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Post by Katrina on Aug 4, 2005 16:17:06 GMT 1
Prologue set in September or October 2005
George collapsed back against the thin hospital pillows, she felt completely drained. She was absolutely desperate to sleep but she needed to know everything was ok. She yawned; she wished Ronnie would hurry up.
A few minutes later, Ronnie entered his wife’s room, George struggled to sit up, and Ronnie was half-smiling, half-frowning. He sat down next to George.
“She’s so beautiful George, she looks just like you” then he turned away so he was facing out of the window “but they’ve put her on a ventilator, the doctor said it’s just a precaution because she was struggling to breathe on her own” George felt tears welling up in her eyes, she couldn’t believe she’d let this happen. Their daughter shouldn’t be born for another month and a half. She wished she’d stopped work earlier; she should have been looking after herself not other people.
“Don’t cry, she’ll be absolutely fine” Ronnie gently slipped his arm around his wife; he hoped he’d be right about their daughter; the tiny baby was so tiny, so fragile.
“She didn’t cry Ronnie” George sobbed in to her husbands t-shirt, every medical problem associated with preemies raced through her brain, each one getting more and more serious.
“try and get some sleep George. Everything will seem a little better when you’ve had a rest” Ronnie gently helped George to lie down and within minutes she was fast asleep.
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Post by Katrina on Aug 5, 2005 20:15:29 GMT 1
part 1 this'll be my last fanfic post for a few days. hope you enjoy. Also i'm sorry for any medical mistakes in this five months after the prologue
George watched as Baby Daniella lay on the floor of the living room. The baby seemed totally uninterested in all the toys that surrounded her. George lifted a toy monkey, off the floor, and held it over her daughter’s head, George made numerous monkey noises, even making the monkey dance, but unlike any other baby George had met before, Dani made no attempt to reach out for the toy. George placed the monkey down and gently picked up Dani, despite the fact she was catching up with other babies, Dani was still unnaturally floppy. George gently stroked Dani’s soft brown hair, Dani flung out one of her arms, George looked down at her daughter’s face, but Dani didn’t even seem to realise she’d moved her arm. George shook all ideas out of her mind, she put everything down to her lack of sleep. she’d probably just imagined Dani, throwing out her arm, as she'd imagined it every time. George gently stood up and walked in to the bedroom, she gently placed Dani in to her bassinet, and pulled the blanket up over her daughter, Dani stared up at the ceiling. George began singing to her daughter
“Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee, Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff, and brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff. Oh Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail, Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came, Pirate ships would lower their flag when Puff roared out his name. Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee. A dragon lives forever but not so little boys Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar. His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain, Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane. Without his life-long friend, Puff could not be brave, So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. Oh! Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee”
when George looked at Dani again the baby had fallen asleep, George smiled and turned and walked to her own bed, where she fell asleep
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Post by Katrina on Aug 13, 2005 15:52:59 GMT 1
note - it'll be a few more days until i do a bit more of Just An Ordinary Day.
