Iris sat up suddenly waking Colton up at the same time. "You okay?" She'd been a little restless in the last hour or so.

"No."

He reached for her hand as it was shaking and it felt clammy so he felt her forehead. Iris's eyes were wild with fear. "You're hot." He panicked a little. "Fuck Iris, you are burning up."

They'd had a good two days; they'd taken it easy, slept late, Colton made sure she ate a little, didn't do much and they watched a couple of movies. It had been nice just to be together, they talked about her coming home and relaxed. Colton focussed on Iris and caught up on work while she slept.

"Colt…" she whined and gagged. "..oh god."

"What?" he leapt out of bed just as Iris vomited everywhere. "Fuck Iris."

He ran to bathroom and grabbed some towels, returning to see her vomiting again. "Oh Baby."

It had come on all of a sudden. "It hurts." She groaned, her hands clutching her abdomen.

"What? Your stomach?" Iris nodded painfully, she was panicking and struggling to breath as she eased out of bed away from all the vomit and crumpled onto the floor.

"I am calling an ambulance." They'd been told to look for these symptoms and they knew what it meant. Iris didn't argue, she was curled up in the fetal position on the floor in agony while Colton knelt beside her calling 911.

If he'd had a car he would have driven her himself. He was trying to listen to the dispatcher and answer her questions while he was making sure Iris was still breathing, he was panicking and screaming at them to hurry up.

He grabbed more towels, wetting a cloth also so he could wipe over her face and arms to try and cool her down. She was sweating and shaking at the same time and it was the longest fifteen minutes of his life until he heard the paramedics banging on the door.

Iris could hear him urging them to hurry up as he led them through to the bedroom. "She had a torsion of her ovary three days ago. She just woke up like this about half hour ago, last night she was fine, a little tired and restless but she was fine." He had noticed that she had been restless all night but when he asked if she was okay she didn't answer and seemed asleep. "Help her please." He begged them. One of the paramedics knelt down beside Iris while the other assured him they would take care of her.

"Who do we have here?" She needed Iris to talk to her.

"Iris." Iris barely got her name out.

"Hi Iris, I'm Katie. Can you tell me what's going on?"

"It hurts." She moaned and then vomited again. "My stomach hurts." They made Iris point out exactly where she was feeling the pain.

The paramedic calmly wiped her face. "How would you describe the pain? From a scale of 1 to 10."

"Twelve."

"Okay, let's get you up off the floor." Katie and her partner lifted her up onto the gurney they had bought with them which made her cry out in pain.

"Please don't hurt her." Colton begged; it was torture listening to her crying in agony. They checked her vitals; her temperature was up over 104 and Colton saw the look they exchanged. They were worried.

He jumped in the back of the ambulance with her and Katie was a godsend. She kept him calm by asking him about their relationship and about Iris. "How long have you been together?" They gave Iris a green stick for pain management and she was a little out of it.

"About three years. We live in Chicago; Iris is here for work for a few months. I came up when she had the torsion the other day, apart from that she's really healthy, keeps herself fit, eats okay, doesn't smoke, drinks socially." He rattled off anything he could think of. "Is it her ovary?"

"It could be one of many things. The Doctors will be able to tell you more when we get her into hospital. She certainly has an infection though." He knew exactly what it was, there were no signs of infection around her wound. They had checked it last night and it was healing well. Even the paramedics looked at it and didn't think it looked inflamed. It had to be her ovary and Iris's fears were coming true.

It didn't take them long, once they were arrived at the hospital to confirm that Iris's ovary was shot and needed to be removed. Before he could get his head around anything she was in surgery. He'd barely talked to her; they had given her morphine not long after they arrived and it had knocked her out.

He called Lola and she could tell by his tone of voice that it wasn't good news. "What's happened?"

"She's in surgery right now, they are removing her ovary."

"Oh god. When did this all happen?"

"Just this morning about two hours ago, she woke up, felt hot, started vomiting and she was in agony. She was really tired last night , a bit restless." He rattled off everything he could think of. "I called an Ambulance and she's now in surgery. It all happened so fast. I didn't know what to do."

"Hey Colt, you did good."

"Lola, I'm terrified."

"I'm going to come okay? You and Iris need someone there with you." Colton barely heard her. It didn't matter what he said anyway, Lola was going to fly out. She had already planned on coming in two days time when Colton had to fly back for work.

"Is she going to be okay? Could she die? They talked about septicaemia or something? She's septic? I don't really understand and I am too scared to google it."

"Don't. You caught it early, you got her to hospital quickly and they will have started her on anti-biotics already. This is our Bug, she's not going anywhere."

