Shattered Glass

[Louise_2983]

The flashback in this chapter is for Laura. Not just because of you know what but also because I think I did say "maybe next time" about this yesterday!

Chapter 40

“But it’s too soon, way too soon” he panicked and stated the obvious as Belle took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

“I know that!”

“Are you sure? You didn’t just have an accident or something did you? Your bladder hasn’t been the strongest lately, you always need the bathroom” he blabbered as she continued to inhale slowly.

“Of course I didn’t! I’ve done this before Aden remember? My waters have definitely broken, you’re standing in them”

“Oh yeah” he mumbled looking down at the pool of water gathering around his bare feet and immediately stepping sideways in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid it.

“Why aren’t you panicking? Why am I the only one freaking out here?” he asked, his cheeks blushing a rosy hue in embarrassment.

“Because that’s not going to help and I don’t want to wake Jamie, it’ll scare him” she whispered her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip on the porcelain sink.

“You’re here and everything’s going to be ok” she murmured soothingly more for her own benefit than his. She was so grateful in that moment that he’d left Kirsty. If she’d been going through this alone

she was sure she would have crumbled.

“Are you in pain?” he asked gently, his tone brimming with concern as he prised her hands from the sink and held them tenderly in his own.

“No” she shook her head slowly with an ironic laugh.

“Just in labour it would appear”

“What do we do?” he asked the shock of the situation rendering his brain useless.

“Phone the hospital and tell them we’re coming in” she ordered softly, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

“Phone someone to look after Jamie, Roman or Nicole I’m guessing? Or Matilda?”

“Right” he nodded.

“I’ll call Roman. Nic can’t leave Sophie and Matilda will just panic”

“And we’re not panicking” Belle nodded back.

“Right?”

“Well you’re not” he sighed brushing his lips against her cheek, his hand resting softly against the silky material of her dress.

“I need you to keep it together Aden” she murmured.

“I can’t do this without you”

“You don’t have to do anything without me” he whispered, squeezing her shoulders.

“Good” she managed a weak smile as he headed for his phone and began to make the necessary calls.

“Aden?” she called just as he was about to hit the last digit of the hospital’s number.

“Yes babe?”

“There’s an overnight bag next to the crib, it hasn’t got much in it because I didn’t think I’d be needing it for a while bu-”

“I’m on it” he interrupted and she instantly heard him rifling around the bedroom for the necessary items. She didn’t have to see him to know his phone was pressed to his ear as he frantically dashed

around the bedroom willing someone to pick up at the other end.

“Ok baby girl” she murmured softly, rubbing tender circles over her bump with a flat palm.

“Now I know you’re keen to get here because let’s face it who wouldn’t want to be part of this perfect little family we’ve got going on but you’re already part of it sweetie you don’t need to come into the

world just yet” she sighed as she busied herself mopping up her waters from the tiled floor. She knew Aden would go mad if he saw her but she needed something, anything to keep her mind busy. This

couldn’t happen, not now. Not when everything was finally right again.

“So here’s the deal” she whispered back towards her tummy.

“You stay in there for as long as you can and Mummy will feed you ice cream and chocolate and whatever your heart desires. And here’s the clincher baby girl, I won’t let your big brother choose your

name. Because Minnie Mouse Jefferies doesn’t really have the best ring to it does it?” she chuckled quietly.

“Please sweetheart just be good for Mummy and whenever you decide to arrive, whether that’s today or tomorrow or on time just please be happy and healthy because I love you so much baby and I

couldn’t stand it if anything bad happened to you. Silly Mummy thought she was going to be in control this time” she giggled to herself as she patted her tummy tenderly.

“You’re showing me huh?”

“Belle, you ok babe?” he questioned softly returning to the bathroom, her overnight bag slung over his arm as he wrapped the other tightly around her and kissed her cheek gently.

“As I can be I guess” she whispered kissing his lips tenderly.

“I called the hospital they said to come in as soon as we can but I couldn’t get through to Roman or Nicole or Matilda so...”

“So what? Aden we’re not taking Jamie with us he’ll be petrified!”

“Kirsty’s coming over” he finally admitted with a gulp.

“Kirsty?!”

“He’s used to her and she’s going to keep trying Roman so he’ll take over as soon as she can get in touch with him. We just need to get you to the hospital Belle, Jamie will be fine with Kirsty I wouldn’t

even consider leaving him with her if I didn’t believe that”

“You’re right I’m just not thinking straight right now” she sighed softly as he hugged her close.

“I can’t lose another baby Aden” she mumbled, warm tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

“Ssssh” he whispered.

“You’re not going to lose her you hear me, we have to be positive and strong. She needs her Mummy and Daddy to do that for her”

“I know” she whispered as he held her close.

