Thought. Still dominating his mind over half an hour later. The thoughts continued to spiral around in his mind as before, whilst he still sat in the deadly silent relatives' room. Nothing but pain could describe what was going through the cardiothoracic consultant's head. The tissue he held in his head had almost fully absorbed the tears he had shed. His eyes gave away the fact he had been crying, although the effects were slowly dying away. His mind was still in complete thought, he didn't realise the door behind him had opened and someone had slipped into the room, now standing over him, watching his every move. "Mr Beauchamp…" a voice spoke. Swiftly moving his head in the direction he heard it, his eyes met the midwife's. She couldn't help but smile meekly at him before asking him if he was ready to see his partner. He nodded in acceptance almost immediately, and soon enough, he was following her to see the state Connie was in.

Bracing himself for the worst as she stopped outside one of the private rooms on the end of the corridor, he looked through the blinds into the room where she lay. It shocked him to see her there, almost lifeless. He continued to watch her through the window, unsure of whether he should go in. Looking back at the midwife, who soon ushered him in, he stepped into the quiet room, only the quiet bleeps of the heart monitor could be heard. At first he only stood from a distance, in complete silence as the midwife did Connie's regular obs, before leaving him alone with her once again. Pulling up a chair, before sitting himself upon it, he picked up her hand, still sensing the warmth within her. He squeezed it gently, relieved and unable to believe she had come this far. Watching her in her deep unconscious slumber, his other hand reached for the stray strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear, before stroking her cheek softly.

Within seconds of his touch, she stirred ever so slightly. His eyes slowly travelled up her body to meet with hers, opening a little at a time. Still a little weary from the anaesthetic, she attempted to speak. Her croaky voice startled her at first, before she swallowed and tried again. "Michael…" she whispered, her eyes looking deep into his. He couldn't help but smile at her. She smiled back, before reality had caught up with her. "Tell me." she continued, reluctant to speak anymore as it caused her immense pain when she did. He fully understood her. Finding the right words to phrase this to her in his mind, he knew she had to know what happened. At the same time, she dreaded the worst had happened. Jumping to conclusions was the only thing she could endure, without facing the truth.

He looked down for a few lingering moments, the tears threatening to flow once more. Holding them back for longer, he squeezed her hand once more, "Connie, promise you'll be strong…" he began, watching her face fall a thousand miles. Nothing but worry flooded the young brunette's mind. She paused momentarily, before nodding in acceptance, biting her upper lip as hard as she could in anticipation, almost causing it to bleed.

From outside, Dave was stood, watching them through the window. They looked the perfect couple; everything was going so strong for them. And now, here he stood, watching Michael Beauchamp break the news to his lover that she could no longer have children. No only that, he had to tell her that their baby daughter was in a serious condition, where they could face having to turn off the machine that kept her alive. The sight almost brought tears to his eyes as well as the couple before his very eyes. The looks of distress grew across her face as he could vaguely hear the word "hysterectomy" from the room. She closed her eyes, hoping to believe none of this was true. His hand reached for her forehead, knowing this wasn't the worst. Dave sighed, before being called to another emergency.

Connie was not crying just yet, but he knew that once she knew about their baby girl, she would lose it. He let her absorb the first part of the night's events first, before continuing, "Listen sweetheart." Her eyes open like a hawk, looking up at him blankly. Not a single teardrop was building up at the corners of her eyes. She was a strong woman, she could handle almost anything. At this moment in time, she had taken the news much better than Michael did. He couldn't bring himself to say anymore. All this time, the past 6 months. She had got herself all excited and prepared for the final 3 months of her pregnancy, knowing this was what she wanted. A family with the man she loved to pieces. They had even started window shopping for the unborn child. It was perfection as always in their eyes. So far, it hadn't occurred to her that their daughter was in an incubator in the Special Care Baby Unit, not far from where they were. It hadn't even crossed her mind. As it did, a look of curiosity could be seen.

"Our daughter, is she alright?" she asked, with a hint of nervousness. Dreading when she would eventually ask about this, his heart skipped a few beats. She propped herself up against a few pillows, so she was sitting upright as she waited for an answer. The look he eventually gave her was to become one she would never ever forget. Her left hand briefly covered her mouth as she gasped, not really knowing what to think. She knew this wasn't a sick joke, Michael wouldn't so such a thing with a scenario like this. It was reality and she had to face it. "Well?" she pleaded, looking at him completely speechless. Finally deciding that he couldn't find a way to say it to her, he got up, pulling up a wheelchair by the door to the bed. "I think it's time you saw her for yourself" he explained, as she pulled herself off the bed with his aid and onto the wheelchair.

It was a sight she had never laid her eyes on before when they reached SCBU. Not more than a dozen incubators were scattered neatly around the room. As they walked down the aisle that separated them, Connie looked at the tags on each one, searching for the child that belonged to her and Michael. Easily spotting her name on the tag, her eyes lay upon their child, attached to a ventilator. It touched her to see her daughter like this; she wheeled the chair around nearer to her, taking a closer look. She let her hand reach out into the incubator, stroking her hand as she watch her chest rise and fall rather rapidly. "What's wrong with her?" she questioned, continuing to keep her contact with the tiny baby girl before them.

"They had trouble with her breathing after she was born." he explained slowly, allowing her to take this information in slowly. She bit her lower lip gently, unable to juggle anymore feelings right at this moment in time. She finally looked up at him, her eyes slowly welling up with tears. He took her into his arms, holding her close to him, knowing that this was exactly what she needed. The tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew only the worst was inevitable, they would need a miracle to see her child pull through this. Their fingers entwined with one another, their grip becoming forever strong.

