The sun was yet to rise but part of the Elliot-McKenzie house had been up for hours. It could be argued that they were yet to even sleep properly. Kate walked up and down the front of the living room in almost total darkness with a screaming infant in the crook of her arm.

'Come on Florence. Go to sleep-go to sleep for mummy' she uttered desperately. 'You've been fed. Your nappy had been changed. What else could you possibly want?!' the new mother was at the end of her tether. When she had imagined parenthood she hadn't envisaged so many sleepless nights, so much loneliness...so much noise. In the first few days of her life Florence 'Flo' had slept fairly soundly, only waking regularly for feeding and changing. By the end of the first week though she had screamed the house down more times than either of her mothers cared to remember.

Kate offered the small being her left breast once again only for it to be ignored and pushed away whilst the girl carried on howling. The woman's nipples were cracked and sore; her body ached from the changes it was being put through and yet she persevered. She moved the child from her arm and instead placed her on her right shoulder, holding her securely, and sang soothingly.

'Kate-Kate darling it's seven o'clock' were the next sounds she heard properly. The younger woman opened her eyes to find Caroline leaning over the back of the sofa stroking her face lovingly. Kate lay on the sofa with the baby snoring on her chest.

'Shush' she whispered 'It's taken me hours to get her to fall asleep.' Looking at the clock she continued 'In fact I'm certain we've only had an hours sleep'

Caroline lifted the child off her mother's chest gently so as not to wake her. Florence only stirred to get comfortable in a new position. 'I'll go and put her down in her moses basket. You stay here sweetheart and I'll bring you a cup of tea through.' The older woman left the room with their daughter whilst Kate moved her battered body to an upright sitting position. Resting her head in her hands she wasn't entirely sure she could even work out what day it was.

'Morning Kate!' shouted Lawrence as he walked past the living room towards the kitchen for his breakfast.

'M-morning' she uttered. Lawrence, recognising his step-mother didn't seem her usual bright and bouncy self, backtracked and entered the living room.

'Are you okay?' he asked. A year ago he barely took notice of anyone's feelings or emotions; he had matured so much in twelve months 'Would you like a hug? Mum says I give pretty good hugs. Although I think she may be lying...' he tried joking with the woman. When there was no response he slipped onto the sofa besides her and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Caroline came in with a hot mug of tea and a handful of biscuits to find her youngest son comforting her wife. She almost turned around and pretended she hadn't seen any of it. Instead she put the items down on the table and, after taping Lawrence's shoulder and giving him a sign it that was okay for him to leave; she took his place and cradled her emotionally fragile partner.

'I know this is hard, Kate.' She soothed kissing her head 'You're doing brilliantly'

'What am I doing wrong Caroline?' she questioned desperately, her face in Caroline's chest

'You're doing absolutely fine darling. It's not anything you're doing; she's just a restless newborn. It will get easier, I promise'

Kate went back to being limp in her wife's arms, just letting Caroline cradle and soothe her. Caroline made a mental note to give both their mother's a ring and see if either of them could pop around and keep an eye on her. With her past history of depression it was what they working to avoid, although so far they were failing miserably.

Celia let herself into the property with the key Caroline had given her almost as soon as they had moved in. At a first glance it was quiet; no baby crying or adult moaning. As she ventured further in she found Kate sat on the sofa crying softly in her pyjamas.

'Kate?' when there was no response the elderly woman sat besides her, wrapping an arm around her shaking body 'Whatever's the matter?'

'I'm not sure I can do this, Ceila' was her sobbing reply.

'Of course you can. Let me tell you now, you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to dear. You went through so much pain and heartache before bringing our little Florence Olivia into the world, this is easy in comparison.' The tearful lady quietened a little as she listened to her mother-in-law 'Believe it or not, Caroline found it even harder than you are when William was born. She thought she could control everything but then this newborn entered her world and tipped it upside down. John was as useful as he is now. I remember coming over one day to find Caroline crying helplessly on the stairs whilst young Willie screamed in his cot'

Kate straightened herself out a little and wiped the tear stains from her eyes 'Really? Caroline found it difficult too?'

'You bet! And believe me when I say this; she feels out of her depth right now. She wants to take all your pain away but instead has to stand by and watch you beat yourself up. Now, why don't you go and have a shower. I'll watch Flo and make you some lunch for when you're ready'

Kate hugged Celia tightly and kissed her cheek before getting up and leaving the room for a shower.

By the time Caroline came home that evening Celia's magic had worn off and the house was once again a crumbling mess. Before she even got through the front door she could hear her daughter screaming once again. She thanked whoever was listening that Lawrence had gone to Angus' house for the evening and was missing such chaos.

Opening the door and entering the door she greeted by the sight on Kate leaning on the banister crying; anger in her eyes. The Nigerian woman turned to face the headmistress and opened her mouth, unable to stop herself 'I CAN'T DO THIS CAROLINE! I CAN'T! I THOUGHT I COULD BUT I CAN'T!' she charged towards Caroline whom had just enough time to shut the front door behind her and barricade it to stop Kate from leaving the house. Holding onto the woman who used all her might to get out of her wife's grip to no avail; Caroline was stronger.

'Kate stop it' when that had no impact and the woman still hit and pushed her she tried again 'Kate, stop it!' not once raising her voice too much. Instantly she crumbled in Caroline's arms towards the floor. Caroline fell with her so as not to let her hurt herself. She leant again the wall and held Kate whilst they lay awkwardly on the floor. 'You can do this, Kate. We can do this. I know it doesn't seem like it now but it will get easier' Caroline stroked her hair in an attempt to comfort the emotional wreck in her arms. 'I realise now that I've let you down; both of you-all of you. So for the next two weeks you have my undivided attention; you, Florence and Lawrence. I'll do the night feeds and let you get some proper sleep. We will sort this Kate, I promise' he voice wobbled a little. 'I love you sweetheart.' McKenzie looked up from her spot and gave Caroline the first proper eye contact they had had in days.

'It's like when all the other babies died, Caroline. I feel like I'm being pinned down by some great black cloud and there's no way out. I'm meant to be so happy that she's in our lives but instead all I want to do is sit in the corner and forget everything. Why me? Why now?' she murmured, admitting to how she felt freely and openly.

'I don't know- I don't know but we can sort it' encouraged Caroline 'What would I do without you darling? My life would be worthless- pointless even. We all need you, Kate' but in her head all she could think was 'postnatal-depression' and the urgency of getting Kate assessed and seen to. They couldn't go on like this for much longer.