CBloom2: That would be incredibly cute! Thank you :-)

xMissWhitneyBexx: Perfect!

casualtyislife: Thanks for your review :-)

sweeet-as-honey: That would be interesting because Ava is very girly. They can be but I think Lily realised that Ava couldn't be left alone and that there was no other option. I only wrote that scene because I cried at it the other day, I'm a huge dog person haha.

Catt9089: Thank you.

Is-there-somewhere-x: Okay, thanks :-)

I absolutely love writing this story and I still have many ideas to come, haha. Here is a little bit of a Casualty/Holby City chapter, a bit of a filler chapter before Lily has the baby. Enjoy :-)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Connie had spent years working on the wards of Holby City before moving to the ED and it felt so weird to be back. She half smiled to herself as she took a break and walked down the corridors, secretly missing it. She loved the buzz of the ED and she felt a lot happier there but being back on the wards made her feel quite nice inside.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Connie Beauchamp," a familiar voice said from behind her.

Connie smirked and crossed her arms. She spun round on her heels and came face to face with Jac Naylor.

"What brings you to this end of the hospital?" Jac questioned.

"One of our doctors has gone into labor and I'm just here to lend a helping hand," Connie informed her. "It's kind of nice to be back on the wards though. It's just like old times."

"It'd be even better if Mr Sam Strachan was here as well," Jac said. "Then it would be the three musketeers back together again."

"Indeed," Connie laughed.

"Listen, do you fancy a cuppa?" Jac asked. "I'm on my break, unless you have to get back."

"No, I think I can spare five," Connie said. "Lily isn't even fully dilated yet and she does have her husband there with her. How's it been down here anyway?" Connie asked as the two of them started walking down the corridor together.

"Same old," Jac sighed. "I mean you know how hectic it is doing a night shift, right? I've not been able to sit down until now."

"Right," Connie chuckled.

Jac poured them both a cup of coffee and the two of them sat down on the sofa. At first the silence was awkward but Jac soon spoke up, striking up a conversation about Grace and asking how she was doing.

"Fine," Connie replied. "She's growing up fast and I do love that she's living with me now. She's sleeping at her friends house tonight, I was meant to be working anyway so it had all been planned. How's Emma?"

"She's fine," Jac said. "Same as Grace really, growing up fast. Do you um...Still see Sam at all?"

"No." Connie shook her head and sipped at her hot drink. "Grace is off to New York for a week soon but she'll be flying on her own and then Sam will be meeting her at the other end. I'll miss her, it feels weird when she isn't with me."

"I bet," Jac said with a smile. "Things are different now, it feels weird."

"Yeah it does," Connie sighed deeply. "But I'll still pop in and visit every so often, being on the wards has kind of reminded me how much I've missed it. The ED is where I belong though, I love it there and they need me."

"Just like Darwin needs me," Jac said. "Nice to see you, Connie Beauchamp."

"You too," Connie replied. "Jac Naylor."


"Uncle Cal."

Cal woke up to a small voice from the doorway of his bedroom. He groaned and rubbed at his eyes wearily before checking the time on the clock. It was early, extremely early. He yawned and rolled onto his back, slowly turning on his bedside lamp to see that Ava was standing there in her pyjamas with her stuffed rabbit held to her chest.

"Hey princess," he whispered with a small smile. "What's the matter?"

"I can't sleep," she whispered back and sucked on her thumb. "Can I come into bed with you?"

"Of course you can," Cal said, sitting up and patting the space next to him. "Come on." Ava nodded and climbed up onto the bed, snuggling close to her uncle. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"Do you think Dora's okay?" Ava asked. "She's never been on her own at night before."

"I think she'll be absolutely fine," Cal comforted her. "She'll be having her little bunny sleep, enjoying the peace and quiet. We'll go and visit her in the morning though, let her have a run and give her some food."

"But mummy and daddy will be back home then, right?" Ava said. "With my little brother or sister."

"They won't be home that quickly, sweetie," Cal said.

"Why not?" Ava asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all," Cal said. "The thing is, it...How do I explain this?" He asked himself and stroked at his hair. "It takes quite a long time to get the baby."

"Because they have to check if it's the right one?" Ava asked. "Because there'll be lots of other babies too, huh?"

"Not exactly," Cal chuckled. "You know how mummy explained to you about the baby being in her tummy? Well, it's quite a long process to get the baby out."

"How do they get it out?" Ava asked.

"Well, I don't know exactly," Cal lied. "But the doctor's and nurses work their magic."

"Mummy was hurting," Ava said. "Is that why she had to go to the doctor?"

"I won't lie to you, Ava," Cal said. "Having a baby can hurt a tiny, little bit."

"What is a tiny, little bit?" Ava asked. "Is it like when I broke my arm at school?"

"Yes." Cal nodded. "Just...Just like that."

"Ouch," Ava hissed. "Poor mummy! I will give her a big hug when I see her, I could make her a card as well couldn't I?"

"I think she'd like that," Cal said. "But because it takes a long time and the doctor likes to keep mummy and baby in for a short while just to check if they're both okay, she won't be able to come home tomorrow."

"What about daddy?" Ava asked.

"He might be able to," Cal said and stroked her hair. "But he'll also be in and out because he'll need to look after mummy and your little brother or sister. You're going to be a big, grown up girl and help him right?" Ava nodded with a smile and clapped her hands with excitement. "Good girl. Now where is Matilda? What have you done with her?"

"She's still sleeping," Ava said. "When...When the baby does get here, will I be allowed to see mummy at the hospital?"

"Of course you will," Cal promised. "Daddy promised to call me as soon as the baby arrives so then I can take you to see her. Hey, I bet she'll be thinking of you," he said and kissed her cheek.

"I'm scared," Ava whispered in a small voice and wiped at her eyes. "I miss mummy, I don't want her to be hurted."

"Hey now, sssshh," Cal soothed her and pulled her in for a hug. "Mummy will be fine, I promise. I know what'll cheer you up." Ava sniffed and looked to him with a pout. "How about a bowl of ice-cream?" Cal whispered. "It'll be our little secret, yeah? We won't tell anyone."

"Yeah," Ava giggled.

"Good girl, but then you'll have to go back to sleep," Cal said. "And in the morning, you can sit at my special table and make a special card for mummy. Does that sound good?"

"Yes," Ava said, giving Cal a huge smile that almost made him cry. "Yes, it does."