Fragile Heart By Anna Hadland

Chapter 1

Bryan walked into the party and just sat by the door. Behind him Kian walked in with his fiancée Danni who was also Mark’s wife’s sister. Shane and his new wife, Amy, walked in behind Kian. They had only been married for a month. “You want a drink Bry?” asked Kian. “Why not? It’s only 6:30 but what the heck.”
Half an hour Later Nicky walked in with his wife, Anna, and three kids, Emily, Josh and Jordan. Josh was Nicky’s son from a previous relationship. Jordan was only five months old, Emily was two and Josh was nearly three. As soon as they walked through the door Nicky and Josh dived for the balloons. Anna sits next to Bryan. “He’s so embarrassing!” “He’s like this at work too” said Bryan. “Perhaps even worse. He’s a loony.”

Mark doesn’t arrive until 7:30. He brings his wife, Claire and Three kids. Steven and Owen were one and Sam was two months. Mark went and joined in with Nicky and Josh. “I think it’s the kids that make them completely insane!” said Shane.

Later on when everyone was dancing Bryan sat on his own. Yvonne Keating came over to see him. It has been one year and one month since Ronan’s death. Bryan and Yvonne have been getting rather close the last couple of months. “You want to dance?” she asked him. “Sure.”

The next day the boys were in the recording studio recording their Christmas album. Anna and Claire were working on their new film with Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck so Mark and Nicky took their kids with them. Everytime Nicky started to sing Jordan would scream. “I think she’s trying to tell you something Nick!” said Bryan. “Yeah, you can’t sing!” added Kian. “Shut it!” yelled Nicky.

They managed to get a bit of work done by lunchtime. Somehow they managed to lose Emily and nobody could find her. Nicky ran around the building trying to look for her. Anto walked into his office on the second floor. Emily was curled up asleep on his chair. He picked her up and turned to the door where Nicky was running past. “Nicky? Is this what your looking for?” Nicky turned round to see Anto holding Emily and ran back. “Talk about having a heart attack!” Nicky cuddles her so tight he woke her up. “Dada? Boring! Go home!” “Soon sweetie. Not yet. Daddy has to work.” “Mummy?” “She’s at work. Shall we go and find the others?” “Shay, Byan.” “Yeah we’ll go find Shane and Bryan.”
Anna was talking to Josh Hartnett on the set of the film when he said “Do you want to go out some time?” “Sorry I can’t.” “Why not?” “I’m married and I love Nicky a lot.” “Oh right” he said looking hurt. “Sorry.”

Claire went into the female dressing room. Anna was sat on the chair in the corner staring at the door. “What’s up?” “Josh just asked me out.” “What did you say to him?” “I said no. What did you think I would say? I’m not going to cheat on Nicky. I could never do that to him. I love him too much.”

That night Claire told Mark about what happened on the set. “She didn’t say yes did she?” “No you idiot.” The next day Mark told Shane and Bryan. Bryan wasn’t listening very well and went to see Nicky. “I’m so sorry Nicky.” “What?” “About Anna.” “What about her?” “Her and her co-star?” “What?” “You don’t know?” “Know what? What’s going on?” “She’s been seeing that Josh Hartnett guy behind your back.” “What?” Nicky leaves the building and drives over to the set of the new film. He walked up to a security guard. “Could you tell me where I can find Josh Hartnett please?” The security guard recognised Nicky’s face and pointed him towards the set where a group of people where shooting a scene. Anna was there as well. Nicky walked up to Josh who was in the middle of saying his line and punched him in he face. Josh fell over. “Nicky?” said Anna shocked. “Don’t you come near me!” Then he walked off.

Anna went home. Neither Nicky or the kids were there. She went up to the bedroom and half his clothes were gone. She tried phoning his mobile but it was switched off. She then phoned Claire and she in turn phones Mark “Did you say anything to Nicky?”
“No but I did speak to the others about it” “Did they say anything?” “I don’t know I will ask and let you know.” When he put the phone down he went and asked the others and that’s when Bryan said that he told Nicky that Anna was having an affair “Where did you get that from?” “ You said” “No I did not! I said that he asked her out but she said no. You had better find Nicky and tell him that you got it wrong and that you are a big dickhead.”

Bryan tried to phone Nicky but couldn’t get in touch with him. He wasn’t answering his phone to anybody. Louis was so mad at Nicky for walking out that he phoned Nicky’s mum to see if she knew where he was. By then Nicky had been gone for three days. “Yes he’s here” said Yvonne. “But he won’t speak to anyone.” “Ok said Louis. “I’ll phone again in a couple of days. I’ll give him some time to himself.”

When Louis phoned Nicky a week later Bryan asked if he could talk to him. “I’m sorry Nicky. I got it wrong. I guess I wasn’t listening properly. Anna said no to that guy when he asked her out. I’m sorry.” Nicky just put the phone down on him.

Chapter 2

A couple of weeks later Claire went to see Anna who obviously hadn’t slept since Nicky left. “Are you ok?” “I want to know of the girls are ok.” “I’m sure they are.” Neither of them heard the door open or the footsteps walking across the floorboards. “Mummy!!” shouted a voice behind her. Anna turned to see Emily running towards her. She picked her up and started crying. “I’ve missed you so much.” Nicky appeared in front of her. Claire took the kids into the garden. “So you came back then! Do you know how worried I have been about you and the kids” “Um yeah sorry about all this but Bryan told me that you have been seeing Josh behind my back.” “So you thought that you would just go with our kids without telling me a thing. I really hate you for doing that!” “I’m sorry.” “What about Josh? You hit him remember? We can’t start filming again until that bruise goes down.” “I’m sorry.” “Your sorry? You hurt me and all you can say is your sorry?” “I don’t know what to say.” “Well while your thinking about it I’m going to see my children.” Nicky buried his face in his hands as Anna went into the garden.
Later that night Claire was sat with Mark when the kids had gone to bed “Hey are you ok?” as Mark looked at Claire he could tell that something had upset her “Just tell me something” “What’s that?” “That we’ll always tell each other the truth” “yes I would never lie to you” “I don’t just mean not lying to each other but if there is something on your mind you will tell me won’t you?” “Of course I will.”

