⚠️Warning: mentions of loss and also scenes depicting injuries (small ones) mentioned in this chapter. If affected, please read with caution.⚠️

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《1994》

*Mallory*

It was my day off which meant I could rest at home and study for a little.

Thank goodness for it, too, since my feet were swollen to the size of footballs today. 

Ugh, women always gotta go through hell for everything, even for breathing sometimes...

I sat on the couch Jack resting under my feet as I studied for my cognitive exam for my paramedic license.

He doesn't seem to mind me using him as a footrest, and it eases the pain, honestly.

As I'm flipping a page, highlighting some important notes, I suddenly heard noises in the yard.

I looked over to notice Nikki moving a large box into the yard behind the pool.

Hmmm....

Curious, I closed my textbook and got up, Jack looking up curiously.

"I wonder what Daddy's up to," I said to JellyBean.

I make my way to the backyard door, Jack following me as always. I walked out into the yard to see him opening the box.

"Nikki?" I asked, making him turn around as I walked over. 

"Hey, are you okay? What'swrong?" he asked worriedly and in a rapid tone.

"I-I'm fine, we both are..... What are you doing?" I asked, motioning to the box. "What is that?"

"Well, I.... I got something for the baby," he smiled, pulling out a picture from his pocket, which I realized was from one of our home catalogs, and handed it to me.

My eyes widened as I looked at the picture he showed me. "A... A playground?"

(Picture: Example of the Playground)

"Yeah. I figured when JellyBean gets here, he or she can play in it whenever he wants," he shrugged. "I made the order last week and just picked it up."

I couldn't help but smile up at him.

"Oh, but... Nikki, this is for 3 and up... JellyBean won't be able to use it until he or she can at least walk," I said.

"I know, but.... I want it ready for when he gets here and they can...." He said, facing the box, but then looked down. "Well.... If he gets here...."

I frowned, realizing why he was doing this....

Oh....

I walked over and hugged him from behind as best as I could.

"I know you're scared... You have every right to be...." I said. "Its gonna be okay...."

He looked down at me and smiled.

"You are going to be such a good father," I said, feeling my eyes start to water.

He then turned and pulled me into a kiss, his hands on my baby bump as I felt JellyBean start to flutter a little at Nikki's touch.

Nikki then looked down and smiled. "You excited to play with this, JellyBean?" he asked.

A small kick against his hand made us both laugh. 

"Sounds like I should get started then," he said. "I'll go get my tools."

"Okay," I said as he headed to the garage while I decided to help open the box for him.

I got the nearby switchblade and slice the top open and then notice the instructions manual sat on top of some plywood planks.

I took it out and look through it.

Wow.... This is pretty complex..... And looks kind of hard....

"Got them!" Nikki's voice called out and I see him walk out with his toolbox.

"Babe, did you read the instructions for this?" I asked.

"What, no," he shrugged as he put the box aside. "Why?"

"Well, this looks pretty gnarly," I said as he looked over my shoulder at the booklet with me. "Maybe you should read this before starting."

"Baby, please, come on," He scoffed. "I don't need instructions to make a simple playground. I got this."

"Are you sure? I mean, I can at least call John or Tommy to come help you," I said. "Its honestly a lot more complex than it looks."

"I'm sure, Mal. Besides, the picture itself is pretty self-explanatory," he said. "Instructions are for chumps, anyway. For men, its all automatically up here," he added, pointing to his head with a proud smirk.

I chuckled softly with an eyeroll. "Alright, big guy," I said, walking over to kiss him. "Just be careful, okay? I'm gonna go make us something to eat." 

He smiled and pecked my lips before I started to head back, Jack following me back inside.

I made some sandwiches, leaving one outside for Nikki as he worked and then gave Jack some lunch, too, and afterwards decided to study some more when the phone rang.

"Hello....?" I asked.

"Hey, Mallie!" Heather's voice greeted. "How are ya?"

"Hey, girl. I'm okay, just mostly relaxing at home, studying for my exam a bit," I said, laying back on the couch as Jack curled up next to me, resting his head on my bump and letting me pet him.

"I thought you already finished and passed all your practice tests and stuff," she said.

"I did, I'm just refreshing my brain a little before the day of the exam," I said.

"Cool. Just wanted to check in, see how you're feeling," she said. 

"Thanks," I smiled. "We're okay. I'm just here with JellyBean and Jack, reading a book, Nikki's outside in the backyard playing Home Improvement..."

"Sounds concerning. What's he building?" she giggled softly.

"He bought a playground for the baby.... Mostly to keep his mind off of.... Well, you know...." I sighed.

"Oh...." she said.

"I mean, I get it.... He was so broken after losing Angel...." I said softly.

"You both were, sweetie...." she said. "Hell, he even broke sobriety.... I didn't think Nikki of all people was going to end up breaking edge...."

"I know...." I said, feeling tears. "He's really scared of that night happening again, same as me, and he wants to get his mind off of it.... On top of that, he never had an easy childhood..... He wants our baby, if he or she makes it, to be happy and have good memories with his parents, something neither of us really had..."

"I understand.... Its really sweet of him, honestly," she said. "You know, he really does have such a soft side to him under that tough exterior....."

I smiled. "Yeah... He is a big softie... Don't tell him I said that, though...." I said.

She giggled. "Look, I'm sure everything will be okay, Mallory, and you guys will be amazing parents to that little bundle of joy," she said. 

Before I could say anything else, I suddenly heard a yelp outside, followed by.....

"AAAAAHHH FUUUUCK!!! FUCK BITCH CUNT FUCK FUCK FUCKING HELL BITCH SON OF A FUCKING FUCK STUPID PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT FUCKING HELL FUCK SHIT OH FUCKING FUCK- AAAAAAHHHH.....!!!!!"

