Halcyon

Lean on Me

"Poppy for god sake sit still, the quicker you stay still the quicker Mummy can wash the bubbles out our hair and eyes," Nikki says as she kneels beside the bathtub and tries to keep her daughter still who is currently screaming like she is being murdered as Nikki god shampoo in her eyes. 

"Sore... sore...sore!" Poppy screams. Nikki grabs the towel off the radiator and wipes Poppy's eyes for her.
"Calm down baby, the neighbors will think I'm murdering you" Nikki smirks as she places the towel back on the radiator and continues to wash Poppy's thin hair. "Poppy keep your eyes closed darling," Nikki says as she lies Poppy back in the bath and washes her hair. 

Once shes washed her hair she sits back and allows Poppy to play in the bathwater for a while. Soon she lifts Poppy out of the bath and stands her up on the floor and dries Poppy's body off before slipping her into a poncho towel. and guiding her through to Poppy's bedroom. 
"Mummy, I'm cold" Poppy says as she starts to shiver, waiting for Nikki to dress her. 

"Okay darling, I Won't be long now..." Nikki smiles as she rubs her bump as she gets a vest and pants together before finding out a set of tights and a dress for Poppy to wear. 

She quickly dresses Poppy and gets her dry and warm before brushing her hair a dividing her hair into two small pigtails. As Nikki sorts out her daughter's hair Poppy starts to sing 'Let it go' to herself which makes Nikki chuckle as its rather out of tune and she is missing out a lot of words. 

Once she has sorted Poppy's hair she sits on Poppy's bed and watches her dance around the room singing to herself, Jack comes upstairs and steps into Poppy's room, Nikki looks up at Jack and smiles with a giggle at him. "Can I have a word, Nikki?" Jack questions and she nods and stands herself up leaving Poppy to play with her toys and continue to sing to herself. 

Nikki shuts Poppy's door too and looks at Jack, "What's wrong?" She asks noticing him looking at his phone.
"Nik..." He begins. 
"If that was Thomas... it's my day off, I hardly see my daughter... I'm not working" Nikki says folding her arms.

Jack breathes and looks at her, "Nik, my aunt has died..." Jack says in shock. Nikki freezes for a second before wrapping her arms around his neck and cuddling him as tightly as possible. 

"When?" Nikki questions still embracing Jack in a hug. 
"Yesterday evening," Jack says as he buries his face into Nikki's shoulder. 
"I'm so sorry Jack, were you close with her?" Nikki asks as they finally pull away from the hug. He nods and Nikki moves forwards again and kisses him. 

Nikki takes hold of Jack's hand and guides him through to the bedroom, she clambers onto the bed and sits on her side of the bed, she then pats Jack's side of the bed indicating for him to come and sit beside her. 
Jack climbs onto the bed and sits beside Nikki, Nikki then lies herself down, she rolls onto her side and looks up at Jack. 

He then does the exact same as Nikki and lies there looking at her, "Do you want to talk about it?" Nikki asks him.
"What's there to talk about? she's dead" Jack replies bluntly. 
"Jack! don't be so blunt, your aunt just died... please Jack" Nikki replies.
"Cancer... I didn't know, not even my cousins bothered to tell me" he mumbles. 

Nikki sighs and thinks to herself for a moment before replying to him, "Maybe they have been busy."
Jack shrugs his shoulders and watches her for a while he smiles at her and moves his hand to her small bump and strokes her bump with a smile, "Her funeral is a week on Tuesday... do you think I can get time off?" Jack asks her as he keeps his eyes on her bump. 

"I don't see why not, maybe settle it with HR so they can find you some cover" She smiles.
"Do you think you can come too? I know you've never met my aunt but I could really do with you there, Nik" Jack smiles.
"Well, I never... Jack Hodgson asking for support" Nikki giggles and strokes his hand as it is now resting on her bump. 

After a moment of comfortable silence, Nikki looks back up at Jack, "Don't forget we have Poppy's parents evening today... 3: 30 pm... Do you think your Dad will have Pops for half an hour? we can't take her with us" Nikki explains.

"I shall call him and ask" Jack smiles as he leans forwards and steals a kiss from Nikki before sitting himself up on the bed and reaching for his phone.