They finally departed from the café, Connie having scrubbed Grace's rather messy face before driving off the car park.

Grace spent the hour journey to the ED relaying everything in detail that she had done in America to Connie, who nodded and smiled at all of the right times, not wanting to be upset when her daughter was obviously so excited about sharing everything she had done.

When they arrived at the ED Connie took hold of Connie's hand and lead her to the ICU.

She opened Rita's door, shocked to see the young blonde sat up in bed.

An oxygen mask was still covering her face, and drips coming out of her arms, but she somehow summoned up enough energy to smile and half wave.

"Hey sweetheart." Connie still had hold of Grace's hand, who had gone a bit shy. "Gracie wanted to say hi." Connie smiled, walking over to the bed so she could kiss the crown of Rita's head.

"Hey, mummy says you're her girlfriend. I didn't know you could like girls and boys, because mummy used to be married to my daddy, but they didn't really like each other in the end…"

"Slow down Gracie." Connie chuckled, looking over at Rita who still looked exhausted. "Let's go home, let Rita get some sleep and we can come back in the morning."

Connie stopped as Rita's hand reached up and grabbed Connie. "Well, we could stay for a little bit, is that ok Gracie?" Connie asked, Grace nodding enthusiastically.

Connie climbed onto the bed, Grace having 'stolen' her phone to download some pointless game that Connie had never heard of.

"Don't do that again, you scared me so much." Connie pulled Rita close to her, Rita starting to cry on her chest.

"I'm sorry." She squeaked, pulling down the oxygen mask which Connie quickly replaced.

"How much have they told you?" Connie asked, Rita just shook her head. "Ok, well you have severe meningitis, you've been put on antibiotics which should cure it within a few weeks. And there's something else…" Connie's voice started to shake. "You're pregnant." She whispered, Rita taking a few minutes to figure out how that was even possible.

Rita sat in silence in Connie's arms, not wanting to speak in fear she would melt down in front of Grace and that would upset the little girl.

Grace eventually fell asleep and Connie decided to try and have a proper talk with Rita.

"Do you want to talk about options?" Connie asked tentatively, Rita nodding, moving herself in Connie's arms so she was more comfortable.

"I…" Rita pulled down the oxygen mask, Connie helping as she struggled to get it over her chin. "I can't… Get rid of it…" Rita wheezed out, the meningitis making it difficult for her to breathe normally. "But I… Don't know… I don't know…" Rita's breaths became more laboured, Connie placing the mask back over Rita's mouth and nodding.

"You don't have to decide anything now Rita, but I want you to know, whatever you decide I will be right there beside you." Connie promised.

"I love you." Rita breathed from behind the mask.

"I love you too." Connie kissed Rita's forehead. "I have persuaded the Doctor to release you home in 5 days, instead of 8 that they would usually keep you in for. You can come home… To mine that is, and I can look after you." Rita pointed across at Grace. "She's just excited about the fact you can date men and women!" Connie smiled, snuggling Rita closer in her arms. "There are plenty of things in and around the house we can do, and if you're feeling up to it we can always go on a few day trips." Rita nodded, Connie resting her head on top of Rita's as they both fell off to sleep.

Connie woke up, a small hand poking her in the side.

"Mummy! MUMMY!" The little girl was getting more agitated as her mother didn't disturb.

"What is it baby?" Connie half forgetting where she was.

"There's a lady at the door…" She pointed, Connie rubbed her eyes and looked over to see Dixie stood at the door.

Connie's eyes shot open, jumping off the bed, disturbing Rita in the process who groaned, desperately reaching out for Connie who in the end took her hand and soothed her back to sleep.

"Is she ok?" Dixie asked, she looked pale, as if she hadn't had a lot of sleep.

"She has meningitis, so not really." Connie said, suddenly feeling protective of her vulnerable girlfriend.

"Are you…" Dixie raised her eyebrows, looking at Connie's hand. "You know…" Connie not answering until Dixie asked the very specific question. "Dating?"

