Dear Readers,

I am sorry for the delay. I had planned on posting this chapter before Christmas, but RL intruded. The week of Christmas in my rush to go downstairs to our basement to weave, I caught my shoe on the rug at the top of the stairs and unceremoniously descended part way down the stairs. I sustained no head injuries, but I did partially tear the rotator cuff of my shoulder. The pain meds made it difficult to think, so writing was impossible. Updates will be slow. Enjoy the continuation of What If?

Chapter 19

Joan meets us at the surgery with one of her outstanding casseroles; she has just finished setting the table when Louisa, the baby and I walk through the front door. Coming into the village just before dusk helps keep our secret for one more day, tonight I just want my family around and that includes Auntie Joan. Louisa is tired but is happy to see Joan in the kitchen as we walk in; our son is sleeping peacefully in his car seat for now but we are getting close to his feeding time. I place him on the sofa next to Louisa, and I walk into the kitchen to fill a glass with water to give to her. It has been an hour since she drank anything and with breastfeeding, she needs to stay hydrated. I hand her the glass, she smiles at me accepts and drinks the whole glass of water,

"Didn't realize how thirsty I was, thank you Martin."

Joan comes over to see the baby and is beside herself with joy. She kisses my cheek as she gives me a hug and then presses a hug onto Louisa; all the while, her eyes never leave my son. Louisa is the first to speak,

"Joan as soon as he wakes, please feel free to hold him. Martin and I spoke earlier and we feel that you are a mother to both of us, so he is your Grandson."

There is pure joy on Joan's face. "Let's eat while he sleeps, everything is ready."

I help Louisa up, holding her chair as she sits, and then I help Joan serve the food she prepared, before helping her with her chair. I fill the glasses with water, and soon our plates are empty as neither Louisa nor I really like hospital food. We have just finished when our son announces he is awake. Joan makes her way over to the sofa, unsnapping the straps and delicately picks up her Grandson. She holds him close to her chest, and he frantically searches to feed. Joan laughs and brings him over to Louisa whom by now has situated herself on the other end of the sofa preparing to feed him.

Joan settles him into her arms and Louisa readies herself to feed my son while I look on. I quickly search the bag for his blanket to cover Louisa; so I don't embarrass myself once again by staring at Louisa's bared breast. Finding it, I lay it over her shoulder and go into the kitchen to clear the table and wash the dishes while Joan talks with Louisa.

"He is such a good eater, just like Marty was as a baby," Joan says.

"Did you spend much time with Martin when he was an infant," Louisa asks.

"About three weeks when he first came home from the hospital to help Margaret, but she didn't breastfeed Marty, he was bottle fed, as a matter of fact she only looked in on him when he was sleeping and only once a day. The nanny and I took care of him. Margaret was stiff and worried he would ruin her clothes if he spit up on her during feedings. Marty cried when she held him, but would stop when the nanny or I held and rocked him; Margaret became jealous, so that is when Christopher sent me away. He said I was cuddling Marty too much and spoiling him by holding him all the time; his theory was a child should be seen and not heard, so the nanny was instructed to leave him alone in the room when he cried, he'd learn not to cry."

"That is awful. An infant needs nurturing; they depend completely on the parents for their survival." Louisa turns and looks directly at me, as I step in the lounge as Joan finishes her tale, Louisa says, "Martin I am sorry you had such vile parents, thank goodness Joan was there for you."

There are tears in my eyes and I do not know why, but I do know that our son will never be alone to cry himself to sleep. I walk over to Louisa; sit down next to her so I can wrap my arms around my family, kissing her cheek and the top of my son's head.

Changing the subject Joan asks, "Have you decided on a name for this little fellow?"

I look at Louisa waiting for her response; I have no idea which name she has chosen.

"We settled on a few names earlier this month. Not sure he looks like a Simon," she says.

I look at our son, 'does he look like any name. How will we decide as my mind processes the names?'

