Chapter 24
The days following Freddie's proposal were lovely, he and Lindsey spent a lot of their time spreading the wonderful news of their marriage. Everyone was so happy for them, each telling them how much they deserved each other. Lindsey chose Ruby and Elsa and a childhood friend of hers as her bridesmaids, during the weekends leading up to the ceremony she and her bridesmaids went to various dress fittings. She had a plan of everyone wearing lilac dresses, to team up with her long floor length white dress. Freddie wanted him and his best men to roughly wear the same suits, he chose Ziggy,Robbie and Jason as his best men, he did feel slightly upset about not having Joe present but what could he do? He was no where to be seen and having Joe there could ruin the day for Lindsey and Freddie would never be able to live with himself if that ever happened.
Everything else was planned, Freddie wanted Lindsey to choose her dress without him knowing because he really wanted the surprise of seeing her all dressed up on their big day.
"I can't wait to see you Linds, you know on the big day" Freddie announced one day while they had a couple of hours to themselves, Sandy had taken Ruby and Elsa out for the day along with the others. Freddie and Lindsey hardly ever got full days to themselves so they made the most of it while they had the chance. Lindsey looked up at Freddie and smiled, she had the urge to tease him.
"Who says I'm going to turn up in a dress, I could come in my jeans and t shirt maybe" she teased.
"Oh that's good then, I wont be the only one turning up in my casuals" Freddie said, he started to tickle Lindsey under her arms, she started laughing hoping to resit his tickles as he hit her ticklish points.
"Oi you pack it in, you know I'll tickle you much worse and you know I wont stop until you've apologized" she said in between laughs. Freddie wasn't going to stop he was just going to tickle her even more, the more she resisted the more he did it. Lindsey began tickling him back. And after half an hour their wonderful tickle war was cut short by Freddie's phone ringing, it was Sandy inviting him and Lindsey to The Dog to have a few drinks.
"Who was that?" Lindsey asked as Freddie put his phone back in his pocket.
"Mum's asked us to meet her and the others for a few drinks" Freddie announced with a smile.
"Where are the girls? Didn't think Nancy wanted children in the bar after 6pm and it's 6:30pm now?" Lindsey enquired.
"They're upstairs with Darren, Oscar got a new game console thing for his birthday so he invited them up to try it out, mum said it would be a good time for us all to spend sometime together without the kids" Freddie said with a smile.
"Oh that was nice of him, lets go then. It will be nice to be kid free for a few more hours" Lindsey laughed, Freddie loved Lindseys laugh, it was something he would never ever get tired of hearing.
Once at the pub they were greeted by Sandy, Ziggy was sat at the other side of the room with Leela. They were caressing in the corner, smiling at each other. Jason was sat beside Sandy chatting with Holly. Robbie was upstairs with Phoebe they were keen on having a go on the game console too.
"What have you love birds been doing with your day then?" Freddie asked as he sat down next to Sandy, Lindsey sat the other side of him. Jason quickly pecked Holly on the cheek ending the conversation they were having.
"We went for lunch at that new Italian joint in town, it's not bad. What have you been doing?" Jason asked, Jason held Holly's hand under the table. She had her head rested on his shoulder.
"Oh nice, we'll have to check that out one day wont we Linds? We just spent the day together it was lovely" Freddie said with a smile.
"Yeah I wouldn't mind trying that out actually, So you didn't share that you almost set the house a fire due to burning your toast this morning" Lindsey teased. Freddie mimicked her voice in reply.
"You aren't funny Freddie" Lindsey said trying to stop herself from laughing but failing miserably.
"Well you're obviously going mad, laughing for no reason" Freddie said, pecking her lovingly on the lips.
"Oh Freddie what was that for?" she asked with a small smile.
"I need to permission to kiss my beautiful Fiancé now then?" Freddie laughed.
"Would have just been nice for the warning that was all, each time you kiss me I fall more in love with you, you know" Lindsey said looking into Freddie's eyes. His face lit up as she said those words.
"I don't mean to start an argument but I love you more" Freddie said, with a cheeky grin on his face.
"You two are like teenagers" Sandy added, laughing at their sweet pettiness.
"We waited years to behave like this so why can't we" Lindsey said, smiling at Freddie.
This brought back memories of how long Freddie had actually waited to call Lindsey his girl.
"Yeah she's right mum" Freddie smiled, kissing Lindsey's cheek. Sandy smiled at them both.
"Ah all my boys are so happily in love" Sandy sighed, smiling at Freddie, Ziggy and Jason all with their partners.
Sandy, Freddie, Lindsey, Jason, Holly, Ziggy and Leela spent the evening chatting and drinking, they all had a great night. At around 10pm Robbie and Phoebe joined them.
"Steady on you lot, you'll be running this pub dry with the amount you're all drinking" Robbie laughed as he and Phoebe approached the table.
