Grace lay asleep in the bed that had remained the same since she left for America. The untouched bedroom had bought a smile to Grace's face as she walked in earlier that evening.

Connie was perched on the side of the bed brushing her hair away from her face and running her fingertips across her cheek. The number of times Connie had sat in this room, hoping and praying that when she looked back her baby would be lying there.

Jacob was sitting downstairs, Connie had told him to stay for a bit as she wanted to talk to him. As he sat there he began to think Connie had fallen asleep herself. He decided to go up and check before leaving.

He passed Grace's room only to hear Connie's voice. Jacob stood in the doorway leaning against the frame watching her unnoticed. "You're my world Grace, the only person I could ever really love... I'm so sorry for everything I've done."

Connie continued to watch her daughter sleep, never wanting to move in fear of turning back and seeing that she'd gone. "I love you so much baby." Tears fell down her cheeks again as she tried to keep her crying to a minimum but it didn't seem to be going that way. "I never want you to leave me again... I always want you around making me late, tearing up my work, complaining that I moan too much. I don't care anymore. I can't watch you walk out of my life again, I can't."

Jacob watched as her heart broke all over again. He stepped into the room quietly placing a hand on Connie's shoulder. She didn't realise he was there until she looked up and saw he'd heard her. "I can't lose her Jacob-" "Hey, you won't... Come here." He pulled Connie into a standing position and into his chest.

He held her rubbing his hand up and down her back. Jacob pressed a kiss to her cheek before holding onto her again. "You've been strong for so long, it's okay to cry..." He just kept her in his embrace until she seemed to have it under control again.

Connie pulled away and looked back to Grace sleeping. As much as the small smile on her face wanted to stay there she couldn't keep it on her face. Jacob watched Connie brushing the hair from her face and pushing it behind her ear. "You should go Jacob its late-" "And you should get some sleep but you won't."

Jacob laced his fingers through hers causing her to glance up at him. "That and I love you. When I said you weren't alone, I meant it. I'm not leaving your side no matter how hard you try to say you don't need someone." Connie felt her eyes water before she looked back to her daughter.

"I know what you're doing..." Connie looked at him shaking her head but not really moving her eyes for longer than a few seconds from Grace. "You're scared. You're scared that if you walk away when you look back she'll be gone. That if you don't stay here, when you wake up it would have all been a dream. You're scared you'll lose her."

Connie's breath got caught in her throat as Jacob tightened his hold on her hand. "But she's not going anywhere, your baby is back and she chose to be here with you." Jacob took hold of her other hand turning her to face him. "Grace is here because she loves you, your her Mum and you always will be."

Jacob dropped her hand to place his on her cheek and wipe away the tears from her face. "Come on, let's get some sleep sweet cheeks..." His nickname bought a small smile to her face as she let him lead her from Grace's room.

They stopped in the doorway as Connie glanced back and finally smiled. She turned the light off and closed the door as Jacob held onto her hand tightly wandering through to her room.

Connie sat on the edge of her bed dropping her head into her hands. Jacob sat beside her wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You know, if it helps she's clearly your daughter." Connie looked to him with a questioning look. "She's feisty and hides any emotion from everyone around her... Sound familiar?"

Jacob watched as Connie crossed the room picking up some clothes from the drawer. "I can't believe that she stayed-" "I can... Once a Mummy's girl, always a Mummy's girl." Connie smiled back at him before walking into the bathroom.

Connie got changed into a cream night dress and pulled her light dressing gown over the top, leaving it to fall open. She walked back into the bedroom dropping her clothes from the day into a basket.

Jacob smiled up at her, she was gorgeous. She moved around the room tidying things up, just keeping herself busy and Jacob noticed, he also knew why.

He got up and walked behind her putting his hands around her waist. "You're thinking about what I said, back in there aren't you?" Connie didn't say anything and kept folding, then re-folding the dress before giving up.

Connie turned around to face him. "It's late, you should go-" Jacob pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, neither of them trying to deepen it. When they parted she looked up at him. "But you don't have anything here with you-" "and unlike you, I don't need a million and one things to stay at someone's house."

She raised an eyebrow at him as he pulled his shirt over his head. Her eyes gave her away as they dropped and skimmed over his chest. "Mrs B-" "Don't Jacob." The smile fell from his face as he leant forwards and kissed her again. Her hands wrapped around his neck as she kissed him back.

Connie abruptly pulled away, all of his words finally sinking in and having some effect. "You love me?" Jacob smiled looking down at her. He knew she'd realise eventually. "Yeah, who wouldn't? I love you more than life itself Con-" This time she stopped him by attaching her lips to his.

Jacob's hands moved to her waist as he held her, while hers wrapped around his neck. She deepened the kiss as the feel of his hands on her waist and his chest pressed against hers caused things to fall into place. Connie pulled away from his lips hovering before him with her eyes closed so she couldn't see him. "I love you too."

Jacob's eyes widened as he looked down at her. He placed a hand underneath her chin and lifted her gaze to his. She opened her eyes and looked into his, never wanting to not see him looking at her this way. "I love you Jacob." His lips crashed onto hers again as he let his hands drop to her thighs picking her up.

Connie finally had it all. She had a respected career, her baby girl back who she fought for and would never let go of easily again, and a man who adored her.