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The terrified screaming in the middle of night woke Jac instantly. She was out of bed and pulling on her husband's thick dressing gown before he had even sat up and snapped on the bedside lamp.

'I'll go Jonny, you go back to sleep' she spoke groggily as she fumbled for the door handle. 'Julia hates having an audience you know that.'

'If you're sure' Jonny mumbled, still blinking from the sudden change of complete darkness to light.

'Sure' Jac nodded 'you're on nights for the next four days don't forget.' she stepped out into the hall and closed the bedroom door behind her. The terrified screams had been replaced by sobbing and Jac knew the young girl had managed to wake herself out of her nightmare. Jac quickly tiptoed down the hall, trying her best to avoid any of the squeaky floorboards. As soon as she opened to door to Julia's room the child cried out with relief.

'Mum?'

'Shh, its ok angel, I'm here' Jac soothed her as she sat down on the bed and gathered her into her arms. She smoothed the girl's wavy long blond hair as she held her tightly, letting her cry.

'I'm sorry' Julia spoke thickly through her tears.

'What for?' Jac asked softy.

'For waking you up'

'I don't care, I want you to wake me' Jac kissed the top of Julia's head. 'You don't have to deal with all this stuff alone, you know that.' As Julia finished crying Jac released her hold on her, allowing the child to sit up straight.

'I was so frightened, it was like I was really back there' Julia spoke a little breathlessly.

'I know' Jac nodded. 'It's as real is it can be for those few seconds isn't it?' she watched as Julia nodded. 'You've not had a nightmare like that for a while though right?' Jac smiled softly.

'I thought they'd disappeared for good' Julia sniffed. 'I wanted them to be gone so I could be normal.'

'Unfortunately what we have is what we have' Jac spoke matter of factually. 'You can't change it but you can learn to live with it.' She wiped away the last of the young girls tears with her hand as she spoke 'if I could take it all away from you I would but I'm so proud of how far you've come.' She cupped Julia's face with her hands as she spoke 'Dad and I are both so proud of you.' She smiled as Julia smiled softly. 'Do you want me to sleep here with you?'

'No' Julia shook her head 'I'm ok now.'

'Ok' Jac kissed Julia's forehead and helped her to settle back down under sheets. Just as she was about to leave Julia grasped hold of her hand.

'Thanks Mum' she spoke seriously.

Jac smiled, knowing this was Julia's way of saying I love you. She squeezed the child's hand as she spoke 'just try to get some sleep angel, I'll see you in the morning.'


'If I could get hold of those evil pieces of filth who did that to her…' Jonny mumbled leaving his threats unfinished as his wife got back into bed beside him.

'It wouldn't ease Julia's suffering, whatever happened to them' Jac sighed as she snuggled up to her husband. 'Just let it satisfy you that they won't be leaving prison for a very long time.'

'Yeah, well I hope everything you hear about the level of abuse paedophiles receive from other inmates is true' Jonny grumbled, holding his wife close to him. 'We should try to make this autumn half term really special for her, for both the girls.' He kissed his wife gently 'what if you and the girls went to Sacha's beach house for a few days? Just peace and calm, it would probably do you all the world of good.'

'I could ask I suppose' Jac mumbled in between soft kisses with her husband. 'Do you think you could try to get some time off, you could come with us?'

'We're really stretched for nurses Jac' he spoke apologetically. Jonny had given up work for a year to help settle Julia into the family. After this break he decided he wanted to return to front line nursing working as a staff nurse back on Darwin. 'But if you're away I could see about getting boiler replaced. There's no way that relic is going last us through a whole winter and that way you could return to a beautifully heated home.'

'You're a good man Jonny Maconie' Jac laughed softly before kissing him passionately. She deepened the kiss and ran her hands down his body.

'Hmmm, if I'd known suggesting getting the boiler replaced would be this well received I would have mentioned it sooner' he joked as his wife's hand slipped inside his boxer shorts.

'Shut up and just get on with it Maconie' Jac laughed softly in his ear as his own eager hands fumbled to remove her clothes.

'God, I love you Naylor' Jonny groaned to his wife in pleasure.

'Shh, I know' Jac whispered before kissing him 'but we need to be quiet, I'm not sure how sound proof these walls are.' So it was through whispers, supressed giggles and muted groans the couple expressed the love they felt for each other.


'So then Sophia wakes up and I thought I'd got away with settling her back down in under ten minutes when who's awake again? Yep that's right you guessed it; Oscar. Honestly I don't know how Mo does it' Sacha chuckled as he recalled is unsuccessful attempts to settle his twin toddlers whilst his wife was working. He looked across at his friend to see she was distracted by her own thoughts. 'Sorry, I've been boring you with baby babble again haven't I?' Sacha lightly touched his friends shoulder to bring her back to the present.

'I'm just tired that's all' Jac spoke apologetically as she accepted the coffees they had been waiting for from the barista. 'Julia had one of her terrible nightmares.'

'Oh no, poor kid' Sacha spoke sympathetically as they sat down at a table together in the hospital coffee shop.

'It just makes you feel so helpless as a parent' Jac shrugged 'there's something wrong but I can't fix it.'

'I think you and Jonny are doing so much for that kid, she's lucky she met you' Sacha smiled comfortingly.

'Would it be completely warm and fluffy if I said I feel like the lucky one?' Jac grinned shyly 'two beautiful daughters and a loving husband.'

'Wonderfully warm and fluffy' Sacha chuckled 'but don't worry, I won't tell anyone.'

'Could I ask a favour and borrow the beach house for a few days next week?'

'Sure, take it for as many days as you need' Sacha nodded. 'You thinking a bit of sea air will do Julia some good?'

Jac nodded 'that and I've got two weeks to keep them entertained in somewhat dilapidated house.'

'Well you insisted on private schooling with their extra-long holidays' Sacha chuckled

'If I have standards Levy I'm not going to apologise for it' Jac jokingly narrowed her eyes at her friend.

'I've never heard you apologise for anything.' Sacha teased his friend before adding seriously 'you're a good mum Jac, you've given those girls the best of everything.'

'I want them to have everything I didn't' Jac shrugged modestly 'and the best start into adulthood that I can possibly give them.'

'Well now seeing as I've given you free rein of our holiday home the least you can do is make scathing comments about these adorable photos I took of Evelyn helping me with the twins yesterday' Sacha grinned proudly as he passed his friend his phone.

'I never understand why you men turn a few hours a childcare into an event' Jac rolled her eyes as she looked at the happy family images. 'Honestly you'd think no one had ever fed, bathed and put a small child to bed before. Just about every mother on the planet achieves this daily without making a big song and dance about it. Jonny was just the same. He actually used to call me when he'd gotten Ava to bed on time whilst I was working the nightshift, as if expecting praise for it.'

Sacha just sat opposite his friend and laughed at her rantings. He loved her and her honesty; if he ever needed a black and white perspective Jac Naylor was his one true friend.