Four little feet….that was the photo they sent.

Four perfect little feet.

Lola & Riley were the only ones that knew Iris had gone into labour. They had called Lola in the middle of the night when Iris's water broke. She had been labouring at home all day, very erratically and didn't want to leave until she had too.

Mimi was asleep when Iris crept in to see her just before they left. Her sweet baby girl. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow, you'll be a big sister." She whispered, brushing the hair out of her eyes. "You've made us so happy our little ladybug." Mimi stirred a little and Iris held her hand on her back until she settled.

They loved the way she slept, on her tummy, butt in the air. As soon as she could roll over that's how she slept. She was the apple of their eye, the little girl they never thought they'd have and it seemed surreal that they were just hours away from meeting their new little baby.

Colton held her hand all the way to the hospital, feeling every contraction, trying to stay calm and keep Iris from completely freaking out.

They had decided, or more to the point Iris had decided that she wanted Colton to deliver their baby. Like her Dad had done for her and he was scared shitless. "Are you sure you want me to fossick around at that end? Surely I can wipe your brow or boil water or something?" He just thought he'd check one more time.

"Suck it up." Iris groaned and shifted uncomfortably as another contraction gripped her. "You are the reason I'm here."

"Ahh, that old chestnut. Why does it always come back to that? It wasn't a solo performance."

He let Iris squeeze his hand while she contracted.

"You sure you didn't leave some crap on the toilet seat after you whacked off or something?"

"Ah, Wombat." Colton rubbed her thigh as she started to breathe more easily again. "I'm sure it was a beautiful moment in time. I know I enjoyed it and I am pretty sure you did as well, you always do."

"Never again."

"So last night was my swansong?" Iris had been a bit frisky the past few days and Colton would do whatever he had to do to keep her happy. He was a bit of a pleaser in that regards. He didn't mind pleasing Iris in whatever way she chose.

"Yep."

"Fuck it was good. You know how to rock that bod and my bub." Colton laughed. "I am not sure what's better, actually getting you pregnant or getting jiggy with you when you are pregnant."

"Stop talking please."

Iris could barely lie down long enough for anyone to check her dilation and it was only when she had been pushing for almost twenty minutes that she got on the bed. Along with Iris who was a trojan, the midwife did most of the work and guided Colton through the last minute as he eased his child into the world. His breath had caught in his throat when he first got a good look at what was happening. What women did was amazing and his wife was just incredible, it looked horrific and he was stunned to see what she was going through, he had avoided looking at the business end last time. Their midwife reminded him that this was perfectly normal and Iris was doing really well. She was in agony and it looked like she was about to rip in half and then there was a head, and not long after the rest of their perfect new baby entered their world.

"It's a boy." He gasped as he looked at the baby in his hands. It was incredible. He didn't notice the blood and god knows what else because not only did he come out, but a big gush of liquid as well. He was distracted because he just delivered his son and it was the most incredible moment of his life. The midwife told him to put him on Iris's stomach and as he did Iris reached for him and lifted him up onto her chest.

"Hi, oh aren't you beautiful." He let out a gurgling wail. "Daddy's little man."

Colton was suddenly beside her, the midwife had given him a soft towel and told him to give him a good rub to get him going and clean him up a little and she chuckled because while they always gave them a vigorous rub the newborn's dad was so gentle as he wiped him softly. "I'm so proud of you Bug. Look at him."

Iris dragged her eyes away from her baby and looked at her husband. "I can't believe it. It's really a boy?" She had always thought it was a boy but seeing him was still a shock.

"He's got a hose."

They didn't stay long; within six hours of his birth they went home. Colton called Lola to check on Mimi and refused to tell her anything other than it all went well and they had a perfectly healthy and beautiful baby and they were coming home soon.

Lola met them at the car with Mimi, she helped Iris out and Mimi dived into her mother's arms while Colton opened the back door and lifted out the precious cargo. Lola instantly spied the little blue hat. "It's a boy?"

"He certainly is."

"Oh Bug, he's beautiful. Look Mimi, it's your little brother." Mimi was looking curiously at the baby when her Daddy proudly showed him off. "How are you Bug?"

"Well I feel like I've given birth." She hobbled towards the house. "But I'm good and so happy to be home."

Those four perfect feet…..

