Shelagh sat with her head leaning on the window, waiting for Patrick to return from his three AM house call. It was now half past four and her eyes were threatening to close, she sent him off and had waited up for him hoping he wouldn't be out all night. Just as she fell asleep the call pulled up, he walked up the miles of stairs and kicked off the shoes that were pinching his aching toes. She stirred only slightly when she was gently lifted into his arms, he paused before laying her onto the bed and took in her sweet scent of palm olive and lux. He covered her with the eiderdown, quickly changed and climbed in with her.

A few hours of sleep some time later Shelagh woke with a scream of panic and tears pouring down her cheeks. She shook Patrick with great force and burrowed into him, needing and trying to be as close as possible to him.

"What's wrong love?!" He asked, worry sinking into his voice.

"Oh, Patrick! I had-this-horrible-nightmare-that-I-lost-the-baby-and-" Shelagh was so shook up that she was running her words together and was quickly cut off by Patrick.

"What baby! What are you talking about?"

"Our baby!" She moved his hand to her stomach.

"Shelagh! How far?" His eyes widened, her hand interlocking with his on her belly.

"About fifteen weeks I think"

"Fifteen weeks!"

"I thought I'd lose the baby, I didn't want to put you through that again." Shelagh hid her face and tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her. As he pulled her closer he could feel his heart shattering into a million bits and pieces.

"Shelagh, my dear Shelagh. You didn't think I wouldn't want to be there for you even in loss? I'm always here."

"I...I'm sorry Patrick, I was foolish and scared." She clutched onto his shirt and took in a relaxing breath of his scent, feeling her hot tears dip off her cheeks.

"Wait here" Patrick ran down the stairs as quickly as possible trying not to wake up Timothy. He grabbed his med bag and hurried back up to his waiting wife.

"Here" He nodded, and she raised her green and blue flowered nightdress. Patrick sat a little closer to her and placed the stethoscope on her small barely there bump, he moved it to one side then slightly over and smiled

"Go ahead, listen here." Shelagh eyes glistened and beamed, she was carrying a life inside her, a tiny little being that they made together.

"See it's all okay, no need for worry. Ah, we still have forty winks to catch!" She laid the stethoscope down and the two drifted off to sleep.

"Patrick!" She used every last ounce of breath and energy she had left. Gasping she choked on her words.

"He-l-p…" By the time he found her it was too late. She was gone.

"Shelagh, my dear Shelagh. I'm so-so so-r-r-y!" He broke, crying and only mouthing his words, as nothing but air was coming out.

"Why!" He yelled, collapsing and holding her close to him.

Shelagh shot out of bed with a scream for the second time, realizing there was no one sleeping behind her. She pulled the stethoscope out from the nightstand once more and listened, reassuring herself as she heard the swishes. She laid back and didn't hear Patrick bolt into the room. Instead of saying anything he simply laid down next to her and pulled her close. She set the instrument aside and laid her hand over his.

"Patrick?" She softly asked.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Why do I feel…" She thought about the strange sensation for a moment before speaking again. "Bubbles?"

"That would be our little bear moving, and turning."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up as she turned her head to look at him.

"Really." He replied, his voice laid with tender warmth that she loved.

"Shelagh, I think you should go see your mother a visit, hmm?"

"I think you are right"