"Hey, Emily," Ben smiled and perched on the young girl's bed. "It's good to see you awake." Picking up the chart off the end of the bed, he started to check her overnight vital signs. "How's the pain?" He asked, gently.

"Hurts," Emily sniffed. It was now a day after her skating accident and the young girl still looked extremely pale and seemed very drowsy.

"Okay, I'll give you something for that," Ben closed the chart and reached for in his pocket for his pen light. "I'm just going to shine this into your eyes again, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good girl," he then praised when Emily tried to pull away from the light. "You're doing so well," moving the light to check her other eye he sighed at her still sluggish pupil response. He clicked his pen light off and placed it back into his top pocket.

"Do you feel dizzy?"

"Uh huh." Emily closed her eyes and let her head loll to one side.

"Are you still tired, princess?"

"Uh huh."

Ben was not happy with the little girl's progress, at all. "I'm going to fetch you something for your headache, Emily," he sighed, mentally wishing they had a CT scanner, he really wanted to have a look at what was going on in his patient's head.

"Where's my Mummy," Emily sniffed again and Ben gently stroked her forehead, mindful of the dressing that covered the row of stitches.

"She's gone for a little sleep," he soothed. "She sat at your side the whole time you slept so she's very tired."

"Kay," Emily mumbled and Ben's heart sank at her lethargic response. She was still too sleepy for his liking.

"Won't be long," he patted her leg and stood.

"Stay with me, Platon," Emily sighed, "I'm scared."

"I know," Ben pulled her covers up to her shoulders. "But, you are going to be just fine, I promise."

"Kay."

After watching Emily give in to her exhaustion, Ben crossed to the medicine station where Drena was clearing up.

"She's not improving as fast as I would like," he said and removed a syringe of analgesic.

"She is very drowsy," Drena agreed and passed him an emesis bowl to place the syringe in.

Ben glanced back at his sleeping patient. "I'm going to stay with her," he stated. "Will you be all right to go to Mari's, Drena?"

"Anton is bringing round the buggy as we speak," Drena nodded.

"How's the weather?"

"Clearing."

"Go carefully," Ben urged. "I'll hold down the fort."

"What fort?"

Ben sighed heavily and shook his head as he made his way over to Emily again. He must make sure Sam sent him over the book of Earth sayings next check in.

"Never mind, Drena," he called over as he injected the painkiller into a port on Emily's IV. "Just take your time, don't rush and give Mari and Greta my love."

"I will."

Ben placed the used syringe into the sharps box on this patient's bedside cabinet and took a seat at her side again. He needed to keep a close eye on the young girl.

Xxx

"Feeling better?" Hanah looked up and smiled at her daughter as she walked into the kitchen, tying her hair back with a rag.

"Yes," Lilly smiled, kissed her mother's cheek and crossed over to the sink to wash her hands. "What time is it?"

"After four," Hanah continued with her task of chopping vegetables for the evening meal. "You've slept the day away," she grinned at her daughter when she took a seat on the opposite side of the table. "You do look better, though," she observed as Lilly reached for another knife.

"I'm feeling so much better," Lilly nodded. "Thank goodness," she added as she picked up a carrot.

"Benjamin was very worried."

"I know," Lilly proceeded to peel and chop the vegetable. "I did feel awful," she admitted tossing the pieces into the pot in the middle of the table.

"And, you looked awful, child," Hanah smiled sadly as she added her potatoes into the pot.

"Yes, well, I feel fine now," Lilly nodded again as both women continued with preparation. "Smells good ma," Lilly smiled over at her mother.

"Well, we have fish for supper," Hanah said as she continued to chop. "Cara's favourite."

Lilly glanced round the room, expecting to see her younger sister. "Where is Cara?"

"She and your father have gone to collect her new beau."

"And...who is he?" Lilly tossed another handful of carrots into the pot.

Hanah picked up another potato. "His name is Edward Pollard and he is a metal worker from out of town," she informed as she pealed.

Lilly shook her head. "I haven't heard of him."

"His family have travelled from the country to set up home."

