When the taxi reached the Reids they found the blackout done and when Hugh tried the door handle it was locked. He fumbled his key out, not objecting when Foyle took it from him and smoothly unlocked the door, ushering him.

"Sam?" Foyle called as he closed the door, careful to keep his voice down as the girls were most likely asleep.

"Hello Sir" Sam said in an equally quiet tone as she appeared in the doorway to the lounge, "Hello Mr. Reid"

"Hello Sam, the girls in bed?"

Sam nodded as she led the way back into the lounge where she had clearly been reading before they arrived. "Yes Sir, I'm fairly certain that Grace is asleep but Maggie was very keen on waiting up for news. I told her I'd ask you go up when you got home and I suspect she will have fallen asleep but I'm not sure."

Reid smiled, "Thank you Sam and thank you very much for watching the girls all this time, I hope they behaved."

Sam smiled, "Oh they did Sir, they're lovely girls, very polite and we had a splendid time." She hesitated for a moment, trying to read their faces for any clue that the news might be bad, "Is Mrs. Reid…?"

Reid smiled reassuringly, "She's fine Sam, thank you. She and the baby both."

Sam beamed, "Oh I'm so glad Sir!"

Reid nodded tiredly, "So am I Sam."

His voice was rough and Foyle gave him a concerned glance before looking at Sam. "Sam, it's late I'd best see you home."

"Oh I'll be alright Sir"

Foyle and Reid both shook their heads firmly; "The cab is already waiting Sam and truly it's the least I can do after all your help today."

"It really wasn't much Sir and Maggie managed at least half of it anyway"

Reid smiled, "That's my Maggie but just the same Sam I can't tell you how much Elaine and I appreciate it."

Sam smiled, "I'm glad I could help Sir, besides it's been ages since I played pirates, I'd forgotten what fun it was!"

Reid chuckled, "Now that sounds like Gracie's idea." He withdrew a note from his wallet and handed it to Foyle, "That should cover the fare for both trips Christopher, don't be daft and walk home from Sam's boarding house you'll bother the wardens."

Foyle's lips turned down in a half smile, "Whatever you say Hugh, now go and check on your daughters and then get some sleep. Sam and I will pick you up in the morning so you can take the girls to see Elaine and meet Jimmy."

"Oh is it a boy Sir?" Sam asked eagerly, turning from putting on her coat, and Reid nodded, his grin ear to ear once more. "Yes, James but we'll call him Jimmy."

"That's wonderful Sir, congratulations!"

"Thank you Sam"

Just then the taxi beeped its horn outside and Foyle gestured for Sam to precede him before turning back to Reid and murmuring, "Have a scotch and get to bed Hugh"

Hugh nodded and after seeing them out he let himself slump back against the door for a moment. He was exhausted but his day wasn't over yet and taking a deep breath he headed quietly up the stairs.

He paused in the doorway to his daughters' room, smiling softly as he took in the familiar sight. Maggie was curled up on her side with her favourite dolly while Grace was on her back, one arm tossed above her head and her blankets about to cascade onto the floor.

Walking quietly Hugh crossed to Grace's bed and carefully tucked her back in before stooping to kiss her forehead. "Love you Gracie"

"Daddy?"

Hugh turned and found Maggie propped up on one elbow, rubbing sleepily at her eyes and he immediately crossed to sit on the edge of her bed, "Yes, Maggie?"

"Is Mummy alright? Did the baby come?"

Hugh nodded and kissed her forehead gently, "Yes darling, Mummy and your brother are both fine"

Maggie blinked owlishly, "Brother?"

Hugh grinned, "Yes, you have a little brother. We're going to call him Jimmy after Granddad and Uncle Jim. You and Gracie can meet him tomorrow before school."

Maggie smiled and wriggling out of her blankets climbed into her father's lap. "When can he and Mummy come home?"

Hugh sighed and tightened his arms around her, "Not for a few days Maggie, they're perfectly fine but Dr. White wants Mummy to get lots of rest so she and Jimmy are going to stay at the hospital for a little bit."

Maggie frowned and snuggled closer, "I don't like Mummy being away. Sam was lots of fun and she plaited our hair and read us stories just like Mummy does when you have to work at bedtime but it doesn't feel as home-like when Mummy's not home."

Hugh nodded and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "I know darling, I don't like Mummy being away either but it's only for a few days." Maggie nodded into his shoulder, nearly asleep again and Hugh smiled softly, "But now it's time for you to go back to sleep love, it's very late."