Nicky was still sat on the sofa with his head in his hands when Anna had put the kids to bed. “So what now?” she asked him. “I don’t know.” “Why did you just leave? Couldn’t you have just asked me? It’s like you don’t trust me.” “I do. I was just mad at what Bryan said. I wasn’t thinking straight. I know I shouldn’t have left like that. I wanted to get back at you.” By this time they were both crying. “Why?” “Because I thought it would make me feel better.” “Did it?” “No. I just felt worse.” They sat in silence for a few minutes. Anna started to cry again. Nicky looked at her and put his arm around her. “I’m so sorry. I love you. I don’t want to ever do that to you again.” “I love you too. I’m not going to forget about it though.” “I promise” he said kissing her. He got up and started walking to the door. “Where are you going now?” “To see Bryan.” “It’s late. Go see him in the morning.” He walked back to the sofa and sat down. He pulled Anna to him and kissed her…

The next morning Nicky goes round to see Bryan and knocks on the door. Yvonne Keating answered it with a dressing gown on. “Nicky!” “Yvonne? Where’s Bryan?” “He’s in the shower. I’ll go and get him.” “No I’ll go. I only want to ask him something.” He walked upstairs and heard Bryan singing in the shower. The door squeaked when Nicky opened it. “Who was that baby?” “You interfering little tosser!” Bryan stuck his head out from behind the shower curtain. “Nicky?!” “Do you know what you nearly did to my marriage?” “I’m sorry Nick. I wasn’t really listening to Mark properly.” “How the hell did you all know before me?” “Kian didn’t know before you.” “That wasn’t funny!” Nicky said laughing. “Then why are you laughing?” “You and Yvonne.” “What’s wrong with it?” “How come you never told us?” “I don’t know. I have to tell you something though and you have to promise not to tell anyone else.” “What?” “Promise?” “Ok I promise.” “Yvonne told me Marie isn’t Ronan’s.” “Then who’s is she?” “Mine. We were going to pretend it was Ronan’s baby. She’s got blond hair and blue eyes like all three of us so it didn’t really matter. Ronan never got suspicious.” “Flipping heck Bryan. Shacking up with your manager’s wife?” “I know. When Ronan died we both felt really guilty. I wish I’d told him sooner.” “But what are you going to do now?” “Well first if you don’t mind I would like to get out of the shower” “Oh sorry well I have got to go anyway.”

When Nicky got home Anna said “what has put you in such a good mood?” “Well when I got to Bryan’s a certain Mrs Keating opened the door” and so Nicky told Anna all that had happen at Bryan’s “Oh my god what is he going to do?” “I don’t know he kicked me out.” “Don’t worry. I’ll make you feel wanted” she said with a smile. ”That would be nice but we can’t because of the kids” “Well the kids are not here” “Why where have they gone?” “Well Shane and Amy have got them” “Oh right come here then!!!”

Claire took her kids to the park for the afternoon since it was such a nice day. Mark said he would join them after he had gone shopping. When Mark got there he headed straight for the baby swings. He got in one but he couldn’t get back out. Claire thought he was so embarrassing that she left him there. “Claire where are going?” Claire didn’t answer. She phoned Bryan and told him. Bryan and Kian went to the park. “Guys help me please!” begged Mark. Bryan got out a camera and took a picture. “OI!” Bryan ran off while Kian helped him out of the swing. “What were you doing in there in the first place?” “I wanted to have a laugh. I’m going to kill Bryan!”
When he got home Claire was giving Sam a bath “Hi so you got out then?” “Yes, no thanks to you” “Oh well it could have been worse” “How? Bryan taking a picture?” Claire would have said something but she was too busy rolling around the floor in fits of laughter. “It wasn’t funny!”

Chapter 3

Three months later Anna had found out that she was going to have another baby. At about the same time Yvonne was also going to have Bryan’s baby. They were all happy until The Sun put the story on to the front page:

Just a over a year from the death of her husband, Yvonne Keating is now expecting her third child by Ronan’s friend who is also in the band he used to manage. Bryan McFadden of Irish boyband Westlife spoke today of his happiness. “I can’t believe it. It’s brilliant news!”
Bryan’s bandmate Nicky Byrne is also set to become a father for the 4th time with Wife Anna.

“Hey you, what’s up?” asked Bryan as he came through the door “Have you seen The Sun today?” said Yvonne. “No, why?” Just then she put a copy of The Sun in front of him “Oh my god!” as he said that he could see that Yvonne was crying. “Try not to get upset” “It’s ok for you your not the one that they are saying things about” “ I know but I don’t like seeing you upset like this.” Just then there was a knock at the door it was Nicky, Anna, Mark and Claire “Hi how are you doing?” “We’ve been better but I think we are going to be ok.”

Nicky had gotten a babysitter so he could take Anna out for dinner. They went to the most expensive restaurant in town. “Ten quid for a bottle of wine!” said Anna looking at the menu. “Well you’re worth every penny.”

“Hey Kian!” said Danni. “I’ve figured out where we could go for our honeymoon. How about two weeks in Barbados?” “I’ve been wanting to go there for ages.” “We can’t book it until after Christmas though.” “That doesn’t matter. Let’s go for it.”

A couple of weeks later:

It was December 16th. Mark and Nicky were out looking for presents for Claire and Anna “So what are you going to get her then?” Asked Nicky as they went into a shop in London “I don’t know. What are you going to get Anna” “Well I was thinking of getting her that pair of earrings she wanted but I don’t know. What do you think?” “Well I don’t know it’s up to you. They cost a bit of money” “But she is worth it” “That’s nice. So what do you think I should I get Claire?”

On Christmas Eve Claire and Mark had Kian and Danni over for dinner. “Claire?” asked Danni. “Would you be one of my bridesmaids?” “Really? Of course I would.” “Do you think Anna and Amy would too?” “I’m sure they would. Hang on a minute. You’re getting married at the end of June. Anna’s baby is due in June.” “Oh yeah I forgot.” “She might still do it though.”

It was soon Christmas Day and at Anna and Nicky’s house. Josh and Emily had got up at about 4 in the morning and had gone and gotten Anna and Nicky up “I do not know who seems more happy you or the kids.” Anna said with a smile. “Well I think it’s me” as he said that Nicky jumped on the bed and give Anna a kiss and said “Happy Christmas” and he give her the present that Mark had helped him pick “Oh my god Nicky they are so nice thank you. And this is for you” Anna had got Nicky a Man Utd shirt signed by all the players.

At Claire and Mark’s they had been able to sleep a bit longer as their kids were still small. So at about 9 o’clock Mark came in with Steven, Owen and Sam to wake Claire up “Good morning” as Mark said this he give her a kiss on the cheek and Owen who was wriggling to get down “Oh is this my Christmas present?” asked Claire as she took Owen in her arms. “No this” he said Mark, putting Steven and Sam on the bed with Claire and got out a small box. “ What is it” “Well open it and see!” As he said that Claire opened the box to find a small bracelet inside and on it, he had written on it to the one I love with all my heart love mark. “Oh Mark it’s so nice thank you, so I bet you want to know what I got you?” “Not really” “What do you mean not really?” “You and the kids are all the Christmas presents I would ever want.” “Well I have got you some thing” as she said that Claire got a set of keys out and gave them to him. “What are these for?” “Well they are for a house is Sligo.” “What?” “Well you said that you wanted to go back some day so I thought I would get a place out there for when we go back for good and for when we go and see your family.”

Later that day they all met up at Anna’s and Nicky ‘s. Everyone was there. Bryan and Yvonne had got there first “So how are things now?” “Well they are a lot better thanks for asking Nicky” Just then there was a knock at the door. It was Claire, Mark, Owen, Steven and Sam and with them was Kian and Danni and not long after them came Shane and Amy.
“Hey thanks for all this” said Bryan as him and Nicky were sat in the kitchen “That’s ok I like having you all here.”
Later that night they had put all the kids to bed, and were all sat together “Hey what are you lot doing for New Year” asked Mark “um I don’t know why?” “Well how would you all like to come to our house for a party” “Yeah that sounds like fun.”

