New Arrival
This chapter has been prompted by Jessica and the prompt was Sandy and Fraser have a baby, how do they and their family cope with the prospect of a new arrival?
The day Sandy got married to Fraser was one of the happiest days of her life. After years of only entering relationships with the wrong sort of men, none of whom treated her right, she had finally found someone to love as much as she had loved Alan, someone who reciprocated those feelings too.
Life had been perfect, she had her boys around her and was married to the perfect guy, but happiness, especially for Sandy, never lasted, and it wasn't long before she was once more met with troubles.
At the age of 55, Sandy had never thought she'd be able to have any more children, she hadn't hit the menopause just yet, but there was little doubt it was far off and menopause or not, her body wasn't exactly up to bearing a seventh child. This meant her and Fraser hadn't always been careful though, and their carelessness led to one of their biggest mistakes.
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When Sandy didn't get her period for two months on the trot, she hadn't been particularly worried, assuming it was just the menopause and nothing else and she quashed down the voice in her head that told her she was suffering none of the symptoms, was having no hot flushes or night sweats.
Because there was nothing else it could be, or at least that was what she told herself. When she spent every morning for a solid five weeks throwing up in the toilet, she put it down to food poisoning from that new Thai place by the market, or the flu that simply everyone was catching, because that was what it had to be, there was no other logical explanation.
When she had to buy new trousers, bigger trousers, because all of hers had stopped fitting, well that was because domestic bliss suited her. Sandy was happier than she had been in years, of course she was going to eat more, that was a proven fact.
But then the car crash happened. It wasn't anything big and no-one was majorly hurt, but Sandy did have to go to hospital to get someone to see to her whiplash. They had checked her all over to make sure there was no internal damage, and as Sandy waited on the bed in the full and bustling ward, she couldn't help but place her hand on her slightly swollen stomach (last night they'd had a large dinner), though when she'd realised just what she done, Sandy had no idea why, in fact she couldn't even remember putting her hand there.
"Sandy," Fraser called when he spotted his wife, instantly making his way over to her and hugging her tightly. "I rushed straight over here when I heard about what had happened, are you okay? You're not hurt are you?"
"I'm fine love," Sandy said smiling, wondering just how she had managed to luck out and get a guy like Fraser in her life. "The doctor's here now, she'll tell you the same thing."
"Your wife's right, apart from a little whiplash Sandy is completely fine and you'll be pleased to know that your baby is too." At the younger woman's words, Sandy's blood froze, as both her and Fraser found themselves gaping, completely speechless.
"But that's impossible, I'm not pregnant, I can't be," Sandy exclaimed, coming out in a cold sweat almost instantly.
"You're almost six months along Mrs Black, you mean you didn't know?"
"Of course I didn't, I didn't even think I could get pregnant," Sandy groaned, as she was now forced to accept the truth that she had been subconsciously blocking for the last six months.
"I can do an ultrascan now if you want," the doctor offered. No, Sandy really didn't want a scan, that was the last thing she wanted in fact after learning that she was well into her second trimester, but before she could voice any of that, Fraser had beaten her to the punch.
"Yes, I think that would be best."
"Okay Sir, well I'll go check to see if any of the rooms are free and then I'll collect you, so we can take a look at your baby."
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"And you really didn't know?" Lindsey asked as she looked down at the scan photo.
"I had no clue love, when my periods stopped I thought that was it for me having any more kids, not that I was having another one," Sandy sighed, staring into her tea glumly.
"And what did Fraser say?"
"I think his current absence says it all don't you?" Sandy said, motioning around the otherwise empty kitchen. "Oh god, what am I going to do Linds? I'm 55 for Christ's sake, I'm not suitable for having a baby, because even if it's born healthy, which is incredibly unlikely, by the time it's a teenager I'm going to be a flipping OAP."
"Hey, don't speak like that, you're going to be fantastic mother, your five other kids are a testament to that. That baby is lucky to have you."
"Yeah, I'm sure she'll be elated when she's bullied at school for having a Granny as a mum."
"She? You mean you know its sex?"
"Fraser insisted," Sandy told her daughter in law glumly. "Apparently his ability to have daughters overpowers my male only gene."
"What? You're pregnant?" Sandy cursed to herself as she heard Robbie's shocked tone, realising that both he and Jason had just gotten back from college, and had more than likely heard every word she had just said. Turning to face her two youngest (well for now), Sandy sighed as she realised she was going to have to explain this a lot more times, something she was really not looking forward to.
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"I'm going to kill Fraser for not being here," Joe vowed when Sandy had explained the latest situation to him, Freddie and Ziggy when they'd finished their latest shift at the garage. "He should be here, supporting you through this all, but it's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth"
"He probably just needs some space is all, it's completely reasonable," Sandy sighed, hoping to calm down her eldest. The last thing she really needed was to worry if her sons had beaten her husband within an inch of his life, not after everything that had already happened that day. "And well, if he decides he wants that space to be a little more permanent then you can hardly blame him. I doubt he exactly wants another child at his age, I know I don't."
"But you're not running away from the problem mum," Ziggy said, hating how stressed Sandy was already seeming at what should have been a happy time for all.
"I'm not because I can't, that baby is inside of me and there's nothing I can do to stop that. I mean, it's too late for me to have an abortion."
"You mean you don't want this baby?" Jason asked, shocked at Sandy's viewpoint on the whole thing. "But why?"
"Realistically, what sort of life is she going to have? It's likely I'm going to give birth prematurely at my age and there's also a load of health risks for me and the baby. She could end up having Down's syndrome, or some other sort of disability, and the chances of me not having a miscarriage is extremely low, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. You just have to wonder what her quality of life is going to be when you take my age into consideration."
