My Best Friend's Girl

42. Poppie Rose Maynard

Jack's POV

It was Millie's due date, of our baby girl. And I was so excited. I couldn't believe I was having a daughter. A little girl to protect and look after. She had me to rely on, I needed to protect her. It was scary. But I was so ready for it.

I was cooking us breakfast, when I heard Millie walk down the stairs.
We'd moved into a three bedroom house in the outskirts of London, as Millie loves London so we decided to stay here.

Millie comes up and wraps her petite arms around my waist, causing my heart to do things. The things she does to me.

"Morning beautiful," I smile, as I turn around so she can kiss me. She stands on her tiptoes and kisses me, as I kiss her nose. "morning my little princess." I grin as she kicks.

"Something smells nice." She sighs happily snuggled into my chest.
"I've made your favourite but with a twist." I say.
"Who knew you'd be so domesticated." She laughs.
"Excuse me!?" I laugh. She giggles, "you, Mrs. Maynard, are cheeky." I start to tickle her, as she cries with laughter. But then stops.
"Jack." I look up.
"Mil's, are you alright, baby?" I ask, seeing the panic in her eyes, made me worry.
She shakes her head, "Jack, my waters have broke."
Shitttttt. This is the real deal. This is happening. I'm becoming a Dad.

I froze. Time stopped. I couldnt comprehend what was happening.

"Jack? Jack? Jack? JACK?" I'm snapped out of my thoughts by Millie clicking her fingers in front of my face.
"Right.." I shake my head. "sorry, Mil's. We need to go to hospital." I say, grabbing my car keys.
"Jack, you're forgetting something." She laughs.
"What?" I ask.
"Me." She laughs.
"Oh, shit. Yeah." I chuckle nervously.
Millie puts her hand on top of mine. "Babe, calm down, we can do this. Okay?" I nod.
"Come on. Let's go have our baby." I grin.

////

"How you holding up, bud?" Joe asks coming up to me.
"I'm shitting myself. How the hell did you do this? Three times." I chuckle.
"It gets easier third time round." Dianne giggles.
"Bud I'm proud of ya," Joe smiles. "thanks for looking after Mils."

"Dude. She is my life. I'd die before I let anything happen to her. Either of them." I say as I twiddle my wedding ring round.
"I know bud, I know." Joe smiles.
"JACK." I hear Millie shout my name.
"Go be with your wife." Dianne smiles. I nod, as I walk in.
"I'm here, gorgeous. I'm here." I rub her back.
"Where did you go?" She stutters.
"Shh. I just went to see Joe and Dianne, its okay. Take deep breaths, darling. In for three. Out for three." I say, rubbing her back, as I kiss her sweaty forehead.
"Jacky I love you." She whispers.
"Hey don't talk, Princess. But I love you, too." I say as her eyes get heavy and she falls asleep.

"Okay Millicent it's time." Her midwife says.
"You ready to do this?" Millie asks, looking at me.
"Absolutely, are you?" She nods. "let's meet our Pop's." I smile.

////

"Baby she's beautiful," I cry, holding my daughter in my arms. "I'm so proud of you, my darling wife."

"She's so perfect, " Millie coos. "she is your double."
"You kidding? She's all you." I gush. So, so beautiful. I was in love.

How could something so small and precious have my heart?

"Can we come in?" Joe and Dianne peak their heads round the door.
"Come in." Millie smiles as they walk in.
"Meet your niece." I gush proudly.
"Oh my! She's gorgeous." Dianne coos.
"You ready to chase the boys away?" Joe chuckles.
"She is not having any boyfriends." I warn jokingly.
"Good luck with that." Joe chuckles.
"I've got Ted to scare them off." I laugh. Teddy has two sisters so he'll be used to chasing boys away, so what's one more?
"Trust me. He'll be there in a flash." Joe and Dianne both laugh.

Joe and Dianne had left but Conor, Anna and my parents had now arrived.
Tracey, Graham and Zoe were coming tomorrow to let us get settled.

"Bro, I can't believe you created her." Conor laughs.
"Excuse me!?" I say, as Millie laughs. "what are you laughing at, Mrs. Maynard?" I smirk.

"Conor's right." She jokes.
"Hey!" I pout, crossing my arms. "you're definitely Joe's sister." I laugh.
"Aww. Jacky. You're pouting." She laughs.
"Your all so mean." I laugh.
"Aww my poor Jack,"Millie smirks. She gestures for me to move closer, so I do. She whispers. "I think your hot," She winks. Playing with my hair. "and I'm glad you're the father to Poppy and no-one else." She beams.
"I love you Milicent Louisa Maynard," I whisper. "thank you for giving me a beautiful daughter."
"I love you, too Jack Maynard," She smiles. "and thank you for giving me a beautiful daughter."

This was my life now.

Me. My beautiful wife and my beautiful daughter.

My Poppie Rose Maynard.

My perfect family.