A few weeks later...

When Robbie awoke that morning, he considered the scene in front of him. Florence was lying in her bassinet burbling to herself, next to Laura's side of the bed, and Laura was curled up on her side, next to her, fast asleep. His gaze flicked to the clock. Just after 6am. Florence was just beginning to fuss and Robbie reckoned if he moved quickly enough, he might just be able to get himself and Florence out of the room for half an hour and let Laura sleep a bit longer before he went off to work. He slipped out of his side of the bed, and pulled his dressing gown around him. Florence looked at him with big blue eyes as he picked her up and kissed her. "You come with me, my love, and we'll let your mam sleep a bit longer," he told the baby and she gurgled at him. Robbie settled her in his arms, picked up a blanket and padded quietly out of their room. Flo had had Laura up at least three times last night, and he figured the least he could do was give her some extra time in bed while he saw to Florence. "Right, my little love," he told her "I reckon we can manage some breakfast for me, with you for company, and then we'll see how the morning progresses." Florence grinned up at him and Robbie smiled back. "You see, you'd just got to the point where your poor mam was at her wits end, and then you learnt to smile, and she's fallen in love with you all over again." he reminded Florence and she wriggled in a way that he took to mean she was fairly content. He took her into her nursery, and quickly changed her nappy, before scooping her up again and taking her downstairs with him. Robbie filled the kettle up, and set it on to boil. He lay Florence down on her play mat, still in his sightline, and propped up a black and white book she'd suddenly taken a great interest in. She'd lie quite happily, staring at it for a few minutes at a time, which proved very useful indeed. Robbie quickly slung a couple of slices of bread into the toaster, and retrieved the butter and marmalade from the fridge, placing them on the side along with a plate and a knife. Once the kettle clicked off, he made a large cafetière of coffee for himself and Laura, and allowed it to stew. Florence gurgled cheerfully to herself and Robbie cast an indulgent eye over his younger daughter. When the toast popped, he retrieved it and spread butter then marmalade on it, and placed the plate of food on the table, followed by a large mug of coffee. And then he scooped Florence back up, and nestled her in the crook of his arm, so that he could eat with one hand whilst still cuddling her.

Laura came down an hour or so later to find Robbie on his second cup of coffee, still cheerfully reading bits of the paper to Florence, who was cuddled up in his arms. "Thank you," she murmured, coming to stand behind him and sliding her arms around his shoulders then kissing the side of his head. "Morning," he replied cheerfully. Laura looked down at their daughter, who grinned up at her mother and Laura sighed. "Anyone less adorable than you, Miss Florence, would not get away with your nighttime antics," she reminded the baby and Robbie laughed. "You been up with her long?" Laura enquired, sitting down at the table and pouring herself some coffee. Robbie shook his head. "An hour? I've quite enjoyed myself," he replied easily. "I think I slept through her last feed, but I was awake at six and so was she, so I thought I'd try and give you a tiny bit of respite. I'm due in court at ten, so I've got a late start." Robbie told her and Laura smiled. "I do appreciate it," she replied and Robbie reached over and squeezed her hand. "She's chatty this morning," he observed and Laura sipped her coffee. "What are your plans for today?" Robbie asked and Laura considered her answer for a couple of moments. "Well, there's a coffee shop which has a gathering of mums on Tuesday mornings, so I might head over there. And I need to go to the pool to sign Flo up for swimming lessons, so if I get through those two things, that will be a good day," Laura replied. "Is she not a bit little for swimming?" Robbie asked as Laura drank some more coffee and she smiled. "Of course. But the idea is that the sooner you get babies used to being in the water, the more confident they'll be as swimmers when they're older. And swimming is such a critical life skill," Laura explained "she likes her bath, so I think she might enjoy it."

"We should do something on Thursday," Robbie reminded her and Laura looked at him quizzically. "Thursday?" she asked and Robbie grinned at her. "Well," he replied "it'll be our first anniversary, technically, and whilst whisking you off somewhere romantic probably isn't on the cards, I thought we could go out for lunch." Laura chuckled and squeezed his shoulder. "Sorry, that's terrible. I hadn't thought about the date at all," she replied "but it would be lovely to go for lunch. Though we are going to have company, aren't we, my darling?" She stroked Florence's cheek and the baby gurgled at her. "I promise we'll get some time to ourselves soon," Laura told Robbie and he smiled at her. "She's had a nap at 7pm the last two nights, so if she does that again tonight, then I am declaring that a) a routine and b) bedtime," Laura told him "and what I wouldn't given for an actual evening." Robbie shrugged easily "sounds fair to me, love." he replied.

Florence did indeed oblige her mother by going down for a nap at 7pm, and Laura thought that she had somehow managed to achieve something when she was able to sit down on the sofa at 7.15pm, with the baby monitor on the coffee table and a glass of wine in hand. When Robbie walked in the door half an hour later, he was pleasantly surprised to find his wife curled up on the sofa reading, with dinner in the oven. "I know I'm a domestic goddess," Laura told him amiably, looking at him over her glasses "so you don't have to tell me." Robbie laughed and she looked affronted. "Thanks," she chided and Robbie leant down to kiss her lovingly. "Flo down for the night?" he asked and Laura laughed hollowly. "I reckon she will sleep until about 10pm" she replied "and then, if I'm lucky, she'll have me up at about 1am and probably at about 4am or 5am. We are some way off 'down for the night'" "You're a bloody marvel," Robbie told her, sitting down on the sofa next to her and she flashed him a smile. "So," Robbie began "if Flo's asleep, and I've got you all to myself…" Laura considered him wryly, and then set down her wine glass. "What did you have in mind?" she enquired lightly as he leant in to kiss her and then giggling as he trailed kisses across to her neck, and then to the sensitive spot behind her ear. "Robbie," she murmured "at least let me turn down the dinner, or it's going to be inedible." Robbie laughed. "You're still remarkably alluring, even when you're being horribly practical," he remarked. Laura grinned at him and she made her way into the kitchen. "I know you of old, Robbie Lewis, and if you're given a choice between sex and dinner, I know perfectly well that what you actually want is sex *and* dinner," she replied. Robbie laughed as Laura turned the oven down low and then returned to him on the sofa. "All I want," Robbie rebuked, holding out his hands and pulling her down so that she was sat astride his lap "is a bit of time with my lovely wife," and Laura smiled at him.