After a long and very frightening premature labour, Lainie finally gave birth to her daughter. Selena had caused a ruckus in the diner and Lainie's waters broke three weeks early! Dexter held the baby in his arms and made up his mind that she was his daughter, even if they didn't share DNA. Lainie allowed him to name her, and Keira Roxanne Robertson-Maloney joined the gang! They all seem happy now, will it last?
Keira had finally been allowed to leave the hospital two weeks after being born three weeks premature. After settling into her new home, daddy Dex was never too far away and neither were uncle Ash or granny Avril. Lainie had still not heard from her parents and assumed Liv had turned them against her for having a child out of wedlock, and even worse not knowing who the father was for sure.
Avril had visited the hospital a few times to see her granddaughter but when she and Ash walked into the flat, she squeaked "Oh here she is!!!" As if she had never seen the baby before!
As Avril cuddled Keira, Dexter felt a slight pang of guilt. They had never told her that Keira might not be her granddaughter. "Mum?"
"Yes darling?"
"We need to have a talk, in private."
Ash gave his brother a look, warning him not to tell her. But Dex wasn't used to keeping things from his mother.
As they settled Keira into her cot, Dex took a deep breath and just came out with it, "Mum, Keira might not be my baby!" Avril didn't seem at all shocked or surprised by this announcement.
"And?" She blinked, smiling broadly as she gazed upon the gurgling baby.
"You're not...upset?"
Avril looked her youngest son in the eyes. "Dexter my darling, I'm your mother! Don't you think I would notice the bittersweet feeling between you and Lainie? You both want her to be yours but you're unsure, and I love that little girl like she was my own flesh and blood. You know where I got that from? YOU!"
"We agreed, I would be her father. I would help her raise Keira, are you okay with this?"
"I'm more than okay with it honey. Oh Dexter, I'm so proud of you! Your father would be too, taking responsibility for that baby is the most selfless, caring thing you've ever done! And you've done some pretty amazing things in your time sweetheart!"
Dexter had temporarily moved in with Lainie and Keira so that he could be a hands on dad. He was getting up for the night feeds, he was changing her, taking her out for strolls in the pram...
...but his favourite thing was giving her a bath! At first she didn't like it and Dex was so scared he would scald her that the water was far too cold, but eventually they got it down to a fine art between them! Roxy had offered to swap places with Dexter and stay with the boys, but Charlotte insisted she stay with her, which meant Drew being turfed out for the first time in months!
Lainie and Dex were enjoying their newfound happy family life. Dex missed his brother, Lainie missed Roxy, but being with Keira together more than made up for it.
Dexter had convinced Lainie to keep the chef on for a few more weeks as they settled Keira in. When Lainie wasn't taking care of her daughter, she was baking or cooking something to fatten Dexter up!
Things were going extremely well until one day there was a rather forceful knock on the door...
...when Lainie answered it she felt sick at the sight that met her, Alex was back! "Hello Evelyn!" He sneered.
"Alex, you were told not to come here again!" Alex laughed bitterly and replied,
"Do you really think I'm scared of that wannabe rock star? Huh?"
Lainie felt the urge to slap his face, she didn't like to hear Dex being insulted. "Go away Alex!" Dexter could hear her distressed voice and came out with Keira in his arms...
"HA!" Alex declared, "So it's true? You did have a baby! MY baby Evelyn?" Dexter held Keira even tighter to his chest.
"Alex beat it okay? Nobody wants you here!"
"Not until she admits it! MY baby yes?"
Lainie felt utterly defenceless, "It's a possibility, yes." She replied weakly.
"Whaddya mean, a possibility? Were you unfaithful to me?" Dex laughed at his arrogance.
"No Alex, she wasn't, that's your speciality!"
"Then who...ohhhhh!" Alex sniggered at Dex, "You huh?"
"It was...oh it's none of your business, yes Dexy could be her father!"
"We'll have to find out for sure you do know that right?" Alex gave her a satisfied sneer.
"I want a DNA test, not because I wanna be that bastard's dad, I just wanna take something away from your painter boy there! You seem to be quite attached to the little brat huh?"
"HEY! HOW DARE YOU..." Dexter shouted back but was interrupted,
"Ooooooh, struck a nerve eh? You really want this kid to be yours, don't you?" Alex was highly amused at Dexter's reaction. Dexter had never wished someone dead as much as he did right then, he wished Alex would die a slow and painful death with hot pokers and ripping flesh...castration maybe? Keira sure did NOT deserve a father like that!
"I've got myself a lawyer, he'll be in touch!" And he was gone.
Dexter stood on the spot, trying to calm himself down as Keira began to cry, it was only then that he realised just how tightly he was holding her. "Oh baby, I'm sorry!" He snuggled her gently as she eventually stopped crying. Lainie looked completely terrified. "Freckles?"
"Oh Dexy, what if he IS her father? What will we do?"
Dex didn't have an answer to that, because he was just as scared as she was!
