Readers, this is a sequel of sorts to "Home". Once again, I remind you- I'm a southern girl writing late 50's England. I may NOT always get the terminology right, but I'm trying.

Part One: Realization

Shelagh awoke slowly- first stretching out to full length- then reached for her glasses. With her glasses on, she could now focus properly on the world around her. It was in the darkness before the dawn, and a sound or something had awoken her. It took her a few seconds to focus again, and she realized she hadn't dreamed the sound. There was a tiny baby in this room crying and it was her daughter.

"Angela," she whispered, "I'm coming."

Climbing out of the bed and grabbing her robe, she turned toward the moses basket. There in it was her daughter- who was working up to a loud cry- in it. Reaching down, Shelagh tenderly picked her up and realized part of the reason why her daughter was awake- her nappie was soiled.

Shelagh quietly crept to the dresser and proceeded to change Angela- quietly talking to her- hoping to calm her down. It seemed her daughter did not care to be dirty at all- it was one of the few times she really fussed- was when her nappie needed to be changed. Shelagh had quickly realized the quicker the job was done, the happier and quieter her daughter would be.

It was a different world, Shelagh now realized, caring for an infant twenty-four seven. Angela's needs were demanded to be cared for- she wanted them to be taken care of as soon as possible. Wednesday evening- which seemed ages ago- she and her husband had shared a romantic dance and evening after Timothy had gone to bed.

Ever since Angela had arrived two days ago, all their attention and focus was on her needs. In fact, she needed to finish a shopping list for Patrick and Timothy to take with them this morning. She would stay behind and take care of Angela.

"C'mon darling," Shelagh whispered, "and let's let Daddy sleep. He has a busy morning ahead of him buying stuff for you!"

Cradling her daughter in her arms, Shelagh carried her downstairs. She placed the soiled nappie in the wash bucket. She quietly sighed when she realized it would have to be started today. It was then she realized that she had a minor problem. She couldn't place her daughter safely- the only place was in her arms. The moses basket plus Angela was a bit too heavy for her to manage on the stairs. Patrick was the only one who could handle that scenario. It was something that would be needed to be addressed sooner rather than later. She would have to remember to ask Patrick to bring down the moses basket before he left on the big shopping trip.

Shelagh spotted the notepad that Timothy had started Saturday night on the kitchen table. She eyed the list and pondered it. The cot would work in the baby's room, but she wasn't ready for Angela to sleep in there by herself yet. She needed a place to keep her downstairs that would grow with her. A bassinet seemed to be the answer at the moment. She carefully walked into the living room, all the while tenderly rocking her daughter, and eyed the arrangement. There had to be a place to keep the bassinet for the time being. She finally decided on how to rearrange the furniture when Angela started whimpering.

"I know what you want, Angela" Shelagh said smiling at her daughter. "I'm going to make you one right now."

She walked with her daughter and started the bottle making process. All those years of midwifing were paying off as Shelagh quickly counted and assessed her current supplies. She quickly estimated how many bottles a day Angela was going through- around 12- and about the same number of nappies. Counting the bottles, she realized that they had only six. Would it be selfish of her as a new mother to request at least three more? With only six, she and Patrick were washing and cleaning bottles every third feeding. The nappies were another query to ponder as she settled down to feed Angela. If her estimation was right, she would like to have another dozen at least. As of right now, she had two upstairs and only one remaining downstairs. Once she could place Angela safely down to sleep, she could start a wash load. It would be sometime thanks to the dreary England weather for them to dry. She smirked at the idea of an inside clothes line, but it made some sense. With the weather getting colder, it did take longer for the clothes to dry in the winter, and this little one went through clothes faster than the rest of them.

"Well, young lady," Shelagh said to her daughter as she tenderly burped her, "You are certainly going to cause a great many changes around here for one so small!"

Patrick smiled at the sight of his wife and daughter. He quietly snuck in a kiss to both his wife and daughter and started the hot water. He also started the water for tea and pulled down two clean cups. Shelagh smiled as she watched her husband do these simple tasks. The last time she remembered seeing him so relaxed was on their honeymoon!

"Did you bring down the moses basket?" Shelagh asked quietly.

"No, I didn't. Do you want me to fetch it?" Patrick asked as he began washing the bottles and nipples.

"Please," Shelagh replied. "I need a place to put Angela to keep her safe while I start laundry. Would you be apposed to us having an inside clothing line?"

Patrick pondered the question and asked, "Why?"

"It hit me this morning that we are going to have more washing to do with Angela. With the weather turning colder, it's going to be harder to get nappies, burp cloths and her clothes dry," Shelagh said with a hint of knowing in her tone.

"Yes, that is true I suppose. I guess I can string up one later today," Patrick said while steeping their teas. He brought the cups with him to the table and the two quietly drank them."Anything else you're pondering?"

"The shopping list. I would love a bassinet for down here- something I can keep her in while I do everyday things. Once she's outgrown the moses basket, we can move the bassinet to our room. I know Chummy has said she keeps a playpen for Fred downstairs which will work when this one is older," Shelagh said smiling tenderly down at her daughter.

"That does make sense. The upstairs-downstairs of this house does make it difficult with infant care," Patrick pondered. "I'm thinking of stopping by the Noake's on my way home and check up on them. Would you like me to ask if we can use their bassinet?"

"Only if I could do the asking," Shelagh responded. "I was thinking of going to visit them. Sister Julienne mentioned they were overwhelmed with food, and I know Chummy wouldn't mind sharing with us. I could go over there once you and Timothy returned from shopping."

"How would you get back here?" Patrick asked wonderingly- always the practical one when it came to transporting items.

"I could call Fred while you're gone and explain the situation. I know that you mentioned that several of those boxes need to go to Nonnatus House. So, he could pick me up at the Noakes and drive me home. Once home, you could give him the stuff," Shelagh replied.

"Hmmm...that might work. I'm not too sure about you walking over to the Noakes by yourself, but it could work," replied Patrick.

"It's less than half a mile. I'm sure I will be fine. If not, I'm sure Fred or the Reverend could drive me over there," Shelagh replied.

"I would feel better if you were driven," Patrick said. He picked up their empty tea cups and said, "I'll go fetch the basket for you. I'm going to hit the shower before Timothy wakes up and wants breakfast."

Shelagh nodded and said, "I'll start breakfast once you bring down the basket."

Patrick tenderly kissed his wife and rubbed his daughter's back before quietly creeping up the stairs.