"We ain't had that much you spoil sport" Jason proclaimed in a whiny tone.
"Anyway we're heading home, the little ones have fallen asleep upstairs so you can come and collect them in the morning" Phoebe announced.
"Are you sure they're alright?" Sandy asked, sounding slightly worried.
"Yeah they are, don't worry mum" Robbie said with a smile.
"Did Ruby behave herself?" Lindsey asked.
"Yeah she was as good as gold, they both were actually" Phoebe added.
All couple went their separate ways, Freddie and Lindsey went for a short walk around the village, Lindsey was slightly intoxicated but Freddie was near enough sober, for some reason he told himself that he would need to take care of Lindsey tonight. As they walked Freddie realised he should get Lindsey home and to bed, she was slurring and wobbling everywhere.
"Come on Linds, I think you might have had a few too many tonight" Freddie laughed, putting a supportive arm around her. She placed her head on his shoulder yawning in the process.
"I love you Freddie, I love you you you you" Lindsey slurred, laughing as she said this. Freddie rolled his eyes and smiled. He helped her walk and managed to get her home safely. When they got home Sandy was sat on the sofa drinking a glass of wine.
"You alright mum?" Freddie asked as he walked in, with Lindsey linked onto his arm with her eyes closed.
"Yeah I'm okay thanks, someone's had a good night" Sandy laughed as she saw Lindsey.
"I know, I'd better get her up to bed before she makes a night of it on my arm" Freddie smiled.
"Night Freddie" Sandy said, getting up to give him a kiss.
"Night mum" Freddie kissed Sandy's cheek. He then lifted Lindsey up and carried her up to bed.
Once in their bedroom Lindsey woke up as Freddie set her down on the bed, he took off her shoes and took off her necklace.
"Goodnight Freddie" Lindsey whispered as she fell back to sleep. Freddie smiled.
"Night Linds" he said, even though she couldn't hear him he still needed to answer her, he kissed her head and then left the room and went for a shower.
Once out of the shower, he went downstairs and joined Sandy again.
"Oh hello Fred, thought you'd join your old mum again" Sandy smiled as Freddie sat beside her.
"Aw you're not old mum, no harm in me spending time with you is there" Freddie added.
"No of course not, did you manage to get her upstairs alright?" Sandy enquired.
"Yeah, out like a light, its done her good to have a night out you know" Freddie smiled.
"Yeah I bet it has, I've enjoyed myself tonight too. It's been nice to have a break from Princess speech and strops and tantrums for a change" Sandy laughed.
"You'll be wishing for that to come back once she grows up" Freddie informed her.
"Yeah you're right, I learnt that with you lot" Sandy smiled at the memory of the boys being Elsa's age. Sandy's phone rang, she wondered what was going on as it was quite late.
Freddie looked at Sandy with wide eyes, wondering what was up.
"Okay, I'm on way" she said as she hung up the phone.
"Mum, what's wrong?" Freddie enquired.
"Uh it's Elsa she's had an accident Darren said" Sandy said as she picked up her hand bag.
"What sort of accident?" Freddie panicked.
"I don't know he said just to hurry up and get there" Sandy said, rushing towards the door.
Freddie followed her, they both made their way to The Dog very quickly.
"Darren where is she? What's happened" Sandy shouted as she ran into the pub, Freddie was stood close by her.
"She must have gone to the loo or something, she's fallen out of the bathroom window" Darren announced quickly, looking as white as a sheet.
"What you're not making any sense" Freddie said trying to shed some light on the situation.
"She's fallen out of the bathroom window, Nancy left Oscar's support step by the sink earlier, Elsa must have seen the step as an invitation to climb up on the windowsill" Darren sighed, running his hands through his hair.
"My poor baby, where is she?" Sandy sobbed at the thought of her little girl in danger, Freddie hugged Sandy.
"She's around the back, she's responding but she's very quiet" Darren said, leading Sandy and Freddie to Elsa. When they got to her she was laying on the ground, she was concisions but wasn't moving, tears were rushing out of her eyes. Nancy was holding her hand and reassuring her that she was okay.
"Elsa mummy's here sweetheart" Sandy said as she took over from Nancy, an ambulance was on its way to come and take her to hospital. Freddie bent down on Elsa's left side.
"Hello Els" he said smiling, her little face lit up at the sight of Freddie. She was unable to say anything but she smiled.
"You're going to be okay, I promise you" Freddie said, stroking her head gently.
Soon after an ambulance came and took her, there was only room for one person to travel with her in the ambulance so Freddie contacted the others for them all to meet him at the hospital, he then made his own way to the hospital.
When he got there Sandy was sobbing uncontrollably which caused Freddie to rush over to her.
He calmed her down a little, she was then able to tell him what had happened in the short while Freddie had been away. Freddie wanted Lindsey to be here too, but she was obviously still at home. Little Ruby was still fast asleep at The Dog unknown to the situation which had arisen.