November 1923

"Daddy?"

The little voice and the feeling of his son climbing into the bed drew Christopher Foyle from sleep. He blinked and smiled down at his son. "Good morning Andrew."

Andrew mumbled something that he didn't catch as he burrowed closer, clearly still half asleep. Foyle smiled and dropped a soft kiss on his son's head. Most mornings he awoke to Andrew jumping on top of him already full of four-year-old energy and ready to start the day but every now and then there would be a quiet morning like this, where a sleepy Andrew would simply crawl into bed beside him.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Andrew?"

"Don't feel good."

Foyle frowned, immediately placing a gentle hand on the back of Andrew's neck. He felt a little warm but not alarmingly so. "Do you have a tummy ache?"

Andrew shook his head, "ear."

"Your ear hurts?"

Andrew nodded snuggling closer. "Lots."

Foyle frowned and looked over his shoulder, "Rose?"

"Mhhmm?"

"Andrew has an earache."

"What? Where is he?" Rosalind was instantly awake and already reaching for her robe.

"He's right here love." Foyle soothed sitting up and carefully settling Andrew in his lap.

The little boy let out a soft whimper and immediately buried his face in his father's neck. Rosalind frowned and gently rubbed his back. "Which ear hurts Andrew?"

"This one." Andrew mumbled bringing a hand up to his left ear.

"Does your throat hurt too?"

"Little bit. Don't feel good Mummy."

"I think he's got a bit of temperature." Foyle added as Rosalind laid a gentle hand against Andrew's forehead.

After a moment she nodded, "yes I think you're right. I guess I'd better call Dr. White and see if he can come and have a look at him."

Foyle nodded. "Good idea love. I'm sure I can stay home this morning if need be."

Rosalind smiled softly at this, her Christopher was so dedicated to his job but even more dedicated to his family and it only made her love him more. "Thank you love but I'm sure Andrew and I will be fine, won't we darling?"

Andrew shrugged slightly his arms still wrapped tightly around his father's neck. "Feel bad."

"I know darling, I'm sorry." Rosalind murmured pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Why don't you and Daddy go use the lavatory while I call Dr. White?"

"Will he poke wif a needle again?" Andrew asked warily.

"I don't think so darling and he'll help you feel better."

"Kay, don't like needles."

"I know love. Now be a good boy and go use the lavatory with Daddy."

Andrew nodded but refused to let go of his father so instead of putting on his robe Foyle just carried it with him to the lavatory while Rosalind slipped hers on and went downstairs to start breakfast and call the doctor.

Normally Foyle could hardly get Andrew to stop talking long enough to brush his teeth but this morning he was worryingly quiet as they went through their normal morning ablutions. He had not wanted to be put down and had clung tightly to Foyle's leg the entire time he was shaving.

Once he was done Foyle carried Andrew back to his room and helped him change into a clean pair of pajamas, jumper and thick socks. They also picked up Andrew's blanket.

Since announcing he was a 'big boy' a few months earlier Andrew had been leaving his blanket in his room most days but Foyle thought he might want the extra comfort this morning. The small smile Andrew gave as he clutched the well-worn blanket tightly suggested that he had been right. Foyle smiled gently and dropped soft a kiss on Andrew's head as he carried him back into the master bedroom.

He was soon dressed for work and bent to pick Andrew up off their bed. "Shall we go and see Mummy and have some breakfast?"

Andrew nodded but didn't release his tight hold on his father's neck. Foyle smiled slightly. He hated it whenever Andrew was ill but he didn't really object to how clingy his son got. These days Andrew hardly held still so it was nice to have his cuddly little boy back for a little while.

Rosalind looked up as Foyle carried Andrew into the kitchen and smiled fondly at them. "There are my handsome boys, just in time too, tea's on the table and the porridge is nearly done."

Foyle nodded, "did you get a hold of Dr. White?"

"Yes, he said he's fairly busy this morning but he should be able to come over before ten."

Foyle nodded again then looked down at Andrew, "ready for breakfast Andrew?"

Andrew shrugged, "don't know, my froat hurts."

His parents frowned worriedly, "you still need to try and eat a little porridge all right love?" Rosalind said, gently running her fingers through his hair.