It had only been last night that they called home and told everyone about Iris's health scare. Adam was equally shaken and pissed. He was not happy that they kept it a secret. He was sick of these two and their secrets and nobody was left in any doubt how he felt about it. Lola had tried to talk to him later once everyone left but he was having none of it. "They just wanted to make sure Iris was recovering well before they worried you."

"I'm not a fucking child. I am allowed to worry."

"Of course you are, Pops don't get upset with Iris, get mad at me or even Colton but don't get mad at Iris. She needs some TLC."

"I am not mad at Iris. She's my little baby…" he cried, tears spilling down his cheeks. "…she's not here and I worry about her every single day."

"I know you do Pops, we all do."

"I'm not mad at Colton, he's there with her. That's good right?"

"It is. You know he didn't even take a change of clothes. Teisha called him and he went straight to the airport. He loves her Pops."

"Of course he does. Why wouldn't he?"

"So you are mad at me?"

"Yes Charlotte I am mad at you. You should have told me."

"Fair enough." There was no point arguing. She'd cop it if it meant that Iris and Colton didn't, they had enough to deal with as it was.

Now, there was no way she could get away with not telling Pops what was going on. She booked a flight, organised for Mae to take Sam because Riley was working and stopped on the way to the airport to see Pops. Mae had been beside herself and wanted to come too but Lola told her that she needed to stay here and make sure Pops didn't start walking to Albany himself.

It was going to be an ugly conversation so Lola didn't beat around the bush. "What are you doing here?" Adam grumbled. He was still a little pissy with her for not telling him about Iris earlier.

"I'm on my way to the airport. I'm going to see Bug."

"I'll come too." Adam went to get up out of his seat.

"Pops, not now. Colton called. Bug is back in hospital, she's in surgery right now. She got an infection and her ovary that was twisted has died and needs to be removed."

"What are you talking about?"

"Iris is losing one of her ovaries."

"What does that mean? Why? So she can't have a baby anymore?"

"No she still can, she still has one ovary that is working perfectly. This one that twisted though isn't and if they leave it in her body the infection would probably be fatal. Colt is with her, it's a bit of a shock but they knew it might happen. I'm going up there to help them both."

"Is Bug going to die?"

"No I really hope not Pops." Lola squeezed his hands, "Colton got her to the hospital quickly, they will already be treating her with anti-biotics and you know what a tough little fighter our Bug is."

"I want to come Lola?" he begged.

"I know. Let me go see what's going on and then maybe we can bring Bug home to recover here. Would you like that? I know she would like that." She had no idea how that was going to happen, Lola was banking on the fact that she knew Iris hated Albany, she missed Colt and her family and was just seeing out time with her job before she came back. Perhaps they could convince her to quit and move back now. She knew Colton would be doing his darndest to convince her, he wanted her back as much as they did.

"Don't come back without my Bug."

Lola had barely left the house when Alfie called her. Pops had been on the phone to him the moment she'd left. "So Pops is barking at me to drive to Albany and bring Bug's stuff back. What's that about?"

"Bloody Pops, Alfie, Bug's in hospital again. She's in surgery right now having her ovary removed and Pops is freaking out and wants to go to Albany. I am on my way to the airport now and he wants me to not come back without her."

"Shit. Is Bug going to be okay?"

"I really hope so Alfie. I will know more soon. Colton will call when she's out of surgery. My flight is in a couple of hours. Sam is staying with Mae while Riley is at work and I am taking Billy with me. I need you to keep Pops from tearing down the joint. He's as mad as a cut snake."

"Call me as soon as you see her or hear anything." He was going to call Colton as soon as Lola hung up. Colton wasn't really up for talking but he appreciated Alfie's call and they had a quick chat, Mae had already called him as well. Her family could be pains in the ass but they were also incredible, they would rally around Iris and he felt a little less alone as well. As long as he supported Iris, they would help him.

Pops called him in tears and he assured Adam he would look after her and he had every faith in the Doctors that she would be alright. "I can't lose anyone else Colt." His heart broke for the old man. This would kill him if any happened to Iris, of that he had no doubt. He'd seen enough loved ones die; it wasn't fair and to take away his Bug would be cruel.

Colt was alone, alone in a strange city in a hospital waiting room, with no idea what was going on behind the swinging doors. He sat, he walked, he rocked on his heels, he tried to close his eyes and let his mind go blank, he checked his phone but nothing made the time go any quicker. Every time the doors opened he looked up, waiting to see her Doctor. When he did come out he was rooted to the spot with fear.

"She's doing well and in recovery now." Doctor Willis was used to seeing the look of relief on loved ones faces, it was much preferable than the alternative. "It was relatively straightforward and we've removed her ovary and fallopian tube on her left side. The ovary was definitely necrotised and there were signs that the fallopian tube was showing some evidence of infection so we decided this was the best option. Without an ovary on the left side that fallopian tube wasn't good for anything."

