"I can't take you tonight, Mia." He watched as her face fell, and he quickly moved to sit on the chair beside the bed, leaning forward to take her hands in his. "But... I do have a surprise for you."

"I don't think I like surprises."

"Oh trust me, small-stuff, you'll love this one. Technically, I have two." Mia tried to look over the bed, to see if Jacob had left anything on the floor.

"There's nothing there!"

He laughed, squeezing her hands in his. "I'm going to be back in less than a minute. Time me." He winked, and left the room to find Connie and Grace, who sat playing I-Spy, Grace becoming increasingly frustrated as her mother constantly guessed wrong.

"Jacob!" She stood up as he came past, and he smiled at her before turning to look at Connie.

"Grace... Would you like to go and see Mia?" Grace nodded, and Connie smiled at her daughter, then nodded to Jacob as he took Grace's hand and led her to Mia's side room.

Both girls looked at each other curiously when Grace walked in. The girl in the bed was a few years younger than she was, and Grace knew how frightening it could be to be left alone when you were young, so with no hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled a toy from the bag she'd carried close since they'd left Holby. "Hi, I'm Grace. I brought you this." She held out the teddy bear that she'd finally picked from her collection.

Mia glanced at Jacob and then reached out for the bear. "Thanks, Grace. I'm Mia."

"What happened to your leg?" Grace asked as she sat on the chair beside the bed. Jacob opened his mouth to remind her not to mention it, as he'd told her on the way to Elle's, but he needn't have worried.

"It got hurt in a car accident, the bone stuck right out! I have pictures on my phone."

Grace wrinkled her nose. "That sounds like it must have hurt."

"It did. Lots. And it still hurts now, but I have a fairy god mother who is going to fix it!"

Grace smiled at this, half wishing she was still young enough to believe in fairy god mothers. "Wow! You're lucky! What's her name?"

"Connie."

When Mia replied, Grace turned to look up at Jacob who was unable to read the expression on her face. "How does she know mum?"

"Uncle Jacob talks about her all the time." Grace turned back to Mia, who beckoned her to come closer. She sat up as much as she could, and tugged at Grace's sleeve to pull her so that she could whisper in her ear. Grace giggled, looking back up to a confused Jacob, who tried as hard as he could to not let the worry show on his face; hoping Mia would not mention that they were together yesterday. They had come so far this evening, he didn't want all of that to fall apart now.

"Where's Mum, Jacob?"

"She's..." He leant back to see through the glass of the door. Sure enough, she was standing just outside, inspecting the ward around her. "Forgetting that she's here as a visitor." He opened the door and took her hand, and she turned in surprise. He simply rolled his eyes at her, and brought her in to stand next to him. She couldn't help but give a small gasp as she saw Mia and Grace together, giggling away, one of Grace's favourite teddies sitting beside Mia's pillow.

"Connie!" Mia turned from Grace to raise her arms excitedly, and Connie stepped quickly over to the bed to embrace the little girl.

"How are you feeling, Mia?"

"My leg hurts. But the doctors say it will get better."

"Do you mind if I have a look?"

"Mum, there are doctors here-"

"I wouldn't waste your breath, Grace." Jacob grinned at the girl who sat beside his niece, a knowing glance passing between them.