I looked over my shoulder with wide eyes.

Uh-oh....

"Umm, Heather, can I call you back?" I asked, now worried.

"Yeah, sure, no problem," she said. 

I quickly hung up and managed to get up, my hand around my baby bump.

I walked out to see Nikki holding his hand, which had some blood on it.

"Oh my god, babe!" I gasped as I rushed over and I held it and examined it, seeing he had a pretty big cut across his palm, bleeding a little bit much. 

"Oh fuck, that stings...!!" he winced in pain.

"Come on...." I said, holding his wrist as I quickly lead him inside.

***

"Almost done," I said to him as I tossed the gauze aside.

Nikki sat pouting at the table as I sat next to him and took care of his wound, first aid kit next to me.

Thankfully, it wasn't a deep cut, no stitches were needed, just some antiseptic cream and a bandage.

"The piece of plywood was stupid anyway," he grumbled to himself

"The plywood is not stupid," I laughed as I started wrapping his hand up. "You just refused to read instructions, mister."

"Hey," He said, pointing a finger at me. "Men don't need instructions. Like I said, its all automatically up here."

I rolled my eyes as he pointed at his head.

"Yeah, how's that working out for you again?" I smirked, motioning to his hand.

He grumbled, pouting as he looked away.

I chuckled and finished wrapping the bandage.

"There," I said, pulling my gloves off. "That should do the trick."

"Thanks, babe," he said. 

"Anytime," I said. "Now, are you going to read the instructions this time?" 

"I actually have it all going well without it," he shrugged, pointing outside.

I looked over and saw the framework was pretty much up, as well as the slide.

"You sure it's stable enough?" I asked.

"Ehh, I'll have Tommy test it once I'm done, just to be safe," he said, making me scold at him and smack his arm as he laugh.

"I still think we can call someone to build it," I said, putting the bandage and scissors back in the first aid kit. "If anything, I was thinking, maybe we can plant a garden for JellyBean, too."

"Garden?" he asked.

"Yeah. I read that gardening can help children self-regulate and even bring them comfort and practice patience, and help them with sensory as well," I said. 

"So, it helps them be happy and not be a hot-head?" he asked, understanding.

"In simpler terms, yes," I said, giggling. "Plus, its easy to make one, just need some land in the yard, and there's enough room by the shed."

"Hmmm..... Well, we can definitely make a garden," he said. "Once I'm done, I'll look into it for you, baby."

I smiled and reached over, placing my hand softly on his cheek.

"You're gonna be a great father," I assured him. "Whether you build this baby a playground or not."

He blushed and smiled, leaning into my hand.

"If you're going to keep doing this, just try and be more careful, okay?" I said. "Don't need you losing your whole hand or something next time."

"I'll be careful, I promise," he said to me.

<The Next Day>

"Well, luckily nothing broken," the nurse said as she held up the x-ray of Nikki's hand up onto the fluoroscope. "He does have a small tear in the ligament right here, which will need some time to heal."

Nikki groaned in annoyance as he laid on the examination chair, me standing next to him.

"For how long?" I asked.

"By the looks of it, more or less four weeks," she said. "We can prescribe some medication for the pain and antibiotics as well.

Nikki groaned louder, making me scold him quietly.

"Thank you, Kathy," I said. "We'll have to talk with his sponsor first before agreeing to any prescriptions, but I'll let the doctor know once there's an answer."

"You got it, Chief," she said. "You guys can head home now. He'll have to rest that hand for a while, meaning no bass or any instrument playing for a while unfortunately."

Nikki was about to groan again before I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Again, thank you," I nodded as she stepped out.

"Great," he scoffed. "First the plywood and now the damn tube slide."

"Honey, maybe you should just call someone. There's no shame in doing so, and you're gonna keep getting hurt like this," I frowned, standing next to him and holding his good hand. 

He sighed, looking at his bandaged finger.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he said. "No use being bullheaded here, is there?"

"Your lucky I find your stubbornness cute though," I said, stroking his hair. "When your not shrieking in pain of course."

"Hey, I was not shrieking, I was yelling," He said sternly, pointing his bandaged fingers at me. "There's a big difference, baby."

I giggled softly as he then sighed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't build the playground right, babe..." he said. "I just wanted to give Jelly here something fun for if he makes it..."

"Oh, babe... You practically went above and beyond for our kid with this.... Our baby is going to be more than happy with a father like you... I know it," I smiled.

He smiled back as he and I then shared a kiss.

We then pulled back and I moved his hair from his face and at that moment I didn't feel worry or fear or even sadness.

I felt.... Hope.....

I held Nikki's face in my hands, softly stroking his cheeks.

"We're going to be okay," I said. "I know it...."

He looked at me questioningly, but then smiled.

"You know... I believe that," he smiled. "Thanks, Mal... You always know what to say..."

I smiled as I leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Come on... Let's go home," I said. "I'll call someone to come finish building that playground in the morning."

"Sounds like a better plan," he chuckled as I helped him up and we walked out and headed to our car.

"Uhh, also.... I'll start shopping tomorrow with Mick for your garden," he said as we stopped in front of the car.

I smiled and leaned up, kissing him happily on the lips.

"I love you, honey," I smiled.

"I love you, too, baby," he said with a smile as we shared another kiss before climbing into the car and heading home.

~~~~~

Kind of sort of a repeat of the Christmas scene, but I had this drafted way before I started on the Christmas scene (or around the same time? I don't even know anymore lol). 

Since this one was pretty much completed I decided to just post 2 deleted scenes in one day for you all!! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Still hope you all enjoyed this one anyway!! Next one coming very soon!!🌻

🎧Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Sam Tinnesz "Bloodshot"

♡~ sapphire.