"What about infection, they said something about her being septic?"

"We are hitting her with some strong anti-biotics and that will continue for 24 hours so she will need to stay overnight. Fortunately we were able to remove her ovary laparoscopically and used the same incision sites as they hadn't had the chance to heal yet, that's a good thing. Iris is doing well and they will come and get you shortly and take you to her room where you can wait. I bet this is the last time you want to see this place?"

"Pretty much yeah." He shook the Doctors hand and thanked him for taking care of Iris.

For the second time in the space of a few days he sat in an empty hospital room waiting for Iris. He called Lola but she was obviously on a plane so he called Alfie and filled him in. He also decided he wanted to call Adam himself.

"Hey Pops. It's Colton."

"How's Iris?" he didn't even bother with a hello.

"I just spoke to the surgeon and it went well, I'm just waiting to see her but I wanted to let you know she's okay."

"Thank you. Are you sure?"

"Doctor Willis assured me it went well. I haven't seen Iris yet, she is in recovery but they think it won't be long now. I will give her a big hug and kiss from you."

"Please."

"As soon as Bug is feeling up to it I will call you and you can talk to her."

"Oh Iris." He sobbed.

"I know Pops. I promise to take care of her."

"Bring her home Colton."

"I will Pops. I will bring her home to you." He promised the old man. One thing he had decided sitting in the waiting room was that Iris needed to be back in Chicago. She had asked him to take her home when she was just out of surgery previously but over the following couple of days they talked about it but hadn't really made any firm plans. Now he was determined to make it happen sooner rather than later.

He was out of his uncomfortable seat as soon as they bought Iris in, again he stood back while they settled her into bed. She was connected to an IV drip this time which was for her anti-biotics but as soon as they left Colton was at her side.

She hadn't even opened her eyes but she knew he was there and his heart broke to see the tears squeeze from the corner of her eyes and down her cheeks. He rested his forehead on hers. "Oh Wombat, I'm right here." Wiping her cheeks softly he just stayed close. "I love you so much Iris."

"I'm sorry." He had no idea what she was apologising for.

"Hey, this is not your fault. Just sleep Baby. I'll be right here." He pulled up the chair close to the side of the bed and held her hand. She looked peaceful and Colton took a photo. He sent it to Adam and her siblings. 'Our beautiful sleeping Bug, back where I can keep an eye on her.'

Iris was still asleep when Lola arrived, she hugged Colton and then handed him Billy so she could get close to Iris. "Hey Bug." She stroked her face lightly. "You got me all worried."

It took a while for her to stir and it was probably Billy's cry that woke her. He was hungry and at four months old when he was hungry there was no stopping him. "Colt.." she croaked. "…what's that?"

"It's Lola and Billy. They came to see you." He jumped up and stood beside her bed.

Iris was still pretty doped up and out of it. "Am I home?"

"No Bug, you are in hospital in Albany."

"Oh…what's Lola doing here?"

"Trying to stop me freaking out."

"Why are you freaking out?"

"Because you are in hospital again."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Shhhh." Colt bent over and kissed her forehead and whispered something to her that Lola didn't quite catch but Iris smiled. She drifted off again but when she woke again Lola was sitting beside her bed. She had managed to feed Billy will she waited for Iris to wake up; he could whip through a feed like nothing else when he was really hungry.

"Hi Bug."

"You didn't have to come."

"Yes I did."

"Can I see Billy?" Iris hated that she missed so much of his little life. Seeing him on the computer screen, in photos and videos wasn't quite the same as snuggling him. Lola laid him on the bed beside her and she turned her head and held his hand. "Hey Billy. Hi beautiful boy."

Doctor Willis came in to talk to Iris now that she was awake and Lola introduced herself. "Doctor Hollister, nice to meet you face to face."

"I couldn't stay away. I promise to behave." There was nothing worse than having another Doctor giving opinions and challenging treatments in front of your patients.

"I can kick her out." Iris reminded them. "I'll keep the baby though." She hadn't let go of Billy yet, he was very snuggly, like he knew that he had to be a good boy.

"Okay, now Iris do you understand what's gone on?"

"A little. I lost my ovary didn't I?"

"You did, unfortunately while we thought we had caught it and restored the blood flow in time it wasn't the case. Your ovary had died and you also had some infection starting in your fallopian tube. The concern was that it could travel down to your uterus and that's definitely not what we wanted so we removed your fallopian tube as well, it was superfluous now without the ovary anyway. Your right ovary and fallopian tube are perfectly healthy and so is your uterus."

"So what does that mean?"

"You will still ovulate and menstruate, you still will be able to fall pregnant but it may be that it may take a little longer than you hope but you can still conceive naturally. I will write you a referral to talk to a fertility specialist who can answer any questions you might have." Dr Willis tried to sound as upbeat as possible.

