Chapter Seven
Sunday 21st October 2013- Buckingham Palace: 11am
Lucille glanced down at her granddaughter who was smiling up at her. "Do you have to go back?" She asked Troy, as he came in folding a blanket, which he laid in Hayden's car seat. "We do mum." Troy replied as Lucille gave a heavy sigh. "You know it doesn't take much to get in a car and come visit us." Troy offered, wandering over to her.
Hayden squealed at the sight of her dad, and she kicked her legs about. "Daddy's going to take you from me," Lucille said as Troy lifted the baby girl into his arms, holding her against his chest. "Daddy's going to put you in the car seat, which your going to cry about." Troy declared as he lowered Hayden into her car seat, clipping her in, before he tucked the blanket in around her.
The baby stared at him, before she found interest in a toy clipped beside her. "Or not," Troy offered as Gabriella and Jack came into the room. Gabi wrapping a tartan scarf around her neck. "Wow, Hayden's not crying." She said surprised as the girl squealed at her before she grabbed the toy again. She moved over to Troy, wrapping her arms around his middle, resting her head on his chest.
"You ready to go home pretty girl?" he asked his wife, dropping a gentle kiss into her curls. She nodded against him before she pulled away. Lucille came over and hugged her, "Don't leave it too long before you come see us again." She said as she went over to hug Troy, before she went over to smother baby Hayden in kisses as she laughed.
Troy chuckled as Gabi grew tense. "How about you come and stay with us next time. The cottage is quite big." Jack moved in to hug Gabriella and give Troy a handshake. "That sounds like a good idea Luce. We haven't actually seen their cottage yet." Lucille nodded. "Yes, that's sounds delightful, we'll call you when we are next free then."
"Brilliant," Troy said as he went to pick Hayden's car seat up. The baby squealed as Troy and Gabriella headed towards the entrance.
"Bye sweetheart!" Lucille called. "You be good for Mummy and Daddy." She moved to stand by Jack who wrapped his arm around her, before they both waved to the couple now climbing into the car.
"And I thought she was talking to me," Troy said once all the doors were closed, causing Gabi to chuckle. Hayden made a happy noise from the back and Troy started the engine. "Right then, lets get home."
3.30pm
"I think she's asleep." Gabi said as Troy turned off the car engine. Troy spun round to look at Hayden before he nodded. "Yeah, she's out cold." he replied. "Milk Coma." Gabriella laughed as she opened the car door, and climbed out. "I'll get her out and put her down, if she doesn't wake up." She gently closed her car door, before she opened Hayden's side.
She smiled, as she saw her daughter fast asleep. She took out her phone and took a picture before she gently pried the blanket away. Hayden curled her body up and her face screwed up. "Shh, its okay" Gabriella said softly, as she carefully unbuckled the baby and brought her to her chest. Hayden's head tucking just under her chin. She also grabbed the blanket, tucking it lightly around the girl before she moved back and closed the car door.
Troy opened the front door of the house, and he chuckled as Oscar came running outside, excited to see his owners back home. The spaniel ran straight over to Gabriella, jumping up at her as she made her way to the house. "In a minute buddy." She promised as she stepped passed Troy, into the house where she proceeded to climb the stairs to set Hayden in her crib. Troy smiled and turned back to the car to get the belongings from the boot, before he too went into the house, shutting the door behind him.
He carried the bag up to their Bedroom, where he met Gabriella coming out of the nursery. Baby monitor held firmly in her hand. She followed Troy into their room, and she wrapped her arms around him from behind once he'd dropped the bag to the floor. "You alright sweetheart?" he asked as she pressed a single kiss to his back, before she just rested against him.
"I love you," she mumbled quietly, releasing a contented sigh. Troy turned around, wrapping Gabriella up in his arms. "I love you too Brie," he said as he kissed her forehead, Gabriella's eyes fluttering shut, enjoying the moment of peace.
That was until the front door slammed open, and the couple heard Chad come stomping into the house. "Bolton's!" He yelled.
Troy and Gabi pulled apart. "Remind me to lock the doors every time I come in," Troy mumbled as he took Gabriella's hand and the couple went to the top of the stairs. "Danforth, what do you want and can you please be quiet, my daughter is sleeping."
Troy and Gabriella came down the stairs as Chad looked at them apologetically. "Sorry," He whispered loudly. Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Chad you don't have to whisper, she's in the nursery. Upstairs." Chad eyes widened. "Oh, okay. I came over to see if you guys had any milk?"
