sweeet-as-honey: It was and maybe, we all know that he wants to know Ava. I love sweet Ethan but he may not be so sweet in further chapters, let's see what happens :-)

CBloom2: Loads more, glad you like the story.

ETWentHome: She must be so scared, bless her. I'm sure Ethan's reaction won't be too good at all when he finds out.

Chapter Fifteen

"So when are we going to tell people?" Ethan asked, as he and Lily sat at the kitchen table the next morning. "About the pregnancy, I mean? We could tell them today if you want, they're going to find out at some point and..."

"Ethan," Lily cut him off and shook her head. "No, I...I'm happy and everything but I would just like to keep it between us for the time being. Alicia, Robyn and Cal already know and that is plenty. I just don't feel ready for everyone else to find out just yet. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Ethan sighed, although he seemed disappointed. "Yes, I...I understand."

"Are you okay?" Lily questioned him. "You've been off all morning."

"I'm just..." Ethan ran his hands down his face. "I've been feeling low."

"Why?" Lily asked. "You...You do want this baby, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do," Ethan replied. "I don't know, Lily. It's hard to explain. I...I've just been feeling quite down, that's all. I might take the day off work."

"Don't do that," Lily said and took a sip of her tea. "We all have our bad days, Ethan. I'm certain that you'll feel better once you arrive at Holby. If you get there and you still want to go home, then just tell Mrs Beauchamp you don't feel well." Ethan sniffed and gave a faint nod. "I'll drop Ava off at school, okay? It'll allow you to have a more relaxed start to the day."

"Thanks, Lily," Ethan thanked her. "That would be great."


"Okay princess, you be a good girl for mummy," Lily said, crouching in front of Ava and zipping her coat up. "Have a good day. I'll leave you to play with your friends and I'll be inside having a word with your teacher about something."

"Kevin!" Ava screamed, spotting her friend in the distance and raced across the playground to see him.

Lily giggled and headed into the small little school to talk to Miss Bailey. She was sat at her desk, sorting out the lesson plan before the children came in from the playground.

"Lily, it's good to see you," she said. "Is there a problem?"

"Um...No...No, not at all," Lily said. "I just needed to talk to you about something."

"Of course, take a seat," the teacher said. "Is there something going on with Ava?"

"No." Lily shook her head and sat down. "Ava's been great and she is really enjoying school and we're helping her with her reading as well." Miss Bailey nodded with a smile. "I would appreciate it though if...If you didn't allow Ava to go home with her uncle."

"But your husband said..." Miss Bailey went to say.

"I know," Lily interrupted. "I know that Cal has come to collect her on a number of occasions and I know that Ethan said it would be fine but...Well, please don't let Ava go home with Cal."

"Has something happened?" Miss Bailey asked.

"We've just had a small family argument," Lily said. "I'd rather it if he didn't collect Ava from school. That's all."

"Fair enough," Miss Bailey said. "I'll make a note of it."

"Thank you," Lily said. "I appreciate it."

"How are things at home, Lily?" Miss Bailey asked. "With Ethan's illness and everything?" Lily gave a small shrug, it upset her when people asked and it upset her more when she had to admit that Ethan's symptoms were starting already. "Have you ever thought about getting Ava tested?"

"Why?" Lily asked. "Is she...Has something happened?"

"No," Miss Bailey reassured her. "But we all know that Huntington's is genetic and obviously Ava will have the choice when she turns eighteen but sometimes it's easier to get them tested when they're children, they may deal with it better when they become an adult then."

"We haven't really thought about it," Lily admitted, debating whether to tell Miss Bailey that Ava was going to be a big sister. She decided against it. "I um...I better get going anyway or I'll be late for work."

"Understood," Miss Bailey said. "I'll see you later, Lily."

Lily nodded at her, before leaving Ava's school. Ethan was already at work when she arrived at Holby and he immediately pulled her in for a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Lily smiled sweetly, without telling him about the conversation she had had with Ava's teacher.

"Love you," he whispered.

"Love you," Lily whispered back and patted his back, as he headed off to resus. She folded her arms across her chest and watched him walk away, but someone suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her into the nearest room. Lily squealed as the door slammed shut and she was shoved against the wall. "What are you...What are you doing?" She shouted.

"It was positive then, was it?" Cal asked and blocked the door so that she couldn't get out.

"Yes," Lily sighed and rolled her eyes angrily. "It's none of your business anyway actually."

"How are you feeling?" Cal asked.

"Actually, I sadly passed away last night," Lily spat at him. "But don't worry, Ethan is so smart that he actually managed to make a clone of me before it happened."

"Haha, very funny," Cal scoffed sarcastically and shook his head. "Look, you're pregnant with Ethan's child so why don't you just come and clean and tell him that Ava belongs to me?"

"Because she doesn't!" Lily shouted.

"How the hell do you know?" Cal asked. "You haven't even taken a paternity test, Lily!" Lily didn't say anything. "Look, you can't keep her from me forever. It's Ava's birthday soon and Ethan is going to want me there."

"When are you going to understand?" Lily yelled. "That Ava is not your child and she never will be your child. We slept together Cal but it was a one time thing and it was a mistake! The only good thing that came out of it was my beautiful daughter but that's all she will ever be. Mine. Not yours, not Ethan's but mine."

"But don't you want to know?" Cal whispered. "If Ava really does belong to Ethan, she could have Huntington's as well when she's older. Don't you want to know so that you can prepare yourself?"

"Of course I do," Lily said. "And I'm going to get her tested."

"So you'll get her tested for Huntington's but you're not going to see who her real dad is?" Cal questioned.

Lily shook her head. "I can't, Cal," she whispered. "I want Ethan to be her dad."

"But what if he isn't?" Cal asked.

"Well." Lily shrugged her shoulders. "He never needs to know, does he?"

What Lily and Cal didn't know was that Ethan had been standing outside the room the entire time and he'd heard everything. Sighing deeply and allowing tears to roll down his cheeks, he pursed his lips together and walked away.

Hope you liked the chapter x