HarryPotterHolbyAndHorses: Here you go :-)

sweeet-as-honey: Haha, the side effects of alcohol! Yes, I'm sure Lily has cured his fear. I've found a website with every single episode of Holby City on it so I've started watching from the start. I'm on episode two. I love Jac so I mainly started watching for her :-)

Bonnie Sveen Fan: It is, they're going to have a nice friendship in this. I've only just got into Holby.

Guest: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. More to come.

xMissWhitneyBexx: Gosh, I've been watching Casualty for four years but I really like Holby so far. I've started watching it from the beginning, Casualty will always be my favourite though.

Chapter Thirteen

Ethan was lying on the bed with his head in his new book. It was the book he'd ordered ages ago, all about Huntington's Disease and he'd found it in a drawer in the kitchen. He guessed that Lily had opened it and hid it there and he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Lily shouldn't have even opened it in the first place. She was currently out having a girly day of lunch and shopping with Alicia and she'd taken Ava with her so he was taking the opportunity to read up on his illness.

He sighed heavily as he heard the front door slam shut and he realised that Lily must have arrived home already.

"Daddy!" Ava squealed.

"Um...I...I'm coming, sweetheart!" Ethan called and quickly closed the book, shoving it straight under the bed. He straightened the covers, cleared his throat and headed downstairs. "Hey," he greeted his wife and daughter. "Where's Alicia?"

"We dropped her home on the way back," Lily said. "How's your day been?"

"Yeah." Ethan nodded. "It was...Good, nice...Nice and relaxing thanks. How was shopping?"

"Great!" Ava said and wrapped her arms around her dad's waist. "I missed you lots."

"And I missed you too, princess," Ethan said, hugging her back and kissing her head. "Good girl. Did you buy lots of nice things?"

"Yes we did," Lily giggled. "Ava, why don't you go upstairs and put on your new t-shirt to show daddy?"

Ava nodded her head and carried her bag upstairs to her bedroom, leaving Ethan and Lily alone in the kitchen.

"She has a new t-shirt?" Ethan asked, turning her attention back to Lily.

"Well she has a few new clothes," Lily said. "Mainly dresses but I think you'll like this shirt. It was Alicia's idea."

"So you had a good time then?" Ethan asked and folded his arms across his chest. Lily nodded, placing her shopping bags on the table. "Good, to be honest I was getting worried about you. Maybe a good, girly day out was exactly what I needed."

"Why were you worried about me?" Lily asked.

"Well." Ethan gave a small shrug. "This whole thing with Cal."

"It was a good day," Lily said, trying to avoid the topic of Cal. "And Alicia is really good with Ava. Ava loves her as well, they were like the best of friends."

"Where did you have lunch?" Ethan asked.

"Nandos," Lily laughed. "Trust me, it wasn't my first choice but Ava wanted to go because some kid at school had gone. That girl is just copying everyone she meets lately, including Matilda which I think is a really bad idea."

"Ava's only young," Ethan said. "It's natural for kids to copy other kids at that age. I used to copy Cal all of the time, wanting to be like him."

They heard heavy footsteps on the phone and immediately Ava rushed into the kitchen, proudly sticking out her chest to show her new t-shirt to Ethan. Lily smiled with her hands on her hips and chewed on her lip, waiting for Ethan's reaction. The t-shirt was plain white but on the front in black letters was "I AM GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER" and underneath was a huge smiley face. Ethan's mouth hung open as he read what was on Ava's shirt, before turning to look at Lily.

"Is this true?" Ethan whispered, gesturing to Ava's shirt.

"Yes," Lily whispered and nodded her head. "It's true."

"Lily!" Ethan shouted and ran over to pick her up, before swinging her round. Ava stood, giggling hysterically at her parents. "That's amazing news! I cannot believe you told our daughter first though."

"She told me at lunch," Ava laughed.

Ethan shook his head at her, walked over and lifted her into his arms as well. "You are a devil," he teased, kissing her cheek. "Are you happy?" Ava nodded, a huge grin on her face. "Good girl. Mummy and daddy love you, you are going to be a brilliant big sister."

"Am I still allowed to eat ice-cream?" Ava asked.

Lily and Ethan both frowned in confusion. "Of course," Ethan chuckled. "You can have as much ice-cream as you like."

"Then I am very happy to be a big sister," Ava said, as Ethan placed her down on the floor.

"And you," Ethan said, walking over and kissing his wife on the lips. "I am going to take you out for a lovely dinner."

"What has got into you?" Lily giggled. "The baby is like the size of a peanut at the moment."

"I don't care," Ethan chuckled and kissed her again. "Come on, it's been ages since we had a proper date night. How about I call Cal to babysit Ava? He can bring Matilda and the girls can watch a film or something."

"Actually, Alicia said that she could always babysit," Lily mentioned. "And Ava loves her."

"Fine," Ethan sighed. "To keep you happy, yeah? We'll ask Alicia."

"Thank you," Lily said. "How are you feeling anyway? Do you um...Do you feel okay?" Ethan nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "Look, I...One of these days you're going to get worst and I..."

"I know what you're saying," Ethan whispered and stroked her cheek. "But I'm going to stay strong and I'm going to keep going. I am not going to let this illness beat me, especially not before my new son or daughter is born. I just want my children to be proud of me."

"They'll always be proud of you," Lily said. "I am."

"Thank you," Ethan whispered and nuzzled his face in her blouse. "I love you. So, shall I book a table for tonight at that nice, little Italian place you like?"

"That sounds good," Lily said and looked across at her daughter. "So Ava, are you okay spending the evening with Aunty Alicia?"

"Yes." Ava gave an enthusiastic nod.

"Come on," Ethan said and rubbed Lily's back. "Go and change into something beautiful and glamorous and I'll book a table."

"Sure," Lily agreed. "But Ethan?"

"Hmm?"

"Are...Are you sure that you're okay?" Lily double checked with him.

"Yeah." Ethan took a deep breath. "I'm great."