He Who Conquers Others Is Strong, He Who Conquers Himself Is Mighty

Abbie

Four weeks later...

"Are you ready babe?" J asked me as I dropped into the seat of the car. "yeah" I mumbled with a yawn. He chuckled at me and rubbed my knee. "I counted three times you were up throwing your guts up during the night" he said as he began to drive away from the house. I nodded and yawned again. "yeah that was it, but I couldn't sleep in between either, so I kept getting up to get a glass of water. Then I needed to pee. Ugh I'm not even at the stage where the baby is pressing on my bladder yet and I'm literally peeing for England." I huffed as I watched the buildings pass by the window. Julian gently took my hand and squeezed it. I looked over to him and gave him a small smile. "you're doing an awesome job growing my baby in there" he smiled at me, and my heart fluttered, "I'm only 10 weeks" I giggled at him, "but thank you. You make it easier" I smiled at him again, and he winked at me. "I love you short stack" 

.............

We arrived at my brother's house just under an hour later, and I was glad to be getting out of the car and breathing the fresh air. I grabbed my purse and Julian headed to the trunk to get the gift for our new baby niece. My own pregnancy feelings aside, I was beyond excited to see her again. Allie went into labour early and had to have an emergency C-section a week ago. Nick called us to let us know, and we went to see them all a day after she was born. Allie was finding it a little tough and we didn't want to crowd her too much, so we left them to it until they were home. And as soon as they said we could visit, we were straight round. And that happened to be today. 

"babe could you have picked a heavier frickin' horse?!" Julian huffed as he struggled carrying the wrapped up rocking horse down the side walk to their house. "I didn't think you'd struggle with it- not with those muscles" I gave him a sideward glance and a smirk found its way onto his face. How easy it was to boost up their egos...men!

We made it to the porch and up the steps we padded. Knock Knock! I wrapped on the door, so eager to see that perfect squidgy little niece of mine. But Nick opened the door baby-less. My excited smile dropped. "where is she?" I asked him looking over his shoulder. My brother rolled his eyes at me and sighed. "Allie's just changing her nappy. Come on in why don't ya" he sassed after I had already pushed passed him. "Christ Jules, what the hell have you brought?" I heard Nick say to J as he fought to get the present inside the house. "D-don't even ask..." Julian huffed as he struggled with it. I heard him grunt as he set it down in their entryway. "You might want a hand with that...Allie can't move that with you" I stated over my shoulder, and I knew the pair of them were glaring at me unimpressed. But I gasped, not caring about those two as I saw Allie walking through towards me. "Hey you guys" She whispered softly as she smiled at us. "Heyy" I beamed a smile back as I waited for them to reach me. I looked down at the peaceful little thing as it lay bundled up and fast asleep in her arms. "How are you?" I asked Allie in an almost silent whisper, kissing her cheek too. "I'm okay" She sighed, and looking into her eyes I knew she wasn't telling me the truth. I gave her one of my looks and she smiled sheepishly. "go sit down, I'll make you a drink" I told her. She nodded at me, and went to go and sit on the couch for a few minutes. 

.........

"thank you both for the rocking horse" Allie grinned at me as she sat and rocked the bassinet back and forth at the side of her. "you're welcome. I knew you had your eye on one for a while, so I figured we'd get one for her- being that my dear brother wouldn't entertain it" I giggled. For some unknown reason they gave him the creeps. But Allie giggled, "it's really perfect. thank you" she said, before picking up her cup of tea. "how are you feeling though? I mean, besides the exhaustion and the crazy hormones? Are you both okay? How are you healing?" I asked, curling up on the couch to listen to her. "okay" she nodded, "of course we're both tired. Nick's helping so much more than I could have ever wanted him to. He gets up for feeds with me, changes her and settles her back to sleep if I'm not up to it. He's been my rock." she smiled, her words making me that little bit more proud of him. "The nurse said I'm healing pretty well. I can get up the stairs okay and move around much better. I just struggle having her on my stomach sometimes, but that's better than it was" she nodded. "good." I smiled, "but like I said at the hospital. If you need anything, especially when Nick goes back to work, you just call me okay? One of us will be here in minutes" I told her and she nodded. "thanks Pen" she said, and her eyes filled up. "hey no, don't set me off" I giggled, "and when you're feeling up to it, and ready to leave Abbie with Nick for an hour or two, we can go to the salon and have some time to relax" I suggested and her eyes widened. "oh that would be so good right now, my roots and split ends are driving me insane" she laughed.