Andrew nodded against Foyle's neck, "Can I have cocoa wif breakfast?"

"May I and yes, if you're a good boy and eat your porridge you may have some cocoa."

Andrew smiled a little at this and Rosalind gave him and Foyle both a quick kiss before shooing them into the dinning room so she could finish breakfast.

Foyle stooped to place Andrew in his customary chair only to have his son cling stubbornly to his neck. "Andrew you need to sit down so you can have your breakfast."

Andrew shook his head, "wants to sit wif you. Please Daddy makes my ear not be so sore."

Foyle hesitated for a moment before straightening "all right, just this once." He sat down at the head of the table, settling Andrew carefully in his lap.

Andrew smiled and shifted so his sore ear was pressed against his father's shoulder. Foyle would have thought the pressure would make it hurt more but Andrew seemed comfortable so he just picked up the paper and began to read.

Rosalind paused in the doorway, tray in hand as she took in the sight before her. She had always known that Christopher would be a good father but seeming him with Andrew still made her catch her breath some days. Everyone said having children was life-changing but no one had ever told her that it would make her fall even more deeply in love with her husband.

Ever since Andrew was born, even before he was born, Christopher had shown her time and again what an amazing man he was. Never once had he complained when, during the last months of her pregnancy, she had spent hours twisting and turning in their bed unable to get comfortable and subsequently keeping him awake as well. He had instead rubbed her back, brought her tea at all hours, told her everyday how beautiful she was and made her fall more in love with him without even knowing it. And then Andrew had arrived.

Christopher was not a verbose man making everything he did say even more significant and never was this truer then when she handed him their son for the first time. He had stared in awed amazement at Andrew and then, with tears slowly tracking down his cheeks, looked up at her and murmured, "perfect. Oh Rose he's absolutely perfect, I love you both so very much my darling."

His words had made her cry too and even now they brought tears to her eyes as she remembered the depth of meaning he had poured into them, the promise and love that they held.

"Rose?"

Rosalind looked up to find Christopher watching her with concern and smiled reassuringly at him. "I'm fine Christopher. Andrew are you reading the paper with Daddy?"

Andrew shook his head slightly. "No, not 'bout trains."

Rosalind smiled, "well maybe there will be something about trains tomorrow, come sit down and have your breakfast now."

Again Andrew shook his head, "Daddy said I could sit wif him, he makes my ear not be so sore."

Rosalind's face softened as she looked between Christopher and Andrew. "Is that so, well you still need to eat your breakfast."

Andrew looked appealingly at his father and Foyle cleared his throat, placing the paper to one side. "We'll both eat our breakfast won't we Andrew?"

Andrew nodded and Rosalind just smiled placing two bowls of porridge in front of Foyle before moving to pour tea.

It had taken a bit of coxing to get Andrew to eat because he didn't want to shift from where he was leaning up against his father. In the end Foyle had fed him his porridge one spoonful at a time, something he hadn't done in quite a while and that Andrew would not have accepted under normal circumstances.

By the time Andrew had eaten his fill, Foyle's porridge was mostly cold and Rosalind insisted on taking him so Foyle could finish his own breakfast. Andrew had not wanted to move but the promise of cocoa and the comfort of his mother's arms convinced him and he was soon nestled in Rosalind's lap.

When Foyle finished breakfast he carried the dishes into the kitchen to do the washing up. It didn't take him long and he was soon standing in the doorway chewing thoughtfully on his cheek.

"Ready to go then Christopher?"

"Err I suppose."

Rosalind could tell he was debating whether he should leave and smiled comfortingly at him, "We'll be fine Christopher, and Dr. White should have come by the time you're back for lunch."

Foyle nodded, "right." He crossed to the table and stooped to kiss her, "you'll ring if anything changes?"

"Of course I will darling but try not to fuss, I'm sure it's just a cold."

Foyle nodded again and dropped a soft kiss on Andrew's forehead, "be a good boy for Mummy and Dr. White Andrew, I'll see you later."

Andrew nodded, "Love you Daddy."

"I love you too Andrew."

Andrew smiled and nuzzled into his mother's neck. Foyle smiled softly at them and then stooped to kiss Rosalind again, "goodbye darling I'll see you in a few hours."

"Stay safe."

"Always."