Part 2
Baby Dani cried as hard as she could, but she couldn’t wake her sleeping mother, Dani tried to kick out her arms and legs to vent her frustration but she was unable which caused her to cry more desperately but George didn’t even turn over. Over 20 minutes later, Ronnie arrived home from outside to house, he could hear his daughter’s desperate cries which made his fumbling with the key in the lock even more frantic than usual. After the usual struggle, he opened the door and rushed upstairs where he picked his screaming child out of her bassinet. He cradled Dani close to him. He moved towards the bed and leant over George’s sleeping figure, Ronnie couldn’t help but smile, she looked so peaceful. With Dani’s cries quietening, he took her downstairs,
“So Dani-kins, want to try something new?” Dani just looked at her dad; Ronnie smiled taking it for a yes. Slowly he set about making some rice cereal, when he was done he grabbed a plastic spoon and sat down on a chair, he supported Dani on his lap in a sitting position, Dani was slumped against his arm but Ronnie hardly noticed, he dipped the spoon in to the cereal and began to move it towards Dani’s mouth
“Here comes the choo-choo train” Dani just looked at it, when Ronnie put the mix in to Dani’s mouth instead of trying to eat, Dani pushed the food out. Ronnie tried again
“Come on Dani, my friend’s baby can eat solids and he’s younger than you” but again when the spoon deposited the food in Dani’s mouth, Dani pushed it out. Ronnie couldn’t help but feel frustrated. He hardly ever feed Dani so he didn’t know how George sometimes struggled to get the baby to drink her milk. Ronnie gave up after his third attempt dumping the rice cereal in the bin. He took Dani in to the living room, lying her on the baby gym on the floor, Ronnie watched his daughter closely, she didn’t reach for the things above her like he’s friends son, all Dani did was watch, occasionally whimpering. Ronnie gently picked Dani up and held her in front of his face
“it’s just my imagination isn’t it Dani, I’m just overly tired, just like your mummy” he smiled “and talking of mummy, we better wake her up”
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Post by Katrina on Aug 22, 2005 19:41:34 GMT 1
again i'm very sorry for any medical mistakes there may be
Part 3
Over the next few weeks both Ronnie and George found themselves watching Dani just that little bit more closely but neither could bring themselves to voice their concerns. It was Helen that found the courage to talk to them about their baby daughter.
Helen had been babysitting Dani while Ronnie took George out for a birthday meal, Helen had been thrilled at the idea of looking after Dani, who was also her goddaughter but the problems began soon after Ronnie and George left when Helen tried to feed the baby a tiny bit of baby food. As usual Dani pushed the food out of her mouth, Helen knew that this was not normal as by Dani’s age both Claire and Dan were on solids but there was something more than the pushing out of the food that Helen found, Dani was still unable to hold herself in the sitting position. Helen gave up with the feeding after a couple of tries and took Dani in to the living room where Claire and Dan were playing Playstation against each other. From what Helen could gather, Dan was winning although according to Claire he was cheating. Helen settled herself on the floor and gently held Dani in a sitting position, one handed Helen gently placed toys around them in a semi-circle, Dani just looked at them whimpering, occasionally she threw out an arm but Helen knew that that was no attempt to grab at the toys. By this time Claire had given up on the Playstation leaving Dan to play against the machine. Claire sat down in front of her mum
“mummy, can I play with Dani for a bit” Claire widened her eyes and looked directly at her mum, knowing that Helen couldn’t resist that look.
“Maybe later, I think it’s time for Dani’s nap” with that Helen lifted herself and Dani off the floor and wandered in to her bedroom where George and herself had placed Dani’s Moses basket. Helen gently placed Dani inside and knelt by the side
“oh Daniella, please, please let me be wrong because your mummy and daddy love you so much and this’ll destroy them” Helen gently stroked Dani’s cheek
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but when Helen voiced her concern to George and Ronnie she saw in their faces that what she thought was most likely the reality.
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Post by Katrina on Sept 7, 2005 13:59:12 GMT 1
Part 4 Set a year and a bit after the last part
A million tests seemed to follow the day when Helen spoke those terrifying words to the already terrified George and Ronnie. Every day that passed was filled with fear. Each day they felt so confused, everything was meant to be perfect.
Today was the day they’d been dreading. George sat on the chair staring at the doctor, fiddling with the edge of her t-shirt while Ronnie was holding the now 19-month-old Daniella on his knee. Ronnie felt tears fill his eyes, thinking about how precious Dani was, the time when he hadn’t wanted the baby seemed to be a million years ago, a distant memory. Ronnie bent his head and nuzzled in to Daniella’s soft dark hair. Dr Skylar Greene and student doctor Nicola Pike came in to the room. George and Ronnie had become quite friendly with Skylar and Nikki. Skylar’s face was blank while Nikki’s eyes seemed to be filled with sadness. Ronnie raised his head from Daniella’s and smiled at the two.
