Halcyon

A Perfect Name

Around an hour later, Nikki and the baby have been settled down on the baby unit for the night, the Midwives have decided that it's best for Nikki to stay in overnight so they can monitor the baby. 
Jack is currently sat watching his daughter in awe as Nikki dozes on the bed beside the cot, she opens her eyes slightly, "You can hold her... she is yours too" She mumbles tiredly as she sits herself up again and looks at Jack. 

He smiles before standing and scoops his daughter up into his arms, "Hey you" He coos as he gently rocks her. He walks over to Nikki and sits on the bed and looks at her, "I'm so proud of you" He smiles as he looks at Nikki. 

She blushes and looks at her daughter lying contently in her lover's arms. "I'm dreaming" She smiles contently. 
"What do you mean?" He questions raising an eyebrow. 
"This is all a dream, she's too perfect" Nikki smiles. Jack leans forward with his daughter still safely in his arms and kisses her on the head. 

Jack then gently passes their daughter over to Nikki and places her gently down, "She needs a name" Jack smiles while resting his hand on Nikki's knee. 

"She definitely does... What are you thinking then?" Nikki smiles looking down at the tiny baby snuggled up to her in her arms.
Jack smiles and thinks to himself, "Let me hear what you have got to say... you did just go through all that to get this wee one here" Jack smirks. 

"I named Poppy, it's only right you pick a name that we both agree on" She smiles in a little world of her own. 

Jack nods and removes his wallet and phone from his pocket, placing it on the table beside them. "So I hadn't really thought of baby names for a girl, I wanted a boy" He smirks. 
Nikki tuts and rolls her eyes at him, she looks back down at her daughter and smiles contently. "But there are a few names I have in mind," Jack adds. 

"Okay, spill?" She smiles shifting again on the bed with her daughter still cradled in her arms. 

"I like Ciara, Aisling... but my favourite, I heard it the other day in Poppy's nursery, it's Maddison" Jack explains still with his hand resting lovingly on her leg. 

"Hmm, I like those names... something that suits her" She replies looking down at her daughter trying to figure out what she looks like. 
"I know what you mean, I do like Ciara but she doesn't look like a Ciara, she just looks very squished" He chuckles causing Nikki to roll her eyes in disapproval. 

Jack looks deep into Nikki's eyes despite how tired she looks there is still a spark of life in her eyes, "What names do you like?" He smiles as he strokes her leg gently. 

"I really like Eleanor, erm... Sophia, Lydia... Maddison... so many to choose from" Nikki smiles.

"Hmm, Maddison?" Jack says thinking to himself while looking at their daughter. 
"I like it... Maddison Alexander-Hodgson" Nikki smiles looking down at her daughter, she looks up and her eyes meet Jack's. "Maddison," they say in unison. 

"Maddison Grace Alexander-Hodgson" Jack smiles. 
"Perfection" She nods and leans in to kiss Jack. "Our Maddison."

They sit and cuddle Maddison for a few hours not realizing the time that has passed, luckily for them both Jack's Dad has got Poppy tonight. They both sit cuddled up on the bed watching Maddison who is now being fed for the very first time. "You're amazing you know that" Jack mumbles as she rests her head against his shoulder, Nikki is so much more relaxed with breastfeeding compared to when she had Poppy. 

"So you keep telling me, anyway... are you going to call your Dad? If you do, please tell him not to tell Poppy I want to see her face when she finds out she has a sister" Nikki smiles cheerfully. 

Jack nods and kisses Nikki's cheek before standing himself up, "I am going to call Clarissa and Thomas too, but I shall say no visiting until we're home and settled?" Jack smiles and Nikki nods happily at his suggestion.