"Well with us as parents, she's going to be the most spoiled little girl in the whole of Chester," Fraser vowed from the living room doorway. "I'm sorry I disappeared like that love, but I just wanted to make sure some of the things I had when Grace and Clare were babies were still good enough to use for this little one, and you're in luck, because it's all in great nick."
"You mean, you don't not want this baby?" Sandy asked, heart beating loudly in her chest as she realised that maybe she wasn't going to be forced to do this all on her own after all.
"Sandy, this baby is a sign of our love, and sure we may be older than your conventional parents, but I think we're both experienced enough to make up for it. Our baby is a blessing and I'm so honoured that we can be proper parents together, that is, if you're willing?"
"Yes, yes of course I am," Sandy said, getting to her feet and rushing to her husband, hugging him tightly, and once more wondering just how she had lucked out to get a man like Fraser to love her so.
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The next few months passed surprisingly smoothly, though Sandy found herself going half mad at the over protective natures of her family. They didn't like her doing anything too straining, like unloading the shopping or running after the bus, hell Sandy counted herself incredibly lucky she hadn't been put into permanent bed rest, though she could see it coming.
It was nothing she couldn't deal with though, and Sandy just knew she had to grin and bare it till her pregnancy was over, then her sons would all go back to their usual insensitive selves and life would be normal once more, with just one extra member.
And on September 13th, just after the eight month mark into her pregnancy, Sandy's waters broke, leaving way for the newest arrival of the Roscoe-Black to make her entrance.
As her family fretted around her, worried that it was too early, whilst at the same time trying to keep the pregnant woman calm, Sandy couldn't help but laugh to herself. She knew she shouldn't, should work on calming the others herself, tell them that she was fine and so was the baby, after all, a lot of older mothers-to-be gave birth a few weeks earlier than they should, but they were all fine, but the sight in front of her was just too comical.
Never in her life, would she have thought she'd see any of her boys, or even Fraser for that matter so frazzled, especially when it was usually them who did the calming, it was a nice change, Sandy thought as the car pulled out of the driveway, on its way to the hospital, just as another contraction hit her.
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"Congratulations," a midwife said a few hours later, as she passed Sandy's newly born daughter to her. "She's a perfectly healthy little girl. A little light at 6lbs 2oz, but that's to be expected. I'll leave you and your family to say hello to her, but feel free to shout if you need anything."
"Hello baby," Sandy cooed at the baby, her baby who was laid in her arms, staring in wonder at all the people who were stood nearby.
"You're going to call her baby?" Grace dead panned, arching an eyebrow, though even Sandy could see the younger woman was happy about her younger half-sister, she wouldn't have rushed out from the Loft to get to the hospital in time if she didn't care.
"She does have a point love," Fraser chuckled, perching himself on the edge of the bed and stroking one finger gently down his youngest daughter's face. "So what should we call her?" Sandy was silent for a moment, looking at the child in her arms, trying to figure out what name would suit her best, when it hit her.
"Bella, she looks like a Bella."
"Yeah she does," Fraser agreed with a watery smile. "Bella it is. Welcome to the Roscoe-Blacks, you're going to have a hell of an interesting life."
So this got incredibly fluffy and was a very happy chapter, but I think it was a nice change, especially when taking into account my next chapter, which is action packed and something I'm incredibly excited to share!
Next Chapter – The Roscoe household goes up in smoke, with half of the family still inside. Will everyone get out safely or will someone lose their life in the flames? – prompted by Jack
Future Prompts
134 - There's a reason why Finn is so eager to please Robbie, and why he is so awful to JP; he has had these wrong, dirty thoughts for over a year now and his feelings for Robbie are getting harder to control. One night, drunk after a party, he decides to make a move on his best friend, with no idea on how Robbie will react. - little miss bovver
135 - Ruby returns to Hollyoaks after breaking up with her abusive boyfriend. Her and Ziggy become friends again, though Ruby's ex follows her to Chester and realises just how strong the former couple's feelings for one another still are. In a fit of jealousy he kidnaps her. Will Ziggy find Ruby? - DBS2000
136 - After having a heart transplant Jason becomes obsessed with the idea that he now has a murderers heart inside of him. He believes that he now is a totally different person and Robbie fears that he has lost his brother forever. - guest
137 – Fraser has never liked being humiliated or put on the spot where his true colours are shown. When Jason told Sandy about his kiss with Tegan he was subjected to both of those feelings and family or not, Jason must pay, but will anyone find the pair before it's too late? - subject me
138 – Lindsey decides to keep her and Joe's baby, determined to raise their child on her own, despite her heartbreak. When her waters break, she's taken to the same hospital that Joe's in, which the Roscoe's discover. What will they do when they realise that Freddie was lying about Joe moving in with another girl? - TravelledInTime/ Becky
139 - The boys pull a surprise party for Sandy's 60th. - edlingo basi
140 - After separating from Fraser, Sandy takes the boys on a holiday abroad where she finds someone who catches her eye, will he heal her heartbreak?- cheap
141 - Jason is jealous when Robbie and Holly both get a part in a school production which involves a kissing scene. Just how far will he go to stop the kiss from happening? - noodles
142 - After Sandy finds out about Robbie's homophobic bullying on John Paul, Sandy leaves it up to Fraser to think up an ideal punishment for her son. Little does she know that what Fraser has in store for Robbie is something rather dark and sadistic - recent riots
143 - After baby Katy's death, Sinead becomes obsessed with the idea of having another baby, but just how far will she go when Freddie refuses to help her conceive - burt