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Jonny looked across the pillows at his wife's sleeping face. She hated this day. He knew from experience it was best to let her do as she pleased. There would probably be no mention of the baby they'd lost. Any attempt to do so would be met with a waspish remark followed by a stony silence. Jac only ever wished to talk about Amelia being alive, the memory of moment her daughter took her last breath was not one she ever wanted to remember. Today Jonny's main focus was ensuring nothing would upset his wife. Whilst it had gotten easier as the years passed, it was still always a challenging day for both of them.

'Jonny don't stare at me' Jac mumbled.

'Well then maybe you should try not looking quite so beautiful' Jonny pressed his lips against her forehead.

'I packed your running gear, why don't you go for a run?' Jac suggested whilst keeping her eye's firmly shut.

'Nah its too cold for that' Jonny spoke casually. There was no way he was leaving her alone today. 'Maybe we could go for a walk together later?'

'Hmm maybe' Jac rolled away from him, pointedly lying on her other side.

'I want that shirt back by the way, you're not stealing it as nightwear' Jonny spoke to the back of her head.

'It smells like you' Jac mumbled.

'Cute' Jonny moved closer to his wife and snaked an arm around her waist, waiting to see what her reaction would be. He almost sighed with relief when she entwined her fingers with his. 'You're still not keeping it though Naylor.' He listened as her breathing deepened having fallen back into sleep. Jonny closed his eyes. Maybe today wouldn't be such an awful one this year.

...

Jac awoke an hour later and could tell from Jonny's breathing he had fallen back into a deep sleep. She let his hand go and tried to get out of the bed without waking him, a task proving impossible with his arm still wrapped around her.

'Where you going?' Jonny mumbled sleepily.

'To the bathroom' Jac answered 'go back to sleep.' She didn't take long in the bathroom due to the coldness that had seeped into the house over night and was soon climbing back under duvet next to her husband.

'Jonny?' she had made a decision whilst in the bathroom and she knew if she waited the conversation wouldn't happen.

'Hmm?' he mumbled.

'I need to tell you something.'

At those words Jonny opened his eyes 'is everything okay?'

Jac nodded. 'The Amelia device is ready. Both MHRA and FDA have approved its use.'

'That's fantastic news Jac!' Jonny's face broke out into a grin 'Why didn't you say earlier?'

'This device could have saved our baby.'

'I figured that Jac, even I'm not that thick' Jonny spoke softly.

'If she could have been operated on sooner we could have brought her home within that first month. She might never have got that infection but if she had her heart would have been stronger' Jac let her tears fall down her cheeks, the words she had been longing to speak for over two years finally having been voiced.

'Och Jac' Jonny pulled her into his arms, letting her burry her head against his chest so she could have good cry. 'How long have you been bottling this up eh?' He kissed the top of her head as he rubbed her lower back. 'You know you were a force of nature during that time. I mean you always are, but when Amelia got sick you were something else, you left no stone unturned in case there was something that might help our baby. There was nothing more that anyone could have done back then Jac. It was no one's fault, it just wasn't Amelia's time. I'm so proud of you though, turning our own tragedy into something so good. Amelia still lives Jac, she's alive in your research and every baby that is saved by your invention is now Amelia's legacy.'

...

Jonny watched as Jac played with her porridge. She had had eaten a few spoonful's and was now lost in thought, stirring it idly with her spoon.

'Do you want some more coffee?' Jonny decided to break into her silence, worried her mind was taking her back to some dark places.

'No' she shook her head. 'Maybe a walk later would be nice' she softly smiled at him, letting him know she was fine despite her emotional melt down.

'Sure, we might was well make the most of this mini break. You're probably going to be pretty busy teaching the Amelia device to those who want to learn from the best in the world.' Jonny smiled back at her.

'I booked this cottage because I didn't want the girls to think I wanted a different life to the one I have with them' Jac spoke honestly. 'I knew I had to say it aloud, that I achieved what I wanted, invented something that would have kept my baby alive but I couldn't when they were at risk of overhearing it. Does that make sense?'

'Not really no' Jonny shook his head 'of course the girls know Amelia was everything to us but they also know we love them just as much.'

'It was just something that Julia said.' Jac shook her head 'just forget I said it. Besides it wasn't the only reason, I also wanted to spend a bit of time alone with you. I've been so busy lately and everything's been so hectic I've hardly seen you.'

'Its fine Jac, I've never begrudged you working. Your passion for medicine is part of you that I love' Jonny placed his hand on top of hers. 'But anytime you want to organise a little surprise like this you go right ahead.'

'I've missed you' Jac shrugged 'I didn't know how else to show it.'

'Careful Naylor your tiny tin heart might just explode' Jonny teased her before leaning in for a kiss. 'You don't need to tell me things I already know' he whispered before brushing his lips against hers.

'I don't know where I'd be without you Jonny Maconie and your annoying ways' Jac kissed him back.

'Don't think you can distract me from your earlier words by being affectionate' Jonny sat back in his chair. 'What did Julia say?'

'I was being stupid' Jac picked up her bowl and stood up from the table.

'No you weren't, she clearly said something' Jonny frowned.

