." Nikki said.
"Right and whilst I'm on a similar subject, I was wondering whether you and little Joshua would like to come and stay at ours until you get settled down with him. We both know how hard it is to bring up children together so we know it will be hard for you, so we thought why don't you two come and stay with us until you are ready. It is up to you, but the offer is still there," Kate said.
"Oh Kate it is a lovely offer, but I don't know," Nikki said.
"Look, just think about it, we will be there to help you. You know if you ever need anything or what not," Kate said helping Nikki pack up.
"Well, Erm...actually it might give me chance to get everything sorted back home, I still haven't painted the room for him yet and still haven't got everything I need. So maybe if would be a good idea that I come and stay with you for some time, that is if you don't mind. I know you have three children already and I don't really want to invade and everything that wouldn't be fair," Nikki stated.
"Me and Mike wouldn't have offered otherwise, now you are coming to stay with us, for however long you want to," Kate ordered.
Nikki just laughed.
"Right, I really need to get out of this room now, before I go insane," Nikki said.
"Right, okay, I shall go get the doctor," Kate said walking out of the room.
About five minutes later, Kate came back indoors with the doctor. The doctor filled some forms in and then made both Kate and Nikki to sign the discharge form.
The doctor then left but before he did she told them not to disappear till she comes back.
With that, Kate went outside to phone Mike to tell him that she was going to be home soon with Nikki who has decided to stay.
Both Kate and Mike were relieved about that because she didn't want Nikki to be on her own at first. They really wanted to keep an eye on her, she had her moments when she got upset and Mike and Kate wanted to be there for her.
Kate entered the room waiting for the doctor to return, which she did about twenty minutes later holding a bag.
"This is for you, it is like a starter pack, with give them to all the new mums now," The doctor said.
"Oh, thank you," Nikki replied.
"Well good luck with everything and I will be seeing you in a few weeks," She said to Nikki.
With that the doctor left the room and shut the door behind her.
"Should we get going then?" Kate asked Nikki.
"Definitely!" Nikki smiled glad to be getting out of there.
"Okay then, let's get out of here," Kate said.
With that Kate grabbed the car seat with little Josh in because Nikki didn't look strong enough to carry him right now, those chairs were really heavy.
When they reached the car, Nikki got in the front, whilst Kate put the baby in the back on the car and made sure he was fastened in correctly. After that Kate got into the driver's side an started the engine.
"Okay, we ready to go?" Kate asked Nikki who was already half asleep.
"Yeah, I just want to go to sleep now," Nikki said quietly.
"Well that is what you can do when you get back to ours, have a sleep and we will look after him for you, and then after you have a sleep you can invite Josh's parents over," Kate replied.
Nikki just nodded she was half asleep already leaning the door with her head rested on the window.
Within minutes she was asleep. Kate drove home the rest of the way in silence with the baby asleep she knew she wasn't going to get much sleep with a new baby in their house but she didn't mind, she wanted to do best by Nikki.
The car journey took about half an hour and when Kate stopped she had to wake Nikki up. As soon as they pulled up, Mike came out to help them and welcome Nikki into their home.
But really Kate just thought he was trying to see what gender the baby was. She just silently laughed to herself.
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