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dancerlittle006 · 4 years

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Stories of Our Lives - Chapter 14

A/N: The chapter you've been waiting for. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

January 8, 2020

Christmas passed silently for the couple. They had celebrated Louis’ Birthday and Christmas in their newly purchased home. Right after the baby shower, Gia figured out why Louis was dragging his feet on the nursery. Louis had surprised her by showing her two homes, one of which she immediately fell in love with. Three weeks after he showed her the house, the two were moved in and settled. Louis’ reasoning? He didn’t want his children to be brought home to a flat.

New Years passed with little fanfare. A quiet night in was ordered for the two as Gia was miserable with lack of sleep and the inability to get comfortable as she was knee deep in her ninth month. Her birthday passed with their friends dropping in for a mini party.

She sat in their living room, feet propped up a bowl of grapes balanced delicately on her stomach. Some TV show played on the screen as she was lost deep in thoughts. “Gia?”

“In here.” She threw her head back, watching for Louis as he came from the kitchen. “What are you doing?”

He threw a stack of papers on the kitchen table, walking over to her and placing a kiss on her lips. “Just finished the paperwork for the next album. Liam wants to get cracking with recording but I told him not until February.”

“You can go. I’m perfectly fine just chilling here while your son and daughter beat up my bladder and ribs.” She smirked as his face fell in guilt.

Kneeling in front of her and placing his hands on her expanded tummy, he kissed her lips softly. “I’m sorry Damsel.”

“Why are you apologizing Popstar?” She giggled. “It’s your children’s fault . . . not yours. Besides I get to hang this over their heads for the next 18 years or so.”

Louis shook his head, loving the feeling of the babies’ kicks against his wife’s tummy. “Did you think more about the names we talked about?”

“Yeah, that’s all I’ve been able to think about. I’ve narrowed it down to two each and we’ll go from there.” Gia ran a hand through his messy hair.

He raised his eyebrows. “Yeah which ones do you like?”

“Two of yours and two of mine. The middle name is the same for both.” Gia winced when a powerful kick was delivered to her ribs. “Ouch baby.”

Louis rubbed his hand against the injured area while looking at his wife in concerned. “You ok, Italia?”

“Yeah just one of our children is going to be a football player just like their daddy.” Gia smirked. “I’m ok babe . . . that was just a strong kick.”

He nodded. “Do you need me to do anything?”

“Can you sit up here and cuddle with me?” Gia pouted. He chuckled but crawled up on the couch, pulling his wife into his arms with a kiss to her forehead.

“Can you believe your due date is in two weeks?” Louis rubbed his hand across her belly.

Gia shook her head. “Honestly I didn’t think I would make it to this point. The doctor said that most women with twins don’t make it to their due date. She said any day now.”

“Well our babies are nice and comfortable in there. They don’t want to come out.” Louis hummed in contentment.

Gia smiled, feeling the vibrations in his chest. “I just want them to be healthy; that’s all I care about. Twenty fingers and toes and healthy children.”

“Me too babe, me too.”

January 10, 2020 7:00am

Four days later, she found herself strapped up to a fetal heart monitor in a hospital bed. Her and Louis spoke too soon. Gia was awoken at 2:45 in the morning with strong pains in her stomach and awoke the sleeping beast of her husband. He immediately started freaking out causing Gia to laugh until a strong contraction killed that moment.

“What do you need me to do?” Louis asked grabbing a pair of sweatpants, pulling them on before looking at Gia.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled her own outfit on, struggling to focus. “Go get my bag from the closet then help me to the car. We’ll call the hospital on the way.”

He quickly followed her instructions, returning to her side to pull her into a hug. “Hey Gia?”

“Yeah?”

He kissed her before grinning. “We’re going to be parents.”

“Yes we are. Let’s go!”

Louis sped to the hospital, afraid of Gia delivering in the car. He spoke quietly, calming her down and breathing with her. His hand was tightly wound with hers as he tried to calm down for her sake.

And now, she was comfortable for the time being. Hearing the door open, she smiled as visitors came in.

“Now I’m not one to lose sleep but getting that phone call was a welcomed way to wake up in the morning.” Harry yawned.

Gia giggled. “You’ll get to blame the terrors in a few hours. Sorry for waking you up.”

“It’s all right. We’ve been waiting for this moment for ages.” Scarlett grinned.

Gia shifted uncomfortably. “Is there anyone else out there?”

