I look down at the chocolate brown eyes disappearing under luscious long lashes as her lids get heavier. I feel the weight of her in my arms as she relaxes into a peaceful slumber.

"It was those eyes that did it for me you know" I murmur "Well that and everything else" I smile, remembering.

"All round genuine, caring and beautiful person. And an amazing nurse. Had me at 'hello' though if I'm honest. Head tilted up to look at me, that smile and - yep those eyes - I could have dived right in. Shouldda done. There was me, turning up fresh from the army on some crazy mission to reclaim a lass who was never mine in the first place. I could have saved everyone a lot of bother if I'd just followed my instinct and asked for a date there and then I reckon. Still we got there in the end, eh? Two years later and who knew all it would take was that cheeky line in the pub to get us here? Didn't even get an answer, just that smile again. My heart literally stopped beating when I realised I'd pulled that off" I pause and inhale deeply at the recollection. "Crazy thinking I wanted to keep us secret all that time after that, what was I playin' at? No need for secrecy when there's no one to hide from is there? Got so used to being involved with lasses I shouldn't, it muddled my thinking I reckon. It's the spontaneity I've always loved and you don't need secrecy to have that do you? Well, not us two at any rate" I chuckle.

"Talking to yourself again, sweetheart?" Your voice takes me by surprise and my stomach flips as I feel the softest of kisses brush my cheek.

"Humm… Something like that" I mumble. "She's just gone off" I continue, nodding at the bundle in my arms "I'll go and put her down. Back in a sec"

I climb the stairs carefully, push open the door to the nursery with my shoulder and lower her gently into the cot. Shelves of soft toys are illuminated by the soft glow of the night light.

"Boy are you well-loved" I say gently as I look down on her "it was never going to be any other way sweet pea" I stop as I think of the battle we went through to get her and of the tears we both shed as we confided in each other and resolved her childhood could be nothing like our own. My eyes wander from her angelic face to the shadows cast by the letters of her name arched on the wall above her. Florence.

"Destined for a career in nursing with a name like that everyone reckons" I whisper, looking down on her again. "Don't tell anyone though, but it doesn't have to be nursing. If you can do something that makes a difference that makes you happy, and if you're kind and gentle to people, then we'll know you're our girl and we'll be so proud of you whatever you do" I bend down and plant a kiss on her forehead, breathing in the smell of her soft skin as I do. I close my eyes and grip the rails of the cot to steady myself.

"Night night Florrie" I pad back across the room and pull the door gently behind me as I leave.

You're perched on the edge of the sofa when I get back to the living room so I take my customary spot next to you.

"All good?" you ask, continuing when I nod "See I told you you'd be a natural didn't I? Absolutely nothing to worry about"

"Hmmm… I guess you're right" I mutter "You're always right, aren't you?"

"You're making me sound like the boring one!" You protest. "You know full well you've been the sensible one when it matters…"


Two years earlier

"Sweetheart, we've slept through the alarm, we've got half an hour!" I gently shake your shoulder.

"Not again" you mumble, rolling your face into the pillow.

"Come on, you know what this calls for, don't you?"

"Team shower" comes the muffled response and a giggle. In a bound I am round to your side of the bed, scooping you up and heading for the bathroom. You scream as I deposit you in the enclosure and the initial blast of cold spray hits your body.

"Iain Dean you will pay for that!" you gasp dodging the stream of water and grabbing my shaving gel. I intercept an obvious attempt to squirt the entire contents at my head and cover you instead, laughing because it now looks like someone has decorated you with silly string.

"You are a child" you announce, shaking your head but your eyes are laughing too. Suddenly I am pushing you against the tiles, my mouth on yours and my hands sliding over your skin, gel bursting into foam at my touch, the now warm water cascading over both of us.

Then I stop abruptly and take an involuntary step backwards. Your eyebrows furrow as you try to read my changed expression.

"What?" You ask softly, a hint of concern in your voice.

"Rita…" I push the excess water off my face with one hand, the other still rests on your breast. The last of the suds are washed away as I try desperately to block out the potential enormity of the three words I'm about to say.