Kate crept out of their shared master bedroom to the nursery so as not to wake an overworked Caroline. It was eight o'clock on a Saturday morning and she had been a little surprised to realise their daughter was yet to wake them up. On reaching the nursery doorway it was plain to see that the cot was empty. From the top of the stairs she could hear the familiar gurgles and babbles of Florence Olivia. At a glance Lawrence's bedroom door was also open, so tiptoeing downstairs she stood a distance away watching the boy interacting with his baby sister.

Lawrence was sat on the floor with his back against the sofa, his knees were bent up towards him and on top of them lay the growing infant. Although Kate couldn't see his face clearly it was obvious that he was pulling faces at her to make the girl smile and wriggle around with glee. 'Round and round the garden like a teddy bear. One step, two step and a...tickley under there!' he chanted. 'I love you, Florence' he uttered, suddenly turning a little more serious 'And I'm going to spend my entire life looking after you!' Lawrence stroked her cheek gently as she grabbed hold of his hand.

'She loves you too, Lawrence' added Kate, startling the boy a little as well as embarrassing him; his cheeks burned crimson red. The woman walked in to the room and sat on the sofa above her two children 'You're a great big brother to her.' Herself and Caroline had been astonished at how easily the teenager had adapted to having a baby in his life, and how much love her had shown her.

'Morning Kate' he responded, looking up at her 'I heard her crying so I thought I would let you and mum sleep. I warmed a bottle like you do, and I tested it on my wrist first. Is that right?'

'Absolutely perfect Lawrence, you did well' the younger woman encouraged 'And she drank it all so you must have done something right. Did you wind her afterwards?'

'Yeah, I'll leave that to you next time though' he smiled 'I'm not keen on having sick in my hair' Kate laughed at his response. It was mind blowing to see the places vomit from the mouths of such tiny humans could reach.

Upstairs Caroline had aroused from her deep and much needed sleep. From where she lay she could hear the rest of the household laughing and giggling directly beneath the bedroom in the living area. The older woman couldn't help but smile at the beauty of such a simple moment. Her outburst weeks beforehand had had the desired effect and Kate had sought the help she had so desperately needed. Together they had worked to piece their lives back together and give their children the security they needed.

Putting on her fluffy dressing gown and blue slippers she padded down the stairs and stood in the living room doorway, just like Kate had. Flo was still on Lawrence's lap and Kate was looking over his shoulder talking to the pair of them, regularly changing the pitch of her voice for the baby.

'Now this is where all the noise is coming from!' she laughed as the pair turned to look at her. Entering the room she sat next to her wife, kissing Lawrence's head and Kate cheek. 'How long have you both been up? You should have woken me'

'About fifteen minutes' replied the Nigerian woman 'Lawrence far longer. He decided to let us both sleep in and see to Florence for us'

'Easy work, mum! I don't know what you both complain about. This baby lark is easy' he joked

'Oh well in that case we'll leave you to do the night feeds?'

'Not a chance!' standing up gently he placed the baby in Kate's arms before running to the kitchen. 'Who wants bacon sandwiches?!'

'Where's my son and what have you done with him?'

Alan sat in the leather armchair with the sleeping baby in the crook of his arm; he was in his element.

'So we've left the bottles in the fridge and you know where everything else is' rambled Caroline as she put on her coat. Ceila stood opposite, rolling her eyes a little.

'It may have, you know, passed you by, but I did have a baby daughter of my own many years ago who happened to become a respected head teacher of a state school. I've had two grandchildren, three now, as well as Calamity.' She listed her experiences to humour her daughter.

'Your mum's right, Caroline. Come on, we're going to be late' pleaded Kate 'Thank you so much for this Ceila. Lawrence is getting dropped off my Angus' parents around nine and we won't be out too late'

'Go and enjoy yourself; the pair of you-'

'Flo and I will be grand together. Won't we love?' chipped in Alan soothingly.

'Okay-okay' replied the blonde haired woman. She kissed her mum's cheek and then proceeded to follow in her wife's footsteps to the car.

The married couple sat in an expensive restraunt; classical music playing the background. Caroline was leant forwards, her hands on the table, whilst Kate relaxed a little into the high-backed chair. Both of them sipped wine from their glasses.

'Well, this is...nice' stated Caroline, a smile sweeping across her beautiful face.

