Caroline allowed Celia to rant on for a short time before cutting her off. "Mother, I'm sorry I'm going to ring you back. We're at the hospital and phones aren't permitted." Lawrence smiled at his mum's little fib.

Caroline looked at Lawrence, "What?"

"Didn't realise we were playing Doctors and Nurses!"

Caroline smiled at the wit of her son and reflected on how much he had grown up in such a short space of time. For a 15-year-old he had gone through so much with all that had happened. She thought back to the night in his room when he found out that she and Kate were in a relationship. He was upset and he didn't want anyone being mean to her.

They all arrived at the hospital and Caroline relieved to see the nurse on the desk wasn't Nurse Bottomley aka Nurse Grim smiled. She explained to the nurse who they were and asked if they could see Doctor Caraghan. The nurse asked them to go to the Day Centre and she would find him for her.

They all gathered in the centre and Kate glanced across to Caroline from her stance by the window. She looked concerned to Caroline. Caroline walked across to her and hugged her from behind. "It's okay Kate. I'm sure they are just going to look for him. If there was anything wrong he would have rung us straight away."

Kate rubbed Caroline's arm. "Yeah."

Grace distracted Lawrence who looked worried too. "So, Lawrence. What is the highest level you have reached on Mario Cart?"

Lawrence looked at Grace carefully. He thought that this mad lady was checking him out so he lied and aimed lower with the level he had reached. This caused Grace to laugh heartily. "Mm. I see you are a clever one. I know that the level you tell me is not quite right. Kate already told me she had beaten you on a higher level. I will have to keep a close eye on you."

Lawrence was about to defend his reply when there was a knock on the door. Doctor Caraghan stood waiting to be invited in.

Kate walked towards the Doctor. "Hello Doctor. This is my mum Grace and Lawrence. How is Helena?"

The Doctor took a seat and invited the group to join him. He turned to Kate and Caroline to talk. "Helena is doing well. We are really pleased with her progress. She is not out of the woods just yet but she is a fighter. I'm happy for the two of you to visit and hold her. But I wouldn't want anyone else just yet. We need to limit her exposure to people who may inadvertently pass something onto her."

Kate and Caroline were sitting together holding each other's hands and both released the breath and the tension they were holding. Kate smiled and looked at Caroline before turning to the Doctor. "Thank you."

"You'll both have to take a shower I'm afraid. You will need to suit and boot up in scrubs. We don't want any of your outside clothes in the unit when you hold her."

Kate and Caroline nodded that they understood and then laughed that they were going to take a shower together having resisted the urge to shower together earlier.

Lawrence and Grace looked a little sad and the Doctor noticed. "You can both see her from outside the viewing window. If you come with me I'll take you there now? Kate and Caroline can go with Nurse Watson to the sterile area."

Kate and Caroline were too full of anticipation to do anything other than a quick shower together. Half an hour later they were in the unit with Helena in the incubator. The nurse took Helena out and handed her to Kate. Kate dressed head to toe in blue scrubs, hair net and white boots took Helena in her arms. She began to cry at the sight of her precious daughter. Caroline held her arm around Kate and the other arm under Helena and smiled at her beautiful face. Helena was asleep and seemed oblivious to their presence. Kate looked at Caroline. "She's beautiful isn't she?" Caroline smiled at Kate and whispered. "Just like her mother."

The two women continued to chat with the nurse who explained the purpose of all the equipment surrounding Helena. Most of it was purely to check her progress and vital signs. There were drips to feed her and to give her the antibiotics she needed.

Kate took Helena to the viewing window so her mum and Lawrence could see her. They both smiled at her tiny features.

Half an hour later they were dressed back in their own clothes and they joined Grace and Lawrence outside the viewing area. Kate felt a little sad to be leaving her again and became upset. Caroline comforted her and told her they would come again tomorrow and spend a bit longer. The Doctor had said that the two of them could come every day to spend time with her. However, he still wanted to limit others until a week had passed.

Back in the car heading home to Kate's house Caroline asked Lawrence what he wanted to do. Lawrence opted to stay at Kate's with Grace if they went via Grace's house to collect the games console. Caroline shook her head but agreed to help him get to know Grace.

