"I'll be back in tomorrow, take some of the pressure off of you and Elliot." Her words were intended to soothe him but he offered no reaction, allowing the silence to engulf them again. Their breath visible on the cold night air as they exhaled. She had her question on the very tip of her tongue but for once in her life, she was almost too afraid to ask in fear of causing upset. Wrestling with the idea for a minute or so before she finally decided to bite the bullet. "This son of yours, how old is he?" Her tone was warm and caring, Sam felt as though it was squeezing his heart in a tight hug. When she wasn't screaming and yelling at people, she had an incredibly kind and soft-centred side to her that he adored seeing.

"The same age I was when I became Dad." He smiled, glancing at her upon realising his answer carried no meaning. "Seventeen."

"You were so young."

"Yeah, too young. It should never have happened, but it did." He moved his attention back to his lap, unaware of her empathetic eyes rolling over his dishevelled appearance. "I didn't even know she was pregnant, a mutual friend of ours called me when she went into labour and told me I was the Father."

"What happened?" She prompted kind-heartedly.

"I raced to get there as fast as I could but I'd missed the birth, I caused so much chaos outside they were forced to let me in." He smiled tearfully at the recollection, as did she with the clear image of a young Sam behaving exactly the same way now. He hadn't changed by the sounds of it. "I held him for about thirty seconds, maybe even a minute? And that's it, I never saw him again." He sounded heartbroken, his voice struggling to contain the deep pain but she could hear the dainty quivers.

"You lost contact with them?"

"No, her parents forced her to give him up for adoption." He sighed shakily, stealing the odd glance at her face. "I don't know who took him, where he went." There was a suspenseful pause as he stared into the night scenery ahead of him. "I don't even know his name." Connie's heart ached for him, he looked and sounded truly destroyed. "That's why I need you to understand, I'm not going to give up this time." He sniffled, connecting eyes with her as she blinked tearfully back at him. "I'm not going to watch another baby of mine slip away from me, even if I have to fight you tooth and nail. I will be a part of their life." He watched her swallow sadly as she abruptly wiped away a straying tear, readying herself to talk.

"I know she won't be the son you lost, but she's a daughter who will need her Father." She spoke incredibly softly and quietly, her eyes observing every minor detail in his face as it almost instantly thawed before her.

"Mr Strachan, please, do pay attention." Elliot's feeble yet angered voice landed the younger registrar's feet back into reality as he shook away his daydreamy thoughts. "Connie's returning to work today, we need to make sure all is well and running smoothly-"

"Right, of course, sorry." Smiling apologetically, he couldn't help but look mightily pleased with himself.

"What's got you all in a dither this morning? You're positively glowing." He sounded almost out of breath as they walked and talked through the winding Darwin corridors. They were on their way into theatre for an extremely high profile, complicated procedure and Sam's mental absence wasn't aiding Elliot in feeling any more confident for the difficult task ahead.

"Hm? Nothing, I'm just feeling-" He cut himself off, attempting to find the right words. "I don't know, I guess I'm just feeling really optimistic today." Nodding affirmatively, he glanced to his left, noting Elliot's rather unconvinced expression.

"Well, whatever you got up to last night, I don't need the sordid details. I'm just glad you're feeling more positive after the way yesterday ended. Having a thick skin is the key, Mr Strachan."

"Actually, I had a quiet night in if you must know." He raised his dark brows, emphasising his wonder-filled eyes. "My positive mood is actually down to Connie."

"Really?" He winced, realising how surprised he sounded. The sentence Sam had just uttered was one he had never heard before and could guarantee he would never hear again. "How's that?" He hung back slightly as Sam walked through the theatre doors first, holding them open for Elliot once he'd passed through.

"I saw her before I left work last night, we sort of had a heart-to-heart."

"A heart-to-heart? With Connie? Are you sure it wasn't her doppelganger?" Joking sweetly he couldn't help but feel slightly relieved to know that they were at least getting along for the moment.

"It was nice, actually." Smiling nostalgically he could feel his face itching with the urge to tell someone, anyone. "In fact, she may have even deliberately let-slip the sex of the baby."

