To everyone's relief Emma had stayed off ventilation and sedation. Jonny, the obvious proud father had spent all his free time cooing over the tiny baby who was starting to recognise his voice. She still lay in the same cot since her birth, in the exact same room.

The news had got around the hospital fairly fast, much to Jac's dismay and she had been inundated with texts and phone calls congratulating them on Emma's progress. Being the soft giant he is, and desperate to see his so-called niece Sacha sneaked down to visit the tiny tot during a free half an hour. He'd found Jac dozing in the arm chair cradling a sleeping Emma. If she had have been anyone else he would have a taken a picture but on this occasion it would have been completely inappropriate. Instead he bent down besides her and peered at the baby.

'Jac...Jac, it's Sacha' he whispered, trying not to startle the pair of them. Slowly the red-haired stirred 'Sorry, I thought I'd just come and see how she's getting on...little Emma here...she's beautiful'

The woman soon came to her senses and sat up straight in the chair 'Trust you get all doe-eyed over a baby'

'Don't tell me she doesn't make your heart melt as well!' he laughed, standing up, following Jac as she did too.

'She's allowed to, I am her mother' retorted Naylor

'It suits you, y'know? Being a mum it suits you Jac'

'Shut up Levy!' she replied, the obvious connection between the two reforming 'And take her. I'm meant to be back on Darwin in five minutes' The mother gently placed the baby into the males oversized arms.

'Are you sure you trust me with her?' he asked, a smile creeping across his face as he settled into the chair 'Who knows, I might convert her into a comedy act by the time you come back!'

'Don't go filling her head with rubbish!' called Jac behind her as she walked off.

'I wouldn't do such a thing, would I?' he lowered his voice as he spoke to the innocent form that lay in his arms 'Your mummy, she's the best. Y'know, you're the luckiest girl alive to have such dedicated parents. And whatever anybody decides to tell you, your mum loves you more than you will ever know' Emma wriggled in his arms, letting out a peaceful whimper 'Don't tell Daniel but I'm going to spoil you rotten. Yes, I am. And you best not tell mummy or daddy either. It'll just be Uncle Sacha's and Emma's secret-how's that sound? The grey-haired middle aged man sat with Emma for longer than he had planned, talking words of incoherent meaning.

Elliot had taken over Sacha's position in NICU, unplanned of course. He had been trekking down for coffee when an urge to see his granddaughter had come over him. He'd been a little taken aback when he had stumbled across Dr Levy. For a split second he had contemplated turning away and heading for the much needed coffee, but Sacha spotted him.

'Professor Hope!' His cheery voice called out 'I'm glad someone's come to tear me away'

'Ah well-'

'I should have been back on AAU half an hour ago. But this little monkey kept me talking' Sacha, placed the girl in the older man's arms, kissed her head and longingly left. Elliot felt a little out his depth, having been several decades since he last held a baby.

'Ah well ermm' muttered the professor, easing his creaky overweight body into the chair 'We'll just sit here then?' Surely enough though he eased into the position of holding the tiny infant, his giant hands making her look even smaller. 'Now, I don't know what your Uncle Sacha's being telling you but I'm more than sure he was right. I'm going to make you a promise, although of course you won't remember. Your mum, she's a career woman through and through; one of the best surgeons to grace my career. But I of all people should know how fast you children grow up; before she knows it you'll be eighteen and she'll be wondering where all the years went. So, I promise you that I will ensure she enjoys every moment possible with you.' He rocked Emma gently as she fell back to sleep, yet he continued to talk 'Although, I'm sure your daddy will help with that task. You see there's a whole team of us behind your mum, and you. All you need to know though is that she loves you, very much'

As his bleeper went off Elliot hurriedly put the child back into her cot and kissed her head, just like Sacha had 'And remember, Grandad loves you so much' Then he sprinted off, his heart barely able to take any amount of running. Only then did the child let out her first proper cry; the sense of being alone seemed to daunt her.