Caroline could hear her heart beating in her chest as she stepped into the lift. Flora was sleeping soundly in the baby carrier, her bottom lip sticking out slightly, a look on her face that almost resembled defiance. Caroline couldn't help but smile, her heart full of so much love for this little person. So why was she feeling nervous, almost apprehensive? If she loved the baby, then Kate would love her more wouldn't she? It was her idea to get pregnant. She was the one who had carried her almost full term.

Elizabeth was still on duty and stood up and walked around the desk as soon as she saw Caroline.

"I thought I recognised that footfall."

She smiled at her and gave her a warm hug.

"Let's have a look at her. Flippin' 'eck. I think she has grown since the last time I saw her which was err …."

"2 days ago."

"Yes, 2 days ago. What, stop laughing! Babies can change so much in 48 hours you know."

Elizabeth grinned back at Caroline.

"It's lovely to see you smiling. Genuinely smiling I mean. How have you been? Has Flora settled in at home?"

Caroline set the baby carrier down on the floor and leaned on the reception desk.

"Yes, yes she has. She sleeps for 4 hours at a time during the night. And apart from the odd bit of colic in the early evening, she is a very good baby. I was blessed with William you know. He slept when he should, fed when he should and he met all his early development milestones early. So I thought I was in for an easy ride with Lawrence. But no. Not that one, not Lawrence. He didn't do anything by the book. And he hasn't changed a bit now that he is older."

She stared thoughtfully at the wall in front of her and then bent and picked Flora back up and started to walk towards the side ward. Elizabeth walked with her.

"So how has Kate been?"

"What, since you last saw her about 3 hours ago? She has been fine. Sleeping for most of the time which is a good thing. We are going to let her have a little bit of something to eat tonight. She needs to start eating proper food again so that she will get stronger. Rest and food to build her up again."

Caroline hesitated for a split second before she gently pulled down the door handle. Quietly, she entered the room, her eyes instantly going to Kate's bed. She was awake and as soon as she saw the baby carrier she beamed and tried to pull herself up in bed. Wincing, she looked imploringly at Elizabeth to help her.

"Here, let me. Bend your knees a little bit and dig your heels into the bed. That's it. Push with your legs."

Kate heaved herself up a little bit while Elizabeth placed her arm under hers and gave her that extra bit of lift. She smoothed the bed clothes down and lay there expectantly. The smile on her face hadn't subsided and she looked like an excited child on Christmas morning as she sat and watched Caroline unwrap Flora and fold her coat and hat.

"Here, support her head. That's right."

Caroline tenderly lay Flora in Kate's arms and then stepped back, the tears in her eyes threatening to spoil this precious moment. Kate looked from Flora to Caroline and then back to Flora. Both women were speechless.

"She is beautiful isn't she? Oh Caroline, how lucky are we to have her?"

"How lucky am I to have the both of you?"

She leaned forward and kissed Kate and then the baby.

"My 2 girls. Gosh, look at you both. Like two peas in a pod."

Reaching into her pocket, she took out her phone and switched to camera mode.

"Can you manage a smile for the camera?"

Kate feigned a frown.

"I think I just might if I concentrate very hard. Oh Caroline, I don't think I will ever stop smiling. Look at her, our daughter. Our precious daughter."

Elizabeth had been watching all this from the corner of the room and she stepped forward.

"Come on, give me the camera and let me take a photograph of all of you together. That's it. Move in a little bit so I don't get all of those machines in the background."

Caroline lay her right arm protectively around Kate's shoulders and with her left hand she placed it on top of Kate's. Their wedding rings were visible in the picture and Elizabeth looked at the shot she had taken and handed the phone back to Caroline. She was almost envious of the love that the two women obviously shared.

Kate cuddled Flora for about 20 minutes. In that time, she was fixated by her tiny hands and fingers and her feet. She stroked and held them, looking over at Caroline from time to time with a deep sense of love in her eyes and her face.

Sensing that she was getting tired, Caroline stood up and went to take Flora from her. She did it gently and in a very subtle way. Kate kissed the top of Flora's head and reluctantly gave her over.

"I don't ever want to let go of her but, well, thank you. I can't believe how tired I am. I've only been laying here holding the baby."

Caroline smiled and cuddled Flora close to her.

"You need to rest. You will be tired for a while. That's understandable. But I have noticed you are getting stronger every day. You will be home before you know it. Won't she Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth had been discretely watching the scene from the corner of the room, monitoring the machines and filling in Kate's notes.

"Sorry? Oh, yes she will. You need to remember Kate that you took quite a knock when that car hit you. Your body was a little bit broken to say the least. You need to get strong but you will be home in no time if you continue to make the improvements you have been making."

Kate watched Caroline dress Flora in her coat and fasten her into the baby carrier.

"You know Caroline, I never thought I would say this but you almost look like you are enjoying motherhood again."

Caroline turned to Kate with a look of amusement on her face.

"Of course I am. I had no choice really did I? If you hadn't have gone and got yourself knocked down, I would be at home with my feet up and you would be running round after me on maternity leave, catering for my every whim. But as things are someone has to look after the baby and as my mother is over at the farm more than she is next door, I really had no choice."

She raised her eyebrow and set her mouth in a thin line and Kate couldn't help but laugh. She clutched her stomach.

"Oh stop, don't. It hurts."

Elizabeth stepped forward and stood at the side of Kate, her hand protectively on her shoulder. She lifted the bed clothes and gently felt her stomach.

"I think that's enough fun and frivolity for one day don't you ladies? Kate really does need to sleep."

