Everything continued to progress normally and very similarly to when Elaine was expecting the girls. She had a few more dizzy spells, including one that saw Foyle dash up the front steps to steady her as she swayed in the doorway, Hugh having been summoned to the station immediately after church.

He didn't fuss, just slipped an arm around her waist and guided her onto the settee, before fetching her a glass of water. He hadn't planned on staying for tea but given the circumstances it seemed wise and with Maggie's help he got tea on the table while Grace read to her mother and the baby; something Hugh said she had taken to doing once she'd learned that the baby could hear even before it was born.

By the time Hugh got back Elaine's colour was good and Foyle didn't mention it, deciding there was no point adding to Hugh's already omnipresent worry over a relatively common symptom.

Elaine did tire more easily but the girls, especially Maggie, were good to their word and made an effort to help more. Maggie insisted that she and Grace carry the laundry hamper or, if it was too heavy for them to lift that it be left for Hugh. "You can't lift heavy things Mummy," she had explained very seriously, "Daddy said so"

Elaine knew better than to argue with the wisdom of "Daddy said so" with her daughters who were still convinced that Hugh all but walked on water. She wanted to tell her eldest daughter not to worry but she knew Maggie would worry anyway and she didn't want to deprive her of the comfort of having a way to help so she hugged her instead.

"Thank you darling, you and Gracie have been such good helpers lately."

Maggie smiled, "I like helping and Daddy said we needed to help because the baby would make you tired." She frowned slightly, "How can the baby make you tried if it can't cry?"

Elaine bit back a smile at the clearly carefully considered question and patted the settee beside her, putting her arm around Maggie once she sat down. "You're right, the baby can't cry but he or she is busy growing and my body has to help them because they're so little and sometimes that makes me tired."

Maggie considered this, "Like when Gracie and I are sick and you and Daddy help us get better?"

"A little bit, except the baby isn't sick, they are just getting big and strong so it can come out and meet us all. Soon we'll be able to feel it kick!"

Maggie's eyebrows shot up, "Won't that hurt you Mummy?"

Elaine smiled and kissed the top of her head, "No darling, it will feel a little strange but it won't hurt. Now shall we make tea?"

Maggie nodded eagerly, "Can we write to Andrew after tea?"

"Of course you may darling, I know he'll want to hear all about your week." Maggie beamed and hurried off leaving her mother to whisper an oft repeated prayer for Andrew's safety. It was devastating to even contemplate anything happening to Andrew but the risk was very real, especially while he was posted to a coastal squadron.

As Elaine had said the baby started to kick not long after; at first of course she was the only one who could feel it and despite this being her third time it still made her gasp the first time it happened. Unfortunately this also resulted in Hugh tripping over the footstool because he thought something was wrong.

"Elaine, what…bugger…sorry" Elaine couldn't help laughing as Hugh righted himself, rubbing at his shin, "It wasn't that funny" He protested mildly when Elaine continued to laugh.

"Sorry darling" she said once she'd composed herself patting the settee beside her and leaning up to kiss him when he complied.

Hugh smiled and put an arm around her brow furrowing slightly, "What happened? I mean you seemed startled"

Elaine smiled, "Our son kicked me," The concerned look on Hugh's face melted away as he laid his hand gently on the swell of her stomach and Elaine covered it with her own, "You won't be able to feel him yet love"

Hugh nodded, "I know." He moved his hand gently, "You think it's a boy?"

Elaine nodded, "Yes, I'm not sure why but for some reason I really do."

Hugh smiled and kissed her gently, "Well you know I'll be happy either way, as long as you're both alright. Not sure what the girls would say though, Maggie says all boys except Andrew are annoying"

Elaine laughed, "And you want her to keep thinking that until she's 40"

"Certainly wouldn't object if she did, Gracie too although I get the feeling if either of our daughters are going to make me grey it's going to be Gracie."

"I suspect you're right love although maybe she'll leave that to her little brother"

Hugh laughed, "Suspect them teaming up to get into even more trouble is more likely love. Jim and I certainly did and Shan used to insist on being included. I think Mum rather despaired of us ever looking presentable in the summers."

Elaine smiled and rested her head against his shoulder, "Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all."

A few weeks later Elaine was woken early in the morning by the now familiar movement of the baby and she rested her hand instinctively on the growing baby bump as if she could convince them to let her go back to sleep, only to suck in a sharp breath.

She rolled over and grabbed Hugh's hand placing it against her stomach and mentally willing their child to move again. "Elaine, what? Alright?"

Elaine smiled at her half-asleep husband who had propped himself up on an elbow and looked equally sleepy and concerned. "I'm fine darling, now hush for a minute"

Hugh blinked sleepily at her but obediently stayed quiet and a moment later Elaine felt another kick and watched as delighted amazement replaced the confusion in her husband's eyes. "Elaine is that…?"

She nodded, blinking back the tears that had suddenly gathered in her eyes, "Someone wanted to say hello to their Daddy"

Hugh beamed and leaned over to kiss her deeply, hand still resting on her stomach as their child happily kicked away. "Might have a footballer on our hands love"

Elaine laughed, "I think you're right, although hopefully he won't practice at three in the morning once he gets here"

Hugh chuckled, "Hopefully not, I think the neighbours might object." He shifted so his head was resting beside the baby bump, "Time to let Mummy go back to sleep little one. Save football practice for the afternoon alright?"

There was another flurry of kicks and then stillness and Hugh grinned up at Elaine, "Let's hope they continue to follow orders." She snuggled into his side and he pressed a kiss to her temple, "Thank you for waking me darling, the longer hours can't be helped right now but I don't want to miss a moment of this."

"I know Hugh and you're a wonderful father. The war has changed the world but nothing can change that."

Hugh kissed her tenderly, "I love you Elaine and you're the most amazing mother. I suspect our daughters and little passenger will wake us in a few hours so we should try and go back to sleep; you need your rest darling." Elaine nodded and was asleep 10 minutes later, her head resting on his shoulder, his hand resting on her stomach where their little passenger was thankfully quiet.

The girls were surprised to discover they could feel the baby kicking; although they were both initially worried that it was hurting Elaine. Once assured this wasn't the case though they were intrigued; Grace in particular was curious about whether certain things would make them kick more and took to reading with one hand on Elaine's stomach so she could feel if the baby started to kick.

There were also several conversations about the merits of having a younger brother or sister, which Hugh found highly amusing and was happy to repeat to Christopher so they could be passed on to Andrew.

"So Grace has decided she would like a younger brother," he announced one morning after a discussion of Christopher's latest case, "Although there are a few conditions"

Foyle raised an eyebrow as he settled back in his chair, "Oh?"

Hugh chuckled, "Yes, he has to like dollies and he can't pull her hair like Julie's little brother does"

Foyle's lips pulled down into a smile, "I see. What about a younger sister, does that come with conditions as well?"

"I except so but I haven't heard any details yet." He took a drink of tea and then continued, "As far as I can tell the main reason they'd like a brother is that Andrew has been such a good one to them all their lives."

Emotion flickered across Foyle's face but all he said was, "He'll be glad to hear it." Reid nodded and carefully steered the conversation to other matters.

The remaining months flew by and soon enough Elaine's due date was just around the corner and Hugh was jumping every time she winced or, if he were at work, every time the phone rang. It was no less than Foyle had expected and he did his best to make sure Hugh didn't drive Elaine completely mad with his hovering.