'Hey, hey. It's okay.' The woman whispers, for the hundredth time that night. 'I know you're in pain, but you'll be cranky tomorrow, hmm. Mummy certainly will be, and daddy doesn't want that. You've been so good with your sleeping, hmm.' The baby just continues to whimper.

This was the second night that had been like this, whilst Carla knew how lucky she was, it didn't make it any easier. She told Peter she'd get up because he was A. Working B. Couldn't provide the same level of comfort as she could. She knew if she'd asked him, he would have done it in a heartbeat.

'Shall we try the feeding thing again, you seemed to like that, baby. You haven't had much today and I'm worried.' She whispers, finding her way to the disused nursery's rocking chair. They came in periodically, but she'd never actually slept here. Not yet, at least. Carla had read something about SIDS and how the baby should stay near its mother, for the first few months.

The woman turns the lamp next to the chair on, a dim light illuminating the room, but not enough to make the baby more alert. She sits down, gently rocking the baby, seeing if she'll fall asleep to the gentle rhythms, the whimpers calm down, but not enough to stop, making it clear what she wants. She stares at her mother intently, Carla's heart breaking at the idea of her daughter being in pain, as she adjusts her pyjama's, as the baby goes straight for what she wants.

She closes her eyes, letting her baby hold onto her finger as she keeps up the steady rocks of the chair. She eventually realises the child has fallen asleep, a welcome relief. She manages to navigate her way to the bedroom, Beatrice remaining asleep, as she can finally close her eyes.

-CS-

'Good girl.' She grins, holding the baby as she goes into the kitchen.

'Morning Beatrice.' Peter grins, as he takes a gulp of coffee, taking the baby from her mother as she smiles gratefully, going to the toaster. 'You feeling okay?'

'I'm okay. Bit tired.'

'I heard you get up, if you ever want me to?'

'No, it's fine. She's teething, she'll be okay. Anyway, you have work.'

'The lack of sleep. You know baby girl; you really need to be kinder to mummy. You're making her all tired.'

'I promise, I'm fine. Anyway, we're looking at that house this afternoon.' She stifles a yawn as Peter is overcome with a pang of guilt.

'Are we? What time?'

'3.' He nods, taking a bite of the toast he had just finished making, offering her a slice. She shakes her head, going over the jungle gym that was meant to entertain the baby. Meant to being the key word. Beatrice had taken to wanting to be held most of the time. Whilst it was cute, it could be a pain in the ass. 'I'll meet you here at 2. You got that, 2?'

'Yes, yes. I won't be late.' He promises, 'what are you doing today?'

'We might go on a walk.' She smiles, depending on how she's feeling. Facetime Chelle maybe? I'm not sure, all I want to-do is sleep, but I know I can't.' He watches as she butters her toast, whispering little things to the baby.

'Anyway, give me my baby back.'

'Your baby? I was part of it…' She just shakes her head, taking a slice of toast. 'You know, we need to try her on solids.'

'Solids?'

'You know, solid food. I can't feed her forever, as much as I might like too. You know, I hated it at first, but now it's that bonding time and it's hurting less.'

'You know, you're doing so well.'

'Thank you.' She whispers, a smile gracing her face. 'It's hard, but we're muddling our way through. She likes that swim class we go too, but soon I'm going to have to go back to work. I don't fancy it for a couple of months, mind you.'

'We can think about that at a later date, just like the whole solid thing because that comes with its own issues. Let me get this right, we have three viewings tonight?'

'Mm.' She nods, taking another bite of her food. '3, 4:30 and 6. They're all near one another and we can get a takeout, or something. Now, you need to go so give me my baby back.'

'Love you.'

'Love you too.'

-CS-

'I 'eard about what happened with Johnny.' The woman lets out a loud groan, shaking her head. 'Also, what are you doing? Are you on the floor?'

'Yeah, I'm trying to get Bea to sit up.'

'Sit up?'

'I read it online.' She confesses, stroking the baby's fine hair. 'When are you coming back?'