“Hello little one” Nikki knelt down in front of Ronnie and gently tickled Daniella’s tummy, Daniella giggled softly.
“Ronnie, George, if it’s ok with you, can I get Nicola to take Daniella out side for a bit” Ronnie gently handed Daniella to Nikki who left the room quickly. Skylar sat down behind her desk and looked at George and Ronnie.
“I’m sure that you both know what I’m going to say” Skylar shook her head slightly, George was a doctor, she knew the ins and outs of this, and in a way it made it a whole lot worse.
”no, it can’t be. You’ve made a mistake. Dani’s just struggling to catch up because she was preemie” Ronnie gently placed an arm around George’s shoulders, drawing her body to his.
“now we’ll have to do some more tests to find out how bad it is but again I have a fair idea and I’m guessing you do to” George and Ronnie turned and looked at each other, their beautiful baby daughter, Daniella, had cerebral palsy and as much as it pained them to think about it, they knew that she may never walk.
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Post by Katrina on Sept 21, 2005 21:21:45 GMT 1
this is only a small part, sorry
Part 5
The night after the diagnosis was made; Ronnie felt tears welling up in his eyes as he gently tucked Dani in to her crib. As Dani dropped off to sleep, the tears slipped freely from his eyes, here was his beautiful baby daughter facing something that nobody should have to go to. But he wasn’t just sad, he was angry. Angry at everything and everybody. Ronnie felt himself slipping back in time, to when he first held Dani in his arms. Misty blue eyes looked up at him, tufts of fluffy dark hair covered her tiny head but it but there was something else, the love. As if mentally the two had connected together after only a second together. Ronnie’s mind returned to the present day, he stared down in to the crib, through tear stained eyes. Dani was laid out flat on her back, little eyelids closed hiding those magical soft brown eyes, her soft dark hair was still flat on her head, Ronnie had to force himself not to reach down and stroke it, he didn’t want to wake his daughter.
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Meanwhile George was sat downstairs, staring at the blank television screen. She kept mentally telling herself off, for not doing as Ronnie had wanted on that fateful night when she’d first told him of Dani’s existence. If only she’d not taking things in to her own hands. She never should have taken the decision to take herself of the pill. All the ifs chased around inside of George’s mind. Angry tears filled her eyes; she stood up and walked towards the cabinet. She reached in side and pulled out three bottles of wine, and then she walked in to the kitchen and drank all three quickly not even caring that she was 100% drunk but to her, all that had happened was the pain was numbed but she couldn’t stop one thought from her mind ‘this is your fault. You’re an idiot Georgina Woodson, you should trust your husband’
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Post by Katrina on Oct 9, 2005 14:47:36 GMT 1
part 6
Ronnie tiptoed down the stairs, the first thing he noticed as he got near to the kitchen was the overpowering smell of alcohol, he practically had to hold his breath when he entered, and George was slumped on the counter. Ronnie walked towards her and tried to lift her, to get her to their bed but in the process he managed to wake her up, he left her leaning on the counter
“I should’ve listen to you” George slurred “you were right” Ronnie looked at his wife in utter confusion but George didn’t even notice
“She was a mistake. Such a big mistake” George’s words, despite being slurred, were like daggers through Ronnie’s heart. Ronnie stepped away from George, she looked up at him
“Where you going? Don’t you want to drink some with me?” Ronnie glared at her, moving further backwards all the time
“You’re not my George; you’re not even like my George. You’re someone I don’t want to know. Daniella, is not a mistake and she never will be” with that he turned and left the room storming up stairs to the nursery, regardless of whether he woke Dani up or not, Ronnie gently picked his daughter up and kissed her forehead. For a second Dani opened her eyes and looked at her dad but then she went straight back off to sleep
“oh Dani, whatever anyone ever says to you, you were not a mistake” a small tear slipped down his cheek “and I promise that I’ll always protect you and be here for you and for a while at least my darling, it’ll just be you and me”
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Post by Katrina on Nov 3, 2005 9:05:03 GMT 1
Part 7
Ronnie hastily packed two suitcases, one for himself and one for Dani. He had absolutely no idea about where he was going to go all he knew was he had to get himself and his daughter out that house. He couldn’t stand the idea that downstairs, his own wife; the mother of his darling daughter was actually stating that the little girl was a mistake. He shook his head, the woman down stairs was no longer his George, she was some alien-George. When he’d packed, Ronnie gently lifted Dani out of her crib once more and tiptoed outside to the car, he didn’t want to wake George who’d once again slipped in to drink-induced sleep. Once he’d strapped Dani in to the car, Ronnie snuck back in to the house to get the suitcases. When he returned to the car, he noticed that Dani had already dropped of to sleep, he smiled as he looked at her, his perfect little angel. He gently kissed Dani before closing the car door. He then opened the boot and put the suitcases in. before climbing in to the drivers side of the car, he turned and looked at the house
