"What's the matter Robyn?" Charlie asked.

"Babysitter's cancelled. " She sighed. "And I was so looking forward to going tonight!"

"I wish I could help, Robyn – but my wife will be really upset if I cancel our date again, I'm really sorry."

"It's ok, Charlie, don't worry about it." Robyn answered.

"You could always ask Connie." Sam piped up.

Charlie and Robyn stared at him. "Mrs Beauchamp?!" The latter spluttered.

"Yes." Sam nodded, ignoring Charlie's exasperated head-shaking. The older nurse was .completely aware that Sam was trying to cause trouble. "She loves babies! - besides, it would give her some quality time with her own daughter. Grace would love to help her mum look after Charlotte – and Connie certainly won't be attending karaoke night at the pub!"

"Ok." Robyn smiled. "I'll ask her."...

There was a knock at Connie's office door and Robyn appeared, wringing her hands nervously. "Mrs Beauchamp, would you mind babysitting Charlotte for the night?"

"What?!" Connie stared at the young nurse. What a bloody cheek, asking her to babysit!

Robyn hesitated. "It's just my babysitter cancelled and, well Sam said you wouldn't mind..."

"Did he now!" Connie retorted, dryly. She might have known that Sam Strachan was behind this.

"Yes, he said you love babies – and he said it would be a nice thing for you and Grace to do together. - I'll pay you for it, Mrs Beauchamp." Robyn added.

Connie softened at the idea of Sam letting her have Grace for the evening. "That won't be necessary Robyn. Can you bring her to my office at the end of the day?"

"Thank you, Mrs Beauchamp – thank you. so much"...

Grace giggled excitedly as she and her Dad walked into the ED after he'd picked her up from school. "Am I really spending the night with Mum? - and Charlotte?"

"Yes, sweetie." Sam agreed. "But shhh!"

"Sam, I'd keep your head down if I were you!" Charlie warned, as they reached the reception desk. "Robyn told Connie that it was all your idea!"

Grace stifled another giggle. "You're so causing trouble Dad! - but come by later! Just drop in – Mum won't tell you to leave if I'm there."

Charlie shook his head. "Oh, you're both as bad as each other!" He jabbed his finger at Sam. "You're supposed to be setting an example for your daughter – not training her up as your mini mastermind!" He exclaimed as Connie's office door opened.

She came out with Charlotte on her hip. "Hello, darling." She greeted Grace with a hug.

Sam feigned shock – ignoring Charlie's warning to 'keep his head down'. "Where – where'd you get the baby?!"

Connie glared at him. "Like you don't know, Sam!" She retorted, chucking her car keys at him. "Here! - you can put Charlotte's stuff in the car for me – seeing as this was your idea!"

Connie was surprised at how easily she slipped back into the routine of caring for a baby – Grace was a great help with Charlotte. Unbeknown to Connie however, Grace was keeping her father 'updated' on how the babysitting was going – so that he could 'turn up' at exactly the right moment.

'Wow, Mum's really good with babies!' her first text read, then 'This is so fun!' and 'You and Mum should have another one! I'd love a little brother or sister, Dad...' - finally culminating in a text that read – 'Mum's doing great with Charlotte, but I'll be going to bed soon, so she'll need better company than a screaming baby...'

Grace kept glancing in the direction of the front door. "Can you get that, Mum!" She exclaimed, bossily – ignoring the fact that her Mum was currently giving Charlotte her bottle. "You're closer."

Connie sighed and got to her feet. Judging by the way Grace had kept looking towards the front door, she knew exactly who she was going to find when she opened it.

"Hi Sam." She commented as she opened the front door.

"Hi!" he answered, "Wow, it's a good look, Con!" He chuckled, gesturing at the gurgling baby on her hip.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Shut the door behind you – Charlotte's getting cold!"

"Who is it?" Grace innocently, as her Mum came back into the living room with Charlotte.

She sighed. "Your father – no doubt exactly the way you planned it!"

"Mum – I'm wounded – would I do that?!" Grace protested, stuffing some popcorn in her mouth.

"Yes – I'm pretty certain you would, young lady! - You've inherited your father's gene for trouble-making!" Connie exclaimed as Sam dropped down on the sofa next to her with a cold beer from the fridge.

"I prefer to call it 'creative thinking'!" He chuckled, putting his feet on the coffee table, as Connie put the bottle back in Charlotte's hungry mouth.

"Making yourself at home – are you, Sam?" she retorted pointedly, as he opened the can of beer with a fizzy pop.

"Well, you're the one who keeps the fridge stocked up with beer in case I pop in..." He remarked. "I know you don't like beer, Con – and come to think of it, I don't know anyone else around here who drinks the kind I like..."

"So..." Connie retorted again – knowing he'd caught her out.

"Well, I'm going to bed, then." Grace commented, deciding this was a good moment to excuse herself and leave her Dad to it. She wrapped her arms around Connie and Charlotte – who was suckling happily on her bottle, under Connie's watchful gaze.. "This has been great, Mum – can we do it again?"

Connie looked up, temporarily removing the bottle. "mm-hm, we'll see. I've enjoyed it to, darling. Sleep tight."

"Night night Mum – night Dad."...

"What you smirking at?" Connie muttered, as she turned back to offer Charlotte the bottle again.

He sighed, "I'm not smirking, Con – this is smiling."

"What are you smiling at then?"

"You're good at that!" He grinned, gesturing at Charlotte.

Connie sighed and put the bottle down. "Right, well – this one's ready for a sleep, so I think I will too."

"Oh, Con..." He whined.

"Sam – I'm not trying to snub you, ok? You might have forgotten, but babies only sleep for so long before they wake again – goodness knows how many times I'll be up in the night!" She got up. "I suppose you're planning on staying? - there's a spare blanket in the airing cupboard, if you get cold!"

She went to leave but he put his arm out to stop her. "Come on, Con – it's just lying next to each other in bed – it's not like we haven't done that before!"

"Yeah – like 11 years ago!" She responded. "But seeing as this was your idea, I'll agree – if you do your share of dealing with the baby during the night!"...

It was about 3am when they were woken by crying. Connie sighed, untangling a sleepy Sam's arms from her waist and started to get up.

"No, it's ok, love – you lie down, I've got her!" Sam whispered getting up and making his way over to the Moses basket next to the bed. "Hey, Charlotte, there-there, shhh." He rocked her.

Connie leaned up on one arm, watching him.

"What?!" He asked, noticing her gaze.

"Nothing – I'd forgotten how good you were with babies – that's all!" She commented.

"Hm-mm...Grace was telling me earlier that she'd love a brother or sister..." He started flirtatiously.

"Sam," Connie retorted sternly. "Don't go getting any ideas..."

He looked at her strangely for a minute.

"What?!" she remarked.

"Are you getting broody?" He suddenly asked, chuckling.

"No, I-"

He sat down on the bed next to her. "You are, aren't you!" He chuckled again and handed a more settled Charlotte to her. "Here, you are, darling – I'll go down and make her a bottle!"