"You mean babies?" He felt his heart twist, he harboured the same worry for Connie. The worry that Sam would only claim paternity of the twin that was actually his, leaving one twin fatherless.

"Yes, sorry, I'm still getting my head around that." His brows pulled together with regret. "Nevertheless." He paused dramatically, almost taking a deep breath before continuing. "She's having two girls." His whole face seemed to light up with utter pride and joy as he spoke tenderly, aware of his surroundings. Studying Elliot's face carefully, his smile only seemed to increase in size to mimic Elliot's as he too couldn't refrain from grinning widely.

"Oh my, congratulations!" He moved forward, patting him on the back enthusiastically, he honestly couldn't hold back his joy. "That's wonderful! And Connie? How did she seem to be taking the news?"

"Fine, honestly, I think she was actually happy? I suppose the prospect of having a son and him turn out exactly like his father would be a worrying thought-" He halted immediately, an absolute tidal wave of regret crashing over him. He, of course, was referring to himself with his previous comment. Not the late Will Curtis. "I didn't-"

"No, it's fine." He interrupted quickly having duly noted how remorseful he looked. "I know what you meant." He paused, studying the subdued features of his face. "But please, please be mindful of these things when you talk to Connie. I don't imagine she'd react in quite the same, understanding way I did." Widening his eyes, he lowered his head momentarily before speaking again. "Right, with congratulatory conversation out of the way shall we proceed?" His beard seemed to hug his large cheeks as he smiled.

"Let's get this show on the road." He stepped aside slightly as the theatre nurse behind him helped with his mask and gloves. "After you, Mr Hope."

Across town, her own morning was a little more sedate. She'd accidentally overslept which was far from characteristic of her, another slip up she'd blame on this unplanned pregnancy. Although she'd at least managed to grab a couple hours of sleep she still looked sickly as she stared at her own growingly unfamiliar reflection. She looked almost unrecognisable. Her bruises and wounds still visibly angry from a few nights prior.

"Please, allow me to get through just one day without any mishaps." Whispering to herself softly in the large mirror of her front door hallway, she blinked with fatigue before grabbing her keys and bag. It was nice that she asked so politely, but honestly, when did the universe ever offer her a break?

And today was no different.

Her small black heels clicked with a purpose as she stepped into her extremely convincing 'I'm okay' posture, striding into the hospital entrance with the false pretence that her life was in order and she was in control. It was upon stepping into the lift that she was stripped of her act rather unexpectedly. As soon as she laid eyes on the run-down appearance of the woman before her, she immediately turned to exit in a slight fluster but the doors pulled closed before she managed to escape.

"Do I really look that awful?" Her voice sounded just as defeated as she looked and lacked any warmth at all.

"Susan-"

"Don't answer that, I already know how dreadful I look. You would too if you'd been through what I have." Will's widow cut her off sharply, not wishing to hear any sort of false condolences. "I hate to sound rude, but despite your lack of hardship, you don't look so flash yourself." Her tone was different to any other time they'd interacted following their lover's death. She still sounded hurt but the anger wasn't there. Yet.

"Look, Susan, I can't-" Connie couldn't even manage to get one apologetic sentence out before she was abruptly cut off again.

"You must think I'm stupid." She spat, the two finally meeting eyes, Connie was still stood a little in front with her back facing Susan but turned marginally to make the much dreaded eye contact. "You think I didn't know about the two of you and what you were up to?" Her jaw clenched as the anger finally spilled out, the bags under her eyes only emphasising how free-flowing her tears were. "All those business trips and medical seminars, he really thought I didn't wonder if there was someone else on the side." She sniffed, glancing at the floor level lights in the lift changing with each floor they surpassed. Connie was at a loss for words, blinking rapidly as she desperately tried to find her voice. All this time, she'd known? The tears glossing over her eyes were enough of a giveaway for Susan. "I knew it." She scoffed emotionally, her head tilting back whilst she attempted to rein in her sadness. "I mean, I knew he was cheating but I was taking a stab in the dark with guessing it was you. You're not his type." She flared her nostrils. "How long was it going on for?"

