CJ looked at Pip as her sister in law pulled up outside the hotel where Ben and the newly restored Gemma had been staying for the last week. They had called Dr Collins and informed him his services were no longer required, and had allowed Pip to make a similar call to Ashton the family attorney, laughing at the way she had politely told him to take his legal advice and shove it. "That" her dad had laughed, "is what a genius IQ learns in university? I am SO proud!" Despite the end to the anger and bitterness between CJ and her in laws they had still politely refused Matts offer to accommodate them at his home for the duration of their stay, preferring instead to visit CJ every day, then to drive out and about exploring the areas of LA that tourists seldom see…CJ had gone with them a few times partly enjoying her own new found freedom and partly to guide them to vineyards or beeches not clearly shown on any map…and of course every hour spent together healed the emotional wounds that so recently had caused such anguish.

The evenings had mainly been spent dining at Houstons, but Ben and Gemma were still a couple very much in love with each other…so they had also happily dined out at a couple of recommended romantic restaurants alone, and enjoyed a few romantic strolls on the beach. The small holiday was helping everyone to heal in more ways than one! They had even spent more time with Mac, and Ben…in a round about way, had acknowledged his approval with his daughters choice, whilst sadly accepting it may mean her moving to LA, but the tensions between Pip and her parents seemed finally to be over

"Are you sure they have no idea?" CJ asked Pip as she parked the car in front of the hotel where her parents stood waiting

"Not a clue!" Pip grinned back and gave a cheeky wink

CJs smile widened. "Good! It will be a nice surprise for them, I think…! Something else to take home with them tomorrow besides a sun tan and T-shirt!"

Pip nodded and sighed. "A week ago I thought the only thing they would be taking back was a pound of my traitorous flesh, can't believe we are all a big happy family again! Stephen…well…he would be happy!"

CJ patted her shoulder and whispered. "Yes he would, thanks to you!" But before she could add anything else her father in law was opening the back door and ushering in his wife as he called out a cheerful greeting, asking excitedly where they were heading to today and smiling happily as his daughter told him it was a surprise. CJ gave one more wink at Pip before her sister in law pulled out and re-joined the busy LA traffic.

Matt was already waiting for them when Pip pulled the car into the hospital car park. "Well," her father said with a slightly confused edge, "when you said it was a surprise…Pip, a hospital?"

CJ giggled and Pip pulled tongues at her. "It's CJs fault!" Pip explained, "She thought you might like this surprise!"

"Well," her mother started politely, "the grounds are…very well kept!"

Pip was laughing as she parked next to Houston, and he raised his eyebrows as he saw the bewildered look on the two passengers in the back seat. "You not told them why they're here yet?" he asked as he walked around and helped CJ from the car.

"Nope, but I'm just about to!" CJ shook her head as Houston motioned to the wheelchair in the trunk, "my crutches will be fine, you know as soon as we set foot in there they will have me in a chair anyway!"

"Uhm, CJ" Ben coughed slightly, "you were going to explain?"

She laughed as she looked at them. "Ah yeah…sorry! Well, I was due another scan next week, as you know they are keeping a close eye on things and I am to have scans every 2 weeks now that I am nearly 26 weeks gone…and no Gemma there is nothing wrong as I have already explained…and yes Houston I know I still don't look 26 weeks pregnant, but that's a good thing…means my physiotherapy will be enough to get rid of my baby belly afterwards! Anyway…I rang my doctor and asked if we could bring the scan forward by a few days…"

"Oh CJ, you are feeling ill and you're trying not to worry us!" Gemma said worriedly as she stepped forward to rest her hand on CJs arm.

"Gemma! I really am feeling fine!" CJ laughed and patted her hand, "really I am! But I thought…well, you might like to see your Grandchild for the first time before you head home…and who knows, maybe junior here won't be so shy with you two in the room and we will find out if it's a boy or a girl I have in here!" she patted her tummy and winked, happy at the way her in laws were now smiling back at her. Gemma gripped her arm tighter and stepped up to hug her, moving out of the way to let her husband step up and hug her even tighter. "So, not a bad surprise after all huh?"

