Chapter Five

Friday 12th October 2013

Troy was sat on the sofa, watching Hayden in her swing. The baby was sucking gently on her fingers as the soft motion of the swing kept her calm and quiet whilst her mother paced the room nervously. "Brie, honey." Troy said, twisting his head to look at his pacing wife. "Calm down, its just your sister."

Gabriella stopped pacing to look at him. "I know its just my sister, I just haven't seen her since the wedding which was over a year ago." Troy rolled his eyes and he pushed of the sofa to stand in front of her. Her eyes met his, and he pulled her into his embrace. "Brie, your sister loves you, and I bet she's super excited to meet Hayden." He kissed her forehead and she smiled.

The couple stood in their embrace for a little while before Hayden squealed. They both turned their heads and laughed as she was trying to shove her foot in her mouth. Gabriella left Troy's embrace and she picked up the girl. "Don't do that you silly girl." She said as she kissed her temple. "Your going to meet your Auntie Genevieve, Uncle Paul and your cousins Daniel and Nicole." Hayden kicked her legs about and Gabriella changed her position to cradle her.

A car pulled up on the driveway and Oscar began to bark. Hayden jumped in her mothers arms before she dissolved into loud tears. "Oh baby," Gabriella said as she put Hayden's head on her shoulder and she kissed her temple again as the baby cried. "Troy," she said turning to her husband who had picked up the spaniel in attempt to shush him. "Put him outside for a bit, we can let him in once they've settled."

As Troy went to put the excited puppy outside Gabriella opened the front door to greet her sister and her family. "Hi Guys," she greeted as she tried to calm a screaming Hayden. Her sister stepped out of the car and she winced as Hayden's cries filled the atmosphere. "Oh someone is not happy." she said as she walked over to engulf her sister in a hug. She pulled back, and rubbed Hayden's back gently. "What's wrong little princess?" Gabriella smiled and stepped aside to let her in as Paul and the kids approached the door. "Hi," She kissed Paul on the cheek and she smiled at the kids as they passed. She shut the door behind them and followed them into the living room where Troy was stood.

She watched as Troy and Paul shook hands, and as Evie kissed him on the cheek. The kids tackled their Uncle Troy in a hug and she laughed. He pulled away and stood up. "Is she okay?" he mouthed to her as she began to bounce to calm Hayden. She gave a slight nod at him before she turned her head to look at her daughter who was now drooling over her shoulder. She then looked over at her sister who was watching her kids talk to Troy whilst Paul stood next to him, also listening. "Do you want to go have cuddles with Aunt Evie?" she said as her sister looked over at her and she began to move towards her.

"Here you go baby girl." Gabriella said as she settled Hayden into Evie's arms. Paul noticed his wife had hold of the baby princess so he moved to stand behind her to look at her now peaceful face.

"Gabi," Evie breathed, she looked up towards her sister who had settled herself on the sofa with Nicole perched on her lap. "Sorry Troy, but she's got the Montez genes." Troy and Paul laughed. "Yeah she's going to look just like her momma," Troy said. "Can I get you a drink of anything guys?" he asked. Paul looked up. "Just a glass of water mate," he said. "Tea please," Evie said. Gabi smiled. "Make that two tea's please." she added. Troy began to walk to the kitchen. "What about you kids?"

Nicole turned on Gabi's lap. "Aunt Gabi do you have that special juice that we always have when we stay." Gabriella thought for a moment. "The apple and raspberry one?" she questioned and the little girl nodded. "Then you're in luck sweetie, because Uncle Troy bought some yesterday." "He did?" she asked. Troy laughed and came and picked the 5 year old off his wife's lap. "I did, would you like some?" "Yes please!" she exclaimed as Troy carried her off into the kitchen.

Gabriella laughed. "Bless her," she said. Evie passed over Hayden to her husband who had sat down on the other sofa and she sat beside him. "The kids were so exited when we told them they were going to see you today. They've been asking all week when they are going to meet baby Hayden, or baby H as Nicole put it." "Baby H?" Gabi laughed. "That's a first."

"Aunt Gabi," Daniel spoke very quietly from his position on the floor. Gabriella turned to the 11 nearly 12 year old and she smiled. "Yeah Dan," she said. He ducked his head shyly. "Can I hold Baby Hayden?" he asked. Gabriella and Evie's smiles grew. "Of course sweetie." She said. "Come sit by me and we can get your Dad to pass her over." He smiled and pushed off the ground to go sit by his Aunt.

Daniel sat down next to Gabi, as Paul gently placed the baby in her mothers arms. Hayden looked up at Gabi and she blinked a few times, then she smiled as she recognised her mother's face. "Right Dan," she said to the boy. "Support her head and hold her fairly tightly as she's a wriggly baby." She gently passed Hayden over and she watched as her nephew cradled her daughter.

Troy came back into the room with a glass of water and the tea for Evie. "Oh look cousin Daniels got you now." he said to his daughter who watched his every move from her position. "I'll be back with your tea Brie," he said to his wife as he left and Nicole skipped in. "Baby!" she cried and everyone laughed. "You can have a turn after your brother." Gabi said as she looked to her sister who sipped her tea and smiled. She then placed the mug on the coffee table and pulled out her phone. "Can I take a picture?" she asked. Paul pulled Nicole into his lap as Gabi nodded and shifted away from the boy so Evie could take a picture.

Troy entered the room again with Gabi's tea and he placed it on the coffee table. He stood behind Evie getting his daughters attention as she took the picture. "Gabi, Troy. Can you get in please" she asked before she turned to her husband. "And you Nicole." The little girl jumped off her fathers lap and she ran over to sit beside her brother. Troy came in and picked the little girl up. "Your going on my lap missy." he said whilst tickling her. "Whilst your Aunt Gabi can go sit beside your brother and Hayden."

Gabriella stood up and she moved to the other end of the sofa to sit the other side of Daniel. He looked up and smiled at his aunt before his gaze drifted back down to the little baby he held. His finger curled into Hayden's grip as the baby smiled at him. "She smiled at me," He announced. "That's nice," Evie said. "Now everyone look at me and smile." She took a couple of pictures before Hayden started to wriggle about in Daniels arms. "I see what you mean by wriggly baby." Evie said as she picked up her tea and took a sip. "She's going to cry." Troy said from his position next to Dan.

"Troy!" Gabi said as she sipped her tea. "She might not." Hayden then screwed up her face and a little cry left her mouth. Daniel froze and Troy looked at Gabi like 'I told you so.' Evie put down her tea again and looked at her sister. "Can I?" she asked. Gabriella nodded and Evie stepped forward to relive her son of his screaming cousin.

"Uncle Troy." Nicole murmured. "She isn't going to do that with me. Will she?" Troy laughed and shook his head. "No sweet girl. We'll calm her down first and then you can have cuddles." Nicole bopped her head. "Good because I like cuddles with babies that don't cry." Everyone laughed. "Oh Nicole, your just too sweet. Gabi exclaimed with a shake of her head. "Stay that way." Troy added and everyone laughed.