“No . . . . Tricia and Niall had to drop Mollie off at her mum’s and Liam and Danielle are trying to get back from Paris.” Scarlett grinned. “Both of your mums have been called and both promised to be on their way down. We’ll send them in when they arrive. Do you need us to do anything else?”

Gia thought about it for a moment. “I think we have everything. The car seats are in the car and I think we are all set.”

“That’s good. Calm is good.”

“I have a feeling there will be a new mum club in our circle soon.”

Gia’s eyes went wide. “Who?!?!”

“Well a little birdy let it slip that the reason Danielle and Liam are in Paris is because she told him a little secret and there’s something fishy going on with Niall and Tricia.” Scarlett gossiped.

Gia chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re always the one with the gossip around here. Nothing is a secret around you Styles.”

“Thank you, thank you.” Scarlett bowed just as the door opened revealing Niall and Tricia.

Tricia immediately joined Scarlett by Gia’s side, gushing over the mum to be. “You doing ok?”

“As well as can be expected. I’m not progressing much but the doctor said things will speed up soon.” Gia shrugged, relaxing while she got the opportunity.

Tricia motioned over her shoulder. “Louis doing good?”

“He’s nervous but won’t admit it. Scarlett is going to have the boys talk to him once they all arrive.” Gia shrugged. “He’s worried about being a dad.”

Scarlett scoffed. “He’s the one that has nothing to be worried about. Look at his sisters, brother, and how he is with Mollie. He’ll be fine.”

“We know that; he’s just having a harder time believing it.” Gia shook her head. “I’m hoping Niall and the boys can knock some sense into him before I have these babies.”

1:45pm

They had all been pushed out of their friend’s room. Louis was the only one Gia wanted in the room with her as she delivered. Tricia led the group to the waiting room where they would spend the next however many minutes or hours until she delivered the twins.

“Gia seemed in good spirits.” Harry made conversation as all the girls snorted.

Tricia shook her head. “That’s because she was on some happy drugs. She cannot feel anything below her belly button at the moment. She’s going to be happy as a clam.”

“Did you have drugs when you had Mollie?” Scarlett asked looking at her friend.

Tricia smirked. “No. I thought I was one of those Superwomen that could deliver without drugs. Damn that was the worse mistake I ever made. The worst part was that Mollie was breached so they kept trying to turn her around but she was stubborn as a mule.”

“My hero.” Niall kissed her dramatically causing Tricia to laugh. “But you forget about all the pain as soon as that child is in your arms and the freak-out moments start.”

Rose and Jay both nodded. “It’s true. I’ve been in many delivery rooms where the mum is cursing the husband for knocking her up and all that but as soon as that baby is placed in their arms, everything is forgiven.”

Everyone laughed at Jay’s statement. It relieved some of the tension and anxiousness within the small waiting room. “This is going to take forever.”

“Depends on how much of a hurry these babies are. If they’re like Gia, it’ll be quick. She was born an hour after we arrived at the hospital.” Rose commented, looking at Harry with a smirk.

Jay shook her head. “If they’re like Louis, however, this will take a long time. He was in no hurry to be born. I was in labor with him for 23 hours.”

“Let’s hope these babies are more like mumma than daddy.” Niall smirked, scowling when Tricia smacked him.

The doors opened as the group inside waited with bated breath. They were sorely disappointed when it was just Liam and Danielle returning from Paris. “We didn’t miss it did we?”

“No they rolled her to delivery around 1:30. No word yet.” Niall said as hugs were given to the newly arrived couple.

Everyone dispersed into their own conversations. Niall smirked at Louis’ siblings, sitting in a group looking nervously around the room. “Are you guys ready to be aunts and uncle?”

“Uh huh. Louis said we can dress them up and play with them.” Doris giggled, looking at her older sisters with wide eyes.

Lottie shook her head. “They’ll be little for a bit so you won’t be able to play with them just yet. You’ll get to hold them and give them loads of cuddles.”

“How little will they be?” Ernie asked looking between Niall and Lottie.

Fizzy smiled at her little brother. “They’ll be smaller than Doris’ baby dollies. You’ll have to have mummy help you hold them.”

“That’s tiny!” Doris and Ernie’s eyes went wide as the doors opened once more.

“Is Agatha Franklin’s family here?” The nurse asked holding a file while scanning the room for the patient’s family.

An older couple stood and followed the nurse through the doors. Niall started tapping his feet while looking at his wife. Slipping his hand in hers, he grinned. “You ok?”

