At the Hodgsons

Chapter Seven

"FUCK!" Matt yelled out while punching the wall in Nikki's hallway.

Nikki flinched behind him and looked at her boyfriend, her breathing became heavier as she looked at Matt who was becoming a whole different person.

"ARGH!" Matt shouted again while kicking the wall. "I hate this fucking job!"

"Calm down Matt, this isn't helping." Nikki said soothingly.

"Shut up Nikki!" Matt replied in a husk. He leaned against the wall with his hands and looked down at his feet. "Just shut up."

Nikki was scared, she looked at the man in front of her, she didn't recognize him. What had happened to him? A few weeks back, his behavior had turned 180, going from a normal boyfriend to a stressed and cold boyfriend.

"Matt, you're scaring me." Nikki said in a soft voice.

Matt turned around and looked at his girlfriend. "What did i just say?"

"Don't raise your voice please, i just said you're scaring me! You can't put your work stress on me!"

Matt breathed heavily and kept his eyes on Nikki, they became dark, and it felt like an animal was living inside him. "I said SHUT UP!" Matt raised his hand, and it came into contact with Nikki's cheek.

Nikki gasped and jumped away from Matt, her own hand held her cheek that was now burning with pain, the tears begin to well up in her eyes as she looked at Matt. "W-what did you do?"

"I told you to shut up Nikki!" Matt yelled once again, he wasn't shocked by his reaction towards Nikki, he walked towards her, Nikki walking backwards until she met the other wall in the hall, Matt closed the gap between them and was now inches away from her face. "You're a worthless girlfriend."

Nikki panicked completely and looked at Matt with pleading eyes. "Don't hurt me again please." she whispered softly between the silent sobs.

Matt eyes became even darker as his hands grabbed Nikki's upper arms to drag her forcefully to him before throwing her back at the wall with quite some force, causing her to crash against the hall and fall to the floor.

Matt looked down at Nikki and grabbed her hair to make her look up at him. "I'm going to bed, don't even bother sleeping next to me, or even better just leave!" He yelled at her while pulling at her hair for a little while before storming up the stairs towards Nikki's bedroom.

Nikki shut her eyes and let herself cry, the aching pain that was in her back and head growing worse from the hairpulling. Her right hand went up to her cheek that was now not only burning and red but also stained with tears. She looked up and the emotions hit her. Within a couple of minutes, she began to hyperventilate and choking out more tears, screaming loudly, but nobody could hear her.

Or could they?

"Nikki!"

Nikki looked up but couldn't see anyone, the tears blocking her vision as she kept screaming in the hallway.

"Nik, come on, wake up love."

Nikki kept breathing heavily until she finally snapped back into reality.

Nikki shot up from the bed and choked out multiple sobs, she was still hyperventilating as she gripped the bed sheets for support, the tears in her eyes kept falling as finally her vision became clearer. She looked around the room to see a figure standing next to her. Still in shock from the nightmare, she gasped and backed away from the figure.

"Nik, it's me, Jack." She heard the voice softly speak.

Jack ran upstairs the moment he heard the screaming, he stood next to Nikki's side of the bed, deciding not to pull her into his arms as she was clearly still in shock from the nightmare. He carefully sat down on her side, still not touching her.

Nikki's breathing slowly settled down and she took in her surroundings. She wasn't helpless in the hallway of her house; she was in bed in her and Jack's house. She looked at the man who sat on her side of the bed, finally realizing she was back to reality and locked eyes with Jack, her safe haven in the, for her, second safest place, their home. But she wanted to be in the safest place, so she scooted over to Jack and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms immediately wrapped around her waist pulling her in his lap as he stroked her back soothingly and slowly rocked her back and forth to control the sobs she continued to let out. Nikki buried her head in the crook of his neck as she finally calmed down, she was now in the safest place, his arms.

"Shhh love, i'm here." Jack whispered in her ear as he kept rubbing circles on her lower back.

