"Here we go," Jonny said, parking outside Jac's flat. "Let's get you girls inside, eh?" He jumped out of the car and opened the back door, lifting the baby seat with his daughter nestled inside safely out of the car. Jac sat with her eyes beside the space left by the removal of the car seat, and he realised she was asleep. He reached out gently and touched her shoulder. "Jac," he said softly, shaking her slightly. "Jac, wake up, honey, we're home." She woke with a start and looked around her, blinking.
"God, sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm just so tired," she said with a yawn.
"That's to be expected; you just had a baby four days ago. It's late too, it's almost ten. Let's get you in." Closing the door, he walked around the car and helped Jac out of her seat. She leaned on him slightly as they walked up the path, still sore and finding walking any great distance difficult. He held the door open for her and as it swung shut she leant backwards against it, closing her eyes.
"Sorry, Jonny. I'm knackered," she said, as he crossed the hallway and pressed the button for the lift. "I don't know what's got into me, this isn't like me at all."
"I rather think it's more about what's got out of you, than anything else," Jonny said, with a smile at the sleeping baby. They entered the lift and headed to the fourth floor.

Entering the flat, Jac flung herself down on the settee and looked around. Jonny carried Catherine through to the room that Jac had decorated carefully, setting up baby equipment and painting in neutral cream. He lifted the child out of the car seat and lay her down on the mattress of her cot. She woke up but didn't cry, just looked around curiously at her new surroundings. Jonny switched the baby monitor on and the light off, and headed back to the living room. Jac was sitting in the corner of the settee, her legs tucked up underneath her, looking around the elegantly decorated and furnished room. She exhaled loudly as Jonny sat down beside her. "Bloody hell," she said quietly. "It's so weird, not to be home alone, to know that there is a tiny little life just in the next room, utterly dependent on me. I don't really know what to do with knowing that."
"You're a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Jac. Lives are utterly dependent on you every single day, this isn't really anything new. Or at least, it shouldn't be." Jac batted him with a pillow.
"Oh shut up, Maconie. You know what I mean. I'm so knackered and I just want to sleep for a hundred years, but there's a tiny little kid who's going to call me mummy one day, and I have to listen out for her all night. Bloody hell," she said again, with a deep sigh.
"Why don't you let me stay tonight, Jac?" Jonny suggested quietly. "I can listen out for Catherine, and you can get some proper sleep. It's not like you got much in that ward." Jac shook her head.
"I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. That's far too much for me to ask."
"You're not asking. I'm offering," Jonny said. "I'm owed a day in lieu that I was going to take tomorrow anyway, so I can sleep on the couch tonight and just be here in case you need me. Really, Jac, it would be my privilege. Please." Jac nodded, and then stood up.
"Fine. I'm going to bed. Spare duvet and pillows are in the airing cupboard, and if you snore, you're leaving. I don't care if it is three in the morning, one snore and you're out." With that, she left to her room. Jonny grinned, relieved the fiery spirit he had fallen in love with had returned, and went to sort out some bedding for himself.

"You managing?" Jac said, whispering into the darkness. Jac had heard her baby crying and risen to go to her, but Jonny had beaten her to it, so she had tried to take the opportunity to rest for a moment. Finally, however, the need to comfort her daughter had got to her, and she had to go to her.
"Yep. She's actually fallen asleep again. I just don't want to put her down, I just want to look at her," Jonny replied. Jac snorted.
"God, you're soppy," she said, but as she spoke she walked over to join him, putting her hand on his arm. Jonny had opened the curtain slightly when he had first entered the room, and the light of the moon and the street lights outside shone onto the baby, making just her face visible. Jac exhaled loudly. "How the hell did two people as screwed up as us produce something as totally beautiful as her?"
"Speak for yourself, Naylor. I happen to be a fine specimen of a man." Jac batted him.
"Oh, you're a specimen alright," she said with a smile. Jonny gently lay Catherine back down into her crib and walked Jac back to her room.
"Bed for you, woman. You need to rest up," he said.
"You can't tell me what to do," Jac said, pouting her bottom lip.
"Watch me. Sleep, now. Non-optional."