It was soon New Year’s Eve and Claire and Mark were getting ready for the party “Hey you” said Mark as he walked in to the bedroom just as Claire was just finishing getting ready “So what do you think?” Asked Claire. She turned around to show Mark what she was wearing. “I like it” “So what are you going to wear?” “I don’t know” “Well put this on” She said. Claire gave Mark a pair pf black trousers and a black shirt “I don’t know” “Well I think that you look good in black” “If you say so” “Well I do now go and get dressed.”
A bit later people stared to arrive at the house. The first people to come were Anna, Nicky, Josh, Emily and Jordan.

All was going well until Anna started feeling unwell. “Nicky!” she called to him. Nicky ran over. “What’s wrong?” “I don’t know. I think there’s something wrong with the b…” Anna collapsed on the floor. “Oh my god. Anna?” Nicky picked her up and took her out to the car. “Can you keep an eye on the kids?” he asked Shane. “Sure.”

Nicky, Claire and Mark sat outside Anna’s room at the hospital waiting for some news. The doctor came out with a solemn look on his face. “Can I talk to you?” He showed Nicky to a small room. “Is she going to be ok?” he asked as the doctor shut the door. Nicky started to look worried. “Anna will be fine but-” Nicky interrupted him. “But what? Not the baby?” “I’m sorry but Anna has lost the baby.” Nicky starts to cry. “Can I see her?” he asked. “Yes but she doesn’t know yet. Would you like me to tell her?” “No. I think it would be better if I told her.”

Nicky went into Anna’s room. The curtains were open and the moonlight was shining on her pale face. She was laid with her eyes closed and drips coming out of both her arms. He quietly walked over to her and held her hand. After a while she woke up. Anna sensed from Nicky’s face that something was wrong. “What’s going on?” “I…I…” He started to cry all over again and buried his face in the blankets. “What?” asked Anna getting worried. “What’s wrong? The baby? Is it alright?” “No.” “Why? What’s wrong with it. Nicky tell me.” He held her hand so tight that it hurt. “There is no baby.” “What? How?” “I don’t know. All the doctor said was that you had lost the baby.” They both sat there all night crying in each other’s arms.

Chapter 4

A couple of days later Anna came home from the hospital but Nicky and the rest of the boys had to go to Indonesia. Claire decided to take the kids and go to stay with Anna to try and cheer her up. “Are you alright?” Asked Claire after she had unpacked hers and her kid’s suitcases. Anna was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a huge white jumper. “Yeah I’m fine.” “Did the find out how it happened?” she asked as they started cooking tea. “Nobody could explain it.” “Mummy.” Anna turned round. Emily and Owen were stood by the door with flour all in their hair and on their clothes. Anna and Claire couldn’t help but laugh. “I haven’t seen you laugh like that in days,” Claire said to Anna with a smile on her face. “I think somebody needs a bath.” Said Anna. “NOOO!” screamed Owen. Emily giggled and ran into the living room and hid under the table. There was a trail of while flour, on the blue carpet, leading round the sofa and under the table.

After having a fight with Owen and Emily in the bath Claire walks downstairs soaking wet. All Anna can do is laugh. Claire’s mobile rang. “Hello?”
“Hi Claire, it’s Danni.”
“Hi! What’s up?”
“I’m just phoning to tell you that me and Kian have postponed the wedding. We are nowhere near ready for it and we were thinking of sometime next year.”
“What does Kian think?”
“He feels the same as me.”
“Thanks for telling me. Cya!”
Claire put the phone down and turned to Anna. “Danni and Kian have postponed the wedding.”
“Why?” asked Anna.
“Neither of them are ready for it this year.”
“Well that’s good. At least they’re not rushing into things.”

Mark, Claire’s, Nicky’s and Anna’s 2nd anniversary is the next week. They had a double wedding so it was the same day. Mark decided to go on his motorbike to get Claire’s present. A car was coming towards him on the wrong side of the road. The car hit Mark and he came off his bike. He only suffered a broken leg and was sent home for a few weeks. That weekend the rest of the boys came home from Indonesia and both couples went out to celebrate their anniversary. Claire and Mark went to the place where they had their first date. Lé Bistro. Anna and Nicky went to a restaurant round the corner.

The next day they go on holiday to the Caribbean for a week. They leave their kids with the girls’ parents. On the plane over there Mark’s leg started to itch. He spent the whole flight with a ruler inside his cast trying to scratch it. “You’re really bugging me with that now Mark” complained Nicky. “It’s not my fault” replied Mark. “It sounds horrible too!” added Claire. “Thanks a lot. I really appreciate everything you guys do for me” said Mark getting into a huff. “Just stop scratching!” said Claire.

At the end of the week Anna and Nicky decided to stay for another week while Mark and Claire went home.
“So what are you going to be getting up to then?” Mark asked Nicky.
“Never you mind! Concentrate on your sex life and not mine!”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?”
“I don’t want to know all your details! Thanks!”

At home Claire is trying to get Mark to go to a football match with her.
“I’m not going to see some crap team!” said Mark referring to Wycombe, Claire’s favourite team.
“Wycombe are not crap! And you can’t talk, you’re a Liverpool supporter!”
“Who’s team won three cup finals this year?” Mark retaliated.
“You cheated!”
“We did not cheat! You just have to accept that we booted you out in the semi!”
“You cheated and that’s all I’m saying!”

Nicky and Anna come back from the Caribbean and the boys start rehearsing for their yearlong world tour.

In March, Bryan and Yvonne are at their home with Jack and Marie in bed. Yvonne had been quiet all day and Bryan just thought it was her mood swings. Bryan cooked dinner and set out a table with two candles in the middle. Half way through he went to sit next to Yvonne. “I need to ask you something” he said. “What’s that?” “Will you marry me?” Yvonne looked shocked and started to cry. “What’s wrong?” asked Bryan. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” And she ran out of the room. Bryan followed her to their bedroom. “Yvonne? Are you alright? I didn’t mean to upset you.” “Bryan I really do love you but I can’t say yes right now.” “Why?” “Do you know what day it is today?” “No.” “Well you should. It’s Ronan’s Birthday.” “Oh I completely forgot!” Yvonne started crying again.

At the end of March the boys went on their tour.

In June Yvonne had a baby girl and called her Molly. Everyone went to see her at the hospital. While everyone was talking about the baby Anna started to get upset and ran out the room. Nicky found her in the park around the corner. She was sat in the far corner leaning on the wall with her head down. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and she was crying. Nicky sat down next to her and put his arm around her. “Are you alright hon?” He asked her. Anna turned and buried her head in his arm. “It’s going to be so hard looking at her and trying not to think about it.” Said Anna. “Nobody’s telling you not to think about it. I think I feel the same!” he said with tears in his eyes. “I couldn’t look at her today and not think that we should have had a baby as well” he added. “And we could always have another.” “Umm. I like that idea.” “Not until Jordan’s two at least.” “That’s only in a couple of Months.” “Now don’t go getting any ideas” Anna said, starting to smile. “Come on” Nicky said getting up and pulling Anna up with him. “Let’s go and get some lunch.”

