Some time around Holly's 30th birthday she realises that despite having a job she loves and a great family and wonderful friends there is something missing from her life.

She can't figure out what she could be missing but she is sure that as perfect as her life looks from the outside there is something else she wants.

She tries getting a puppy but quickly discovers she is horribly allergic and has to bring him back to the shelter. She tries taking up sports, going to cookery classes, all kinds of things until one day it dawns on her. She wants a family of her own, and she doesn't have to wait around for the love of her life to come along to start a family.

She goes through all the long processes of artificial insemination and after a few tries she finds herself pregnant with a tiny human and she is absolutely ecstatic.

On a freezing winter morning with her parents by her side Holly gives birth to a tiny baby boy with an unexpected shock of dark red hair (Holly supposes that maybe it isn't all that surprising because she knows so little about her sperm donor).

Holly has always had a weird love for Irish folklore so she names him Rory and it fits him perfectly, with his bright green eyes and red hair no one could be blamed for thinking he had Irish blood.

/

When Holly meets Gail for the first time at a crime scene they are instantly drawn to each other and quickly start dating (Holly is not the first woman Gail has been with).

Gail becomes slightly concerned because Holly always ends their dates quite early and is never free on weekends, but she assumes Holly just wants to take it slow because they've only known each other a few weeks.

Holly is usually completely open with people about Rory because she adores him and cannot help but want to talk about him all the time, but when she meets Gail she panics because she hasn't had any kind of serious relationship since he was born.

She really wants it to work with Gail and doesn't want to scare her off. She of course has nothing to worry about because Gail adores children and is quickly starting to adore Holly so any child related to her will most likely be Gail's greatest weakness.

/

One day, about 3 weeks after they start dating, Holly is dropping a file over to 15 (the courier was sick) and she spots Gail sitting with a young girl and showing her games on an iPad. When the little girl is settled Gail spots Holly and wanders over to her and Holly panics

'Hi Hols'

'I have one of them'

'One of what? Oh an IPad? Ok..'

'No not an iPad'.

'Oh?'

'A child'

'You have a kid?'

'Yeah he's three and I meant to tell you ages ago but I panicked cause you're so great and I really like you and I haven't really had any relationships since I had him and now you're going to stop wanting to see me cause this is way too much baggage'

'What's his name?'

'Rory'

'I'd really like to meet him sometime'

'You would? You're not mad?'

'I'm not even a little mad, Holly he's your son, it's your choice who you tell him about or who you expose him to'

'Ok'

'Ok'

'Are you free on Saturday afternoon? We usually go to the park on Saturdays'

'I'd love that'

That's the moment realises that she should never underestimate Gail and how open hearted she is.

They go for dinner that evening and all Gail wants to hear about is the little man who lights up Holly's whole face when she talks about him.

'Is he the reason you always went home early? That you never, eh, wanted to stay over?' Gail asks, a little embarrassed by her insecurities.

'Well first off, I wanted to stay over, I just couldn't, because yeah I had babysitters and I don't like to make them stay too late. Sometimes my parents are able to stay over but they have their own lives so I don't like to ask too often. I really like you Gail, I just wanted to take it slow because I have a little boy to protect, but I think he's going to love you'.

'You do?'

'Yeah now that I think about it I'm a little worried it won't be too long before the two of you are ganging up on me to bring you snacks and wait on you hand and foot!'.

/

A few weeks after Gail meets Rory and they are completely smitten with each other, Holly realises that she needs to explain to Rory that Gail is not just her friend and that she's going to be spending a lot of time with them.

She has no idea how to explain dating to a 3 year old but she does her best. Holly's best is not necessarily good enough in this particular situation.

The next time Gail goes over to their house Rory is playing in his room and Gail goes in to say hi while Holly finishes some work

'Hey Buddy, how're you?

'I'm not your Buddy.'

'Huh? You're not? I thought we were friends, did I do something wrong?'

'Nope'

'Then how come we're not buddies anymore?'

'Cause now you're my girlfriend'

'I am?'

'Yep, Mama says girlfriends are when you spend lots of time together and eat dinner together and watch movies and stuff. So you have to be my girlfriend cause we do all those things.'

'Oh'

'Wanna play zoo?'

After playing with her new boyfriend for a little while Gail goes to find Holly and explain

'Babe, I think you need to work on your explanation skills'

'Oh yeah? Why?'

'Your beautiful child thinks I'm now his girlfriend not yours'

'Wait what?'

'He told me what you said makes people girlfriends and because he and I do all those things together then I must be his girlfriend. He's going to be heartbroken when he finds out I'm seeing someone else'

'Oh god, how did I do that?'

'I have no idea but I think you should probably clarify for him before he goes around telling people he has a 30 year old girlfriend and I get arrested'.

The two can hardly contain their laughter at the misunderstanding. 'I can't believe you tried to set me up with your three year old son Hols!'

/

The first time Rory see's Gail in her uniform is probably one of the most entertaining moment of either Gail or Holly's lives so far. For some reason it hasn't come up that Gail is a police officer and Rory completely flips out and thinks it's the best thing ever. His voice becomes even more high pitched than usual and immediately starts demanding his own police officer uniform for Halloween.

Rory is not so enamoured with the idea of Gail being a cop after the first time she is seriously injured at work and ends up spending a few days in hospital after some lunatic stabs her. Holly frets over it, but eventually gives in to Rory's questions about Gail's absence from his life for more than 48 hours and gives him the child friendly version of what happened.

'But Mama where is she?'

'She can't be here right now Ro I'm sorry, you'll have to show her your new drawing the next time you see her'.

'Now Mama'

'Rory no I'm sorry, you can't see her right now'

'She doesn't wanna see me anymore Mama?'

'No Baby that's not it at all, look, I need to explain something to you ok?'

Rory nods his understanding

'You know how Gail works as a police officer? Well sometimes being a police officer means you have to do things that are dangerous, and yesterday Gail was working and she got a little bit hurt, so now she has to rest and get better'

'Is she in the hospital Mama?' Rory asks with wide eyes

'Yeah Baby she is, but she is going to be just fine, I saw her this morning and the doctors said she will be able to go home in a few days'

'OK so we can go to the hospital now?'

'Rory I don't think that's a good idea, she needs to rest so she can feel better'

'But Gail is by herself and she can't get better by herself we have to help, we have to bring her yum food and cuddles, you said those are the sick rules Mama, you said'

Holly is conflicted but knows Gail is missing Rory as much as he is missing her so she reluctantly brings him to the hospital, with some cheese puffs and Rory's favourite blanket and she knows instantly is was worth it because Gail's face lights up more than she thought possible once she sees her little man.

'Rory! Did your Mum smuggle you in here?'

'Gail!'

'Come here you big snuggle bug you owe me some cuddles!'.