Maggie nodded and let him settle her back under the covers, smiling when he made sure her dolly was tucked in beside her. "Love you Daddy"

Hugh leaned over to kiss her forehead, "I love you too Maggie, to the moon and back again. Sleep well darling" Maggie nodded and closed her eyes as Hugh gently smoothed his thumb across her forehead.

She was asleep within ten minutes and after tucking her in again Hugh got to his feet and quietly left the room. He entered the master bedroom removing his tunic and shoes before collapsing into bed, asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.

The next day started with Grace jumping on top of him demanding to know if it was true that they had a little brother. This question was promptly followed by a flurry of others, which Hugh did his best to answer while also making breakfast and getting them all ready for their days.

He thought he had it all under control until Maggie reminded him that he needed to fix the girls' hair. "We can't go to school with our bedtime plaits Daddy."

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask why not but he knew that Elaine did the girls' hair every morning and it wasn't the sort of thing Maggie would let slide. "Right, go and grab the hairbrush then."

Elaine had always made it look easy but it turned out that brushing Grace's curls was actually rather difficult, especially as she was far too excited about meeting her brand new little brother to hold still.

Which was why he was still in his shirtsleeves, hairbrush in one hand when Christopher knocked on the door at 8am.

His friend gave him an assessing look and then nodded, "Back in a moment" and turning on his heel headed back to the car leaving Hugh standing awkwardly in the doorway.

A minute later he was back with Sam who smiled brightly at Reid, "Good Morning Sir!"

Hugh nodded and stepped aside to let them enter, "Morning Sam, I do apologize for…"

Before he could finish Grace came flying out of the lounge and wrapped her arms around Sam's legs. "Sam we have a little brother! His name is Jimmy and Daddy said his hair's red like his and his middle name's Mr. Foyle's grown-up name and we get to see him and Mummy before school!"

Sam laughed at the breathless bulletin, "That's wonderful Grace! Now let's get yours and Maggie's hair done so you can meet him." She turned towards Reid and held out a hand for the hairbrush he was still clutching in his left hand, "May I Sir?"

"Oh, yes, of course" He handed it over and watched in stunned silence as Sam led Grace to the settee and sat down, bringing the little girl to stand between her legs as she began to easily tame her wild curls, talking cheerfully all the while.

Beside him Christopher gave a satisfied nodded before turning towards him, eyes narrowing slightly, "You had any tea yet today Hugh?"

"A few mouthfuls"

"Right, well I'll do the washing up while you rectify that then"

"Christopher you don't have too…"

Christopher turned from hanging his hat and coat and pinned him with a look, "Do I really need to remind you about all the mornings you came over to make sure Andrew and I were managing? Turnabout's fair play Hugh"

His voice was low in deference to Sam and the girls who were chatting away in the lounge but his tone was utterly serious and Hugh nodded, "Well thank you just the same Christopher. I'd better go and finish dressing or Matron won't let me in."

Christopher nodded and headed toward the kitchen rolling up his sleeves as he went. Hugh looked into the lounge, amazed to find that Sam was already half-done braiding Grace's hair. Some things clearly required skills that very few men processed.

Sooner that Hugh would have thought possible Sam was helping the girls climb into the backseat while he fetched their ration books and gave them to Mrs. Ambleside from next door who had generously but firmly insisted she would do their marketing while Elaine was recovering. "The girls are far too young and you've more than enough to do without worrying about queuing and I've got to go anyway."

"Thank you very much, I'm afraid it had slipped my mind, but if you're sure it's no trouble…"

The mother of three smiled, politely refraining from mentioning that she had known that the marketing wouldn't have occurred to him. "None at all, I'll bring you a casserole for tonight and we can talk about the rest of the week then."

Hugh blinked, "Oh I'm sure we can manage…"

She shook her head, "It's no trouble. I'll let you go now, I think your daughters are getting impatient" Hugh followed her gaze and saw Grace bouncing on the backseat.

He chuckled, "I think you're right. Thank you again." Mrs. Ambleside just smiled and he crossed to the car, climbing in beside his daughters, "Right, everyone ready? Do you have your satchels?"

Maggie nodded and Grace bounced impatiently, "Can we go now Sam? I want to meet Jimmy!"

Sam looked questioningly at Reid and at his nod smoothly put the car in gear and they were on their way. Reid used the drive to remind the girls again that there was to be absolutely no jumping on Mummy, "Mummy is tired and you need to get to school so it will only be a short visit alright?"

The girls nodded obediently, "Are Sam and Mr. Foyle coming to meet Jimmy?" Grace asked eagerly and Reid smiled fondly as he gently smoothed her hair.

"Not this time darling, the Matron doesn't like it if too many people visit at once."