'She thought that we would spend more money on Ava than her because Ava is a blood relative' Jac answered with a sigh, sensing Jonny wasn't about to let it go. 'I set her straight, told her not to be ridiculous. I guess I just don't want to her think we only adopted her because we couldn't have kids of our own.'

'Huh' Jonny leaned back in his chair, thinking. 'I guess its natural she should think like that. I mean we fostered her at 12 and then adoption papers were signed at 14, unlike Ava who we had full guardianship of at age three. There's always going to be a feeling of her trying to fit into an pre made family.'

'I guess' Jac shrugged. 'Even Ava had a little adoption wobble when she thought you didn't love her. Rescuing her from the clutches of my evil mother sorted that one out though.'

'Whilst that may have been my finest parenting hour I have no desire to repeat it. At the time I was so frightened I'm surprised my heart didn't stop.' Jonny sighed 'the thing is I always suspected Julia thought one day we'd give up on her. She believed that we'd figure there were other cuter younger kids out there with less problems than hers who we could adopt in a trice. We've done everything to prove her wrong but still that self doubt is always going to be there. We're probably just going to have to accept it and try not to let us affect us. I think as parents we've done pretty okay at raising two smart and level headed girls.'

'You know what we really need to get Julia to accept though' Jac arched her eyebrow at Jonny.

'The trust fund' Jonny finished her sentence with a nod. 'I tried speaking to her about it, pointing out she could be mortgage free at the age of 21.'

'What did she say?'

'Nothing and then Hattie came into the room and I didn't like to press because I don't think she knows about it.' Jonny shook his head 'surely Hattie must think its odd Julia doesn't have a student loan?'

'Perhaps she thinks we give Julia an allowance like her Dad does for her?' Jac shrugged.

'We must look like very generous people' Jonny laughed sardonically as he remembered the huge battle they'd had to get Julia to even consider using some of compensation money she had been awarded to pay her way through university. 'Paying for tuition fees and giving her an allowance on top of gifting her a deposit for a house and paying for a wedding. I doubt Hattie is that naive.'

'We've got just over ten months to figure out how to get Julia to accept the full trust fund when she turns twenty one' Jac decided finally. 'Hopefully she'll start to see what good that money can do for her instead if seeing it as a reminder of what she went through.'

'I admire your optimism' Jonny chuckled. 'Our girl is just as stubborn as you are.'

'I prefer to think more of it being a strong independency' Jac kissed Jonnys forehead before walking away to start sorting out the dishes.

Jonny chuckled. 'Oh by the way Naylor I saw you'd snuck my shirt into your overnight bag.'

'You mean you don't want me to have it because you don't think I look good in your clothes?' Jac grinned mischievously at him.

'Och I like you best naked and you know it' Jonny jokingly winked. 'But seriously you've stolen enough of my t shirts to sleep in. Don't take my favourite checked shirt.'

'You seem awfully attached to this piece of clothing.' Jac shut the dishwasher on the dirty breakfast dishes. 'Why'd you like this shirt so much over all the other checked shirts you own?'

'Cos its really soft' Jonny answered pathetically 'it feels nice against my skin.'

'Really?' Jac rolled her eyes as Jonny nodded. 'Honestly Maconie, sometimes even I wonder how you ever did convince me to marry you.'

...

'What about G-ma?' Jonny suggested as he researched terms for grandmother on his phone. He scrolled down the page with his thumb whilst he gently smoothed Jac's hair with the other hand 'Or Gamma?' Jonny was sat with his feet up on the coffee table whilst Jac laid out on the sofa, her head resting in his lap. They were cosy and content in front of fire, relaxing after a long walk in the woods.

Jac lowered the book she was reading 'seriously?'

'Granna? Ne-ma?' Jonny continued. He laughed as Jac pulled a pained face. 'Maybe I'll just go back to playing words with friends. You know I'm actually beating Hattie?!'

'Congratulations' Jac rolled her eyes. 'You do know she has designs on being a GP?'

'Sensible plan' Jonny nodded 'much in demand are good GP's. Plus decent working hours, family friendly.'

'Its far too sensible' Jac sighed 'where's the excitement in general practice? She's young, she should have ambition.'

'Awh you're disappointed you can't have a prodigy aren't you?' Jonny teased 'you were hoping young Hattie would take a shine to cardiovascular surgery and then she'd be looking up to you in awe.'

'They all look up to me in awe, I don't need additional adoration' Jac pinched her husband's leg. ' I just thought I could have shared my experiences with someone who's actually interested.'

'I'm interested' Jonny laughed.

'That's not the same thing. You've never held a human heart in your hand.'

'Ah well maybe our developing grandchild will have inherited your grim obsession with holding people's vital organs in your hand' Jonny mused. 'What about Granna? Or Mimsy?'

'I thought you'd given up on that list?' Jac sighed.

'I'm just trying to be helpful' Jonny laughed 'that bubba has to call you something.'

'Its strange, I once thought I wouldn't have children and now I've got a grandchild on the way' Jac smiled softly.

'Its a nice thought right?' Jonny smiled. 'You deserve all of this Jac, every little bit of happiness. Our family just keeps getting more amazing and I love that I'm sharing it all with you.'