Nikki kept silent as she regained her normal breathing. The tears were still falling, but she never felt safer than here in his arms.

"I'm here." He repeated softly, as he felt her relaxing more and more in his arms by the second.  He continued to rock and soothe her.

"It looked so real." Nikki whispers against his chest.

"What did love?"

Nikki stayed silent.

"Nik?"

"Matt," Nikki began, as she took a deep breath then breathed it out slowly. "We were in my house, the hallway. He punched me and threw me against the wall," she explained, while choking out another sob. "It didn't feel like a dream, it actually happened a few years ago. It felt more like a flashback." Nikki pulled away from Jack's neck and met his eyes. She felt Jack unwrap his arms from around her waist as he wiped her tears away with his thumb's, holding her cheeks in his hands. "It felt so real."

"I'm so sorry Nik, i wish i could help you forget about all this, I wish I could take away the pain." Jack said, kissing her forehead. "What I can say is, that I'm here and I will never let him near you again, never."

Nikki wrapped her arms back around his neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. "I don't deserve you."

"That's not true, you're the love of my life Nik, i love you so much and it pains me to see you hurting like this."

"I'm better now, here." she said pulling away to meet his eyes. "With you."

Jack smiled slightly and waited for Nikki to make the first move to kiss him. He didn't want to startle her; she slowly leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips for a good, few seconds. After the kiss, Jack's hands came to rest on her lower back. "You're soaked Nik, should I run a bath for you?"

Nikki shook her head. "I can't take a bath yet.."

"Why?"

"Because I gave birth yesterday, Jack, I'm still losing blood and taking a bath can give me an infection."

"Ah." Jack replied clicking his tongue.

Nikki smiled slightly at his cluelessness.

"Shower then?"

"Yes, a shower would be better."

"Need my assistance?" Jack asks.

"What about Mila?"

"She's with my da and Cara, she's sleeping, they'll manage."

"Go downstairs, i can take a quick shower myself."

"I'm not leaving your side today Nik."

Nikki sighed and shook her head.

"What do you need?"

"I just need you and Mila, all day, everyday."

"Mhm, i can absolutely make that happen," Jack said softly. "First you need a shower and then we can go downstairs and have a nice cuddle with our daughter.  Then I'll make us some lunch, deal?"

"Deal." Nikki said while climbing off his lap to stand up. "Are you joining me in the shower?"

"I would love to," Jack began. "But my niece and da are downstairs with Mila, i don't think taking a shower together is the best idea now."

Nikki pouted. "You're right."

"Besides, we both know that if we took a shower together it would lead to things." Jack smirked.

"Not every shower should be about sex Jack," Nikki said rolling her eyes. "And besides, we can't have sex at the moment." Nikki said while looking down. "We have to wait at least three weeks, until I'm healed."

"I'm sorry, i shouldn't have said that."

"It's okay, I thought you would know these things," Nikki replied. "You spend hours on the internet searching everything there is to know about childbirth, but looking up when you can have sex again didn't pop up in your mind?" Nikki giggled and met a now blushing Jack's eyes. "Real scientist you are."

"You, Dr. Hodgson, are so right." Jack leant down and pecked her on the lips. "Again."

"I'm going to freshen up a bit, you go downstairs and maybe tonight we could have a long shower together after Mila is fed and sound asleep?"

"I'm not leaving your side."

"Jack, we have guests, I'll be done in five minutes."


"Fine, but i'm setting a timer," Jack leaned down to kiss her one more time. "I love you."

"I love you too." Nikki smiled up at Jack and pecked his lips one more time. "Now go."

Jack gave her a smile and walked out of the bedroom, leaving the door open so he could hear if she needed him. He made his way downstairs and walked into the living room to see Cara bringing in two fresh cups of coffee for herself and Conor, who held a wide-awake fussing Mila in his arms.

"Awake already?"

