The Night That Changed It All

Zerrie Baby

"Dad?" Lily Ann asked as she walked into a kitchen with the phone pressed to her chest, mouthing a sorry when she saw I had Cathal, who was now a month old and had been home for a little over two weeks. He still had to sleep in an incubator, but that was a big step up from spending most of his time in one.

"Yeah, little bear?" I asked, rocking Cathal gently and cooing at him in an attempt to get him to go to sleep. He was due a nap but was resolutely refusing to fall asleep, despite the fact he was clearly tired. He was definitely a lot harder to take care of than Lily Ann, who fell asleep on her own and didn't make too much of a fuss; about anything really.

"Uncle Zayn's on the phone. He says he's got exciting news and wouldn't tell me what it was until I got you or Daddy." Lily Ann explained with a shrug before holding out her arms to show she'd take Cathal while I talked to Zayn.

"Hey Zee; what's up?" I asked, holding the phone between my shoulder and cheek as I adjusted Lily Ann's arm slightly so she was completely supporting Cathal's head. Smiling gratefully at me, Lily Ann started to sway gently; cooing in Cathal's ear when he gurgled quietly.

"Perrie's gone into labour. We're at the hospital now and just got put into a room." Zayn exclaimed over the sound of general hospital noises, which I was all too familiar with, having spent almost two weeks in one after Cathal's birth.

"Really?! That's great, Zayn. Do you want us there with you?" I asked, smiling gratefully at Lily Ann when she mouthed to me that Cathal was asleep and she was gonna bring him up to Liam.

"If you could..... It's just you guys are the only ones who've got experience. My parents can't come 'til tomorrow 'cause they're visiting family and Perrie's are gone on a cruise that got delayed and won't get back for another three days, at least." Zayn explained, sounding distracted and kind of worried.

"Yeah, no problem. I'm sure some of the neighbours can come look after Cathal. We'll be there as soon as we can, OK?" I assured, beckoning Liam over when he jogged down the stairs with Lily Ann right behind him.

"Thanks, Ni. I really appreciate it." Zayn sighed, before saying a quick goodbye and hanging up, leaving me to hope that everything would work out OK for them. We didn't even know the gender, since they'd wanted to wait until the child was actually born to find out.

"Perrie's gone into labour so Zayn wants us to come be supportive because their parents can't be there and we know how to handle ourselves. Do you think Jeanine would be up for a last minute baby sitting job?" I asked, referring to our closest neighbour who only moved in about a year ago after retiring. She was a lovely lady and we knew her well since she came over for dinner most Saturdays.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I'll call her and ask." Liam reasoned, before taking the phone from my hand and disappearing into the other room, just as Lily Ann appeared in the doorway.

"Hey little bear. Perrie's having her baby and we're going to the hospital to offer moral support. Do you want to come with us or stay here with Jeanine and Cathal?" I asked, picking Lily Ann up and sitting her on the table so she was taller and I wouldn't have to look down to talk to her. She always loved when we did that and said she liked that she didn't feel as short.

"I think I'll stay here. I haven't seen Jeanine in ages and I want to talk to her about that book she lent me." Lily Ann decided, smiling at me before jumping down off the table and started to walk away. Just before reaching the door, she faulted and turned around to add; "Tell Zayn and Perrie I said congratulations." She then disappeared without another word and I couldn't help but smile; she was so cute.

"Jeanine will be here in a minute." Liam announced as he strode back into the room with a grin, still clutching the phone, which I took from him and laid on the counter before returning his grin. His smile was so infectious; I could never help but smile back.