Because the long delay, now I have two chapters for you! ;)

All characters belongs to Bufalo pictures, but Andrew, he's on my account ;)

Chapter 6

That afternoon after surgery, Martin went to the kitchen, just to find an angry Louisa, scolding sternly an equally angry James. "I told you to pick up your toys, young man!"

Little James, frowning, responded to her, in a harsh tone "NO!"

Martin noticed a weird grimace on Louisa's face, and took a step forward, making his presence to be noticed by the two contendants. "What's the matter?"

Louisa, who was trying hard to not laugh, look surprised at the interruption. "Your son here is being a bit dared. Can you please help?"

Martin looked at James and told him in his usual tone: "James, you must do what mummy says"

James stared at him, like evaluating the situation, and, putting his hands in his waist, much like Louisa did when she was being serious, told to his father "NO"

Martin was taken aback with the answer, and his not knowing how to react was reflecting in his face, big eyes and everything. Louisa couldn't stand it and ran away to the kitchen with her hands pressing her mouth. Martin thought that he didn't understand nothing, until a few seconds later heard Louisa's fit of laugh. Still in wonder, he asked her, forgetting momentarily about James, who was now playing in the floor with his ungathered toys. "What's so funny?"

Louisa, with tears in her eyes and giggling responded to him "oh my god! (giggles) it was too much! (more giggles) his face, and then yours...(giggles)" Martin frowned at the feeling of being mocked, but Louisa's continued giggling and talking "I'm sorry, i'm sorry, i wasn't try to make fun of you" (giggles, again)

"You can not scold him and then laugh, he will not understand you!"

"I know, i know, but couldn't control myself, he is so stubborn, and for now is very funny, I know that it will be not in the future, but for now… he is sooo funny" and kept on laughing.

Martin wasn't in the mood to argue, so he took sit in the floor next to James, and started to play with him. Louisa saw him, and was a bit annoyed, she felt he wasn't helping, but after her giggles she had not any authority on the matter anymore, so she let it go. A few minutes later, she tried again with her son. "Dinner is ready, James, will you pick up your toys?" The answer was again a firm "NO!" from James angelic face, and she had to take a deep breath for not to laugh again. Martin, who was there now, ceremoniously told James "I help you to pick up the toys now, but you need to understand that you must to do what mummy says, James Henry. She means the best for you, and being tidy is a good thing" James stared at him with a frown. And keep playing without giving her father another look.

"That went well" Louisa said smiling.

Martin was a bit dumblefolded "Is he ignoring me?"

"It seems so" Louisa's smile widening again.

Martin's gaze went back to James. "Young man" he sternly but not much. "You must pick up your toys in order we all having dinner, despites you want or not. End of discussion."

James looked at him and made a face it was indicating that he was about to cry. Louisa took him in his arms and, with a soothing voice said to their son "That's not good. You are a good boy, so we let it pass this one and after dinner we'll help you to pick up the toys. Understood?"

Martin grunted at the mess of the living room, but Lousa gave him a weary look and her well-known "Martin!" with that awful 'you-need-to-shut-your-mouth-now' tone. He did what was told and went to the table. Dinner was a quiet affair, and then the three of them picked up the toys, it was James's bedtime.

"Maybe is that phase that they talk about? the "no" phase"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"James, Martin, what else?"

"A phase? the boy didn't wanted to tidy up for god's sake! That's not a phase or some psychobabble!"

"Well, maybe you're right, we'll see"

Martin was surprised at his wife quick surrender, she often got upset when they argue about James development "Are you alright?"

"Yes, why?" Louisa asked curiously.

"Uh… nothing" he thought better.

Louisa looked at him, but she was learning to let it pass.

"Martin, i was thinking… maybe we could try some exercises, it could be fun"

"What?"

"Yeah.. maybe… you were trying to do what Dr. Timoney said to as, about having dinner out, and it was a good thing to do"

Martin looked at her with sad eyes "And i was scolded by you and my aunt. What was good about it?"

Louisa smiled at the memory "Okay, not that dinner in particular, but the thought, the effort that you put, that's what counts. I mean, you were thinking about us, and you tried to make something that we both could enjoy. I was thinking that we could do more of that. And i've got one. I want you to think an endearing name for me."

"What?"

"I have a few on my acount for you to choose. How about 'Doctor Handsome'"?

"Are you out of your mind?"

"No, not at all" She said in a some sort of mockery tone.

Martin was sitting in the couch, and Loisa got up and embraced him from back, and whispered at his ear "Or better, Lover doc mmm? What do you think?"

"uhh.. ahhh… nonsense!"

"But why? i'd like it anyway… and Martin, you're blushing"

A few days later Martin was sitting in the couch reading a journal and watching James play, when Louisa came from her course.

She noticed his pale face and the silence in the living room was a bit to much, she often met her two men playing in the floor, Martin talkin medical stuff to james, but today something was different. "Hello you two!" she greeted joyfully. James got up to meet her and she picked up him. Martin just looked up and grunt a low "Hello" and kept reading his journal. Louisa looked at him, and put down James after cooing and kissing him, and went to the couch next to Martin. She gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "What happened?"

Martin raised his head surprised "How do you know something happened? Somebody told you? This village!"

"Martin! Nobody talked to me. I was in Truro. But I came here and it's all quiet and you are all gloomy so i just noticed! So tell me"

He lowered his eyes to the floor "I vomited today. Twice. There was so much blood. It was awful"

"Oh, my love" louisa said trying to not show pity but concern. "I'm so sorry. What did you do? How are you feeling now?"

Martin lifted his eyes to hers, hurt reflecting in them. She was truly pained. But she was there for him. He could feel that. He was embarrassed but her words were warm and calm, it calmed him. "There was a boy at the platt, he injured his leg with some iron waste, I put stitches and gave him an antitetanic shot, he'll be okay in afew days"

"But how are you Martin? Did you do the breathing thing?"

"Ummh, no. I forgot"

"Forgot?"

"Yeah. I was there and the boy was bleeding profusely, and i had to tend to him, so i did it. I vomited later."

Louisa caressed his hair, showing him her love and support. "I see. I wonder why you can control the panic attacks during procedures but having it later. Like that day at the hearing, you didn't vomit while you were operating but later."

Martin wasn't think in that, so he wonder about it too. "Is a good question, i'll think about it"

Louisa kissed him again. And then… there was a strange noise. "Where's James?" Louisa asked.

Martin got up worried "He was here". Another strange noise, apparently from the kitchen was heard. Both of them ran in to the kitchen, just to see a very content James Henry painting his face with Louisa's lipstick, her purse on the floor and scattered objects: wallet, keys, handkerchief...

"James" they exclaimed in unison. James turned his face, and it was priceless. Louisa couldn't stand it and put her hand in her mouth trying hard to not laugh. Martin was baffled. "What on earth are you doing!" he scolded sternly.

James looked at him with a grin. His face was all painted. Martin lifted him and went to the sink to clean it up the mess but James wasn't happy about it and started to cry.

Louisa came back in the scene and helped Martin with a soft tone "James, you can't take mummy's things without permission". James continued crying while Martin tried to clean his face. Then they put him on the floor "Let's get your toys, young man" Louisa tell the boy, and turning to Martin with a resigned smile she said "I think that we can't get distracted with him anymore"

"Mmmm… Yes"