His Baby

Chapter Nineteen

The word ‘Daddy’ coming out of Rose’s mouth panicked everyone, they all learned pretty quickly what that meant.

Watching Leighton and Ace rush out with Scott carrying his little girl had them all in fear, not much scared these guys with the job they did, but losing Rose was what everyone had nightmares on.

She was theirs to keep, love, and protect, and so far, they had failed and now she was sick they were sure to blame themselves.

When the front door slammed shut no one uttered a word, and they were to stay like that until they heard from Scott or Leighton.

Drew sat amongst the crew remaining silent, he knew better than to talk, he could see it on the guys faces the fear they carried, he too felt it, this was Rose his only friend in a decade and something was wrong.

Leighton drove with Ace sat up front, Scott holding onto his little Rose trying to get her to wake but she wasn’t budging.

Leighton pulled up outside the hospital and Ace jumped out, opening the door for Scott and they rushed into the hospital as Leighton went to look for a place to park.

The nurses at the front desk were in a fright when Scott ran in with a small girl in his arms, Ace by his side. Both men alone were scary, but together and looking panicked had the nurses hesitant to approach and wondered if security needed to be called.

“Please, my daughter needs help” Scot begs.

One nurse rushed into action calling for a gurney to be brought over, Scott placed his daughter on, the nurse looks at the unconscious girl “Okay sir, can you tell me what happened?” she asks calmly as she looks over the girl.

“She has been sleeping for nearly twenty-eight hours, she is weak, couldn’t grip onto anything, and she’s seven months pregnant” he rushes out.

The nurse lifts the girl’s shirt and raises a brow “She’s seven months pregnant?” unsure if she heard him correctly.

Scott nods his head “He’s small, she’s been having regular monthly checks to keep track of his size”.

The nurse nods and turns to a male nurse to have her wheeled into a room. Scott and Ace by her side as they moved her, getting to a set of double door, Scott and Ace are made to stop, they can only watch as her unconscious body is rolled away from them.

Bringing her into a room the nurse gets started on checking her over, a doctor soon joined, and they began to converse.

Satisfied that she didn’t have a heart issue, the machine showed her carrying a steady heartrate as did the baby.

Bloods were taken and fluids were injected into her for hydration.

When the Results came back, the doctor walked into the room to find Rose awake and slightly groggy, “Ah, the patients awake” Doctor Leah Walters smiles as the looks between the clipboard and Rose who pushed herself up in the bed.

“What happened?” she says hoarsely.

Dr Walters smiles, placing the clipboard down she walks over to the bed side table and pours out a glass of water and hands it to Rose who sips it.

“Well your father ran into the hospital with you unconscious in his arms, we ran some tests and it turns out you are anaemic, you are fortunate that we have caught it early” she says with a soft smile, hoping it would bring some comfort to her.

Rose was confused, “Anaemic? Care to break that down for the mundane”.

Dr Walters chuckles “Anaemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Having anaemia can make you feel tired and weak, which is what has happened to you” she explains.

Rose nods her head, she still didn’t fully understand what was going on, but Dr Walters assured Rose that it can be easily treated.

“I’m going to have a nurse come and bring you some medication which you will need to take for the next few months during pregnancy, and then we shall check again after you have given birth to see if you need to continue the tablets or stop taking them” Dr Walters says.

Rose nods grateful for the quick diagnosis “So my baby is okay?” she asks placing a hand on her stomach, smiling when he kicks.

“Yes, your little boy, though still small, is growing at his own pace and because we caught this early this shouldn’t affect him at all” Dr Walters assures.

“Now I should go an inform your family” the doctor smiles, “Would you like me to inform them of what is happening?” she inquires.

Rose nods her head and the doctor swiftly leaves.

Walking down to the hall Dr Walters enters the family lounge and calls on Rose’s family. Scott, Ace and Leighton jump out of their seats and rush to stand in front of the doctor, she smiles, “Rose is anaemic” she informs them all.

Leighton sighs as does Scott, but Ace was still worried, having not known what that was.