'No wailing baby. No hyperactive teenagers. Just us' added Kate swiftly 'My beautiful wife and I'

'Oh shush! You'll make me blush at this rate'

Kate reached across the table and took her wife's hand in hers. 'I love you, Caroline.'

'And you know my love for you is just as equal, if not more so.' A comfortable pause followed before the blonde haired woman carried on 'It's your birthday next month and I thought we should do something memorable; your first as my wife and your first as a mum'

'A night in front of the fire with you, the kids and a takeaway sounds just as satisfying, Caroline'

'If that's what you want darling, then that's what we shall do' replied the order woman, lying.

Lawrence let himself into the house with his own personal key, a surprise which Caroline had entrusted him with not long after they had moved house. She felt he was now mature enough to start taking on such responsibilities. Ceila appeared in the hall way with a finger to her lips and held the sleeping baby in the opposite arm. The boy followed her into the living room, leaving his bag by the stairs to take upstairs afterwards. Ceila took her seat on the sofa and Lawrence perched himself on the arm next to her. Alan slept soundly in the armchair opposite.

'She's so beautiful, isn't she Granny?' he stated quietly looking for approval 'Having her in our lives is not at all what I expected'

Ceila carried on gazing at the girl, taking in her constantly changing facial features 'That's what babies do, Lawrence. They change everything. It's your job, yours and Willie's, to be her role models. She'll look up to you and copy what you do'

'I'll look after her, don't you worry. I can't wait to take her to the rugby pitch and show her how to score a try' Ceila raised her eyebrow at such a suggestion. Noting this Lawrence responded 'What?! William will teach her the intricate English language, she's got to have some fun in her life!'

'You were such a beautiful baby, with your big brown eyes and cheeky smile. I'm proud of you and the man you're becoming. We're all so lucky to have you, Willie and little Florence here in our lives' Ceila, for once in her lengthy life, spoke from the heart; her eyes tearing up 'Grandad and I used to take you to the park and you would make us push you higher and higher on the swings.' She reached a hand up to her grandson's cheek and stroked it lovingly 'From the moment you were born we all knew you and William were complete opposites. Whilst he would sleep soundly and stay interested in books and toys, it was difficult to get you to stick at anything for more than five minutes.'

'I remember Grandad teaching me to throw a rugby ball in the garden' Lawrence cast his mind back to years gone by 'Only I accidently smashed the window on the garden shed one time and he took the blame; but mum being mum saw through his white lie' pausing briefly before carrying on, the teenager smiled 'I only realise now what a privileged life I've had and how lucky I am, Gran'

'Your Mum, she works hard to give you the life you all deserve' reflecting on the childhood Caroline had had, it struck Celia that she was trying to make up for the safety she had never had herself 'And Kate seems to fit in rather well, doesn't she?' The old woman hadn't had chance to seek her grandsons approval of her new daughter-in-law.

'I think-I think to start off with I felt a little like you did, but now I see how unhappy Dad made Mum. She deserves to be happy, doesn't she? Kate does that.' Explained Lawrence, being more adult like than his elderly relative had ever witnessed before 'Just like Alan makes you feel'

'You're a smart lad' looking at the clock 'But you really must jump in the shower before your mother and Kate get home or else they'll have my guts for garters' Lawrence smiled at his grandmother, kissed her cheek as well as Florence's and then sprinted out of the room and up the stairs. Ceila watched him disappear and smiled to herself.

The Elliott-McKenzie couple stumbled through the front door at gone midnight. Caroline's mum stood metres away with the same face she had had so many times before when her daughter had been a teenager and had shown up at ridiculous hours. The need to know where her child was still lingered and Celia was just glad to see the pair of them so happy.

'So that's where you've been!' she chuckled out loud, Alan joining her.

'Good lord! And I thought young Lawrence was a dirty stop out' added the male jokingly. Kate straightened herself out a little.

'We lost track of time. One drink led to another, on Caroline's part, and then we seemed to drive for miles'

'The stars are so-so beautiful at this time of night, mum' Caroline jived, her words a little slurred 'And the moon is just phenomenal. Come outside with me mummy and look' she begged, grabbing the older ladies hand. Celia stood on the spot and protested.

'Oh, good heavens. My daughter, a mother and supposedly responsible head-teacher drunk on a Saturday night.' Her mother handed her back over to Kate who started to help her back up the stairs. The older couple stood at the bottom laughing at such attempts.