Chapter 2

It was just after six in the morning as Helen walked through the Sanctuary with her daughter balanced on her hip. She had learnt very soon on that babies weren't too considerate of early mornings. The only saving grace for Helen was that she didn't need the same level of sleep as other people, she was however finding it harder to wake up on demand when Ashley began to cry out for her. James was trying to help out in every way that he could, but they both knew that there was only a certain amount he could do, especially when it came to feeding.

As Helen walked along with her held close in her arms she couldn't help but smile at the frustrated expression on her face. She was a couple of days being eight weeks old and still had Helen amazed every single day. Her playful expressions and bright eyes permanently darting around the room trying to take everything in. Having seen the occasional photo of herself as a baby Helen could see so many similarities between them, yet there was no doubting that the sharp blue eyes had come from John. She had known when she decided to re-animate the pregnancy that it may be hard to have a child around that reminded her of John, but that was something she was aware of and decided was worth it to become a Mum. The sense of love her child bought her was stronger that any other emotion she had ever experienced.

Helen knew all of the theories about becoming a mother, and the emotions it was meant to awake in any woman, but that hadn't stopped her from worrying. There was a lot of history behind the child and her conception, and she was not going to be raised in a 'normal' situation, she had never been sure about how she would react to having the child. Despite all of this would never have been able to imagine how amazing she felt to be a Mum. From the moment James had placed Ashley into her arms something had changed inside her, it was as though the emotion that had been waiting from the moment the embryo was removed from her body had finally been able to come forth. Carrying the child to term and giving birth to her had finally released everything she had been waiting so long for.

Helen walked into the kitchen and flipped kettle on before grabbing a mug and teabag. She could have stayed in her room to feed Ashley, but she wanted to give her a chance to settle, and loved walking her daughter around the home she so loved. Not to mention herself being desperate for a cup of tea. She was still breast-feeding, but had been careful to try and introduce some formula into Ashley's feeding, she wanted to make sure that if she couldn't be there to feed her that she wouldn't go hungry. It also meant that if she was completely asleep that James could take her and feed her if she needed it.

Helen poured the boiling water into the cup and finished making the tea before carrying Ashley through into the lounge. She settled herself down on to the sofa she had adopted as her own for feeding. She watched Ashley's little mouth nuzzling and suckling against her nightdress trying to find the source of her food.. "It's coming darling." Helen swiftly put the tea down before releasing her breast and helping Ashley to find the nipple.

Ashley quickly wrapped her mouth around it and began to gently suck. Helen couldn't help but smile as she watched Ashley's nose wrinkle before she relaxed into feeding and Helen felt her relax into her arms. She had been told so many horror stories about breast-feeding and reasons people weren't able to carry it on. From that aspect Helen knew how lucky she was, Ashley was always so gentle when feeding, as though she knew how special the time between them was. Helen gently reached across to pick up her tea. "When you're a bit older darling, I'm going to introduce you to the amazing invention of tea." Helen smiled as she watched her daughter wrinkle her nose at the suggestion, "Wrinkle your nose all you want, but if you find a taste for coffee then you will be officially disowned.

"Aren't you two a picture then..." James walked into the living room and stood behind the sofa Helen held the baby in. He gently lent down to place a kiss on the top of her head before gently resting his hands on her shoulders.

Helen slowly looked up towards him and smiled. "I didn't mean to wake you..." She twisted her head to kiss him on the hand resting on her shoulder. She had placed the tea back down on to the table and found herself gently stroking her daughters head. She was quickly become much more relaxed and slowly falling asleep.

James shook his head. "Don't be silly, I was actually heading down to make you a cup of tea..." He nodded towards the cup sat on the table. "However it seems Helen Magnus can juggle babies and tea just fine." He smiled at her before sitting down on the sofa next to her. Gently he lifted Helen's legs around and placed them across his own lap so he was able to gently massage her feet.

"You spoil me James." She smiled at him, as she too felt herself relax. She couldn't help but let out a small sigh as James worked that spot on her left foot. Ashley didn't seem to happy with her mothers attention being distracted from herself. She let her feelings be known with a rather loud sneeze against her chest before starting to cry. Helen smiled as she lifted Ashley up against her shoulder and gently bounced her in order to calm her again.

James just watched her. He had known for such a long time that Helen could pretty much do whatever she turned her hand to, but even he hadn't imagined how easily she would take to being a mother. How wrong he was. "You are quite amazing..." He smiled at her as he watched her move Ashley back to her breast and encourage her to start feeding again.

Helen cocked her head slightly. "You are a scientist just as myself James. It's all theories." She smiled at him before gently stroking a finger across Ashley's head. The softness of the skin and downy baby hair felt like nothing else she could imagine.

"Aah, but there is where we differ my dear. While I know there are theories behind parenting, I also know that some of it is down to human nature." He gently stroked her feet again. "From the happiness streaming out of your daughter I would argue that you are a natural when it comes to parenting." He smiled towards her, the sight of her at such peace while feeding her daughter was a sight that he knew he would cherish for a long time.

Helen smiled. "It just feels so right James…" She looked straight at him. "I just can't stop thinking about him…" She wanted to say his name, but she couldn't force it from her tongue. "We both know that one day he will come looking…" She looked down at the baby in her arms. She had fallen asleep and didn't look to have a care in the world.

James gently moved Helen's feet down and moved across the sofa so he could pull her close and wrap his arms around both of them. "Well, if that day happens then I'll be standing in front of both of my girls…" He paused and looked up at her. "Sorry I didn't mean…"

Helen simply lent in and kissed him gently on the lips. As she pulled back she ran her free hand across his face. "Don't ever apologise for the way you feel James." She kissed him again before whispering. "Because your girls feel the same way…"