“It’s just easier said than done, promise me you won’t leave me” she suddenly panicked her nails digging into him as she held on as though she would never let go again.

“I’m not going to leave you” he whispered with a cheeky smile.

“Leaving’s your party trick remember?”

***

“Hey Belle, how are you doing?”

“Rachel!” she exclaimed in relief as she sat up straight on the hospital bed, relieved to see a familiar face at last. She’d been surrounded by doctors and nurses and been prodded and poked and hooked

up to so many different machines that she’d lost count since she arrived a few hours ago and Rachel’s friendly face comforted her slightly.

“We weren’t expecting to see you in here so soon” Rachel smiled softly as she flipped through the notes she held in her hands, having just come on shift.

“Well I could have done without it believe me” she sighed as Aden tenderly rubbed her arm.

“Are you still pain free? No contractions or cramps?”

“Contractions?” Aden asked knowingly.

“So I am in labour?” Belle whispered, biting back warm tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yes everything indicates that you are in labour Belle” Rachel told her softly.

“It’s too soon Rach” Belle gulped as Aden took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently.

“What happens now?” Aden questioned as Belle tried to keep calm, her breathing becoming more erratic as she failed to do so.

“I push and pant and hopefully we get a baby at the end of it, right Rach?” she attempted to joke but the pain she was trying to mask shone brightly in her eyes.

“Actually” Rachel began quietly.

“There are things we can do. Now we can’t stop the labour I’m afraid but we can give you steroids which will hopefully postpone things for a while to give the baby a better chance. I’m sure you both

realise that 23 weeks is very early and the longer we can keep her from being born the more developed she will be an-”

“The more likely she’ll survive” Belle whispered.

“Belle, we will do everything we can to make sure your baby is as healthy as can be. Even if she does come early she could still be a happy and healthy little girl, lots of premature babies pull through

these days”

“But not all of them right?”

“Belle” Aden scolded and instantly regretted it. He knew how scared she was because terror was pulsing through his veins too.

“We’re being positive remember?”

“Sorry” she whispered.

“It’s just kind of hard right now. I want this baby so much Aden, our baby”

“I want her too and she’s going to be fine” he murmured reassuringly but even he wasn’t sure how much he believed the words tripping over his tongue.

“I’m sorry Belle, this is all my fault”

“What?! No it isn’t, it’s no one’s fault babe” she sighed tenderly touching his cheek with her fingertips.

“It says in here” he told her holding up the premature labour leaflet he had been examining for the past hour or so.

“That stress can cause this and all I’ve done lately is make your life more stressful” he sighed guiltily. He couldn’t bear the thought that he’d put Belle and their daughter in danger, he loved them both

more than life.

“And it also says that other possible risk factors are” she snapped yanking the leaflet from his hand and turning to the page she wanted and ticking off the list with her finger.

“Previous abortions, check, previous miscarriages, check, changing partners between your first two pregnancies, check, previous drug use, check”

“Drug use?!” he spluttered stopping her rant.

“It was just the one time and it was a long time ago but Aden the point is that any of these things could have caused this, or none of them. We’ll never know. We just have to concentrate on getting

through it because no matter what it was we can’t change it and blaming ourselves or each other is just going to make things worse!”

“You’re right sorry” he smiled softly, taking her hand in his.

“We will get through this, together”

“I know we will” she smiled back at him as Rachel coughed to alert them to the fact that she was still there.

“Sorry Rach”

“It’s ok, I understand this must be hard for you both right now. I’m going to go and request the steroids we need from the pharmacist, I’ll be back as soon as I can I promise” she told them before

leaving them alone in the room once more.

“It will be ok won’t it?” Belle whispered against his chest as he held her close.

“Of course it will” he smiled softly before directing his words at her bump.

“Won’t it baby girl? You’re just going to stay in there for as long as you can because I bet it’s all nice and cosy in there isn’t it? You know Jamie’s so jealous that you get to be with your Mummy all the

time, you don’t want to cut the chord just yet do you?”

“Literally” Belle managed to laugh just as the baby kicked beneath Aden’s hands and took her breath away.

“See I knew you were listening little girl” he chuckled.

“Now you just do as you’re told or you’re going to be grounded for life you hear me?”

“Aden!”

“What? A bit of tough love might just do the trick!” he told her laughing softly.

“I already tried to bribe her with ice cream and chocolate so we seem to have different techniques”

“So you’re going to be the soft one huh?”

“Shut up! You melt if Jamie so much as looks at you. You’re just as soft as I am”

“I know” he laughed quietly against the top of her head.

“What are we going to do when they’re rebellious teenagers?”

“They’re not going to be rebellious teenagers, they’re going to be perfect forever!”

“Sure” he nodded.

“And to think you didn’t even used to want kids”

“That was you Mr!”

“No it wasn’t!”