“Just anxious. I want them to be here and be healthy.” Tricia bit her lip looking at her husband.

Niall squeezed her hand before smiling. “Gia’s strong and she’s got Louis. They’ll be fine. Just think, in about seven months, we’ll be here again. Just you’ll be in that room with me by your side.”

“I know. That’s what I keep thinking about.” Tricia kissed him gently. “How do you think Mollie is going to react?”

Niall chuckled. “Well she has been hinting at it since Uncle Lewie is gonna be a daddy. I think she’ll be happy to have her own baby doll to play with.”

“I think I’m more anxious for our friends to know.” Tricia smirked looking around the room. Harry and Liam were both pacing. “One thing that is for sure.”

Niall smirked. “What’s that?”

“No matter what, this child is coming into a family full of love and support.”

Niall laughed. “That’s an understatement. This family is a little overabundant when it comes to love and support.”

“True but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Tricia smirked laying her head on Niall’s shoulder with a sigh.

“You know what they say?” Harry interrupted the couple’s moment with a smirk.

Niall glanced up at his friend. “What’s that?”

“Secrets are for sharing not for keeping quiet.” Harry smirked, everyone turning to the couple with eyebrows raised. “Is there anything you want to share with the peanut gallery?”

Tricia looked at her husband before grinning at Harry. “I don’t know what you’re talking to. We don’t have anything in secret.”

“But you two have been whispering over here for the last 15 minutes.” Harry pouted, realizing he was wrong.

Tricia smirked. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Styles. When you have a five year old running around constantly and doesn’t stop until she is asleep, you take any moment you have free to talk with your husband without her interrupting. Niall and I haven’t had much time to just sit and talk in the past few days so we are taking full advantage of it.”

Harry was unable to reply as a nurse stepped into the room and turned her attention to the patrons waiting. “Family for Gia and Louis Tomlinson?”

Everyone gathered, smiling brightly at the friends and family of the couple. “They’re just getting cleaned up and Louis will be out soon. Everything went perfectly and smoothly.”

“How’s Gia?” Tricia asked quickly.

The nurse smiled brightly. “She was brilliant. Louis will be out shortly and he wants to tell you everything.”

The room’s tone took a different meaning after the nurse stepped back out. Everyone was on pin and needles, needing to see for themselves that all was alright with their friends and family members.

Twenty minutes after the nurse came in, the doors opened again but this time it was who everyone was waiting for. Still in his yellow scrubs, Louis smirked at his anxious friends and family. He wore a tired expression that was overshadowed by the excitement on his face. In his arms were two sleeping babies. “They’re here!”

A nurse hovered behind Louis as he showed off his son and daughter. Everyone was careful to crowd around the new daddy as he grinned brightly. Everyone oohed and awed at the minutes old babies.

“Names? Weight? Time of Birth? How’s your wife?” Tricia, Scarlett, and Danielle each threw out a question causing Louis to laugh.

“First, grandmas do want to hold your grandbabies?” Louis motioned to Jay and Rose with a grin.

He handed his son to Rose and his daughter to his mum before accepting the hugs from the girls. “Alright what did you ask?”

“What are their names? When were they born? How much did they weigh and how’s Gia?” Tricia repeated with a bright smile.

Louis smirked. “Gia wants to tell you the names herself so that’ll have to wait. Our son was born first at 2:10pm weighing 6 pounds 4.5 ounces, 19.5 inches long. He came out screaming his little lungs out. Our daughter arrived at 2:22pm weighing 6 pounds 1 ounce, 18.5 inches long. She was much quieter and sedated.”

“And Gia?” Niall asked looking at the tired smile on his best friend’s face.

Louis nodded. “She was perfect. She did absolutely amazing and I’m so proud of her. She got tired quickly but was determined. She’s resting now in recovery and you guys will be able to see her in about an hour after she’s back in the room.”

“Is there anyone you want us to call?” Scarlett asked glancing at the baby girl in Jay’s arms.

He paused for a moment. “Will you call management? Tell them I’ll send out a tweet in a little bit announcing the news. Call anyone you think is important. Be sure to let your families know as well . . . I don’t want four mums coming after me and Gia because we didn’t let them know.”

“I let your dad know, Lou.” Jay whispered handing his daughter back to him.

Giving her a quick hug, carefully avoiding hurting his new daughter, Louis smiled. “Thanks mum.”

He quickly collected his son before promising everyone he would be back as soon as Gia was settled and ready for visitors.

