Part 1. - Changes

Sitting up she began to fuss with the duvet around her obvious frustration filling her face as her husband busied around her, their newborn daughter in one arm and a clutter of baby products in the other, a lack of confidence filled his face. Her hair, needing washed, is tied loosely in a ponytail purely to keep it out of her face not that she cared. Reaching the end of her patience, rather more quickly than normal, she pushes her hands hard into the bed letting out a long dramatic sigh as she did so.

"This is ridiculous! Either let me help or pass me her." without stopping what he was doing or even turning to face her he automatically answers, already having had this conversation with her multiple times today alone never mind over the past week.

"Lisa." he began , hoping to appease his obviously irritated wife."You've just had an emergency C-section you are supposed to be resting."

"Pfft. That was last week." rolling her eyes she begins to slowly get out of the bed "We are supposed to be going home today." pausing she takes a second, trying not to show the pain her stubborn attitude was causing her. "If that idiot doctor listens to me today anyway. Let me help." Stopping in his tracks finally he turns to face her as she gets to her feet, all be it painfully. He bites back the temptation to raise his voice and tone instead remaining calm.
"Lie back down and I'll give you her." she stays stood up, obviously considering her answer so he adds. "You'll open your stitches up and then you'll definitely not be going home today." Still no movement from her, he switches his tone at last, still completely ignoring the 'idiot doctor' remark "Lie. Back. Down." Giving into his sense she sits herself back down, slowly shifting her legs back onto the bed giving him a response full of annoyance.

"I am not a child you know." Smiling he moves forward only passing the tiny tot over to her once she was completely back in bed.

"Then stop behaving like one and do as your told Lisa."

A few weeks had passed since Megan's birth and slowly things were beginning to go back to normal, well the new normal. Peter had adapted to his new sister a lot better than either of the expected him to, to the point he seemed to thrive of helping his mum with the new baby. As for Duffy she found the recovery of this birth a lot more challenging than Peters birth but then they were worlds apart. Her labour and delivery with Peter, although painful to say the least, was almost a textbook first birth but her second couldn't possibly have been more different. After been in active labour for over 42 hours it was suddenly noticed that Megan was in distress and before she even had a chance to think she was been rushed for an emergency c-section which resulted in her haemorrhaging and nearly getting a hysterectomy. Thankfully the latter was avoided but only just and she knew she was lucky it all could have gone so wrong. Needless to say it had quickly been decided that Megan was most certainly their last baby, despite the fact that only a few weeks ago Duffy had remarked she wouldn't mind one more. No. Not after that experience, two was more than enough. She might not be so lucky next time and that wasn't worth the risk. Andrew however had adapted much like Duffy had expected him too, with some struggles. He wasn't finding the challenge of been a father of two, a husband and trying to hold down a new job role easy but Duffy was confident it would get easier, eventually. After all he was a complete amateur around newborns and like any new parent, out of his depth right now. Although part of her knew it wasn't confidence she was feeling at the situation getting better but instead hope. It's all she had.

Cuddling her still tiny daughter close to her chest she opens the door to a very familiar face on the other side. "Hello there stranger." moving away from the doorway to let her guest in she smiles slightly brighter. "Coming in then?"

Moving forward he plants a kiss on his friends cheek before running his hand through the small amount of red hair the baby in her arms had. "You look wonderful mate." Rolling her eyes, a smile still on her face she begins to move towards the kitchen.

"Now that is such a lie Mr Fairhead, but thank you. Come on, I'll go make us tea and you can entertain this one for me." Following her through to her kitchen he smiles, knowing better than to argue with her. "It's very quiet in here today." he glances around the room, looking for a certain missing someone who usually provided most of the noise "Where is Peter hiding?"

"He's with my mother." a knowing look came across her face before forcing a smile "She's worried he's not getting enough attention so has taken him to the Zoo." Nodding, trying not to smile he musters a simple "Ah, I see." If it had been anyone else he would assumed Kate was behaving like an overprotective grandparent but that wasn't what Kate was playing at. One thing he knew well was how easily Kate could wind up Duffy and suggesting she was paying more attention to one child over the other only three weeks after giving birth was a sure fire way to do it. Moving forward she raises her eyebrows, a forced smile still on her face before carefully passing the sleeping infant in her arms over to her former boss. He knew what she was doing, the best way to drop that particular conversation and distract him was to pass him Megan and it worked.

"Ah." a large smile took over his face as he watches the sound infant in his arms "I can't get over how much she looks like you Duffy." She was busy making tea but her movements aren't as quick as normal, easily distracted by Charlie and Megan.

"Mum keeps telling me that too." turning she places the tea in front of Charlie before sitting beside him "I don't see it myself."

"You must be blind, she's your double." finally looking up he shakes his head at her "How are you coping?" Shrugging her shoulders she hates that question, there's no real way to answer it.

"As well as can be expected really. The pain has practically gone it's just the exhaustion but that's not going anywhere soon." that sounded far to negative. "Not that I'm complaining, she's totally worth it." A grin still on his face he quite believed her, trying to push his own envy at all his best friend had at bay. Instead he chooses to wind her up, knowing she'll bite.

"Baby number three soon then?" Outrage filled her face instantly, making him laugh before she'd uttered a word.

"Like hell! There won't be a baby number three! I'm not doing that again." shaking her head she couldn't imagine anything worse right now. "I'm too old anyway." Still laughing he shakes his head once more, what a load of nonsense. "You're only 32 Duffy. Some woman are still having kids in their 40s." Shuddering at the mere thought of that she raises her hands, begging him to stop.

"Ooh Don't! I'm defiantly not having kids in my 40s. Stop it. Please." Sensing not to go any further he stops, still grinning glad he'd never understand the horror on her face.

"Okay, Okay. If you say so. How's Andrew dealing with everything?" Her face fell straight away on the mention of Andrew to the point it worried him.

"I don't know is the honest answer. I think he's finding it a lot of harder than he expected... Not that I didn't expect him to behave this way." There was something else, on the tip of her tongue he could tell but instead she swallowed it returning to her fixed smile.

It was some hours later before the house was whole again Peter, exhausted after his day out with Gran was quietly playing with trucks in the corner as Duffy made dinner. As for Andrew he was currently changing a slightly grumpy Megan upstairs but something in his manner worried Duffy. She knew from experience she was best to leave him to snap out of it, he didn't often get in bad moods but when he did he was something else it was safer for all to just leave him. But tonight she didn't have the patience or energy to tip toe around him. Standing at the bottom of the twisting staircase she leans on the banister, exhausted.

"Andrew! Dinners ready!" A hmph could be heard in reply followed but hushed complaining she couldn't possibly make out as he left their bedroom and made his way stomping down the stairs. His tone on reaching the bottom of the staircase was unnecessary harsh, leaning in slightly too close to his wife, gripping her shoulders a far too tight, he couldn't stop himself. "For gods sake Lisa don't raise your voice! We do have a baby in the house or had you forgotten?! Stupid bloody woman!" Before she had a chance to answer he'd stomped off to the kitchen leaving her stood speechless in the hallway.