Chapter 5

That summer the boys came home from their tour. Anna and Nicky have an early night.
“I’ve missed you so much” said Nicky.
“I’ve missed you too” said Anna kissing him. Nicky pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her…
“What are you doing?” asked a sleepy Emily coming into the room.
“Umm…Just trying to find something” stumbled Nicky.
“Maybe it would help if you put the light on Daddy.”
“Come on monkey” said Nicky getting out of bed. “Let’s take you back to bed.”
“I don’t want to. People are making noises and moving.”
“What people?”
“People in my doll house.”
“There’s nobody in there sweetie.”
“There is Daddy. I don’t want to go in there tonight.” Emily started to cry so Nicky picked her up.
“It’s alright hon. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
Half an hour later Anna went into Emily’s room. Nicky was sat in the rocking chair next to Emily’s bed fast asleep. Emily was asleep on his lap. Anna put a blanket round them and went back to bed.

The next day everyone including the tour crew met up for a goodbye lunch. It would be the last time they will all be together until the next winter. “My mummy and daddy were making funny noises last night” yelled Emily. Nicky and Anna went bright red. Bryan laughed. Josh yelled at him. “I saw you and Yvonne playing tennis in your bed in the hotel!” Bryan stopped laughing.
“Take your kids home now!” said Mark.
“Why? Worried about what they’re gonna say next?” asked Nicky.
“No but I don’t want them giving my kids any ideas.”
“What do you teach them?” asked Anto. “Where’d he get tennis from?”
“I told him that” laughed Bryan with a bright red face.

In September Josh started school. Nicky took him in and when he started to leave Josh wouldn’t let him go.
“Daddy!” he screamed.
“Why don’t you stay for a while?” asked his teacher. “I’m Miss Jenkins. You can call me Jennifer.”
“Nick. Nicky Byrne” he said while shaking her hand. Jennifer smiled at him. As he went over to Josh she couldn’t help but keep staring at him.

He looks so fine in those trousers. They’re so tight. His eyes are really gorgeous. I wonder if he’s still seeing Josh’s mother. Whether he is or not, he’ll be with me by Christmas.

Nicky stayed for an hour then he and Jennifer went outside to talk. She noticed his wedding ring. “Are you married to Josh’s mother?” she asked him.
“No I’m not” he replied touching his ring. “She died nearly three years ago. We were never married.”
“Oh I’m sorry. You were going to right? That’s why you wear the ring?”
“No. I married my current wife just over three years ago.”
“And you love her?”
“Yes I do.” Nicky started to feel uncomfortable.
“That must have been hard on Josh.”
“He never really understood it.”
“Do you have anymore kids?”
“I have two little girls. I must go. I have to be at a meeting in half an hour.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a singer. In a band.”
“That must be interesting. What does your wife do?”
“She’s an actress.”

After the meeting Nicky went to the set of the series Anna stars in.
“Josh’s teacher makes me feel uncomfortable” he told Anna as she was in make up getting ready.
“In what way?”
“She was asking me all these questions about me being married and whether or not I love you. She kept staring at me too.”
“Maybe she just wants to get to know the parents of the kids in her class.”
“Maybe.”
“What are you doing this afternoon?” asked Anna.
“Nothing. Why?”
“I finish for the day after this scene. If you hang around until I finish maybe we can do something.”
A smile spread across his face.
“No not that!” laughed Anna.
“You did say you wanted another baby” said Nicky.
“Not now!”
“Are Jordan and Emily still at nursery?”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe we could go to the dock since it’s a lovely day.”

After they went to the dock they picked up Jordan and Emily from the nursery then went to pick up Josh from school. Jennifer was the first to the door. “Hi! Come in.” Most of the other children had gone home. Josh ran up to Anna and gave her a hug. “Emily come with me.” He said taking her by the hand. Jordan started to follow but both of them told her not to. “That’s not very nice” said Nicky. “She’s too small” argued Josh. “I don’t care” said Nicky. Jennifer talked to Nicky. Oblivious to Anna who was standing right next to him. So close that she could feel him tense up every time Jennifer touched him on the arm.

Claire phoned Anna that night.
“Hello!”
“Hi Claire, how are you?”
“Sort of alright thanks. You?”
“Not too bad. I felt a bit ill earlier but I’m fine now.”
“Maybe there’s something going round” said Claire.
“Josh’s teacher has a thing for Nicky. It’s so obvious that she fancies him. She was always touching him earlier. She seemed like she was trying to avoid me as well” said Anna.
“I bet she is. I would have hit her if I was you.”
“I nearly did but Nicky dragged us away from her. She was staring at him”
“Oh my God what a cow. You should tell her to keep her hands to herself.”
“Her hands nearly wandered somewhere.”
“Places like that are for your hands only and nobody else’s” Claire said laughing.
“She’s horrible. What are you doing later?”
“That’s for me to know and Mark to find out. Not you.”
“Is that all you do?”
“That’s all you and Nicky do. We might go out but then we may stay in. I think my mum would like to baby-sit tonight!”
“Don’t bother asking me and Nicky. We’ve already got plans.”
“Like what?” Claire asked.
“I’m not gonna tell ya!”
“That’s not fair. Me and Mark need some good ideas for things to do.”
“Play football” said Anna laughing.
“Shouldn’t that be tennis?”
“Whatever ball game will do.”
Both girls ended up laughing all night.

Chapter 6

A month later while the boy’s were in Japan Claire and Anna went to a café for a drink and a chat one Saturday. What they didn’t notice was the person who had been following them for the last hour and was now sitting at the next table listening to their conversation.
“Anna I have to tell you something but you have to promise me you won’t tell anybody because Mark doesn’t know yet.”
“Ok I won’t” Anna replied.
“Not even Nicky.”
“I promise.”
“Well…I’m having another baby.”
Anna’s jaw dropped open. “Since when?”
“Since the night the guys came back from their tour.”
“Well since we’re confessing something then I have to admit that I am too since the same night.”
“Oh my God Anna. Do you know what that means? We’re gonna have them at the same time. Does Nicky know?”
“Not yet. I want to tell him when he comes home.”
“But that will be in two months.”
“I know but I don’t want to tell him over the phone. I’m taking the kids over to see him for his birthday so I will tell him then.”

“Where’s Jordan?” Anna asked Josh and Emily just before they left for the airport on October 8th. Josh and Emily just giggled. “Where is she?” Anna shouted.
Emily started to cry while Josh pointed to a cupboard by the fridge. They had both just recently figured out the childproof catches. Anna went over to the cupboard and opened the door. Jordan was sat there crying. Anna picked her up. “Why do you two hate her so much?” she asked them. “Because she’s not my sister!” Yelled Josh, beginning to cry with Emily. “Who told you that?” “Miss Jenkins.” “Come on” said Anna “Or we’ll miss our plane. Then we won’t be able to see Daddy in the morning.” They had to catch the 9pm overnight flight to Japan.

A car met them at the airport to take then to the hotel where the boys were staying. Anto met them outside. “He doesn’t know about the party yet” he informed Anna. “They’ve all gone out for breakfast. I’ll let you into Nicky’s room. The kids’ is en-suite.” “Thanks.”

