Shattered Glass

[Louise_2983]

Your wish is my command ;)

Chapter 41

“Seriously Aden what do you think we’re going to do to her? She’ll be fine, stop worrying!” Nicole hissed as Aden gazed at her doubtfully, his hand supporting his chin as he slouched over the kitchen counter towards her.

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea Nic” he sighed knowing she didn’t care what he thought, she was going to go ahead with her plan anyway. His objections were pointless and unnecessary.

“It’s a great idea, it’s just the boost she needs”

“And when did you suddenly become the expert regarding what’s best for Belle, Princess?” he scoffed.

“You’re smothering her Aden!” she sighed back in frustration, leaning over the counter so her face was inches from his so she could get her point across better.

“She’s fine they wouldn’t have let her come home if she wasn’t. I know she’s carrying precious cargo but it’s been 3 weeks, the baby would be here by now if she was coming”

“She isn’t just carrying precious cargo Nic, she’s precious full stop!”

“Oh please, pass me the sick bucket!” Nicole laughed as she pushed her hands off the counter so she was back to a straight standing position, her blonde tresses swinging behind her as she did so.

“She’ll be fine, Rachel’s going to be here. She’ll have her own personal medic so she’ll be in a better position than she is now!”

“Ok, alright” he sighed dramatically

“But if anything happens you call me straight away right?”

“Sure thing” Nicole nodded, a victorious smile beaming from her just as Belle and Jamie entered the room.

“What’s a sure thing?” Belle asked but before either Aden or Nicole could respond Jamie questioned his father loudly.

“Daddy? Are we going fishing with Uncle Roman now so Mummy can have her baby bath?”

“Baby bath?”

“He means a baby shower” Aden grinned at his son’s mistake.

“But showers aren’t fun Daddy! They’re like nasty thunderstorms on your head! Mummy should have a baby bath so she can play with rubber ducks and have lots of big bubbles!”

“It’s not that kind of shower sweetie” Nicole chuckled ruffling his hair affectionately.

“It’s like a party where girls all bring presents for the baby and talk about being Mummies”

“Aren’t I invited to the party?” he whispered, his lower lip quivering as he bit back tears.

“Jamie, Mummy isn’t even having a baby shower” Belle objected, annoyed that Nicole had upset him unnecessarily.

“Yes you are!” Nicole grinned opening the front door and ushering a crowd of Belle’s female friends into the house.

“Oh my…” Belle murmured as she watched them stream into the lounge loaded with presents covered in pink bows and with helium balloons hovering above their heads.

“But not if you don’t want to” Aden asserted glaring at Nicole.

“Just say the word and I’ll throw them all out”

“Gee thanks Aden” Matilda called out from behind huge hamper of baby products shaped like a cake which she was clutching close to her chest.

“You sure know how to make your guests feel welcome!”

“Guests are normally invited” Aden quipped still shooting daggers at Nicole.

“Aden!” Belle exclaimed incredulously.

“Don’t be so rude!”

“But seriously” Rachel told both Belle and Aden gently, resting a hand on Belle’s shoulder.

“If it’s too much for you then we will leave. Just say, we don’t want to wear you out”

“No seriously it’s fine” Belle smiled.

“I’m going insane being cooped up in her with nothing to do, it’s going to be a long 14 weeks if she does wait until she’s due. And I know you’re just being rude because you care Aden but some company would be amazing” she sighed with a smile.

“This is really nice of you guys” she told them before adding cheekily.

“And anyway if you leave you’ll take all the presents with you and we want those!”

“Are all the presents for the baby?” Jamie questioned, his eyes wide as he gazed at the gifts of different shapes and sizes.

“Erm…” Leah mumbled, her head slightly bowed, indicating that they clearly were all for the baby.

“Well they’re all pink sweetie” Belle murmured kneeling down to hug her son.

“And you don’t want pink presents do you? It’s a girl’s colour”

“But someone could have brought a blue present” he whispered softly.

“Or a green one or a yellow one or any colour”

“Mummy will buy you a big present instead sweetie but these ones are for the baby”

“Is that because everyone likes the baby better than me?”

“No of course not Jamie” Nicole whispered, brushing a kiss over the top of his head.

“We all love you lots”

“And everyone bought presents for you when you were in my tummy Jamie” Belle whispered against his tiny ear.

“Did I get more presents than the baby girl?” he questioned hopefully.

“A few more maybe” she humoured him as she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“And you’ll buy me a present later Mummy won’t you?” he asked as he played with the charms on her bracelet with his tiny fingertips.

“Anything you want” she told him before realising her mistake and adding on a condition.