Iris nodded. She was squeezing Colton's hand. It affected him too, at least she hoped he would be worried about it. "Right now we've got a few more doses of IV anti-biotics to run through, then we will switch you to oral AB's. I will be back in the morning to see how you are going and see if you have any other questions. Try and take it easy." He tickled Billy's cheek. "Look after my patient little man."

"That sounds good Bug." Lola tried to reassure her.

"Really? One ovary gone. What if the other one twists? I'm screwed."

"It's highly unlikely."

"But not impossible."

"No, not impossible." Colton was a little pissed that Lola told her that. he could see in Iris's face how defeated she was.

"Great." She closed her eyes. Colton stood back while Lola rested her forehead on Iris's

"Bug, I understand how scary this is for you right now, but you know what, I know you will be okay, I know you and Colt will be fine. I know you will have your own baby one day."

"How?"

"Because Mom and Dad will make it happen." That broke Iris, and she sobbed her heart out while Lola held onto her. "Because you deserve it." It made Colton cry too, for days he'd held it all in, he'd put on a brave face for Iris, he'd supported her but this tipped him over the edge. "Look at how much that man loves you." Lola whispered to Iris. "I'm going to take Billy for a walk and give you two some time, okay. I'll be back soon."

She squeezed Colton's hand. "Why are you crying?" Iris asked him.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you are." He stood beside her bed, one hand holding hers, the other running through her hair. "I love you, it hurts me to see you like this."

"What if I can't have a baby?"

"Then we don't have a baby."

"Seriously Colt."

"Iris, we are a long way from that right now. There are other ways, there is IVF, surrogacy, adoption. We talked about this yesterday." And they had but when it wasn't a reality it was easier to speculate what you'd do. "Anyway the Doctor said you can still get pregnant, you still have one ovary that's working so it's not impossible. We've got time on our side."

"Do we?"

"Yes we do." Colton pressed a soft kiss to her nose. "Let's get you better, let's get you home and then we can talk about what we do next, okay? One step at a time."

"I want to go home."

"Not tonight Baby."

"No, I want to go home to Chicago, with you."

"Don't worry Bug I am taking you back to Chicago with me." Colton chuckled. Everyone had told him that he needed to bring her home or they would come and get her. "We aren't leaving you here. Not an option. I promised Pops I'd bring you home."

"Did you tell him?"

"He knows, I talked to him a little while ago. Do you want to talk to him? He's waiting for a call."

"Yes."

Colton pulled out his phone and called Adam. He answered it within two rings, which was quick for him no doubt because he was sitting waiting with the phone in his hand willing his phone to ring. "Hi Pops."

"Bug, are you okay?"

"I am Pops. A bit tired and sore but I'm okay."

"When are you coming home?"

Iris chuckled. "Soon Pops. Colt has just told me that he's not leaving here without me, so I guess I have no choice."

Adam was happy with that, nothing else mattered. "Good. Good Boy. Is he taking care of you?" She squeezed Colton's hand.

"He is. And Lola's here too which is nice." Iris took a deep shaky breath. "I love you Pops, I miss you. I wish you were here."

"They wouldn't let me come. I'm too old apparently."

"What would they know, hey?"

"Exactly."

"Hey Pops, I'm a little tired, it's so good to hear your voice though."

"Okay Bug, sleep now precious girl. Tell that man of yours I want photos so that I can see you are okay."

"Will do Pops."

He spoke to Colton briefly who assured him that they were looking after her and that he would call him in the morning. "Yes, I will send you pictures." The last thing Iris wanted was photos of her looking like shit in a hospital bed but Adam wanted them so he'd get them.

She was asleep when Lola came back. Colton wanted to go home and get some things for Iris and make sure the bedroom was clean. Lola and Billy would need to stay in the bedroom and he'd take the couch. He wouldn't leave unless Lola was here though because he didn't want Iris to wake up alone, not yet.

He talked to Alfie briefly and assured him that Bug was doing well but she wasn't up for talking. He had an inkling that Iris was awake when Alfie called but pretended to be asleep and that's what Colt told him. She'd talk to them when she was ready.

"Where's Colt?" Iris asked groggily when she woke and saw Lola beside her bed.

"He just went to grab you some things. Clean pyjama's and stuff." Lola patted her hand. She was cuddling Billy as he slept, he'd been a little unsettled with all the upheaval. "He's a good guy Bug."

"He is, he's been an angel. I can't imagine what this would be like if we were still…you know being idiots."

"We are happy he was here too." Lola agreed, she had been glad that Colton had been here. It was bad enough the first time when she was alone. This was such a major thing and they had to go through it together, it affected both of them and Lola could see how much it was hurting Colton too.

