Chapter 39

Mark's POV

Sitting on the edge of the bed, i look around my bedroom. "A month..." Exhaling a sigh of relief, its finally over. After spending an entire month in here, its finally time to leave. Not only have i successful completed my month in rehab, but today is the day me and Gary will be finding out whether we will be having a Son or Daughter, hopefully today we can sort things out for our future. Suddenly i'm pulled back down to reality, by the sound of a gentle knock against my bedroom door. "Come in." I reply, whilst zipping up my suitcase. That's it, i'm ready to go to the hospital, as soon as my taxi arrives. Glancing over my left shoulder, i notice a figure hovering around the door frame, with a timid look on their face. "Oh, it's you." Speaking in a bitter tone, its James.
"S...So...you're leaving?" He acts like a child, picking at the paint work on the wall, avoiding eye contact with me.
"Yes, thank god. Hopefully now that i'm away from people, me and Gary can get our lives back on track, without interference."
"Oh...yeah...of course... er...good luck today...with the scan an all... hope things start to pick up between the pair of you...you deserve the happiness...you both do..."
Surprised at his sudden change from everything which has happened, i nod my head in response. "Thanks..." Sitting on the bed again whilst waiting for my taxi, James remains in the same place, almost like he's dying to say something before i leave. "...Is there something you want?"
"Er...n...no...i...i mean... here..." Walking over into my direction, he places a small metal ring onto my knee cap. My jaw almost drops to the floor in shock.
"Gary's ring!" Picking it up from my knee, immediately i place it back onto my finger, feeling the coldness wrap around my flesh. "So you did steal it! How fucking dare you?! Don't you understand how much this means to me? It might just be a piece of metal to you, but its all i have left of Gary...well for now. I guess the guilt got to you, eh?"
"N...no...not really..."
"You what?"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, as his eyes partly close, he brushes away his thoughts. "I didn't steal it Mark... i swear to you, i wouldn't do such a thing. I know how much Gary means to you...it was an evil trick...and i told him to give it back to you as soon as i found out."

"If it wasn't you, then who?"
Looking behind him, softly he closes the door whilst lowering his voice. "D...Dave."
"Dave? And who the frig is this Dave?"
"You know... the guy who's been giving you grief ever since you set foot in here? Taller, muscular fella... the one who threw your dinner over you a week or so back..."
Rising my eyebrows by the memory, i hold my hand out in front of me, admiring the ring. "Oh...that prick... i should of known..."
"Yeah...well now you do...i better let you finish getting ready...its been nice knowing you Mark...i wish you and Gary all the best with your family, erh...bye." Watching him edge out of the door again, quickly i stand to my feet.
"James...wait..." By the sound of my voice he stops in his actions. "I'm sorry for getting the wrong end of the stick... pointing the finger at you...my head isn't in the right place at the moment...i apologise for hitting you, i hope we can put our differences aside before i leave." My mobile vibrates twice, letting me know my taxi has arrived.
Happily smiling at me, James pats me on the shoulder. "Apology accepted mate."
"Quick hug before i leave?"
"Go on then...seeing as the other lads aren't around." He chuckles, as we embrace into a friendly hug. "Safe ride, and let me know how it all goes." Patting me on the back for the final time, i reach for my suitcase.
"I'll text you tonight, keep in touch, yeah? Cheers pal."
"Of course, anytime." With that, he leaves me with the smile he gave me when we first met in one of the lessons, so far so good.


Gary's POV

Sitting on the plastic chair in the hospital waiting room, my hands are cupped in front of me whilst i play with my fingers waiting for the nurse to call me in. Every now and then i glance over at my watch, Mark's late. He's actually late seeing his child and to see whether we're going to have a Son or Daughter. For a split second the thought of him not arriving anytime soon, leaves my mind as soon as i see a pair of Dr Martens appear under my nose. "H...H...Hello Gary." A nervous, but cheerful voice speaks above me. Rubbing my fingertips against my heavy feeling eyes, i raise my head, to find a smartly dressed man standing beside me. It's Mark, and he's wearing black jeans, a plain white shirt, black silk scarf and a trilby which is perched on his bouncy fringe.
"You're late." Frowning my lips, i lift my leg to cross it over the other, almost acting Father like towards him.
"I...I... I know... and I'm sorry. I was collecting my certificates...I...I passed my course...No more rehab for me." Deep down i'm pleased for him, i'm over the moon for him, but still i feel this hurt inside of me, preventing my inner feelings.
"Good for you." Replying in a bitter way, the smile on Mark's face fades by my tone. I can almost hear his happiness being crushed, just by my simple words.
"T...Thanks...means a lot to hear that, Gary. Can i sit down?"
"If you like. Yasmin is talking to Rob in there, shouldn't be long, so don't get comfy." Awkwardly, we now sit side by side one another on the uncomfortable chairs.

