H2O: Just Add Water - Enchanted

Chapter Thirty: Shush

Chapter Thirty

 Shush

***

Rikki POV

"Shush, now," I cooed gently, bending over Cariba in her cot and staring down at her bright red face.

Her mouth was open wide, her face twisted up as she cried and had been like this for many hours, to my dismay. I straightened up, stuffing a lose strand of hair back into my messy ponytail. The sound of the phone rang out from downstairs, resulting in Zane peering around the bathroom door and staring at me expectantly. His toothbrush was dangling from his mouth and the white foam was covering his chin.

"Could you get that?" he asked politely, removing his toothbrush so he could speak.

"Are you kidding?" I scoffed rudely, gesturing to the still-screaming-Cariba. "Get it yourself and stop being so lazy! I have other things to deal with because I am a parent!"

Zane looked taken aback but didn't respond, most likely knowing better than to start an argument with me. He skipped out of the room and I closed my eyes in annoyance, hearing his footseps thud down the stairs. Thankfully the phone silenced but Cariba still refused to.

"I don't know what you want!" I cried to Cariba, opening my eyes and staring down at her once more. "You've fed and you don't have a dirty nappy!"

I sank onto the chair, resting my head on my hand. "Are you just unhappy then?"

I tried to block out the screams, my head pounding. I became aware of Zane's footsteps running up the stairs and suddenly he appeared at the doorway, no longer looking cheerful but solemn.

"What?" I jumped to my feet, knowing that look on his face. "What happened, Zane?"

Zane bit his lip and I could see the corners of his mouth rising. He raised an eyebrow and he broke out into a grin.

"Zane...?" I began hesitantly, looking completely confused.

"Cleo," Zane smiled, clutching the phone, "woke up."

I stood frozen, blinking rapidly as I processed this new information.

"What?"

Zane pulled me into him, hugging me tightly but my arms stayed planted at my sides.

"I'll watch Cariba," Zane told me, pulling away. "You head over there. Send them my love."

I stared at the wall, not able to move as Zane bustled about with Cariba behind me.

***

Bella POV

I spotted Emma's blonde hair ahead of me in the hospital corridor and skipped quickly towards her.

"Emma!" I called and she turned immediately, smiling at me.

I slowed when I reached her and fell into step beside her. "I don't think I'm ready for this, to be honest."

"I feel the same," she replied, "but it would be suspicious if we didn't come."

I nodded, not having anything else to say and apparently neither did she as we spent the rest of the journey to Cleo's room in silence. We stopped outside the room, exchanging glances.

"Is Rikki here yet?" I asked, moving my ring around on my finger.

Emma shrugged, her fingers clasping around the handle of the door. She looked at me and I nodded, my way of saying I was ready to go in. She pushed the door open and stepped inside confidently and I followed, not sure what scene I would be entering.

Cleo was sitting up in her bed, looking better than I had seen her since the crash. Lewis was holding her hand, perched on a seat with his back to us. I let the door shut behind us and Cleo looked up. When her eyes fell on us, they lit up and she grinned with happiness.

"Emma! Cleo!" she exclaimed, raising her arms and Emma quickly rushed over and enveloped her in a big hug.

I avoided Lewis' gaze as I waited patiently for Emma to break free. I timidly hugged Cleo as if she could break under my grip.

"So," I started and stared at Cleo, taking in her feature of her face. "How are you?"

Cleo smiled sweetly, resting her hands onto the bedsheets where her stomach was beneath.

"The baby is safe and unharmed. And I'm on my way to being that too." Cleo informed us. "They want me to stay here for a week or so more, but then I can come home."

"First day you're back, we are going maternity clothes shopping," I laughed lightly, all my worry washing away.

***

Rikki POV

I took a sip from my coffee cup. I had discovered due to my frequent hospital visits that the coffee here was quite nice and I was still impressed. I felt a presence and turned my head to see Lewis standing by my shoulder, looking grim.

"Hello, Lewis," I said, sounding detached and unemotional.

I hadn't forgiven him for what had happened in this very waiting room a couple of weeks prior.

"I hope you are going to do as I asked and keep your mouth shut about Denman," Lewis murmured to me and I whipped around, shocked.

I didn't know what Lewis was going to say but I certainly wasn't expecting that to come out of his mouth.

"Don't worry," I replied, narrowing my eyes coldly. "You don't have to worry aout me saying anything."

Lewis cowered back from my glare and I turned away from him, walking swiftly away. I headed back to Cleo's room thinking: "He doesn't have to worry about me saying anything. But I didn't say anything about Emma and Bella."

Could you believe that this is my thirtieth chapter! A lot can happen in thirty chapters :) One baby, one pregnancy, one car crash... Who knows what is yet to come :) I don't think I can thank you readers enough for supporting me and this story. I'm blown away by the amount of encouragement I have received which doesn't just translate into views or votes. I recently hit 10,000 reads of my fanfiction which is mind blowing and I'm just so happy! I would really, really love to hear what is your favourite thing that has happened so far in the story :D Mine would probably have to be Cleo getting pregnant after she and Lewis were trying for so long! Let me know!