This is a momentous update for me - the last chapter broke through the most views I've ever had for a story, which I still can't quite believe! Thank you to everyone who's read or reviewed this story, it means so much to me. I hope you enjoy this chapter (even though it's slightly shorter than normal - sorry)!

It was quite something to be the one having the examination for once. From her position on the cold bed, Shelagh could see a crack in the ceiling of the hall. She'd never noticed it before - too concerned with what was happening in front of her, or inside her head. The paint was peeling around it, coming away in small flakes like snow. Nearby was a stray Christmas decoration - a tinsel star - that she remembered Patrick helping Timothy to place the year before. That had been a good Christmas, she mused. She had laboured over the pudding for weeks beforehand to make sure it was ready, following her mother's old Scottish recipe passed down through generations. Then, when the big day came she'd been downstairs at the crack of dawn to get the turkey ready. Patrick had set the pudding on fire with whiskey later, and she'd held her breath as Timothy edged away from the table, pushing his chair back while Patrick lit the match. But their worry had been misplaced and he'd done it perfectly, not even setting fire to the curtains (which, she learned from Timothy, had happened before. She'd wondered where the scorch mark came from). Remembering that day, she pondered what next year's Christmas would be like - probably even noisier with a baby. Maybe they'd go round to Nonnatus instead. The Nuns would sing, and Mrs B would make a feast for the soup kitchen they ran from this very hall. Maybe they would go up to Scotland for a traditional Christmas. She mused over this as Jane came in, hands freshly scrubbed.

Jane had found herself transformed since her arrival at Nonnatus, and even more so since becoming the wife of Reverend Appleby-Thornton at their spring wedding earlier in the year. Sister Evangelina - for whom weddings were obviously an emotional trigger - had cried copiously, which they had all gallantly pretended not to notice as she sniffed about her "allergies". Jane seemed a completely different person than the shy, retiring woman Shelagh had first met - now competent and, if not talkative, willing to make conversation. Her anecdotes from being a district nurse kept the Nurses and Nuns in hysterics at lunchtime, while Jane sat there smiling shyly. Taking inspiration from Nonnatus, she had decided to train in midwifery in order to boost their numbers, and it was nearly a year now since she'd completed her training. Shelagh knew Patrick was somewhat apprehensive about such a newly qualified midwife treating his wife, but trusting in Shelagh's judgement, he had remained quiet. Now, as Jane took out her pinard and gently felt around the bump, Shelagh held her breath. Her worries were still there, although lessened slightly by Patrick's reassurance, but it would be good to hear it from Jane as well.

But she received no such comfort. Jane froze in place, listening through the pinard, and then she lifted it up and tried another area. Shelagh's heart rushed to her mouth, and she felt her blood run cold as Jane frowned. Trying to keep her voice calm she asked, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Jane looked up at her, eyes wide and slightly panicked.

"Nothing's wrong, don't worry. I'm just going to go and fetch Cynthia to help me with something."

And with that she left quickly, still carrying the pinard.

Shelagh felt like crying. Everything seemed to have been going so well, and now this! Whatever it was, there must be something wrong for Jane to look like that. Something they hadn't noticed, something Shelagh had missed - oh God, she thought, what if the baby has died? Please Lord, please, please don't let the baby have died. She ran through the week since the last check up swiftly. The baby was kicking yesterday, she knew that much - specifically because it had aimed the kick at Patrick's ear. They had both laughed hysterically. That seemed so long ago now. Surely everything couldn't have gone so wrong in a day?

Cynthia walked in with Jane behind her, and came round to the side of the bed.

"Don't worry Shelagh, there's nothing wrong. Jane just wants me to check something."

Shelagh looked at the pair. "You can tell me what's happened. I need to know."

"I will," Cynthia said, "as sure as I'm sure."

Cynthia bent down with the pinard, and, as Jane had, listened through it on one area of Shelagh's stomach. Then, frowning, she moved the pinard to another area. Finally she tried one last time before straightening up and looking Shelagh in the eyes.

"What is it?" she whispered. "Is the baby dead?"

"No Shelagh." Cynthia replied, her eyes twinkling suddenly. "Both babies are very much alive and kicking."

Patrick and Timothy sat in front of her with their jaws hanging open.

"Twins?" Patrick said finally, breaking the silence.

"Twins." Shelagh confirmed.

"I'm going to have two siblings?" Timothy asked, mouth still gaping.

"Indeed you are. Now eat up that Shepherd's pie before it gets cold." Shelagh replied.

Timothy grinned at her before returning to his dinner.

"But how did Jane not realise? You're nearly 8 months gone!" Patrick said, frowning.

"She just missed one of the heartbeats I think - it's easily done. I didn't realise it was twins either Patrick, and I have a lot more experience then she does."

"Yes, but she should have noticed! You're pregnant, you couldn't very well inspect yourself. That's a basic error!"

Shelagh held his hand across the table and looked him in the eyes. "She feels awful about not realising sooner Patrick, and I completely understand why she didn't. We've all done it, and she's new at this anyway! There's no harm done, and both babies are doing well."

Patrick nodded, placated. "Will she still be your midwife?"

"No" Shelagh said shaking her head, "she doesn't feel she has enough experience to deal with twins, so Cynthia's going to take over - possibly with one of the Nuns to help."

Patrick smiled at her. "It's such a pity that Nurse Turner can't be there. She' be the perfect midwife for the job, she's the best one I know."

Shelagh smiled back at him, blushing slightly.

"Twins." he said wonderingly. Then: "We're going to need another crib."

As ever, thank you for reading - I hope you enjoyed this chapter!