"So... are you nervous?"
For some reason i feel something snap inside of me, from Mark's brainless question. "Nervous? Am i nervous? Of course i am! She's been in there for the past half an hour, I've been going out my sodding mind! You were late adding to the pressure, making me think you weren't going to turn up. What if there's something wrong that's why they are taking so long? She's been going through so much stress which we've been giving her i just... i mean... i-"
"Gary! Just stop this...please?" Mark sympathetically wraps an arm around my shoulder, whilst my head remains cupped in my hands. "Everything is going to be OK... Rob and Yasmin will just be talking, you know what they're like. If and i mean if there is something wrong with the baby or Yasmin, we would see nurses and doctors flying all over the place." Listening to Mark, helps put my mind at ease. As much as i hate to admit it, he's right. His fingers stroke my shoulder blade, whilst his arm continues to be coiled around me.

A nurse appears at the room's door which Yasmin is in. "Mr Barlow and Mr Owen?"
"That's us." Mark smiles peacefully at the young shy looking nurse.
"Everything is set up, if you would like to come in?" Holding the door open for the pair of us, she greets us with a friendly smile.
"After you..." Mark stands to his feet, holding out his hand into the direction of the door. Going in first, i notice Yasmin laying in the bed already with her tshirt halfway up her stomach. A clear gel is spread across it, whilst she sits smiling at the pair of us as we scutter into the room.
"Hiya Yaz..." Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, i stand beside Mark at the side of the bed. As soon as me and Mark enter the room, Robbie sneakily escapes without a say so. "Is everything er...o-"
"Don't worry about him. Let's just do the scan so you and Mark can sort a few bits out for your baby... i need a sleep myself."
"O...Oh...ok..." Watching the nurse switch the scan on, she begins to use the ultra sound to search around Yasmin's stomach. This time the grey 'blob' is found much quicker than the first scan she had and its a lot bigger too. Now we can see the nose, fingers, arms, toes and the body shape of our baby. Already the tears prick in my eyes just seeing it like this in front of me, even my legs turn a little shaky. Out of the corner of my eye, i notice Mark's face has turned a pasty white colour, where the tears roll down his cheeks whilst he silently cries looking at the black and white screen.

"The baby is growing nicely... everything seems to be in perfect order, all that is left now is to find out the sex...that is if you all still want to know?"
Mark fails to speak, instead he embarrassingly brushes away his tears, moving closer to me. "Y...Y...Yes please..." I mutter, surprised at how I'm able to even speak myself. Yasmin agrees also, as the nurse fiddles with a few buttons on the monitor. All that can be heard in the silent room is the thumps of our heartbeats and Mark's heavy breathing, it feels like a lifetime, like everything is suddenly travelling in slow motion. My nervous begin to kick in, this isn't a dream, this is reality, our child. Swallowing hard when the nurse clears her throat, immediately i latch onto Mark's hand for support, almost crunching it under my touch. Mark gently squeezes my hand, trying to calm me down.
"Congratulations fellas and Yasmin... you're having a healthy baby..." Holding tighter to Mark's hand i can hear a finger or two of his crack. "...Girl." The words buzz peacefully around my ears.
"A...A...girl? Oh...congrats boys..." Yasmin reaches out her hand into our direction, patting the side of the bed rail.
"G...G...Girl?" Mark blubs, feeling completely overwhelmed with everything. "G...Gary...a...a...girl..." He looks at me with a tear stained face, where a smile is hidden behind. Its real, this wont sink in anytime soon, we're having a daughter.
"Oh...oh gosh..." Finally i let me guard down, allowing my tears to stream down my face, as i pull Mark tightly in a hug, still not understanding my actions over my happiness. Sobbing against his neck, we wrap our arms around one another, as we cry with joy.