Walking slowly down the hallway, he peeked his head into the room smiling brightly. Her eyes were closed as she rested after the eventful day. Taking a seat in the chair next to the bed, he adjusted his son and daughter on his crossed leg, taking a moment to really let it sink in.

“So what did they think?”

Louis looked up at Gia with a smirk. “I think they’re all smitten with them. Our mums were the only two to hold them. I didn’t tell them their names letting them know you wanted to do that. I told them I would be back in about an hour to collect them. I wanted to give you a chance to get some rest.”

“Thanks!” She smiled patting the side of the bed, granting him access to sit on the bed. “How is everyone out there?”

Louis kissed her forehead chuckling as he pulled back. “They’re all worried about you, Soldier. You just gave birth to two babies no less and you’re worried about them? I think that's wrong.”

“They’ve been in that waiting room for the last few hours bored out of their mind. At least we had something to keep us occupied.” She took her son from her husband’s arms, cuddling him closer to her. “So names.”

Louis shook his head. “Yes that would be an important thing to discuss.”

“Which ones of the four are you thinking?” Gia leaned her head against his shoulder taking a moment to enjoy the calm before the storm.

He hummed in contentment as he looked at their two little miracles sleeping peacefully in their arms. “I love the one you suggested for baby girl but baby boy I’m torn. I love them both.”

“Me too. How about we combine them. Your first name and my middle name.” Looking at his wife, he nodded stealing a kiss from her in agreement.

Sighing happily, she nodded. “Sounds good. You might as well go grab everyone before they tear down the building in anxiousness.”

Two minutes after he left, Gia heard him pause at the door and told them to be quiet. “I’m sorry babies for your overbearing family. They’re a little much to handle but they do mean well.”

“We heard that!” Jay and Rose both whispered at the newest mummy causing Gia to grin. Their extended families came in carrying balloons and gift bags raided from the gift shop.

Cuddling her twins closer, Gia giggled. “You were kinda meant to hear that.”

After everyone got the chance to greet Gia and give her hugs and kisses, Gia smirked seeing her best friends and family members cramped in the room. Tricia had baby girl while Scarlett had baby boy. “So what are their names? Louis wouldn’t tell us.”

“Well because when Louis was showing off the babies, we didn’t know them yet.” Gia smirked. “But we figured them out.”

The boys looked anxious waiting for their mates to tell them the news. “Will you quit stalling and just tell us?”

“Ok!! Don’t kill the new mummy!” Gia raised her hands in protest. “Our son’s name is Oliver Aaron Tomlinson and our daughter’s name is Cordelia Ann Tomlinson.”

The girls immediately awed at the cuteness of the names while the boys nodded in approval. “What drew you to those names?”

“I found Cordelia and fell in love with the name due to all the different nicknames you can pull from it and Ann is a family name that just flowed really pretty with it.” Gia smiled looking at her mum. “And Louis liked Oliver from the start. I liked the name but I wasn’t set on it. I wanted their middle names to start with the same letter so Aaron just flowed good with Oliver.”

Jay looked at her son and daughter-in-law grinning. “They’re two perfect names for two perfect babies. Cora and Oli.”

“Cora and Oli.” Gia murmured looking at Louis for confirmation. They had been going back and forth for a nickname for Cordelia - Louis liking Lia and Gia like Cori.

Louis kissed his wife’s temple setting in beside her. “Cora and Oli . . . I like it.”

"Did you cry?" Ava asked with a grin.

Gia looked at Louis with a smirk. "There were a few tears shed between the two of us."

"But they were very happy tears." Louis smiled. "She pushed me over to where they were cleaning them up and made me count fingers and toes and make sure all was well."

Looking at her family and friends, Gia couldn't be happier to have them there even if she looked awful. "Had to make sure our children were all right."

Their guests stayed a bit longer, soon leaving the family of four alone for a bit, telling Louis and Gia to relax and enjoy their children's first few hours in peace.

Four hour later, Gia found herself looking at Louis who was snoozing in the chair next to the bed. "Daddy's exhausted, little ones."

Cora and Oli were both lying on the bed, content for the moment. Letting her finger run down their tiny faces, Gia grinned at both of them. She couldn't believe she was a mum to two perfect children. Sighing, the day's events soon caught up to her.

A knock on the door drew her attention away from her little ones. "Come in."

Watching the door being pushed open, she put her finger to her lip. "Shhh Lou just fell asleep."