"I don't-"

"You don't what?!" She barked aggressively causing Connie to flinch slightly at the utter volume. "You don't know? You don't remember? You don't think I want to know? Which one is it, hm? I'm past caring now, he's gone! I'm alone! And do you know what? His infidelity has been the most hurtful thing about his death. Can you believe that?" She smiled tearfully. "How wrong is that? He's dead and the aspect I'm most upset about is the fact that he felt the need to fuck around with someone like you." The latter of her sentence faded away gradually, another sense of doom overcoming the entirety of the small space they were currently trapped in. Her exhausted eyes coming to rest on the small but visible bump that was Connie's midsection as she'd inadvertently turned to face the fuming woman. "Oh God." Whispering in an unhinged and devastated manner, she moved her shaking hand up to her mouth to try and contain her gasps. Opposite her, Connie glanced down and swallowed hard finally cottoning on to what she'd seen before quickly wrapping her coat around herself. But the damage was already done. "Please." Susan murmured. "Please tell me that's not his baby, I'm begging you. Please!" It was as if all of the grief had hit her at once as she awaited a response, but Connie couldn't find it within herself to verbally admit it. Instead she remained silent before offering her a sad and sympathetic glance, her tears just as heartbreaking as Susan's.

"I'm sorry." She breathed with a sorrowful sigh. It wasn't much more than a whisper but Susan heard it nonetheless.

"No, no, no." She shook her head, a mangled laugh escaping her lips. "No, you're lying." She snapped, her whimpers halting at an eerie speed despite knowing in her heart and gut that Connie wasn't lying. On some logical level she'd known for months prior to his sudden death that he wasn't devoted to her anymore but actually addressing it was beyond painful. Her mind and body were in turmoil, a mixture of extreme grief and physical pain from giving birth to a stillborn child not two days ago.

"Susan, please, I-"

"I'd already lost him before he died, he was already gone before that night." She sobbed uncontrollably. "And our baby boy." Breathing rapidly, she was so upset it almost sounded like an effort to try and breathe. "Now I've lost him too and you-" She panted. "You're carrying his child! My husband's child!"

"I can't even comprehend what you're going through right now." She cooed, her hormones were understandably all over the place too, hence why she'd lost the battle against her own emotions.

"Yes you can." Her voice was gravelly and low, their eyes once again connecting. A shared pain between them. "I know you loved him, I can tell by the look in your eyes. They look just as sad as mine." She stopped briefly to study the confusion and pain in Connie's face. "But you have no right! He wasn't yours to love! You were just a meaningless side-piece! Surely you must know that?!" Her anger seemed to be fluctuating as much as Connie's rapid heart rate, suddenly her breathing quickened in an attempt to match it's racing pace as the area around them seemed to grow smaller and smaller. Stepping backwards unsteadily, Connie shook her head in disagreement, attempting to argue her side of the story but her words were coming out as mere breathless murmurs whilst she reached her palm out for the lift wall. Desperately seeking something to support her whilst the familiar ringing in her ears signalled she was about to hit the deck. "Oh, what, so you're going to play the victim now?" She mocked angrily, watching the Clinical Lead struggling. "You think that'll undo everything you've done? All the damage and heartache and pain you've caused? Because it won't! All of this is your fault!" Her brutal and ferociously screamed sentence was finalised with a thud as Connie collapsed on to the floor of the lift. The silence following only hovered over Susan for a fraction of a second as she blinked in disbelief. The loudness of the automated voice announcing the doors were opening made her shudder as the fluorescent lighting from the ward cascaded in on them swiftly. Waiting to enter the lift were Ric Griffin and Mark Williams, their conversation coming to an abrupt halt.