“Except a dog”

“Can I have some doggy tags instead so I can be just like my Daddy?” he requested sweetly causing every female in the room to visibly melt.

“You can have some special little ones just for you” she grinned as he moved away from her grasp and bent his neck to look up at Aden.

“Ok Daddy can we go fishing now? Because if this is like a Buck’s night I don’t want to see girl's with no clothes on!"

“Oh it’s not that type of party son” Aden replied following his son who was already out of the door, turning back to the females with a wink and continuing in hushed.

“Or I’d be staying”

“Thank god, I thought we’d never get him to leave!” Nicole exclaimed as he followed Jamie out of the door.

“He’s just a little over protective right now” Belle defended him with a small smile to herself, rubbing a hand instinctively over her bump as she did so.

“And understandably so”

“Right I need to put these in the freezer!” Leah announced trundling into the kitchen with the huge cardboard box she was carrying.

“The freezer?” Belle mumbled as she looked on in horror.

“Please don’t tell me you’ve brought me frozen placenta or something to bring me luck!”

“No of course not!” Leah laughed as she continued to pile the small white boxes the

cardboard one contained into the freezer.

“I bought an adorable little dress for the baby too but I thought I’d be more practical too. You’re not going to have much time or energy for cooking once the baby’s born so I made lots of meals for you to have in the freezer and then all you’ll need to do is warm them up”

“Leah Rosetta, I think I love you” Belle giggled as she sunk into the sofa with a sigh.

“But I think you just put the dress in the freezer too!”

“Ooops!” Leah exclaimed as she pulled the frilly white dress from the freezer and handed it to Rachel.

“Aww this is adorable!” Rachel swooned as she examined the soft material of the tiny dress.

“Ok enough swooning!” Nicole ordered taking centre stage in the middle of the lounge.

“Let’s get to the good bit!”

“Nicole, it’s a baby shower the swooning is the good bit!” Matilda told her as she flopped down next to Belle.

“Not at this one” she announced with a grin as she turned to Belle.

“We figured with everything that’s been going on lately you wouldn’t want us prodding you or holding rings over your tummy or starting a pool on when she’ll arrive so I came up with an amazing idea instead”

“Go on” Belle prompted with a laugh.

“Well we know the baby hasn’t got a name yet and it took you and Aden forever to decide on a name for Jamie so we’ve all picked a name to suggest to you so you have a list”

“Nicole, I saw that rerun of Dawson’s Creek too” Martha laughed, pushing her dark hair behind her ear as she perched on the edge of the armchair.

“You didn’t come up with the amazing idea all by yourself”

“Dammit!” Nicole sighed in frustration.

“Well I may have stolen the idea but it was an inspired piece of robbery if you ask me”

“I do quite like the idea” Belle admitted trying to placate her.

“Although the list really doesn’t need to be any longer. But come on I want to hear your suggestions, who’s first?”

“Well we decided that alphabetical order was fairest” Annie replied diplomatically.

“So that’s me and I thought about it a lot. Obviously most of the names I like are biblical and I knew you wouldn’t approve so I rejected all of them and had to think of another one s-”

“Spit it out Annie! We have a running time here!” Nicole ordered grumpily.

“Nicole! Leave her alone, it’s a baby shower not army camp!” Matilda scolded her before turning to Annie with a smile.

“Go on Annie” she told her softly as Nicole stuck a tongue out at her. Matilda spotted this gesture out of the corner of her eye but chose to ignore it for the sake of Belle’s baby shower. And sanity.

“So I thought about how great Irene was with Jamie and how she would have loved to be “Nanny Irene” to this baby too and so Irene seemed like a natural choice but I know that it’s really old fashioned and you probably want something modern so then I thought Irena but that still didn’t seem right so I finally settled on Rena”

“Aww Annie” Leah cooed softly.

“That’s so lovely”

“I do really like it” Belle smiled as a single tear fell down her cheek.

“But now you’re going to make me feel really guilty if I don’t name my daughter after Irene!”

“You don’t have to name her after Irene” Annie hurried to reassure her, ironically feeling guilty for having made her feel guilty.

“It was just an idea”

“And a really nice one but you know what? This baby is going to know all about Irene and how great she was even if she isn’t named after her I’ll make sure of it!”

“Ok enough with the melancholy, Charlie you’re next!” Nicole barked out from her position curled up on the floor in front of the armchair.

“Well, my choice is biblical I’m afraid so you might not like it but I didn’t choose it for that reason. It’s Abigail,”

“Oh my gosh that was my choice too!” Ruby exclaimed from the other side of the room in disbelief at their synchronicity.

“It means father’s joy” Matilda informed them as she flipped through the baby name book still looking for inspiration for her own offering.