“But she’s okay right?” Ace rambles out.

Dr Walters smiles at the young mans stumble over his words, she assumed him to the be the boyfriend and father of the baby “Yes, Rose will have to make some medication for the next few months, and make sure she drinks a glass of orange juice once a day and she should be right as rain” she says with a soft smile.

“Can we see her?” Leighton asks, just popping into the conversation, he wanted to see his goddaughter for himself.

Dr Walters nods his head, “Room five, nine, seven, second floor, just follow the blue arrows on the floor” she says and heads to sign some papers for her patient.

They thank the doctor and head down the hall, following the directions the doctor had given them. The walked through a halls, following the blue arrows they came across the maternity ward and Ace stops outside the room where the babies were taken to rest.

He stares at the infants, a mixture of sleeping, awake and screaming babies. A man stops behind him “Which ones yours?” he asks Ace smiling at the babies.

Ace shakes his head “She isn’t dues for another few months” he says, his eyes never leaving the new-borns swaddled in their blankets.

“Ace come on son” Scott calls out when he notices he wasn’t by his side.

Ace smiles at the guy beside him and jogs to catchup with Scott and Leighton. Rounding the corner, they find Rose’s room and walk right in. Rose was sat up in bed, remote in hand flicking through the channels.

Scott sees his daughter awake and smiles, “Rose” he breathes out in relief. It was one thing for the doctor to tell him his daughter was okay, but a completely different thing seeing it for themselves.

Rose stops flicking through the channels and turns to the door, smiling when she sees her father, godfather and Ace all looking relieved.

“Dad, Leighton, Ace, why so worried” she jokes.

Scot smiles, amused by the fact that Rose was making jokes about her won health, “Back to normal then?” he says as he walks up to the bed side to place a kiss on her forehead.

“Yeah Dr Walters says I have some tablets to take while I’m still pregnant and then I’ll get tested after I’ve had him to see if I still need to take them” she tells the guys.

Ace walks around the bed and sits on the edge looking at Rose, she smiles at him and places her hand on his leg, “I’m okay, were okay” she confirms, knowing Ace would be worried more than most.

Ace nods, but until she was home with him and waking up without a fight, would he be completely satisfied and even then, he would still worry.

Leaning forward, he kisses Rose on the lips lightly.

A nurse soon arrived and gave Rose the medication she needed to take, ensuring she took one at the hospital, “We’re going to keep you for a few more hours and then recheck your red blood cells, and if everything has levelled out you can head home” she smiles and then leaves again.

Rose scooted over to one side of the bed and patted for Ace to join her, he smiled and did as she requested.

When he got comfortable, he placed an arm around Rose’s shoulders, and she leaned into him.

“I better call the guys and let them know what’s going on, they’re probably about to get into the cars and come down by down” Leighton says, walking up to Rose he kisses her on the forehead and then leaves the room to make a phone call.

The relief of the guys in the house was felt through the phone, Leighton smiled, he knew how close everyone was and knowing that Rose was going to be okay had everyone itching to get a drink to celebrate.

Two hours later and the nurse returned giving Rose the go to head home, “Make sure you take one tablet a day, you may still feel tired for the next week, but that’s your body adjust to the medication. If you still continue to feel tired, call Doctor Walters and we’ll have you back in to run some checks” she says and hands over the doctor’s card in case Rose needed to call back.

“Okay, Dr Walters has seen your appointments for your next sonogram and has updated it with todays information, she has spoken to your midwife and she is happy for you to head home too, she will see you in a four weeks for your next monthly scan and then after that it will be weekly checks for the final weeks of the pregnancy” the nurse finishes.

Scott signs his daughter out and Leighton went to get the car.

The car was silent on the way home, not that there was any need for words, everyone was happy and content that Rose was okay, and she relieved that her baby wasn’t hurt.

The moment she walked into the room she was bombarded by the crew hugging her, each carrying a wide smile as they wrapped their arms around her.

“Guys stop, I’m fine” she assures but it wasn’t going to stop them from hovering.