"Have you talked to Mae and Alfie?"

"I have. Sam is with Mae and she is wigging out." Mae wanted to know every single thing. When Lola had called her to tell her she was flying up Mae had initially demanded that she was coming too. It wouldn't have been possible, even Lola getting on a flight at short notice was a challenge. "Alfie is organising time off to drive up and pick up your stuff as per Pops' demands. He is also trying to stop Pops from booking a flight up here."

"Pops is crazy. I talked to him a little while ago."

"Oh I know, he rang me to lecture me. He's calling me Charlotte at the moment."

"Ha, you're in trouble." Iris laughed a little which was uncomfortable.

"I like how we get Charlotte, Mabel and Alfred and you just get Iris. He never gets angry at you."

"Yes he does. I get Iris Adelaide when he's really pissy, it's just that I don't piss him off that often."

"He's so worried about you." Lola brushed Iris's hair back from her forehead. "He loves you so much."

"I know." Iris closed her eyes and enjoyed having her sister with her. "I'm worried about him. I don't want to stress him out." Lola saw the tears.

"Hey…" She waited until Iris opened her eyes. "He loves you; he's going to worry but as long as you are okay that's all he cares about."

"I can't wait to see him." Iris rolled onto her back. "How long do you think Colt will be?"

"Am I boring you?"

"No. I just like it when he's here."

"He'll be back soon."

"I am scared he's going to leave." Iris burst into tears, it wasn't the first time over the past few days and she'd cried a lot this afternoon already.

"Oh Bug, you haven't seen it from my side. He's not going anywhere, not without you."

"I've only just got him back."

"He's only just got you back too."

Iris's face lit up when Colton walked back into her room. She was sitting up in bed cuddling Billy and not surprising she cried when he walked in. "Still?" He looked at Lola. "She thought I'd done a runner?"

"I'm right here." Iris didn't take her eyes off Billy but let them know she was listening to them.

Iris knew, and Lola knew it too when he reached into his pocket and placed the small train beside her bed. He wasn't going anywhere. The fact he remembered that thing, that Iris would want it meant a lot. She gave him a watery smile. "Thank you."

"Anything for you Wombat." Lola thought it was beautiful and Colton chuckled a little when he leant in to kiss Iris. "I've made both of you cry haven't I?" Iris just nodded.

She remembered when she first told Colton about it. They had been dating a while and he had stayed over at her place for the first time. Pops had been hilarious, giving them a lecture about safe sex. Iris roared with laughter particularly at Colton's mortified look. When they finally went to bed he saw the train on her dresser while Iris was getting changed and picked it up. "Never picked you for a train lover."

"Oh I am not." She pulled out her phone and found the part of the video she wanted to show him. "This might explain it." He watched it, the young boy running the train over his mother's stomach. 'What you doing Alfie?' The voice was soft and sweet and a little like Lola's.

'Playing with my Bug.'

"That's your Mom?"

"It is, and Alfie would apparently always play trains with me. When Mom went to hospital to have me Alfie gave her that train…" she pointed to the train on her dresser. "..to take with her. It was my first ever present. It's always with me."

"That's pretty special Bug. What a sweet thing to have. Alfie looked so happy."

"He was, MiMi used to tell me about how Mum loved it when he was playing with her belly, that he was really sweet and gentle. He would also play trains with me when I was a tiny baby. I will show you the whole thing one day."

"I'd love to see it."

"I really wish I'd known them." Colton didn't say anything, he just hugged her. He was falling in love with her at a rapid rate of knots by that stage. It was hard to catch his breath some days.

Lola and Billy stayed at the apartment when Colton went to pick Iris up from hospital. He had already talked to her early when Iris had called him as soon as she woke. "Did I wake you?" They'd got home after dinner last night and Lola literally had to drag him away. They gave Iris something to help her sleep so she wasn't going to miss him.

"Yes. How was your night?"

"Good. I like the drugs that they give you here." Iris muttered, while they were good she was ready to come home. "What about you?"

"Your couch sucks." It was going to suck even more when Colton stayed on the couch and Lola and Iris shared her bed. All he wanted to do was wrap her up in his arms and tell her it was going to be okay. He promised to come in before the Doctor was due to arrive.

He bought her in some clothes to change into and helped her get dressed. They had to stay a few more hours just until Iris had finished her anti-biotic course and then they would switch her to orals and she could be discharged. It was nice to have a few hours to themselves now that Iris was a bit more with it.

They talked about her coming home. Lola would organise a medical certificate stating that she couldn't work for six weeks and that would take her to the end of her contract. She was hoping that they wouldn't need it though, Iris had been talking to them about letting her out of her contract because they were literally paying her to do nothing. She only had eight weeks left on her lease and they were willing to let that go also. Colton wasn't letting Adam down, that scared him more than anything. He was taking Iris home.