"He might look like a Luke," but just as Louisa mentions this name our son scrunches up his face, shuddering his head.

"I assume that is a no on that name," I quip.

Looking at our son Louisa begins to think of another name that she has ruminated the past day in her mind. "I know we didn't discuss this name Martin, but I think our son looks like a Phillip", she says as she looks over to Joan.*

Joan smiles, walking over to us to have a better look. I look at Martin to see his reaction, he is smiling, and I know he agrees with me.

"Phillip Martin Ellingham it is then?" Louisa announces.

Joan is deeply moved with our choice, and has tears stream down her face.

"I thought of Phillip as a continuation of our Cornish family. Portwenn dearly loved Phil. I know he was special to Martin, like a father, he has said many times."

I lean over and kiss Louisa on her cheek, and touch my son on his cheek, with the back of my fingers, finding it is my way of expressing my love with him, and Phillip excitedly propels his legs in a gesture of acceptance to his name and my loving touch. Louisa giggles at his excitement.

Louisa hands Phillip to me to burp. I lay him in my lap as I ready the cloth over my shoulder, I pick him up and place him onto my upper chest and stand. I walk around the room rubbing his back encouraging the extra air out. Joan is astonished and looks at Louisa with a questioning look,

"This is his time with Phillip; he burps him and will change his nappy. We started it last night; Martin wants to be involved with his feeding time. He is researching the best breast pump available; I can then pump so Martin can feed him a bottle, his special time with his son. It will also allow you to feed Phillip in the future."

Joan is all smiles, "I will love the time with him."

Phillip loudly burps, reminding Joan and Louisa that I am in the room, "I will take him upstairs to change his nappy," with that, I leave them heading to the stairs.

"Martin is a better father than his own father was at any time in his life, I don't remember a day that Christopher held Marty. Do you know he chose to work over being near Margaret as she delivered? Yes, I know things were different back in the day; the father had to pace around a waiting room waiting for a call out to come forward and then informed of the birth of their child. Christopher did some surgeries and then went golfing with his fellow surgeons. You know that the only reason they produced a child is 'It was the thing to do with the crowd they were associated.' I must admit I have worried about him," her eyes rising towards the ceiling, as Joan voices her opinion.

"Joan, he is learning, I realize these past months how wrong I was, in private Martin loves me, he just doesn't express that side of himself to the world. I know he cares deeply for you; he has conveyed concern for your health. Did he tell you about the house we are purchasing?"

"No. Didn't know you and he were that close in your relationship. I know he loves you, but we both know he has a problem with expressing his emotions."

"Martin is concerned about germs affecting Phillip from his patients in the surgery. The constant interruptions before and after surgery hours from villagers to his private time. He wishes for some family time now, just us but you know the villagers will always interrupt us no matter where we live. Martin is trying to give us time to learn to live together. We talk more now, and without the misunderstandings that we always had. I think if we had taken our time in the autumn to learn more about each other and not rushed into getting married everything would be different now. Martin went house hunting and found a very nice house just up the hill from here. There are four bedrooms upstairs and he said there is one for you when you need it."

There are tears rolling down Joan's cheeks again, "Oh that boy."

"Joan, you are a mother to both of us. You welcomed me back warmly and I remember your help growing up after my mum left. Martin mentioned his early life on the farm with you and Phil. He said he doesn't know how he would have survived the bullying at school without his break at the farm. He was very upset …."Louisa stops mid-sentence.

They hear me coming down the stairs, carrying Phillip in the crook of my arm and a bagged nappy in the other hand; by the look on my face, they realize Phillip must have had a bowel movement. Louisa smiles, without an outward laugh, she is amused with my interaction with the offending nappy. I carefully transfer my son to the waiting arms of Joan, she is relishing in holding him as she slowly places Phillip into Louisa's arms for the final part of his feeding. Louisa adjusts the pillows for her comfort, she allows Phillip to snuggle up to the waiting breast, hungrily sucks it in as he drinks, his hand kneads at her.