"No," Ben said softly and sniffed, "not so bad at all…although Gemma did have a point…the grounds really are quite lovely!"

Houston walked one step behind her but right at her side, watching her steady progress with the crutches, his eyes checking for any sign of discomfort or pain, but CJ was doing so well that she almost kept a normal pace and didn't have to stop once before reaching the hospital entrance. "CJ!" a voice called out as the group entered, "saw you arrive and thought you could do with a lift the rest of the way!"

CJ smiled brightly. "Thanks Clarisse, how are you?"

The nurse from CJs old wards laughed as she made sure CJ was settling in to the chair comfortably. "Well I'm just fine, and all the better for seeing just how well you are…two weeks of freedom and you have bloomed…even your baby bump is booming!"

"See Houston" CJ smirked as she shot him a look, "not everyone thinks I'm too flat for a momma to be!"

"I didn't say you weren't too flat Miss CJ" Clarisse chuckled"I just said you weren't AS flat!"

"Thanks! I think!" CJ muttered

"Well, I have some more good news for you if it is ok with Mr Houston here?" Clarisse looked at him and grinned as he nodded back at her. "How would you feel about me being your babies nurse maid huh?"

CJ raised her eyebrows. "Say what? Huh?"

Clarisse laughed. "Houston found out I am due to retire next month…hospital policy says I can't carry on working here at my age, even though I feel just fine! I aint ready to be put out to pasture yet, and my husband aint due to retire for another two years…why I would go plum crazy without something to do…so I snapped up his offer to come and help take care of you and your baby whilst you are still, well…finding your feet! And as Mr Houston here seems to think you will wanna be getting back to work yourself as soon as you can, well you will be leaving your little one in the more than capable hands of Mama Clarisse!"

CJ shook her head a fraction and let the news sink in, part of her felt a twinge of annoyance that Houston had gone behind her back, but already the logical and practical side of her were telling her what a good choice he had made, besides CJ genuinely liked the woman, and her instinct told her that not only would her baby be in good hands, but she would be to. "Clarisse" she said as she reached for the womans hand, "that's wonderful, just wonderful!"

"Of course, until you are fully back on your feet we will be keeping Nessie on to" Houston said as he rested his hand on her shoulder, "just to be on the safe side"

CJ felt tears prick at the back of her eyes as she glanced sideways at Ben & Gemma and whispered"See, told you my family would look after me!"

Gemma smiled back and rubbed Houstons back as she agreed "Yes CJ, yes you did!"

"Hate to interrupt this love fest" Pip chuckled, "but in case you hadn't noticed we are here…ready for your scan CJ?"

"You betcha!" CJ grinned back just as her doctor stepped forward to meet them

"Why don't you folks wait outside whilst I get CJ settled, do a quick examination and then…ehrm, preserve her modesty a little bit before the scan…I'll call you in when we are ready to begin!"

"Too many people crowded round I think" Pip said as she bent quickly to hug CJ, "so I will go for a coffee…Houston can call me when you are all ready to leave. Mum, dad…have fun!" With that she turned and headed to the cafeteria with Clarisse, CJ went in to the examination room with her doctor, and a surprisingly nervous Houston walked with Ben & Gemma in to the waiting room to wait for them to be called in

Just over fifteen minutes later and his wait was over, the nurse appeared at the door and asked them to come through. Immediately Houston walked over to CJ and took her hand in his, smiling back at her as she gave a nervous giggle. "How's ma girl doc?" he asked as he sat down next to her

"Surprisingly well" the grey haired doctor replied as he walked back over and stood next to CJ, "in fact not too bad at all! BP is fine, a little underweight perhaps for this stage but all things considered I'm not going to worry too much…"

"Underweight?" CJ grinned, "Can I have that in writing?"

Houston winked at her as he muttered "Let you have a takeaway tonight as a treat!"