Colton's phone rang and he smiled and handed it to Iris, it was Pops. "We were just talking about you?" Iris greeted him.

"Well I am worth talking about."

"You wish."

"How are you Bug? I tried to call last night but that man didn't answer."

"He was probably asleep Pops, it was a big day for him yesterday." Iris wasn't surprised with Pops grumpiness. "And he was looking after Lola and Billy last night."

"Hogwash, he should've talked to me."

Colton just shook his head, he had no idea what Pops was talking about but he figured it was about him by the way Iris was smiling at him. "Ah Pops, Colt's done good."

"I know Iris, Its nice to hear your voice. You seem better today."

"I am. I'm going home in a little while."

"This is your home."

"Soon Pops, soon. I am looking forward to being home in Chicago with you."

"And you are going to live here? With me?"

"Yes Pops and Colton."

"Of course, I like him now." Pops had certainly forgotten how disappointed he was in Colton when he let Iris go, he was bringing her back so Adam had forgiven him.

"Me too."

He was a crazy old coot and they adored him. Iris missed him and she understood why Alfie came home now. Being away from her family was too hard, not having the support around you when you needed them the most was too difficult and she didn't want to imagine how it felt for Colton in particular when he got that call.

All that she knew was that she felt lost, alone and scared.

Colton bought her back to the apartment and Lola was waiting, she had cleaned the apartment, changed her sheets, done a quick trip to the shops to stock up on food and talked to both Mae and Alfie. They had tried to call Iris but she wasn't answering and Colton had ignored their calls as well.

"Why isn't she answering?" Mae was annoyed.

"They were waiting for the Doctor to come in and then hopefully he's bringing her home." Lola had been exasperated by Mae's demanding questions. "Hey, how is my child?"

"He was fine. Riley picked him up after dinner. He's bringing him back soon." Riley had insisted that he take Sam home last night. He was fretting a little without his Mom and Billy and Riley thought it best that he stay in his own bed, which meant Riley's bed; he slept with his Dad which for Riley meant that Sam was up two inches from his face sharing the same pillow. "He was fine Lola, don't worry about Sam." Mae was dismissive and that pissed Lola off. She knew Sam was okay with Riley, she had talked to her husband several times but she wanted to know how he was with Mae and if he was good with Poppy. He could be a little boisterous and harass poor little Poppy some days. She just wanted some reassurance that her little boy was okay without her.

"Sure, I won't worry about my son."

"Sorry." Mae apologised. "Sorry, I'm just worried about Bug."

"I know. Mae, she's going to be fine. The operation went well, Colton spoke to her before he left and she was feeling pretty good. They will be home soon."

"Pops is on a tear. He's called me four times so far. I spoke to Alfie and he said he's barely slept he's been pacing around the house all night and he was demanding that Alfie drive up to Albany today."

"Well he keeps calling me Charlotte, so I guess he's still pissy. Colton is determined to bring her home to Chicago but we haven't organised anything yet. We'll just get her back here and give her a couple of days. I think Colton is coming back to Chicago tomorrow or the next day." He had to go back to work, he'd already been away almost a week and while he was getting some work done he had to get back sooner rather than later.

"How can he leave her?"

"Mabel, don't be a bitch." Lola knew how tough Colton was doing it. She had a ringside seat to his determination to ensure Iris was taken care of. "He's been great, he's barely left her side for a week. You know he come back here yesterday to get her some clothes and he bought back the train and put it beside her bed. You've no idea what that meant to Bug. He gets her. He loves Iris."

"I know, I know. I just want her back here with us and I hate being so far away. I feel useless."

"Soon Mae."

If Iris thought it was bad just having Colton at home fussing over her she now had Lola as well and it was a little grating at times. She wasn't allowed to do anything. "You'd fucking pee for me if you could." She muttered angrily when Lola followed her into the bathroom. "I'm fine Lola."

"I just want to make sure you are okay."

"I am fine. I've been peeing by myself for years."

"First time you've peed by yourself since you've been home after two surgeries in four days though." Lola took stock of Iris's filthy look and backed off. She didn't come back out of the bedroom and Colton eventually went looking for her and found her asleep on the bed, although she wasn't actually asleep because as soon as Colton touched her forehead checking for a fever she spoke, making him jump.

"Couldn't help yourself could you?"

"Nope."

"I'm fine. I just want to sleep, I'm tired." He let her be for a couple of hours, checking in on her a few times but she was sound asleep.

Lola tried to talk to him about Iris but he clammed up a little. It was hitting him like a tonne of bricks at the moment. The past five days had caught up with him and the past twenty-four hours or so had been an emotional rollercoaster. He was tired and a little over talking. "Why don't you go out of a bit. Get some fresh air, you look pale."

