Life Is A Rollercoaster (Ronan Keating / Boyzone / X Factor) fan fiction

Seventy Six

Jessica woke up early the next day. I guess she was used to getting up so we could come over to the studio. I got out of bed, picked her up and put into bed at the side of me. If she thought we were getting up now she had another thing coming...

I was just drifting back to sleep when there was a knock at the door.

I stumbled out of bed bleary eyed and opened the door. "Oh hi" I said.

Karen was on the other side of the door with what looked like a cup of tea on her hand. She looked at me slightly disapprovingly, then I realised I had dishevelled hair and old pyjamas on. 

To be honest they were the only pair I had, as I never wore them at home with Ro. 

Karen on the other hand looked like she'd just returned from a weekend at a spa, her hair and make up were flawless and she was wearing a lovely dress. "Michael said to bring you this. He said he's in the studio whenever you want to go down" she said. 

I took the tea from her and went to say 'Thank you' but she'd already stalked off down the corridor.

"Thanks Karen" I whispered as she retreated down the corridor. 

Jessica was wide awake and trying to climb out of the bed as I went back into the room. I chucked to myself, put my tea on the window ledge and went and picked her up. "Trying to make a bid for freedom are we?"

She just looked at me and made a funny noise. I smiled and kissed her forehead. Couldn't believe she was trying to talk already, couldn't believe she was almost a year old. Where the hell had the time gone to?!

Cuddling my daughter to me I knelt down and picked up her bag from the floor and made my way out of the room to find the bathroom. I was about half way down the corridor in one direction when I realised I hadn't actually a clue where it was. I shook my head, I'd have to change Jessica in our room and then find the bathroom for myself later.

Once we were both dressed and vaguely presentable, with Jessica in my arms I made my way downstairs to the kitchen where I knew Karen would be. Mike normally stayed with her, just popping into the studio whenever Adrian wasn't sure of something, but today he wanted to be in the studio with us apparently. 

"Now be a good girl for Aunty Karen" I whispered in Jessica's ear as we walked through the hallway. Something tells me she's not in a very good mood today...

"Hi Karen" I said as I walked into the kitchen. She mumbled a barely audible 'hello' but did get up to take Jessica from me. 

"Thanks" I said. "You know I do appreciate it don't you" I said. She just nodded at me. I bit my lip and made my way through into the studio.

"Hey Vic, how are you feeling today?" he looked so concerned that I was afraid I might cry again. 

"I'm okay Mike, y'know..."

"Well, Adrian's not coming in today, so we'll just take it easy yeah"

"Do you want me to get you some water?" I looked at him blankly, then realised that I normally bought a glass of water with me from the kitchen. "would you mind?" I smiled at him gratefully. 

He smiled and shook his head. "I'll be back in a sec"

I took the opportunity of being alone to practice my scales. I'd just reached the highest note when I heard the yelling. 

Uh oh.

I couldn't hear what was being said, but it didn't sound good. I hoped that I wasn't the cause. I mean all I had to do was ring Ro and he'd surely come back straight away. Maybe I was getting in the way.

Maybe...

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door slamming, and then I heard footsteps as Mike made his way back into the studio. "Here you go Vic" he said, handing me a glass of water. "Thanks"

"Everything ok?" I enquired, trying not to make it too obvious that I'd heard them arguing, but I didn't want to see him upset.

"Everything's fine Vic, everything's fine" he said. But I could see the unshed tears in his eyes and wanted to cry myself.