She took the lollipop out of her mouth with a faint 'pop', taking her eyes off the project in front of her just briefly so she could look at her Nana.

"Why did daddy have to take mummy to the doctor?"

"They're just checking on the baby," Evelyn explained. "They have to make sure that everything's alright and that it's still happy."

"So she has to go get it early?"

Evelyn frowned. "Sorry?"

"From the doctor."

Evelyn was puzzled for a few seconds before realization dawned on her. She looked down at the little girl who was colouring a picture of a stegosaurus. She chuckled softly to herself before walking over to Emily with her usual afternoon cuppa.

"Well… no. Not exactly. She already has the baby."

Emily's little nose scrunched up into a frown as the tilted her head in confusion.

She looked up at Evelyn. "She does? Where? I didn't see it."

Evelyn sat down beside her. "It's in her tummy. The doctor has to go in and get it."

The little girl shook her head. "Nu uh. Stork brings it."

Evelyn chuckled. "Does he? And who told you that?"

"Daddy," she smiled.

Evelyn bit her lip, trying her best not to giggle.

She thought about her words very carefully. She didn't want to contradict whatever Kenneth had told her, but she hated to lie flat out.

"Well… erm… the stork tucks the baby away so it's all nice and safe in the mother's tummy, and then the doctors go and get it."

Emily giggled and shook her head. "He does not, Nana. He takes the baby to hospital and drops it in a pram."

She folded her arms very matter-of-factly as if daring Evelyn to contradict her.

Evelyn couldn't help the tiny giggle that escaped her this time.

"So you're telling me that the mummy doesn't have the baby with her at all?"

The young girl nodded.

Evelyn mirrored her folded arms and sat back on the couch, turning her body in to face Emily a little more. She was suddenly anxious to hear what else her grandchild had been told.

"Alright. Well why does the mummy get such a big tummy?"

"She eats a lot," the girl shrugged as if the answer was obvious.

"So you're telling me that the stork takes the baby to hospital, drops it in a pram, and the mummy goes and gets it?" Emily nodded. "And she gets so big because she eats a lot."

"That's it," she smiled.

"Alright, then why doesn't the stork just bring the baby to the mummy instead of having her drive all that way to go get it?"

Evelyn bit back a laugh at her exasperated huff.

"Nana…" she rolled her eyes. "There's tons of babies! If he took a baby to all the mummies who want one his wings would get too tired, so he just drops them all in one place."

She snorted. "Where does the stork get all the babies from, then?"

"Heaven."

Evelyn ran a hand over her face. This little one had certainly thought of everything.

"Alright. How does he keep track of which baby goes to which mummy? If he gets them all from the same place and he takes them all to the same place, why don't they all get mixed up?"

"The little hats. They've got numbers on so the nurses can sort them. Then the doctor wraps it in a blanket and the mummy goes to get it."

Evelyn turned her eyes up toward the ceiling and shook her head, laughing quietly to herself.

"Thank you for clearing that up for me."

Emily nodded just once, before turning her attention back to the colouring page in front of her.

Evelyn heard the front door open and turned to see Douglas walking through to the kitchen.

"My favorite girls," he smiled and bent down to kiss Evelyn before giving Emily a quick peck on the top of her head. "What have I missed, hmm?"

"Emily was just explaining where babies come from. Apparently, I've got it all wrong," she smiled.

Douglas giggled. "Oh? Well, she is very bright. All her teachers say so. I'm sure she knows what she's talking about." He smirked and tickled the back of her neck, making her squeal with laughter. "Don't you, Em?"

"Granddad! No fair!" she giggled and dropped her coloured pencil to try and block Douglas's hands.

Evelyn got up from her place at the table and Emily quickly scrambled out of her chair, determined not to be left behind.

"Are you sure you want to come with me? Wouldn't you have more fun here with granddad?"

Douglas chuckled as she whipped a lolly out of her mouth, sticking her chin out defiantly. She certainly inherited her grandmother's stubborn streak.

"Nana, I'm six. I want to help."

Evelyn smiled. "Alright, then. Since you are such a big girl now."

