Lacey was seated on the couch, the usual spot to find her after school, watching t.v. with one of many stuffed animals next to her- that days toy of choice having been a purple stuffed dragon, something her father had picked up in London on his last buisness trip. And though both she and the dragon faced forward toward the flashing images on the screen, not a thing was being taken in by Lacey. Her fingers twisted and untwisted anxiously in her lap, wonder after wonder racing through her mind. Footsteps sounded loudly against the hardwood floor and her gaze shot to the figure strolling past the living room.

She wasn't sure if she should ask it or not, but the question was burning inside of her like white hot flames, she took the leap, "Daddy?" she called. The footsteps halted, and started toward her, "Yes, princess?" The Scottish brogue in his voice had faded slightly after the many years of living in America, though he most definitely didn't sound American- every once in a while the children would have to act as translator to their mother who sometimes couldn't hear any English words come from him at all. But they had an ear for it.

"Am I going to have a little sister?" she spoke after moment of hesistation. All the months building up to the day her mother's stomach was swollen to its largest, she couldn't help but wonder, and with two older brothers, the idea of a sister thrilled her to no end.

Her father chuckled, "We don't know. It'll be a suprise- just like you were. A beautiful baby girl, green eyed, and a little blondie- like your mother."

Lacey nodded in understanding and sat back down on the couch, but sat back up in sudden excitement, "Can I come with you to the hospital?"

"No, no, darling." he chuckled again, "You stay here with your brothers and the nanny. And try to be patient." he kissed her forehead before heading toward his bedroom where he was originally headed before his daughter swerved him away from his track.

"Is Mommy okay?" she called loudly.

"Yes, she's fine! She just needed me to come get some things for her!" he called back and a minute later came out with a full bag of whatever her mother had requested, "Don't worry." he grinned.

"What's the name going to be?" she pulled the purple dragon into her grasp and held onto it tightly.

"If you get a little sister, Josephine- if you get a little brother- Joseph." he answered as he grabbed several things from the fridge and put them in the bag.

Lacey mummbled the names under her breath, then asked, "Can I call them JoJo?"

"Of course you can, that's a wonderful nickname." he swooped by her and dropped another kiss on her forehead, "I've got to go now. Just be patient and soon your mother and I will come home with little JoJo, alright?"

She nodded...

Benjamin, Robert and Lacey stood circled around the bundle in their mother's arms, they were all excited about the new sibling, though Lacey had the smallest disappointment that the baby was a boy. The time of excitement came and went for the boys, already used to 'new baby' thing, but Lacey stayed. Sitting as close as possible to her mother and little brother, "Hi, JoJo." she mummbled quietly. Her mother chuckled softly, "Do you like him?"

She nodded quickly.

"Good." her mother laughed, "It's your job to protect him and keep him safe... That's a big sister's job. Are you up to it?"

Lacey nodded again, "I'll keep him safe forever."