"And left you all alone with the babies?" Tricia asked walking over to the bed carrying a gift bag. "This is for your little ones, Mumma."

Gia accepted it, while Tricia picked up Cora, cuddling her close. "What are you doing back here?"

"Mollie wanted to come see her new cousins." Tricia grinned.

Not seeing the little girl anywhere, Gia raised her eyebrow in her best friend's direction. "Uh huh. And where is Mollie?"

"Her and Niall got distracted by the wishing well in the lobby. I said I was coming up here by you and Niall assured me, he and Mollie would be along." Tricia cooed at Cora with a bright smile on her face.

A nurse came in the room to check things over and let Gia know the babies would need to be fed soon. "Are you not breastfeeding?"

"Nope. We tried earlier and there's something wrong with my milk production so they want me to pump then we'll bottle feed them." Gia smirked watching Louis adjust himself in the chair.

Tricia nodded in his direction. "How grossed out did he get during that conversation?"

"He didn't. He got more grossed out in the delivery room than talking about milk production." Gia smirked seeing the door push opened once more.

Niall poked his head and grinned seeing Gia motion him in. "You gotta be quiet Molls. The babies might be sleeping."

"Otay daddy!"

Gia perked up seeing her little buddy skip through the door. "Hi Mumma, hi Auntie Gia. Where Uncle Lewie?"

"Shhhh he's asleep." Gia pointed to the chair. "Do you wanna meet our babies?"

Mollie got shy for a moment before nodding. "Have daddy put you up here and I'll introduce you."

Once she was situated on the bed next to Gia, Mollie looked at the hours old babies with a grin. "They're little."

"That they are miss." Gia picked Oli up looking at Mollie. "This is Oliver. And your mummy is holding Cora."

Gia maneuvered Oli so he sat in Mollie's arms causing the girl to grin. "He's little."

"They both are. Just like you were this little once." Tricia said causing the girl's eyes to widened.

"I was this little?" Mollie asked giving Oli a kiss.

Tricia nodded. "Yes ma'am you were. You were actually littler than Oli. You were 5 pounds 12 ounces."

"How little is the new baby gonna be?" Mollie asked looking at her parents with wide eyes.

Gia's eyes snapped up to look at Tricia and Niall who were smirking. "What new baby?"

"The one in mummy's tummy!" Mollie smiled at her Auntie Gia. "I'm gonna have a sister."

"Or brother." Tricia and Niall said together.

Gia squealed quietly looking at her best friends. "I'm so excited for you two. When are you due?"

"Well this is good news to wake up to!" Louis' groggy voice sounded in the room, causing his wife to look at him. "How long have you been awake?"

Louis smiled reaching for Oli. "Just dozing."

"Uncle Lewie!" Mollie screeched looking at her favorite buddy. "Congratlaions!"

Louis beamed at her pronunciation. "Thanks little one."

Louis and Mollie carried on their conversation while Gia looked at the new parents to be. "So when are you due?"

"June 7th." Tricia smiled. "We wanted to wait to tell everyone but you can see how excited Molls is."

Gia smiled. "I'm so excited for you guys. At least my children will have playmates always around."

"True, very true." Niall agreed stealing Cora from his wife's arms. "And I get to get practice time in for our new little one."

Gia squealed again. "It's going to baby central around our little camp."

And the celebrations of the Tomlinson twins continued well into the night with visitors coming left and right until the nurses kicked everyone out except for mum and dad.

#One Direction fan fiction #writing #dancerlittle006

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harryandmeghan0-blog · 5 years

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Meghan Markle lets slip royal child due date in Birkenhead - Infosurhoy

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/meghan-markle-lets-slip-royal-child-due-date-in-birkenhead-infosurhoy/

Meghan Markle lets slip royal child due date in Birkenhead - Infosurhoy

The Duchess of Sussex let slip her baby’s due date as she chatted to well-wishers in Birkenhead today.

Meghan, 37, revealed that she is six months pregnant, with her first child expected in late April as she met locals in the Merseyside town during her and Prince Harry’s first joint engagement of the year.

She also revealed the couple don’t know whether they’re having a boy or a girl, as they want it to be a ‘surprise’.

The brief exchange took place as Meghan, glowing in a red wrap coat worn over a figure-hugging £107 purple dress from Babaton by Aritizia, chatted to locals who had gathered to meet her and Harry.