'I don't know, why don't you come over to Ireland?'

'Chelle, I have a baby. It's not that simple, she doesn't even have a passport. And that brings a whole load of stress because Peter wouldn't come and because we have different surnames.' Michelle rolls her eyes, shaking her head.

'You are insufferable. I promise I'll be over some point before her birthday.'

'That's seven months away.' Her friend just shrugs.

'Anyway, why are you phoning me?'

'I'm bored.'

'Go to the pub or something.'

'Chelle, you know I'm not talking to Johnny.'

'What is that about?'

'It's complicated.' She whispers, 'I guess it's just anger.'

'Anger?'

'Since Bea, I've had all these feelings. All these weird feelings, about her and it made me question why he was fine to watch me be dragged up by my mum. Whatever Sharon was, she did love me, and I wish I had gone to say goodbye.' She whispers, 'more so since having my own baby.'

'So how does Johnny fit into this?'

'That's the whole point Chelle, he doesn't. He denied me for 41 years, only coming clean when there was the suggestion of him having to shell out some money. And that hurts. Whatever your family is, they loved you and that's more than I can say about daddy dearest.'

'I know it was different back then.'

'If you go down that road I'll hang up. The man let me marry my own cousin.'

'Okay, okay. I'll back off. Anyway, can I see her?'

'She's teething. Let me just move the camera.' She smiles, showing her the cushioned baby between her legs.

'Are you in tracksuit bottoms.'

'All my clothes are in the wash or drying. I didn't realise a baby required so much washing.' She moans. 'We're seeing a house today.'

'Oh?'

'Actually, we're seeing three.'

'Three?'

'We can't be here forever Chelle. She needs a garden, somewhere where she can play.'

'I didn't know you were even thinking about it.'

'It was a joke at first, but then Peter brought all these leaflets.' She shrugs, bringing the iPad up to her face. 'I guess this was always coming, moving with a baby will be stressful, but at the moment all she is doing is rolling and Ken has offered to look after her, when we do move.'

'Ryan will help.'

'I was banking on it, his favourite auntie Carla. You know, he came around the other day to see if I was okay.'

'That's nice of him.'

'It was when he got back from your birthday. Told me that you look well.'

'I look well?' She raises her eyebrows.

'Yes. It's a good thing.'

'You know how much I love speaking to you.'

'Am I sensing a but?'

'I have to work.'

'You're boring.'

'Say's the workaholic.'

'Ex-workaholic. I've got other, more important things, that Nicks factory.'

'I never thought I'd hear you say that. Anyway, I'll speak to you later.'

'Love you.'

-CS-

'Is she in properly?' Carla frets, going to sit in the front of the car.

'Yes. You need to calm down.'

'That's a Taylor Swift song.'

'Are you secretly a fan?'

'She's alright, I'm more Cigarettes after Sex and Lana Del Rey type of gal.' He just smirks, getting into the front of the car.

'I'm not such a big fan of Lana Del Rey. I've gone off her. I do like that Cigarettes after Sex song. You know the one from Killing Eve.'

'K.'

'That one.' He grins, 'and the one about the Zombie apocalypse.'

'I don't think that's what the song is about, but it is a tune.' She yawns, 'sorry.'

'Why don't you sleep?'

'I can't, I need to be awake.'

'She'll fall asleep.'

'She better not. She's had 'er nap. It's nearly bedtime.'

'You tell her that.'

-CS-

'I loved the second one.' Carla grins, as they get home. 'What did you think?'

'We're going to see a few more.'

'But I love that one.' She whispers, 'it's a good price, no one else is interested, we could probably put a lower offer in.' She tells him, 'it was perfect.'

'It was a nice house.' He agrees, 'room for everyone, a nice living room. You know, the works.' She smiles at him dreamily, getting the baby out of the seat.

'There was enough room, it's near a decent school. Please can we put in an offer?'

'Maybe.' He smiles coyly, ''let me sleep on it.'

A/N thoughts?