Alex was true to his word, a lawyers letter arrived a few days later ordering Dexter to a clinic for a sample of his DNA along with Lainie and the baby. In the meantime, as they waited for the results, Dex continued to be the father he promised he would be and took care of Keira, because he loved her so much it was a joy to be with her and the thought of Alex being her father made him want to scoop both Lainie and Keira up and run as far away as possible!
Charlotte and Drew would visit every day and Keira seemed to like Charlotte very much. Drew was even more determined to have a baby with her when he saw how good she was with Keira. But they still hadn't actually gotten that intimate yet, it was something Drew was working on but was very nervous about! And with his grandfather still so ill, it was put on the back burner.
As Charlotte fed the baby a bottle she babbled on to Lainie about the impending test results. "I mean you put Dexter's name on her birth certificate like I told you, yes?" she swiveled round and looked expectantly at Lainie with those big brown eyes.
"Yes Charlotte I did, but DNA doesn't lie!"
Charlotte turned back and put Keira in her new swing, "Oh ye of little faith! My father, not my biological father because I have no idea who he is, he has many lawyers! He is very rich, he owns his own construction company and he has won a few lawsuits in his time! Would you like me to call him and have him recommend a lawyer for you?" Lainie sighed and shook her head,
"Thanks Char, but I really can't afford..."
Charlotte turned to her and waved a hand, "No you misunderstand! I have a little nest egg put away and...well call it an early birthday present for Keira! I will pay for your lawyer!"
"Char!"
"Or my father will, look I love you! I love all of you and like I said before, I did NOT like that Alex person one bit! So if he does turn out to be this poor darling's father...he will have NO rights!"
"How do you know that?" Dex went over to take Keira.
"I don't Dexter Maloney, but I'll hire a lawyer who will!" Dex picked Keira up and headed for the door.
"I'm off out for a walk, clear my head okay?"
"Okay Dexy!" Lainie smiled faintly, she could see how much this was hurting him! Drew, who had been silent this whole time, stood up and called to his friend,
"Want some company?"
"No thanks dude, really need to be alone!" Drew nodded but he was really disappointed, he needed someone to talk to and he couldn't talk to Charlotte. His grandfather was very poorly and he'd secretly been to see him a couple of times, but he gave his friend the space he needed and sat back down.
Dexter sat on a bench at the playground where Ash used to take him when he was little.
With there only being two years between them they were very close, but Ash always acted much older than he was.
He would push him on the swings and build sandcastles with him, he was very protective of Dexter because when Dexter was born, he was eight weeks premature and it affected him all through his childhood. When he reached his teens things seemed to get better, but Ash always looked out for him.
As he held Keira in his arms he thought about watching her grow up, hoping he would be there to see it, hoping he was her dad! As he put her back in her pram for a nap, he was aware of someone sitting down beside him on the bench...
...it was a girl! Pretty, blonde, and smiling right at him! "Hi!" she said chirpily.
"Hi!" he replied, rather surprised at her presence.
"Is that your baby?"
"Um, yeah!" he lied.
"Aww isn't he gorgeous!" she cooed.
"She!" Dexter blurted out rather quickly.
The girl giggled, a little embarrassed, "Oh I am soooo sorry, oops! What's her name?"
"Keira!"
"That's a lovely name, I'm Jenna!"
"That's a lovely name too!" it was out of his mouth before he could stop it and his cheeks glowed a nice cherry red as she giggled again.
"Thanks! And your name is Dexter!" Dex panicked, how the heck did she know that?
"Yes but..."
"Relax, I recognised you from the posters in the club I go to! I love your band, your music is really meaningful! And you have a very nice voice!" Dexter didn't think his face could get any redder.
"Thanks, I really should be going I..."
"I didn't know you had a daughter, are you married then?"
"No I..."
"I'm sorry. I'm not nosey I just like to talk! If it makes you uncomfortable I mean...we just met and..."
"No no no! The truth is, I had a thing with this woman I...am very fond of and she told me she was pregnant but...she also had a boyfriend who cheated on her and well..."
"Paternity woes?" she smiled sympathetically.
Dexter nodded in surprise as she pulled out a card from her pocket. "So you're not sure you're the father huh?" Dexter shook his head. "And you love this little girl so much that you want her to be yours, right?" he nodded again.
"Here!" she handed him a card, "This is my number!"
Dexter looked at her with a confused expression, "Why..."
"Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, someone impartial who'll just sit and listen? Then dial me up any time! I'm a good listener!"
She stood up and rubbed Keira's little belly in the pram and walked out of the playground.
When Dexter got back, Ash was pouting in Lainie's flat. "Where have you been?" he demanded.
"Um out a walk with my daughter?" Dex raised an eyebrow.
"I was here HALF AN HOUR AGO for snuggle time! You know we have snuggle time EVERY day at FOUR!!!" Dex tried not to laugh.
Ash was just as in love with Keira as Dex was. He came over every day at 4pm for cuddles with his niece just before her evening feed and sleep. He stretched out his arms and flapped his hands open and closed, "Gimme!" he nodded at the baby in Dexter's arms. Dex handed Keira over.
