He promised Niamh he would explain everything over a coffee, so long as she would not upset Assumpta with this the moment she woke up.

"Well, aren't you going to tell me?" She said sitting down, handing him a cup of dark brown liquid, housed in polystyrene cup.

"I'm not sure where to start," Peter admitted.

"Well the beginning might be an idea." She replied bluntly.

"Yes, the start, good idea," he said before going into how she came to him as a friend looking for comfort, after falling rowing with Leo.

"I'm sorry father; I just can't believe this of you." She responded once he told her everything.

"I know. I can hardly believe this myself." Niamh scoffed at his remark. "Look I don't come asking for yours or anyone's forgiveness but I do want you to know how much Assumpta means to me, I love her Niamh."

"I know," she whispered. "That still doesn't change what you did."

"I know and I'm sorry." Niamh rose from her seat, taking her dishwater coffee with her and the baby. "Where are you going?"

"To see Liam and Donal, to find out what happened. Are you coming?" She asked.

Peter nodded and followed her out of the cafe.

The pair walked in silence with Niamh leading the way. They found Liam and Donal sat outside the accident and emergency ward, both of them wearing slings and sporting bandages to head.

"Your da's not here is he Niamh?" Liam asked, wincing as he stood up.

"No he isn't, not yet," she said sharply. "Are you going to explain what the hell happened?"

The two men looked at each other sheepishly before Liam began to explain: "Well you see, we were driving to Kildargen and Assumpta came speeding down towards Ballyk, I thought we had enough room to get by so I continued,"

"I told him to slow down," interrupted Donal.

"Then what happened?"

"Well I heard a phone ring; it came from underneath the driver's seat so I reached down and got it. It was Mr Quigley's phone, I must have swerved into the other side of the road and hit 'Sumpta's van but I can't really remember." Liam admitted.

"Oh my god!" Niamh exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands.

"What is it?" Peter felt entitled to ask.

"I caused the crash," she whispered as the colour drained from her face.

"How?"

"I tried to call my dad, to see if he would look after Kieran as I was planning to take Ambrose out for dinner. It's all my fault."

"Niamh, look at me, it is not your fault. You couldn't have known what was to happen." Peter said trying to reassure her.

"But I still feel guilty, father. I might have killed Assumpta's-"

"Don't." Peter interrupted, "You can't think like that Niamh, perhaps you are better off being at home, I'll call you if there is any news."

"Thank you father but I need to stay here and be there for when Assumpta wakes up. If she wakes up."

"Assumpta is a fighter, you said so yourself."

"That was before I knew I might have killed her."

An hour came and went and still they were none the wiser as to how Assumpta was. Ambrose made his way to the hospital and gave Liam and Donal a lift home and the policeman stayed in Ballykissangel after telling Niamh a hospital was no place for a small child.

Peter needed to clear his head, he went outside to try and put everything into perspective. Only this morning he almost had everything, right now he should be enjoying the first day of the rest of his life with Assumpta. He had imagined they would be making plans for their family but now the chances of that happening were slim.

The frantic buzz of relatives, patients and sirens did nothing for his nerves so Peter found himself walking down the long dreary corridor, leading to Assumpta.

He peered in each window in hope he would find her and when he eventually did his heart was ripped into two.

Her skin was icy white and she lay motionless, hooked up to wires and machines. Her red hair was a mess and had been pushed out of her face by the think white strip of bandage wrapped around her forehead.

"Assumpta," he cried as he noticed the other various cuts and bruises that sat on her face.

"Father Clifford?" He jumped as he felt the presence of someone behind him. It was Doctor Cavanaugh.

"Yes, doctor?"

"We have Ms Fitzgerald's results back."

"And?" He asked hopefully.

"She is very lucky, there is no swelling to and around the brain, we will keep her in for observation but it is looking like she will pull through."

"Oh that is wonderful news," Peter beamed.

"She's not out of the woods yet, father." The doctor warned him.

"What about her baby?"

Doctor Cavanaugh didn't reply, he just looked sympathetic.

"When will I be able to see her?" He asked, biting his lip to refrain from crying in front of the medic.

"When she comes round."

"When will that be?"

"When Ms Fitzgerald is ready, don't worry my team and I are keeping a close eye on her."

He watched the professional leave before bursting into tears. He had lost everything, God had taken a proverbial knife and he was twisting it deep into Peter's heart. This was his punishment for the sins of his heart.