While Kensington Palace have not publicly revealed Meghan’s due date, royal fans had previously speculated that Baby Sussex could be expected as early as March due to her blossoming baby bump.

Meghan paired her colourful dress with a £1,695 Gabriela Hearst leather ‘bowling’ bag and vertiginous red stilettos and, in a return to her signature style, the duchess ditched the sleek chignon she’s been sporting in recent weeks in favour of a relaxed ‘messy’ bun as she and Harry charmed the locals who had gathered to see them.

Her £1,085 red coat, believed to be a new addition to her wardrobe, is from Canadian brand Sentaler and the duchess has worn the brown version previously in Sandringham.

Speaking after her royal encounter, local woman Kim Thompson said: ‘She said she is six months pregnant and due at the end of April, beginning of May.’

Harry was also heard asking one mother how her daughter Lily’s name was spelt, although Meghan insisted that they did not know the sex of their baby.

Miss Thompson said: ‘Another woman in the crowd joked that she was a trained midwife. Meghan said that one of her friends had [given birth] five weeks early and [the midwife] said the baby comes when they are ready.

‘I said, as long as they are healthy, and Meghan agreed. Then she said, pointing to Harry, ‘He’s going to make a fantastic father’.’

The Duchess also chatted to a hypnobirthing teacher, Sonia Richards, who was in the crowd with her mother Marion Mazumder.

Sonia, who runs Wirral Hypno, said: ‘I told her I teach hypnobirthing and she said, ‘It’s such a special thing that you are doing’. She looked radiant, she looked really well and I just wished her a wonderful birth.’

Marion added: ‘I said I am looking forward to the baby coming and she said, ‘So are we.”

The couple also knelt down when meeting a group of blind children, allowing them to feel their faces.

The royal couple were also given a babygro bearing the words ‘Born in 2019’ by eight year old Harry Edwards and Megan O’Carroll, of St Werburgh’s.

The schoolchildren were among 16 pupils whose names were pulled out of a hat by teachers to attend the walkabout in Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square.

Told it was Megan’s ninth birthday, Harry asked her: ‘Has anyone sung Happy Birthday to you yet? No? I think we should…’, leading the crowd in the song.

Arriving a few moments later, Meghan said: ‘I missed a happy birthday that was happening!’ Told it was for her little namesake, the Duchess leaned down to shake her hand, saying: ‘Happy birthday, Megan!’

And when she realised Megan was standing with another Harry, she giggled: ‘Oh my gosh, really? Megan and Harry? That’s really sweet, that’s so nice.’

The Duchess also spotted a handmade sign by Lewis Avis-Taylor, nine, from Park Primary School in Wallasey, which read: ‘Welcome Harry and Meghan’.

The 37-year-old told a young girl in the crowd that neither she or husband Prince Harry know the sex of their first child and were ‘keeping it as a surprise’.

Kitty Dudley, nine, from St Anne’s Primary School in nearby Rockferry, said: ‘Meghan came up to me and asked me how old I was and where I went to school. I could see her bump and I asked if she was having a boy or a girl and she said ‘we don’t know whether it’s a boy or girl, we are keeping it as a surprise’.

Megan Redford, seven, quizzed the Duchess on baby names saying: ‘She asked me if I was called Meg or Meghan because she said her friends call her Meg and mine do as well.

‘I asked her whether she would call her baby Amy if she has a girl and she said ‘That’s a really pretty name, I like it, we’ll have to think about it’.

The former actress could be seen frequently holding her growing baby bump, which could clearly be seen protruding from her purple Babaton by Aritizia dress and Sentaler coat.

Meghan said she was ‘feeling really well’ and thanked locals including 92-year-old Dorothy Parker from Hoylake for waiting in the cold to see her.

Dorothy said: ‘I thanked Meghan for coming to see us and asked her how she was feeling. She told me she was feeling really well and said the best part of her day was meeting me. She’s such a lovely woman and so beautiful I’m delighted I got to meet her.’

‘What a nice sign, did you make that?’ she asked. Told he had made sure to spell her name correctly, she laughed, adding: ‘Thank you, I do appreciate that!’

St. Werburgh’s Deputy Headteacher Sarah Dakin said: ‘It’s amazing to see them here in Birkenhead. A lot of our children use The Hive and lots of their mum’s use Tomorrow’s Women, so the visit is really important for the community.

On the walkabout they were given a teddy bear and lots of gifts and flowers. ‘We asked her how her pregnancy was going and she said she was six months and she tapped her tummy,’ said Carla Gandy, from nearby Wallasey, who was there with her daughter Sofia, four. She told others that she’s due in late April.

