"Sweetheart, you've called four times in the past three hours. We're fine." Bernie hums her amusement, "This isn't my first go at watching a child, you know. I've done this a couple of times before." She relaxes on the sofa, Gwenevere asleep on her chest as she watches some midday television. "I'm not sure what you suppose could happen."

"House could burn down." Serena smirks a little, knowing she's being ridiculous. "Honestly, I just really love to watch how big you smile when she's in your arms." She blushes, knowing Ric is giving her a look from across their joint desks. "I reckon I'll miss her entirely."

"Well, she's mostly just sleeping. Awakens for a few moments to eat or for a nappy change then falls back asleep. You remember how they are when they're newborns." She shakes her head, amused with her girlfriend, "Even Charlie is smitten. Should have seen her at breakfast. Demands she be called Auntie."

"I'm sure Jason wouldn't mind." She shakes her head, "Have you put Gwen to sleep in her room?"

"Haven't had the heart. She's sleeping on top of me at the moment. Has a habit of snoring. Nothing terribly loud, but just a soft snore. Absolutely precious." Bernie knows it would bother the other woman, bother her with missing it. She hates missing anything, especially when it comes to her grand-niece. Even something so miniscule as snoring.

"You love to torture me." Serena sighs, grumbling, "You terribly evil woman." She sighs, glancing to Ric again, her eyes saying what he knows to be what she's wanted to do since arriving this morning.

Ric waves his hand a little, motioning for her to go home. I've got this, he mouths to her. Struggling to keep from grinning when she excitedly jumps up from her seat.

The silver haired woman retains her vocal composure, "Bernie, there's just been an RTC brought in. I need to go."

"Of course, love." Bernie touches the screen to disconnect the call, noticing the newborn beginning to bring her fist to her mouth. "I had a feeling that it was almost that time. Your Mum said every three hours. She has you on a schedule...and you've picked it up proper quick. Good for you." She places the babe in her bouncer once she enters the kitchen, having left it there at breakfast. She fills a small pot of water to warm the small amount of breastmilk quickly, "We'll see if Auntie Charlie wants to feed you, how does that sound? She was a bit cross when I told her I already did so this morning."

"I'd love to." Charlie leans against the wall, having made her way down the stairs. She smiles a little, attempting to ignore her weak, trembling limbs.

The blonde sighs, "Where is the walker, Char?"

"I want...I wanted to do this." She blinks slowly, her tongue feeling foreign in her mouth. "I'll...go...go get it." Charlie turns, nearly to the bottom of the stairs before falling out. Collapsing to the floor.

"I knew it. I knew this would happen today." Bernie mumbles to herself, having followed after her daughter. She kneels next to her form, ensuring there was nothing around her body that could cause harm before she begins convulsing. This wasn't new. Not by a longshot. This was what they were used to now, she and her partner were both. She hears the babe start to whimper, calling out to her, "I'm coming, Gwen. Hold on." She rises again, lifting the infant from her bouncer and quickly warming her milk. She closes her eyes only for a moment, taking a deep breath before returning to her still trembling daughter on the floor. She lowers herself again, comfortably balancing the babe on her thighs with bent knees before feeding Gwenevere her bottle. All within the span of a few moments.

Serena enters the house, seeing the scene just in front of her, having only unfolded maybe fifteen to twenty minutes prior. She had driven home quickly, luckily not living far. "What the hell happened?"

"What do you think happened?" Bernie sighs, having burped the baby and letting her just relax on her thighs again. She looks back to the infant, "We've just been having a nice little chin wag, haven't we?" She smiles when Gwen gurgles softly, "Yes, exactly. I say the same thing. Your Gran is simply unable to stay away from you." Her feet rest against her daughter, holding her on her side

The silver haired woman rolls her eyes, "You should have called me."

"It happened...not even ten minutes after our last call ended. I would have once Char came to. She's breathing, but hasn't woken up just yet. I'm not worried, but I'd like to get her to a softer surface. She continually disregards her walker...or her chair. She pushes when she shouldn't." Bernie swallows, "She'll listen to you. She doesn't listen to me."

"No girl listens to her mother, Berenice." Serena hums a soft chuckle, "I know that I rarely ever did and I'm betting you didn't either. Only until I was much older...I was wrong, should have listened when I was younger, but she'll figure that out as well." She takes a step over the young woman, lowering herself on the stairs by her partner. "You still handle it all very nicely though."

"I'm exhausted and it's only just after midday." The blonde shakes her head, smiling softly after her girlfriend leans down to offer her a kiss. "Not from Gwen though, she's a dream." Glancing back to the babe on her lap, she notices the infant giving a gummy grin, "It's all true. You're brilliant, stop being so modest."

She smiles, amused with her partner, "I'll tend to Charlie. You go and-"

"Take the baby. Spend time with her like you wanted to in the first place." Bernie attempts to protest, knowing what her girlfriend would rather be doing.

"We literally just spoke about Charlotte not listening to you. I'll get her up." Serena nods, "Besides, I get to watch you with Gwennie...and that is so worth it."

"I don't know if I even want to move right now. She looks rather comfortable." She motions to the baby on her lap, sighing after, "I suppose I can move to the lounge." When the infant begins to babble softly again, she smirks, "It is much more comfortable there than on this hardwood floor, I assure you." Bernie carefully rises off the floor, keeping the babe safe in her arm as she retreats to the sofa.

The silver haired woman smirks ever so slightly, watching her girlfriend with her grand-niece as she moves away from them. Serena slowly lowers herself down to the floor, lying next to the young woman on her side. She gently pushes the hair from the younger woman's sweating face, her voice soft and calming, "Charlotte, it's time to wake up." The young woman's face twitches, "Come on, darling, open your eyes."

Charlotte does as requested, her eyes groggily opening ever so slightly. She begins to smirk, "Mum's girl." Her voice heavy, slurring, but just above a whisper. Her mind swimming, confused. "Why...why are you here?"

"We're at home." Serena maintains a calm, comforting demeanor, having done this many times with her if it weren't Bernie doing so. "I came home from work early to spend some time with my girls." When the younger woman appears confused, "You're on the floor of our house, Charlotte. Your Mum is in the lounge, but everything is fine."

"Mum is home?" Her eyes begin to fill with years.

"I'll go and get her-"

"Stay here." Charlie reaches across, pulling herself closer to the other woman who has rolled onto her back, closing her eyes after doing so. Her head resting against Serena's chest, listening to her heartbeat. Something about the steady white noise causes her to fall asleep again, rather quickly.

Serena swallows, reaching her hand to stroke her near-stepdaughter's hair. Thoughts of a small Elinor cross her mind. Especially the time when she had her tonsils removed and stayed in hospital for a few nights. How she just wanted to cuddle with her mother, and nothing much other than that. She cannot possibly continue to think of her biological daughter with every single interaction with her girlfriend's daughter. It wasn't fair to anyone, especially herself.