Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing: ?/?

Summary: Sequel to Epiphany, Jeff and Dixie are trying to have a baby, what happens when it is likely to be more difficult than they first thought?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, any original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for either of them to be used.

A/N: This is a direct sequel to Epiphany, please read that first to understand this story :) Reviews are welcome :)

Thank you to BeethovenRIP and chan. nelson4444 for your reviews and support, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter Thirteen.

Sophia woke up about an hour after Jeff had put her to bed, they'd had some tea and played a couple of games of hide and seek. Dixie ran Sophia a bath and went to get her. 'Sophia, are you ready?'

'Yes, I'm ready.' Dixie put Sophia's pyjamas and a towel on the radiator for her and helped her climb into the bath.

'Is the water warm enough for you?'

'Yes it is, it feels nice, I love it. Thank you Dixie.'

'You're welcome sweet pea.' Dixie sat with Sophia as she washed herself. 'Did you have fun at the park today?'

'I did, I liked playing on the swings the best, it was a lot of fun.'

'Good, we'll go swimming in a couple of days. Can you swim?'

'Yes, we had lessons at school. I didn't like the instructor, she wouldn't let us play.'

'That wasn't very nice of her.'

'It's okay, another lady started soon and she put hoops in the pool that we had to swim through, she taught us to dive too.'

'You'll have to show me your diving when we're at the pool.'

'I will, I want you and my daddy to watch me.'

'We will both watch you, your daddy will want to see how well you're doing at swimming. You're his little princess Sophia'

'I like being his little princess.'

'You will always be his little princess Sophia, no matter how old you get.'

'Will you wash my hair for me Dixie?'

'Of course I will.' Dixie picked up the shampoo bottle and squeezed some into her hand, she lathered up Sophia's hair, being careful not to get any of the soap in her eyes.

'I like you washing my hair Dixie.'

'Close your eyes Sophia, we wouldn't to get any of the soap in them.' Dixie waited until Sophia closed her eyes and then rinsed the shampoo off her hair with the shower. 'All done sweet pea, come on, it is time for you to get out.' Dixie let Sophia hold her hand as she got out of the bath, she wrapped the towel around her and helped her dry off. Dixie helped Sophia into her pyjamas and then used the towel to wrap up Sophia's hair. 'Come on lovely, let's go and see your dad.' Sophia took hold of Dixie's hand and they went downstairs.

Jeff smiled at Dixie and Sophia when they came into the lounge, Sophia was wearing her pyjamas and dressing gown with her hair wrapped up in a towel, she looked very cuddly and warm.

'Come on John,' Dixie said. 'It is time for your bath.'

'All right, I'm coming.' Jeff watched John go with Dixie, he knew that she was enjoying looking after the kids. He was so pleased that the kids loved Dixie as much as he did.

'Daddy, can I sit on your knee?'

'Of course you can, my little princess.' Jeff picked Sophia up and sat her on his knee.

'Dixie washed my hair for me, it smells of mango now.'

'Does it?'

'Yes, it smells lovely.' Jeff hugged Sophia close to him, he loved her dearly and he took comfort from the contact he had with his daughter. 'Daddy, will you dry my hair?'

'Anything for my little princess.' Jeff carefully unwound the towel from Sophia's head and gently dried her hair. 'Your hair has grown so much, I remember when you used to have it short.'

'Mummy used to tell me I had to have it short. I told her that I want it long now, it is my hair.' Jeff chuckled, Sophia was rapidly growing into her own person and he could see that she had quite clearly inherited his stubborn steak.

'It suits you, you look so pretty.'

'Yay, thank you daddy.'

'You're very welcome my little princess.'

'Is Dixie your princess too?'

'She is.'

'How did you decide you wanted to marry Dixie daddy?' Jeff hadn't anticipated the question and he didn't want to tell her that when he had married Dixie it had all been a sham.

'Dixie's daddy was very ill and he wanted to make sure that Dixie was going to be looked after when he was no longer here. I loved Dixie very much so to make Dixie and her dad happy I married her. I promised Dixie's daddy that I would look after her and protect her.'

'Did Dixie's daddy die?'

'Unfortunately he did, he was too ill.'

'Poor Dixie, I will give her an extra big cuddle when she comes downstairs.'

'That's my girl.' Jeff wondered where all Sophia's questions were coming from, he hoped that telling Sophia the truth about Dixie's dad hadn't scared her. He didn't think that lying to her was a good idea, honesty was the best policy where death was concerned.

Jeff carefully brushed Sophia's hair, she seemed to have taken the conversation about death quite well. 'Do you know what I see for you in the future my little princess?'

'No, what do you see daddy?'

'I see you marrying the person that you love, he takes good care of you, and you'll have lots of babies that I can be a granddad to.'

'Daddy, when you get old will you lose all of your hair and teeth?'

'What makes you think that happens?'

'Millie from school says that all daddies go bald and lose their teeth when they get older.'

'Not all of them, I plan to keep my teeth until I'm a hundred years old.'

