Please enjoy. :) x

Compared to their last weekend in Padstow, this weekend was set to be a quiet one for Louisa and Martin. She'd been working on a new paper to submit for college, and Martin was rather looking forward to the one thing they had planned for the Saturday.

Louisa's 20 week baby scan was something he could have easily done himself, but, she'd thought it best they pick another doctor to manage her second pregnancy. He hadn't liked that, but could see where she was coming from: an impartial eye was always best, and knowing his luck, there would likely be some clause recommending you not practice on your family.

Still, that didn't make him any less excited for the scan, and he'd woken up on Saturday in a rather pleasant mood. For him, at least. He'd asked Jenny- was it Jenny?- to babysit, considering that Ruth was away for the weekend, and had proceeded to spend the majority of the morning shadowing Louisa a little. Concerned for her? Always.

"We should be going soon."

"Our appointment is at three, Martin. It's one forty five."

"It's an hour's drive to Truro."

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, running a hand over their growing baby. A gentle kick made her shift a little: the movement not unnoticed by Martin, who instantly moved to check she was alright. Louisa simply took his hand, moving it from her forehead, and resting it over the side of her stomach, so he could feel where the baby was kicking.

The look on his face was beyond sweet. That small, almost smile, a light behind his eyes, evidently delighted to feel their second child move. He hadn't done so with James, it was special.

"If you want to go now, we'll go."

"Can I take your bag?"

He asked, once their baby had stopped kicking. Straightening up, and taking his wife's bag for her, gesturing for her to head in front of him towards the car. Louisa was keen to see their baby again, too: she had been to this scan alone when she was pregnant with James, it felt so much better having Martin there.

Truro hospital was very busy. The gradual slide into the colder months had sent away the tourists, but that didn't really mean a slack in the levels of patients. The car park was crammed, and by two fifty five, Martin was still trying to find somewhere decent to park.

"Just go here."

"Fine."

The last spot wasn't easily gotten into, but he just about managed it. Following Louisa inside once he'd parked, offering her his arm.

"Ellingham?"

The voice was not a welcome one for him: glancing sideways to spot that supervisory doctor chatting to several junior doctors.

"Shaun."

"Sam."

A gentle nudge in Martin's ribs: Louisa's quiet admonishment. Sam was evidently busy, looking over clipboards, a white coat over his suit: he'd just finished a round caring for Hodgkins patients, and had outpatients later.

"Do you know which ward maternity is?" Louisa asked, polite: the hospital was busy, and had had the layout changed around since she was last here.

"Fifth floor, left when you get out of the lifts- have a nice day, sorry-" A cheerful smile, before he grabbed his bag, and disappeared again. Martin shook his head, quickly leading the way on up to the lifts: they had three minutes to their appointment, a fact which filled him with some anxiety.

"There." Several minutes later, they'd gotten to the fifth floor, and down the corridor to the baby ultrasound clinic. Not many people were waiting, and a virtual sign in screen replaced the need for a receptionist.

Louisa tapped her information on it: birth year, surname initial, sitting down once it confirmed. Fingertips drumming on her bag: her nerves were a little high. The fact it had been a little more difficult to get pregnant this time made her anxious, and Martin could pick up on that.

Briefly giving her hand a squeeze, only stopping once a cheerful looking midwife came from the consultation room.

"Louisa Ellingham? Come through."

She did just that, Martin following eagerly behind her. Helping his wife get onto the exam table, before taking a seat next to her. Gaze fixed firmly on the midwife, just in case she was as incompetent as the last one.

Seeing their baby had been quite an experience at the twelve week scan, but several months later, it was even more exciting. Martin had subtly taken hold of Louisa's hand, while the midwife carefully moved the scanner on her stomach.

"There we go."

Turning the screen so they could see: easily discernible as a small baby, rather than the tiny shape at the first scan.

"Oh, Martin-"

He squeezed his wife's hand, gaze softening just a little as he watched the baby. A small hand had curled up by its' face, little legs shifting around.

"It's entirely healthy." That news was music to both of their ears: a bright smile on Louisa's face as she watched the picture.

"Would you like to know the gender?"

Louisa glanced to Martin after being asked that: he wasn't particularly fussed either way, a healthy baby was a healthy baby, but she looked rather excited. She'd been so worried about throughout her pregnancy with James, she hadn't thought to ask.

"Can we?"

"If you like."

The midwife moved the scanner a little more, studying the picture on the screen, before giving the both of them a smile. Pressing a few buttons to print off pictures of the baby, before handing Louisa a paper towel to wipe the ultrasound gel away.

"It's a girl."

A quiet weekend, yes, but an exceptionally happy one. Louisa had looked at the scan pictures for the entire car ride home, a permanent smile fixed on her face. Martin glancing over occasionally to see the baby, and his happy wife.

They collected James before returning home, and Martin had begun preparing their dinner, while Louisa busied herself showing James the scan pictures.

"This is your sister."

"Is she in your belly?"

"Yes." The little boy reached to touch her baby bump, rather intrigued. He didn't know how the baby got in there, but he was excited to see his new sister. He'd have someone to play with.

"Does she get my room?"

"No, James. We'll sort something out."

"Will she look like me?"

"I think she'll look like your mother. Very beautiful," Martin contributed, the comment making Louisa smile. She pressed a kiss to James's temple, handing him his letter blocks once his attention began to wander.

Louisa was excited: she'd had a feeling it was a girl, and she had been right. Moving to stand, and going to help Martin cut vegetables for the fish.

"We should think about where to put the baby. Our daughter." That felt odd to say, but it rather warmed her heart.

"Yes, we only have the two rooms upstairs, it could be complicated."

Martin wasn't sure where they'd have the new baby sleeping: even if they built an small nursery in his and Louisa's bedroom, she would need her own space eventually.

He was in too pleasant a mood to worry too much, though. They had a few months to figure things out, and to buy things for the nursery. Hopefully he would be able to hang on to his job, too: he had a wife, son, and baby daughter on the way.

"We'll figure something out. I can so that."

Gesturing for her to go sit down, wanting her to rest, and not worry. It wasn't good for her, or their baby.

Everything would work out. He was certain.

But of a short chapter, but some Ellingham fluff while Lizzie is away in London, and a cameo from Sam the sweetheart. :) thanks for the reviews, please keep them coming.