Rebecca Blundell, who was in Hamilton Square with daughters Lily, six, and Lottie, two, says harry asked how to spell Lily’s name. ‘Meghan came up straight after and said that he’s going to be a fantastic dad.’

Another member of the crowd added: ‘She said her pregnancy had gone so quickly,’ ‘I asked her how she was coping on those high heels. She said ‘One day at a time!’

The couple travelled to Merseyside from London this morning to visit organisations that support and empower groups within the community.

Their first stop was Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square to view a new sculpture that was erected in November to mark the 100th anniversary of war poet Wilfred Owen’s death.

The statue, which is named after one of Owen’s works, Futility, is cast in bronze and represents an exhausted First World War soldier.

After unveiling a plaque to mark their visit, Harry and Meghan met local veterans and members of the Birkenhead Institute Old Boys, which Owen belonged to, and played a part in the creation of the tribute.

Owen, who lived in the area for seven years of his childhood and was educated at Birkenhead Institute, wrote poetry influenced by his experiences in the trenches. He was killed trying to cross a canal a week before the end of the war in 1918.

The Duke and Duchess then undertook a royal walkabout amongst the large crowds, many of whom had been queuing for hours to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

Prince Harry gave four-year-old Eliza Morris a hug after seeing her sign ‘Gingers Unite – I love you Harry’ on a walkabout today. He said, ‘I love this! Do you love your hair? The sign is amazing!’ Harry stopped as he and Meghan spent more than 45 minutes chatting to the crowds.

Fans presented Meghan with bouquets of flowers, and she looked particularly delighted with the gift of handmade paper flowers from a young fan from the nearby Fun Train Day Nursery.

The Duke and Duchess then travelled to Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community café, to official open the new premises in a surprise visit.

Feeding Birkenhead is a coalition of churches, food banks, community groups, and other organisations working together to eliminate hunger in the Merseyside town.

The supermarket enables local families to buy their weekly shopping at a discounted price, and provides advice and advocacy on benefits, looking for work, debt, budgeting, and cooking.

Harry and Meghan met with a number of the supermarket’s staff and members, learning more about how Number 7 helps to build the community’s resilience against hunger.

Later they visited Tomorrow’s Women Wirral, an organisation that supports women in vulnerable circumstances.

Initially established in 2011 to support women upon their release from prison, it has since expanded and now offers a range of training courses and workshops for more than 6000 local women, including support groups around mental health issues, domestic abuse, and addiction.

Harry and Meghan spoke to some of the women directly before visiting the onsite charity shop, café, and Inspiration Hall.

As they visited the group, which helps disadvantaged and vulnerable women, Meghan proved herself to be very much in charge when she got to her feet for an impromptu speech, saying: ‘We all know how important it is for me, women supporting each other.’

Echoing Harry’s words, she added: ‘It is also key that men are there supporting behind the scenes.’

As she spoke, Harry stood listening at her side. Then, when she had finished she gestured towards the plaque and said laughingly to Harry: ‘If you don’t mind.’

Harry responded by making a humorous face, prompting laughter from the audience.

They also met women in a knitting group and another group making floral displays at Tomorrow’s Women Wirral.

In the knitting group Harry was particularly taken with a tiny hat and pair of bootees for a premature baby. ‘That’s adorable,’ he said on seeing the hat. Then, struck by how small the bootees were, he exclaimed: ‘No way!’

Romel Cox, who knitted the bootees, said: ‘They are for a newborn. He loved them.’

Amanda Copland, who runs the knitting group, said that Harry was so impressed with the baby knitwear that the women offered it to him as a gift. Harry, however, was having none of it. ‘He said, ‘I only looked at them!’

She added that they clearly made a strong impression on him. ‘He has got those gibbery knees from the new baby coming along. He was going all red in the cheeks.’

In the floristry room, the duchess was quizzed about whether she was having a boy or a girl. After the duchess said she did not know, a woman suggested it would be a girl. The duchess laughed: ‘Everyone has got very strong opinions – that it’s either a boy or a girl.’

In the knitting room the duchess spotted one woman, Carol Cullen, 71, who was wearing a T shirt with a picture of Cilla Black and the words ‘Talented Carol Sings Cilla.’

After Ms Cullen embraced the duchess, Meghan asked her what her favourite song was. How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, she replied. ‘My grandmother loved that song too,’ said the duchess.

