Chapter Four

Tuesday 8th October 2013- Hayden 5 weeks old

Gabriella paced the living room, bouncing a screaming baby in her arms. "Shh baby, baby." she said. She looked to the front door nervously. "Kelsi where are you?" she muttered. Hayden had come down with a fever about an hour ago, and due to the fact Troy was up in London, Gabriella had to call Kelsi to run of to the chemist to grab some medicine as Gabi had no car.

Hayden screamed bloody murder as Gabriella adjusted her so he head was resting against her shoulder. She kissed her warm forehead, her lips lingering as the front door burst open. Gabriella turned and she sighed in relief as Kelsi stood their with the baby calpol in her hand. "Thank you Kelsi." Gabi said as Kelsi came over.

Kelsi got the medicine ready as Gabriella cradled Hayden in her left arm. Kelsi looked at Gabi and when Hayden opened her mouth to cry she squirted the medicine into her cheek. Hayden looked stunned for a moment, before her crying continued. She twisted in her mothers arms, lifting her hand to Gabriella's breast before she clutched the material of Gabi's top.

"Has she eaten?" Kelsi asked. Gabriella shook her head. "She tried for about 5 minutes before the screaming started an hour ago, but I don't think she got much." Gabriella said. "I'll try again in a bit. Once I've calmed her." She lifted Hayden to her shoulder again and began to gently rub her back. "Gabs," Kelsi started. "I've got to get back, Ryan's going out. Will you be okay until Troy gets back?"

Hayden's cries had subsided slightly. "That's fine Kels." she replied. "Thank you for running to the store for me." Kelsi smiled. "No problem. If anything happens come straight over okay." she said as she turned to the door. "Also make sure she eats." Gabriella followed her and watched her friend walk down the drive. "I will. Thank you so much Kelsi" She waved before she went back into the house.

Hayden squirmed against Gabriella. "Shall we try get some food in you sweet girl," she whispered to the child as she sat on the sofa and adjusted her top. Hayden latched on as her phone started to ring beside her. She picked it up and gave a sigh of relief when it was Troy.

"Hey," She breathed.

"Brie. Baby what's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Hayden's got a small fever, she screamed bloody murder for about an hour, Kelsi had to run to the chemist to get some medicine." she replied as Hayden curled into Gabi and she gripped at her top, her mouth working lazily at her breast.

"Brie, is she okay now? What are you doing?"

Gabi chuckled. "She's fine, currently eating and I'm on the phone to you."

"Oh okay. I'm just leaving London babe, I'll be home soon. Just go easy for a bit okay? I love you."

"I love you too Troy."

"Bye sweetheart, I'll see you in a bit." Troy then hung up.

Gabriella then gazed down to Hayden whose eyes had drifted closed, her mouth still working, making wet popping sounds. "I guess you were Hungry baby girl." she said as she turned on the television. Oscar jumped up on the sofa beside Gabriella and he curled up beside her as she settled to watch an episode of friends whilst Hayden ate.

As the episode finished. Hayden pulled away and Gabriella raised her to her shoulder to burp her. The girl released a burp almost immediately then she released a small yawn. Gabi stood and crossed the room to place Hayden in her swing, as the child fought off sleep. "Rest little princess," she told the child as she pressed a kiss to her forehead. She tucked the pink blanket over her before she stood. "Suppose we better do some jobs," she told the exited spaniel who jumped up on the sofa to bark excitedly at his mistress.

When Troy opened the front door to his house later that day, he was expecting a bigger greeting than he got. Gabriella was laid on the sofa asleep and Oscar was laid by the baby swing guarding the little princess that was laid awake sucking on her fist. Troy slipped of his shoes and he crossed the small space to unclip her and lift her into the air. "You hungry baby girl?" he asked as he turned to look at his wife. He kissed Hayden's forehead and frowned. "Still a bit feverish sweet girl, lets wake mummy and you can get some food, and we can work out when you last had some medicine."