Emily beamed. She popped the sweet back into her mouth and skipped off to find the little powder blue purse that Evelyn had given her for her birthday. Evelyn had to chuckle at her little blonde pigtails bouncing behind her as she made her way down the hallway and into her room, which she was very proud of.

She had gotten rid of her old child-like bed and convinced Laura to get her a larger one. Not as large as the one in Laura's room of course, but large enough that Emily was satisfied with her new "big girl bed". The new and improved furnishing was a small sleigh bed. She'd chosen it herself when Laura took her to the shops. The past Christmas, she'd drawn little reindeer on coloured paper and taped them to the footboard, quite close to where her stocking dangled from the end.

'Father Christmas has to deliver all the presents and there's three of us, plus you and granddad. The reindeer get lonely waiting so long.'

Emily skipped back down the hall, purse in hand.

"Ready, Nana?"

"Ready," she smiled. "Do you know what you'd like to buy?"

"Umm… blankets," she smiled. "Green blankets. So he won't get cold."

Douglas smiled. "But we don't know it's a 'he' yet, do we? What if it happens to be a girl?"

Emily shrugged and took Evelyn's hand, pulling her down the hallway toward the door.

"We can get lots of colors so when it gets here it can pick."

Evelyn laughed. "Well, I guess that's sorted then." She waved to Douglas as Emily dragged her out the door. She called back over her shoulder, "If Laura and Kenneth get home before we do, just tell them I've gone to visit Penelope and I took Emily with me."

The little girl tugged on her hand again. "Nana! Come on! They'll buy all the blankets before we get there!"

Douglas giggled from the hall, waving to his wife one last time before closing the door and making his way back through to the kitchen.

He was actually rather surprised that Emily hadn't given anything away yet. She was a very clever little girl, but sometimes, in all the excitement, her mouth ran away with her.

They were all certain she'd have problems with their being a new baby in the family, but she seemed taken with the idea of being a big sister. Douglas suspected that Emily was tired of being the smallest in the family. She probably hoped that if Laura had a new baby, it would make everyone start treating her like a big girl. She was six, after all (as she'd pointed out almost every day since her birthday).

The only hitch was that Emily got all her cleverness from her mother, and he was sure Laura suspected something by now. She didn't let on that she knew anything, but Douglas knew better than to trust that. Evelyn was quite the same way. It was difficult to surprise her. She was just as good at finding out about them as she was at keeping them. She always told him she wouldn't go snooping, but inevitably her curiosity would get the better of her.

Luckily, Laura had the baby and all the preparations for the birth to divert her attention, so between herself and Douglas, they could always find something to hold her focus while they got another little bit done for the party.

He called and double checked the cake, which was to be delivered later that afternoon, then hurried upstairs to finish wrapping the presents he'd tucked away in their bedroom. He wanted everything to be just right. Deep down, he knew Laura would love it no matter what, but he couldn't help wanting to spoil her. She was his only daughter. He wanted everything to be as perfect as possible for his little girl.

For all his girls.

He smiled to himself as he thought about the surprise he had brewing for Evelyn's birthday, which was rapidly approaching. They'd all been so distracted by the preparations for the new baby, he doubted she even realized how close they were to the date. He looked over at the opposite of the bed and ran his hand over her pillow.

She'd run herself ragged these past few months, trying to be sure that Laura was properly taken care of, but she'd taken very little time to be sure that she was taking care of herself. She refused to let Douglas spoil her. There was always something to get for the baby or Laura. Always somewhere she needed to take Emily. And while Douglas absolutely loved how devoted she was to his… no, their family, he didn't want her to exhaust herself. He decided that her birthday would be all about her, with no interruptions, no babies, no big girl six year olds. Nothing but peace and quiet.

He sighed, looking down at the crème coloured wrapping paper. There were little yellow ducks printed on and they all wore tiny nappies on their tails.

"First thing's first," he muttered to himself, tearing another piece of tape. He made a crease with his fingernail and folded the paper over, taping it the last bit down securely. He inspected the box, adding a small bow to the top before placing the gift on the pile with the others.