They had arrived at the maternity until at just after 2am on this particular Tuesday morning. Given Kate's past history and repeated miscarriages her whole pregnancy had been monitored closely and even though they were so close to the end they were all still aware that the unthinkable could happen. After several hours of contractions Caroline made the executive decision to drive a tired and weary Kate to their local private hospital.

Knocking on William's door gently, knowing he had to be up early to travel back to university but being unable to see any other way around the situation; she pushed the door open and walked over to his double bed. Under the duvet her eldest son and his girlfriend were curled up together fast asleep; a sight every mother dreams of for their child but at the same time wishes they never had to witness.

'William' she whispered, bending down beside his bed 'William' repeated the woman, placing a hand on his shoulder. The young man opened his eyes and quickly acknowledged his mother's presence.

'Mum?' he questioned 'Is everything okay? Is Kate okay?'

'Sorry William, I know it's only two in the morning but Kate's gone into labour' she explained stroking Will's hair back 'I'm going to take her into hospital now, just to be safe'

'Okay. Okay. Is there anything I can do?'

'Just make sure Lawrence is up and at school on time in the morning and ring your Granny at a reasonable hour. I'll ring you as soon as I can. And please make sure you drive carefully back to Oxford' she stood back up and went to creep out of the room after kissing his cheek. The whole time Roxy had stayed sleeping.

'Mum' he called after her to whom she turned around to face him in the darkened room 'I love you. Everything's going to be fine; you're going to be a mum again by tonight.' All Caroline could do was smile at her son. A mum again as she neared the age of forty-seven. Was she mad?

Caroline sat on the edge of Kate's hospital bed stroking her head soothingly as the darker woman focused on getting through another intense contraction. The environment they found themselves in was clinical but homely. Outside of the room the corridors lay quiet, with midwives ready to pounce into action whenever necessary.

'You're doing so well' uttered the supportive wife whilst rubbing Kate's lower back 'I'm so incredibly proud of you'

'Does my mum know what's going on?' questioned the labouring woman as the contraction eased off and she was able to regain some sort of composure 'Is she okay?'

'Calm down, Kate. I gave her a phone call about an hour ago' insisted the blonde haired lady 'I said she could come over is she wished but she insisted she didn't want to crowd you and that it was best it just being us two. I'll update her as soon as I can. Don't worry she's fine.' As ever her loving partner cared more about her family than herself, even when preparing to give birth.

'I bet she's pacing around her living room' giggled Kate 'with the phone in one hand and a cup of tea in the other'

'And every now and again she'll sit down and carry on knitting another baby hat' laughed Caroline, barely able to contain herself 'At the rate she's going we'll have enough hats to give every newborn baby in England'

'I've never seen her this excited before, Caroline. Mum's dreamt of this moment for years; a chance to be a grandma and each time it was cruelly snatched away from her'

'As have you sweetheart. We're so close. In a matter of hours you'll have your newborn daughter in your arms where she belongs'

'Our daughter'

'Yes, our daughter' Caroline corrected herself 'You're going to make such a brilliant Mother, Kate. The way you are with William and Lawrence only cements that belief further'

In a moment of weakness the younger woman spilt her concerns and worries 'But what if this all goes wrong, Caroline? What happens if she's taken away from me like all the rest were? I can't go through that again. I can't carry a child, feel her move and grow within me and then lose her forever.' She sobbed into Caroline's arms.

'You listen to me, Kate Elliot-McKenzie, that is not going to happen. Do you hear me? We're in the best place possible' Dr Elliot swaddled her wife in love, taken aback by the thoughts running through Kate's head at what was meant to be the happiest moment of her life. As another contraction hit the woman her thoughts were lost through the intensity of the pain. She lay helplessly on the bed whilst Caroline continuously rubbed her back and uttered words of encouragement. Casting her mind back to nineteen years ago when the headmistress herself found herself giving birth to her first child she hoped this time it was different. Kate was in a loving marriage, Caroline hadn't been at the time.

At an entirely inappropriate time as the pain hit its peak and Kat was relying on gas and air to get through the next few minutes Caroline's phoned buzzed and beeped in her pocket.

'How is Kate? Send her our love. Mum x' read the message from Celia

'Mum sends her love, Kate. Although I think she's secretly digging for news' Caroline didn't know what her words were meant to achieve, maybe a moment of distraction for the pained woman that lay in front of her. 'She's besides her waiting for this little one to arrive; her first granddaughter. You mark my words; this little lady is going to be spoilt rotten; two grown brothers, two mothers who love her dearly and countless extended family. And Alan of course, another woman in his life to spoil'

'How's it going mum? Is Kate okay? Are you okay?' questioned William who had supposedly driven back to Oxford that morning with Roxy. Caroline, who stood outside of the delivery suite eager to get back to Kate, was grateful for her attentive son.