“And she’s certainly that”

“Yes she is” Belle smiled softly to herself.

“Now you’ve finally told him”

“Are you ever going to let that drop?” Belle glared at her best friend slightly annoyed.

“Anyway! Abigail!” Matilda exclaimed avoiding the question and Belle’s “if looks could kill” glare as the others chuckled loudly.

“It was our Mum’s name” Charlie explained quietly with a small smile at Ruby who returned the gesture.

“It’s a good strong name and she was a good woman”

“Aww guys I can’t give my daughter your mother’s name, one of you is going to want that”

“Well unless there are some big advances in medical science sometime soon I don’t see Joey and I having children” Charlie chuckled softly.

“There’s adoption or a donor or seriously catch me at the right frazzled moment and you can have Sophie!” Nicole joked giving Charlie a playful nudge.

“Thanks” Charlie laughed.

“But what with the nail polish and the designer wardrobe I think she’s a bit too high maintenance for us!”

“There’s nothing wrong with teaching a girl that she’s worth it, even if she is two years old” Nicole laughed as Ruby suddenly interrupted.

“Actually thinking about it I do want Abigail, you could call her...erm...erm...Baby? Dirty Dancing inspired of course not just because I couldn’t think of anything else”

“Sure I’ll name my daughter after the promiscuous dancing teenager in the pink dress” Belle replied sarcastically.

“She wasn’t promiscuous!” Nicole objected adamantly.

“It was just Johnny and let’s face it who wouldn’t?” she sighed as the other females, bar Belle, all swooned in agreement.

“And anyway you’re one to talk Belle!”

“What?”

“Let me think” Matilda laughed.

“Ric” she cringed as she began her list.

“Drew, Lucas, Drew again, Aden, Angelo, Aden again, Johnny and oh Aden yet again!”

“Yeah ok whatever” Belle muttered sheepishly.

“Seriously Belle you’ve been with the other halves of two women in this room!”

“Three if you count Aden” Belle laughed.

“Four if you count my Dad”

“It was just some kissing!” Belle objected in exasperation.

“Now as much as I love discussing how much of a skank I am, who’s next?”

“Me” Leah chuckled at Belle’s annoyance.

“And the only baby name book I had was the book of Greek names my mum gave me when I was having Angelo Junior. Now I know you’re not Greek but I like Zoe and it means life and I thought that

would be a good name for your baby considering”

“Life” Belle smiled, rubbing her bump subconsciously. As long as her daughter had life she would be happy.

“That’s a really nice thought thanks Leah”

“Come on Martha your turn!” Nicole ordered.

“We spent so long talking about how loose Belle is that they’ll be no time for cake at this rate!”

“Cake?!” Belle suddenly perked up, sitting up just a little bit straighter as the others laughed.

“All in good time” Martha giggled.

“The name I’ve chosen is Natasha and I wish I could say that it’s after someone special or that it has some profound meaning but I just like it”

“It means born on Christmas Day” Matilda informed them from the book.

“So not fitting really but pretty all the same” she sighed.

“And that makes it my turn and I can’t find a name so you can have Emma”

“What?” Belle almost choked on the orange juice she had just taken a sip of.

“I know Aden likes it and it was on your list, or at least Emmie was. So if you do want it I won’t object”

“Aww Mattie” Belle smiled hugging her friend.

“But you realise no matter how much you try we’re never going to actually be Monica and Rachel don’t you?”

“Shut up!” Matilda chuckled smacking Belle’s arm playfully.

“Honestly I try to do something nice for you and all I ever get back is sarcasm”

“You love it!”

“God you’ve been hanging around Aden too much” Nicole groaned at Belle’s words.

“Clearly” Belle chuckled gesturing to her bump as the others laughed.

“Well Melody would have been next” Annie chirped up.

“But she couldn’t make it”

“Shame!” Belle and Nicole both spoke in unison before both beginning to giggle in amusement,

“You two are so mean!”

“But at least we’re honest” Nicole grinned cheekily.

“Well anyway!” Annie continued, her eyebrows arched and eyes looking to the ceiling.

“Her choice of name was Evangeline or Evie for short she said”

“I actually really like it” Belle announced, shock clearly etched on her face.

“Melody has taste who knew?”

“Of course she has taste!” Annie defended her sister in law.

“She married Geoff didn’t she?”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Nicole squealed loudly causing the others to erupt into laughter.

“That’s my brother you’re laughing at!”

“HA HA HA HA!” Nicole continued to almost yelp as she held her sides she was so over come with laughter.

“Ok enough!” Belle took control.