'That's good, you would have to eat soup all the time if you lost your teeth daddy.' Jeff laughed, it amused him that she had thought so much about him losing his teeth and hair when he got older.

Dixie brought John back down after his bath, they'd had a long chat about school and his favourite subjects, he was a clever boy and she knew that he would go far one day. She looked at Sophia snuggled up to Jeff and smiled, it was lovely to see them so close, John sat on the sofa next to them and then Sophia got down and went over to Dixie. 'Hello sweet pea, is your hair all dry?'

'It is, daddy dried it for me.'

'Good.' Dixie felt Sophia put her arms around her waist and hug her tight. 'Sophia?'

'I just want to give you and my baby brother or sister a big cuddle.'

'Thank you lovely.' Dixie hugged Sophia back and then let her go back to Jeff, she wondered what had happened to make Sophia want to give her that hug.

Dixie sat on the smaller sofa and John joined her while Jeff cuddled Sophia. 'I think it is time for a story,' Jeff said. 'Are you sitting comfortably?' Dixie smiled, she wondered what Jeff was up to. 'Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a beautiful princess called Sophia and her brother Prince John. The prince and princess lived in a castle with Queen Dixie and King Jeff, the king and queen ruled over their land fairly and all their loyal subjects loved them. The people were overjoyed when the prince and princess were born and everybody celebrated for days.' Dixie looked at Sophia and John, they seemed to be enjoying the story. 'The prince and princess were well looked after, they learned their lessons and became very clever. Sophia had the loveliest singing voice that anyone had ever heard and John was the bravest knight in all the kingdom, he protected the people with his loyal soldiers The brave Prince John slayed the dragon that was threatening all of the people.' Dixie wondered where Jeff got his imagination from.

Jeff felt Sophia snuggle up to him. 'What happened next daddy?'

'One sunny day, the handsome prince from the neighbouring kingdom came to ask for the hand of the fair Sophia. King Jeff arranged a meeting of the Princess Sophia and Prince Fletch and they instantly fell in love and the king made it known that they would be getting married. The people celebrated as they had all been invited to the wedding.' Jeff was using people that he knew in this story, Sophia and John seemed to be really enjoying it. 'The day of the wedding came and all of the kingdom had turned out to see their beloved princess marry the prince that she loved. All went well, the king and queen were so happy for Sophia, she was now married to the man that she loved.'

'Keep going daddy.'

'Prince Fletch took Sophia away on his horse to meet Queen Tess and King Charlie, both families met up for tea every weekend and were overjoyed to hear that Princess Sophia was with child. Prince John vowed that he would protect his sister, his dad was so proud of the young prince for the way he took care of his sister and the people.' Jeff saw John smile, he was pleased that his son knew just how proud of him he was. 'Soon Princess Sophia gave birth to a baby girl and the whole kingdom celebrated, she was very beautiful, just like her mum. Prince John doted on the little girl and at the party for her birth he met his future wife, the Princess Samantha, they too got married and Prince John was blessed with a little boy that was as brave and loving as his father. King Jeff and Queen Dixie were so happy, their family had grown and the prince and princess were happy with the people that they loved. And they all lived happily ever after.' Jeff kissed Sophia on the head and hugged her close.

'I liked that story daddy.'

'Good, I am glad you did.' Jeff had quite enjoyed telling that story to his kids, it made him feel like a proper father to them.

Dixie sat on the sofa and waited for Jeff to come back from putting the kids to bed, she thought that he should have some time with them before they went to bed. Today had been good fun for them all and she had managed to take some pictures of them all too, she was hoping to get one that Jeff could put in his wallet to replace the one that he had in there, he deserved to have a more recent picture of them. Dixie cuddled up to Jeff when he came back down. 'Are the kids asleep?'

'Yeah, they've had a busy day.'

'Indeed they have, so have we.'

'Do you think they liked the story?'

'They were hooked, where do you get your imagination from Jeff?'

'I think it is a natural talent Dix.' Dixie rested her head on Jeff's shoulder.

'How does the story end for us Jeff?'

'Simple, you give birth and we have a healthy baby. He or she will have a mummy, a daddy, a big brother and sister that dotes on him or her. They will grow up loved and cared for every day of their life.'

'It sounds like the perfect happy ending to me Mr Collier.'

'Me too Mrs Collier.' Dixie smiled, she really liked the sound of the happy ending that Jeff had suggested.

Jeff put his hand on Dixie's belly. 'When we go back to work you will be careful, won't you?'

'Of course I will.'

'I don't want you or the baby to get hurt, we do a very risky job Dixie. I would feel better if you went to ambulance dispatch sooner.'

'Jeff, you can't take away every risk in the world. I promise you that I will be careful out there, you will be nearby and I know that you will protect us if we need it.'

'I will, you know that I would lay down my life for you both.'

'It won't come to that, this baby needs his or her daddy. We'll protect each other Jeff.'

'Okay, I love you Dixie.'

'I love you too Jeff.' Jeff was relieved that Dixie would be careful but he vowed to be near her and protect her and the baby always.