Holding Hayden securely to his chest, Troy bent down in front of his wife. "Brie," he said quietly as he lightly scratched at her arm. "Brie, baby girl, come on." Gabi stirred slightly. "Troy?" she mumbled as her eyes fluttered open. "Come on Brie. Hay's hungry and she's still running a fever so does she need more medicine?"

Gabriella rubbed her eyes and sat up. "You do know there's a bottle in the fridge right?" she asked him as he passed Hayden over. The baby squirmed and tried going straight for food. "I didn't know that, but we can use that tonight, whist you get some sleep." Troy responded. Gabriella only yawned as Hayden latched on.

"How are your parents?" Gabi asked. Troy sat down on the sofa beside his wife. Oscar jumping up onto his lap, playfully licking and nipping at his master. "They are good, they asked when they would next get to see Hayden." he said, gently running his hands over Hayden's tiny feet that were covered with white socks.

"When they next come up here," Gabriella muttered lowly. Troy sighed and reached across to place his hand on Gabi's knee. "I know you hate travelling Baby girl, but you know my parents," he gave a few gentle swipes with his thumb whilst she considered her answer. "I don't mind the travelling, it's just not fair on Hayden all the time, or us. I'm sorry, but if they want to see her they have to make the effort." Troy opened his mouth to speak, but Gabriella kept talking. "Don't say anything about them being King and Queen, Troy, it never stopped them before." She snapped before she raised Hayden to her shoulder and gave firm, but gentle pats to her back.

"I know Brie, I know." Troy said. He then bit his lip as he thought of something to change the topic. Gabriella switched Hayden to her other breast and she looked over at Troy. "My sister called yesterday." she said quietly. "I was meant to tell you but I kind of forgot with Hayden being up all night and so on." Troy looked over at his wife and he smiled. "Go on," he encouraged. "Her and her family flew in from New York the other night, she's staying with my parents and she wanted to know if they could drop in one day this week. So she can meet her niece. I said I'd have to ask you first, but I think it would be nice. We can see Daniel and Nicole again."

Troy leant over and gave Gabriella a quick kiss. "See if they are free Friday." he said. "It will be nice to catch up with your sister and her family. I don't think I've seen them since the wedding." Hayden pulled away from Gabi's breast. "Here you go pumpkin, go to daddy for a bit." Gabriella said as she passed her daughter over to Troy. She fixed her top before she stood up. "Where you going lovely lady?" Troy asked.

"I'm going to call my sister then we can have family movie time." She smiled. "I won't be long." Troy rested the little girl on his chest and he gently rubbed at her back. She moved her head around, and brought her fist up to her mouth to suck gently on her fingers. "No Hay," Troy cooed. "I need you to burp for daddy." The baby twisted her head slightly to look at her dad, she gave a small grin before her whole body jerked with a hiccup. "Or you could do that," he mused as Hayden's body shook again with another hiccup.

After the third hiccup a small burp passed through her lips, startling the dog that was watching the baby carefully. He barked and Hayden attempted to twist her head to look at him. She gave up and dropped it onto Troy's chest as she gave another hiccup. "What's mummy going to say, Huh princess?" he said as Hayden hiccupped, again.

"What am I going to say about what?" Gabriella asked as she sat down, pulling Oscar into her lap. She began to scratch behind his ear as she looked at Troy and Hayden. "Hay's got the hiccups cause she ate too fast." Troy said as Hayden glared at her mother before she gave a small grin. "Did you get to your sister?"

Oscar curled up on Gabi's lap as she replied. "No, mum said they'd gone out for a meal but she'd pass the message onto them."

"That's good," Troy said as he picked up the remote. "Now, what movie shall we watch?" Gabi chuckled. "What ever you fancy my dear." she said. "I don't care as long as I can watch it with my favourite people." She sighed. "I love you Troy."

Troy smiled. "I love you too Brie, I love you too."