Guest: Sorry it's Ava. I don't know why I'd typed Ada but it's been changd now, thanks for letting me know :)

CBloom2: You'll soon see and yes he does, although he hasn't been showing the signs yet.

sweeet-as-honey: I'm glad you like it. Matilda is going to be very cute in this and she does actually belong to Cal as well. Lots more to come.

Chapter Two

"Cal, what...What are you doing here?" Ethan stuttered, his eyes fixated on his older brother.

Cal didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell Ethan the real reason he'd left Holby; it wasn't the fact that their mum had just died, it wasn't that Ethan had just been told he could have Huntington's, it wasn't that Matilda had been taken away from him. He'd made a mistake, after everything that happened and he'd needed some time to clear his head.

"I've come home," he sighed and he noticed Ethan's eyes divert to his daughter. "This is Matilda," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I got her back."

"She looks just like her mum," Ethan said.

"Yeah," Cal agreed. "But she's got her daddy's personality, haven't you princess?" Matilda nodded and giggled as Cal tickled her. "How are you?" Cal then questioned his brother.

"That's all you can ask?" Ethan said. "You've been gone for years, you then turn up without telling me and all you can ask is how I am. How do you think Cal? After all the shit we have gone through, YOU just disappear!"

Cal hung his head and whispered, "Matilda, go and wait by the car for me. I'll be out in a second."

"Okay daddy," Matilda agreed and headed back outside.

"I'm sorry," Cal apologised, as soon as she was out of sight. "I was scared! You had this illness, Mum was dead and I..."

"I'm a dad by the way," Ethan interrupted him. "Yeah? You didn't once call or email so of course you wouldn't know about that, would you? Lily and I are parents. I mean, at least you were there for my wedding. I guess that matters right?"

"I said I was sorry," Cal argued. "Um...Boy or girl?"

"Girl," Ethan whispered. "She's five now, she's called Ava. Lily found out that she was pregnant shortly after you left. It was a surprise really. You were gone for so long Cal, and now you just turn up out of the blue with Matilda as well. I needed you, more than anything."

"You had Lily, you were fine," Cal said. "You didn't mean to. I just made things bad for you."

"What do you mean by that?" Ethan asked.

"You were the one who had Huntington's, not me," Cal said. "I've been a crap brother to you Ethan and I just couldn't live with myself anymore. I'm sorry I ran off, it probably wasn't the right thing to do and I'm sorry. I just want us to start over again."

Ethan didn't know what to say. He went to try and say something but there was a loud squeal and Robyn and Rita both rushed over, throwing themselves at Cal.

"Oh my god, what are you doing back?" Robyn asked.

"I'm here to stay," Cal said, shooting a small smile at Ethan. "I have Matilda with me as well."

"You got her back?" Rita asked.

"Yes." Cal nodded. "Taylor apparently couldn't look after her at all and seeing as I was next in line, she got passed to me so I get to look after her for good. She's seven now, it's unbelievable."

"That's amazing," Robyn said. "So you and your brother are both dads now?"

"Seems like it," Cal said. "Where is Lily?"

"At home," Ethan said. "She has a day off today." He then turned to Rita and Robyn. "Sorry, can Cal and I just have a moment?" They awkwardly nodded and walked away to continue their work. "Does Mrs Beauchamp know that you're back?"

"No," Cal whispered. "I came to find you straight away. No one else knows."

"And you're expecting to have your job back, are you?" Ethan asked. "Lily and I are both consultants now so we'll be way above you."

"Congratulations," Cal praised. "I...I'm pleased for you, bro and I...I can't wait to see Ava. I bet she's adorable."

"She looks like Lily," Ethan sighed.

"I bet you were well happy when she was born," Cal said. "It's amazing, becoming a parent for the first time."

"Well, I was happy," Ethan muttered under his breath.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cal asked.

"Lily struggled with her when she was younger," Ethan confessed. "She wouldn't get out of bed, she kept crying, she refused to go anywhere near her, kept saying all these things like how her life wasn't worth living."

"But she's okay now, right?" Cal asked.

"Yeah, she's fine now," Ethan said. "And she's amazing with Ava. She's like a super-mum, working but looking after her at the same time. She just struggled with motherhood that's all."

"Well, it can be hard," Cal said. "I still remember when Matilda was young, I struggled and Taylor couldn't manage it."

"Like I said, she's okay now," Ethan said. "And Ava loves her. They're really close." He sighed deeply and made eye contact with Cal. "Are you working today?"

"Probably not," Cal said. "I actually have a flat in Holby now and we've got a load of boxes in the car. I was just going to take Matilda and get us both settled in, I wanted to stop by and see you though. I'm really sorry that I didn't contact."

"You're here now," Ethan sighed. "I guess we can just start fresh."

"How have you been though?" Cal asked, remembering that Ethan hadn't actually anwered his earlier question. Instead, he'd just snapped at him. "Like seriously?"

"Fine," Ethan whispered and shrugged his shoulders. He then sarcastically said, "that's the wonderful thing about the disease. You know you have it but you have no idea when it's going to start."

"I know it's scary," Cal said. "And I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left. You have Lily though and you have me and you have a beautiful little girl who loves you loads. You have a huge support system behind you, Ethan. I'm sure you have years ahead of you before you really start showing the signs."

"What if I don't?" Ethan asked. "I'd like to live to see my daughter start secondary school, I'd like to see her go off to university, I'd like to see her get married and have her own children. I...I'd like Lily and I to have more kids."

"You could have all that," Cal said. "There isn't anything stopping you."

"This illness, Cal," Ethan hissed at him. "That is what's stopping me."

"How long have you been feeling like this for?" Cal asked.

"A while." Ethan gave a small shrug. "I'm okay at home, it's just when I get to work."

"So what's different?"

"I guess at home, I...I'm happier," Ethan said. "I love being a doctor but when I'm at home spending time with Lily and Ava, I am so happy with my life and I love it and I...I completely forget about my illness."

"Do you and Lily ever speak about it?" Cal asked.

"Not usually," Ethan sighed. "I don't think Lily likes to mention it in front of Ava. She isn't old enough to find out about it, not just yet anyway."

"I'm here now, bro," Cal said. "I won't leave again. I um...I better get going though, Matilda's going to be getting bored otherwise." Ethan nodded, understanding. "I'll text you later. Chin up."

Ethan nodded and Cal gave him a pat on the shoulder before leaving the ED. He knew that he had to go and speak to Lily.

So in the next chapter, Cal goes to see Lily :) x