Val Curtis, Ms Cullen’s Mencap ‘buddy’, said that she sang in the charity’s Christmas pantomime. Turning to Ms Cullen, she told her: ‘I told you if you wore that T shirt you would get noticed.’

In her speech the duchess said: ‘We really believe in the work that Tomorrow’s Women is doing but having spoken to all of you, we very much believe in each and every one of you. The courage that you have, the resilience that is being built with you being here, and just the journey that you keep continuing to take.

‘You’re an inspiration to so many people so thank you for having us.’

Angela Murphy, the chief executive of Tomorrow’s Women, said the charity was set up as an alternative to probation, but has since expanded into providing a range of services for other as well as ex-offenders.

It started with 28 women on its books: it now helps 6,500 women with training courses and workshops including support groups around mental health issues, domestic abuse and addiction.

Mrs Murphy said: ‘It is about empowering women so that they know their worth and can lead the positive lives they want to lead.

‘Any issue that a woman has that might get her into difficulty, they can come here. We can stop them from going any further. If they are coming in because they have debt issues, or can’t cope because they are drinking too much, we are diverting them.’

Their last stop of the day was the Hive Wirral Youth Zone. Created by the charity OnSide Youth Zones, which is developing 21st century youth facilities across the UK, the Hive provides a safe environment where young people can come and enjoy themselves, building key skills and raising their aspirations and confidence.

Harry, who has previously expressed concern about the number of youth clubs shutting all over Britain because of council cuts, said: ‘When every single youth club and youth service is being closed down, they just started something here.’

He told children at the state-of-the-art youth club in the town, the 96th most deprived area out of 32,844 in England: ‘The more we can build these, the better – especially for you guys.’

The youth centre, which has 4,000 members paying £5 per year and boasts a sports centre, recording studio, a skate park, climbing wall and countless other facilities, provides at least 20 activities per day. Funded by a mixture of local authority, charity and private money, it was set up by the OnSide Youth Zones charity in April 2017 but was officially opened today by Harry and Meghan.

In a neighbouring room, the couple talked to young people doing a team-building exercise as part of a course in employability with jobs coaches from The Hive and the Prince’s Trust.

Among them was Alexandra Tolond, 19, who gave them a pineapple-design clock she had made as a way of explaining how The Hive has helped her get over mental health problems – which she did not want to detail – stemming back to the death of her father when she was 11. Pineapple was a safe word she used to acknowledge she was struggling to cope. ‘The Hive literally saved my life,’ she said.

Harry and Meghan praised her as an inspiration.’I will look at the pineapple and always think of you, Alex,’ Meghan said. Before they left, Meghan unveiled a plaque marking the official opening of the centre.

Mr Field, who has served Birkenhead since 1979, wrote to the couple himself and said he was ‘absolutely thrilled’ when they accepted his offer.

He told the newspaper: ‘Although there are hundreds of projects I’d like the royal couple to see, the groups they will be meeting next week are characteristic of so much of the good work going on in Birkenhead.

‘They will be seeing a stunning World War I memorial that sets new standards for sculpture. They will also launch new projects that are at the cutting edge of fighting poverty, draw even greater attention to the inspirational work being done by Tomorrow’s Women Wirral, and witness the impact The Hive is having on the lives of so many young people in Wirral.’

Mr Field said the visit to Tomorrow’s Women will be of great interest to Meghan in particular with her focus on women’s issues and countering modern slavery.

He added: ‘She will be talking to women there on these issues as well as how they successfully make the transition back from prison to society.’

Mr Field said the projects were chosen by the couple and for their proximity to one another. That means they can spend more time meeting people from Birkenhead rather than travelling longer distances between engagements, the Echo reported.

The MP praised the royal family for showing interest in ‘bodies that fill gaps that the state cannot and doesn’t reach’, and ‘making sure money is raised so that those bodies have viable budgets’.

Pregnant Meghan, who is expecting her first child with Harry this spring, is continuing to keep a busy schedule packed with royal engagements as she nears her due date.

The mother-to-be stepped out in London last week and the couple will also make an appearance on Wednesday to watch Cirque du Soleil’s TOTEM at the Royal Albert Hall, as part of a fundraising campaign for Harry’s charity Sentebale.

It comes as the couple continue to make renovations on their new home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, ahead of the birth of their first child.

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Source: http://infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/news/meghan-markle-lets-slip-royal-child-due-date-in-birkenhead/

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