Shattered Glass

[leah1234]

Update tonight???

xxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 26

“Wow!” he sighed, his eyes as wide as flying saucers as a huge smile formed on his little lips.

“Do you like it?” Belle questioned as his gaze wandered quickly around the room, trying to absorb ever tiny detail at once.

“I love it!” he exclaimed rushing into the room and bouncing up and down on the bed.

“Careful! You’ll break the springs” Aden chuckled at his overexcited son who promptly stopped jumping on the soft mattress, his little body flopping down onto it as he pulled the fluffy cover around his

little body.

Jamie sighed in comfort as he snuggled up on the bed causing a small chuckle to escape from Belle.

“Don’t you have something to say to Belle mate?” Aden prompted.

“Thank you Belle!” he smiled sweetly up at her, his head only just popping out over the cover.

“It wasn’t just me, your Daddy helped too”

“Thank you too Daddy!” he grinned.

“This room is the bestest! Can I stay here forever?”

“You can stay whenever you want sweetie but you live with your Daddy and he’d get really lonely if you stayed here forever” Belle instantly replied, not wanting Aden to worry she was going to take

Jamie from him again.

“But Daddy can stay too, this bed is HUGE!” he told her, stretching out his arms and legs, so his tiny body formed a jumping jack shape, to demonstrate how big the bed was.

“Not huge enough, the way you kick in your sleep Jamie” Aden laughed, his words saddening Belle a fraction as she realised there was still so much she didn’t know about her son.

“I’m just practising my soccer skills Daddy!” he protested.

“I’m going to be the best player on the team when I’m bigger, like Tony says you were” he told his father, making Belle’s heart melt at how much he idolised Aden.

“But I’m not going to get kicked off the team”

“Ooooh!” Belle giggled as the proud expression which had been occupying Aden’s face dissolved into one of defeat.

“Why did you get kicked off the team Daddy?” Jamie questioned, gazing up at his father expectantly. Belle giggled as she watched Aden squirm.

“I didn’t, I just hurt my knee mate”

“That’s not what Aunt Nicole said!”

“Aunt Nicole has a big mouth!” Aden sighed.

“What did you do Daddy?”

“I was mean to Geoff” he finally admitted, determined he wasn’t going to go into any more detail than absolutely necessary.

“But Aunt Nicole’s mean to Geoff allll the time!” the five year old exclaimed as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes she sure is” Belle sniped remembering the dirty looks she had seen Nicole shoot at Geoff all way through dinner in The Diner the night before.

“Is it because he kisses Melody now?”

“You’ll have to ask her that mate” Aden replied, a grin creeping across his face.

“Well!” Jamie announced dramatically.

“I think it’s because she secretly wants to kiss him again!”

“Not so secretly obviously” Aden chuckled at his son’s perceptiveness.

“Daddy?”

“Yes mate?”

“Why don’t you kiss Belle anymore?”

Belle and Aden both instantly froze, neither knowing how to respond to the difficult question posed by their son. Aden glanced desperately at Belle for assistance but she simply shrugged and looked expectantly at him for a response, the question had been directed towards him after all.

“Well...sometimes people stop kissing”

“But you’re my Daddy and Belle’s my Mummy right?”

“Right” Aden nodded.

“Aren’t Mummies and Daddies supposed to kiss? Ben’s Mummy and Daddy kissed and now his Mummy has a baby in her tummy!” he told them, the explanation his school friend had been given

regarding his mother’s pregnancy clearly having been discussed in the playground.

Belle’s hand subconsciously slid over her tummy protectively. Neither Aden nor Jamie noticed the telling gesture.

“Some Mummies and Daddies kiss” Aden replied simply.

“But not all of them?”

“No, not all of them mate”

“Why not Daddy?”

“They just don’t” he told him, struggling to find any other words to respond as Belle watched them silently.

“But why?”

“Sometimes they find other people” Belle finally joined in the conversation.

“Like your Daddy’s got Kirsty now”

“But Daddy doesn’t kiss Kirsty!” Jamie told them matter of factly.

Aden sighed realising his pretence of playing happy families with Kirsty might not be as effective for his son as he has hoped.

“Not when you’re looking maybe!” Belle teased, perching on the edge of the bed and tickling her son through the covers.