'She's fine thank you William. We're nearing the end now apparently and-' Her sentence was cut off as a wail came from the other side of the door. William on the other end of the phone nearly dropped the phone, his face turning a ghostly white colour.

'W-was that Kate? Are you sure she's alright?' interrogated the grown boy

'I'll give you a call later Willie. B-bye' she quickly ended the call and rushed back to her wife's side. 'Sorry Kate, s-sorry. It was William calling to find out how we are doing. We're-you're so close now darling. So close' Kate lay on the bed with Caroline's arm behind her head and gripped her other spare hand. A midwife stood at the opposite end of the bed watching taking care of the delivery.

'Caroline's right, Kate' spoke up their chosen midwife, a woman who they had formed a relationship with over the months of the pregnancy 'I'd say you're going to be a mum in less than half an hour' it was music to the labouring woman's ears, who had been pushing for well over an hour and was now running on virtually empty.

At 5:39pm on the same Tuesday that they had arrived at the hospital Caroline was by Kate's side as she gave life to their first child together. Kate clung onto her wife as if her life depended on it, as the last excruciating contraction swamped her and their daughter entered the world wailing.

'You've done it Kate! You've done it!' exclaimed the older woman peering down the bed to where the helpless newborn lay between her mother's legs. The midwife instantly lifted the girl up and placed her on her mother's bare chest. Kate examined the small body that lay in her arms, blown away by the enormity of what had just happened. Caroline stood next to the bed cradling her wife, smothering her and the baby in kisses and love. 'I am so proud of you Kate! I love you'

'I l-love you' replied the weary and breathless woman, unable to break eye contact with the baby.

'Would you like to cut the cord, Caroline?' interrupted the midwife he should have long finished her shift but instead had wanted to stay on and see the birth through until the end.

Caroline looked up from where she stood and, with shaky hands, took the scissors the midwife handed her and managed to cut in between the two clamps. Meanwhile the baby had quietened in her mum's arms and had taken to Kate's right breast like a duck to water. Just minutes in and Kate was already proving to be a natural.

A knock on the door broke their first precious hours as new parents to this amazing creature that had entered their family. Caroline walked to the door and opened it, to her surprise there was a small bunch of family members standing on the other side.

'Congratulations Mum!' cheered William wrapping his arms around his mums neck and kissing her on the forehead.

'But William, you're meant to be back at University? You were driving back this morning?' she questioned, confused about why he was standing in front of her.

'Roxy and I agreed that we could stay on for another night' he explained as he let go of her 'I wasn't going anywhere without meeting my new baby sister. Couldn't let young Lawrence here take all the glory!'

'Enough jabbering you lot!' interrupted Celia pushing to the front of the small crowd 'Now where's this my first granddaughter? I'm dying to meet her!'

'I second that!' supported Kate's mum who couldn't help but smile.

Turning to look at Kate, Caroline was greeted with her Wife's usual beautiful smile which indicated they were more than welcome to enter. She opened the door further and all six of them piled in. Celia and Kate's mother, Thea, were the first to reach the new mother.

'Look at her!' exclaimed Celia overwhelmed 'She's so-so tiny'

'I'm so proud of you my sweet darling' Thea wrapped her arms around Kate's neck and kissed her intensively 'I knew you would get your moment of glory, and this is it sweetheart. If only your dear dad could witness it, he would be so happy for you- so proud'

After the excitement had calmed down William and Lawrence, with Kate's blessing, took it in turns to get to know this tiny newborn who was their sister. William sat in the high backed hospital chair and cradled the infant carefully, regularly kissing her tiny head. Roxy stood next to him with her arm draped over her boyfriend's shoulders.

'Smile for the camera you pair!' instructed his mum who was armed with their family camera, desperate to capture the infants first moments in the world. Lawrence was next. He was a little unsure of how to handle something so fragile but eventually eased into the role. After looking her over several times an overwhelming and surprising surge of love hit him out of nowhere. Unlike his relationship with Sebastian, somehow he knew this was going to be different. It was his job as her big brother to protect and look after her.

'What's her name mum? Kate?' he asked aware that the topic hadn't yet been discussed.

The two adults looked at each other, and addressing the whole family 'We thought she suited Florence Olivia Elliott-McKenzie'

'Florence Olivia, hey?' piped up Lawrence, looking at his new baby sister 'I think, Florence, you and I are going to get along famously!'