Chapter 28
Sidney carried Bailey inside the house, gently placed him on his bed and
began undressing him for the night. She had gotten a call from Mrs. Kavanaugh
that Bailey was sick and wanted his Mommy. She left the hospital and quickly
picked up her sick baby. She placed him under the covers, tucked the black
teddy bear under the covers with him and kissed his forehead. She quietly
walked out of his room, switching off the light.
"Mommy." Bailey said weakly.
"Yes, sweetie." Sidney said turning around to face him.
"I love you." Bailey said smiling.
"I love you too, honey. Now get some sleep, I will make you some soup when
you wake up." Sidney blew him a kiss and slowly closed the door. She
tiptoed
down the hallway, not to disturb Bailey. She entered the living room when the
doorbell sounded.
"Hi." Sidney quietly said opening the door. Her smile big and her
heart
pounding fast, he was the exact person she was hoping to see.
"Bryan said that Bailey was sick." Mark said walking in. "I came
over to see
how he was before I went to the hospital."
"He is just tired. I think he overplayed today. He is sleeping."
Sidney
smiled again, shutting the door behind her. She took Mark's hand and began
leading him in the room. But Mark grabbed Sidney, pulled her into him,
kissing her. Sidney melted in the kiss, her body leaning hard against him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with everything she
had.
"What brought this on?" She finally said pulling away from him.
"I heard that you were paid a visit by Nicky today." Mark traced her
face,
still in the embrace.
"Why is it when you hear the name Nicky, you get all...passionate?"
Sidney
said winking at Mark. She seductively tossed back her blonde hair, staring
into his blue eyes.
"Don't want you to forget why you love me. And it's the insecure part in
me."
Mark gave her one of his shy smiles.
"Oh, don't give me that smile. You know I can't resist that smile."
Sidney
leaned in again, kissing him, even more passionate then ever before,
caressing his neck up to his ears. Mark gave a whimper of excitement, his
hands roaming down Sidney's back, pushed her against him harder then before.
"Sidney, I love you." Mark whispered in her ear.
"I love you, please don't be insecure." Sidney whispered in his ear,
giving
his lobe a slight nibble. The two stayed in the moment of kissing and
exploring each other until the time of breaking away had to be done before it
led to the bedroom. Sidney straightened her skirt and Mark tucked in his
T-shirt. Sidney led Mark into the kitchen as she began preparing Bailey's
soup.
"So Shane is showing some signs of improvement but he..."
"What did it do to you when you saw Nicky?" Mark asked interrupting
her.
"Mark, you don't have to be."
"Sidney, I want to know." Mark sat down on the stool by the counter,
waiting
for her answer.
"He looks different, his hair is longer. Caz told him about Shane, I guess
she read it in the papers. He came as soon as he could." Sidney said trying
to avoid the question.
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Mark asked.
"It was awkward. I didn't know what to think or do." Sidney looked
straight
at Mark. "When he hugged me, I just didn't know what to do."
"Did you hug him back?" Mark asked, shifting in his seat.
"No." Sidney looked down. Mark took her hand, squeezing it. She
finally
looked at him.
"I know that things ended suddenly for you two. I don't know if we would
have
this if he hadn't moved. But please be honest with me, Sidney. How do you
feel..."
"Old feelings are still there and they may always be there. But the new
feelings I have for you, they are stronger." She walked over to where he
was
sitting. "Mark we have known each other for so long. As long as I can
remember, you have always been there for me. You were a great friend to
Michael and an even better friend to me." She brushed back a stray hair
from
his forehead. "You are so wonderful and patient with Bailey. He simply
adores
you." She moved in closer to him, standing between his legs. Mark looked up
at her, his blue eyes clearer then she had ever seen them. She took his hand
and placed it on her heart. "I have always loved you. You were my first in
so
many ways. I have never stopped loving you but only learned to love you more
in so many ways." Mark slowly wiped a tear from his eye. He waited so long
to
hear her speak the words that he was hearing. Sidney tenderly wiped the tear
from his cheek. "I love you doesn't seem enough but it's all I can say. It
says more then anything and means so much to me."
"Sidney, I just don't know what I would do if I lost you to Nicky."
Mark's
hand remained on Sidney's heart as he spoke.
"You won't." Sidney wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.
He laid
his head on her chest, hearing her heart beat for him. Mark wrapped his arms
around her waist, holding on as long as he could. "You won't lose me."
Sidney
whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kian and Emily walked down the hallway of the hospital, holding hands,
approaching Nicky.
"Oh my God." Emily said seeing Nicky.
"I wonder if Sidney knows he is here." Kian said leading Emily to
Nicky and
Andrea, holding her hand. Emily become distant in the last week, she was
support for Kian but she couldn't help the guilt from filling her soul. She
felt guilty for not being there for Andrea, and Shane. For feeling so good
about life, when life sucked for everyone else.
