"Hey, baby." Nick cooed to Jake as he fed him his bottle, one of the nurses had supervised him making it with the formula and he'd made enough to last until tomorrow so he was feeling quite satisfied with his achievement.
"Hey to you too." LeighAnne laughed as she entered the room. "How are you feeling?" She asked pleasantly.
"I'm ok, a bit tired and pretty sore but ok." Nick smiled.
"Oh, Nick! He's gorgeous!" LeighAnne exclaimed. "Can I hold him?" She asked excitedly.
"Sure. I'll just wind him first coz you don't want baby sick on you." Nick replied, handing Jake to her gently after he'd winded him.
"Where's Brian?" Nick asked, looking towards the door.
"He's just talking to your dad. Something about where you're going to stay after they let you out of here." LeighAnne replied before going back to her cooing over Jake who was staring up at her wonderingly.
"I'm going home, where else would I go?" Nick asked.
"You know how Brian is, he thinks you should have someone on hand to fetch and carry. Personally, I think AJ'll end up staying with you, he's already offered because he knew that you wouldn't want to stay with your parents or with me and Brian."
"They think I can't cope on my own?"
"Nick, nobody could cope with a new born baby completely on their own, that's why babies have two parents. Until Kevin comes round Jake'll just have to make do with AJ who I happen to think is a mighty fine replacement." LeighAnne replied soothingly. "I wish he was Brian's you know?" She sighed.
"You do?" Nick looked confused.
"Yeah, Bri wants a baby so much and I'm just not ready. Plus it'd make it so much easier on you." LeighAnne added with a smile. "He said that you want us to be god parents. Thanks a lot, Nicky, you have no idea how much that means to Brian, and to me too of course."
"Hey, Nick. Hey, Jakey." Brian leaned down to kiss the baby.
"Jakey?" Nick questioned with a smile.
"What?" Brian asked. "We brought balloons!" He added excitedly, tying them to the rail behind Nick's bed. "Decided against grapes which I see is a good job because your mom already got you a lifetime supply." Brian laughed seeing the huge bag of grapes on the night stand. "My mom sends her love, too. She's gonna visit soon so she can see Jake then. AJ and Howie are coming this afternoon around 4.30 with Denise and as far as I know, Kevin's still coming at 3." Brian breathed in deeply. "And that's the end of today's bulletin folks." He sank down into the chair beside LeighAnne whilst she and Nick giggled quietly at his silly antics.
"Back again, Brian?" Lacey asked, coming into the room. Everything about her was bubbly, Nick realised, even her walk. "Just can't stay away can you, we'll have to put a bed in here for you soon." LeighAnne looked at Brian questioningly.
"This is Nick's midwife - Lacey." Brian explained. "Lacey, this is my wife, LeighAnne."
"It's nice to meet you, LeighAnne." Lacey said, LeighAnne smiled prettily but said nothing as she watched the nurse put a thermometer into Nick's mouth. "Don't chew it." She reprimanded and Nick smiled guiltily. "I'll bring you something to eat in a minute, you missed lunch. I see you've got enough grapes to sustain you for a while though. Mothers! What would we do without them? Be right back!" She left the room as quickly as she had entered.
"Well, she's certainly a character." LeighAnne said, seemingly unable to make Lacey out.
"She's really nice." Nick replied. "She's just bubbly."
"She was really good yesterday. She's the one who delivered Jake." Brian added.
"Here you go. A ham sandwich and fruit salad for dessert. Hopefully it'll be something more interesting for dinner." Lacey passed the tray to Nick. "One of the other nurses will come and collect it, I've got a delivery to take care of so I'll see you later." She breezed out of the room again.
"So, you prepared for your visit from Kev?" Brian asked, seeing that his wife was about to make a comment about Lacey.
"I guess, I don't really know how I'm supposed to prepare. Kev's not gonna change his tune after all this time he's way too stubborn. I asked the doctor and he said that they don't like to do paternity tests so early but if I really want one they will" Nick shook his head sadly.
"You gonna let Kev have one then? I mean, you could make him wait." Brian shrugged.
"He can have one later this week, before we leave the hospital. He's not having one right away. It doesn't make any difference to me, I know who the father is."
"We all do, Nicky. Why would you put yourself through this if you weren't sure? I can't believe he's being so selfish. It's just not like Kevin." LeighAnne said, wrinkling up her nose suddenly. "Oh, my god, Nick! How can something so small make such a big smell?" She passed Jake to Nick as he and Brian laughed at her disgusted face.
"They showed you how to change diapers already?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, I've gotta take care of him myself now." Nick replied as he changed his son's diaper slowly and carefully. "I'm kinda frightened of hurting him, he's so tiny." Nick admitted bashfully.
"Don't worry about it, from what I've seen you're a natural." LeighAnne laughed.
"Unlike some of us." Brian agreed putting his hand over his mouth and pretending to cough. "LeighAnne." He laughed as LeighAnne slapped him playfully. "Hey, behave yourself. There are impressionable children in the room."
"Jake's way too young to know what's going on." LeighAnne argued.
"I was talking about Nick!" Brian replied.
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