“one day we’ll come back” he whispered, partly to himself, partly to Dani and partly to George. As he drove further and further away, his anger began to die down. He stopped his car outside of Helen’s house, he pulled from the glove compartment a note book and pen, quickly he wrote
Helen I have taken Daniella away for a while, Georgina has said some stuff tonight That I need to get my head around. You know my e-mail address, so we Can keep in contact, See you one day
Ronnie (and Dani)
He ripped the paper from the pad, folded it and then quickly left the car and posted it through Helen’s letter box. As he returned to the car, he didn’t notice Helen peeping out through the curtain at him. He drove away. As he pulled out of Leatherbridge a tear fell from his eye, he felt so tired but he knew he had to keep going. He had to get away, for Dani as well as for him. All he could think of were George’s words, but there was something else, the idea what Dani may not have been safe with her mum.
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Post by Katrina on Nov 13, 2005 18:08:23 GMT 1
Part 8
Ronnie drove further and further away from Letherbridge with no idea of where he was headed, he just followed the road, after driving for around about 2 hours, he couldn’t help but think that driving to motorway was not his greatest idea, in his mind he had said he’d stop when the road did but seeing as the motorway stretched for miles and miles on end, he realised that maybe his plan had failed him slightly. He’d past countless service stations, two of which he’d stopped at to feed and change Dani and seen countless turnoffs. He’d crossed at least lord knows how many borders. He rubbed his tired eyes, he was desperate for sleep, he had been when he’d set off. His head was throbbing from concentration. Every few minutes he checked in his mirror to see what Dani was up to, she’d woken up a few times hence the service station stops but other than that she’d slept most of the way, Ronnie couldn’t help but envy her. Dani had no idea of what was going on; just that she was going on a car ride, she didn’t know that hurtful words that her mother spoke. A tear slipped down Ronnie’s cheek. Up ahead he saw another turnoff but this time he flicked his indicated and turned his steering wheel. He’d driven for long enough, he looked at the car clock, and he’d been driving almost 3 hours including the two stops. He stopped at the end of the slip road as the lights were red, he took a second to take in the surroundings, there were five different ways for him to go, one he worked out led right back on to the motorway, so that was instantly vetoed, the others all led to new and different places. He looked at Dani in his mirror; she would turn two in a few months time, so he decided the second road would be the one he would take. Silently he pleaded with the stars to let this road led to somewhere where he and Dani could stay. The lights changed for red to green, Ronnie pulled off. As he drove towards the second turn off he crossed his fingers, he turned his wheel. He took the first turning on the road, he found himself heading towards a bright light on the left, as it came in to view he saw a supermarket. He kept driving, on his right were houses. He passed the supermarket, another choice – left or right. Left he decided as it was easier. He drove on again, after only a few minutes he saw a wondrous sight – an inn, well it was called an inn. More of a hotel really. He pressed down on the accelerator, wanting to get there a little quicker, afraid it would disappear
“soon we can get some really sleep eh Dani, and tomorrow will be a brand new day” he said softly although looking at his car clock again, he found it had just going midnight so technically it was the new day. He pulled in to the car park. As he parked, he felt a twinge of sadness. George was his wife, the woman he loved with all his heart and soul. But then he remembered the words, they struck his heart like draggers just as they had done before. He climbed out of the car, as he walked round to get Dani out, he couldn’t help but use longer strides than usual, his legs felt stiff. Dani woke up just as Ronnie opened her car door; Dani gave a small smile when she saw her dad causing Ronnie to feel a little better. Gently he undid her car sea and lifted her out, he kissed her forehead
“We’re here darling, I don’t know where here us but here we are” he closed the door; he moved round to the boot of the car, he opened it and lifted out the suitcases with great difficulty. It was near impossible for him to carry his daughter and the cases but somehow he managed to close the boot and get to the entrance to the inn. The door was opened by a receptionist who had obviously seen them approach. She smiled.
