Breaking in Pieces

"Well, That Was QUITE the Experience!"

When they get there, Dec starts pacing around the room in quiet panic. "Declan, quit pacing for 5 minutes, please!" He looks up. "Kay, sorry. I'm sorry." He sits down. They just sit there in silence, Dec staring straight down at the floor and Ali looking straight ahead at the wall, her hand on her pregnant belly. After sitting there for a few minutes, Dec finally breaks the silence. "You, erm, you had me worried. I thought something was seriously wrong." His eyes stayed fixed on the floor. "I know honey. I'm sorry." They made eye contact, and a couple seconds afterward the doctor walks in.
  Dec stands up. "Is she okay? Is the baby okay? Oh, please tell me they're okay!" He had that worried father mannerism about him already, and he suspected it would get worse for everyone else but better for him. "Yeah, she's fine. They're both fine, really. It's just that your baby girl wants to meet you." Dec grins, "now?" The doctor smiles back. "Now."

   They walk out the door with little Isla in their arms, smiling from ear to ear. "I still think we should stick to traditional British way and spell it with an S." "Oh come on!," Ali says, "have some fun!" She laughs and play punches Dec in the arm. He smiles, "I don't know, that's awfully American!" They both break into a fit of laughter. "You're not afraid that..." "No!," Dec interrupts, "it's not that at all. I just want everyone to know she's a Brit!" "Honey," Ali says, "honey, she's the daughter to one of the most loved people in British history. I'm SURE everyone will know she's British." Ali gave him a playful, 'I know what I'm talking about' look. "Oh, how sweet of you! But you KNOW that I'm just like any other person." "Declan, give yourself some credit, man! You SAVED British television!" Ali raised her voice on the last part. "No, I didn't. And if not for Anth I wouldn't be here anyway." Ali rolls her eyes, for whenever Dec's in a stubborn mood (no matter how cute it is) he can't be reasoned with.
  When they get to the car, Dec gently hands Ali Isla and gets in the driver's seat. "Well," he says after they both shut the door, "that was QUITE the experience." "Sure was," Ali says, "especially for me." She laughs and Dec grins. "Sooooo, we're not spelling Elizabeth with an 's'?" "Guess not." replied Ali, and they left it at that.

When they get home, Dec sees a text from Ant. "Congrats bud. I'll be with you the whole time!" Dec feels his eyes start to well up. 'No, Dec. Don't cry. Not on such a joyful occasion as this one.' He replies back with a simple, "thanks Anth! Miss you and look forward to seeing you soon! Stay strong brother!" Oh, Dec tried not to cry. Dec tried SO hard not to cry. Luckily though, to change his mindset, Ali called from upstairs. "Dec, will you go grab my phone out of the car?" "Yeah babe." He shouts up the steps. He shuffles outside eagerly, just happy to be able to focus on something else. 'Come on Dec. You can do this. Just a few more months.' Months. Too many months. Too many months Ant's been gone. 'I can do this.' his voice was shaky. 'I can do this.' He said it louder to be more convincing. 'I can, I CAN'T DO THIS!' And at that, he broke down, on the front lawn, with the neighbors watching, and didn't really care.