Chapter 19

The doctor was prodding Anna’s stomach for over ten minutes with a strange expression on his face. The pain kept coming and going in that time. Each time it came back it got worse. Finally the doctor stopped his examination and started to talk.
“I’m afraid you’re in the final stages of labour. We can’t stop it now.”
Both Nicky and Anna stared at the doctor in shock. Nicky hadn’t known she was pregnant. Now she was having a baby.
“No!” Anna yelled in shock. “I can’t be.” She looked at Nicky who had a mixture of worry and anger in his face. “I’m sorry. I was going to tell you later. I just wanted to find the right time.”
“It’s ok,” Nicky said. “I wish you had told me earlier though.”
The doctor turned to look at Nicky. “Your girlfriend is only twenty-one weeks gone. The baby may have complications. The lungs may not have fully developed but your baby does have a chance.

Everybody was home from the party. Shane’s phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi Shane, it’s Nicky.”
“Hiya mate. How’s Anna?” Shane asked worried.
“That’s what still hasn’t sunk in yet.” “Is she ok?” Shane’s tone of voice started to scare Hollie.
“Shane…I don’t know how to tell you this…” Nicky hesitated then carried on. “I’m a dad Shane.”
Shane fell over in shock. Not believing what he had just heard. “What?”
“Anna just had a little girl. I’m a father.”
“Hey mate that’s great. Congrats.” Shane looked at Hollie and smile. Hollie became confused.
“The baby’s ill though. She’s four months early. She’s in the neo natal unit. I’m still shaking.”
“Do you want me to tell the others for you?”
“Yeah thanks mate. I’ll talk to you tomorrow ok? I’m going to go and see her.” Shane put the phone down and got up to sit on the sofa.
“What’s wrong?” Hollie asked him.
“Anna’s just had a baby.”

Kian stayed in Mark’s house for the night. Claire had trouble getting them both home. They were both as drunk as each other and were both talking jibberish.
“They’re following us,” Kian said as he walked up the stairs followed by Mark and Claire.
“We have to lock the doors. They can’t come in tonight. I don’t know why they want to come in for a cup of tea at this time of night but I want to go to bed.” Mark said.
“Maybe they’re not used to this time zone,” Kian replied. “Where do they come from?”
“I asked their leader earlier. He said some of them come from Jupiter and some from another place. I can’t remember the name.”
“Oh just hurry up and go to bed!” Claire yelled.

Nicky walked into the unit. There were five tiny baby cots in a row on the opposite side of the room. Each with their own fair share of machines which all beeped at different times. It was noisy in the room. There was a baby in each cot, each as tiny as the baby next to it. A nurse came up to him. “Can I help you?”
“I’ve come to see my baby. I was told she was in this unit.”
“What’s your baby’s name?”
“Um…Byrne. She hasn’t got a first name yet.”
The nurse led him over to the cot in the corner. A tiny baby lay in the cot with an intubation tube in her nose and various tubes coming out of her hands. The nurse went back to the nurse’s station. Nicky stared at his daughter for a long time. She lay there, not moving. She had a small amount of blond hair, which was covered by a white wool hat. Her skin looked delicate. “Do you want to touch her?” Nicky jumped. The nurse had come back. She had some pictures in her hand and gave them to Nicky. “We have to take pictures to give to the parents. Sometimes mothers can’t see their babies for days.”
“Thank a lot.”
The nurse showed Nicky how to wash his hands properly then he went back over to his daughter. He was hesitant to touch her as he didn’t want to hurt her. The nurse felt him tense up. “Just relax.” Nicky touched her arm. The baby’s arm moved and Nicky jerked his hand back. “It’s ok,” The nurse said. “It does take time to get used to it.” Nicky put his hand on her arm again. She pulled her hand away from his hand then found his thumb. She held onto it tightly and tears started to roll down his cheeks. The nurse put her hand on Nicky’s arm for a few seconds then walked back to her desk. The baby still had a grip on Nicky’s thumb and he just stared at her.