The boys came back from breakfast and went to their own separate rooms until later that night. Nicky went into his room and saw a suitcase by the door. He was sure he didn’t put it there. At that moment Anna walked out of the en-suite room. Nicky’s face lit up. “Happy birthday honey!” she said running into his arms. “I’ve missed you. I love you.” “I love you too” said Anna. “Where are the kids?” “Next door getting some sleep. I could kill Emily and Josh right now.” “What have they done?” “They shut Jordan into a cupboard last night. The day before they pushed her over outside. I wonder what they’re going to be like with the next one.” Anna said with a smile.
“The next one?” Nicky said looking puzzled.
“You heard me daddy.”
“Hey that’s great!” Then he started to look upset.
“What’s wrong?”
“Will everything be alright this time?”
“I don’t know. I hope so. I don’t want to tell anyone until I’m absolutely sure everything will be ok this time. Claire knows though.”
“Do the kids know?”
“Not yet.”
“Just me, you and Claire.” He kissed her then he helped her unpack her suitcase.
“Josh’s teacher needs to be given a few lessons” said Anna.
“What’s she done now?”
“Only told Josh that Jordan wasn’t his sister. Then he told Emily she wasn’t her sister either.”
“She needs a good talking to. That’s why they’re so mean to her. I’ll talk to them when I get a chance.”

“Mark I need to talk to you” Claire said when she got out of the shower. She and Mark sat on the bed. The kids were back in London with Claire’s parents.
“What’s up babe?” asked Mark.
“Mark, how many kids would you like altogether?”
“Quite a few. Why?”
“That’s good because then you would like what I have to tell you.”
Mark started to smile. “If your going to say what I think you’re going to say.” “What’s that hon?”
“What colour do you want the nursery?”
Mark hugged Claire and they spend the rest of the day talking.

That night Anna told Nicky she’s meet him in the dining room. She took the kids with her. Ten minutes later Nicky followed her down. He walked into the room but it was dark. Suddenly the lights came on and everyone stood up. “SURPRISE!” everyone shouted. Nicky looked shocked.
“Happy birthday mate!” said Mark.
“Claire?” said Anna. “What are you doing here?”
“I decided to come and tell Mark the news in person.”
“How did he take it?”
“He loves the idea. What about Nicky? Have you told him yet?”
“Can you see that smile on his face?” Claire turned to look at Nicky then nodded at Anna. “Well that’s been there since this morning when I told him.”

Everyone had a great night. The party ended at 3am. Nicky decided to talk to the kids in the morning.

“Emily? Josh?” Come here please.” Nicky called to them after breakfast. He kneeled down to talk to them.
“Listen. Josh Just because you don’t have the same mum as the girls, that doesn’t mean your not Emily and Jordan’s brother. All three of you have the same dad which means your brother and sister.”
“But Miss Jenkins said-” started Josh.
“It doesn’t matter what Miss Jenkins said” said Nicky. “Anyway your going to have another little brother or sister soon and I would like you all to get along by then.” Emily sat on his knee and gave him a cuddle. “I hope you had a nice birthday daddy.”
Nicky laughed. “No more tricks on Jordan now ok?”
“Ok” said Emily and Josh together.

Chapter 7

When everyone got back home in December they all decided to have dinner at Kian and Danni’s house. Afterwards they all went into town for the night. Nobody noticed the shadow that was lurking behind them. Anna was trailing behind. “Hurry up hon!” said Nicky as he turned around. Nobody was there. “Anna?” he yelled. But nobody answered him.

Deep in a dark alley, where nobody has been around for years, is an abandoned warehouse. Inside, Anna is tied up to a chair with a blindfold and a gag. “You know you made a big mistake marrying Nicky” came a voice. Anna recognised the voice. “That baby is an even bigger mistake.” She punched her in the stomach and Anna began to cry. “He’ll be better off without you.”

“Wherever she is she’ll be fine” said Shane with his arm round Nicky’s shoulders.
“Do you want a drink?” asked Amy.
Mark got off the phone to the police. “They can’t do anything until she’s been gone for 24 hours.”
“That’s stupid” said Claire beginning to cry. Mark went over to cuddle her. Jordan began to cry so Danni went to get her. “It’s alright sweetie.” Jordan could sense something was wrong. She started screaming. “MUMMY!”
“She’s not here honey” said Nicky taking her from Danni’s arms. They both sat curled up together on the sofa for the rest of the night.

The next evening Nicky and Shane went to the police to make a statement. The others had already been to make witness statements. They all tried carrying on as normal as possible. Josh kept going to school and the girls went to nursery. Nicky never slept or ate for the next two weeks. All he cared about was Anna getting back home. None of the papers or press were involved. Just the police and themselves, so nobody else knew that Anna was gone.

Anna was crying more in pain than of anything else. That punch had knocked her for six and it was still hurting. Her kidnapper was sat in the opposite corner staring at her with a knife in her hand. Anna didn’t have the blindfold on anymore. Just the gag. “I wonder what I could do to you with this knife” said the kidnapper with an evil smile on her face. “I could easily get rid of you then I’ll work on getting rid of your kids. Then I’ll have Nicky all to myself. He’ll never need anybody else ever again.”

Anna had been gone for nearly three weeks. Nicky was tired and had bags under his eyes. He took Josh to school. Jennifer was waiting for them. “Hi! You look awful. Have the kids been keeping you awake? They should be good for you since Anna’s been missing and all.”
“They haven’t been too bad. I’ll see you later Josh!” Josh went off to play and Nicky made his way back home. It wasn’t until he got home that he realised what Jennifer had said. There were detectives all over the house and Mark and Shane were staying to help out. Nicky walked in the door. “Has anybody told anyone else about Anna being missing?” he asked.
Everyone said no. “Why?” asked Mark.
“Josh’s teacher knows about Anna.” Suddenly something clicked. “She hates Anna.”
“Why?” asked Shane looking puzzled. “Anna’s a nice person. How could anybody hate her?”
“Because she married me!” said Nicky.
“I’m not understanding you.” Said the chief inspector.
“Because she has a crush on me. She must know something about Anna and where she is.”
“Right. We’ll go to the school and interview her. Just in case I’ll bring Josh back. If she has done anything to Anna then she may want to harm the kids too.”

“Miss Jenkins?”
“Yes?”
“Could you come with me to the police station please? I’d like to ask you a few questions on the whereabouts of Anna Byrne.” Said the chief inspector.
“Who? I don’t know who she is” replied Jennifer as the policeman escorted her out of the school.

Claire went to pick up the girls. When she got back the chief inspector was talking to Nicky. She took the girls upstairs to play.
“You let her go?” Nicky yelled.
“She said she didn’t know where Anna was. She said she had an alibi for the night Anna went missing. We checked it out. Her friend said she was with her.”
“Daddy?” asked Josh. “Are you talking about Miss Jenkins?”
“Can you go upstairs please Josh?” said Nicky, not wanting him to hear the conversation.
“Daddy, she told me she hurt mummy and that I would never see her again.”
“What?” asked the chief inspector and Nicky together.
“Send someone to 189 Western Road now to arrest a Miss Jennifer Jenkins on a suspicion of kidnap and possible murder” said the inspector into his radio. Nicky and Josh started crying. Nicky pulled Josh to him. “I can’t believe this is happening” said Nicky. Mark put his arm around Nicky.
“I want her here” screamed Josh.
“So do I” said Nicky.