“You totally freaked out that time don’t deny it!”

“I don’t know what time you’re talking about”

“You know exactly which time I’m talking about, I know you remember every single detail!”

“Get over yourself Belle you weren’t that hot”

“Really?” she grinned cheekily as a sharp pain suddenly shot through her tummy and she gasped loudly.

“Are you ok? Should I call Rachel?” he panicked.

“I’m fine” she lied breathing deeply as the pain died down.

“Now what we’re you saying about how hot I was?”

*

“Come on don’t be such a chicken!” she teased him as she bounded towards the water’s edge, the moonlight glistening overhead and reflecting of her shiny hair.

“You’re wearing a bikini it’s alright for you” he chuckled as she dove into the waves and beckoned for him to join her.

“Well I wasn’t expecting you to come in with your jeans and shirt on” she winked nodding suggestively towards where her dress lay in a crumpled heap on the sand.

“Belle, you’ll get me arrested!”

“Oh but it would be worth doing time for wouldn’t it?” she grinned cheekily.

“And I’d visit every week!”

“Guess it might be worth a few conjugal visits”

“Now, now who said anything about conjugal visitations Mr Jefferies? Get your mind out of the gutter please!”

“You’re the one suggesting I get bare naked here”

“Well I didn’t realise you were such a wimp!”

“You know Colleen saw Geoff and Nicole skinny dipping last week” she called out accusingly as she splashed around in the water.

“Exactly Colleen saw them Belle! I’ve heard all about Geoff hiding his manhood with a seashell while Colleen squealed in shock not realising she was stood on his clothes!”

“Apparently it was a big shell” Belle winked.

“I might just have to go home and pay Geoff a visit if you’re going to be a spoilsport”

“Belle be serious”

“I’m being serious. Are you really telling me that Geoff’s prepared to skinny dip but you’re not?”

He sighed in defeat and whipped off his t-shirt, the moonlight dancing over the toned muscles of his taught chest.

“That’s more like it” she grinned her eyes looking him up and down appreciatively, licking her lips in anticipation.

“If I’m doing this so are you Taylor” he told her as he advanced towards the water.

Without a hint of hesitation she reached behind her neck and undid the knot in her bikini top before throwing the garment haphazardly onto the sand and submerging her body in the cold sea.

“Are you coming in then or what?” she grinned as he stripped off his lower half and ran into the water to join her.

“God, you didn’t tell me it was freezing!” he yelped as he encircled her tiny waist with his arms and pressed her body against his chest.

“Because you wouldn’t have come in if I had and I wanted to do this” she grinned before pressing her lips against his and kissing him passionately, her hands cupping either side of his face.

“We could have done that inside, in the warm and wearing clothes you know?”

“I know but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun” she giggled kissing him again and running her fingertips down his bare back. He visibly shivered as she did so.

“And anyway we can’t let people think Geoff and Nicole have all the fun whilst we’re old and boring can we?”

“Ah so that’s what this is all about! Keeping up with the Franklin-Campbell’s!” he chuckled, throwing his head back as his eyes sparkled in amusement before whispering cheekily.

“ “Well we’re getting older and more serious and before you know it we’ll be married with a mortgage and kids and then they’ll be no time for fun. Not this type of fun anyway!”

“Kids?” he squeaked as she kissed him softly.

“Yeah kids. You know, the little people this sort of behaviour usually leads to?” she chuckled increasing the intensity of the kiss.

“Kids?” he repeated again with a nervous gulp.

“You are talking about in like years, no decades aren’t you?”

“Aden Jefferies are you freaking out over the idea of making babies with me”? she teased.

“No” he shook his head honestly.

“It’s not the making them part that freaks me out, it’s the bit afterwards where you actually have to parent them!”

“We’d be great parents!” she exclaimed defensively, slightly offended that he’d be worried otherwise.

“You would be” he whispered softly, kissing her briefly.

“But I’d be a disaster, I’ve hardly had the best examples to follow have I?”

“Aden” she sighed deeply.

“You’re not your Dad or your Granddad and you’re going to be an amazing father I know you are and when I see myself with children they’re always your children”

“If they’re not then I’ll be in prison for killing the guy who impregnated you!” he only half joked.

“We’re going to be good parents one day” she smiled again.

“In a decade or so?” he pushed hopefully.

“Or two decades?”

“Well maybe not that long but don’t worry I don’t want to start trying just yet” she grinned pulling him back into a kiss.

“But we could practice?”

“Practice sounds good, we’ve got to get it perfect after all” he grinned back at her.

“But we should probably wait until we get home considering Colleen’s on the beach”

“What? Shut up!” she laughed before turning to look at the shore and groaning loudly.

“Oh no!”

*

“See I was right” she told him confidently.

“You are an amazing father”

“And you’re a great Mum” he smiled kissing her forehead.