She nodded enthusiastically then gasped as the doctor squirted a cool gel on her tummy. "Ooops!" he muttered "forgot to warn you!"

"No kidding!" she grimaced then gripped Houstons hand as the scanner screens hummed to life and her doctor started to rub the camera over her tummy. He worked silently at first, hesitating every now and then, keying in information on the keyboard below the screen, freezing the image, jotting notes on the open file. With a small grin he looked sideways at CJ and whispered "Juniors not so shy today!"

"You mean?" she looked at him and nodded hopefully

He nodded and rested a hand on her shoulder as he moved the camera back to the centre. "Your son is doing well CJ, he looks…perfect!"

"A BOY!" Ben gasped, "Stephens son, his son!"

Gemma sniffed loudly then rested her head on her husbands shoulder and mouthed "Thank you!" as CJ glanced at her before looking back to stare at the image on the screen

"I'll get these printed out for you" the doctor told them as he explained that he had captured several images, "now why don't we let CJ get cleaned up a bit…uh nurse could you help" he glanced at the nurse who had been standing to the side before continuing,"then I would like a quick chat with you CJ in private, if that's ok?"

"That's fine!" Ben beamed at him as he heartily shook his hand before ushering Gemma to the door, "we'll wait outside and…thank you doctor, for everything!"

Houston went to walk out with them but the doctor gently stopped him, "Might be useful if CJ has someone here with her to take in what I have to say, stop her worrying!"

Houston nodded as he looked at Ben, the older man gave a quick nod then he and his wife left the room, as Houston walked away from the screened area to sit at the desk and wait for CJ

He smiled as the nurse helped her over and settled her in the chair next to him, just as the doctor came back into the room carrying the prints and CJs file. "Ok, well…as I said everything is fine…for now"

"I'm sorry!" CJ leaned forward a fraction but settled again as Houston took her hand

"What's the problem doc?" Houston asked softly, "Thought you said the baby was fine"

"And so he is!" the doctor smiled at them, "so he is! But, well as I mentioned earlier CJ is a little underweight, and not well…showing as much as you would expect from somebody well into their 26th week. The scan shows me that the baby is settled well back into the womb, almost vertically in the way he is lying…which is fine in some ways but not in CJs case unfortunately…here, let me show you" He turned the computer screen around and brought up one of the captured scanned images. "Most babies develop in this sort of an angle", he indicated with his pen, "and the womb fills with fluid as it pushes forward giving baby more room to move around. CJs baby is lying this way up…the fluid is filling the womb correctly but doesn't need to push out as the baby is growing upwards not out…which is going to put immense pressure on CJs spine, and it is only some 14-15 weeks since you had some pretty serious internal injuries, they haven't had a chance to heal fully so any extra strain or pressure…like a kick from a babies foot…and the bleeding could start again"

""Uh huh" Houston glanced quickly a CJ as his grip tightened, "so, what do we do doc?"

The doctor pursed his lips and sat back in his seat before looking at CJ and softly saying. "We move the caesarean forward"

"How much forward" CJ asked after licking her lips and taking a steadying breath

With a sigh the doctor told her "Well, we had discussed trying to aim for 30, maybe even 32 weeks…realistically…now? I think we may have to consider as early as 28 weeks"

"28 weeks!" CJ gasped

"Will the baby be ok that early?" Houston asked softly

Again the doctor sighed. "Everything on the scan shows the baby is a good size, there is every indication that he is healthy…of course he will be taken straight to the baby unit and monitored, I will have our top doctors on hand CJ, we'll get you through this!"

She nodded and chewed at her bottom lip. "There is no way to leave him for a little longer?"

"You must already be getting back pain CJ" he waited until she reluctantly nodded, "that is just the start. The pain will get worse, and if the baby tries to move around then it could be agonizing, it could also do some permanent damage. CJ, you know I would not make this decision unless it was absolutely necessary, but you have defied every medical prediction you have had set against you…I have seen people with just one of your injuries no come through or be permanently damaged…but you have fought back and defied every odds…but this time, well…it would be too dangerous to let you take one more risk" Again CJ nodded, her hand clasping even tighter to Houstons . "CJ, trust me"

"I do" she whispered, then glanced at Houston and added, "We do...it's just…a little overwhelming!"

