Caitlin heard the clatter of crockery in the kitchen as she carefully laid a blanket over her young son. She stroked Nicky's cheek and sighed. He was drifting into sleep. He looked so young and innocent. She wondered absently if her son would grow up to look like the young boy in the photo and if Sarah's son had looked like Nicky when he was a baby. She felt a wave of sympathy for the younger woman. She remembered all too well when Hawke had been in a coma having to contemplate having and raising her child alone; the idea had seemed unbearable. She couldn't imagine how Sarah had managed at sixteen; had managed for all the years in between. It was hard enough, Caitlin mused, with a supportive husband. Another clatter from the kitchen had her straightening with another sigh. She gave Nicky a soft kiss on the top of his head and made her way downstairs.

Jo was at the sink, up to her elbows in soapy water. She thrust another plate into the drainer and Caitlin winced at the noise. She stepped up and intercepted the next plate before it hit the drainer too.

Jo whirled around in surprise. 'Hey. You all done putting Nicky down?'

'I am,' Caitlin said in a low voice, 'which is why I'd appreciate it if you could hold off on banging the pots and pans.' She tried to keep her tone light but there was enough of an edge to bring a blush to Jo's cheeks.

'Sorry.' Jo turned back to the dishes from their shared dinner and continued in a more restrained manner.

Caitlin shrugged and picked up a towel. She started wiping the dishes dry and setting them on the side. 'So you want to talk about it?'

Jo paused and turned to look at the redhead. 'Didn't you want to go with them?'

'Of course I did.' Caitlin agreed.

'Then why didn't you say anything?' Jo asked exasperated.

'Because it's something they needed to do together, just the two of them.' Caitlin said simply.

Jo stopped and frowned at her. 'Why?'

'Well, for one thing, she's their sister and for another…' Caitlin sighed. 'It gives them the chance to bond as brothers again.'

'But they're already close.' Jo argued remembering to keep her voice pitched low. 'I don't know any siblings closer than Saint John and Hawke.'

'That might have been true when they were younger,' Caitlin allowed, 'but things have changed.' Her blue-green eyes sharpened at Jo's obvious surprise. 'Hasn't Saint John discussed any of this with you?'

'No.' Jo admitted. 'We haven't really had a conversation about him and Hawke since I found out he'd kept you guys secret.'

'Not even in the last week?' Caitlin checked.

Jo's cheeks reddened again. 'Well, we haven't done much talking this last week.'

Caitlin grinned at her. 'Way to go, Jo.'

Jo pulled a face and returned to washing the dishes. 'So what's going on with Saint John and Hawke?'

'They were apart for sixteen years, Jo.' Caitlin said gently. 'That's not easy to put them behind.'

'I'm not sure I understand.' Jo said as she placed a casserole pot softly into the drainer.

'You should ask Saint John.' Caitlin said stacking another plate on the side counter.

Jo accepted the suggestion and recognised the signal that Caitlin wouldn't discuss it further with her.

'So, you guys haven't done much talking, huh?' Caitlin said moving the conversation on as Jo emptied the sink and reached for a towel. 'I guess it's been good.' She waggled her eyebrows.

Jo reached for the coffee pot with a smile. 'It's been very good.'

'I'm pleased for you.' Caitlin said as she dried the last plate. 'For both of you.'

'Really?' Jo checked a little anxious.

'Of course.' Caitlin said. 'Why wouldn't I be?'

Jo shrugged. 'I guess I've been a little worried at how you and Hawke would be about the two of us getting together.'

'We couldn't be more pleased.' Caitlin said trying to reassure her. 'You're family, Jo.' She shook out the towel and laid it out to dry. 'I know we might not have always acted that way at times but it's the truth.' She crossed her arms as she rested back against the counter. 'I think we both feel it seems right making it official.' She saw the quick gleam of alarm in Jo's eyes before the other woman turned and concentrated on making coffee.

She waited until they were both sat on the sofa in front of the hearth with the fire blazing and mugs of the freshly made drink in their hands before she raised it again. 'You seemed a little anxious when I mentioned making it official back there.' She probed gently.

Jo wrapped her hands around the cream ceramic and gazed at the fire. 'I guess I am.' She confessed. 'It's all moving a little fast.'

'Saint John's serious about you.' Caitlin commented.

'Yeah and that's scary.' Jo softened the words with a quick smile. 'My previous relationships haven't exactly worked out and I'm not sure this will either if we're not really talking and confiding in each other.'

'Well, you guys have spent the better part of this year pulling away from each other because of you thinking he wasn't interested, and him thinking you were interested in Mike.' Caitlin pointed out. 'It's only been with admitting you both had feelings for each other that it's brought you closer again.' She gestured with the mug. 'Besides it takes time to develop emotional intimacy.'

'Was it like that for you and Hawke?' Jo asked curious tucking her legs beneath her.

'It was.' Caitlin admitted. 'We're both independent and it took both of us a while to realise we didn't need to handle things on our own anymore.'

'How did you make the shift?' Jo pressed.

'With a few bumps and bruises and a lot of hard work.' Caitlin said with a wry chuckle.

'That doesn't sound like fun.' Jo said.

Caitlin shrugged. 'It's worth the effort.' She took a sip of her drink. 'It still is hard work.' She mused out loud thinking back to the argument she and Hawke had gone through the week before. There had been a lot of hurt and angry words before they'd gotten through it but they had gotten through it and that's what counted. 'It just takes work and time.'

Jo sighed. 'I don't think Saint John wants to wait.'

The other woman regarded her with a serious expression. 'If Saint John's pushing you too fast you have to say something to him, Jo.'

'I'm not sure he is.' Jo said. 'It's just…sometimes I see this look in his eye and I swear I know he's planning out our future in his head; the marriage, the kids, and I want that too…'

'But you want to take part in the planning.' Caitlin said.

'Yes.' Jo gestured at her with her mug. 'Exactly. It's like he's got this preconceived image in his head about how it's going to be and I'm just not sure how much of it is because he wants to be with me and how much of it is because he wants that dream.'

'You need to talk to him.' Caitlin said gently.

'I know.' Jo admitted. 'I do love him.'

'He loves you too.' Caitlin said.

Jo nodded. It wasn't going to solve itself overnight but she felt better for the discussion. Caitlin and Hawke often looked so together, it had been reassuring for her to hear even they had to work at it. 'Thanks for inviting me over tonight.'

'No problem.' Caitlin said easily. 'It's nice to have the company. Nicky's great but he's not exactly talking yet.'

Jo grinned. 'I heard about your bet with Hawke.'

Caitlin nodded confidently. 'He's going to say mama before dada. I just know it.' She smiled across at Jo. 'And you and Saint John will work it out.'

'You know that too?'

'I'm a Mom.' Caitlin said breezily. 'I know everything.'