: : Summary : : How does life change once Alex is born. This story is a continuation of my Married Life story, and is after they return from Egypt, and what Rick and Evie must face as parents.
After Alex was born, Rick had sent Jonathan back to England to get things ready for their return. One thing he had requested was for Jonathan to find them help in way of getting a nanny, which he had done, finding Nannie, who had been his and Evelyn�s nanny when they were growing up. With her help, Jonathan had gotten the Nappy service started, and Nannie, or Nanna as they called her had a clean stack of nappy�s ready for when Alex arrived. She had also put clean sheets in both the crib in Alex�s room, and sheets in the swinging cradle in the master bedroom. Everything was ready to go, and all they needed was the rest of the family
Chapter 1: Arrival in London
While it was a sunny day in London, as Jonathan awaited the arrival of his sister, Rick and the new baby, the day was icy cold. Something that he missed about Egypt was the year round warmth, though at times not having a change in the weather pattern was dull. Two weeks had passed since Alex�s birth in Egypt at the Med-jai Village, and it had almost been that long since Jonathan has seen his new nephew. He had his car running and had blankets to keep everyone warm. Nanna had gotten a basket bed ready for Alex to ride in while the family journied back to the house, and Jonathan had just added an extra blanket.
�What�s taking so bloody long,� Jonathan said as he rubbed his gloved hands together. As if god knew he was ready to go home to warmer climbs, Jonathan heard the whistle of the ship and sighed relief. He watched it dock, then moved past the crowd of people to the ramp some of the crewmen were pushing up the ship, and spotted O�Connell and his sister bundled up against the cold, and in his brother-in-laws arms was Alex wrapped in a warm knit cream blanket.
�Welcome to the cold,� Jonathan said as they approached him. He took notice of how frail Evie looked, and frowned a bit at that. She stood on her own two feet, but leaned against her husband.
�I have the car waiting, um why don�t you get settled, and I�ll get someone to help with your things,� he said.
�Thank you,� Evie said. They moved slowly away, and Jonathan made quick work of finding the help he needed. Once the car was loaded with their luggage, and them, Jonathan hopped in the drivers seat and started home, deciding not to tell Evie that Nanna was at the house ready to help them with Alex.
~*~
It was almost an hour later when Jonathan pulled the car up to the front of the house, and as he turned he found Evie asleep, leaning against Rick.
�If you can get Alex, I�ll get her,� Rick said softly. Eshe had told them both that it would take Evie a while to recover, and the trip home from Egypt for both of them had been a tiring experience. In the basket bed, Alex slept without a care in the world, and after Rick got out with Evie asleep in his arms, Jonathan thought about how to get his nephew out, then decided just to take the whole bed with the baby and all. As he walked, Jonathan took slow careful steps mindful not to jostle the baby, and as he stepped inside Rick was waiting without Evie. At Jonathan�s questioning look, and as Rick took the bed, he told him that Nanna had gone up with Evie to help her change into some more comfortable cloths. Now in the parlor, with the bed on the coffee table, Rick sat on the couch closing his eyes.
�Look if you want to you can go up and sleep with Evie. Nanna and I can take care of Alex,� Jonathan offered. It didn�t take much for Rick to agree, and as he started up the stairs Nanna was walking down, informing him that Evie wanted him to be with her. Since the attack on her, both in London and in Egypt prior to Alex�s arrival, Evelyn had not wanted to be away from Rick, and he felt the same way about keeping her safe.
�Now let me have a look at this new little life,� Nanna said as she walked to the bed. Taking notice that aside from being wrapped in the heavy knit blanket, Alex also had on a cap, Nanna carefully unwrapped him, unbuttoning the knit sweater he wore with a hood, which roused him.
�Shh, let me take this off of you, then I�ll wrap that blanket back around you,� Nanna said softly. Having helped raise Evie and Jonathan, and a few other children, nanna was quick, and once she had Alex wrapped in his blanket he was content. Knowing his nephew was in good hand, and tired from his night out the previous evening, Jonathan left to go have his own rest.
~*~*~
In the comfort of their room, and on their bed, Rick lay on his back with Evie asleep against his chest. It had been an interesting two weeks with the birth of their son, and before Alex, Rick had been uncertain how he would fit in to their active life style. It was the first time he had held his son, in his arms, that Rick knew everything would be all right, and though things such as changing the babies nappy or clothing was still foreign to both of them, they were beginning to adjust. The trip back from Egypt, Rick had been the one to do most of the things, such as getting Alex dressed and undressed, giving him his first baths, and getting him to sleep. Evelyn had also helped, but she tired easy, and for that reason, Rick was glad they had Nanna. Just as Rick was about to drift into sleep, he became aware of the approaching cries of their son, and felt Evie stir.
�Hey Beautiful, our son I think needs you,� Rick said softly as he rubbed her back. The knock on their door and the louder cries confirmed what Rick had thought, and carefully he got up and opened the door to Nanna.
�I think he may be ready to feed,� Nanna said as she let Rick take him.
�Thankyou,� he said, then went to the bed where Evie was laying.
�Do you want us to try a bottle?� Rick asked
�No, help me,� she said. Holding Alex in the crook of one arm, Rick was able to help her sit up and once she was ready gave her their noisy baby. Once Alex was nursing he relaxed.
�How do you feel now that were back home?� Rick asked as he held both of them close.
�Better. I�m glad you and Jonathan got a nanny for us, and that we found nanna again,� Evie said as she watched her baby. Alex had a light covering of dark hair, and his eyes were shut. His tiny hand grasped around her finger, and one of his tiny feet stuck out from the nightgown he was wearing. Rick grinned and took hold of his foot.
�I still can�t believe he�s ours,� Rick said kissing the top of Evie�s head then leaning down to kiss the tiny foot he held.
�I know, but he won�t stay small for very long, he already seems to weigh more,� Evelyn commented. Once she had done her part, Evie gave her husband the burp cloth, then Alex and let him do the honors while she stood to empty her bladder. The small trip to the bathroom felt like a walk around Bishops� park, but Evie made it. Once she had finished, and had gotten back in bed she was ready to sleep again. As Alex nursed from her other breast, both of them went back to sleep, and once his son had a full tummy, Rick put him to bed in his cradle, then crawled into bed with his wife to get some rest while he could.