I don't think it's bad that we mostly write about horrible things happening to the characters we love. Stories are usually about things that go wrong and as we're Casualty fans, injuries and death are usually going to creep in somewhere. But I couldn't help feeling intrigued by the idea of writing a story where nothing too bad happened to Cal and Ethan. It's only two chapters as I don't think I could keep the happiness going any longer than that and it might be a bit soppy, but I hope you like it.

Cal was trying to pretend he wasn't nervous.

He didn't know why he was trying to pretend he wasn't nervous. Everyone knew, after all. Elle, Charlie, Jacob and even Connie had all patted him on the back and told him they were sure everything would be fine.

If he couldn't fool them, what was the chance of fooling Alicia?

He unlocked the door of the flat they shared and called out to her. He was expecting her to be in bed, but instead she came running out to meet him.

"Hey! Looks like you're feeling better!" said Cal. He hugged and kissed her affectionately then examined her face, relieved to see she had a lot more colour now. Unless it was all make-up.

Alicia smiled, then looked worried, then smiled again. "I am feeling better. Thanks." She kissed him, but something lingered in her eyes. Cal looked at her in concern but didn't push it. All he could do was try to ensure Alicia knew how much he loved her and wait till she was ready to tell him what was wrong.

Cal put his arm around her as they walked into the living room. "Are you sure you didn't have a sneaky drink last night?"

"No, I didn't," Alicia promised him with such earnestness, he looked at her in surprise.

"Is everything okay?"

Alicia sat down on the sofa and waited till he'd sat beside her. "I've got something to tell you. I don't know if you'll like it, but I hope so."

Cal put his arm around her. "If it involves you, how could I not love it?"

"Well… we've never actually discussed… and I know…" Alicia stopped and looked down into her lap. "I've suspected it for a while. That's why I stopped drinking. But today, I finally did a test. A proper test."

Cal frowned in confusion, but light suddenly dawned and he grasped her hand. "You mean we're going to have a baby?"

Alicia nodded, a shy smile on her face.

"Alicia, that's wonderful!" Cal stood up and lifted Alicia in his arms… and turned in a very slow circle. He didn't want to take any risks with the girl he loved. Or their baby.

"You're happy?" said Alicia hopefully.

"How could I not be!?"

Alicia reached up to stroke his stubble. "I just thought… with Matilda and everything…"

Cal kissed her. "Matilda was my daughter for a time and I'll always love her. But she doesn't need me now. You and our baby do. And I'm going to be here for both of you. Every day." Cal turned Alicia in another careful circle, shouting; "I'm going to be a daddy again!" He sat down, Alicia on his lap.

Alicia was laughing, though she looked slightly tearful. "I won't be able to do this for much longer. I'll be too big! And then you'll have someone smaller and sweeter to sit on your lap."

Cal kissed her. "There will always be a place for you on my lap. Except, of course when our little girl or boy is sitting there."

"And that might happen quite a lot!" said Alicia.

Cal wrapped his arms around her, hardly able to believe what had happened. Tomorrow had paled into insignificance. Pass or fail, it wouldn't matter. He looked at Alicia, and for the first time, a tiny smidgen of doubt filled his mind. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

Alicia nodded. She looked almost giddy with happiness. "Of course I'm happy. I can't wait to be a mam!"

Cal rested a hand on her stomach. "You're a mam already. And you've been great so far. I don't know why I didn't guess. Alicia Munroe, not drinking… obviously something monumental must have happened!"

"And it has," said Alicia. Her eyes were shining with tears as she rested her hand over Cal's.

Cal smiled too, but he didn't forget his concerns. "I know the timing isn't great for you. I mean, you've only just become a registrar. You'll be able to work for a few more months, barring complications, but it's not easy being a doctor when you're pregnant."

"So you know what that's like, do you, Dr Knight?" said Alicia playfully.

"Okay, maybe I have no personal experience," Cal admitted with a smile. "But when I was doing locum jobs, it was often because someone was going on maternity leave and I usually went in the week before so the doctor I was replacing could show me around. Let's say I could completely understand while they'd thrown in the towel?"

Alicia's face clouded. "Thrown in the towel?"

"Well, not permanently, of course." Cal cupped Alicia's face in his hands. "And just so you know, while I do expect you to take some time off before the birth, and while I hope you take a bit of time off after the birth, I am 100% not expecting you to become a stay-at-home mum. I know your career is important to you and it's important to me too."