“Being mean to Melody is one thing but I won’t have anyone being mean to Geoff! Nicole you’re next”

“Yeah, sorry!” she told her as she tried to compose herself.

“So the name I’ve chosen is not Nicole I’m sure you’ll all be surprised to hear but if you want to consider that then I’d be happy for you to do so”

“Dream on Nic”

“Yeah that’s what I thought so the name I’ve chosen is Serena. It means calm apparently and boy after the way Jamie used to scream you really need a calm baby this time!”

“Thanks for reminding me, that wasn’t exactly the best time of my life Nic!”

“Ok perfect time for cake!” Leah announced eager to change the subject and promptly opened the cake box resting on the table to reveal a baby pink cake in the shape of a baby’s pram.

“Roman?” Belle asked knowingly.

“Who else?” Leah chuckled as she cut pieces for everyone and they all dug into the delicious cake with their forks.

“So it’s Rachel’s turn, hope you’ve saved the best until last” Matilda challenged as she looked at Rachel expectantly.

“Ok no pressure then?” Rachel giggled.

“Well first Amy wanted me to suggest Dolly and Thomas doesn’t like girls right now so he suggested “It”!”

“That’s the one!” Belle quipped as the others laughed.

“But the name I’ve chosen is Samantha and like Martha I don’t have any special reason I just like it”

“Sami is already on the list!” Matilda declared holding up the list Belle and Aden had put together.

“You didn’t have insider knowledge did you Rach?”

“No just excellent taste in names” she pretended to brag as suddenly the clatter of high heels coming down the path filled the room and a familiar blonde face rushed through the kitchen door.

“I’m so sorry I’m late!”

“Mum!”

“Belle” Amanda sighed advancing into the lounge and perching down next to her daughter.

“Look at you, you look amazing”

“I look fat and tired”

“You look beautiful honey and I’m so sorry I’m so late, the twins were playing up and then the traffic was murder”

“It’s ok, I’m just so happy to see you!” Belle exclaimed hugging Amanda close to her.

“You missed your turn in the name game” Nicole stated bluntly.

“You’re an A so you should have been first”

“Actually Mum begins with M” Belle smiled softly at Amanda,

“Still missed your turn” Nicole sniped seemingly jealous that there was another gorgeous blonde in the room stealing all her attention. Belle dreaded to think what she would be like when Sophie was

older.

“In fact you missed everyone’s turn”

“I know and I’m sorry but I didn’t actually have a name anyway” Amanda confessed rummaging in her handbag.

“You couldn’t even make the effort to pick a name? Any name?” Nicole asked accusingly.

“I could have picked a name” Amanda nodded.

“But I know Belle. I may not have known her for as long as I should have but I know her and I know that no matter what names we suggest today she’ll just ignore them all anyway and pick what she

wants and so she should she’s this little girl’s mummy” Amanda smiled, hesitantly reaching out a hand to rub Belle’s bump only actually making contact when Belle nodded to signify that it was ok.

“So I brought this instead” she told Belle, handing her the scrapbook she had retrieved from her handbag.

“What is it?”

“Take a look” Amanda nodded and Belle turned the pages slowly to find old cuttings of baby clothes and cribs and parenting tips that a 13 year old Amanda had stuck in the scrapbook 27 years ago.

“I knew my mother would never let me keep you Belle and I hid from the world because of it, I hid my pregnancy for so long and I didn’t have scans or anything like that so I don’t have anything to

show you of you that’s real from when I was carrying you except that scrapbook. That was the one place where I could dream of the life that we could have had together if my mother had been a more

understanding person”

“I don’t know what to say” Belle whispered as she flicked to the final page to find a photo of herself and Amanda taken just a year ago stuck into place underneath faded writing clearly written well over

a decade ago.

“Elle Lucia Vale” Amanda spoke aloud, confidently.

“That was the name I’d chosen for you, I never got to give you a name but all those years I didn’t know you...when I thought you were...well you were always my little baby girl Elle”

“Elle’s pretty close to Belle” Belle smiled softly placing her hand tenderly over her mother’s as a tear began to fall down her cheek and Amanda reached up to brush it away.

“Now enough of the mush” she laughed trying to fight back tears herself.

“Were any of the names winners?”

“One was pretty good, I think it’s on the list” Belle smiled cheekily.

“But I’m not saying which!”

“Oh come on!” Nicole exclaimed.

“I bet it’s Irene or Rena or whatever it was, how was I ever supposed to compete with a dead woman?!”

***

“Mummy we’re home!” Jamie exclaimed excitedly jumping up to sit on the bit of her lap her bump didn’t protrude out to.

“Did you have a good time sweetie?”