I place the offending nappy in the kitchen bin, and wrap up the bag to head out the door to the outside bin. I take a moment to look out over the village with all the tiny lights sparkling from all the lit houses; knowing tonight will be quiet, tomorrow the noisy village will descend upon the cottage. For the past several years, I have stood here looking out over the village just hoping for a glimpse of Louisa and now I don't need to hope because she has decided to live with me. This thought over whelms me for the moment with emotion; the last twenty-four hours have been full of emotions foreign to me.

While Martin is outside, Louisa tells Joan of the nappy incident in the hospital; "I finished feeding Phillip; Martin was walking and burping him when Phillip passed gas loudly into his nappy. At the time Martin didn't know that it was only gas, but the expression on his face when he turned towards me, he was flabbergasted. I closed my eyes before he turned, so Martin thought I was asleep; he started to change his nappy, and he spoke to Phillip about his manners. Just as he opened his nappy Phillip wee'd a fountain at Martin covering his tie and shirt. Martin didn't get angry but was very surprised. He finished with a new nappy; he picked up and laid Phillip near his chest, and walked Phillip around until he fell asleep. When I woke hours later, Martin's tie was off and there was a stain on his shirt but he carried on as if his son gave him a prize for being his daddy. I think Martin is besotted with Phillip more than we thought he would."

I return from outside closing the door, looking in at the new site consisting of my entire family; pride wells up in me. Louisa notices me looking at them; 'when he looks that way at us, I know it is with absolute love and admiration'. I walk over to the sink and wash my hands turning away to hide my deep feelings towards them, especially Louisa.

Joan observes the looks between them; she finds herself in the way and decides it is time to leave. "Martin, Louisa", then she touches the baby, "time for me to get back to the farm. I would like to come by tomorrow if I may?"

"Yes, please do Joan. We could use the help with Phillip. He will need you to rock and hug him. Martin more than likely will be dealing with nosy villagers in the surgery."

"The surgery will be closed for the next two weeks, longer if everything with the house comes through; we will need the extra time to move and get settled," I declare.

A surprised look crosses both the women's faces.

I walk Auntie Joan out to her truck, thanking her for cooking supper, "Auntie Joan it is nice of you to come tomorrow, I know I won't be able to deal with the prying villagers alone for long."

"They just want to share in your joy."

"But it is none of their business. It is Louisa's and my personal business. I don't understand why they want to intrude; I would never force my unasked wishes upon them. Hard enough getting them to tell me medical complaints when all they want to tell me is gossip."

Joan smirks, "Let's just get through tomorrow and see what the future brings. See you tomorrow." She climbs into her truck, waves as she pulls away.

I return to the cottage by way of the kitchen door, closing and locking it before I notice Louisa is no longer sitting on the sofa. I pluck a glass from the shelf, fill it with water, switch off the lights downstairs, and head to the staircase. I find Louisa sitting on the bed softly singing to Phillip, who is asleep in her arms. I takes note of the time,

"Louisa you need your sleep, let me move the Moses basket over here next to me, so when he starts to wake I can take him into the other room to change his nappy, giving you time to wake up and drink this glass of water I brought up," I say while placing the glass on her night table.

Louisa hands Phillip to me, kissing him during the exchange. Phillip stretches a bit when I lay him into his bed, but he does not wake up. Louisa goes into the bathroom, washes her face and brushes her teeth. Opening the door, she removes her clothing to change into her nightie as I walk towards her, I ask

"To help you sleep do you want a massage?"

She places her arms around my waist, pulling me close, "No, I'm too tired not to fall asleep. Phillip will wake in a few hours we better go to sleep now, but thank you Martin, you always take good care of me." She reaches up to my lips, kissing me deeply. I pick up her nightie helping her slip it on, then help her into bed covering her with the duvet and turning her lamp off.