"Well, obviously we'll have to have a discussion nearer the time," said Alicia.

Cal nodded. "We'll have a lot to decide. But Ethan and I managed to keep working when we were looking after Matilda, so that's going to be an option for us too. And there's always the option of you working and me staying at home. My career will probably be over after tomorrow anyway."

Alicia took him by the shoulders and shook him gently. "Don't say that! You've done brilliantly, Cal. I know you have."

Cal smiled. "Just letting you know I'm very much aware what the options are." He kissed Alicia again. "I'm so proud of you! I can't believe I'm going to be a daddy again!"

"And you'll be brilliant!" said Alicia happily.

"Okay, now the pressure's on!" said Cal, but it was pressure he was looking forward to. "I've got to call Ethan! Unless you want to, of course." He smiled widely, then stopped. "Or should I? I don't want to rub it in. You know, that I can conceive kids the usual way."

Alicia threaded her fingers through his. "Honestly? I don't think Ethan will even think of it like that. He'll just be happy for us."

"And he won't mind that I'm interrupting his special dinner?"

Alicia smiled. "I think he'll forgive you just this once."

Cal felt himself relax. He hugged Alicia closer to him, holding his cheek against hers. "I'll phone him now."

"Wait: there's something I want to say first," said Alicia.

Cal pressed his lips to her cheek a couple of times and sat back to listen. "I'm all ears, beautiful."

Alicia was looking slightly shy again. "I'd like to…" She stopped. "Only if you agree to it, of course: it's fine if you don't want to. But if it's a girl, I'd like to call her Emilie."

The phone call to Ethan was delayed by a good fifteen minutes because of Cal's happy tears.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" said Ethan. Tears filled his eyes, completely obscuring his vision. "I am so happy for you, Cal. That's brilliant news. And I know you'll be a great dad. I've seen proof!"

"Thanks, Nibbles." There seemed to be relief in Cal's voice. "And you'll be a great uncle. I know you will."

"I'll try my best," said Ethan, blinking hard.

He felt, rather than saw, a tissue being pushed into his hand before his glasses were removed. Ethan smiled gratefully at the blur in front of him and dabbed his eyes.

"Nibbles?" Cal's voice was knowing. "Are you crying?"

"Oh, no. Not at all. Of course not. No." Ethan sniffed.

Cal laughed. "I believe you. But they are happy tears, aren't they?"

"Of course they are!" said Ethan.

"Ah! So you are crying!" said Cal triumphantly.

"All right. Yes. A little bit. Perhaps," said Ethan. "But seriously, Cal. I'm so happy for you and Alicia. It's wonderful news."

Cal hesitated. "Um… Alicia wants to call the baby Emilie. I was wondering how you felt about that."

"Well, if it's a boy, I think it's an absolutely terrible idea and I strongly urge you not to do it," said Ethan. He smiled and had to wipe his eyes again. "But if it's a girl, I can't think of anything nicer."

"Thanks, Ethan. I appreciate it," said Cal. "Now, I'd better get back to my lovely, gorgeous girlfriend and our beautiful baby! I'll see you tomorrow."

"Oh, yes. Tomorrow," said Ethan, as his stomach clenched uncomfortably. "Tomorrow. Yes."

He heard Cal laugh softly. "Seriously, Nibbles, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Me on the other hand…"

"No, you'll be great," said Ethan. "You've worked so hard and been so focused. You have no reason to worry. I'm sure of that."

They said goodbye. Ethan dried his eyes before his glasses were miraculously restored to his face.

Ethan couldn't help smiling as the blur turned into the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. "Cal and Alicia are going to have a baby."

"I guessed," said Lily. "And I'm so happy for them." She put her hand on Ethan's cheek and stroked it a couple of times before leaning forward to press her lips against his. "You are happy, Ethan, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," said Ethan. "I always wondered how I'd react if it happened… and I thought it probably would happen sooner or later. I mean, they say, um, protection is only 99% effective, so that's once every hundred times and Cal and Alicia… well…" He blushed.

Lily nodded, amusement in her eyes. "Perhaps the only surprise is that it did not happen before! I will phone Alicia now to congratulate her, then we will eat the delicious dinner you've cooked for me."