Love's Not A Competion

Braxton Hicks

Hey! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been ill and not been in the mood to write. Here's a short chapter. Stay awesome!

Charlie

.....

I drove Ricky to the airport on the day of his flight in our new car. Normally one of the guys came by to pick him up but I wanted to drive him today. I was having a good day with the pain and needed to get out of the house.

"I'm going to miss you." he said as we walked to the check in desk where he'd meet the others. "It's only a week but these two will probably be ready to pop out any day now. I don't want to miss anything."

"They're not due quite yet!" I laughed.

"Well they say twins and multiples hardly ever go full term." he justified.

"I'll keep my knees together for you while you're away." I teased.

"That's my girl!" he laughed and patted my bottom playfully.

When we got to the check in desk the others were there waiting for him. I gave them all a hug and wished them luck with the shows.

Ricky was of course the last to say goodbye. He bent down and took the baby bump in his hands and started talking to it.

"Hey babies. It's your dad here. I'm going away for a week so be good for your mum. No surprises or pains for her. Ok?" he said. They kicked a few times, maybe in reply. "Good. I love you guys."

Then he got up and hugged me.

"You're ridiculous!" I laughed.

"I know but I just had to say something just in case." he shrugged. "I love you."

"I love you too." I smiled.

We kissed a bit before the guys pulled him away, laughing. I waved and blew a few kisses before I left.

As I was getting into the car I felt a twinge go through my stomach. No babies, listen to your daddy. He said not to give me pain. I didn't feel any more pain during the drive home which took half an hour. I was talking to Ricky's mum in the kitchen when I felt another twinge. I winced and put my hand to the pain.

"You alright love?" she asked.

"I think so. Just a bit of baby pain." I said through gritted teeth.

"Maybe you should sit down." she advised.

"Hopefully it's just wind." I smiled weakly as I sat on the sofa.

Another pain came quarter of an hour later. This time was the worst and longest. It made me gasp and dig my nails into the sofa cushion. As suddenly as it came it vanished.

"What was that?" I gasped.

"Breathe deeply." Hayley told me.

"It hurt so much!" I whimpered. "Do you think something's wrong with the babies?"

"I hope not. I'm going to take you to hospital just in case." she said.

"But they... I can't... Rick's not here." I said in a small voice.

"Babies don't think like that. They don't care where daddy is. They just care about getting out." she said.

"I've got a bag in the hall just in case the babies come early." I said as I got up.

Then another stab of pain hit me. I gripped Hayley's hand. She was saying something to me but I couldn't quite hear. I swore to myself. Or maybe out loud.

"Deep breaths!" Hayley said firmly.

I nodded and tried to breathe deeply. I tried to focus on her voice as she told me to breath the pain out. How the hell do I do that? I was a little short of breath when the pain finally went.

"You really need to get to a hospital." she told me and helped me waddle and shuffle to the car.

She ran back into the house to grab my bag and threw it in the back seat.

"He's just like you." I said as she drove.

"Who?" she asked.

"Rick. You and Ricky do the same thing when I'm in pain." I said. "You look so alike."

"Thanks." she laughed a little.

When we got to the hospital we headed to the maternity department. The hospital wheelchair was sticky and smelt of disinfectant. I was lifted on to a bed and examined. A midwife asked a few questions which I did my best to answer. After the flock of nurses and midwives dispersed I had a moment of peace.

"Have you tried Ricky?" I asked Hayley.

"It went straight to voicemail so he must have it turned off for the flight." she replied.

I sighed. Well, he wouldn't be here to see the babies be born. A midwife came back into the room.

"Well, the babies are fine and you're fine so you can go home when you're ready." she told me.

"I'm not in labour or anything then?" I asked.

"No no, what you were experiencing was Braxton Hicks contractions. They're not to be confused with labour which is regular and rhythmic contractions that increase in pain." she explained.

"Oh, so that's good?" I asked.

"Yes, you're not due for about 8 weeks so although premature labour isn't uncommon with multiple pregnancies it's best for babies to stay were they are for a few more weeks." she said.

Back at home that night in bed I lay on my side in bed with Tibby. She had the tie of my dressing gown in her mouth, suckling, as she purred deeply and kneaded the bump softly with her front paws. It would have been relaxing on my back or lap but it tickled on my tummy.

"You're funny Tib." I smiled sleepily.

We normally didn't let the cats sleep on the bed at night but while Ricky was away I was going to let her keep me company. We'd always shared my bed in my flat so it would be like old times. Just like before she wanted to sleep in the middle of the bed too. Whenever Ricky was away I moved over into the middle of the bed and stretched out. I didn't miss sharing a bed when he was away!

I never felt the Braxton Hicks contractions again as badly as I did that day. The babies were two months off their due date as the midwife said but twins and multiples often came earlier. As long as they stayed where they were for a few days until their dad got back we'd be fine. Even once he was back he'd be busy with The Voice and Kaiser Chiefs doing an arena tour of the uk. Of course I was going to be with him everywhere.