"I'm okay Lola."

"I'll stay with Iris and I'll call you if she wakes." It took a little bit of convincing to get Colton to leave the apartment and he wasn't gone long and Iris was still asleep when he got back. He had walked up the street and found a take-away coffee place and then wandered around the park as he drank it. It was nice to be outside, the sun was warm and relaxing and the breeze just took the edge of it. He tried to zone out but every time he let his mind go blank Iris crept back in. She had an incredible hold on him.

"Is she awake?"

"Not yet."

"Have you checked on her?"

"Yes I have. Colt she's okay." Lola was just feeding Billy. "How are you?"

"Fine." He brushed Lola off, he wasn't wired like they were, he couldn't just open up. Iris had made him more open; she had clawed at him when they first started going out and he could talk to her but the whole family thing, he didn't get that. " I'm just going to check on Bug."

Easing himself down onto the bed Iris stirred.

"Hi." Iris mumbled and Colton snuggled into her back and she could tell he was a little emotional and he liked to retreat. He did this sometimes. He didn't want to talk, he wanted peace and quiet and to be close. Iris just held his hand tight against her chest. "I love you Baby."

They were quiet for a while until Iris eventually rolled over to face him, he hated that even moving was uncomfortable for her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just thinking." Now he was with Iris and he'd had a few moments to relax he would talk.

"About what?"

"All the things we need to do to get you back to Chicago. I can't let Pops down; he'll never forgive me."

Iris touched his face, running one finger down his cheek and then brushing her thumb over his lips. "I'll never forgive you if you leave me here. I couldn't do this without you." Colton kissed her fingers. "I keep thinking that if this happened a few weeks ago, before you came back for me, I'd be all alone."

"You know, if Alfie or anyone called me and told me you were in hospital I'd still have come, together or not, I still loved you."

They talked about what would happen if they couldn't have children and what options they had. It was early to be having the conversation but it was playing on both their minds so it was better to get it out there rather than let it fester.

"I feel useless." Iris sobbed. "I can't even do being a woman right."

"Oh I don't know, I think you do being a woman pretty fucking well. As a lover of women, I can tell you, you fucking take the cake, several in fact."

"But…"

Colton placed his hand over her mouth. "I love you, end of story. I fell in love with you." He tapped her chest. "Your heart…" and then tapped her head. "…and your mind, your very soul. Everything else is window dressing."

"You are sweet."

"When I first met you I was blown away and sure it was the package you were wrapped in that got my attention, but that was so long ago Iris, it's so much more than that now. I choose you, all of you."

"If you don't want this anymore..."

"Wombat, please don't. I am exactly where I want to be, I am with who I want to be with. I came back for you because I didn't work without you, I don't want to work without you. Okay?"

Iris nodded and snuggled into him.

They could hear Lola and Billy from the other room. "Is Lola driving you nuts?" Iris asked him, it was time to change the subject.

"No, she's good. I think she's keeping the other's at bay. I haven't heard from Mae today and Alfie has been strangely quiet too." Colton laughed a little. "Adam on the other hand, has been quite the entertainer."

"What's he saying?"

"There was a particularly entertaining phone call about how I need to not have sex with you for at least a month, or six weeks or 'maybe you should like tie a knot in it or you know, deal with it yourself. Don't ask Iris to do it, she's got other things to worry about.' He doesn't want you to exert yourself."

"Oh Pops." That made her laugh and she grimaced a little with the pain.

"Crazy old bastard. He loves you Bug and he can't wait to see you."

"I can't wait to get out of this place either."

"Mae's written a list. Lola's already got it. They've both got Alfie on standby and I did hear some conversation about re-painting your room."

"They are all batshit crazy. Are you ready for them again?"

"Yep, bring it on." They had talked about her family and how they caused issues last time that they couldn't overcome. Colton insisted that it wasn't her family, it was just that neither of them were ready to deal with their own issues and it was easier to take it out on them. He really did appreciate everything they did for Iris and for him and it was her brother that forced him to go get her back.

He helped her up off the bed so she could use the bathroom and having learned his lesson he left Iris to it and headed out and assured Lola that Iris was fine and would be out soon. He picked up his phone and saw all the missed calls from Adam, Mae and Alfie.

"Your family is fucking nuts." He grumbled at Lola. "How many times have they called you?"

"More than you, every time you don't answer they call me. So answer your fucking phone."

"You love it. You are much better equipped to deal with them than me." Colton dropped his phone back on the bench. "And I've already had the revised sex talk from Pops today. As opposed to the other revised sex talk I got last time Bug was in Chicago."

