"Da Da Da"

"She's talking to you." Iris nudged her husband and he just grunted.

"Da Da Da." They heard it again, they'd desperately tried to ignore it but it didn't stop. It got louder and more urgent and the trick was to leave her long enough to get another few minutes to yourself but not too long because once she'd cracked it, it got ugly quickly. The ran the gauntlet most days.

Colton dragged himself out of bed, way earlier than he hoped for a weekend and forced himself to smile at her, standing up in her cot, bouncing up and down, her cute little curls all over the shop and her pacifier on the floor. "Mum Mum Mum."

"Oh so now you call your Mom." He scooped her up and planted a big kiss on her rosy red cheek. She was impossibly cute and horrifyingly one today. "Happy Birthday Mimi." She giggled and held onto his face. "You are my big ladybug now."

Changing her diaper quickly he took her into to see her mother. Iris would have loved her to sleep a bit longer but it was her birthday and that was worth waking up early for. "Hey, ladybug.." She held out her arms and Mimi dived out of her father's arms into her mother's waiting ones. "Happy Birthday my sweet girl. I can't believe you are one today."

"One year old and I reckon we've had about a week's sleep that whole time, in total." Colton grumbled as he disappeared into the bathroom. Mimi hadn't been a good advertisement for sleep. Her and sleep seemed to be mutually exclusive, she just didn't seem to need much and they had no idea where that trait came from. Both of them loved to sleep. It was a battle to get her to sleep at night, all the books talk about routine. Dinner, play, bath, book, feed from Iris and bed, that's apparently how you did it, it just didn't work for Primrose, she was a law unto herself. Even bringing her into bed with them didn't work.

"Daddy is grumpy." She tickled Mimi's belly. "What should we do?"

"Da Da Da." Mimi smiled her toothy grin at her mother.

"Yes, Daddy. Shall we have breakfast in bed?"

"Mmmmm" Mimi kicked her legs as Iris rolled over onto her side and lifted her top up. One thing her poor sleeping had done was train her to find her own way and Iris closed her eyes as Mimi latched on, her little warm hand seeking out her mother's face, she loved holding Iris's cheek as she fed, especially her morning feed which was usually lying in bed. Her morning and night feeds were their favourites and quite often she would only have a feed during the day before her nap. Occasionally if she was feeling a little off she'd feed more out of comfort than need but Iris wanted to drop most of them and just keep the night one going for a little while longer.

"Someone's happy." Colton wasn't surprised, he didn't care what Iris decided to do, it was up to her and as long as she thought she could manage he would support her but it was starting to drain her a little and he worried about that. "Toast?"

"Yes please."

By the time he bought up some toast and ginger tea Mimi was crawling all over her mother and Iris was looking a little worse for wear. "Not good?"

"Nope." She was exhausted although they now knew what was causing her chronic tiredness.

"I am still struggling to believe you are actually pregnant."

"I am not, I feel it, every fucking little bit."

They had been shocked to find out that Iris was pregnant a week ago. Her period had been erratic since she'd had Mimi and they hadn't thought about it. It was only when she went to the Doctors when she thought she had mastitis because her boobs were painful when she fed and that she was exhausted that they ran a blood test which came back positive and a subsequent scan showed that she was well and truly pregnant.

Staggering out to the car she strapped Mimi in and then sent Colton a message, no words, just a picture.

He reached for his phone when it beeped, he knew Iris was going to the Doctors and was waiting for her to call or text to let him know she was okay. She thought, at most she was low in Iron. It wasn't what he expected at all and he literally gasped.

"Ahhh…Bug?" He called her and she answered on the first ring

"You got my message I assume."

"Is that yours? I mean…?" Colton was struggling to form sentences.

"Yes, yes it is. Surprise. Seems like my one lazy ovary decided to get it's shit together."

"What? No fucking way." He was still looking at it. "It looks…ummm big."

"That's because I am about fourteen fucking weeks."

"What?"

"Almost four months. Holy crap."

They literally had no idea; they hadn't even talked about it lately. They had joked about it right back when they started having sex again after Mimi was born that it would be funny if now her body had figured out how to do it she'd have no trouble falling pregnant next time. They knew breastfeeding offered some protection and assumed that coupled with her one ovary being lazy at best that it was nigh on impossible and would take another four years. Obviously not. "Like is everything okay?"

"Well I am glad there is only one, and everything looks good apparently."

"Wow." He managed to squeeze out. "Wow. Well, look at us go I suppose."

"Yep."

"Are you okay?"

"Shocked, confused and a little nauseous…." Iris finally let herself smile. "…I'm so happy."

"Me too."

Colton could barely focus at work so he pulled the pin and went home. "What are you doing here?" Iris was surprised to see him just after lunch. She had just got Mimi down for her afternoon nap and appreciated the hug though.