“Ewwww!” he cringed at the mere thought.

“Daddy, do you kiss Kirsty when I’m not looking?” he asked in horror.

“No” Aden told him, shaking his head adamantly.

“See?! Told you!” Jamie turned to Belle sticking a playful tongue out at her.

“Is it because you went away?” he asked her suddenly reverting to the former topic.

“Don’t you love Daddy anymore?”

“Of course I love him” she gulped as her gaze met Aden’s and he instantly looking away as the air between them sizzled with electricity.

“He gave me the most precious person in my life”

“Me?” he questioned, a wide grin spreading across his face.

“Yes you!” she grinned back at him, before bowing her head and dropping a kiss on his temple.

“How could I not love your Daddy when he gave me you?”

“Did you find someone else to kiss Belle?”

“No sweetie but I might do one day” she replied thinking it was best to at least be honest with him, she didn’t want to give him false hope of a reunion between her and Aden. She saw a look of despair flash across Aden’s handsome face as her words registered with him.

“Just make sure it’s not Geoff” he giggled cheekily.

“Or Aunt Nicole will be really mad!”

“It definitely won’t be Geoff!” she giggled with him.

“We should go” Aden suddenly interrupted, holding his hand out for Jamie to take.

“Aww!” the five year old pouted.

“I want to sleep here tonight in my new room! Can I?”

“I would love that” Belle smiled down at him, reaching over to ruffle his dirty blonde hair.

“But only if your Daddy says it’s ok”

“It’s ok isn’t it Daddy? Pretty please Daddy?” he begged, gazing up at Aden with puppy dog eyes.

***

“Seriously?” Aden asked her as he pondered what she had just told him.

“Wow, he hasn’t done that in a long time. Not since...well since before Kirsty moved in”

“You don’t think it’s because he doesn’t like it here do you? Or because he doesn’t like his room?”

“Belle, calm down. He loves his room and he’s stayed here before with Irene”

“Oh yeah” she sighed quietly.

“He probably just wanted your attention, this is all as new to him as it is to you”

“Yeah, I guess” she whispered with a smile.

*

She sighed in contentment as she wrapped the duvet further around her and rested her weary head against the feather pillow. She adored her son but she was exhausted after spending a whole evening entertaining him. They’d watching Fantasia and played hide and seek and then he’d made her read the two cartoon book she had placed on the shelf by the bed to him three times, each time declaring that she’d missed bits out and had to start all over again or he wouldn’t get the full effect. She knew she hadn’t missed a word but she had humoured him anyway, savouring the closeness and comfort she had once thought she would never have with her son.

She’d left her bedroom door half way open so she could listen for him in the night but she doubted he would wake up given his flurry of activities that evening and how calm he had been when she’d left him, deep in slumber with his long eyelashes resting against his soft skin. She’d almost had to tear herself away, the desire to just watch him sleep for the rest of eternity fighting with her body’s need to sleep.

“Belle?” she suddenly heard a tiny voice call out to her in the darkness. In a shot she had jumped up and switched on the lamp by her bedside.

He stood nervously in the doorway, hopping from one foot to the other. His blond hair was tousled from sleep and the sight of him in his Superman pj’s made her heart melt. In that instance all she

wanted to do was hold him close and never let go.

“Did you have a bad dream sweetie?”

“No” she shook his head slowly before explaining his problem, his expression completely serious.

“But I think there are monsters under my bed or in the wardrobe”

“Oh I’m sure there aren’t any monsters Jamie, Mickey Mouse will protect you from them” she tried to reassure him softly.

“But Mickey Mouse isn’t really there Belle! He went back to ‘Merica after my birthday party”

“How about I come and check for monsters then?” she smiled, tossing back the bedclothes and beginning to stand.

“No, they might get you too!”

“Oh I’m tough, I can fight them off sweetie”

“I’m tough too!” he told her, slightly offended that she’d assumed he wasn’t.

“But they’re big monsters!”

“Big monsters hey?” she smiled as he moved further into the room and hovered by her bed.

“Can I sleep in here with you instead?”

She looked down at him as he looked back up at her with big, doleful eyes. She knew she would never be able to resist those eyes, especially when it meant she got to cuddle up to the little boy she

loved more than anything else in the world.