"She woke up right after you left to go upstairs." Conor said. "It's not her day i think," he chuckled and looked at his son with a concerned look. "Is Nikki, okay? That was quite the scream."

"Yes, she had a nightmare." Jack said while walking to his dad. He took his fussing daughter out of his hands and slowly cradled her. "She's okay now, will be down in a few." He looked down at his daughter in his arms. "Why are you awake little one? You're supposed to be sleeping." He cooed.

"I'm glad she's okay now," Conor smiled up at his son before leaning over in his chair to take the coffee mug in his hand and took a small sip.

"Yeah me too." Jack replied taking a quick glance at his father. He let out a big sigh as he noticed Mila wasn't settling down. "What happened to the Hodgson gene? She slept very good yesterday."

'Maybe it's not her day.' Cara signed with a giggle.

Jack chuckled while still cradling Mila. "That's a fact."

After a few minutes, Nikki walked into the room wearing a purple Victoria Secret long lounge wear set. Jack got it for her a couple of weeks ago when she told him she couldn't wait to wear normal clothes again and she was addicted to the lounge wear sets from Victoria Secret.

"Hi Cara," Nikki smiled and hugged her niece, after the hug she went to hug Conor. "And hello granddad." Nikki said coyly.

"Hey love, are ya feeling okay?"

Nikki smiled and nodded after pulling away from the hug. "I'm fine," she reassured him. "Tired, but okay."

"Good." Conor smiled, he sat back down on his chair and grabbed his coffee.

Nikki walked over to Jack and kissed his cheek softly before looking at the restless baby in his arms. "What's going on with her?"

"She's tired, but can't get her to sleep." Jack looked at his wife and then back to his daughter. "The only time she slept good was in that rocking chair."

"Put her back in, maybe it'll work again."

"I will, i just want her in my arms for a few more minutes."

Nikki smiled at him and kissed his bicep. "Cutiepie." She leaned in and kissed Mila's forehead softly. "I'm going to make a tea, fancy one as well?" Nikki quizzes at Jack, who nods at her, Nikki smiled and made her way to the kitchen making sure Cara and Conor still had coffee in their mugs.

When Nikki returned with two cups of tea, she saw Jack strapping Mila in the rocking chair and putting in her dummy before turning it on. "Finally able to put her down?" Nikki smirked at him.

"Very funny." Jack replied, walking over to the other armchair, taking his cup of tea out of Nikki's hands. "Thanks love."

Nikki hummed in response and sat down next to Cara on the couch, she looked at the rocking chair and saw Mila was finally settling down, her eyelids slowly closing. "There she goes."

Jack huffed a little. "My arms are more comfortable than that stupid chair."

"Don't be such a baby, you have enough time to hold her, she's just moody." Nikki replied taking a sip from her tea with a smirk on her face.

Jack huffed again and looked at his daughter who was now fast asleep slowly rocking from right to left. "Should i wrap another blanket around her? She might be cold."

"It's 20 degrees inside Jack, she's fine."

Jack nodded in response and focused on their guests, beginning a conversation with them while Mila was asleep.

"What about next weekend, we could go to Hyde Park with Mila and finally use that ridiculously expensive stroller we bought." Jack said, stroking Nikki's hair, it was early in the evening and Mila had just had a feed and was now on Nikki's chest, who in turn lay on the couch with her head on Jack's lap. 

"Mhm that's an excellent idea, she'll be a week old Saturday, they can go outside from six to ten days." Nikki replied while stroking Mila's back softly as she was in a fussy mood again. "And by the way, that stroller was your idea."

"I know, the woman in the store told me it was the best,"
Was she fluttering her eye lashes while saying so?" Nikki said while looking up at him.

"Maybe,"

Nikki giggled softly. "Thought so."

Jack chuckled and looked down at his two girls. "Want to take that walk Sunday morning? Clarissa and Max are visiting Saturday remember?"