Lilly took a bite of her carrot. "Where did Cara meet him?" She asked with her mouthful of carrot.

"Edward is assisting with metal work lessons at the schoolhouse." Hanah grabbed the now full pot of vegetables and crossed to the sink. "I do believe they hit it off straight away."

Lilly made her way to her mother's side and snagged another carrot out of the pot. "She deserves someone special," she nodded as she crunched.

"Yes, she does," Hanah, agreed. "And you must stop eating all the carrots," she scolded, light-heartedly. "We will have none left for supper."

"What? I'm hungry," Lilly grouched.

"Of that fact, I am pleased, Lilly Lou," Hanah patted her daughters arm. "Go. Sit. I will make you something a little more substantial and that will not upset your stomach." Reaching up she gently brushed Lilly's hair out of her eyes and kissed her cheek. "It is good to see you looking so much better."

Lilly returned the peck on the check. "Thanks, ma," she replied and then turned to the table again. "Do you want me to make a start on the apples? I am assuming there is Apple Pie to follow," she grinned. "It is Cara's favourite."

"Of course," Hanah nodded. "Now, sit, chop, I'll fix you that sandwich."

As she prepared the snack for her daughter, she watched as Lilly sang softly as she worked. She was so glad that Lilly felt and looked so much better as it was a long time since they'd spent quality mother/daughter time together. It was no one's fault, they all lead busy lives but as Lilly continued to sing, Hanah was reminded of many Sundays spent round the table with her girls, preparing lunch. They would put the world to right as they worked. Hanah missed those times and, after placing the sandwich in front of Lilly, she sat and joined in with the folk song.

Xxx

Ben smiled when he heard his wife's laughter as he made his way into the dining room. The sound lessened his worry about her condition, as did the sight of her giggling and nudging her father's arm as he passed her a plate.

"Sorry, I'm late," Ben, whispered as he kissed his mother in laws cheek.

"It's fine," Hanah assured, patting his hand when Ben squeezed her shoulder as way of apology. "We are just about to start, Benjamin," she turned and smiled.

"Lilly looks better," Ben kept his voice soft and nodded toward his wife who was dabbing at her tears of laughter.

"She slept most of the day but woke up much brighter." Hanah returned her son in law's smile.

"Good." Ben crossed to his wife's side. "Sorry, I'm late," he said, took a seat and flicked his napkin onto his lap.

"Just in time my boy," Sergi grinned and passed him a plate.

Ben placed his hand on his wife's knee. "Feeling better?" He asked when she turned and smiled at him.

"Much," she nodded. "I was just tired," she admitted and accepted the bowl of potatoes her father handed her. "How was work?" she asked as she spooned two potatoes onto her plate and handed the bowl to Ben.

"Tough day," he admitted. Emily was still showing few signs of improvement and he'd nearly stayed on to help but Conrad had promised to call for him if the young girl took a turn for the worse.

"You look tired," Lilly rubbed his arm. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you later," Ben smiled, knowing that the time was not right for that discussion as there was a guest at the table. He passed on the bowl and then held his hand out to the young man opposite.

"Hi, I'm Ben," he introduced himself.

"Edward."

"Pleased to meet you, Edward," Ben nodded as the two men shook hands.

"And you, Ben, I've heard all about you," Edward smiled.

Cara giggled and shrugged.

Ben shook his head. "I'm sure you have," he sighed, knowing full well his sister in law's habit of embroidering the truth. "Take anything Cara tells you with a pinch of salt," he said, accepting the next bowl of vegetables off Lilly who tutted and shook her head.

"Earth sayings, Benjamin," she grouched and then she and Cara burst out laughing at was what was obviously an 'in joke.'

"Do you know what they are laughing at?" Edward asked as the two women started hiccupping in their mirth.

"Take no notice, you'll soon get used to them," Ben shrugged and then sat back and watched as the Tanger family traded stories and jokes.

His wife looked radiant as she teased her sister and he grinned at how uncomfortable Edward looked with the whole situation. He picked up his glass of wine and toasted the new member of the Tanger family. He knew exactly how he felt.