"Toughen up princess." Lola hand him Billy. She'd had enough of him; he'd just about sucked her dry and kept hanging on trying to get blood from a stone. He'd just about taken her nipple with him when she tried to unlatch him. "Talk to your nephew."

Iris heard the exchange and what she loved the most was that Lola had called Billy Colton's nephew. He adored Sam, Poppy and now he was enjoying getting to know Billy. Sam and Poppy were always all over him like a jungle gym. He'd make a good father one day which made it all a little bittersweet for Iris right now.

Colton did leave the next day, and Iris was a sobbing mess. The last thing he wanted to do was go back to Chicago without her but he had a job to do. They had been great to him but it wasn't going to last forever. Iris and Lola busied themselves organising for everything to be packed, fortunately Iris didn't have much and what she didn't want they sold.

"What's up Lola Bear?" Iris noticed her mood.

"I just miss Sam." She gave her sister a watery smile. "I miss that crazy little human."

"Then let's go home." Everything was almost ready. Alfie had offered to come up and get the rest of Iris's things on the weekend. He had a few days off but they were just killing time and it seemed pointless now. "Let's just ship this stuff back and get out of here."

"That will cost a bomb Iris."

"I don't really care, do you?" She was over it. "Let's go home. Tomorrow. Teisha will take care of this for me." She waved her hand around her almost bare apartment. It was only a couple of days earlier than planned. Teisha had been over and met Colt more formally and also Lola. They had told her crazy stories about Iris and she'd never laughed so hard. She was going to miss her and did promise to make it to Chicago one day.

So they packed up and left and told no one.

Adam cried when he saw the cab pull up and his little Bug got out with Lola and Billy. "I wasn't expecting you until the weekend." He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so happy to see you. Welcome home Bug."

"Thanks Pops, it's good to be home with you."

"Colton didn't tell me you were coming."

"He doesn't know Pops. We didn't tell him, we just decided last night that we both wanted to come home. Lola was missing Sam and I was missing this whole crazy mob."

Lola really wanted to get going so she could see Sam so they both went with her. "Mommy." Sam screamed when he saw his mom come through Mae's front door. He dropped what he was doing and hurled himself across the room and into Lola's waiting arms. "Mommy." He sobbed.

"Oh Sam, I missed you so much." It was the longest she had been away from him.

Mae heard his commotion and was stunned to see Lola, Iris and Pops all in her lounge. "Oh thank god you are here." She hugged her sister, who had been given Billy to hold so Lola could have her hands free to cuddle Sam. "Look at you, are you okay? Here let me take Billy, you need to sit."

"I'm okay Mae."

"No you are not, come sit please. It's my turn to fuss." Mae insisted. "I haven't had the chance yet, I've got so much bottled up fussing in me. So sit, let me start."

Adam loved watching them all together, his three granddaughters. Mae and Lola fussed over Iris, like they had done their whole lives and he liked it. Eventually though Iris had enough, she wanted to go home for a rest and she wanted to talk to Colton.

Lola wanted to go home too, she wanted to get her boys home and she'd already called Riley and couldn't wait to see him. She missed her husband; she missed his ability to just make her settle and breathe and calm her nerves. It had been a long hard few days and while she had Billy to hold onto and keep her occupied she wanted a hug from Riley. That's where she felt her best.

Iris had talked to Colton that morning before they left for the airport and wouldn't talk to him again until the evening. He had been swamped with work once he got back and as much as Iris wanted to see him now she waited a few hours because he was at work and had a sleep and spent some time getting some hugs from Pops. He was so happy she was back.

"Hey Bug, I was just thinking about you." He smiled when he picked up her call. "How's your day? How you feeling?"

"A bit tired. I just had a sleep."

"You okay?"

"Yep, I'm feeling really good. Even all the fussing has been bearable."

"Lola's gone nuts?"

"Lola, Mae, Pops…"

She waited until that sunk in and it took a few seconds. "…fuck, you are here."

Iris laughed at how shocked he sounded. "I am, I'm home."

"Oh…"

"Come home Colton."

He couldn't believe it, he glanced at the photo on his desk, it had been back where it belonged for a few weeks now. "Bug, I've missed you."

"It's been three days."

"I still missed you. I can't wait to see you."

"Are you coming home?"

"Yep." It was past five, his official work day was done, he would have stayed another few hours just to kill time and catch up but that didn't matter now. He'd already done twelve hours having got into the office a little after five am. "On my way."

Iris was waiting for him. It felt good to be home, back with Pops where she felt like she belonged. It felt good to be back with Lola and Mae and the kids and she couldn't wait to see Alfie either but above all that it was such a relief to be back in her home and in Colton's arms.

He was her north star, he was her everything, now more than ever.

Sorry, that was a long one...anyway, we'll leave Iris there for now & get stuck into Alfie's life for a bit.