“Ok, if you want to”

“I do” he whispered, a tiny smile dancing across his lips as he climbed into the bed next to her and she pulled the cover up around them.

“And then we can sort out the monsters in the morning” she smiled knowingly as he wrapped his tiny arms around her waist, his head resting against her body.

“They’ll be gone in the morning” he told her in a whisper.

“They’re just visiting”

“Oh visiting monsters? How nice of them to pop by” she giggled, wrapping her right arm around his back and dropping her left the one he had wrapped around her body.

His tiny hand rested against her pyjama top, his fingers curled around the soft material. She covered it with her own hand as they lay in silence, snuggled up together. Her heart swelled with love and

happiness as she held her son close. As she lay silently, content and sleepy, she realised that their hands were probably placed over where her baby lay, growing inside of her. She had her two children

so close to her that she felt like she would explode with happiness any second.

“Belle?” he murmured sleepily.

“Mmmmm?”

“This is nice”

“Yeah it is” she grinned as she felt his lips curve into a smile against her tummy.

“It’s all warm and cosy” he whispered cutely.

“I’m glad you’re my Mummy, you’re the best Mummy”

“I’m glad I’m your Mummy too sweetie” she sniffled trying to fight back happy tears.

“And I’m glad you’re glad too because I’m the only one you’re going to get”

He tilted his head back and looked up at her clearly concerned.

“And you’re never going away again are you?”

“No, no I’m not” she replied reassuringly, hugging him closer to her in an attempt to covey her sincerity through her actions as well as her words.

“And you’re always going to be my Mummy aren’t you?”

“Always. Always and forever...to infinity and beyond” she teased, nudging his tiny frame.

“That’s from Toy Story” he giggled.

“You’re funny Belle”

“I’m being serious here, this is not a laughing matter Mr!” she nudged him again as he began to giggle.

“I love you Belle”

“I love you too gorgeous”

“I wish you lived with us” he sighed dramatically.

“Then I could cuddle you all the time!”

“I’m sure your Daddy likes cuddles too”

“He does but Kirsty sleeps in his bed and I can’t cuddle her. She’s not my Mummy. You are.”

“Well that could be a good thing Jamie, you’re a big boy now you have to sleep in your own bed”

He lifted his head to look at her, his eyes sad and misty.

“But this is ok sometimes right?” he almost pleaded, snuggling closer to her.

“More than ok” she smiled, knowing she would never be able to say no whenever he wanted to cuddle up next to her. She would cherish the closeness because she knew that in a flash he would be too

grown up to show her any sign of affection without dying of embarrassment.

“Good” he smiled triumphantly, letting his eyelids flutter shut.

“Now be quiet Belle, because you’re keeping me awake!”

*

“Let’s face it who wouldn’t want to cuddle up to you at night?” Aden grinned cheekily at her.

“Aden, stop it!” she cursed as Jamie came rushing into the room dragging his Mickey Mouse backpack on the floor behind him.

“I’m ready Daddy!” he announced dramatically, yanking his backpack onto his shoulders.

“Are you going to say thank you to Belle for letting you stay?”

“Thank you Belle!” he chorused with a sweet smile up at her.

“It was my pleasure sweetie. I’m glad you were here to protect me from the monsters” she teased, not wanting him to know that she’d told Aden about what had happened.

A cute grin spread rapidly across his face before he replied with a cheeky tone.

“Anytime”

***

“When you said come over to Belle’s with me , we’re only watching DVDs” Ric cringed dramatically, as he glared at Matilda.

“I didn’t think you meant these kind of DVDs!”

“Ric, it’s perfectly natural” Belle assured him, taking the childbirth demonstration DVD from his hands.

“But no one else knows I’m pregnant yet so keep it quiet ok?” she almost threatened as she stuck the DVD into the player and pressed play.

“Who would I tell?”

“You’re related to Coleen, you’re currently living in a house about 50 metres away from her mobile home!”

“I am not going to tell Coleen or anyone else, you can trust me and congratulations by the way...I think...this is a good thing isn’t it?”

“Yes! Of course it’s a good thing!” she exclaimed defensively, slumping back onto the sofa next to Matilda, her hand subconsciously resting protectively over her flat tummy.

“Why wouldn’t it be a good thing?!”