“And everything will be ok, I promise”

***

“Mummy!” he exclaimed as he ran into the hospital room and clambered up onto the bed before launching himself at her, arms outstretched.

“Jamie! Don’t jump all over your Mummy she needs some space, we have to be very careful with her mate”

“It’s ok Aden” Belle smiled wrapping her arms around her son.

“I’ve missed my best boy so much!”

It had only been 16 hours but she had missed him every single second. She couldn’t remember how she had managed to go almost 5 years without him.

“I missed you too Mummy” he whispered, his bottom lip quivering as he avoided her eyes sadly.

“I thought you’d gone away again”

“I’m not going away again sweetie I promise, I just have to stay in hospital a while because your little sister might be born early and if she is then she’s going to need all the doctors and nurses to help

her”

“Why is she sick?”

“She’s ok for now sweetie whilst she’s still in Mummy’s tummy but if she comes too early then she might be poorly”

“But if she comes early then I can play with her sooner can’t I?” he looked up at Belle hopefully.

“Not if she’s sick Jamie”

“I don’t want her to be sick” he whispered quietly before pressing his lips against Belle’s tummy.

“Stay in there until it’s time to come out baby girl!” he ordered her bump bossily.

“There’s still lots and lots of sleeps to go yet!”

“She says ok Mummy” he told her sweetly as he grinned up at her.

“So you can come home now with me and Daddy”

“Oh Jamie” she smiled, her heart melting at his sweetness.

“I have to stay here for a while so the doctors can give me some medicine to stop the baby being born too soon”

“Can’t you take the medicine at home Mummy like I do when I have a dry throaty cough?” he questioned, his recitation of the words from the medicine bottle causing Belle to giggle.

“They have to make sure it’s working first sweetie so I have to stay here at least for a little while”

“For how many sleeps Mummy?”

“At least 2 maybe more sweetie”

“But who will read me my story?” he murmured sadly.

“Daddy will read to you, you like it when Daddy reads to you don’t you?”

“Yep I do” he grinned coyly to himself.

“Daddy does all the silly voices and actions, it’s very funny Mummy”

“Then you’ll both be fine for a while without me won’t you?”

“We’ll manage Mummy but we won’t like it” he told her simply.

“Oh sweetie I don’t like being away from you either but it’s not going to be for too long I promise”

“You’re not going to have the baby girl and go away again are you Mummy? Are you sick again? Can’t you live with me anymore?” he asked all his questions in one go without pausing for breath as he

unburdened all his worries.

“I’m not going anywhere Jamie and I will be back living with you before you know it”

“Promise?”

“I promise you baby and you have to come and visit me every day or I’ll get lonely”

“Well you won’t be on your own Mummy because you have the baby but I know she’s very quiet and when we talk to her she ignores us alllll the time so I will come and visit you so you don’t get bored”

“That’s very kind of you” she giggled.

“I know Mummy” he shrugged sweetly.

“Don't say I never do anything for the team!”

[LAURZY!]

Yay! i got my naked scene on the beach!!!! lmao defo cheered me up!

Jamie once again is a sweetheart

Loved all the dialogue between Belle and Aden!

I really hope the baby will be alright...

Brilliant Really cannot wait to read more

[xknomex]

aahahah we got Aden butt naked on the beach! maybe we should give you more idea's :lol:

aww Jamie is so sweet! thought it was good how Kirsty ended up looking after him.

Poor Aden at the beginning he was so shocked.

I hope Belle and the baby will be okay!

xx

[Taniya_K]

Loved the flashback! So... a big shell, huh? !

Aw, I hope the baby's ok! Loved Aden freaking out at the beginning. Bless him.

Jamie! How adorable is he?!

Can't wait for more!

xoxo

[Red Ranger 1]

Nice chapter.Glad that Aden felt able to go to Kirsty and loved his comment about making babies not being a problem, it's looking after them afterwards.Hope everything's all right.Looking forward to more.

[hitmanfan]

I'm sorry I haven't commented on this story for a while.

I agree with everyone else reading this, it is so good and I check every day (more than once) to see if there is a new chapter.

Jamie is so sweet, I want one! and skinny dipping with Aden would also be quite nice!

Once again a great update, can't wait for the next chapter.

[KaiyaBlake]

Loved the flashback

I can just imagine Aden doing silly voices when he's reading to Jamie, it would be funny

Glad they are okay for now at least

Great Chapterrrrr. Can't wait for more

[Inactive User]

Great chapter.

Still loving the sweetest Jamie hehehe

Update soon

[Zetti]

Aww the naked scene how cute of them

I really liked that one and at Belle, Jamie and Aden trying to bribe the baby to stay in there

Hope the baby will be ok. I hope you update soon xx

[leah1234]

update tonight???

xxxxx