"I understand" the doctor smiled at her, "but it is only a couple of weeks earlier than we had thought, and the C-section was always going to happen…so, it is just a little bit exciting to right?"

Houston brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm as he grinned and winked at her. "Right?" he echoed hopefully

CJ swallowed and looked between the two men who were both looking at her and smiling encouragingly. With a big smile she nodded. "Right!"

CJ asked Houston not to tell Ben and Gemma about the plans to move things forward, knowing it would worry them as they prepared to head back to England. He agreed and when they stepped outside to joint them he merely told them that the doctor had been explaining some of the signs they should look for to show the baby was moving, and what CJ could expect as the pregnancy progressed. "Expect?" Pip had quipped as she walked over to join them as they neared the exit "A baby is what she can expect right? I mean I know it just looks like she has eaten a large lunch rather than being weeks away from the stork arriving...but come on!"

CJ had thrown her a look and grinned. "Yes, I'm definitely expecting a baby thank you Pip…a boy in fact!"

Pip had stopped in her tracks and looked at her. "A boy" she whispered, "oh CJ…OH CJ!" and with that she had stepped forward and hugged her tightly, nearly pushing CK off balance from her crutches. There were tears in her eyes as she had stepped back, quickly wiping them away she had smiled broadly before pushing her sunglasses back on saying "Stay here, I'll bring the car to the door…then how about we head to Calvachios on the Beach for a celebratory lunch"

"That would be great" CJ grinned back

"Sure would" Houston nodded, "and we can show you the scans!"

Pip hesitated and went to reach for the brown envelope Houston held. "Ah ah ah…patience" he giggled as he pulled it out of reach, "car first…then lunch…THEN you get to see your nephew!"

Pip growled at him, then noticed CJ was starting to look tired so turned quickly on her heel and sprinted out to get the car…3 minutes later and CJ was snuggly fastened in the front seat waving as they pulled away and watched Houston cross to his own car.

They had enjoyed a lovely lunch then headed over to the nearby pier. Houston and CJ had sat and watched the men fishing whilst Pip had gone with her parents for a walk and a chance for them to talk. Her parents were leaving in the early hours of the following morning, so they had politely declined Houstons offer of dinner, preferring to head back to their hotel to eat in their room and then have an early night. They had also refused Pips offer of a ride to the airport the next morning, telling her they were fine getting a taxi and they didn't want to drag her out at such a ridiculous hour. So, Houston had said his goodbyes as they left the pier and headed back to the office after first handing over the smaller envelope the doctor had given him with copies of all CJs scan in them, and now Pip and CJ were saying their goodbyes as they pulled up at the hotel. CJ got out of the car to hug them, surprised to find herself so sad to be saying goodbye, and genuinely thrilled when both Ben and Gemma promised that they would come and stay a month when the baby arrived. Pip had walked them into the lobby before her dad had chased her out to take CJ home, but not before whispering how proud he was of the way she had stayed loyal to CJ and how strong she had been for all of the family. "I'm gonna miss you Pipsqueak" he told her as he hugged her again, "but I like Mac, and if he makes you happy…then I'm happy…we both are…just…just come home every now and again ok?"

"Ok" she had muttered, suddenly feeling homesick for the first time in all the months she had been in LA, "I promise!"

"Now go on" her dad said watching as Gemma hugged her again and pushed her hair back into place, "CJ is tired, get her home…and look after them ok?"

Pip did a mock salute and winked at him. "Yes sir!" and with that she turned and headed back to the car, giving one last wave as her dad stepped to the lobby door to wave them off. "So" Pip said once she had re-joined the freeway and was heading back to Houstons, "what did the doctor REALLY say?"