“Do you want a room sir?” she smiled
“Yes” Ronnie’s reply was short but it was all he could manage.
“Ok then. Payment on leaving, £45 a night each. I’ll show you to your room” she walked back towards reception grabbed a key from the wall and then led Ronnie down a corridor; Ronnie was nearly falling over from carrying so much. The receptionist opened a door, inside was a single bed and a crib as well as a small wardrobe. A door led off from the main room in to what Ronnie’s presumed to be the loo. Ronnie stepped inside and placed the suitcases down
“Thank you” he looked at her name badge “Gabby” Gabby smiled
“No problem, any problems I’m on reception. Enjoy your stay” Gabby handed Ronnie the key and left, her blond plait flying out as she turned sharply. Ronnie placed Dani in the crib, instantly she started to get fussy
“I’m sorry. It’ll have to do for now” Ronnie moved towards the bed and through himself down within 2 and a half seconds he was asleep. Dani lay and watched the ceiling before eventually falling asleep, ten minutes later.
In Letherbridge, George hadn’t even noticed her husband had gone; she was asleep on the kitchen counter. In fact only one person in Letherbridge knew Ronnie had gone and she was holding her phone wondering whether or not to ring him, she desperately wanted to but she was worried that if Ronnie was driving it might cause him to lose concentration. She groaned and stared once again at the note that had dropped through her letterbox.
“oh Ronnie” she whispered.
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Post by Katrina on Feb 24, 2006 18:59:25 GMT 1
Part 9
When Ronnie awoke four hours later, it took him a few minutes to work out where he was, but when he heard Dani gurgling happily he was brought back to his senses, he slowly sat up but ending up blinking quickly when he saw a woman sat with her back to him on a chair with Dani on her knee. Ronnie coughed slightly
“Good morning” the soft musical voice rang out, the woman turned. Ronnie sighed with relief when he realised it was just the receptionist Gabby. She stood up holding Dani before gently her placing Dani on to the bed with Ronnie.
“I heard her crying, I tried knocking on the door but there was no answer. I let myself in” she smiled nervously “sorry” Ronnie smiled reassuringly
“It’s ok. I can’t believe I didn’t hear her. Thank you” Ronnie cuddled Dani close. While Gabby turned the chair around and sat facing him.
“She’s a beautiful little girl; she looks a lot like you to. A bugger to feed though” Gabby nodded towards the nearly full bottle stood on the chest of drawers “so tell me about yourself? I’m guessing you’re a single dad” Ronnie nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed. Gabby grinned. Ronnie grabbed the bottle, and repositioned Dani on his knee. Expertly he feed his daughter. When he knew Dani had finished, he burped her before turning his attention back to Gabby.
“She has cerebral palsy, that’s why you had trouble feeding her” Gabby’s face fell but she smiled when Dani gave a gummy grin.
“What’s her name? It feels means called her, her” Ronnie thought about this for a minute, looking at his daughter and thinking about her mother back in Letherbridge.
“Her names Ella” he said softly.
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