How much trouble are we in now? Primrose is a little wary. There is a new doll in the house that moves, cries and demands attention from her mother. Eliot Ruzek Hollister Webber is a lucky boy, he's got an amazing big sister, a beautiful Mom and a besotted Dad.

Earlier today Iris and I welcomed our little boy into the world. At 8lbs 1oz he's perfect and we are relaxing at home and learning how to be parents to an amazing little girl and handsome little boy. Bug, you are just an incredible human, I love living this life with you.

Mimi wasn't overly enamoured with him. She held him long enough to take the photo and then pushed him away. Lola had a cuddle and then left them to it. She had her own children to sort out and a husband to calm down. Riley had admitted he was a little scared, his wife was way too into Iris's pregnancy. She called him on the way home.

"And?"

"It's a boy, he's beautiful, Bug looks great and they are so happy. He's so cute and tiny and he looks like Adam a little."

"No."

"I'm not clucky."

"You sure and I don't really care if you are. Three crackheads is more than enough."

"How are they?"

"Sam is at Jakob's house so Billy is annoying the shit out of Olive because he's bored and Olive is whining because Billy is being a pain in her ass and mine." Riley hadn't loved the day so far; he was relieved when Jakob's Mom called to see if Sam wanted to have a playdate. Although it turned out that Sam was the sane one. Olive's whinging was doing his head in. There was no way they were going back for another; they couldn't wait until Olive was out of her terrible twos. It didn't help that Billy just needled her constantly especially if Sam wasn't around, he turned all his attention to his sister. She had developed an ear piercing scream when things didn't go her way and her brother knew it. He'd steal her toys, mess up her tea parties, steal her dolls and do whatever he could to annoy her. Billy was their wildcard, he'd well and truly earned his nickname of Wild Billy. "The fucking cat is being a criminal."

"So nothing new?"

"Nope." They had relented, Sam's desperate pleas egged on by his cousin about getting a cat had worn them down. It was a crazy little thing and they did love it but it had a habit of stealing things, usually food from the kids plates. They of course encouraged it by teasing it. Sam adored Catty, as he named her, and was always sneaking her into his bedroom to sleep when she was little and now if they locked her out of Sam's room at night she'd wake the whole house up with her carry on so it was easier to let her sleep on Sam's bed. Much to Addy's annoyance, Kitty wasn't allowed to sleep on the beds at night and it wasn't fair apparently.

If anyone should be scared though, it was Alfie, he still had a baby obsessed daughter. Addy had declared, not only did she want a brother this time, then she wanted a better sister, because 'you know Marlee is a bit of a nimbcompoof'. They were not quite sure where that came from, she was also pretty sure 'she was going to have twenty babies.' which horrified Alfie particularly when she told him she was going to wait until she was bigger though, like ten. She was also going to grow cats, like Nanna Meg did.

Quinn just laughed at him when he went on a rant about it, that was like three years away and he wasn't ready to be a grandparent apparently, completely dismissing that she wasn't going to get pregnant at 10.

If she loved her Mom's pregnancy with Marlee, this time Addy was even more invested and wanted to know everything. Last time all she cared about was that her Dad remembered how to make a baby and she was getting one. Alfie had to have a discussion with her that he wasn't particularly ready for on how they made the baby and how it came out which did shock her a little. He did hope that discussing how babies were made might make her rethink her three year plan but it had zero effect, she didn't really join the dots together.

Mae was at work but managed to scoot out for an hour to meet her nephew. Colton and Mimi were having some cuddles watching TV while Iris and Eliot were asleep upstairs. She tickled Mimi's toes and asked her about her brother which bought about a little glare which made Mae laugh. They were in for a world of pain with this one. She wasn't happy about the new baby being in the house. "How is she?"

"She's good Mae." Colton kissed the top of Mimi's head. "Mimi on the other hand…."

"Not good."

"Ahhhh…Bug was calling her Primrose."

Mae cringed, "Not a good start?" Mimi was such a bold character and she was only eighteen months old so didn't really understand what was going on. She'd also been cut off from Iris's boob a few months ago and not surprisingly didn't like Eliot now getting some action. At the time she'd dealt with it okay, only demanding it occasionally but she'd wigged out seeing Eliot feeding. She slapped her mother's hand and tried to grab hold of Eliot and pull him away. It was an ugly few minutes and Iris was shocked and didn't cope well and yelled at Mimi and pushed her away when she thought she was going to hurt Eliot.