"Connie?" Ric jumped into action as soon as he laid eyes on her, not clicking on to the fact that the other shell-shocked person in the lift was Susan Curtis. "What happened?" He immediately removed his suit jacket, padding it under her head gently as he awaited an explanation. Finally glancing up, his face softened remarkably. "Susan, I'm sorry, I didn't realise it was you-"

"I didn't do anything to her." She interjected nervously, watching over him as he swiftly checked her over. Susan's good-natured conscience was beginning to get the better of her. As soon as the light had come flooding in, she could see how unwell Connie looked and now here she was, collapsed on the ground before her. "I mean, w-we were arguing - I yelled at her, but I swear I didn't touch her, she just-" There was a momentary pause as she exhaled shakily. "She just went down like a tonne of bricks."

"Alright, it's okay." Mark soothed softly, trying to keep in mind the torture this poor woman had been through in the last few months. "How about we get you to a relatives room, hm? I'll sort you a nice hot cuppa."

"I mean it." She breathed harshly. "I swear, on my kids lives, as angry as I am, I didn't touch her!"

"It's okay, we believe you. " Mark smiled before shooting Ric an extremely anxious look. "Tricia said you were in for a check-up today, we'll have a sit down upstairs and then I'll walk you to your appointment. How does that sound?"

"And her? Will she be alright?" Although it was supposed to be a caring question neither of the men could ignore the angry and hateful undertone in her voice.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Ric assured. "As soon as I can get some help in here, that would be great." He spoke the latter part of his response more loudly, signalling to nurse at the nurses station for some assistance.

"And her baby?"

"Yes, like I said, she's in the right place. I'm sure she'll be okay." He was checking her vitals as he spoke, not quite sure what to make of the behaviour Mrs Curtis had just displayed. Having thought that however, the bereft woman had just lost her partner and given birth to a still-born baby. If anyone had any right to be acting a little off, it was her.

"There's a sort of half-truth to this sordid lie." She reasoned seductively. "Yes, we're in Prague, yes we're having an affair but at the same time we are here for a Cardiothoracic and General Surgery seminar with five other surgeons from Holby. That's what you've told Susan, I see no lies there." She studied his stubbled jaw and chin as she stood flush to his chest, smoothing her palm up and down on his chest. His left arm was wrapped loosely around her, keeping her close to his skin.

"I don't want to talk about anything else whilst we're here, it's just you and me, on our mini escape from reality." His right hand moved across himself to rest on her hip as he continued to admire their balcony view. The sun was starting to set and they were in their favourite attire, hotel bed sheets wrapped around their bare bodies like a Greek God and Goddess as they marvelled at the twinkling city lights below. The soft, warm breeze rippling gently between them as they held one another.

"This could be our reality, if you just let it." Pressing her chin softly on to his chest, she gazed up at him longingly. She adored him, as much as she hated a man having this much power over her heart, she just couldn't help it. Her eyes fluttered closed as he leant in to kiss her passionately before pulling away a fraction, talking into her lips.

"I love you." He breathed, pulling back again but even further, his right hand moving from her sheet covered hip to the side of her face as he smoothed his thumb over her cheek bone. "More than anything."

"I do hope you're not getting attached, Mr Curtis." She whispered, her eyes lazy with lust as she bit at her lower lip.

"Oh, trust me." He smiled mischievously in between planting kisses on her glossed lips. "It's far too late for that, you've already got me. Hook, line and sinker." Walking her backwards as they engaged in a more lengthy and sensual lip-lock, he guided her to the white stone balcony enclosing. In one swift and effortless movement he'd scooped her up and sat her dangerously on the edge of the thick ornamental wall, the bed sheet falling away as she manoeuvred her legs to wrap around his waist. Her hands gripping delicately at his neck and the sides of his chiselled face as he leant over her. Not for one moment did she feel unsafe, even four storeys up, with his arms around her she knew she'd never fall. In fact, the thrill was even more of a turn on.

On the balcony to the left, Ric had been peacefully relaxing in his lounge chair, a strong drink in one hand and a good book in the other. This was one of only two days on the five day trip that they actually had free. The other three days were jam-packed with meetings, workshops and seminars. He'd heard the last few sentences of their heartfelt exchange and froze in shock until they came into view as he picked her up and had her leant over the balcony wall. Needless to say, he quickly headed inside to avoid the show. With his door open, however, he still had the audio of their encounter.