Caroline looked concerned.

"Does it really still hurt? How long before the stitches come out Elizabeth?"

"They're absorbable stitches Caroline. And they can take up to 2 weeks to dissolve or fall out. Kate's recovery speed is completely normal, believe me. I have seen some ladies who still have stitches after a month. Kate's are perfectly fine."

Elizabeth walked over to the hand sanitizer and squirted some onto her hands. She rubbed both of her hands together, scrutinising her fingers to make sure she didn't leave any solution on her hands.

"Right, well, it's nearly tea-time. You will be pleased to know Kate that the delights of the day are shepherds pie and mixed veg. I am sure you will be able to manage some of that won't you?"

Kate didn't look very enthused by the thought.

"Well, if you don't start to eat, you will be in here longer than you want to be. So the answer to that question is "Yes nurse." You will be able to manage some of that won't you?"

Kate looked at Elizabeth with her big brown eyes and sighed.

"Yes nurse."

"Right answer. Caroline, I'll walk you out as far as the desk. Kate needs to get some rest."

Caroline walked over to the bed and leaned forward so that her nose was touching Kate's.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She kissed her tenderly, relishing the taste of her lips. Her fingertips strayed to Kate's jaw line and she caressed her face. Almost breathless, she stepped back and looked down at her wife.

"Oh God, Mrs McKenzie-Dawson. If only you knew what that has just done to me."

Kate chewed the inside of her lip.

"I can imagine but you wouldn't take advantage of me in the position would you?"

"Oh I would!"

Both women burst out laughing and once more Kate flinched and held her stomach.

"You had better go before you burst my stitches. Let me look at Flora one more time."

Caroline lifted up the baby carrier and Kate took her little hand in her own.

"Bye bye little one. Mummy loves you."

Caroline paused briefly at the door and turned to look at Kate.

"Night night. I'll see you tomorrow."

She gradually closed the door until she heard it click and then walked towards the exit.

"She seems so much brighter today doesn't she?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"And that's all because of you. You and Flora really are the ones pushing her on to get better. Oh, and me of course. You can't forget the excellent care that I am giving her."

Caroline gently elbowed Elizabeth and she feigned a stumble.

"Oy, I'll have you up for assault if you're not careful."

And laughing, she linked arms with Caroline and walked as far as her desk, watching her walk the rest of the way on her own. She stopped briefly to wave at her and Elizabeth waved back. Reluctantly, she returned to her own side of the desk and sat down to complete some paperwork before her shift ended.

Caroline was feeding Flora when she heard the front door slam.

"Lawrence, is that you?"

"Yeah."

"And me."

Her heart sank at the sound of the all too familiar voice.

"Caroline. Hello."

"John."

She looked up as he entered the room.

"Aww, are you feeding the baby?"

"No, I am preparing a lesson plan for my Year 11 students. Yes John, I am feeding the baby. Who happens to be called Flora. Flora Grace."

"Oh what a lovely name. Hello Flora."

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Do you want something John?"

"Err no, no. I don't. Erm, well actually, yes, now you come to mention it. Yes I do. Lawrence."

"Yes, that is the name of our youngest son."

"May I?"

John motioned towards the sofa and Caroline indicated that he could sit down with a single sweep of her hand.

Yes, Lawrence. He's, well, he isn't quite oh gosh this is difficult."

John sat with his legs apart, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Just get on with it John."

"Lawrence is feeling a bit left out since the baby came. Since all this business with Kate."

Caroline stopped abruptly and took the bottle out of Flora's mouth. She slammed it on the table causing the baby to jump. She stared open mouthed.

"All what business? And feeling left out? Feeling left out? Let me tell you something shall I? Lawrence is hardly ever here. He comes down stairs in the morning, stuffs his breakfast in his bag and runs out of the door as quick as he can without so much as a hello or a good morning. He comes home in the evening and it's the same thing. I hardly get a word out of him. I feel like the Spanish inquisition if I so much as ask him what sort of a day he has had. He then skulks off to his room or he goes off out with Angus and I can only assume that he comes home in the evening. It isn't as if Kate is in the house at the minute. It is just me and him. And my mum when she pops round from next door. But he can hardly stand to be in the same room as me. I don't know why he is feeling left out. What have I done wrong?"

She picked the bottle back up and continued to feed Flora.

"And when did all this come out?"

"Err, just now. Tonight. When we were sat having our tea in some hamburger restaurant somewhere up the road."

"McDonalds? Wow, you really do push the boat out when you take him out for tea. Classy John."

John stared down at his hands.

"But you see the thing is. The thing is Caroline. I don't think that Lawrence is happy living here."

Caroline took the bottle and slammed it on the table again. This time, Flora protested and she picked it back up and carried on feeding her.

"We have had this conversation John. Lawrence is not going to live in that sh ….that pokey little flat of yours and sleep on the settee. Why would he when he has a perfectly good bed here? When he is old enough to make his own mind up, and that won't be just yet let me tell you. When he is old enough he can do what the hell he likes. Well within reason. Until then, he had better get used to this situation. He lives here where me and my wife Kate and our little baby Flora. End of. This is not open for discussion John. Close the door quietly on your way out will you."

John stood up and stood in front of Caroline, his hands awkwardly thrust into his pockets. He stared down at her, moving from one foot to the other for a moment before deciding it was time to leave.

Without saying a word, he walked out of the room and slammed the front door behind him. Flora jumped and started to cry.

"And that is one of the reasons why mummy is a lesbian."