"Kian, Emily." Nicky said shaking Kian's hand and giving Emily a small
hug.
"What the hell?" Kian said smiling.
"I heard about Shane." Nicky said knowing it wasn't the only reason
why he
came back. He had missed Sidney. He knew that he should have been more
forceful in having her come to Manchester. He loved her and his job should
not have stood in the way. He missed Bailey just as much and had hopes of a
reunion why he was in Sligo.
"Where's Sidney?" Emily asked trying to extract information.
"She just left. Bailey is sick." Nicky said seeing the concern in
Emily's
eyes. "She knows that I am here."
"I was just wondering. I hope Bailey will be ok." Emily said smiling.
"No doubt Mark will be over to her house then." Kian said laughing.
"Those
two are inseparable." Nicky smiled but was curious inside. Mark and
Sidney?
"How is Shane?" Kian asked looking at Andrea.
"The same. I sent Bryan home with Alex, he was so tired." Andrea
looked down
at the ground, she was exhausted.
"How are you?" Emily asked reaching for her arm.
"The same." Andrea said smiling at Emily, trying to give her
encouragement
when really she was dying inside.
"Why don't you go home, Andrea? Emily and I can stay with Shane." Kian
said
stroking her arm.
"I want to be here when he wakes up." Andrea took Kian's hand and
squeezed it.
"I know but Shane would have my hid if he knew you weren't taking care of
yourself and the baby."
"What baby?" Nicky asked confused.
"I am 9 weeks pregnant." Andrea said still not use to saying the
words.
"Congratulations." Nicky said hugging her. "Kian is right, Shane
would be
upset if you weren't taking care of yourself. I need to find myself a hotel.
How about if I take you home on the way?"
"I don't know...."
"I insist." Nicky said smiling. Andrea looked at Kian who had the same
looked
of sternness.
"Fine, but as soon as he wakes up..."
"We will call you." Kian said kissing her cheek. "No go home and
get some
sleep."
Andrea gathered up her things and followed Nicky out to his car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mommy, I can't sleep." Bailey said rubbing his tiny eyes. He stood
holding
his teddy bear.
"Why don't we make a bed on the floor and you can sleep in here with Mark
and
I." Sidney said smiling at Mark who picked up Bailey and held him on his
lap.
Sidney made the perfect bed for the threesome with blankets and sheets.
Sidney placed Bailey in the middle with Mark and Sidney on each side of him.
"Now you close your eyes." Sidney said kissing Bailey's cheek. Bailey
smiled
and snuggled next to his Mommy. Mark gently rubbed his back, looking at
Sidney.
"You are so beautiful when you take care of Bailey." Mark whispered.
"Thank you." Sidney smiled. She stroked Mark's face with her free
hand. " I
can't imagine life any better then this." She said softly, Mark moving
closer
to her. He continued rubbing Bailey's back, kissing Sidney.
"It can only get better with you." He stretched his arm around her;
she
snuggled next to him, Bailey still in her arms. The three slept on the floor,
each one with a big smile, each one feeling the love surrounding them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So, umm.. Mark and Sidney." Nicky said breaking the silence in the
car.
"Yes?" Andrea asked looking at him. She hadn't noticed how handsome
Nicky
was. Maybe she was so wrapped up in Shane when Nicky was in Sligo or the fact
that he was with Sidney. But Andrea noticed how blue his eyes were. Sidney
always said that Nicky's eyes could never lie. He had a crooked smile that
was very charming. The scratchiness of his voice was very sexy. Andrea had a
quick thought of how Sidney said that Nicky's voice cracked during sex; it
was what always turned Sidney on.
"Kian mentioned that they were inseparable." Nicky said looking at
Andrea. He
also noticed how beautiful Andrea was, her red hair fiery as her personality.
She had the deepest brown eyes and her smile could light up the smallest
room. Nicky hadn't noticed Andrea before because of Sidney, but now he was
seeing Andrea in a totally different light.
"They have become rather close in the last months." Andrea said.
"Feehily didn't waste time." Nicky said turning to look at the road.
"Mark didn't pounce of Sidney if that is what you mean. They have history
together, they are friends." Andrea said defending her friend.
"Is that all?" Nicky asked looking at her.
"I can't say. Things have been crazy since..."
"I am so sorry, Andrea." Nicky said taking her hand. "That was
very rude of
me. When we got to your house, let me make you some tea and get you in
bed."
Nicky smiled.
"By myself." Andrea laughed. She hadn't laughed in weeks and it felt
so good
to release the emotion. She winked at Nicky and leaned back in her seat.
Nicky continued holding her hand, they drove in silence. Silence, their minds
racing.