A few more gentle, domestic little stories may come out as and when I think of them before the finale at Christmas. Some may be really light some may have a real story, depending on my state of mind at the time. If I'm not careful it'll turn into the Australian version of the Forsyte Saga!

Well, I expect you'd like to know how Mattie heard the news, wouldn't you?

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With Jean sleeping, Jenny in her bassinet and Bobby eating his breakfast, the proud father thought he'd better make some phone calls. He'd asked Charlie to tell Frank and the boys and tell them he'd be unavailable for a week. He'd let Alice know.

Alice was delighted, she sent her best to Jean and said she'd be happy to cover for him. If there was anything else she could do, Blake had only to ask.

Looking at his watch he reckoned it was early evening in London. He wasn't going to make Mattie wait for a letter so he rang St Bart's. He knew it would be expensive but he really couldn't care less.

'St Bart's Hospital.' A cheery English accent.

'I'd like to speak to Sister Mattie O'Brien, please.' He tried not to sound too excited, more relaxed, 'I'm not sure if she's on duty or not.'

A pause...

'Sister O'Brien is on the Children's Ward. Who shall I say is calling?'

'Dr Lucien Blake.'

'Putting you through.'

'Lucien!' Mattie's voice rang down the phone, 'what's wrong?'

'Nothing's wrong, Mattie, everything is wonderful!' She could hear the smile in his voice, 'it's a girl!'

Mattie couldn't contain her delight, she positively danced round the office.

'When?'

'About two hours ago.'

'Oh Lucien, congratulations, how's Jean? What's her name?'

'Calm down Mattie,' that was easy for him to say! 'Jean's fine. I can't believe how well she's done.' And he proceeded to tell her all about it.

'Oh she must be so embarrassed!'

'Yes, she was a bit. We've called the baby Genevieve Matilda for my mother and you. She'll be known as Jenny.'

'Oh, Lucien,' she sobbed down the phone, 'as soon as I have enough leave, I'm coming home! Send me a photo won't you. Give my love, heaps of it, to Jean, and you of course.'

Putting down the phone, feeling so far away from her dearest friends, Sister Mattie O'Brien had a really good cry; tears of joy of course!

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(And now a domestic scene...sorry)

Bobby had finished his breakfast and was tugging at papa's trouser leg.

'Ok, son, let's see what Christopher has to say.' He picked him up and pulling a chair over to the phone sat him on his lap and dialled Christopher's number.

Ruby answered, 'Beazley residence.' She'd got that off Jean, it made Lucien smile.

'Hello, Ruby, it's Lucien.'

'Oh, hello. How are you?' Ruby was a little cautious speaking to the Doctor. She knew that Christopher hadn't been overjoyed when his mother remarried, and when he came home and said she was pregnant, he was concerned. Ruby, however, was please for them. She'd come to understand Jean a little better when she'd come to help after Amelia was born and couldn't see what her husband's problem was.

'Sorry to disturb you on a Sunday morning. I just wanted to let you both know that Jean was safely delivered of a daughter this morning.' Every time he thought about it he couldn't keep then wide grin off his face and it came through in his voice.

'Oh, congratulations!' Ruby sounded genuinely pleased for them. 'Is Jean ok?'

'Yes, tired, she's not slept well recently, so she's resting now. Everything went well. We've called her Genevieve Matilda, but she'll be known as Jenny.'

'That's lovely,' Ruby said, 'give her our love. I'll get Chris to ring back later. He's taken Amelia for a walk.'

Lucien signed off, sending their love to both Christopher and Amelia.

'Well, son,' he said to Bobby, 'better wash up.'