"Fridge," Gabriella mumbled as the phone rang. She released Troy's hand to reach over and grab it, bringing it to her ear. "Hello," She said as Chad wandered through the house towards the kitchen. "Hi Lucille," She said a few moments after. "No, were back now." There was a pause as Troy looked over at his wife. "Hayden was good. She fell asleep after we stopped for some lunch and gave Hayden some milk." Gabriella turned to Troy and rolled her eyes. "Troy? Yeah I'll just pass you over." She held the phone out to Troy, who took it and wandered through to his office area.
Chad came back with a small bottle filled with milk. "Thanks Gabs, Your the best." he said as he held it up. Gabriella smiled. "Its fine Chad. Honestly." Chad smiled before he slipped out the front door, calling thank you again as the door closed. Gabriella started to head towards the kitchen for a cup of tea, when she heard Hayden stirring over the baby monitor.
She stood and waited to see if she was just moving or whether the baby girl was waking up. After a while it went quiet again and Gabriella went into the kitchen and got out a mug. That's when Hayden's cry came down to monitor. She placed the mug on the side and went back into the hallway. "Alright baby girl, I'm coming." she called.
Troy came out of the office, the phone in his hand. He ran into Gabriella who was about to head back upstairs. "You alright babe?" he asked. Gabi held up the monitor which was glowing as Hayden cried. "Just going to get your hungry daughter." she said as she pecked his cheek and ran upstairs. Troy just chuckled and went through to the kitchen to make both him and Gabi a hot drink.
Gabriella pushed open Hayden's nursery door and she walked over to the crib peering over the bars to look at the baby who rolled slightly onto her side as she cried. Gabriella clipped the baby monitor to its base and leant over to pick her up. "Hey Princess," she cooed, kissing the girls temple. Hayden quietened, gripping onto her mothers top as she nuzzled into her. "Are you hungry? or where you looking for cuddles?"
Hayden yawned and Gabriella chuckled. Then she lifted her hand, nudging at Gabi's breast. "So you wanted cuddles, but your hungry." she told the baby as she started to go out of the room to head downstairs. Hayden whimpered as Gabriella went down the stairs and into the living room. Where she settled herself on the sofa and began to adjust to feed Hayden. The baby squealed as Troy walked in, then she was shifted to be in a cradle before she latched on, sucking hungrily.
Hayden's eyes followed Troy as he walked further into the room, placing a mug onto the coffee table for Gabi before he sat down beside her, pressing a delicate kiss to her cheek. Hayden kicked her legs excitedly and Troy laughed. "Is that Daddy," Gabriella cooed. She smirked against Gabriella's breast, before her attention diverted from Troy to Gabriella. Her hand flexed, then scratched lightly at her skin as she ate.
Oscar came running in dragging his red leash behind him. Troy raised an eyebrow and got down on the floor to be level with the puppy. Oscar barked excitedly and began to jump all over his Master. "Do you want to go on a walk buddy?" he asked as the pup barked in response. "How about," Troy began as he lifted the puppy into his lap. "We wait for Mummy to finish feeding Hayden, then we take a family walk to the park?" he suggested glancing at his wife, who was raising Hayden to her shoulder to burp her.
"Sounds good Mr Bolton," Gabriella said as Hayden curled her legs up. "Hay, come on baby girl. Burp for mummy." she said, turning her attention to the baby girl who was, blowing bubbles with her spit over her shoulder. Gabriella kept giving firm but gentle pats to the babies back until she released a quiet belch before throwing up over her mothers shoulder. Hayden dissolved into more tears as Gabriella was quick to cradle the girl, wiping the spit up from her mouth, using the dirty cloth that was slung over her shoulder,
"Alright sweet girl, it's okay." Gabriella quietened her daughter. "Troy if you can change her diaper quickly, put her in her snowsuit whilst I go and change my top, we can then go for a walk." Troy stood up and came over to take Hayden from Gabi's arms. The baby twisted before she settled against Troy. "Come on then Princess, lets get you ready." He muttered to her as he kissed her forehead. Gabi standing and leaving the room quickly to change her top.
Troy settled Hayden in to the pram, as Gabriella came down the stairs doing up her coat. "Oscar, come on boy," she called as she slid her feet into a pair off uggs. The dog came charging down the hall with his lead gripped firmly between his teeth. Gabriella laughed and bent down to gently tug it free, before she clipped it around his collar. He barked excitedly and Troy laughed as he took the lead from Gabriella, opening the front door and ushering the dog out. Gabriella gripped the handle on Hayden's pram and she pushed it out the front door and down the drive, waiting at the bottom for Troy, who was locking the house.
She peered in at Hayden who grimaced from the cold air, before she smiled up at her. Troy came down the drive, Oscar bounding behind him, and stood next to his wife. Gabriella smiled as he kissed her cheek. Then the couple began to stroll down the quiet street towards the park.