They pulled up outside the hospital before Grace could ask a follow up question and the girls clambered out eagerly, Maggie keeping a restraining grip on Grace's hand while Reid turned to Foyle, "We won't be long Christopher, the girls need to be at school soon."

Foyle nodded, lips pulling down into a soft smile as he watched Hugh swing Grace onto his hip and take Maggie's hand as he led them off to meet their brother.

"Mrs. Reid? Your husband and daughters are here to see you."

Elaine smiled and looked down at Jimmy who was contentedly finishing his second breakfast and then back at the nurse, "Thank you, I think Jimmy is nearly done, could you ask my husband to wait ten minutes?"

The nurse nodded and Elaine smiled back at the baby as the door shut, "Did you hear that Jimmy? Daddy and your sisters are here to see you." The baby's only response was to keep suckling, his little hand opening and closing reflexively where it rested against her chest.

Ten minutes later there was a soft knock on the door and Elaine smiled eagerly, shifting the baby to her other shoulder as she burped him, "Come in"

The door opened and Hugh stepped into the room, Grace squirming on his hip and Maggie's hand clutched in his. The girls but both called "Mummy" as soon as they saw her and Hugh eyes softened in a way that always made her heart flutter as he smiled at her, "Morning love, morning Jimmy"

Elaine smiled back, "Good morning, oh I've missed you all so much!"

The girls beamed and Grace wriggled determinedly in Hugh's arms, "Down please Daddy!"

"Gracie, remember what we talked about? No jumping on Mummy"

"I'm not going to jump" Grace protested, "I want to give Mummy a hug and I want to see Jimmy!"

Hugh looked questioningly at Elaine and at her nod placed Grace carefully beside her and then lifted Maggie up to sit on her other side before rounding the bed so he was standing behind Grace so she couldn't slip off the bed if she got excited.

Elaine carefully laid Jimmy on her lap, so his head was resting on her slightly raised knees and the girls could both see his face easily, "Maggie, Gracie, this is your brother Jimmy"

Time seemed to freeze as the girls studied the baby and then Jimmy broke the spell by mewling and squirming slightly but before Elaine could say anything Maggie caught his little hand in hers, "Shh, shh Jimmy you're alright"

Her parents blinked back tears but Grace nodded, "That's right Jimmy, Mummy and Daddy are here and nothing bad can happen 'cause Daddy's a policeman and Maggie and I will take care of you too."

The baby turned his head towards her as she spoke and Grace gasped, "He's looking at me Mummy!"

Elaine smiled through her tears; "Yes he is darling, he recognizes your voice from all those times you read to him before he was born."

Grace beamed and leaned forward to gently kiss the crown of her brother's head, "I'll read to you as much as you like Jimmy and now you're here you can see the pictures too!"

Hugh dropped a kiss on her head, "That's very nice Gracie." He looked across at Maggie, who was gently stroking the back of her brother's tiny hand as he clutched her finger, "What do you think Maggie?"

"I think he's lovely, and he looks like a Jimmy."

Elaine smiled and pressed a kiss to her eldest daughter's head, "I agree darling but I'm afraid you girls will be late for school if you don't leave soon."

Grace looked like she was about to protest and then she smiled, "Sam and Mr. Foyle are driving us!" She looked back at her brother, "Mr. Foyle is Andrew's Daddy Jimmy and he's very nice, you'll like him. He's a policeman like Daddy and Sam is his driver, she's nice and fun and she's good at playing pirates."

Hugh chuckled at her explanation and then checked the clock, "Alright, say goodbye to Mummy and Jimmy"

The girls nodded and after each pressing a kiss to their brother's head Hugh took him so they could hug Elaine, "Will you be home after school today Mummy?" Grace asked as she snuggled into her mother's side, "Jimmy's come now"

Elaine smoothed the hair back from her forehead gently, "Yes he has darling, but Dr. White wants Jimmy and I to stay here for a few more days."

Grace frowned, "But I don't like you not being home"

Elaine sighed, "I know Gracie, I want to be home too but it will only be a few more days." She drew back and looked at both of her daughters, "I want you girls to be good helpers for Daddy alright?"

They both nodded and Elaine pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, "Thank you my darlings now be good and have a lovely day at school." The girls nodded and after another round of hugs and 'I love yous' Hugh handed Jimmy back to Elaine and lifted the girls off the bed before leaning over to kiss Elaine tenderly, "I love you and I'll see you later darling"

Elaine smiled against his lips, "I love you too, be safe." Hugh nodded and with another kiss for her and Jimmy he herded their daughters out of the room.