“Well, I just meant that you’re on your own, I can hardly see Johnny Whathisname being the fatherly type”

“Well no, he’s not” she admitted, sending a sly glance Matilda’s way as a warning not to correct Ric’s incorrect assumption.

“But I can do this. I don’t need a man. I’m ready to be a mother to this baby”

“You’re going to be a great Mum” Matilda smiled.

“In fact, you already are. I’ve seen you with Jamie”

“Thanks, but I’ve still got a lot of ground to make up there. But I’ll do it and I’m always going to there for him and for this baby”

“Oh looks like they’re getting to the interesting stuff” Matilda exclaimed nodding towards the TV screen.

They watched intently for a few moments, not a word crossing any of their lips until they all tilted their heads to the left in unison, their mouths agape and their eyes wide in horror.

“Oh. My. God” Matilda cringed.

“What is that?!”

“Don’t ask me!” Ric replied seriously, not taking his eyes from the screen.

“I’m the only person in this room who hasn’t got one of those”

“That is disgusting!” Matilda cried, her eyes still on the screen also.

“Oh my god, it’s horrible! I want to look away but I can’t, it’s like a car crash!”

“A really bad one!” Ric agreed with his fiancée, horrified.

“Ric?” Matilda murmured, not looking at him.

“Yeah?”

“We are never having sex again!”

“Fine with me!” he replied, his face still etched with disgust.

“Belle?” he asked hurriedly hoping he could convince her to turn the DVD off.

“Why do we even need to watch this? Haven’t you done this before?”

“No, not exactly” she shook her head slowly, not able to take her eyes away from the screen either.

“I didn’t watch any of this stuff last time and then I had a c-section” she whispered as she watched the woman on screen scream in pain as her baby began to emerge, the head now clearly visible. Fear

flooded her being, she wanted this baby and for everything to work out but she wasn’t sure she could do that.

“Well have another one!” Matilda yelped, her hands darting upwards to cover her eyes. Still unable to tear her eyes away, she watched through the gaps in her fingers.

“I can’t!” she exclaimed trying to convince herself as much as Matilda.

“Rachel said a natural birth wasn’t a good idea and looking at that, I tend to agree with her”

“And since when were you an expert Mattie?”

“I’m not but I don’t know how anyone could chose to have that coming out of there!” she cringed, completely covering her eyes, mortified, as the woman on screen continued to push. Her sharp

screams and huffing and puffing coming at them in all directions due to the high quality surround sound.

“It’s natural!” she protested even though her complexion was now tinged with an unusual shade of green.

“And I have to do it, that, I’m not going to let what happened last time happen again!”

“Seriously Belle, what are the chances of it happening again? I’d take the risk!”

“I’m not taking any risks where my baby is concerned!”

“Well then I’m sorry but the whole birth partner thing” Matilda squirmed, finally looking away from the screen.

“I can’t do it!”

“What?!” Belle exclaimed in horror.

“You can’t let me do this alone!”

“Well you should have thought of that when you were doing the horizontal tango without safety equipment! I wasn’t there then, I definitely don’t have to be there for the aftermath!”

“Mattie! This is the birth of my child we’re talking about, your godson or goddaughter? Are you seriously telling me you don’t want to be there?”

“I can’t, sorry” she winced.

“This video alone is going to give me nightmares”

“All you have to do is hold my hand and tell me to breathe a few times, I’ll be the one actually doing that! I need you Matilda”

“Exactly! You don’t have to watch! I’m sorry” she repeated, her head bowed slightly in shame.

“Ric will do it, I’ll lend him to you!”

“Woah!” he exclaimed, suddenly emerging from the terrified haze he had been lost in.

“No offence Belle, but I have no desire to see your...business end...especially not in full working order!”

“No offence taken! I’m very fussy about who I let anywhere near my office” she laughed.

“That’s not what the graffiti in The Surf Club toilets says” Matilda quipped with a grin.

“Oiy!” Belle exclaimed, slapping Matilda on the leg with all her might.

“Owww!”

“Serves you right! You’re already abandoning me in my time of need, now you’re making skank jokes again!”

“Sorry, I just can’t be there. Can’t you ask...erm...”

“Exactly” Belle glared at her.

