Jynx999: It is a very cruel disease and I hope they continue with the storyline in Casualty and show how Ethan struggles. Thanks for your review :-)

Guest: I'm glad you like it. That will soon be revealed.

Is-there-somewhere-x: She is so cute, I love writing her :-)

ETWentHome: Me too and I think it's the right decision as well. They do and hopefully they'll sort it.

I am sorry for not updating in ages, I feel awful. My anxiety has been quite bad and work has been hectic, I've also had drama rehearsals for our upcoming show so I have had no time to do any updating. Here's the next chapter though and I hope you enjoy it x

Chapter Twenty Six

"Not long left to go now," Robyn said, walking over to Lily at work. "Do you know what you're having yet?"

"No," Lily answered and shook her head. "When I was pregnant with Ava we knew that we were having a girl but we've both agreed to keep it a surprise this time. It kind of adds to the excitement."

"I'd love to be a mum," Robyn said. "You're so lucky, Lily. How's Ava doing?"

"You will be a mum," Lily said. "You're still young, I never thought that it would happen to be but look at me now. Ava's doing good, she's excited about being a big sister. She drew a picture at school the other day of her and the baby, it was so lovely."

"Sounds it." Robyn smiled at her. "Do you really think that marriage and kids will happen to me?"

"Of course I do," Lily said with a small sigh. "You just need to find the right guy who loves you for who you are. I was lucky enough to find Ethan."

"Thanks," Robyn thanked her and flung her arms around her neck. "You've changed so much Lily. You should be proud of yourself."

"Doctor Hardy!" Connie called, walking over to the two women. "Are you okay? You've been working really hard today, are you sure you don't need a little sit down?"

"I'm fine," Lily reassured her.

"You would tell me if you needed a break, wouldn't you?" Connie said and Lily nodded. "Good girl, just take it easy okay?" She gave her a small smile and turned to walk back to her office.

"I do wish people would stop fussing," Lily whispered and rolled her eyes. "Ethan's been the same."

"They just care," Robyn told her. "Come on, Connie's niceness is a rare occasion so I'd accept it if I was you."

"Yeah," Lily laughed. "Hey, how about the two of us go out for a drink after work today? Just the two of us?"

"Yeah," Robyn agreed and gave her a small nod. "Yeah. I'd really like that, Lily."

Lily was actually looking forward to having a girly evening with Robyn. Ethan had agreed to collect Ava from school and cook her some dinner, he knew that Lily wouldn't have any time for socialising after the baby was born and he also knew how stressed she'd been lately so he wanted to give her that time. Lily and Robyn headed off to some quiet pub round the corner whilst everyone else went to the usual place. It wasn't like they didn't want to be with their colleagues but it was just their evening and their evening alone. They didn't want to be disturbed.

"Are you not having any alcohol at all?" Robyn asked.

"No." Lily shook her head and sipped at her coke. "I'm not risking it, I'm nearing my due date so I am sticking to the soft drinks." Robyn nodded. "Now, we are going to try and get you a date."

"Lily, no," Robyn said. "Not here. How desperate will that look?"

"It won't look desperate at all," Lily said. "Loads of people meet each other in pubs. How about that guy over there?" She pointed at a man with dark hair sitting in a chair reading a newspaper.

"I don't know," Robyn answered. "He looks way out of my league."

"What do you mean?" Lily questioned. "He's gorgeous. By the way, do not tell Ethan I told you that."

"Don't worry, I won't," Robyn giggled. "But that's the thing...He..He's gorgeous and I...I'm just not."

"Yes you are," Lily told her and gave her shoulder a comforting rub. "You're beautiful, Robyn. Why don't you just go over and talk to him?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," Robyn said.

"You're asking the wrong person," Lily chuckled. "I was never good with guys either, Ethan just kind of fell for me and asked me out so I said yes and it just went from there really. Just ask him what he's reading or something, pretend you're talking to someone who you know really well and see where the conversation takes you. You might surprise yourself."

"Okay," Robyn said and took a deep breath. "I'll be brave. Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Lily said, as Robyn stood up and headed over to speak to the guy. Lily watched her sit down and the two of them began talking. As she watched, sipping at her drink, someone sat down in Robyn's seat. It was a man with blonde hair, grinning from ear to ear. "Can I help you?" Lily asked, edging a few inches away from him.

"I was waiting for your friend to leave," he said. "You're really pretty."

"Um...Thanks..." Lily avoided eye contact with him.

"My name's Ryan by the way," he introduced himself. "How about I buy you a drink?"

"Um...I'm kind of with someone," Lily said, gesturing to her stomach. "If you hadn't already noticed."

"But not in a relationship, right?" Ryan said. "Just knocked up?"

Lily wondered if he was actually stupid. "Nope," she replied. "Married with another child as well, might I add." And with that, Ryan left and Robyn came back over. "How'd it go?" Lily sighed.

"Really well!" Robyn squealed. "We exchanged numbers and he said about meeting for a drink tomorrow night."

"See? Didn't I tell you?" Lily said. "You just need to get out there."

"Who were you talking to anyway?" Robyn asked, eyeing up the guy who had been in her seat.

"He was hitting on me," Lily said. "He thought that I was only pregnant and not with anyone. I put him straight though, told him I was married with another child as well and he left."

"Good for you," Robyn praised. "I hate guys like that. They're such dicks."

"Tell me about it," Lily sighed. "Another drink? You bought the last lot."

"Thanks," Robyn said. "I'll just have the same."

Lily nodded and headed up to grab the next round of drinks. As she sat back down, she said, "did I tell you that Ethan and I bought Ava a rabbit?"

"No," Robyn said. "You kept that quiet."

"Well, she wanted a dog," Lily said and sipped at her drink. "But I'm allergic and she knows that so we suggested the rabbit idea for her and she got really excited. She's six now and we feel like she might have been feeling a bit left out with the new baby on the way and stuff so we got her a rabbit. It's brown but she called it Dora. Surprise, surprise."

"Dora," Robyn cracked up laughing. "That's awesome. After Dora the Explorer?"

"Yeah," Lily answered. "Don't encourage her. We had to get a girl just so she could call it Dora, she'll probably want us to name the new baby that as well if it's a girl."

"How allergic are you to dogs anyway?" Robyn asked. "Do you just sneeze or do you come out in a rash or what?"

"Okay, to tell you the truth," Lily sighed. "I'm not allergic to dogs, I...I'm just terrified of them."

"How can you be terrified of dogs?" Robyn asked with wide eyes.

"You can't tell anyone," Lily said. "I...I had a bad experience with one when I was little. I was at the park with my dad and this dog was off it's lead. I was playing with a ball and it charged over and literally attacked me. It was growling, I...I had to go to hospital and I've just been scared of them ever since."

"How old were you there?" Robyn asked.

"Seven," Lily said. "I know that every child should have a dog but..."

"That was one idiotic owner," Robyn said. "If she knew that her dog was like that then it shouldn't have been off the lead. Ava's growing up though and I think a dog makes the perfect family, why don't you consider it? You shouldn't be afraid of your own dog because you're the ones bringing it up."

"True," Lily said. "I'll think about it."

"I would," Robyn said. "Maybe get a labrador, they're lovely."

"Thanks Robyn," Lily said.

Robyn smiled at her and nodded. "Don't mention it."