“Yes” she grinned sweetly.

“Uncle Roman made me a blue cake!”

“Oh Uncle Roman’s very good at remembering all the important people isn’t he?” she smiled glad at least someone had remembered to make a fuss of Jamie too.

“Who are you?” he asked eyeing Amanda suspiciously. She was the only guest remaining and his attention was focused completely on her.

“Jamie, this is my mummy” Belle explained softly.

“Are you my grandma then?” he asked bluntly as Belle giggled at Amanda’s obvious horror.

“Yes she is sweetie”

“You’re very young and pretty to be a grandma” he smiled up at her.

“Oh you’re definitely your father’s son!” Belle giggled, hugging him tight.

“Such a smooth talker”

“I just tell it like it is Mummy” he shrugged nonchalantly as Amanda giggled.

“Well thank you young man” she smiled.

“It’s always nice to be called pretty”

“So what do I call you?” he asked simply.

“I called Mummy Belle for a while but now I just call her Mummy because that’s what she is, she’s my Mummy”

“And you’re very lucky to have her as your mummy aren’t you?” Amanda questioned him with a smile.

“Yep!” he nodded.

“She’s my favouritest”

“I’m glad to hear it and you know what I think if it was coming from you I could even handle being called Grandma but it would make me feel a little old. So how about we compromise on Nana?”

“Ok, I’d like that Nana” he told her sweetly.

“Are we friends now?”

“Oh of course we’re friends”

“Good, it’s very nice to finally meet you” he told her holding out his little hand for her to shake.

“Well we have met before sweetie you were just too little to remember”

“Did you go away too?”

“No” she shook her head regretfully that she hadn’t made more of an effort.

“I was always where I was and you were always here but we never visited each other did we?”

“No we didn’t” he whispered softly.

“I’m sorry Nana, I hope you weren’t lonely without visits”

“Oh I was ok Jamie but we can make up for it with lots of visits now can’t we?”

“That would be nice” he smiled.

“And do you know what?” Amanda grinned reaching into her bag again.

“What Nana?”

“Well when I was buying a present for the baby I got one for you too” she grinned handing over the present as Jamie’s face lit up like the national grid.

“Is it a soccer ball?” he asked staring at the present which was clearly shaped like a soccer ball.

“Open it and see!” Belle laughed as he tore off the paper and discarded it on the floor.

“Yay! It is!” he grinned hugging it close to his chest.

“I needed one because I shared the old one with Ollie and he got to keep it at our old house! Thank you very much Nana”

“You’re welcome sweetie” Amanda grinned as he planted a kiss on her cheek before rushing out to demand that Aden, who was outside washing his car, play with him.

“Oh Belle he’s adorable” Amanda swooned.

“Tell me about it” Belle grinned.

“And just so you know, there are compulsory bag checks upon leaving this house. We have to make sure no one’s trying to smuggle him out!”

[Red Ranger 1]

Awww, that was a lovely chapter.I like that they were all there for Belle and I'm glad you included Amanda.And I kept doing double takes every time you mentioned what all the characters are up to these days.(Leah married Angelo?Amanda has twins?)

[LAURZY!]

That was brilliant!

Nicole Oh i love her.... I'm kinda hoping for a Nicoff reunion hahaha

The banter was brilliant, loved all of the names, especially Abigail

And Amanda's back! YAY!! her scene with Jamie was so sweet. He really is a gorgeous little man lol

Great update

Cant wait for more!!

[Louise_2983]

Leah married Angelo?Amanda has twins?)

Yep and Yep

[xknomex]

I have the cheesiest grin on my face right now!

Another Brilliant chapter!!!!

Loved all the names, but i'd thought I'd make a suggestion. Naomi, means pleasant one [it actually does] :D what do you think!?

Jamie is just the cutest most adorable most amazing little man ever!!! he's so like Aden. Brilliant! Loved the Baby bath hehehe

Brilliant update!

xx

[leah1234]

I know that I'd try to smuggle Jamie out!!!

Loved that chapter and all the names

Monica and Rachel- Mattie and Belle I can see the similarities

It was really sweet for mattie to give belle the name emma

Annie's suggestion was great too!!!

Update soon

xxxxxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

Sorry Naomi I already know the name.

[xknomex]

ahh okay, thought it was worth a try though

[Inactive User]

Great chapter.

Loved the baby shower and the name picking. Loved how you got Leah and Angelo married in this fanfiction.

Update soon

[zifiso]

Fewww! so glad Belle didn't have the baby too early

You gotta love Nicole, she is hilarious

Love protective Aden

Oh! as for Jamie i will definately smuggle him , he'so cuteee!!!