“We just want to make sure you are okay” James says.

Rose smiles, “I would tell you if we weren’t” she says and then moves to the stairs, “Now so everyone knows, I will be in my room organising things for the baby, he will be here in a few months and nothing is organised” she tells them.

Ace automatically follows as Scott shouts up the stairs, “Don’t lift anything heavy, that’s what we are for” he calls to his girl.

Rose smiles and shakes her head.

Ace plonked himself on the bed and watched as Rose wandered over to the boxes of baby things and began to unpack the clothes.

He had already set up a set of drawers for the baby’s clothes. Rose’s room was barely filled with anything and would hold the crib and other cabinets for their son, until he was big enough to be in his own room.

“Have you thought of any baby names?” Rose asks nonchalantly.

Ace had his arms behind his head, resting on the pillows with his eyes closed, “I have a few ideas, I like Axel, Phoenix, and Asher” he says.

Rose stops unpacking baby grows and turns to Ace, “I like Asher” she thinks out loud.

He opens one eye to look Rose “Really?” he wonders, and she nods, “I was thinking…”

Three hours of organising, and Rose had all clothes, bibs, dummies, nappies, everything needed for the bedroom there. The bassinet was set up but would be downstairs when the baby was born.

She never bought the crib she found online in Sydney, the Quinten had a family crib that was five generations old, her father and uncle slept in it and so did she as a new-born. She would have her father get it out of storage.

A box sat on the bed of some bottles and such needed to be taken down which Ace carried as they headed down for food.

When she walked into the kitchen, she was surprised to find her father cooking dinner “Are you sure it is safe to eat?” she cheekily asks knowing her father wasn’t a cook in any sense.

“It’s lasagne” he chides his daughter; it was the one meal he actually knew how to cook without killing anyone.

Rose smiles and takes a seat at the table; Ace goes to the fridge and gets Rose some orange juice to have with her meal.

The delicious smell of food had Rose’s stomach growling in need. When dinner is served the chatter continues, “Any thoughts on the baby names yet?” Jack asks randomly.

The other conversations cease and they turn to Rose, “We were actually discussing this upstairs whilst I was putting his things away, but I want to know what you guys have come up with in terms of names” she asks.

“Jared” Ryan says first.

“Cameron” called out by James.

“Robbie” Tommy speaks up.

Dominic speaks next “William”.

“Hayden” was Damien thinks out loud.

Michael’s thought “Benjamin”.

“Lucas” Jack says.

“Jacob” Drew adds in.

Rose smiles at the fact they had all been thinking about names too, the only ones not to say anything was Leighton and her father, Scott. She only had to look at them and vice versa.

Scott smiles “I know what you’re thinking” he starts “And you don’t have too” he continues. Leighton nods his head in agreement, out of everyone sat around the table, Leighton and Scott knew Rose inside and out.

Rose smiles sadly, “I know I don’t, but I think it would be the perfect name” she says softly and Scott smiles.

Turning to her family she smiles “We chose Samuel Asher Mathews” Rose announces, as she reaches for Ace’s hand. When their fingers interlock, he gives her a squeeze of assurance.

The room was deathly silent, Rose began to panic that they didn’t like the name, Leighton smiled, “A toast” Leighton starts grabbing his glass.

“To Samuel Asher Mathews, the next generation in Quinten Security” he smiles.

Everyone cheers and congratulates Rose and Ace, then Scott had his own speech “To my beautiful daughter, grandson, and hopefully my son-in-law if she doesn’t kill you first” Scott laughs.

A second round of clinking glasses together “I am so proud of you Rose, and I’m sure Sam would be honoured that his great nephew is named after him. No matter what the world has thrown your way, you embraced it and ran with it, you are going to be a great mom to Sammy” Scott almost chokes out in tears.

Rose smiles at her father with teary eyes, everyone tucked into the meal Scott prepared, no one could hide their shock at how good it tasted, “Thanks for the vote of confidence” Scott muttered making Rose snort in laughter.