Upon my return to our room, I can hear Louisa snoring; looking into the Moses basket our son sleeps contently. I climb into bed, and pull out my diary from my bedside table drawer and write of the happenings since last journaling. When I finish my thoughts, I turn the lamp off, cuddling up to Louisa. I missed this last night as I slept in the chair at the hospital. A few hours later Phillip announces the start of our new nighttime schedule.

xXxXx

I am preparing breakfast for us when Joan knocks, walking in announcing "only me". Smiling as she lays her basket of food supplies down onto the table. "Is Louisa awake?"

"Yes, she should soon be finishing feeding Phillip, and come down shortly. I made her tea earlier, now just finishing a nutritious breakfast for us, would you like some?"

"No, I already ate. Thought I would help with my chore of rocking and hugging," she says with a grin.

"Auntie Joan, we didn't mean it as ch … ore. Right joke," I realize.

Louisa comes into the lounge hearing their exchange, 'I just love his exploitable virtues'.

I walk over to touch Phillip and ask Louisa if she wants to put him into the baby bouncer I pulled out this morning. I have placed it on the table near Louisa's place setting. Nodding she lays Phillip on it, we sit down for breakfast with Joan sipping on her tea.

Pauline shows up late as usual, with it a Monday. I worry the villagers will notice that Louisa hasn't waddled down the hill to the school and will start arriving early for their appointments. I get up from the table and walk into the reception area to Pauline's desk as I have decided to have Pauline start with cancelling all patients for today and into the next two weeks. When she asks why, my answer is simple, "None of your business, just do it."

Louisa and Joan are sitting at the kitchen table overhearing the conversation; Louisa decides it will be better for us that the village hears about the birth of Phillip sooner and walks into the reception area over to me, taking my hand, letting me know she wants my attention.

"Martin, we need to talk." She looks into my eyes trying to explain her intrusion, and she leads us to my office to talk in private.

Pauline notices Louisa's non-pregnant state, "You had the baby," she yells.

"Just make the phone calls I requested, NOW," I yell back, closing the door.

The loud voices startle Phillip and he begins to howl. Joan frantically picks him up, soothing his cries with a rocking motion, but Phillip only gets louder. Louisa and I burst out of the office into the kitchen as Joan tries to quiet our son. Pauline walks into the lounge, standing near the entrance staring with her mouth agape. Joan hands Phillip into Louisa's waiting arms; she turns towards me with green eyes flashing angrily, walking past me and back into my office, all the while soothing Phillip, but he continues to wail. I am at a loss, not understanding what I did wrong. I follow Louisa into my office and watch as Louisa tries to soothe our son, without luck. Louisa is visually and physically upset, causing Phillip to cry only louder, I reach over hugging them both. Soothing both with my soft timbre voice, I only use with Louisa; the calming voice quiets Phillip and Louisa relaxes a bit. I continue to hug them, I kiss the top of her head, whispering into her ear, apologizing.

"You do know you could have handled Pauline's question a different way?" she says as she leans her head onto my chest.

Feeling uncomfortable, grumbling, "She never does as I ask."

"If you had told her straight out why she needed to cancel the appointments, you and she would not have yelled scaring Phillip. One way or another the village is finding out that I have delivered your son and they will need to find out all the news they can. We can easily accomplish this in two minutes, with no yelling. Here take your son."

Louisa walks over to my desk, pulling a pad of paper out of a drawer to write all the pertinent information on Phillip, when she finishes she pulls the sheet off, and walks out the door to Pauline's desk. She hands Pauline all the gossip material needed and walks back to me, takes her son and walks back into the kitchen. I stand staring into the kitchen but listening to Pauline on the phone, dishing out all the needed information for the village gossips to learn everything regarding my personal life. I head to the kitchen, very upset with Pauline's expatiation on the phone to who knows who,

"Louisa what information about us did you pass onto Pauline?"

"Just the basics about Phillip, date and time of birth, weight, length, gender and name," she replies. "Just the standard information on every birth announcement, and now the village will have no need to call or come to your surgery for the next two weeks to ask."