"Do you love me?" He panted erotically, still bucking his hips in rhythm with her soft, whimpered moans. "Tell me you love me."

"Yes." She whispered back obediently. "Yes." Her moans following jumped in pitch as he started hitting the spot. "Oh, God, yes!"

"Say it." He growled, burying his face into her neck as he bent his knees even more, giving him a more angled access.

"I love you." Her mouth gaped at the feeling he was giving her, closing her eyes tightly she couldn't keep her pleasure silent as she called out again. "I love you."

"I fainted, Ric." She spoke calmly, her brain and thoughts still numbed from her verbal altercation with Susan. "I'm fine."

"Indeed, you're alright now, but it's not something you should take lightly. Especially during a multiple pregnancy." He folded his lips knowingly before surveying her shocked face. "I was there when they did your first scan, twins hm?" His sweet smile faded when she didn't reciprocate his happiness. They were in one of the side-rooms on Keller ward, she was still in her tailored black pants and white shirt, but her jacket and scarf were laying on the chair in the corner of the room. She was sat upright on the single bed, leaning back into the pillows as Ric stood at the foot of the bed. "Look, Connie, I hate to sound like one of those people you're probably losing your patience with at the moment, but you need to start-"

"Taking better care of myself, I know." Breathing frustratedly, she sat up slowly, her body was still aching from the injuries she sustained in the building collapse. This minor incident was nothing compared to that. "If I had a pound for every time someone has said that to me, I'd be off living it up on some exotic island, relaxing every day without hassle."

"No you wouldn't." He smiled, knowing well enough that she could never give up her work. It was her life.

"Maybe not, I hate to admit it but I'd probably miss this place too much." A soft silence engulfed them before he decided to bite the bullet.

"Susan Curtis was with you in the lift when you collapsed-"

"Passed out." She corrected quickly, not wanting a mountain to be made out of a mole hill.

"Okay, Susan Curtis was with you when you fainted." He repeated it, this time to her liking. "She said you were arguing."

"I didn't faint because of an argument, Ric. Christ, if that was a common happening I'd be fainting up to ten times a day." She smiled, but he could see through her vain attempt at avoiding the issue.

"Did it get physical? The argument, I mean."

"What?" She scoffed before clicking on to what he was trying to insinuate. "No! Look, she's grieving and in pain but she didn't lay a finger on me. We just had a heated discussion, that's all."

"Right." He nodded, not convinced by her wishy-washy story. "Heated enough for the both of you to be in tears?" Referring to a teary-eyed Susan he'd witnessed, along with the discreetly smudged mascara under Connie's eyes, he'd made a pretty accurate guess at the situation.

"Come on, Ric." She laughed, that one action alone concealing all of her pain and anguish. "I'm pregnant, I cried at the Tesco advert yesterday morning." She sighed quietly, her body releasing pressure before she continued. "Susan's son was still-born following the building collapse the other day. She saw my bump, got upset in the lift and like a hormonal lunatic I was just feeding off of her emotions."

"And then you passed out?"

"And then I passed out." Repeating his final sentence, she was convincing enough with her performance for him to drop the matter but not before getting one last comment in as he stopped in at the door.

"I don't normally condone adultery but in the case of you and Will, it was obvious you both cared deeply for one another." He paused, monitoring the utter shock starting to show on in her expression. "And you have as much right to grieve for him as Susan does." His words rocked her entire body, it was as if he'd read her mind and looked right into her bare soul. "Don't let her take that away from you." He folded his lips softly, her silence wasn't angry or abusive. In fact, she even sought out eye contact with him.

"Thank you." It came out as a delicate purr, her glossy eyes pulling at his heart-strings immediately.

"I'll let Elliot know you're down here-"

"No!" She quickly snapped back to reality, swinging her legs over the side of the bed to stand up. "No, no it's fine, he doesn't need to know." She quickly wiped at her tears and took a long, shaky breath before glancing at his deadpan face. "Honestly, Ric. He fusses far too much, I honestly don't think I can cope with it today. Please."

