When Hugh answered Foyle's knock before church on Sunday he was still in his shirtsleeves and braces and it was clear that he hadn't gotten much sleep but despite it all he looked calmer.

His eyes had finally lost the spark of fear that had been threatening to become blind panic since he first arrived at the hospital the day Jimmy was born and Foyle felt his own shoulders relax in response. Clearly having Elaine and Jimmy home had done Hugh a world of good, no matter how concerned he might have been that it was too soon.

"Christopher, come in, sorry" he waved a hand to indicate his state of undress, "Busy morning"

Foyle nodded as he stepped into hall, removing his hat as he did so, "Completely understandable."

He listened for a minute, quickly ascertaining that the girls were upstairs with Elaine, probably getting their hair done. "Thought I might take the girls to church if you didn't want to leave Elaine…?"

Hugh's shoulders slumped with relief, "Would you? Elaine says I'm being ridiculous but…" He ran a hand through his hair, "I can't seem to help it Christopher, not when it comes to Elaine or the girls…or Jimmy"

He paused a grin suddenly spreading across his face, "I'll have to get used to that, not just saying 'the girls' if I'm talking about all my children" He shook his head slowly, "Not sure how it can be a surprise after the last 7 months but somehow it always feels like one."

Foyle nodded, a wistful look crossing his face, "It does"

The moment of silence that followed was broken by Grace clattering down the stairs, "Good morning Mr. Foyle! Daddy, Mummy says to come up and finish dressing for church"

"Good morning Grace. You'd better go up and speak to Elaine Hugh."

Hugh nodded, "Make yourself at home Christopher, teapot's in the kitchen. Gracie come upstairs with me please." Grace looked ready to protest when the baby began to cry above them and she immediately raced up the stairs.

Foyle raised a questioning eyebrow and Hugh smiled softly, "She's quite taken with being an older sister, although she draws the line at nappies."

Foyle chuckled, "Clever daughters you've got Hugh, must take after Elaine"

Hugh laughed, "In more ways than one thankfully, I won't be long" Foyle nodded and hanging his hat and coat stepped into the lounge.

Fifteen minutes, and several reminders to behave from both Hugh and Elaine, later the girls and Foyle were on their way, Grace slipping her hand into Foyle's as soon as they were down the stairs. "Will we sit in our seats or your seats Mr. Foyle?"

Foyle smiled down at her, "Where would you like to sit?"

Grace thought for a moment, "Do tall people sit in front of your seats? Sometimes tall people sit in front of us and then I can't see, even if I sit on Daddy's lap." She hesitated and looked up asking earnestly, "Is it alright if I sit on your lap Mr. Foyle?"

Foyle nodded, his lips pulling down into a smile, "Of course, and yes, sometimes tall people do sit in the pew in front of me."

Grace nodded, "There's lots of tall people at church but I think Daddy's the tallest."

There was, it seemed, no shortage of the things 'Daddy could do or was best at' according to Maggie and Grace, and it was comforting to know that their innocence and optimism was more or less untarnished by the war.

In the end they sat in the Reids' normal pew but Grace still ended up in Foyle's lap, her head coming to rest against his shoulder as the sermon wore on, while Maggie sat beside him, happy to look up the hymns for them. "I always do for Daddy," she had explained quietly and Foyle was touched that she would do the same for him without a second thought.

He rarely analyzed his role in the girls' lives; he was simply their father's friend who'd known them all their lives and would always do everything in his power to ensure they were safe and well. In turn their childish trust and easy displays of affection helped to ease the ache of loss that he had learned to live with since Rosalind died and assuage his constant fear for Andrew's safety.

When they returned after church Hugh looked decidedly better, the result Foyle discovered as he helped him get tea together, of a nap and a visit from the midwife who assured him that both Jimmy and Elaine were doing wonderfully.

"Glad to hear it Hugh"

"You and me both Christopher, I've always known Elaine was stronger than I am but I can't help worrying, I mean after last time…"

Foyle nodded understandingly, "That worked out fairly well in the end though Hugh and so did this."

Hugh smiled, "Couldn't agree with you more Christopher and thank you again for all your help, you've been an absolute brick about all of this; especially this last week. Couldn't have managed it without you."

"Happy to help Hugh, you know that. Besides you did give the lad my name and ask my son to be godfather."

