Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing: ?/?

Summary: Sequel to Epiphany, Jeff and Dixie are trying to have a baby, what happens when it is likely to be more difficult than they first thought?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, any original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for either of them to be used.

A/N: This is a direct sequel to Epiphany, please read that first to understand this story :) Reviews are welcome :)

Thank you to BeethovenRIP, olivia. c. king1 and chan. nelson4444 for your reviews, squishy time :)

Chapter Thirty-Six.

Dixie was quite happy that she had reached the end of her first week working at ambulance dispatch, she was getting to know her new colleagues and she had even gone to lunch with a few of them during the week. She'd shown them the scan picture that she kept on her person at all times and was pleased when they said how cute the baby looked. Dixie appreciated that they'd made her feel welcome and invited her into their little circle. It didn't surprise her to hear that Louise generally wasn't liked by near enough everybody that worked with her. They all had their stories of how Louise had turned her nose up at them and acted like she was better than them all. It puzzled Dixie as to how Louise didn't care that people didn't like her, Dixie was sure that she knew how they felt about her and yet she made no move to change their opinion or act differently. She'd ignored all of the disapproving looks that Louise sent her way, if Louise wanted to spend her time giving people nasty looks and generally being horrible then that was her problem. Dixie sighed quietly, she had come up here to rest and get away from it all for a while, she was feeling a bit tired but she didn't want to sleep, she just wanted to relax and unwind after her first week working at a new place. She was getting used to her different work now but sometimes she wished that she was still working on the ambulance crew with Jeff by her side.

Dixie placed her hands on her belly, she'd been reading up on pregnancy and from now the baby would be able to hear her when she spoke to him. She'd been doing it an awful lot lately, she would tell him what she'd been doing during the day or about something that she had knitted for him. She would also tell him how much she was looking forward to seeing him and holding him and how much his daddy was looking forward to meeting him too. Dixie told him all about Sophia and John and how much she loved them and that he would have a big brother and a big sister that would look after him and keep him safe. She told him about the pram and carry cot that they had bought for him and would be here any day now, it was expensive but it was worth it. They'd bought a proper car seat too so he would be safe in the car when they went out. Talking to the baby was a way for her to feel close to him and increase their bond and connection. Dixie had noticed that sometimes her feet and ankles were a bit swollen, mainly when she'd been stood up for too long, she was having to sit down a lot more now. Sometimes her back would ache and she found that Jeff rubbing the places where she ached made her feel a whole lot better and closer to him now that she was finding it harder to make love. Jeff was so understanding and didn't mind that she didn't have the energy these days, she would cuddle up to him and just hold her in his arms.

Jeff had sent Dixie upstairs to have a lie down, she looked dead on her feet and he thought it would be better for her if she got some rest. No doubt her first week at work had tired her out and he was glad that she had a couple of days off to rest. Jeff was quite bemused by Dixie's cravings, one minute she was craving chilli sauce and the next it was ice cream. She'd even had a few days where she craved cheddar cheese almost non stop, whatever she wanted he would get it for her, he wanted his princess to be happy and if that meant he had to run to the shop and get her whatever she wanted then he would do it. Jeff looked that the calendar that the kids had been using to keep track of the days until Dixie had the baby. They'd marked off twenty-two weeks worth of days and that meant she had around fourteen to sixteen weeks to go. Jeff had been secretly preparing himself for weeks, it was a long time since Sophia and John had been born and he wanted to make sure that he was ready for anything that might happen. He'd been reading a lot and taking in a lot of information on ways that he could support Dixie through her pregnancy. Jeff had taken on a lot of the chores and he'd roped the kids into helping him out too, he was proud of them and the mature way that they were acting. He knew that Dixie appreciated the help as she was finding it harder to get around now, she was quite big and that meant she often needed to rest and couldn't do as much around the house as she had previously done. Jeff was walking Little Abs all the time now as he didn't want Dixie over exerting herself too much.

Jeff was currently thinking about the baby, he was impatient and couldn't wait to see him when he arrived, he hoped that their little one would have Dixie's eyes, he'd always liked her eyes even before they became a proper couple. Dixie's eyes made him feel safe, he always saw compassion and love in them when he looked into her eyes. He'd been thinking about the baby a lot lately, he had put copies of the pictures from the scan in his locker and he even kept some in the ambulance so he could look at them from time to time. Looking at the pictures reminded him of how many good things he had in his life; John and Sophia, Dixie and the baby, he was so grateful and he felt so very lucky to have them all. The kids were doing their homework at the table and he was watching them as they worked, he was glad that they were working hard at school and on their homework, he wanted them to succeed at whatever career they chose and that success started with working hard at school and getting good exam results. Jeff's thoughts turned to Lucy, Alan was keeping him informed but there wasn't much news other than she was improving. There hadn't been a call for quite a few days, he'd asked the kids if they wanted to see their mum but they'd said no. Jeff understood, they'd been through quite a bad time with Lucy when she was falling prey to her illness and it might take a long time before they were ready to see her. If the kids wanted to see her then he wouldn't stop them, she was their mum and they had the right to see her if they wanted to.

