The sleepless hours of parading up and down the hallway jiggling an angry baby had blurred into days, and before they knew it, they had Isabel at home for nearly two months.

It wasn't just any old day though. Something set it aside from the others. Rain drizzled against the windows, as if the sky was as miserable as Ethan was feeling. The atmosphere was tense, and all three seemed to pick up on it.

Isabel started to grizzle in Ethan's arms, so he picked her up and held her over a shoulder.

'I'll take her.' Alicia outstretched her arms and plucked the infant off him before he could argue either way. 'Something's arrived for you.'

He looked up at her, then the envelope in her hands. She knew. Her own eyes glistened with tears and she didn't hold his for long.

'I'll go put her down, then I'll be back through.' She gently tossed the envelope onto the sofa beside him and went back through into the baby's bedroom.

He stared at the envelope. One little rectangle of white threatened to destroy the little life they'd built in mere seconds.

In a fleeting second, he didn't want to know. He didn't care. Sometimes, not knowing was better.

He didn't even notice she'd sat back down by his side. They sat there a few minutes in silence.

'Well?' She asked, quietly.

'I've not... I've not opened it, as yet.' He forced a smile.

'Well, open it then.' Her brows knitted together. He gulped, tears forming in his own eyes. A hand on his thigh, squeezing.

'It's okay, whatever the outcome.'

A sob rose in his throat as he tore the paper back with a thumb. Pulling the letter out, his eyes scanned over the page.

'What? Ethan, what?' Alicia was shaking him now, frantic.

'She's... she's got the gene, it's recessive. She...' He shook his head.

She processed the information with a frown. 'She's yours. She's yours!'

His face was buried in her shoulder, and both were crying and laughing and gasping for what felt like an eternity.

'What are the chances of that? We only met like, twice?' Alicia asked, still dazed.

'They're s-slim. So slim. I can't believe, I-'

'Thank God she didn't get a dominant version of the allele and her symptoms will never show. Never mind about her passing it to her own, I'm just so glad she's safe.' Alicia murmured.

He'd fallen quiet, rereading the letter.

'You okay?' She asked, after a few seconds had passed by.

He didn't know enough to formulate a response. Emotions of all kinds were whizzing through his head in a torrent. At last.

But she looks so much like...'

'But so do you.' Alicia gave him a warm smile. 'I'll pop and get her. She needs to be in on this.'

-x-

'You know, I don't know if it helps the grieving process or hinders it.' Ethan said, as they walked along the beach. They'd driven there spontaneously - they had nowhere else to go, and it was a rare stretch of a few days that were unbroken by his shifts. With the baby carrier, the two of them and a picnic, they were overly prepared for the afternoon. It was freezing, barely the start of spring, but they were well swaddled and prepared for all eventualities where the weather was concerned.

'Helps!' Alicia finally enthused, as she rested a hand on her baby's back.

He looked at her for a second, squinting his eyes. She picked up on this, and looked back. They paused for an awkward two seconds and continued.

'What I meant t-to say is that I suppose I can finally let Caleb go now.'

The waves lapped against their bare feet.

'You don't have to let him go as such.' She wriggled her toes in the sand.

'No, I didn't mean that. I meant I can finally move on, try and live for the now.'

'Yeah. Yeah, you can.'

'I do still miss him, and he would have loved her. As his daughter or as his niece.' Ethan said.

'Of course he would.' Alicia agreed. 'She has her own guardian angel. She's lucky.'

'The luckiest.' Ethan mumbled back, as he walked slightly up shore.

Alicia watched, feeling the pang of emotion in her chest. It was all so real, and he had to come to terms with the loss of his brother and surprise of his daughter in a day. She felt guilty in many ways.

'It sounds bad,' Ethan turned around after skimming a stone. 'I was sort of hoping for the other outcome.'

'That's natural, course it is.' She gulped as she tried to reassure him.

'I should be over the moon. What's wrong with me?' He looked at her, searching for the answers she didn't have.

'I don't know.' She replied quietly. 'Don't be too hard on yourself dear. These things take time, alright? Perhaps it was just a surprise. We don't always react to things the way we want to, or the way we wish we could.'

He nodded blankly, trying to smile at her.

'Someone wants her daddy.' Alicia fumbled with the straps, unclipping the baby from her chest and passing her to him.

'Hello beautiful.' He whispered, quickly wiping away a tear that had managed to fall out his eye. 'Of course you're mine. I knew when I saw you.'

Looking on, she felt her heart thud with pride and love. It was a gorgeous moment, and they were so clearly father and daughter. He was right.

And, beautifully, although he doubted himself, Ethan made the perfect father. He doted on Isabel; it was clear to see. He rocked her gently in his arms, held her up so the breeze from the sea caressed her chubby cheeks. Both their faces had turned an endearing shade of rosy red, matching, cold but the picture of health.

He'd whisper to her, show her the sand, even though she was too little to look.

Alicia strolled a few paces behind them, letting him have his moment. She wasn't in a rush, and drinking in the view was something she'd savour for weeks to come. The events of the day had not met her expectations at all, but she oddly found herself glad.