"Do NOT tell me you went out without Mister Ducky!" Ash gave his brother a disapproving look as he played with Keira. "Ickle Keewa wuvs her ducky yesssss!"
"Bro I am NOT in the mood okay?"
"If it's this paternity thing..." Dex could hardly believe how calm his brother was.
"Paternity THING???"
"Dexter, it means nothing!"
"Maybe to you because you get to be uncle Ash no matter what! But I won't get to be daddy! No! I'll be uncle Dex! I don't want that! I want her to be mine!"
"Dexter..."
"No Ash! Don't belittle my feelings, I have never wanted ANYTHING so much in my entire life! So don't make out it's no big deal! Because it IS!!!" he stomped off.
Ash may have been acting like it was no big deal, but he was really breaking inside over it! As he lay with Erin on the verge of tears, she stroked his hair and offered him kind, soothing words. "It'll be okay you know. There's no way Lainie's precious little womb would allow devil spawn of Alex to go anywhere near...now Dexter's cute little swimmers, well..."
"Erin, I know you're trying to be kind but there is much more of a chance that Alex is Keira's father...I hate to even admit that but it's a fact!"
Erin could see how much Ash was hurting, and it was hurting her too! She hated it when Ash was upset! All she could do was be there for him and give him lots of hugs and kisses, and that was what she would do, for as long as he needed! Because she loved him! And although he wouldn't say it, she knew he loved her too! Their problems were tiny compared to his brother's!
When Lainie collected the mail the next morning, she was shocked to find another lawyer's letter!
Dex was giving Keira her morning bottle when Lainie came running into the flat in a panic! "Freckles what is it?"
"Oh Dexy! Alex wants full custody of Keira if he's the father! He's fighting me for her, Dexy what am I going to do???"
"Call Charlotte, get that lawyer she's on about and don't panic! You're not alone baby you've got me okay?" Dex reassured her, but deep inside...
...he was terrified they were going to lose Keira to that creep!
Charlotte had just got off the phone to Lainie when Drew appeared without knocking. "Andrew, you really must respect Roxanne's privacy while she's staying here even though she's downstairs at work but...what...Andrew?" Drew stood as still as a statue staring at one spot on the carpet. "Andrew are you alright?"
"Char...my gramps..."
"...he passed away this morning!"
Roxy was trying to keep the diner ticking over while Lainie was still on maternity leave, but the Alex thing was hurting her too as it was many others! She didn't have time for anyone least of all today!
So when the young man walked into the diner and sat down at a table, she wanted to take his order with as little fuss as possible!
"Can I take your order sir?" the young man surveyed the menu and with a look of concentration on his freckled face he replied,
"Yeaaaah, what's good here?"
"It depends!" Roxy huffed, she really wasn't in the mood for this!
"Well, what about the veggie lasagne?"
"Oh that's...a favourite among the regulars I can highly recommend it!"
"Really? So what are you doing later?" Roxy was rather taken aback by the question.
"Excuse me???"
"Well you see I'm new in town, just moved into 9b up there and..."
"Oh, so you're the guy Mr Grimes got the halls painted for? And the extension to the flat?"
"Well my boss paid for that but..."
"You earn big money huh?" Roxy replied, unimpressed.
"Maybe, but that's not important! Would you like to show me around town since I'm new? You look like you know the place well and..." Roxy cut in,
"Actually I've only lived here just over two years myself so...are you going to order something or what?"
"Okay, veggie lasagne it is!" he smiled at her.
When the man came up to pay his bill, he was still trying to chat Roxy up and she was having none of it! "So I hear that there's a good bowling alley up the road there, fancy accompanying me?"
"I work a lot so..."
"Shame, I would really like to spend some time with you!"
"You don't know me?" she shook her head slowly with an exasperated sigh.
"Hey does a guy really need to know a girl to feel something like, so powerful that he must like, act?" he gave her a cheeky smile.
"Thank you for your custom, do come again!" she ignored his little speech.
"Oh I will!" he assured her, "I will indeed! The scenery is breathtaking!" he winked, turned heel and swaggered out of the diner. "See you around!" he called to her.
Roxy scowled as she watched him leave, "Huh! MEN!" she muttered and fought back a smile.
I thought I would end the chapter on a cheery note since the majority was rather depressing. Poor Drew has a funeral to arrange and Dexter and Lainie have results to wait for. It's a very dark place right now, will it get any brighter?
Plus I want to say a huge thank you to Pylia for Matthew! He's gorgeous don't you agree? I know that in time Roxy certainly will! ;)
Ash gave his brother a look, warning him not to tell her. But Dex wasn't used to keeping things from his mother.
Avril looked her youngest son in the eyes. "Dexter my darling, I'm your mother! Don't you think I would notice the bittersweet feeling between you and Lainie? You both want her to be yours but you're unsure, and I love that little girl like she was my own flesh and blood. You know where I got that from? YOU!"
"I've got myself a lawyer, he'll be in touch!" And he was gone.
Dex didn't have an answer to that, because he was just as scared as she was!