"Oh I don't know; you kinda dropped a bombshell and it's distracted me and I wanted to see you."

He made Iris take a step back and tried to look at her with a critical eye. "What did we miss?" She didn't look any different. She had no belly, her boobs looked like they always did, perhaps that she was still feeding Mimi that masked that. "You don't look pregnant."

"I don't feel pregnant but I can assure you there is a little baby in here…" she patted her stomach "…all attached, heart beating wildly, I mean when I saw it I thought holy fuck, it has like a head and arms and legs." Iris showed him the video.

"It's beautiful."

"I'm so happy Colt, this is amazing."

"It is." Iris was peering over his shoulder. "Actually I didn't just think holy fuck, I actually said it out loud."

"So what now?"

"I need to see my obstetrician, everything looked good but he wants me checked by a specialist so I've called and made and appointment for Friday." They certainly squeezed Iris in because she was already so far into her second pregnancy and she didn't know and they certainly knew who Iris was. "Can you make it?"

"Yep." He tugged on her hand and pulled her close and kissed her softly. "I love you Wombat; you are this incredible little thing aren't you?"

"I didn't do it by myself."

"You can thank me for always trying to get my leg over."

Iris chuckled and then ran her hands down his back and over his butt. "Remember last time, I got a little frisky about three months in?"

"I do."

"You wanna, how do you put it, get your leg over?"

"Yep." He dragged Iris upstairs and they made the most of the time they had together.

Colton even spent some time talking to his new little bubba. "Hey, my little one. I can't believe you are in there and have little hands and feet already, fingers and toes. I love that you've surprised us and we can't wait to meet you."

Iris loved it, while they waited with baited breath every month for four years this was just as special. This made her feel just as good as finding out about Mimi did. Despite the excitement they wanted a little time to get their heads around it before they told everyone. "I think I want to wait until Mimi's party. It's only a week away, what do you think?"

"Sounds like fun. What did you have planned?"

"I don't know, shit Colt, four hours ago I didn't even know I was pregnant."

"Wild day."

Mimi started to stir and Iris quickly dispatch her father to get her. "I'm in the family way…."

"You are so lucky I love you."

"As you should, I keep letting you inpregnate me."

Mimi's party was just a family event. Iris did go a little overboard, the house was filled with balloons, ladybirds and more food than Colton thought humanly possible. It was worth celebrating in more ways than one. The kids loved the ball pit and dived in and listening to all their personalities was fun. Addy was the school teacher, trying to corral the younger ones. Olive and Marlee just ignored her, much to her disgust. Sam, Billy and Max taunted her, Poppy was a diligent student and Mimi sat on the outside just watching them and squealing when they threw balls at her. She pulled herself up onto the side of the ball pit and bounced up and down on her little legs, reaching for the balls and giggling madly; she just loved being around the kids.

No-one really noticed anything when they first bought out Mimi's cake. It was two Ladybugs side by side, one slightly smaller than the other. The little girl clapped through 'Happy Birthday' and the kids were front and centre for the blowing out of the candle.

When Mimi got cake all over her shirt, Iris changed her into another shirt. "What?" Lola spotted her t-shirt.

It was a picture of a ladybug with a crown that said Oldest Child and lying on the ground was the discarded crown that said Only child.

"Oh that?" Colton laughed.

"Yes, that."

"Well…." Iris smiled. "It seems my lazy ovary isn't so lazy."

"Are you kidding?" Mae still looked shocked.

"Nope, not kidding. Although there is a kicker…we found out about a week ago…."

"It's twins." Mae gasped.

"No, thank god no." Colton quickly doused those flames. "Iris is four months pregnant."

"How could you not know?" Mae pretty much asked what everyone else was thinking considering she was about five weeks last time and taking a pregnancy test.

"I guess we just didn't expect it, you know things have been erratic and Mimi is still feeding so we just didn't think it would happen." She shrugged. "Anyway, it's all good and we are getting over the shock and really, really excited."

Addy squealed. "Oh good, Mimi gets a new baby and Marlee and me get a new baby too."

"Huh, what?" Lola was the first to react and she looked quickly between her brother and sister-in-law.

"I'm getting a brother this time." Addy blurted out. Alfie and Quinn had no idea that she even knew "I asked for it."

"Umm." Quinn stuttered. "We don't know, it might be another girl."

"Nuh ah, it's a brother."

"How did you know?" Alfie quizzed his daughter.

"I heard you, I saw you kiss Mummy's belly, that means she's having a baby." She giggled. "It does doesn't it?"

"Yes, yes. Treacle beak. Mum is having a baby."

"Yay." Addy squealed.

"Wow, what a day." Mae shook her head and laughed at George's furrowed brow. "Oh don't worry, I remain unfertilised.

"Good to know."

"Anyway, so when is this all happening?" Mae pointed at Quinn's stomach.