"Okay,noted." He offered her a small nod. "But please start looking after yourself. If I hear you've fainted again due to low blood sugar or anything else that is easily unavoidable-"

"Okay, I get it. Thanks, Ric."

"Here she is!" Elliot beamed from behind his desk as she entered their office. "I hear congratulations are in order."

"Yes, Elliot, I'm pregnant, we've been through this already. But well-spotted." She spoke sarcastically, trying her upmost to disguise her post-crying stuffy nose. "Is this it then? Have you finally lost the plot?"

"No not yet, however a little birdie tells me you're expecting not one but two beautiful little girls." His warm grin was more or less lighting up their entire office.

"Oh for God's sake." She sighed angrily, her back still facing him. "Let me guess, this little birdie is none other than Mr Sam Strachan?" Her lip curled as she spoke his name and shrugged out of her coat, positively slamming it over the back of her chair.

"Alright, I'm sensing some sort of unhappiness here." His cheery expression diminished slowly.

"Yes, Elliot, you are!" Standing at the window she propped her left palm on her hip as her right one smoothed over her forehead and through her short hair frustratedly. "I told him that in confidence, not so that he could go about the hospital parading the news!"

"Connie, he's hardly parading it, he's just excited that's all-"

"Yes, well I can't have him reacting like this each and every time I offer him a piece of information regarding my pregnancy!" Their conversation escalated quickly, it occurred to him that she'd probably had a bad morning but he couldn't allow her to keep going on like this.

"That's not fair Connie-"

"Not fair?" No, you know what's not fair, Elliot?" She turned around furiously, pausing for only a millisecond preventing him from actually being able to answer. Her run-in with Susan was weighing heavily on her conscience, everything the tormented widow had said kept echoing in her mind. "Will Curtis being brutally murdered as a direct result of my poorly judged actions!" She growled tearfully. "Susan Curtis giving birth to her dead son less then four months after burying her unfaithful husband!" She continued to list the heartbreaking events. "My own daughter not having a father in her future!" Her exasperated yells had gradually become grief-stricken whispers. "Every one of the above could have been avoided if had just listened to him." She stifled on her breathing, one of those heart-breaking double breaths one takes when they're so inconceivably distraught. Elliot didn't think twice, he was up out of his seat the moment she stopped her heart-felt rant. In a strange way, he was relieved she'd finally let it out. I mean, there was obviously a lot more she had to get off her chest but for the moment he was happy with this small yet significant start.

"Hey, hey, hey." His arm was around her shoulders almost immediately. "It's alright." He calmed, beneath his embrace he could feel her shuddering as she tried her hardest to suffocate her own cries.

"Not one part of this is alright, Elliot." The hoarse whisper held so much pain, it near enough pierced his heart. Guiding her down to her desk chair slowly, he crouched before. His warm, chubby hands still grasping at hers.

"Might I be right in thinking this has something to do with your exchange with Susan earlier?"

"Oh God, so Ric told you then?" Her tongue lashed aggressively. What was it with this place? Why could nobody keep their mouth shut about anything?

"No, actually." His voice was soft and delicate, appropriate for the current situation. "I ran into Mark about half an hour ago, he told me you were being looked over and you'd been in some sort of verbal altercation with Susan." He licked his lips, his demeanour still calm and collected. "I'm trying not to crowd you, hence why I wasn't going to mention it but you're quite visibly bothered by whatever happened." His blue eyes scanned over her pale and washed out complexion, waiting for an answer but she remained quiet. Her eyes low as she studied her hands engulfed in his. "I'm just going to go with my gut here-"

"Oh, please, when don't you lead with your gut?" Hurling hurtful comments never worked with Elliot, nevertheless she always tried it. But it was like water off a duck's back, the insults just seemed to trickle over him with no effect.

"Sam's not really the one you're angry with, is he?"