"Oh, right I forgot about that, Sunday is fine, there's a match in the afternoon, right?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, my da is coming over like always to watch."

"I'll make some snacks then."

"Spinach dip?"

"Spinach dip indeed."

"Great," Jack smiled down at her and leant down to kiss her forehead. "Want to take that shower that you promised me this morning?"

"Yes please, but first we need to make sure this one is asleep, she really needs to sleep some more, i'll ask Natalie about it tomorrow, see if she has any more tips."

"At what time is she coming?"

"Around eleven."

"Ah grand," Jack replied, as he took Mila from Nikki so she could properly stand up from the couch. He handed Mila back when Nikki was on her feet. "I'll clean up a bit and lock everything up."

"I'll try and put this one to sleep," Nikki smiled at him and walked out of the room with Mila to head upstairs to their bedroom.

Jack smiled to himself and got off the couch to tidy up the living room, shut the curtains and lock the doors before heading upstairs after ten minutes. To his delight, Mila was sound asleep in the co sleeper with a proud Nikki sitting on the edge of the bed. "Impressive mom." Jack smirked at her.

"Don't ask me how i did it, she fell asleep literally ten seconds ago."

"Well then," Jack said taking of his plain t shirt. "Let's make the most of it, while it lasts." Jack pulled down his joggers and threw them together with his shirt into the hamper in the corner of their bedroom.

Nikki laughed softly and stood up from the bed, stripping herself of her clothes, except for her underwear and walked into the ensuite bathroom. "Can you grab the baby monitor from the nursery please? So, we can hear her when she cries, I don't know if we'll hear her with the door closed."

"Sure thing,"

"Is it water resistant?"

"Of course it is, this was also a ridiculously expensive baby monitor." Jack growls softly, giving her a wink before leaving the room to grab the baby monitor from the nursery.

Nikki laughed and shook her head. She stripped out of her underwear and turned on the shower before stepping inside when the water was hot enough.

She heard Jack entering the ensuite after a couple of minutes, he placed the baby monitor on the countertop next to the sink and took of his boxers before joining Nikki in the shower.  He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest. "God, you're beautiful."

Nikki blushed and smiled at his touch. She laid her hands on top of his and squeezed them. "I gave birth yesterday, Jack, I'm far from beautiful."

"Stop it Nik, you're perfect."

"Jack i'm—"

"Perfect, yes." Jack interrupted.

"I love you."

"And i love you too." Jack's hand stroked her stomach softly. "I can't believe she was inside here 36 hours ago."

"I can't believe it either, amazing, isn't it?"

"Sure is." Jack kissed her shoulder softly before withdrawing his arms from around her, he grabbed the body wash and squirted some of it into his hands.  He then set the bottle back down and slowly rubbed the body wash over Nikki's body, not leaving a spot untouched.

...

After the -very long- shower, Jack and Nikki lay in bed together tangled up, cuddling. Nikki had her head on Jack's bare chest and was drawing circles on it, while to their delight Mila was still fast asleep.
"That shower should be a daily routine." Jack said leaving a kiss on top of her head.

"Mhm it should." Nikki mumbled in his chest. "You're taking good care of me."

"That's what husbands are for."

"I've got the best husband ever."

"And i've got the best wife, and daughter."

Nikki smiled against his chest and kissed it softly.

A buzzing sound coming from Nikki's nightstand pulling the couple apart. Nikki quickly grabbed her phone before the buzzing sound woke Mila, looking at the screen, she stiffened. "Jack."

"Mhm what is it love?" Jack said lazily.

"Look." Nikki said giving the buzzing phone to Jack.

Jack eyes widened slightly, grabbing the phone from her.

Incoming call
Matt Garcia

"Can i?" Jack quickly asked.

Nikki nodded and Jack answered her phone.

"Hi Matt." Jack said in a stern voice, his hand grabbing Nikki's hand to soothe her. She was clearly anxious.