Half an hour later the inspector got a phone call.
“Ok. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” He put the phone down then turned to Nicky. “There’s been a problem. It seems as though Miss Jenkins has admitted to kidnapping Anna. The thing is, she killed herself. I’ll need to go over there for an hour or so. I don’t know the details. I’ll be back here by 11pm.” Nicky put the kids to bed and everyone sat in the living room waiting for the inspector to get back.
At 11.15pm there was a knock at the door. The inspector walked in with a grim look on his face. “She left a note admitting the offence but it doesn’t say where Anna is or what she’s done to her. We got a clue as to where she may be in the note. It said something about the old railway down Stanley Bridge. We’ve sent police officers to go and have a look down there.”
“How did she kill herself?” asked Nicky.
“She hung herself by a jumper from a beam running across the ceiling.”

Chapter 8

The next morning there was still no sign of Anna. Claire went down to the river to have a think. I miss her so much. Please God let her be alright. For the kid’s sake as well as Nicky’s. She’s my best friend. I don’t know what I’ll do without her. If only I knew where she was. Where was it she mentioned in that note? The old railway. Stanley Bridge is an hour away. And how did she hurt her? I have to find out.

Claire got up and made her way to her car. She started driving down the motorway. She just carried on. Signs whizzed past her. Not looking at any of them she carried on. A sign for the turn off for Stanley Bridge came up. She cut into the left hand lane of the motorway and started to go up the slip road. Eventually she came to Stanley Bridge. There were signs for the railway station everywhere. Stanley Bridge had three. She hoped she chose the right one. A few minutes later Claire came to an old abandoned part of town. There was one police car in view but no policemen. There was a warehouse to her left and the rail station to her right. She got out of her car and looked through the windows of the small rail station. It was only one room and it was completely empty. She made her way across the road to the warehouse. There was a small side door that was open so she walked inside. It was dark. The dust and cobwebs were so thick you could tell nobody had been there for years. Claire choked on a cobweb as she made her way through another door and into a big hall. The hall was empty apart from a shelf that went all the way around the room. The shelf made way for a flight of iron steps on the other side of the room. Looking up Claire saw a metal walkway leading round one side of the wall. At the end of the walkway was a door. The door was closed and the glass panel from the top half was missing. Claire made her way to the iron steps and proceeded to climb them. She reached the top and her heart started to race. Her breathing got quicker as she wondered what was behind the door. Anna’s dead body or something else? She made her way to the door. With each step she took her heart rate got quicker. She got to the door and waited outside listening to any sounds that might be coming from the room. She heard nothing. She opened the door and there were boxes making a little walkway. She looked around the left hand corner but there was nothing there except for a mattress, which looked like somebody had been sleeping in. Claire carefully made her way to the right of the boxes. She looked behind them and she saw a figure sitting on a chair with their hands tied behind their back with their head slumped down. She screamed. The figure in the chair raised its head and there was a sudden scuffle coming from the hall. She heard footsteps running up the iron stairs and across the walkway. All she could do was stare at the figure who was trying to figure out where the scream came from. All of a sudden three lights shined on Claire’s face. Claire stiffened up. It took her a few seconds to realise they were torchlights. As the people came into focus she saw six policemen standing beside her. One of them shone their torch on the figure in the chair and made their way over to it. The policemen untied the figure and helped it to its feet. As they both came closer Claire managed to get a better look. “Anna?” “Claire?” They both hugged. “Come on let’s get you out of here” said the policeman that untied Anna. “I’ve missed you so much” said Claire as they walked out into the sunshine.
One of the policemen dialled a number on his mobile phone. “Inspector? We’ve found her. We’re going to take her to the London Royal to get checked out. ETA 1 hour.”
“Thank you Jones” said the inspector on the other end of the line.

The inspector put his phone away then turned to the others with a smile on his face. “They’ve found her. Or shall I say your little lady found her” he said to Mark.
Nicky started to cry. “Is she ok?”
“She’s alive. She’s being taken to the Royal Infirmary.” Nicky ran over to him and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”
“That’s ok. Let’s go and see her. We’ll be there before them though.”
“I don’t care. Can someone look after the kids?” Nicky asked the others.
“Sure” said Shane.

An hour later Anna, Claire and the police arrived at the hospital. Nicky was waiting by the entrance. Anna started to walk towards him with her hand on her stomach. She looked like she was in so much pain. Nicky ran over to her and hugged her. Anna was still crying. “Are you alright? Did she hurt you?” asked Nicky without taking a breath. “She punched me a couple of times.”
“Where?”
“In my stomach.”
“What? The baby?”
“It hurts so much.”
They went inside.

The doctor came in and examined Anna all over. “How many months are you?” he asked.
“Three months” replied Anna.
“Have you felt it kick yet?”
“No. I haven’t felt it move.”
“I’m going to order a scan. I can’t tell much right now because your abdomen is bruised.”
“Is that bad?” asked Nicky.
“No not at all. My main concern right now is your baby.”

Half an hour later Anna was having the scan. The doctor listened with his stethoscope at first. Then he turned the machine on. An image suddenly appeared on the screen. The doctor smiled. “Is everything ok?” asked Nicky. “Everything is fine” said the doctor. He turned the sound on so they could hear the baby’s heartbeat. “You’ll just have to rest for two weeks then get back to normal. You can go home now but I’d like to see you in the ante-natal clinic next week just to make sure.” He printed off a picture of the baby and gave it to them. Anna and Nicky got outside and they spent five minutes in each other’s arms. “I love you” said Nicky. “I love you too.”

That night everyone gathered at Anna and Nicky’s house. Nicky stuffed his face with crisps all night. When he wasn’t eating crisps he was attached to Anna’s arm. He couldn’t believe she was home. The kids wouldn’t go to bed that night so all three of them slept in Anna and Nicky’s bed. First thing next morning they went out looking for another school for Josh.

The next week Anna and Nicky went back to the hospital for another scan just to make sure everything was ok. “Well the bruising has gone down quite dramatically and the baby is fine. Just keep resting for the next week to get over it then you can go back to work. Nothing too strenuous! I’ll see you back here in a month’s time.”
“Thank you” said Anna.
“No problem” said the doctor and he left the room so Anna could get dressed.

Nicky took Anna shopping the next day for paint and things for the nursery. “I reckon it’s a boy so we should paint it blue.” Said Nicky with his hand on Anna’s stomach. “I can feel it.”
“The thing is inside me. How can you feel it and I can’t?”
“Father’s touch” said Nicky with a smile. “So what do you say? Blue?”
“Why not. A sky blue, not dark blue” replied Anna moving onto nursery furniture.
“That reminds me” said Nicky. “We have to get Jordan a new car seat. She’s gotten too big for that one.”