Joan quietly sits on the sofa, now holding a very content Phillip. Looking at Martin, she slowly shakes her head, "Marty, all Louisa did was keep the villagers from bothering your family for a while; the next invasion will come when they feel the need to see Louisa and of course the baby. That now is up to Louisa," she says as she looks at the sleeping baby.

"Martin, I plan to send an email out to my staff and friends asking for at least a few days to recuperate and get used to being a mother. As Phillip is now sleeping I am going upstairs to send that email and nap, as you are always reminding me to sleep when he sleeps," she says with a little smile as she leans over kissing my cheek.

I walk with Louisa to the bottom of the stairs before turning to Pauline, who is still boasting that she is the first to know to someone on the phone about the birth of the baby. Pauline realizes that she is no longer alone, finishes her conversation, giving the person the date and time of their new appointment. I am unhappy with all of this and walk to my office, sitting at my desk, using my computer, typing my message and sending it to the printer near Pauline's desk. I tramp out of my office; pick up the printed message to the village. After locating a tape dispenser, I walk to the front door, and tape the paper to the door then proceed into the lounge to sit with my son and aunt.

Pauline walks into the lounge a few minutes later to inform me that she has rescheduled all the patients for the next two days and she will see me tomorrow bright and early to finish the rest of the rescheduling. She has changed the answer phone message to relay the closure of the surgery and provide the Wadebridge phone number. As she leaves out the front door, she reads the sign I taped; it reads 'Miss Glasson is a mother and needs her rest, No Visitors. Do Not Disturb the baby is sleeping.' Shaking her head, she traipses down to the pub to continue the gossip.

"Did you orders flowers for Louisa," Joan asks me after Pauline leaves and we are alone in the lounge.

Looking at Auntie Joan, "Why would I need to buy her flowers? They are just full of pollen and dead insects and die in a day or two."

Shaking her head, "Marty won't you ever learn. A woman needs to feel loved and to be wanted. Louisa just went through pain of childbirth to deliver your son and it would make her feel wanted and loved if she came downstairs to see beautiful flowers waiting for her from you."

"Where am I to get flowers at this time of day?" I counter.

"Oh, Marty, the village florist would have some lovely roses you could pick up. Or call them, if you are unable to walk down the hill to purchase flowers for the mother of your son." Joan can't believe that her nephew is unable to think in a romantic way. 'How did Louisa conceive a child by him?'

Joan's jab reminds me of the information Doctor Hayes passed on during a consultation, 'what a woman wants, and needs in a relationship'. Going out of my comfort zone occasionally couldn't hurt, especially the different ways Louisa likes to thank me. "Will you be alright alone with Phillip while I'm out, I need to pick up more nappies?"

"I will be fine. Go. Phillip and I will enjoy our time together." Joan knows where Martin is going, 'hopefully he will remember to actually pick up nappies and if Louisa is correct the encounter with the chemist should be interesting.'

As I walk down the hill, Bert comes rushing up the stairs of his restaurant, "Oi, Doc … Doc. I hear there is good news with you and Louiser."

I grumble, "Yes, and Pauline gave out all the pertinent information." I continue walking trying very hard to take longer strides to pass and leave Bert far behind. I am progressing exceedingly well until I run into Penhale. Penhale stops his Land Rover in the middle of the road, blocking me near the wall and shrubs.

"Penhale, what are you doing?" I protest.

"Understand from Pauline, you're a Dad, just want to congratulate you." He says as he slaps me across the back, "Who's the daddy?" he smirks.

I scowl at him. Before voicing an insult to Penhale, Bert's heavy breathing reminds me, that I have better things to do. I quickly close the vehicle door, and move around Penhale to continue down the hill to the florist and chemist, looking back only once to see if I escaped. I see that Bert is stuck with Penhale and his Land Rover, smiling; I relax a bit and continue to lengthen my stride towards the florist. I walk through the open door; I stroll around the establishment, realizing I do not understand the significance of flowers. So I pull out my phone, and google the meaning of flowers, scrolling through the meanings, I decide on a mixed bouquet of roses, alstroemia, daises, baby's breath, and carnations. I walk over to the counter, receiving a very strange smirk from the owner, "Never thought I'd see you n' here Doc."