"Nope. We dropped our bundle when Iris fed him." Colton sighed. They were in for a rough few days. "Anyway, pop up and see them. Iris won't mind, she'll be happy to see you."

She crept into their bedroom and peered at her nephew before sitting on the edge of the bed and waking Iris up.

"He's just beautiful." Mae smiled at her sister. "I am so happy for you Bug and for Colton. Such a perfect little family."

"Thanks, we are pretty happy. It's been a big day." Iris told her sister to go pick him up, she knew that Mae would be desperate for a cuddle. That's why she was here after all.

Eliot opened his eyes briefly. "Oh Hi little man. You are so precious. I love you already."

"Mimi's not loving him."

"Poppy went back and forth as well. Now look at her and Max, they are crazy together. They'll be fine. How are you?"

"Tired, sore and happy." Iris grimaced a little. "My bits are on fire."

"I know that feeling."

"Yep and they get to flounce around with their chests puffed out because they made a perfect baby." She waved her hand randomly in the air.

"Well he did."

"I know. He did good though. He delivered him, which was kind special."

Mae laughed. There was no way in hell George would even contemplate it. He steadfastly refused when Mae bought it up when she was pregnant with Poppy. Having her then born at home was bad enough, hence why they were in hospital the first sign of a contraction with Max. The best he could do was cut Max's cord and even that made him cringe and he was worried it was going to hurt Mae or Max.

"Like Dad huh?"

"I wish I remembered his touch." Iris suddenly burst into tears. Hardly unusual for a post-partum mother. There were a lot of hormones, emotions, exhaustion and pain at play. It was a heady mix. "I wish I remembered what Mom's kisses felt like."

"Oh Bug." Now she was making her sister cry. "I wish you could too, but I do know how much you loved them and they loved you, they were crazy about you. We tried to fill that hole."

"You did, a little bit you did." Iris wiped her face and forced herself to smile. "Now look at us. All Mom's and Dad's."

"What a crazy fucking Mob hey?" Eliot let out a random cry, Mae loved those first few hours of life when it was spin the wheel crazy. "And this little piece of heaven. Oh my, Bug. He's just perfect."

Alfie and Quinn couldn't stay away either. Addy had a bag of presents for Eliot and also bought a present for Mimi. Marlee was happy to see and play with Mimi and Mimi adored her cousin while Addy just wanted to see the baby. "Your daughter is obsessed." Colton laughed. "You are going to be in a constant state of freak out when she starts dating."

"She's not dating, ever."

Addy was beside his bassinette the moment she was through the door. He was sleeping and his eyes shot open when Addy squealed. "Oh he's so precious. I love him." His eyes slid closed again. "He's awake, look, he opened his eyes. Can I touch him?"

She sat up next to her Dad and waited for her Uncle to pick up her little cousin. "Oh he's so cute. Look Dad, I can't wait until I have a baby."

"Oh Adelaide, not for a long time yet young lady."

"I know Daddy." She rolled her eyes dramatically. Alfie was in a constant state of disarray with Addy and her baby obsession. "First I get my brother and then I'll have a baby."

"It might be a sister and you are not having a baby Adelaide."

"I want a baby." She whined, her bottom lip quivering until Alfie told her she could have a baby when she was an adult. "And I don't want another sister. If it's a girl we can swap with Mimi, she won't care."

"I think Bug and Colton might care if we steal Eliot."

"We'd still love him." There was literally no point talking to her, she had her heart set on a brother and nothing they could do would sway her.

They were right about one thing, Mimi wouldn't care. She refused to have anything to do with Eliot and that devastated Iris. They had waited so long for Mimi and they adored her and thought on many occasions that she may well be the only child they had. Eliot was a total surprise and they were over the moon so to have Mimi so put out by his arrival was a little heartbreaking.

He was a sweet little boy, he was relaxed, ate and slept easily, quickly racking up four or five hours at night. That softened the blow a little, they could feed him and put him down half asleep and he'd just drift off so they could deal with the absolute nightmare that was Mimi.

All they could do was love her, spend time with her and hope it would soon settle.