That night Claire phoned Anna.
“Hi Claire!”
“Anna can you do us a favour? Nobody else can do it.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t really want to ask you because your so busy and all.”
“Claire, just ask me.”
“Well me and Mark want to go to Sligo this weekend and nobody is free to look after the kids.”
“Me and Nicky will look after them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes that’s fine.”
“Thanks Anna.”
“No problem.”

Chapter 9

At the beginning of May Danni, Amy, Anna and Claire were sat in Anna’s front room discussing the plans for Danni’s wedding in December. Westlife were in America doing promotional work and trying to crack the market. Amy looked at Claire and Anna. “You two look like two washed up whales” she said laughing. “Oh shut up!” said Claire. “It’s not our fault!”
“So you’re blaming it on the guys?”
“Yes!” said Claire and Anna together.
“I can’t wait for this. I don’t think I can last another month” said Anna.
“You want Nicky to miss it?” asked Danni.
“If it means having the baby now then I don’t care whether he misses it or not. It’s so uncomfortable” replied Anna.
Danni ran over to Anna and started talking to her stomach. “Don’t come out just yet. Wait for another six weeks then your daddy will be here too.” “Six weeks!” said Anna. “It better not be two weeks overdue!”
“How did we get from the topic of weddings to babies?” asked Amy.
“Does Shane want any kids?” asked Claire.
“He does” replied Amy. “He wants at least two but not yet. I want them when I’m at least 26.”
“Well your 23 now so you’ve got some time to yourself” said Danni.

Four weeks later, the guys come home. Nicky takes the kids to the Sealife centre for the day. Anna was at home cooking some lunch. She felt a sharp pain shoot through her back. She dropped her knife she was holding and went to the phone. “Nicky?” What’s up?” “I think you should get home now!” “Why?” “Because I’m having your baby now, get your arse home now!”
Nicky put his phone down and told the kids they had to go. “I don’t want to!” Jordan screamed. Nicky phoned Shane who came to get the kids. “Do you mind staying here with them? They don’t want to go just yet.” “Yeah sure” replied Shane.

Nicky got in his car and headed for the motorway. “Damn!” He phoned Anna. “Perhaps you should go to the hospital now. I’ve just hit the motorway and all I can see in front of me is a jam.” “What?!” “Don’t worry. I’ll get off at the next slip road. I’ll be there in about an hour.”

Meanwhile, Claire went shopping in Tesco with Mark. “Can we go?” asked Claire. “Why?” “Unless you want your baby born in Tesco then you should get me to a hospital!!”

When they reached the hospital they saw Amy. “What are you doing here?” asked Mark. “I’m waiting for Nicky to get here” Amy replied. “He’s stuck in traffic.” “Why would he come here?” said Mark with a puzzled look on his face. “Why do you think?” asked Claire. Mark then realised.

Two hours later, Mark went to get a cup of tea. Nicky burst through the door. “Where have you been?” Mark asked. “That traffic was terrible! It was all over North London. Gotta go!” He went to talk to a nurse who took him to a room at the end of the corridor.

Early the next morning, Claire gave birth to what seemed a healthy girl. She named her Katie. That night at about six Anna had the boy that Nicky wanted. “I told you!” he said holding Nathan.

To celebrate the birth of their kids Nicky and Mark went to the pub and then on to a club. At two in the morning they were a little drunk so they sat down on a bench in the park. In the morning Mark woke up to a green ceiling. He was lying on a hard bench and he could hear someone breathing next to him. He sat up and looked at the walls. They were white with writing all over them. There was a single grey door on the opposite wall. He looked down to see who was next to him. “Nicky? Nicky wake up!” He shook Nicky awake. “What? Ouch my head!” “Never mind that. Where are we?” Nicky looked around. “Oh my god!!!” “What?!” “Mark? We’re in a cell!” “What?? We can’t be. We haven’t done anything wrong. That I know of anyway. I can’t remember much. Oh God Nicky what if we murdered someone? I’m gonna go to prison for life. But I can’t. I’ll lose every-” Nicky interrupts him. “MARK! Calm down. We’re not going to prison. We get one phone call so we can call Anto. He’ll get us out.” “He better do!” yelled Mark starting to panic all over again.

A couple of hours later Anto had got them out and they were making their way to see Anna and Claire. Mark walked in to where Claire was, but when he looked at her he could tell that something was wrong “Claire what’s up?” “Oh mark” as she said this she held out her arms to him, he went over and taking Claire in his arms he slowly rubbed her back “Tell me what’s wrong.” “It’s Katie there is something wrong with her” Claire started to cry as did Mark. A while later Anna walked in. “Where is she then?” she asked cheerfully. Claire started to cry again. “What’s wrong?” “Katie has leukaemia,” replied Mark.

The next day Anna and Nicky took Nathan home. The doctor had told Claire and Mark that Katie had needed a bone marrow transplant. They would first kill off all of Katie’s own bone marrow with radiotherapy first but in the meantime to ask people to be tested for a match. Nicky offered. Anna wanted to but she wasn’t allowed to because she had just had a baby. Anna and Nicky discussed Emily and Josh being tested as well.

That night the band was asked to sing a couple of songs at a show. The final song they sang was Fragile Heart:

A fragile heart, was broken before
I don't think it could endure
Another pain
But there's a voice from deep inside
Of you
That's calling out to make you realise
That this new bond gives inspiration
To all who feel no love appeal no more
So how can I break this wall around you
That's aiding both our hearts to grow in pain
So forget your past, and we can
Dream tomorrow Save our hearts for care and
Loving too
It's hard I know, but oh one things
For sure
Don't go and break this fragile heart
A hurting mind in need of emotion
I don't think I could endure
Another pain
But baby in you, I've found affection
Affection I have never felt before
So don't let your past
Destroy what comes tomorrow
Don't go and break this fragile heart
With all this fire that burns
Between us
There's so much to lose, yet so much
More to gain
And if I could choose a world
Around me
The world to choose, would all
Revolve around you
So help me complete the game
Inside me
And help to mend
To mend this fragile heart

All the guys felt the song and were nearly in tears by the end of it.

The day of the testing came up. Mark had a cold so he wasn’t allowed to be tested yet. Everyone had a sample of blood taken first. If their blood matched Katie’s then they would have to have their bone marrow tested. Mark felt useless. The tests came back three hours later. Everyone sat in Claire’s room waiting patiently for the doctor. Eventually he arrived. “There have been only three matches out of fifteen of you.” Both of Claire’s and Mark’s parents offered to be donors too, as well as the rest of Westlife, Yvonne, Danni, Owen, Steven, Josh and Emily. “They are:” he said looking at his notes. “Nicholas Byrne, Emily Byrne and Shane Filan. I’ll need to take some details from you and admit you to hospital tomorrow. We can only take a sample of your bone marrow under anaesthetic.” The doctor left and Mark turned to Nicky and Shane. “You will do this for me won’t you?” he asked them. “Of course we will mate,” said Shane.