Ignoring the remark, "I would like to buy a bouquet of flowers for Miss Glasson," I stammer. "A mixture of the red and white rose buds, along with a couple of each the orange and blue roses. I walk over to the glass fridge doors and point to the carnations, "some of the red and pink carnations, a few daisies but not in yellow only white, with baby's breath of course and looking around the glass case I do not see what I'm looking for, do you have any alstroemia?"

The owner looks the Doc over, "How do you know so much about flowers Doc. Let me see if we have any alstroemia in the back."

"Can you provide me with the bouquet or not?" I retort as I am losing patience with the florist.

"No alstroemia, but I could add a few asters instead."

Looking around for a different replacement, and not finding any I finally agree to the asters. "How long will it take you to put it together?" I ask while pulling out my bankcard, "and I will need a large blank card. Please."

"Give 'bout thirty minutes. There are a selection of cards over there on the wall. Do you need them delivered to Miss Glasson or are you pick' n them up?"

"Deliver them to the surgery, thank you." I write what I wanted to say to Louisa in the card and hand it to the florist. After paying, I walk out heading to the chemist, with what people would say 'looks like a smile on my face'. Happy with my choices and knowing Louisa will be surprised with them and the card.

I open the door to the chemist shop, the bell jingles, Mrs. Tishell comes hurrying from the storeroom; I ensure the glass case is between us, and request the newborn unbleached nappies. An odd look comes across her face as she responds, "Then it is true, Miss Glasson had her baby?"

"Yes, mm… the nappies please Mrs. Tishell" I reply "and put them on my personal account." She slowly turns and reaches for the package, Mrs. Tishell rings up the purchase. I pick up the nappy package and leave the store quickly not wanting to interact with her any longer. What I don't see is the very sad look on Mrs. Tishell's face as she follows me to the door, swinging the closed sign around and locking the door and then disappearing upstairs.

I make it up the hill, and back to the surgery without running into another single person, opening the back door I find Louisa sitting in the lounge feeding Phillip while Joan is putting together a light lunch. I walk over to Louisa, I touch my son's forehead with the back of my fingers then slide them down his cheek, and lean over I kiss Louisa's cheek.

"How did you sleep?"

"Fine, where have you been?"

"We needed nappies, he seems to always need a clean one and I didn't want to run out in the middle of the night," I reply.

"Why don't you wash up and you can wind your son," she says with a smile.

I wash my hands and hurry back to take my son. Joan is surprised at the eagerness of her nephew and never would have believed this site if she hadn't witnessed it for herself.

Placing the cloth over my shoulder and picking up my son from Louisa's arms, I carefully place him against my upper chest, starting to rub his back to expel the extra air from his tummy. Turning to Louisa I ask, "Does he need his nappy changed or have you already?"

"No Martin it needs to be changed, why don't you take care of it, thank you," Louisa responds.

Joan and Louisa watch Martin leave to take care of his son, neither believing their eyes of the attentiveness of Martin with his son. "I was so wrong in not marrying that man and leaving Portwenn last fall," Louisa whispers more to herself but Joan hears her words.

"He is surprising both of us. He will be a good father to Phillip and maybe a good husband too?" Joan questions with a knowing nod.

"We have talked; actually we were discussing marriage when I went into labor upstairs, but we have not taken up the discussion since Phillip's birth. Martin wanted us to marry before Phillip was born, he is afraid I won't let him make decisions regarding Phillip. Joan I can't exclude him, he would be heartbroken. He has changed so much from the time of our engagement nine months ago; since I came back, he talks more than his usual monosyllabic times and I know he loves taking care of me and now I understand that it is his way of saying 'I Love You'. He gave me nightly back massages because I couldn't sleep, he always made sure I was comfortable in bed; do you know he was upset I was using the downstairs loo at night, scared I would fall on the stairs so he was willing to exchange beds so I could use the bedroom bathroom."

