Connie sat staring at her hands, concentrating on every single detail of them. The lines, the freckles and the tiny scratch on her right hand that she had no recollection of doing as she thought about not only her unborn baby, nor Grace or Alfred. She thought about everything. Her mind alive with a million thoughts buzzing around her brain. Did everything really happen for a reason? If this was true, what was the reasoning behind every single major happening in her life? She was alone. She didn't have anyone to talk to, nobody to comfort her. She had pushed them all away and now she needed to stop wallowing in her pathetic self pity and start to take responsibility for her own stupid careless actions.

She was interrupted from her thoughts as the door swung open and Charlie walked in slowly, shutting it behind him. He froze for a moment before saying gently, "I didn't mean what I said earlier, Connie. You're not on your own at all in this."

Mrs Beauchamp frowned and shook her head with a sarcastic smile upon her dainty face, "But clearly I am terrible at prioritising the right things in my life." She paused standing up, "Like you said, Charlie, I got myself into this mess, I'll have to deal with it - on my own." He stepped forward, shaking his head, "If you don't want my help, I suggest you contact the father, I'm pretty sure he played a part too." Connie shrugged, trying to avoid the subject of the father, she thought Charlie would have worked it out by now. She picked up her patient's notes, her eyes glued to anything but Mr Fairhead. His face was blank for a moment but it became clear when he clicked who fathered Connie's unborn baby, "Alex?" She didn't speak, she just gave a small nod before Charlie continued, "Connie..."

"It was a mistake. A mistake Charlie. Surely even you've made a few of them in your own life?" She walked over towards Charlie, looking up at him, "A mistake that will be rectified very soon, I can assure you that." Mrs Beauchamp added, beginning to head for the door.

"Rectified?" He stood, puzzled but he knew what his friend meant, and this worried him, "Are you sure you've thought this through?"

Connie placed her hand on the door handle, before turning around, "It's not practical. I don't have the time never mind the energy and patience to look after a ba-" She gulped, struggling to say the word she wanted to, "A baby." She finally managed with a small smile that she thought would reassure Charlie that she had thought this through. The nurse was about to respond before she said, "Anyway I must get back to my patient." She opened the door and then turned her head to Charlie, "Oh and thank you."

"Did you know you that you were pregnant, Holly?" Connie asked, looking through her 17 year old patient's notes.

The petrified girl looked up at her doctor, and shook her head, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Connie arched an eyebrow before looking at Rita who was taking some bloods from Holly. Rita put the syringe on the tray and placed her hands gently on the edge of the bed.

"It's really important that we have an idea of how far along you are, Holly. Just so we can run the right tests and can discuss what options are available to you." Rita explained gently to Holly who looked up at the blonde kind nurse and listened carefully.

"It was my first time." She mumbled, "I didn't know I could get pregnant." She looked down at her hands and tears began to well in her eyes, "I thought he was 'the one'. He seemed like he cared and that. He was nice. Like he understood me, he didn't think I was weird like everyone else does."

Connie watched Holly as she spoke, feeling everything she was saying however her face still remained as cold as stone but her eyes revealed everything she was feeling.

"First or one hundredth time, unprotected sex still leads to the possibility of pregnancy." Connie said, staring at the wall, her voice not as sharp as usual. Rita frowned at her, questioning as to why Connie's icy comments weren't accompanied by the right tone.

"Does your boyfriend know that you're pregnant?" Rita asked.

"He ain't my boyfriend. He never was. And no, I only found out last week. He stopped speaking to me ages ago." Holly replied, playing with her hands nervously, "What? Don't look at me like that. I'm not a slag."

Rita frowned, "I never said you was, sweetheart." Rita gave Holly a reassuring smile before picking up the bloods and leaving.

Connie placed her stephoscope in her ears and placed it on Holly's chest, "When was your last period?"

Holly kept her eyes glued to her hands, "I haven't had a period for two months. It was quite a while ago we, y'know 'did it'."

Connie looked at her, "I'll arrange an ultrasound so we can determine just how far along you are, ok?" She replied with a slight half smile.

Holly's eyes widened, and she looked panicked, "I don't want to see it. Please can't you just like, I don't know, make me wee on one of those tests like you see on those adverts that tell you how pregnant you are?"

A small laugh from Connie filled the room, "It doesn't quite work like that. We need to be accurate." Holly looked up at her doctor and swallowed hard, "Do I have to see it? The baby?"

" don't have to, if you don't want to." She whispered gently, "I know decisions like this are very hard but just remember that whatever you decide is the choice that's best for you."

"Have you got children?" Holly asked after a brief silence.

Connie nodded, "Grace." She whispered with a smile, thinking of her little girl.

"Is it hard? You know, being a mum?"

She looked at Holly, she couldn't find the right words to remain impartial, she looked down at her hands and thought for a minute. "It isn't easy." She paused, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

Connie gave the teenager a warm smile, before she picked up her notes and began to walk towards the curtain. She stopped and turned around as Holly's nervous voice filled the cubicle again, "Will you stay with me at the scan thing? It's just my mum is in Spain, she won't be back for another week and well I don't think I can do it on my own."

"Of course." Mrs Beauchamp replied gently, "Isn't there anybody else we can call?"

Holly fiddled with her fingers and shook her head, "The nurse. Y'know the blonde one? Yeah, she called my grandma but she isn't coming until tonight when she finishes work." She looked up at Connie who nodded, "Thank you doctor... Doctor?"

"Mrs. Mrs-" She stopped, wanting Holly to feel comfortable and at ease, "Connie."

"Thanks... Connie." Holly nodded with a smile as she said her doctor's name.

'Hi Mum,

Here's a pic of the Statue of Liberty ! Dad said its a really important monyoument or something. It was cool. :)

When you come here in a few weeks youll have to come and see it. Its much taller than anything ! Taller than Big Ben.

I had a sleepover at Londons house yesterday. We stayed up so late I don't think we went to sleep it was so fun ! :D she's my bff. That means best friend forever by the way. She has a dog called Freddie and he is so cute ! Dad won't let me have a dog, so unfAir !

I have to go now. Dads said I have to go sleep as iv got school tomorrow

Night

Love you

Grace xxxxxxxxxxx'

Connie read her daughter's email over and over with a smile on her face. Grace was experiencing everything in life that her mother had always wanted her to. She missed her little girl more than anything in the world, but knowing that Grace was happy eased her pain massively.

'Hey Gracie,

Wow! That does look really cool and indeed very tall! Did you enjoy yourself? Have you any more pictures?

That sounds wonderful, sweetheart. I'm really looking forward to seeing you! I miss you.

You stayed up ALL night!? Now that does sound like fun. Does London go to the same school as you? I'm really glad that you seem to be making such lovely friends. Aaaah how sweet! :) Though dogs are so much hard work, I really don't blame your Dad.

How is school? Your dad sent me your report. Well done you! I'm really proud of you, Gracie. You're so clever and bright.

Sleep well baby girl.

I can't wait to see you in three weeks! (And counting!)

I love you too!

Mum xxxxxxx'

She pressed send and sat back in her chair, looking down at her stomach. How could she be rid of something that would turn out to be someone as special and beautiful as Grace?