Connie was lying flat out on the sofa, her hands on her bump and eyes closed, when Jacob pushed open the door. He smiled and entered the room with Grace at his heel. He realised when she didn't stir that she must have accidentally fallen asleep.

He crouched down next to her and rubbed her forearms. "Hey Con, wake-up, there's someone here to see you." Her eyes flickered open slowly, before scanning the room, her eyes widened when she spotted the young brunette girl standing tentatively at the door. She sat herself up hastily, Jacob sprung to her side, his hands at her back in case of any dizziness. "Woah, careful Connie, slowly. Your RTA patient is now in a side room, by the way.

"Gracie? You're really here? I thought I had imagined it." She smiled reaching her arm out to her daughter. "Come here baby. There are some things I need to explain." Grace slowly came and sat next to her mum. Jacob nodded and Connie smiled a thank you, before he left the room.

"I've really missed you baby, a lot. And I'm sorry for everything that happened. I was a really bad mum, I prioritised my work over you, the most important person in my life. But I need you to know, that through everything, I never have and never will stop loving you." Connie stoked her thumb over her daughter's cheek. "But I do understand if you hate me."

Grace turned her face slowly to look at her mother. "I don't hate you, it's just, you never had very much time for me when I lived here, and I began to think that maybe it was because you just didn't want to spend any time with me. Not that dad has much more time for me."

Connie's breath hitched in her throat as she heard her little girl speak. It was breaking her heart. She had no idea that her daughter had felt like this, about what was going on inside her head. Tears began to build slowly and trickled down her face, leaving tracks like that of a snail on the ground.

"Sweetie listen to me." She choked as her voice began to break. "There is nothing that I enjoy more than spending time, for you. I've treated you so badly I have made you feel like this, I wish I could take it all back I really could. If I could go back and change it I would." She stroked the top of Grace's head, feeling the smooth hair that lead up to her bun like a runway. "But I love you so much, and I need you to know that none of this is down to you. Connie tilted her head smiling sadly, sniffing. "Okay?"

"I love you mummy." This reminded Connie of the mantra that they used to say every night when she would put Grace to bed.

"I love you too baby." She cuddled her daughter close for the first time in months. Her daughter resting her head on her chest. Connie breathed in deeply reminding herself of her daughter's unique scent. Wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter as if she never wanted to let go.

Grace smiled and closed her eyes snuggling her head into her mother's chest. For a few moments they remained in silence, enjoying each other's company. Before Grace flicked open her eyes, and gazed down to her mother's raised stomach. She raised a hand to the bump. Connie's heart almost exploded with the 'sweetness'.

"So am I getting a baby brother or sister?" She questioned sitting up and gazing in to her mother's eyes.

Connie sighed. "Yes, in four months, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I wanted to tell you in person, and I thought I was going to see you before now."

"It's okay mum, I can't believe I'm going to be a big sister! I can't wait to meet them, OMG!" She squealed, when she was little she had always questioned Connie about her having another baby, of-course Connie had always told her that it would never happen, but now it was.

"Do you wanna have a picture to take home? I got one for you at my last scan, but never gave it to you." She leaned over the arm of the couch, and closed her fingers around the drawer of the chest, that sat in the corner of the room. Pulling it open, brushing her fingertips over the objects inside before pulling out the baby scan. And passing it to her daughter. Watching as her eyes widened and her smile broadened.

"This is actually them?" Connie laughed and nodded, kissing her daughter on the cheek. Grace ran her forefinger along the form of the baby. "Can I go and show daddy?" She jumped up as Connie nodded and flew out of the room, Connie following behind.

She flung open the door and ran up to her father and step-mum who were both sat up on the bed, Connie smiled as she watched her daughter's excitement.

"Daddy, daddy! Look it's a picture of mummy's baby! I'm gonna be a big sister in four months!" Grace held the scan up to Sam who took it and studied it.

"Really, well isn't that exciting, you'll have to come back and visit them after we leave in a few days." Suddenly the excitement dropped off Grace's face and she looked up solemnly to her dad.

"But I don't want to go yet! I want to spend time with mum!" She exclaimed. Running over to her mum and hugging her waist tightly.

"Grace." Sam said warningly. "Mum probably has to work anyway and we need to get you back home to school!" Grace snuggled tightly in to her mum's torso. "But you can spend tomorrow with her. If she's not working."

Grace looked up at her mum for an answer. "I am working baby." Connie said solemnly. Grace looked down disappointed. Sam smiled, knowing that move had played out well for him, in making Grace see that Connie had little time for her. "But, baby, I'll book the whole day of so we can do something together! Shopping?"

Grace beamed. "Really?!" Connie nodded. "Can I stay at your house tonight?" She inquired.

"Of-course baby, I just have to go and check on the results of Emma's CT scan, I'll see you later." Connie kissed her daughter's head and made her way out of the room.

"Mummy?" Grace pitched up, stopping her mother in the doorway. "I love you to the stars." Connie smiled widely, before replying.

"I love you to the stars . . and back!"

:3

I had to make this chapter fluffy, as I love the way that Grace manages to break through her mothers soft exterior with absolute ease. But that does not mean that this is the end of Connie's troubled relationship with Grace! ;)

Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, especially to IsabellaForever, for being so generally lovely and motivating me to continue! :)