Dixie was sat up on the bed and reading a book, she felt a lot better now that she'd had the chance to rest. Dixie heard the light knock on the door. 'Come in.' Sophia popped her head around the door and then came in.

'Mummy Dixie, can I sit with you for a while?'

'Of course you can sweet pea.'

'I've finished all of my homework so daddy said I could do whatever I wanted.'

'That's good.'

'I chose to come and sit with you.' Dixie smiled at Sophia and made room for her, she put her arm around Sophia's shoulders. 'What does it feel like having a baby in your stomach?'

'It feels nice, I can feel him moving around in my stomach and every so often I feel one of his kicks. It is comforting to know that he's all right because I can feel him moving.'

'Does he move all the time?'

'Not all the time, sometimes he is asleep and then he is quite still. I know when he is awake because he moves.'

'I can't wait to see him.' Dixie felt Sophia put her hand on top of the bump. 'Is he very heavy?'

'He weighs about a pound now, about as much as the small bags of sugar we see in the supermarket.'

'Oh, that is still very tiny.'

'He is, he will be a lot bigger when he comes out though.'

'I've told daddy he has to hold your hand when the baby comes out.'

'You don't have to worry about that Sophia, your daddy has promised to hold my hand and be there all the time.'

'Good, I'm glad.' Dixie kissed Sophia on the head and hugged her, she was quite content to lie there with her and relax.

Jeff had spent the evening with John, they'd played on the computer and walked Little Abs, he was so happy with the changes he'd noticed in his son. He'd noticed that John was thriving and had become so much more talkative since coming to stay with him and Dixie. It had been nice to spend the evening with him and just play and have fun. Jeff had sent John up to bed when he noticed that his son was getting tired, he'd gone with him and Jeff wished him goodnight before turning out the light and closing the door. He went to the room he shared with Dixie when he realised that Sophia wasn't in her own room. When he entered, he saw Sophia in her pyjamas and fast asleep in Dixie's arms, the sight made him smile and he made his way over to the bed. 'Put her to bed Jeff love,' Dixie whispered.

'I won't be long.' Jeff picked Sophia up and carried her to her own bedroom where he gently put her in bed and pulled the covers up to her shoulders.

'Daddy,' she said in a sleepy voice.

'Go back to sleep my little princess.'

'Okay.' Sophia turned over and snuggled down underneath her quilt. Jeff stayed with Sophia until she went back to sleep and he kissed her on the head.

'Sleep well my little princess.' Jeff quietly closed the door and then went back to Dixie.

Dixie sat on the bed in her pyjamas, it felt like she'd had the longest week imaginable and she felt so in need of rest. Jeff came back in and sat next to her. 'I think I have another sleepy princess to put to bed.'

'I think you're right there.' Dixie stood up and pulled the covers back on the bed, she got in and put her feet up.

'Dixie, you've got swollen ankles.'

'I know, it is fluid retention, it goes down after resting for a while.'

'I know what else will help you.'

'What?' Jeff sat in front of Dixie and gently picked up her left foot, he massaged her ankle and all the way down to her toes. Dixie sighed happily, Jeff massaging her feet was making her feel better and she lay back on her pillow and watched him work, he moved onto her right foot and gave it the same treatment. Dixie yawned, Jeff massaging her feet was making her feel very relaxed and sleepy. 'That's better princess, I want you off your feet this weekend.'

'Yes sir,' Dixie said and laughed.

'It is only because I care about you princess.'

'I know, you're very sweet Jeff, thank you, I feel so much better now.'

'Good.' Dixie put her feet under the covers and turned onto her left side; it really was the only position in which she could sleep now, any other way was just too uncomfortable.

Jeff made himself comfortable next to Dixie, he put his arm around her and rested his hand on her bump. Most nights ended up like this, with Dixie falling asleep on him, a lot of the time she was too tired for anything but sleep. He didn't mind, Dixie was getting bigger and she needed all the rest that she could get. He wanted her to be well rested when the baby arrived and if that meant sacrificing making love then so be it. Dixie and the baby's health had to come first, he wouldn't do anything to endanger them as he loved them both so very much. Jeff spent a lot of his time watching Dixie sleep whenever he didn't have to be in work, it reassured him that she was okay and so was the baby. He had come to realise that their little bug often slept when Dixie did, it made him smile, sometimes babies kept their mum awake at night by moving about but their baby was being very good and sleeping at night, Jeff wondered if that would continue when he was born. Jeff made little circles with his fingers over Dixie's bump and lay down on his pllow, he looked at Dixie and watched her sleep until he couldn't keep his eyes open any more.