When Elaine got her new ration book the next week they decided it was time to tell the girls; Maggie was observant and she would notice or worse they would hear it from a neighbour who had seen it when Elaine was at the shops.

This wasn't news they wanted their daughters hearing from anyone else so after dinner Elaine ushered them all onto the settee and Hugh cleared his throat, "Mummy and I have something important to tell you."

Maggie looked nervous but Grace beamed, bouncing in place as she sat between Hugh and Maggie. "Are we getting a puppy?"

Hugh chuckled, "No" he looked at Elaine questioningly and at her answering nod smiled down at their daughters, "You're getting a new brother or sister"

Maggie's eyes went wide but Grace frowned, "Instead of a puppy? I think I'd rather have a puppy they're fun right away, babies just cry lots"

Hugh couldn't help laughing at that as he drew Grace onto his lap and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "Be that as it may darling, you're getting a brother or a sister in about 7 months"

"Is that why you got dizzy the other day Mummy?" Maggie asked quietly and Hugh's head whipped around to look at his wife, she hadn't said anything about that.

Elaine blushed lightly but didn't shy away from the question as she put an arm around Maggie, "Yes darling, that's why I told you not to fuss because I knew I wasn't ill."

Maggie nodded slowly, "Do you have a new ration book? Mrs. Lane said women who are having babies get special ration books so the baby gets enough food too."

Hugh saw Elaine tear up at Maggie's thoughtful concern and hurried to answer before their eldest daughter thought she had done something wrong. "Yes, Mummy's new ration book came today. Don't worry Maggie Mummy will be fine, Dr. White and the midwife are making sure of that."

Hugh leaned over to press a kiss to the top of her head, "Mummy is going to be a bit more tired so we need you girls to be good helpers while I'm at work alright?"

Both girls nodded, "We'll help lots Daddy!"

Hugh smiled, "I know you will Gracie, in fact you can start right now by going upstairs and getting ready for your bathes, Mummy will be there soon."

They nodded and raced up the stairs and Hugh turned to Elaine, "Well I think that went well"

She nodded and wiped her eyes, "Yes, I hope Maggie won't fuss though"

Hugh slid over and put an arm around her shoulders, "I'll speak to her tomorrow love, I'm sure she'll have more questions once she's had some time to think about it."

Elaine nodded and kissed him gently, "That's because she takes after her father, always thinking things through and looking for answers."

Hugh smiled, the girls were very much their own people but there were moments when they reminded him so much of Elaine that he thought his heart might burst out of his chest with love.

He couldn't help wondering what their third child would look like, would they have his red hair or Elaine's brown eyes? Would it be a third adored little girl or would they suddenly have rugby balls mixed in with dollies?

"Hugh?" He blinked and looked down to find Elaine studying him curiously, just a hint of worry in her eyes, "Are you alright? You were miles away"

Hugh nodded, "I'm fine darling, just daydreaming"

Elaine laid a hand on his cheek, "Good daydreams?" She asked softly, just as she always did when she was worried he might have had a flashback; always ready to gently guide him back to the present.

He kissed her tenderly and rested a hand gently where their child would soon start to make its presence known. "Yes love, just thinking ahead wondering what they'll be like"

Elaine smiled, "Maybe it will be a boy"

"Maybe love but you know I don't care either way, all I want is for you both to be safe and healthy" The very idea that they might not be made his blood run cold and he kissed her again, more deeply this time. "I love you"

Elaine smiled against his lips, "I love you too Hugh. Now I'd better go and see how the girls are getting on." Hugh nodded and got up, helping her do the same before walking her to the stairs.

She shook her head fondly, "I'm fine Hugh and I'll hold onto the banister now go and do the washing up, the girls will be ready for their story soon." He nodded but didn't move from the foot of the stairs until she reached the landing.

The next day Maggie was quiet in a way that told her parents she had something on her mind so shortly after breakfast Hugh offered to take the girls to the park, something they often did on a Saturday morning and an activity that was bound to give him a chance to speak to his eldest daughter alone.

When they reached the park Grace immediately saw a friend from school and raced off to play, leaving Hugh and Maggie standing together near an unoccupied bench. After watching Grace for a minute Hugh smiled down at Maggie, "Did you have anything you wanted to talk to me about Maggie?"

Maggie nodded and Hugh smiled and took her hand, leading her over to the bench. Once they had sat down he turned to her, "What is it love? Do you have questions about the baby?"

Maggie nodded, "Are Gracie and I going to have to go away like the children in London?"

Hugh blinked, completely blindsided by her question, "No! Darling why would you think Mummy and I would send you away because of the baby?"

Maggie hesitated, biting her lip, "Because Mummy needs to rest and if we're home she has to look after us and if Mummy doesn't rest bad things could happen to the baby and I don't want anything to happen to Mummy or the baby but I don't want to go away Daddy!"

The words tumbled out, in a breathless, tearful rush and Hugh immediately pulled her into his lap, rocking her gently and rubbing her back. "No, no Maggie, Mummy and I aren't going to send you away. It's true that Mummy will need more rest because of the baby but that just means we need you girls to be good helpers, like we talked about last night."

Maggie sniffed into his shoulder, "When Pauline's Mummy had a baby she had to go away and there wasn't even a war then."

"I know darling but that doesn't mean Mummy and I will do that."

"Do you promise?"

Hugh looked down into his daughter's tearful eyes and cursed Hitler to the eternal fires of hell for making him even consider sending his daughters away for an indeterminate amount of time.

He took a deep breath, "You know why the children in London are being sent to the country don't you Maggie?"

Maggie nodded, "Because of the raids"

"That's right. We're lucky because we don't have as many raids as London does so right now Mummy and I think it's safe for you and Gracie to stay in Hastings" He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, hating what he had to say next. "The only reason we would ever send you and Gracie away was if we thought Hastings was too dangerous and the country would be safer."

Maggie nodded and Hugh held her closer, "And if that ever happens darling you, Gracie and Mummy would go and stay with your grandparents. We wouldn't send you to stay with strangers."

"I hope it never comes to that because I would miss you all very, very much but I promise that if Mummy and I ever start to think it's necessary we'll talk to you about it before it happen alright?"

Maggie nodded against his neck, "Yes Daddy, I hope it never happens 'cause I don't want to go away, not ever."

Hugh held her close, "I never want you to go away either Maggie but the war makes everything difficult and nothing is more important to Mummy and I than making sure you and Gracie are safe."

"I understand but I think Andrew and his friends will shoot down all the bad planes and then he can come home again and we'll never have to go away."

Hugh smiled despite the lump in his throat, "I hope you're right Maggie. Do you have any other questions?"

"Will the baby share our room too?"

Hugh smiled, "Not at first certainly and not at all if it's a boy."

Maggie nodded, "Do you want it to be a boy?"

"I want them to be a healthy baby, I don't care if they're a boy or a girl. What about you? Do you want a brother?"

Maggie considered this, "Maybe, I've never had a brother except for Andrew, but boys are annoying too so maybe another sister would be better. But maybe if he's our brother Gracie and I can teach him not to be annoying"

Hugh laughed, "If anyone can darling then I'm sure you can. Do you have anymore questions?"

Maggie thought for a minute and then shook her head, wrapping her arms around his neck again, "No, not now. Thank you Daddy I feel so much better now."

Hugh smiled and held her close, "I'm glad. You can ask me about anything Maggie and I promise I will always do my best to answer."

Maggie nodded and after another few minutes saw a friend and hurried off to play, leaving Hugh alone on the bench pondering the fact that his little princess had suddenly grown up and wondering how much the war was to blame for that.