An hour later Kate and Caroline arrived at the estate agents and were looking at the brochures together. The Estate Agent who Caroline had been dealing with was off for the day. They spoke instead with another one who arranged for the price to be dropped and asked them what they were looking for in the new house. Kate arranged for her house to be placed back on the market and a board to be placed in the garden. The list of things both Caroline and Kate wanted in the new house was extensive and the look on the Estate Agent's face gave away the fact they were maybe asking a lot for their budget.

They found two houses they liked and waited for the Estate Agent to contact the sellers. A short time later the Estate Agent asked them to join him and he would take them to the houses. They spent time viewing both but they agreed neither were suitable. Arriving back at the Estate Agents they seemed flat. The realisation set in that their task ahead was going to be more difficult than they anticipated.

Back at Kate's they found Lawrence and Grace laughing with each other in front of the television, a games controller in each hand. Caroline smiled; feeling reassured that Lawrence and Grace were getting on well together.

Caroline made her and Kate a cup of tea and they went into the kitchen to talk. They took a seat at the kitchen table and Caroline noticed Kate seemed down. "Kate. Are you alright? You seem flat?"

Kate raised her head and smiled but Caroline saw through her efforts to seem okay. "That wasn't very convincing Kate. What's wrong?"

"I'm just thinking about Helena. I miss her and I didn't want to leave her. I'm sorry the houses weren't up to what we wanted but I wasn't really in the mood." She looked at her hands.

"Hey. It's okay. You're bound to want to be with Helena. Crikey I felt so torn at the hospital. I wanted to scoop her up and bring her back with us. There will be other houses but it's not a priority. We don't have to rush things. We haven't sold your or my house yet so there isn't any real pressure." Caroline took Kate's hand and gently stroked her cheek. "You're probably tired too. We were up late last night and we've had a busy and emotional day. Do you want to have a nap whilst I make us all dinner?"

Kate smiled again but his time is was genuine. "Thank you. Do you mind?"

Caroline smiled and walked Kate upstairs to her bedroom and tucked her in. Do you want anything before I leave you?"

Kate shook her head and Caroline turned to leave. "Caroline?"

Caroline turned back to Kate. "Yes?"

"Thank you for today. I'm sad at leaving Helena but I'm so happy to be with you."

Caroline smiled and mouthed to her, 'I love you'.

She closed the door and went back to the kitchen. She looked through Kate's cupboards and decided on Lasagne with salad. She checked on Grace and Lawrence and began preparing the dinner. She looked out the kitchen window and smiled at how happy she felt. There were so many things to sort out but she still felt content with how things were going. She smiled when she recalled Kate and her dance at the wedding on Christmas Eve.

"You look happy. What are you smiling at?"

Caroline turned at the sound of Lawrence's voice. "Did you win then?"

Lawrence didn't smile and changed the subject, "No. What's for dinner?"

Caroline laughed. "Oh! Grace whooped you good. Didn't she?" Caroline couldn't help chuckling at Lawrence's embarrassment. "I promise I won't tell anyone at school that you were beaten by a 70-year-old grandmother if you set the table for dinner!"

Lawrence sulked at his mum's humour. "She's worse than Kate for distracting you. It's definitely cheating. It's not any of this strategy business."

Caroline continued to chuckle and opened the cutlery draw for Lawrence to gather what he needed.

"Besides I beat my personal best! Are you and Kate coming to watch me play rugby tomorrow?"

"What time is the match? Where is it?"

"It's a home game at 11 o'clock. The thing is mum my kits at home." Lawrence looked at little sheepish at the last comments knowing his mum would be angry.

"Great. That means another trip home to get your kit. Is it clean or does anything need washing?"

Lawrence didn't answer his mother again knowing she wouldn't be happy. He looked down at his hands too afraid to face his mother.

"I take it from the lack of response your kit is dirty. Well, after we've eaten tea I'll take you back home to get it and bring it here to wash it. But that will be the last time Lawrence. You need to learn to get yourself organised in future. If you forget then it is simple, you don't play."

Lawrence still didn't look up and mumbled. "Thanks mum."

They were interrupted by Caroline's mobile ringing. "Could you get that please Lawrence I've got my hands full."

Lawrence answered and then held the phone towards Caroline. He held his hand over the mouth piece and whispered. "It's granny. She doesn't sound very happy and I can't fib as well as you can!"