Hugh grinned, "Speaking of Andrew, Elaine suggested the Sunday after next for the christening and the midwife seemed to think she would be well enough by then."

Foyle nodded, "I'll write Andrew this evening so he can request leave. He's keen to be there if he can but he didn't seem to think he'd get much more than a 48hr pass. Apparently that's the norm these days."

There was a beat of silence as they both contemplated how ferocious the battle for air superiority over the channel was at the moment and then Hugh forced a smile, "It would be marvelous if he could be there but please do remind him that we understand if it's not possible." Foyle nodded and Hugh turned the conversation to easier topics.

1 week later

"Foyle, Turner wants to see you"

Andrew bit back a sigh and threw back the last of his tea, "Right" he looked at the younger man beside him and squeezed his shoulder, "Wasn't your fault John, get a bite to eat and put your head down for a bit alright?"

His voice was gentle and he waited until he got a nod in response before heading off to see what his Wing Co wanted.

His knock was promptly answered and Turner looked up from the reports on his desk to wave him into the room. "At ease Foyle, have a seat" Andrew obeyed, trying to not look as exhausted as he felt but he didn't think he'd managed it when Turner frowned, "Rough op this morning, how's Parker bearing up?"

Andrew sighed and ran a hand over his face, "As well as can be expected but he may need to sit out the next scramble, I don't think his head would be in it."

Turner nodded and shuffled some of the papers on his desk, clearly looking for something. "I see you've put in for personal leave next weekend Foyle, is everything alright? Your father…"

"He's fine Sir, thank you. It's actually my godson's christening, I realize it would leave us short and I do understand if you can't spare me…"

Turner shook his head, "No, no I've already approved it, you're overdue for some leave, long overdue." He looked at the exhausted young man in front of him and wished for the thousandth time that he still had the ability to grant week-long leaves, his entire squadron needed that and then some.

"That said I'm afraid I can only give you 72 hour, if you leave Friday evening that will at least give you 2 full days at home. I'm sorry it can't be more"

Andrew shook his head, "I understand Sir it's the same for everyone. It means a great deal that I'll be able to be there at all."

He was smiling softly seemingly without being aware of it and Turner couldn't help smiling back; glad that Andrew had found some happiness in the middle of the hell they found themselves in.

"Right well I'll let you get back to the barracks and get some sleep, tell Parker he's off ops until 0600 tomorrow unless he hears otherwise." Andrew nodded and got to his feet, saluting before leaving the office.

After speaking to Parker and checking on a few of the other pilots Andrew got another cup of tea and wrote a brief letter to his father.

Dear Dad,

I've been granted leave for the christening, 72 hours. I'll be down Friday evening some time and have to head back on Monday. Could you please tell Mr. and Mrs. Reid for me? I'm afraid we're quite busy at the moment and I'm not sure when I'll next get a chance to write. I'm looking forward to seeing you all and meeting Jimmy.

Thanks Dad and take care,

Andrew

P.S. Please tell Maggie and Gracie I say hello and congratulations on their school's salvage drive. They both wrote me about it but I haven't had time to write back. Thanks Dad.

It hardly covered a single side of paper and certainly didn't make up for the 3 letters he'd received from his father and 1 each from Maggie, Grace and Mrs. Reid but he could hardly keep his eyes open so it would have to do.

Finishing the last of his tea Andrew sealed the envelope and dropped it in the mailbag on his way to the barracks. With any luck he'd manage a few hours of sleep before their next scramble.

The fact that Andrew had been so open or at least as open as he could be given the circumstances worried Foyle far more than he was willing to admit. He couldn't help wondering how many operations Andrew's squadron was flying if his son didn't expect to have time to write more than one single page letter.

It was a question he didn't think he truly wanted to know the answer too so instead he did as his son asked and told Hugh that Andrew had managed to get leave, and kept himself busy doing his best to ensure that Hugh was able to get home for lunch most days to check on Elaine and Jimmy.

Hugh had relaxed substantially and knowing that the nurse and midwife were checking in everyday helped a great deal but as he'd said he couldn't help worrying and it was no secret that he was happiest when he was home.

For all that he was a very good policeman, he was a husband and father first, and Foyle couldn't help thinking what a fine example Hugh set for the increasingly young constables at the station of how one should prioritize work and family.