AN: *TAP TAP* Is this thing still on?

Well I made it. I'm now living in New Zealand, working on the west coast of the south island as a school teacher! Hubby is still in the UK, but due to join me asap. And now we're on our way to our future, and there is both time in my life and room in my head for writing again!

This story has lain dormant for a long time. Now it's time to find a finish for it. Let's go.

"No."

"But Bill, I…"

"I said no, Beryl."

Mrs Patmore was shocked into silence. In his better moods, Bill called her Darling. Even when he was teasing her, he called her Mrs Mason, still tickled pink that she had agreed to be his wife. But his use of her first name was restricted to particular occasions when he wanted to make an impression.

"Look pet, I've never been away from me own farm. Not ever. It's not right for a farmer to be away from his livelihood."

"But Bill…"

She reached for his hand, stretched out on top of the bedspread. Though his face was set into a straight line of resolve, he relented enough to hold her fingers. The strength was gone from his grip though, and his face was white and thin.

"Bill my love … the farm's got everyone here to worry about it. It's got Daisy, and Andy, and me too, and all the people who work here. Not to mention the family at Downton Abbey, Lady Mary would never let anything happen to the place. Nor would Mr Branson."

Bill grunted and tossed his head. "Mr Branson … he spends more time with them flippin' motor cars than any livestock these days, him and that Mr Talbot."

Mrs Patmore wisely held her tongue. Bill had little time for those who valued machines above livestock.

"But my love … the farm needs you for the long term. Not just the harvest."

There was a knock at the door. Daisy's voice called through.

"Can I come in?"

"You most certainly can…"

Mrs Patmore hauled off the bed, after one final squeeze of Bill's fingers. She flung the door open to see Daisy standing with two teacups balancing one in each hand.

"Come in here and talk some sense into your father-in-law… I've got dinner to sort out yet, or we'll all be dining at midnight."

Daisy came and balanced the cups on the bedside table, pulling the chair over to sit beside the man who had loved her as a father since she was still in her teens.

"How are you feelin'?"

Bill smiled as she rubbed her protruding tummy.

"Better than you, by't look of it lass. What's ailing you, is our little stallion kicking you again?"

"Oh, black and blue. I'll be one big bruise by the time this little one comes out to see us all."

"Not long to go now lass, two months will fly past."

"I hope that it will, Dad."

Bill looked up suddenly. Daisy had called him Mr Mason through their long friendship, which had grown and blossomed since the death of his son in the great war. When she moved into the house, it had shortened to the more friendly version of Mr M, but she could never adapt to calling him Bill. The generation gap was too wide. But this…

"By 'eck lass … what's brought this on?"

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Not a bit of it. But … how many years has it been since we've known an'other and now…"

"Dad … " Daisy looked so serious and so worried that Bill longed to take her in his arms, but knew that he must listen.

"You're the only father I've got. The only one, really. You told me, when I first came to the old place, that you wanted me to be your daughter. To teach me, to look after me, so that you'd have someone to pray for. And … well, I've not prayed for much for a long time, but I've always prayed for you. And I prayed hard when you were taken so ill. Because you see … I'm not ready to … " Daisy bit her lip and caught her breath, her cheeks flushed a little and her eyes suspiciously bright. "Well, I'm not ready to live the rest of my life without you. I need to here. To help me, to help Andy too. And to meet our little one. To be Grandad, as well as Dad."

Bill was speechless. For the first time in his long life, he was bereft of words, wise or otherwise.

"Daisy … I will always be here for you lass, you know that…"

"But I don't! Not now, not really. And if you work yourself through another harvest, if you keep pushing yourself, then by the time this baby is born … He or She might not have a Grandad at all."

Bill's face had looked white and pale for weeks, but now he seemed transparent.

"I'm not saying this to upset you, and the doctor said not to shock you, but Dad … I need you. More than the farm does. More than ever right now. And I need you to get well, because I will need you more than ever in a few months time. Maybe even in a few weeks."

"Aye … aye, I hear you lass."

"So … will you think about it? About going and getting some rest? Because after the harvest, there'll be a really really important job coming up."

Daisy's hand rested on the curve of her belly. Her eyes were bright, but her smile was genuine now.

"And there's nobody in this world who can do it like you could."

Bill smiled, and accepted the wisdom he had long since taught to his daughter-in-law. And when the tea was drunk and Daisy brought out the empty cups, happy tears from her and from Andy and Mrs Patmore threatened to overflow them again. Daisy had managed the impossible. Bill was going to do as he was told, and make the trip over to the coast to convalesce at The Gull's Nest.