Sam took Ruby from Maddy's arms as she yawned loudly, "sleep" he told her, laying Ruby in the cot a nurse had placed at the bottom of Maddy's bed. Maddy nodded, "I'll leave you in peace" Maria smiled, kissing Maddy's cheek, "I'll come and see you in the morning" she told Maddy before leaving. "Are you comfy?" Sam asked, plumping the pillows before Maddy laid down. She nodded, "thanks, for everything." He smiled and kissed her hand, "don't worry about it". Sam sat with Maddy until she fell asleep, before going in search of food for himself, and something for Maddy to eat when she woke. After eating, he made his way back to Maddy's side room, only to find Maddy had moved Ruby's crib to the side of her bed, and both Maddy and Ruby were sleeping peacefully, Maddy's finger clenched tightly in Ruby's fist. He straightened the blankets around both Maddy and Ruby, before setting himself in the chair and closing his eyes.
He woke at 3am to Ruby's hungry screams. He watched as Maddy began to feed Ruby, stroking her head softly and rocking her gently, "you didn't have to stay" she told Sam, not taking her eyes off of Ruby. "I can go if you. . .?" Maddy shook her head, "I don't mind you being here, but you could have gone home." Sam smiled, "I'm here out of convenience, I'm on call, but Naylor's already claimed the on call room" he joked. Maddy smiled, still gazing at Ruby, "I can't believe that this is it" she sighed, "that after all that waiting, she's finally here." Sam smiled and moved to sit on the end of the bed, "she's definitely got her mummy's looks." he told her, taking Ruby's fist in his hand, "she'll break a few hearts." Maddy smiled and yawned as Sam rose from the bed, allowing Ruby to be laid in the crib beside her mother, "as long as she doesn't make me a grandmother before I'm 50" Sam smiled, "Uncle Sam won't let her" he joked, helping Maddy get settled in the bed before returning to his chair. "Sam" he looked up as Maddy held up a corner of the covers, "get in."
Both Maddy and Ruby woke to Sam's pager sounding the next morning, she nudged Sam to wake him before lifting Ruby into her arms, singing softly to her until she settled. "I'll be back later" he told Maddy, pulling his trousers on before kissing her cheek. "You look after your mummy" he told Ruby before kissing her head and leaving the room.
"Okay?" Sam asked, entering the room a few hours later, "I suppose I should let Tom know" Maddy sighed, running her fingers lightly over Ruby's stomach as she slept beside her on the bed. Sam smiled and nodded, "why don't you and this little lady get to know each other for a few days first?" he suggested. Maddy smiled, "yeah. I'll ring him next week or something". Sam smiled, "now, are we going to sit here all day or are we going to get your stuff packed up and get the two of you home?" Maddy's face lit up, "you mean?" Sam nodded, "The doctor will be in to discharge you both within the hour."
Maddy insisted on stopping off on AAU on her way home, taking Ruby into the staff room in order to stop her picking anything up. "Oh Maddy, she's gorgeous" Donna cooed standing from the sofa, "can I hold her?" Maddy nodded and lifted Ruby from where her car seat sat on the sofa, before passing her to Donna, "She's so small." Maddy smiled, "I doubt you'd say that if you were the one that had given birth to her." Donna smiled, "You look amazing though" Maddy rolled her eyes, "yeah yeah." Sam nodded, "You do, you look a lot better than you did 13 hours ago." By this time Chrissie had also entered the staff room, "Maddy, what are you doing here?" Maddy smiled, "just can't keep away". Chrissie laughed before noticing the empty car seat on the table, "have you. . ." She noticed the tiny baby in Donna's arms and pulled Maddy into a hug "Congratulations." She beamed, "when did you have her?" "12.23" "Today?" Maddy nodded, "12.23 this morning." Chrissie was shocked, "You never gave birth a few hours ago?" Maddy nodded, "I did." Chrissie was shocked, "You look brilliant for it. How heavy was she?" Maddy laughed, "so people keep telling me, and she was exactly 7lb." "You're lucky" Donna piped up as Chrissie took Ruby, "My cousin had a baby, 12lb4, I've seen Mr Spence replace a kidney with fewer stitches." Maddy winced slightly and decided to change the subject, "Is Linden about?" Chrissie nodded, "in his office". "Right" Maddy lifted her daughter into her arms, "let's go and say hello"
"Come in" Maddy pushed the door open slowly, and Linden glanced up from his desk, "Maddy, shouldn't you be at home with your feet up?" She nodded, "just thought we'd pop in to say hello on our way?" "We?" Linden was confused, until he noticed what Maddy had in her arms, "Ruby, meet Linden" She placed Ruby in his arms, smiling as she began to whimper, but was quickly settled as Linden rocked her slightly. "About what happened" Both Maddy and Linden spoke together, but he gestured for her to continue, "I think we were both at fault, you shouldn't have done what you did, but I shouldn't have reacted how I did, we should have laughed it off and put it behind us, so erm, I'd like a couple of days on my own with Ruby, but I'll probably be desperate for some adult company by the end of the week, so if you'd like to come round and see us?" Linden smiled as Maddy made to leave his office, "I'd like that" he told her, "I''ll give you a ring."
It was almost an hour later, after almost everyone on the ward had met Ruby that Maddy got home, she showed Sam from the flat, before collapsing in a tired heap on her sofa. She sat in silence for a few minutes before standing again and lifting Ruby from the Moses basket, sitting back down with her daughter in her arms. "It's just you and me now Ruby" she spoke softly to her baby, "and I promise, that no matter what happens, no matter who lets us down, who lets you down, I'll always be here for you. And I might not be the best Mummy in the world, but I promise you darling, I promise you that I'll do the best I can for you." Maddy glanced at the clock. "What do you think Ruby, shall we go and show your sister her birthday present?" She kissed Ruby's nose. "Amy would have loved you you know." She sighed sadly, wiping her tears away before strapping Ruby into her buggy and heading towards the church.