When the meal finished, Rose would have been clearing the table, instead the guys forced her into the living room whilst they did the work, she put the game on ready for them when they came in so they didn’t frantically search for the remote and miss kick-off.

Soon the guys trailed in and Ace sat beside her, she instantly curled into his warmth, Ace, along with the others started yelling at the television the moment the game began, they had barely begun and they were already riled up.

The smile never left Rose’s face as she glanced around the room at her crew, Drew and Ace no apart of them it took a moment for Rose to realise she was the only girl, even when Sammy is born, twelve males will be in the house with Rose including Drew and Ace.

Tommy noticed Rose sat on the couch with a small crease in her brows, the face she pulled when she was in thought, “Rose are you okay?” he asked softly not to fear any of the other guys if it was nothing.

She focus’ on him and smiles, “Yeah Tommy, I’m good, happy to be home” she tells him honestly, and he turns back to game.

It was then that Sammy sent a swift kick to Rose’s stomach letting her know he was there too.

“Yes, I know you are here too” she says rubbing her small bulge, “You better be good kid, but with so many guys around, I can see there is going to be some trouble” she muses. She remembered the days she was a kid with the crew, those were messy days and she knew she had many of them to look forward too with her own infant.

In that moment, Rose felt a sense of calm, she knew everything would turn out alright in the end, Drew was starting a new life away from his past, Ace and Rose were mending a newly strained relationship, even though she had no idea what the relationship between the two was she made a mental note to ask him when they were alone.

Even though she had just eaten, her stomach began to rumble in need. The guys distracted by the game, Rose got to her feet and walked into the kitchen, displeased by the fact the guys had finished the lasagne, she settled on some fruit. Removing it from the refrigerator, she cleaned it under the tap.

Looking out the window that lead to the back garden, which merged onto the beach, Rose thought she saw a figure looming near the forest line, however she was unsure, the nurses said she would still be tired and she knew from previous times that being tired meant seeing things not really there.

Shrugging it off, she put her fruit in a bowl and headed to the games room, the game was making them too rowdy and Rose wanted to relax.

Half an hour snacking and playing COD on the Xbox, Rose is satisfied that none of the guys will reach her score, a large gap between her own and Tommy who was high scorer before Rose just swooped in.

Boredom comes quickly to Rose and she soon changed from the games to watching a film, she was tired but knew if she went to bed, she would only toss and turn. The best way was for her to drift to sleep watching a movie.

The twenty fifteen film ‘Pan’ was clicked on: in the mood for some magic and wonder.

Snuggling further into the couch she locks onto the large television in front of her.

Halfway through the film, many footsteps rushed towards the games room. She was starting to drift to sleep and they woke her up. Grabbing the remote she pauses the movie so she could better hear what was going on.

The games room door was almost knocked off its hinges when Tommy, Michael, Ryan, Jack and Ace rush into the room looking frantically around.

Their eyes landed on a sleepy looking Rose and they sigh in relief, “Rose you scared the hell out of us” Ryan puffs out trying to catch his breath.

The guys had run around the entire house looking for Rose, the games room stupidly being the last place they would look.

She smiles sheepishly at them all “Sorry, you boys were getting loud and I was hungry then tired, so I came to watch a film, besides its your fault” she states.

They all look at her confused “How is it our fault?” Michael asks when she was the one to disappear without saying anything. Though if she had said something, none of them would have heard, they were too focused on the game.

“It’s been almost two hours and you only just notice me missing?” she questions looking at the time on her watch.

They all suddenly look guilty “I need to change your training tactics” Rose mutters to herself more than anyone.

The guys went back to the game leaving Ace wandering over to her “You can go back to the game; I’m not going to break” she jokes.

Ace smiles and sits down beside her, “I know, but I want to spend time with you” he says.

Rose smiles and places her head on his lap, his finger move into her hair, it was soothing “I’m only going to fall asleep” she says.

“I don’t mind, as long as you and Sammy are safe” he whispers as she presses play on the film again, but the small movement of Ace’s fingers in her hair made her body relax and her eyes drift shut with a small smile on her face.