"Apparently about three weeks after Bug, we've just ticked the three month box and unlike Bug we are smart enough to know when there is a bun in Quinn's oven." Alfie never wanted to take away Iris's shine. It was a big deal for her, as it was for them too. "So, let's celebrate. Two new Hollister's are about to roam the earth, this is a great day."

Iris & Quinn were swamped by her family and Colton's father and stepmother were ecstatic. They loved every minute of being grandparents to Mimi and Lucy would look after her one day a week while Iris worked. She only worked three days, Lucy had her one day, Mae another and she did one day in day-care. It was more than enough and the first few months of that were rough where she picked up every bug that went around. Lola promised them that it was good for her immune system and wouldn't last forever. Things had gotten better eventually and Mimi was such a bundle of energy.

Colton didn't see his mother much anymore. She had pushed him over the edge and he'd snapped. Iris had been a bit stunned by it but he refused to back down. Marchella had gone too far too many times.

The shit hit the fan when his mother had entered her into a baby contest despite Colton and Iris making it very clear they didn't want her too. She had registered Mimi in the online contest which required people to vote for the 'cutest baby' to be the new face of a baby fashion brand.

Knowing full well that they wouldn't approve she changed her name to 'Rose Watson' which was her maiden name and it was only his Aunt alerting him, knowing how closely they guarded Mimi's privacy and their determination to keep her off social media that they found out about it. None of the children appeared on any social media account, their grandparents had started it because of the danger their jobs posed, Sam and Polly continued it and so did they.

It was ugly and Iris had never seen Colton so angry. Even when Iris was stalked and drugged he hadn't been quite so out of control and wild. It was his daughter and she was a baby and he had every right to protect her in whatever way he saw fit. Especially considering what they had been through, it almost destroyed them, they weren't letting that happen to their daughter.

Now they hadn't seen his mother for two months. She wasn't invited to Mimi's party; which Iris did think was a little harsh but Colton refused to budge. It was a celebration and he didn't want anything to ruin it. Once they found out that Iris was pregnant again it only solidified his position.

When Iris asked him if he was going to tell his mother he just shrugged. "One day."

"Before or after this one turns one?" She patted her slightly protruding belly.

"Probably before."

Colton did tell his mother. He rang her and left a message. "Just to let you know that Iris is pregnant. The baby is due in about four months, everything is going well. I'll let you know when it's born." Iris thought it was cold but had decided that it was better to stay out of Colton's relationship with his mother.

Marchella called Iris; she knew better than to call her son. He refused to take her calls. They had also had a run in when his sister unexpectedly turned up. Both Iris and Colton welcomed her into their home until he caught her rifling through their bedroom.

"Give it to me." He held out his hand when she slipped something into her pocket as he came in.

"What?"

"Give it to me?" Colton had been horrified when she handed over a necklace. Iris's crown and train charm. It was the end of his tenuous relationship with his sister. Marchella blamed him, again for driving his sister away.

"She stole from me, from Iris."

"What? A few dollars, you can afford it."

"A necklace. Iris's necklace."

"I am sure you can replace it."

"It's irreplaceable. It was the crown that her Dad bought for her Mom when she was born, along with the train from Alfie. I know that means nothing to you, I know Iris's family and history means nothing to you but it means everything to her. She doesn't remember them, that's all she has."

Colton had been furious at his mother's lack of empathy for Iris. The fact that she was more upset that Colton had kicked his sister out as opposed to being disappointed that Sophie hadn't changed. Nothing had changed in the past ten years; his mother still would do anything to blame her son for Sophie's shortcomings.

"Iris." Marchella was surprised when Iris picked up her call. "I wanted to call and congratulate you. That's wonderful news about the baby."

"Thank you. We are really happy and looking forward to meeting our new little baby, it was a bit of a surprise."

"And you are well?"

"I am. Really well."

"How's Primrose?" It amused Iris that she refused to call her Mimi, Colton would get het up about it but she just ignored it and continued to call her Mimi.

"She's really well, growing like a weed, running around everywhere and keeping us on our toes."

Iris knew what she was about to ask. She wanted to see her granddaughter. "You will need to ask Colton." It wasn't up to Iris to go against Colton's wishes.

"He won't let me see her. I've asked."

"Marchella that's between you and Colton. I'm not getting involved. I don't want to get involved. I've asked him to take Mimi to see you, he refuses there is not much more I can do."

"You could bring her to see me, or we could meet somewhere. He wouldn't have to know. She's my granddaughter."

"I'm not going behind Colton's back. He's my husband, he's Mimi's father it is his choice."

"You never wanted me in her life." Marchella snapped. "You never wanted me in my son's life, you turned him against me."

Iris sighed; she wasn't getting into this argument again. They'd been here a thousand times before. "Thanks for the call Marchella." She hung up.

Nothing was going to rain on their parade, they had a new little life to look forward to and they couldn't wait to meet them.