“You’re all I’ve got. Well, the only person I could ask to be at something as personal as the birth of my baby anyway!”

“We both know that’s not true” Matilda whispered as though it would stop Ric from hearing despite the fact that he was sat next to her.

“You could ask-“

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence!” Belle hissed in annoyance. She didn’t need anyone else knowing that Aden was the father.

“Sorry” Matilda whispered, her head turning back to the screen.

“Oh god, I’m going to be sick!” she exclaimed, her hand quickly covering her mouth as she ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

“I’m sure it’s not as bad as it looks” Belle tried to reassure herself as she turned back to the screen just in time to see the newborn baby take its first breath and let out a shrill cry.

“See?” she whispered, her heart melting at the sight of the newborn.

“How beautiful is the end result?”

“She is pretty cute” Ric nodded with a smile before questioning himself.

“She?”

“She” Belle nodded back at him as the baby was lifted into her mother’s arms.

“I’m going to have one of those in 6 months”

“That is pretty exciting” he grinned at her.

“I’m scared Ric” she confessed quietly.

“Hey!” he rubbed her arm reassuringly.

“You’ll be great”

“Thanks, but I have to get through that before I even have depression or any of the other stuff to worry about! And now it looks like I’m doing it alone!”

“She’ll come around” he smiled nodding towards the bathroom.

“She’s almost as excited about this baby as you are”

“No she’s not” Belle shook her head with a grin.

“She’s more excited! She’s driving me insane!”

“She’ll be there, I don’t for one minute believe she’d miss anything to do with this kid if she didn’t have to”

“What if she doesn’t come around though?”

“Well if she doesn’t and you’re really, really, really desperate, then I’ll hold your hand”

“Aww Ric, you’re a sweetie really aren’t you?” she grinned.

“Yeah but don’t let it get around” he laughed.

“I’ve got a reputation to uphold”

“Of course! If anyone asks you were trying to convince me to be the first pregnant illegal fighter, no mention of being my birthing partner at all!”

“Erm thanks I think” he chuckled.

“I’m not sure which rumour would damage my reputation the most! But seriously Belle, we’re not going to let you go through this alone, we’re here for you, it’s not going to happen again”

“Aww” she sighed, wiping away a stray tear and pulling him into a hug.

“I’m so glad you guys are here”

[xknomex]

yay Jamieness!!!!!

that scene where he was scared of the monsters was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!

Poor Aden and Belle trying to answer the kissing question, must have been difficult...

The watching the birthing tape was soooo funny. reminded me of friends

Brilliant update

xxx

[LAURZY!]

Awww Jamie that scene when he wanted to stay in her bed was so adorable!

I loved what he said about Nicole and Geoff too! haha

The scene with Mattie/Ric and Belle was great! really funny and the bit when Ric said if she had noone else, he would hold her hand!! awww so sweet

Fantastic update

[leah1234]

Jamie is so cute!!!!!! He justs make me aol!!!!!

And the way hewanted to snuggle up to her!!!!!! aaawwwww

I really hope she tells aden and soon!!!

can't wait for the next update

I also liked ric, belle and maddie's chat and their reaction to the dvd

xxxxxxxx

[rokkafella125]

aww i loved every bit!

jamie and the monsters so sweet!

lol at jamie/belle/adens chat about kissing!

loved the video scene.... but i have a feeling that somebody was watching, maybe kirsty or coleen or maybe even aden....

great update!

cant wait for more!

x

[Red Ranger 1]

Loved it!Again.Jamie was so cute, the way he wanted to sleep with Belle, and I loved the last bit with Belle, Mattie and Ric watching the birthing video.

[bailey4]

This just gets better and better. Perfect chapter, loved how you concentrated on her son and friends!

[jenpen08]

Ah sooo good!

You could really feel the awkwardness when Jamie was asking the 'kiss' questions!

Hopefully neither Matilda nor Ric will have to be at the birth cos she'll have told you know who

As always amazing update!!!

[Taniya_K]

Aw... Jamie!

That last scene with Mattie/Belle/Ric and the DVD was funny! Loved it! Poor Mattie, and even Belle. I guess poor Ric too But I like that they're all being supportive, and what Ric said to her about being there if she really really really wants him to be was AOL.

Update soon!

xoxo