Two days later Shane, Nicky and Emily were booked to have their operations. Neither of them were allowed anything to eat or drink so Emily was in a really bad mood. They weren’t scheduled to be in theatre until after lunch but the surgeon found a space in the morning for Emily. Both Anna and Nicky took her to the anaesthetic room. Only one person was allowed inside with her so Anna let Nicky go with her. “Are you sure?” he asked Anna. “Yeah.” Nicky went inside the room with Emily while Anna went to sit down and started to cry. Five minutes later, Nicky came back out. He sat down next to her and put his arm round her. He held her left hand with his and pulled her close. “She’ll be ok,” he whispered and kissed her on her forehead. “My throat is so dry,” Nicky croaked five minutes later as they headed back to the children’s ward to wait for Emily. “I need a drink.” “Tough! You’ll just have to live with it. It’s not for much longer anyway.” Nicky looked at his watch. “Four hours. It’s only ten o’clock now.” “Stop whining!” After half an hour Emily came out of theatre still fast asleep. “The marrow was taken out of her leg. It will be a bit sore for a few days but she’ll be fine. Just let her sleep it off now,” said the nurse and she left. Emily was in a side room on her own. Anna walked right over to her and wiped some of Emily’s hair out of her eyes. “It’s alright now baby,” she whispered to her, stroking her face.

Mark felt better so he had a blood test taken. His blood matched and he was booked in to have a bone marrow test. Katie was getting weaker as the radiotherapy she was having was killing all of her marrow and other cells.

Chapter 10

Two weeks later, the results came back. Claire, Mark, Anna, Nicky and Shane were in the doctor’s office. “We have got the perfect match. If we go ahead we can do this within the next few weeks. Katie’s marrow cells have nearly all died off. We may be able to do the transplant next week.” “So who is it?” asked Mark. “Emily.” Said the doctor. Nicky looked at Anna with a worried expression on his face. Anna looked back with a look that said: ‘We have to do this’. “You don’t have to go through with this. We can always find somebody else.” Said the doctor. Anna nodded at Nicky. “We’ll do it,” said Nicky. A huge sigh came from Mark and Claire started to cry. “It could be ages before we can find someone else and Katie really needs this.”

Later that day, Claire was sat outside the hospital with Anna. She had Nathan with her and he started to cry. It was like he could sense what was going on. “I’m really grateful for you doing this. I don’t know how I could ever thank you,” said Claire starting to cry. “I don’t think I could do it for just anybody. I saw the pain she was in after the test and that hurt me knowing it was me that let them do that to her. But I know your hurting more and I want to help to make that better. You’re my best friend, Claire, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you when you need it most.” Anna started to cry too. “I better get Nate home. Will you be alright?” Asked Anna. “Yeah. Me and Mark are going to go soon.” “Ok. See you tomorrow.”

That night, after the boys had gone to bed, Claire sat with Mark on the sofa. Mark was reading a book on leukaemia. “She’s so small. Her body can’t cope with this stress,” Mark said to Claire almost dictating from the book. “I don’t want to lose her Mark.” “We won’t lose her. The only time we’ll lose her is when she get’s married and is too busy to visit her old folks anymore.” This made Claire laugh. Mark smiled at her. “What? Have I got something on my face?” She asked him. “No. It’s just…I haven’t heard that laugh in ages.” “She will be alright won’t she?” Mark hugged her. “She will. She’ll be fine.” Tears rolled down his cheeks.

When Katie and Nathan were three months old the doctor decided to do the transplant early. Katie was getting weaker and weaker each day and if they didn’t do it soon it may be too late. Emily was admitted to hospital the day before the operation. Nicky stayed with her all that day. Emily was asleep that night when the nurse asked if he wanted to stay with her that night. “Could I?” “Sure. I’ll get a bed from the storeroom.” “Thanks.” So he did. First thing in the morning Anna came in. Josh, Nathan and Jordan were with Nicky’s parents. Anna walked through the door of Emily’s room in the children’s ward. Nicky was sat in the armchair by the bed with Emily on his knee. He was reading her a book about a girl who goes into hospital when she was ill then he explained to her that not everybody who goes to hospital was ill. Anna watched quietly from the door where she was unseen by either of them. “So people who are not sick can make people who are sick better?” Asked Emily. “That’s right. Just like you and Katie.” “Daddy?” “Yeah?” “I want to make Katie better. She’s my friend.” The little girl was looking at her father, who had tears in his eyes. “Why are you crying daddy?” “Because I have a very brave little girl.” Emily wrapped her arms around Nicky’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. Nicky squeezed her.

Mark was with Katie in the baby unit. “Today’s the day kid. You may not know it yet but there is a lot of people around here that love you so much.” Mark started to cry. “You have to get through this. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Katie kicked her foot against Mark’s hand. It seemed to take all her strength to do that. Mark sat there for the rest of the morning just stroking her head.

In the afternoon Nicky took Emily down to theatre again. Anna and Claire went outside for some fresh air. “Katie had her line put in last night into her left leg,” said Claire. “So they can just transfer it straight away. Thank you so much Anna. I could never have such good friends.” “You shouldn’t be thanking me. You should have seen what I did this morning when I first got here. Emily was telling Nick that Katie was her friend and wanted to make her better.” “I’ve never known a four year old to have such a big heart,” said Claire.

Emily was taken to recovery where she was kept asleep overnight. As Katie slept that night the marrow was slowly going down her line and into her little body. Every few hours the nurses came in to check on Katie and changed the marrow bag twice. When the sun shone through the curtains onto her face Claire woke up. She looked over to her little girl who was still asleep and saw she had a pinkish glow to her normally pale body. She went over to Katie’s cot and touched her hand. Katie’s hand squeezed Claire’s little finger and she woke up. “Morning honey,” she whispered. Katie started to cry but Claire couldn’t pick her up. “Hey you’re ok. Daddy will be here soon. He’ll be pleased to see you’re looking so well.”

Nicky walked into Emily’s room just as she woke up. She screamed and the noise rang through Nicky’s ears. He ran over to her and picked her up. “What’s wrong sweetie?” “It hurts!!” Nicky sat down in the armchair with Emily. “It will stop hurting soon,” he choked out. A nurse came in with a needle. “What’s that?” Nicky asked her. “Morphine. It will take away the pain for a while.” Emily screamed again as the nurse gave the injection. Nicky held her tight. “All done,” the nurse said then left.

A few days later the Doctor ran some tests on Katie. Claire, Mark, Anna and Nicky waited in his office. Finally he came in and told them the results. “Well, the transplant has been a success. All we have to do now is wait for Katie to get stronger. There is a chance she may get weaker first.” “What will happen if she does?” asked Mark. “If she does she may need to go onto a ventilator. Her body might not be able to cope with all the stress.” Day in, day out Mark and Claire took it in turns to stay with their daughter. At first she had some really bad days where she was too weak to move then gradually she began to grow stronger.

Epilogue

On their second birthday Nathan and Katie were taken to Legoland. Katie had been given the all clear just after her first birthday and each day she still grows stronger. Mark left Westlife shortly after the transplant. The four remaining members tried to carry on as they were but things were not working out without Mark so the group drifted apart. They are all still friends. In the evening they all went to the park. While Anna, Claire, Nicky and Mark sat by the small pond the kids went off to play. Anna and Claire smiled to each other then looked over by the slide. Emily was sat at the top with Katie in front of her. They slid down with the setting sun shining on their faces and the gentle wind blowing their hair behind them. This bond goes further than friendship…