"Martin has slept in the extra room the past three months?"

"No, I couldn't let him; the bed is too short. I got him to agree to share the bed and was that interesting the first night, he drew an imaginary line along his side to keep it impregnable, I guess," I say with a smirk." We woke the next morning and he's coupled up to me with his arm protectively over my belly. He has slept that way every night since. I would wake to hear him talking with his unborn son, it was so heartwarming to hear and feel as he tried to convince our child to stop kicking me so I could sleep."

Joan isn't surprised at her good-natured nephew caring for Louisa and their unborn child, but hearing that he and Louisa were discussing marriage, she relaxed feeling that everything would all work out. Just as she is suggesting lunch, there is a knock on the front door. Louisa knowing Martin will be upset if it is a nosey villager, gets up and calls up to Martin telling him she would get the door. Opening it, she is surprised by a large bouquet of flowers, the deliverer asking for a Miss Louisa Glasson. Acknowledging herself, the deliverer thrusts the bouquet into her hands. She closes the door and walks into the lounge to show Joan the beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Joan notices the card, "I wonder who sent them?"

Louisa retrieves the card from the holder and starts to read. Tears roll down her cheeks. Louisa hands the card to Joan and she reads the poem from Martin, to his son:

Today it happened,

it's finally done,

the birth of my boy,

the little man, my son.

After a long, tiring wait,

a sweet sound came,

the point when our lives

would never be the same.

I'll admit that I, too,

cried tears of joy.

when for the very first time,

I at last saw my boy.

As I stood there in awe,

and gazed down at his face,

in an instant the world

became a much better place.

My heart was bursting

with an intense sense of pride,

as I pictured my life

with my son at my side.

I know it's early days,

and we've only just met,

but I promise I'll be

the best father a boy can get.

I'll love you forever my son,

I hope to make your mum my wife,

to keep you safe and protect you,

both for all of my life.

I come downstairs a few minutes later with a clean sleeping Phillip, noticing the flowers I innocently ask where the flowers came from.

"You know perfectly well where they came from. You sent them. They're beautiful, thank you Martin," Louisa says as she hugs and kisses me deeply on the lips. Pulling my head down closer to her mouth, she whispers in my ear, "Martin that is a beautiful poem you wrote to your son."

I turn varying shades of red as I notice Joan witnessing Louisa's display of love in the lounge.

End of Chapter

xXxXx

*My husband bought the Series 5 DVD for Christmas before it was on air here in the states, and as I watched the show, I was surprised when they didn't use the name "Phillip" in the show. What with Auntie Joan dying, I thought the connection for DM would be his son's name to Joan. I watched the behind the scenes conversation with Philippa and Martin after I watched the entire series 5 and learned why they chose the name. Philippa's' present of James Henry "Jim", a terrier to Martin the year prior and the special relationship between them. You will also notice I didn't follow the canon and have Joan die.

Flowers and their meanings:

Alstroemia – friendship and devotion - Shows strength of your bond with another.

Aster – an unexpected surprise – calling our innermost being.

Baby's Breath – pure of heart.

Carnation – symbolizes a mother's enduring love – red for love, pink for fondness of motherly love.

Daisy – bubbling over with happiness.

Rose Bud – anticipation and the opening of the heart and spirit to treasured dreams and the fulfillment of desires – combination of red and white equals love is intense, and in extraordinary way to share your true feelings.

Rose – everlasting beauty and love – orange are the wild child of the rose family and represent fascination and pride, the blue in terms of love, embody ultimate desire and lust.

I believe the Doc chose well.

I am not a poet and other than a silly poem in HS English, I have failed trying to write one now. The internet has many poems and I have used one earlier in this story and will more than likely find another in later chapters. The poem is from poem/a-special-love by anonymous.