"Yes, actually he is-"

"No, he isn't, Connie. You've been punishing yourself for months and now that you're carrying these two delicate lives you can't take your anger out on yourself anymore so next in line to suffer your wrath is Mr Strachan." He had this annoying way of cutting her off with the most polite and gentle voice that somehow bypassed her anger centre and always permitted him to continue despite her overwhelming desire to scream at him He wasn't wrong though, everything he'd said so far was hitting the nail right on the head. "This guilt you're harbouring needs to stop. It is not your fault Will was killed, it was not your fault Susan's baby died. None of these things are your fault, Connie."

"If I hadn't forced him to be in that stupid photo for the paper-" She stopped herself from going on, her lip quivering with sorrow.

"The woman who killed him would have found him regardless, she'd been calling his landline at home for months. She knew where he lived, she new he had a family, she knew all of these things before the story in the paper. Your decision to make him take part did not lead to his death in any way shape or form, do you understand? You did not lead her to him. The only person at fault for Will's death is the woman who murdered him, the woman who was arrested and charged with murder of the first degree." His tone was uncharacteristically stern, almost fatherly in the way he was trying to soothe her with pure, solid facts. To a degree it did work, she felt less erratic but still consumed with guilt and an overall ill feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I don't know if I can do this, Elliot." She breathed the words softly, her body almost relaxing as soon as she uttered the grim sentence. "Every single day is the same, if not worse than the day before. This feeling, this sadness is so consuming and so angry."

"It does get better, I promise, I of all people should know this." He swallowed, slightly nervous to continue. "After Gina died, I honestly felt like ending it all and for a while I really did contemplate it." As soon as the words left his mouth he felt her tear-filled eyes dart up to his face, a look of pure hurt and concern marking her poetic features.

"Elliot-"

"No, I know, it sounds terrifying and honestly it was but it wasn't a permanent feeling. It passes, Connie. There's not one single day that goes by where I don't think of her, you know?" He smiled up at her, not wishing for her to start worrying about him too now. That wasn't his desired effect, he wanted to reassure her that he was so grateful he didn't take such drastic action. That feelings change over time and there would come a day where she'd feel happy again when she woke up. "But I had James and Martha to think about, and soon enough you'll have two little ones to channel your energy into as well." He smiled at the thought. "But I can promise you this dark and gloomy feeling won't last forever and you'll always have me here." He felt her hand squeezing his, a wordless thank you that he accepted readily. "As for Mr Strachan, he means well-"

"I know." She interrupted gently. "I know he does. And you're right, sometimes I'm just looking for the closest person to incinerate and it's usually always him." she smiled briefly. "Poor sod." They both let out the smallest of laughs thinking about Sam's unfortunate timing and right on cue he entered her office, inviting them to share an amused yet teary glance.

"Sorry, am I interrupting something? I'll come back-" He moved a step back towards the door, as if motioning to leave.

"No, no, not at all." Elliot got to his feet quickly, giving Connie a reassuring smile before letting go of her hand. "I was just on my way out to get a coffee, can I tempt anyone?" Both declined politely with a shake of their heads. "Suit yourselves, I'll see you in theatre later Mr Strachan."

"Of course." He smiled at the older man before closing the door behind him.

"What is it, Mr Strachan?" She'd somewhat steadied her shaking voice in the time Elliot had talked her down from her breaking point and more or less brought her anxiety back down to zero. Part of her wished she'd had him as a father growing up and perhaps her life would have turned out differently.

"Actually, I came to confess something before it comes to your attention." He smiled that cheeky smile of his. "I might have accidentally, in the heat of the moment told Mr Hope-"

"The sex of the babies?" She swivelled in her chair to face him, her eyebrow raising with a small smirk on her lips as she studied his dropping expression. "Elliot congratulated me on the fact, leaving me to conclude that since you're the only person I've divulged this information to, you must have been the singing bird."

"I'm sorry, I just get carried away-" His thought out apology was short-lived as a knock at the door saw an end to his sentence. The person knocking opened the door almost as soon as they'd knocked.

"I'm sorry, I was hoping to speak to Connie." The husky voice ricocheted through the room morbidly. It was Susan.