CBloom2: It is and I thought he explained it so well to Ava. Um...There will be some more to come with Cal, I'd like to say yes but not straight away.

sweeet-as-honey: She is. Haha, I'm glad you liked that line. I took that inspiration from my friend who kind of said it once in her sleep, I still remember her telling me the story. Ethan is an amazing dad and I hope he has many more amazing moments with his children.

ETWentHome: He is. I'm glad you liked it :-)

Chapter Thirty One

It was a day where Lily was due to have a small session with Connie. Connie had said that they weren't therapy sessions, just little chats about how Lily was doing with Ethan's illness and the new baby. Lily called it therapy though, despite her utter hatred for the word.

"Why don't you take Zack?" Ethan suggested, walking into the room.

"Why?" Lily asked, as she sat on a chair in the kitchen breastfeeding her son. "Can't he um...Just stay here with you?"

"It's good for babies to get some fresh air once in a while," Ethan said. "Besides, I think Connie would like to see him. She was there for the birth and she is one of his godmothers."

"I just...I don't want anything to happen to him," Lily said and gave him a smile. "That's all."

"What?" Ethan chuckled. "Why would anything happen to him, Lily? Oh wait, yes, I know," he said and his tone turned to sarcastic. "Connie is going to kidnap him and lock him in her office with her. Then a bird is going to swoop in through the window and snatch the baby out of Connie's arms and fly through the air with it and..." He caught sight of Lily's glare and stopped talking.

"Connie wouldn't take him, would she?" Lily asked. "Or...Or anyone for that matter?"

"No," Ethan sighed and rolled his eyes. "Connie will be upset if you don't take Zack. He'll be in safe hands, Lily."

"Okay." Lily nodded. "But you're okay with dropping Ava off at school?"

"Of course," Ethan said. "And if it makes you feel any better then I'll text you once I've dropped her off and once I've arrived home. Okay?" Lily nodded and gave him a small smile. "Good," Ethan said and smiled back at her.


Lily held Zack protectively in her arms as she made her way into the ED. Robyn hurried over to her with Cal at her side. Lily gave them a fake smile and held Zack tighter as Robyn took hold of one of his tiny hands. Cal patted Lily's shoulder and playfully waggled his tongue at the little boy.

"He's gorgeous, Lily," Robyn said. "A right handsome little chap."

"She's right," Cal said. "Matilda's at school but she's dying to see him."

"Is she?" Lily gulped. "I...I'd rather she didn't."

"Okay..." Cal frowned at her. "Can I have a hold? I am his uncle."

"No!" Lily snapped and kept hold of Zack. "I mean, not right now. I have to go and see Connie."

"We're okay, aren't we Lily?" Cal asked. "Ethan told me that you were planning on getting a DNA test for Ava. Have you?" Lily bit her lip and shook her head. "Well..."

"Just leave me alone," Lily said. "I need to go and see Connie." And with that, she walked off.

"She'll come round," she heard Robyn say as she made her way towards Connie's office.

She took a deep breath and kissed Zack's head, before knocking on the door to Connie's office. She waited until she called her in before opening the door and walking inside.

"Hello," Connie greeted and smiled when she saw Zack in Lily's arms. "And look at who has come to see me." She stood up and walked over to get a closer look at Zack. "Hello handsome, have you come to visit me at work?"

"Yeah," Lily whispered and kept hold of him. "Ethan made me bring him."

"Can I have a cuddle?" Connie asked.

Lily paused and took a nervous breath, before quickly saying, "um...Maybe later?"

Connie smiled at her, looking concerned but she jokingly said, "you're going to make me wait? I never thought you'd be so cruel."

Lily sighed, beginning to get extremely frustrated. "Is it really so awful of me to not want everyone's hands all over my baby all the time?" She snapped.

"No," Connie replied quietly and folded her arms across her chest. "Not at all. Are you okay though?" Lily nodded. "Well, take a seat. Do you want a drink or anything?" Lily shook her head and sat down with Zack on her lap, leaning against her stomach. "He really is gorgeous though. He's grown so much already."

"Has he?" Lily whispered.

"He has," Connie said. "So, what are you doing this weekend?"

"Ava and I are having a day out together," Lily said. "Zack's staying at home with Ethan so I...I guess that'll be nice."

"That does sound nice," Connie said, her eyes on Zack. Lily had her arms tightly wrapped around him, as if someone was going to snatch him from her arms at any minute. "Any more news?" Connie asked, sitting opposite her and having a sip of some water.

"Um...Well...Ethan and I have decided to have a DNA test done for Ava?" Lily asked. "He wanted one done after Zack was born and now...Seems like the right time."

"Does it?" Connie asked. "That's good but...What if it's bad news?"

"I haven't thought about that yet," Lily whispered, shifting Zack to another position as he started to get fussy. "I um...I don't know."

"Do you want me to take him, Lily?" Connie asked. "I know how fidgety babies can be."

"I'm fine," Lily said. "I'd rather hold him if that's okay. He's not very good with strangers."

"He seems happy to see me," Connie said and smiled at Zack, as he continued to stare at her with wide eyes. "Come on, it'll give you a break." Lily looked hesitant. "You'll be here and you can always take him back if you're not happy."

"You...You'll be careful?" Lily asked.

"I'll be careful," Connie said.

"And you'll pass him back to me if I ask?" Lily asked.

"I'll pass him back if you ask," Connie said. Lily gave a nervous nod and lifted him up to hand him to Connie. Connie smiled and took the small boy in her arms, holding him against her chest whilst rubbing his back. "Hello little man," she said. "Are you sitting with Aunty Connie now?"

"You're...You're good with him..." Lily stuttered.

"Well, I'm not a huge baby person but he is precious," Connie laughed. "Besides, I've had the experience haven't I? Grace wasn't the easiest baby but I managed. Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Lily nodded. "I just...I'm scared that something bad is going to happen to him."

"Isn't that how you felt after you had Ava?" Connie asked.

"No." Lily shook her head. "No, I...I was sick back then. This...Is...This is just normal you know...Being protective as a mother."

"Okay," Connie said and started to bounce Zack up and down on her lap. "And how is Ethan doing?"

"He keeps showing symptoms," Lily whispered. "I'm worried about him. Sooner or later, I...I'm not going to be able to leave him by himself and I...I'm going to have two kids and my husband to care for."

"We're here to help you, Lily," Connie said. "That's why you're having these talks with me. Ethan's good with the kids though, isn't he?"

"He's really good with them," Lily replied. "Amazing in fact. I'm just scared because...Well...Things are going to change."

"Change can be scary," Connie said. "But it can also be a good thing."

"Not when my husband is slowly dying," Lily whispered in a choked up voice. "I'm sorry. I...I feel so stupid."

"Don't feel stupid." Connie stood up with Zack tucked under one arm. She walked over and picked up a box of tissues from her desk, handing them over to Lily before sitting back down with Zack. "What are you more afraid of?"

"Looking after the kids by myself," Lily sobbed. "But also I...I don't want to see Ethan suffering like that. I hate it, it really upsets me."

"That's understandable," Connie said. "But Ethan's going to be fine. You're going to be fine. Ava is going to be fine and this little munchkin right here is going to be fine to." She stood Zack on her legs and blew a raspberry on his stomach. "Yes, I was talking about you Mr Handsome."

"You're so good with him," Lily said. "I'm sorry I wouldn't let you hold him."

"I forgive you," Connie said and gave her a small wink. "Come on, I think we could all do with a drink."

"Yeah." Lily smiled at her. "A drink sounds good."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The results of who Ava belongs to is coming up :-) x