Come stop your crying, it will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you, from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry

The door swung open. The paediatrician appeared from the corridor outside. In her hands was a small sheet of paper. Both of them knew that she bared the results of their daughter's tests. Connie gripped his hand tighter than ever before, anxious to know what the sheet of paper had written on it. Both their eyes were locked on the paediatrician, anticipating her announcement. The tension arose within the room, only the sound of the ventilators keeping the babies alive and breathing could be heard. The paediatrician on the other hand, almost couldn't face breaking the news to them, for she was afraid of how they'd react. Collecting her thoughts together, she took a deep breath before explaining the results that were before her very eyes.

For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm
This bond between us, can't be broken
I will be here, don't you cry

Neither of them could believe it. Barely any of the words that were used were absorbed by their minds. According to the results of the tests carried out, their daughter had no chance of survival. They wouldn't be able to see her grow up. They wouldn't be able to see her speak her first words, go to school every day, be proud of her achievements. Dreams of them ever having their own child again had been completely shattered. Her head buried itself into his chest, her sobs becoming more emotional as time went on. "I'm sorry." replied the paediatrician, before she made her way out of the room, giving the couple time on their own. He continued to stand there, supporting her as her cries got stronger. He couldn't help but let the few tears he held back, travel down his cheek.

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more

It was sometime later when the paediatrician returned. Wanting to know if the parents of this beautiful little girl before them were ready to let her go, she watched them in their protective embrace. They had had their arms around each other for quite a substantial amount of time. Michael glanced over at her, knowing that the time was now. He pulled away, looking into her eyes, almost saturated with tears she had shed ever since she found out. She shook her head, unable to believe any of what was about to happen sink into her mind. "We can't…" she whispered, her words almost inaudible to anyone in the room. He placed a hand on her back, rubbing it gently, easing her tears out once more. Connie glanced over at the incubator once more. She saw a baby girl. Their baby girl. Michael and hers. She couldn't understand why she had to let her go, for she looked so peaceful, sleeping away.

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always

"We have to Connie. It's sooner rather than later." was the reply from the man behind her. He knew it was the only way. Prolonging the delay would only cause more pain when time was the essence. Although he was encouraging her, deep in his heart, he didn't want it either. She looked back up at him; her sorrowful eyes were enough to show the real Connie. Behind her barrier was the true emotional woman, who had real feelings. Her heart was maimed, knowing that she had to let her daughter go. She nodded reluctantly, turning her head back towards her, her hand firmly holding his. His arms cradled her from behind, giving her all the support she needed as she watched on. The paediatrician moved around to the machine that had kept their baby alive for this long. She twisted it to the left, allowing a long, monotonous beep to sound from the machine. The machine pumped its last round of oxygen into the baby's lungs, before stopping indefinitely.

Why can't they understand, the way we feel
They just don't trust, what they can't explain
I know we're different but, deep inside us
We're not that different at all

She then opened the side of the incubator; she detached the tubes and carefully brought the baby girl to meet her parents for the very first time. Handing her over to Connie, whose arms cradled her softly; she swiftly left again allowing them their own private time with their daughter. She rocked her gently, admiring her with pride. Michael smiled as he watched them. For this short time, they were all a family. "What are we going to call her?" he raised, knowing that they had to give her a name.

And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more

"Keira" she responded, giving her daughter a delicate kiss on the forehead, avoiding any damage to her precious child. He kneeled down beside her, pulling the blanket around her down, so that he could watch baby Keira slowly breathing her life away. They both observed rise and fall of her chest for the last time, before comprehending that she had gone. At first neither of them felt an ounce of grief; they were both blissful that they were finally a family. When reality sunk back in, Connie held her close to her, her quiet sobs returning with a vengeance.

Don't listen to them, 'cause what do they know
We need each other, to have, to hold
They'll see in time, I know

It was a few hours later when Connie returned to her private room, following a very long time with her newborn baby, before allowing the fact that she had to let go. Michael was behind her all the way, helping her on to the bed. She was completely exhausted, but the recent events were too much on her mind to allow her to rest in peace. He brushed his hand across her forehead, telling her to get some decent rest, though he knew that she wouldn't be able to at all. The tears had stopped by now, she was now completely speechless. She remained silent, without a word, as she began to stare blankly at the wall. He knew she had to get over this in her own way. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep, deprived of sleep for too long. She didn't cease to fall asleep herself; she continued to look about the room, her hands slowly running through his hair.

When destiny calls you, you must be strong
I may not be with you, but you've got to hold on
They'll see in time, I know
We'll show them together

Several days later, Connie was given the all clear to return home. She had cheered up a little, but it was obvious that Keira was still dominating her mind. She still didn't quite believe what had happened. Michael had returned to work, but as his shift finished, he returned to Maternity to take her home with him. The car journey back home was mainly silent, only the music soothing out from the radio was heard. Soon enough, they returned to his rather large home. The engine stopped and before she knew it, the passenger door was opened and his hand reached out for her. She took hold of it slowly and she made it leisurely towards the front door. Stepping into the main hallway as he opened the door, she made her way directly to the sofa in his front room. She sat herself down gently, without a word. He followed her in, sitting himself beside her. She leant towards him, the tears re-emerging once more. His arms wrapped around her almost immediately, holding her close to him.

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more

"We'll get through this Connie…" his soft words, whispered into her ear as he continued to hold her gently. He kissed the top of her head, before leaning back against the sofa, her head buried in his chest as she whimpered delicately into it. It was going to take time for them to rebuild their lives to how it was before, but Michael knew that with their determination, it was to be soon. They were both strong independent people, each other's support would aid them to. One thing for sure, little Keira would remain in their hearts forever more. Truly something that they would never cease to forget.

Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always