Halcyon

Announcement

Jack leaves the maternity unit and stands in the corridor as he looks at his phone for a moment and responds to a few work emails before walking to the vending machine and purchasing a bottle of Coke. Soon he sits down on a bench in the corridor and gets his phone back out, he calls his Dad, the phone dials out and calls for a moment before his Dad answers.

"...Hello?" He speaks up clearing his throat.
"Dad... It's Jack."
"Son, how are you... how is Nikki?" Connor speaks.
Jack smiles to himself as he can hear Poppy in the background who sounds like she is busy playing with her toys.

"Nikki is good, she's had the baby, around four hours ago" Jack smiles proudly.
"Congratulations, so boy or girl?"
"A wee girl Dad" Jack replies.

There is a pause from Connor who is clearly registering what Jack has just told him, "Dad? are you okay?" He replies.
"Yes, Yes I am fine, a girl, oh your Ma would be proud... what's her name?" Connor questions curiously.

Jack's blood boils when he hears his Dad talking about his Mum, although the woman who brought him up was dead his biological mother is still alive and trying to get through to Jack each and every day, she even knows about Nikki being pregnant and that she will be due a granddaughter any day now.

"Okay, her name is Maddison, 5lbs 8oz... please don't tell Poppy about her, we want it to be a complete surprise, you can bring her up tomorrow around lunchtime. Nikki has to stay in as they're monitoring Maddison, she has a scan tomorrow on her heart but everything is looking good for her" Jack beams happily.

"Well I am glad she is okay, I won't tell Poppy about the thing... oh Poppy wants to say hello" Connor replies and passes the phone down to Poppy.
"Hello, Daddy!" Poppy beams happily down the phone.
"Hey Kiddo, how are you? Is Grandpa looking after you?" Jack smiles.
"Yes, Daddy... where is Mummy? I miss Mummy loads" Poppy replies and Jack instantly hears the mood change in her voice.
"Mummy is busy sweetheart, I shall make sure she calls you tomorrow lunchtime. She loves you lots wee princess, we both do... And I am sure when you come home Mummy will be taking you shopping to get all your new clothes to start big school ay?" Jack smiles trying to keep his eldest daughter from breaking down.

Jack waits for a reply and hears Connor encourage Poppy to talk more on the phone in the background. "Can I talk to Mummy?" Poppy questions.
Jack sighs and looks at the floor, "No sweetie, she is very busy, but you know how much she loves you" Jack replies.

"Oh, I really miss Mummy," She says as she starts to cry down the phone to her Dad.
"I know sweetheart, we both love you loads, Now sweetie be a good girl for Grandpa, and we shall see you tomorrow" Jack smiles as he begins finishing off his conversation.

Soon Jack ends the call and walks back onto the ward, he heads straight to Nikki and Maddison. "Hey" He smiles walking over to Nikki who has Maddison lying in between her legs.

"Hey yourself, did you manage to get through to your Dad?" Nikki asks glancing down at her daughter.
"Yes, I did, spoke to Poppy too. She is devastated that she can't speak to you until tomorrow" He replies as he sits down in the armchair and places the bottle of water on the table.
Nikki sighs and looks down at Maddison, "I feel bad, I miss her too much" She replies.

Jack smiles in an understanding of how Nikki is feeling. "How about we facetime Thomas and Clarissa and introduce them to Maddison" Jack suggests, Nikki nods and he shuffles onto the bed and sits close to her, Nikki lifts her daughter up and cradles her again.

"Give me a second I need to make myself look presentable... I look terrible" Nikki says reaching for her washbag which is in reaching distance.
"Hun, you look perfect," He replies back getting Clarissa's contact details up ready to call them.
"No, I look horrible, let me put some makeup on. I need a wash, my hair needs washing it's all greasy!" Nikki huffs.

He rolls his eyes and bats her hand back down, "Nikki... they're not going to judge you, they know you have just given birth" Jack chuckles and Nikki finally gives in.

Jack presses the icon that Facetime calls Clarissa, it soon says it's connecting and then Clarissa's face appears on the screen, she is obviously still in the Lyell, "Jack!" She smiles as Jack keeps the camera off Nikki and Maddison for a while.

"Hey, is Thomas there with you?" Jack questions.
Clarissa looks up and across the room before waving Thomas over who soon appears on the screen, "Jack, how are things?"

Jack smiles as he sees Thomas, "Great actually. So Nikki is here with me..." Jack begins.
"How is she?" Clarissa says jumping in.
"Great actually, so Nik, want to tell them?" Jack asks as he moves the phone so they can see both Nikki and Jack, she looks at Jack with a smile and nods.

Thomas and Clarissa smile as they see Nikki who looks extremely tired and pale, "How is the labour treating you?" Thomas questions.
Nikki chuckles and smiles, "So, Four hours ago someone came to say hello, meet the latest member of the Lyell."

Jack moves the camera so they can see Maddison, "Aww, look... congratulations you pair" Clarissa beams.
"Beautiful, so gender and a name please" Thomas adds as they both admire the newborn.

"So shall we tell them the name or make them wait?" Jack smirks and Nikki laughs and nods.
"So this is... Maddison Grace Alexander-Hodgson" Nikki smiles.

"Congratulations Nikki, she is beautiful" Clarissa smiles happily.
"Well said, a beautiful name too" Thomas smiles. They begin a conversation that is cut short when Maddison starts to cry to Clarissa and Thomas ends the call promising they will visit them at home when they're settled.