"We are, we have been for about… 6 weeks now…" Connie suddenly realised their time together had gone so fast, yet it seemed like they had been together forever. "Don't worry, you're not the last to know. We haven't really told anyone yet." Connie said, Dixie stepping inside the room and handing over a gift bag to Connie.

"This is a little something from the downstairs lot, there's a few films and a card, just warning you everyone may trek up here for visiting hours later." Dixie told her.

"Thank you." Connie accepted the gift, placing on the table beside Rita. And with that Dixie left the room.

"So baby, what do you want to do today?" Connie asked, Grace shrugging, edging towards the bed and taking hold of Rita's other hand.

"She is very cold. Shall I get her another blanket?" Grace asked, Connie nodding with a smile. "I think Rita would like to come with us to the zoo." Grace said, Connie sighing sadly.

"You know, I think she would love to. But she's still poorly, why don't we go and bring her back loads of photos?" Connie suggested, Grace pouting.

"But she'll be sad we left her behind." Grace said, pulling the blanket over Rita with help from Connie.

"Not if we bring her a toy from the gift shop." Connie said, Grace's eyes lighting up. "Let me just write Rita a note and we can go home and drop off your stuff, then we can go and see the tigers."

"RAWR!" Grace squealing, Connie shushing her before she re-awoke Rita.

When Connie returned to the hospital late that evening, Grace was all but asleep in her arms, but she was determined to stay awake to give Rita her stuffed meerkat.

They made their way into Rita's room, Rita smiling and pulling off her oxygen mask to see the two girls.

"Hey sweetheart." Connie smiled, sitting on the bed next to Rita with Grace in her arms. But Grace quickly clambered onto Rita's lap.

"We went to the zoo." Grace grinned, bouncing up and down.

"No way!" Connie smiled at Rita, whose breathing seemed much more regulated today, even though she still sounded slightly raspy.

"Yeah way! And I got you a meerkat toy, see…" Grace gave Rita the cuddly toy, who hugged it and held it in her arms. "And mummy took loads of pictures, can I show her mummy please?" Grace pleaded, but Connie shook her head.

"You need some sleep Gracie Moo." Connie whooshed Grace into her arms, who started to cry and ball as Connie held her firmly in her arms. "Rita will be here when you wake up, and we can show her then. We might even be able to have breakfast with her, but only if you're really good." Connie said, Grace looking over at Rita for confirmation, Rita nodding.

Connie set Grace down on the large sofa, pulling a pair of pink frozen pyjamas out of her bag. She quickly got Grace changed and snuggled on the sofa with a blanket.

Connie then returned to Rita's side, smiling at the blonde Nurse who had pulled the mask back over her face.

"Did you have any visitors today?" Connie asked, Rita rolling her eyes and gestured to the massive amount of flowers and cards which were now visible on her bedside table. "Wow, aren't you Miss Popular?!" Connie teased, Rita shrugging.

"I've been thinking…" Connie said, taking hold of Rita's chilly hands. "Do you want to move in with me permanently?" Connie asked. "I know it's really soon, but I love you Rita, and I want to be able to look after you, and wake up every morning with you next to me." Rita nodded.

Rita pulled the mask off her face, and pulled Connie towards her, kissing Connie's lips.

"I'm going to keep the baby." Rita told Connie as they pulled back, resting their foreheads together. "I want to keep it, I've always wanted children, and maybe it was a blessing in disguise." Connie sighed, wishing this could have happened any other way. "That's if you will still have us both?" Rita asked, finally placing the mask back over her mouth at the end of her speech, waiting for Connie's reply.

"Of course I'll still have you, I'll have to make some room for a new cot though!" Connie smiled, kissing Rita's forehead again, before snuggling next to her. "I bet you're exhausted." Connie tilted the bed backwards, making sure Rita was comfortable before flicking off the light. Rita nodded, nestling into Connie. "Goodnight sweetheart, I love you." Connie whispered before they both drifted off to sleep.