This is probably a little detailed and long, but I had my practical head on when I wrote this. I wanted to show how Jean and Lucien could sort out their initial problems in getting the house safe for Bobby and got a bit carried away!

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Lucien parked the car outside the only baby supplies shop in Ballarat. As he went to get out and let Jean and Bobby out of the back of the car she stopped him.

'Lucien, we're only buying things for Bobby.' She had a warning tone in her voice. ' I don't want everyone knowing I'm expecting, yet.'

'Oh, I thought it'd be an idea to at least look at a bassinet or cot and pram.' He looked a little crestfallen.

Jean smiled, 'It's too soon, and I won't have anything like that in the house until I'm close to giving birth. It's unlucky.'

He took Bobby in his arms while Jean alighted from the car.

'I'd no idea you were superstitious.' he said.

Jean smiled and slipped her arm through his. she was going to keep a tight grip on him, this time she was in charge!

In the shop Jean explained, with her sweetest smile, that her grandson had come to stay but his mother had forgotten to pack sufficient things for him.

She quickly chose the things she wanted, trousers, tops, pyjamas, nappies socks, all the basics. Waterproof pants completed her order until Lucien drew her attention to a teddy bear he had seen.

'Every child needs a teddy bear, Jean,' he pleaded.

Jean looked at him and rolled her eyes, it seemed she now had two little boys in the house!

'Alright, if you say so,' but she smiled. She'd get her own back, nappy changing lessons were now on the agenda.

Before Lucien paid; he insisted; they inquired about a cot. Unfortunately it would have to be ordered and it would take about six weeks.

Lucien said not to worry, they'd sort something out. Jean couldn't see how but nothing could be done about it now.

As they left the shop armed with their purchases they bumped into Bill Hobart coming out of the hardware store. Bill raised his eyebrows and nearly dropped the bag of screws he was carrying.

'Mornin' Bill,' breezed Lucien.

'Er... morning Blake,' Bill couldn't take his eyes off the child Jean was carrying.

'Hello, sergeant,' said Jean, 'this is Bobby, my grandson.' Just in case he thought they had picked up a passing urchin.

'Mrs Blake.'

'Lucien, I need some things from the chemist, I won't be a minute.'

'Right,' he turned to Bill, 'Bill, you're a bit of a handy man, aren't you.'

'Depends what needs doing.' Bill wondered what he was about to let himself in for.

'Would it be possible to put sides on a single bed. We don't have a cot for young Bobby to sleep in and we don't want him falling out of bed.' Lucien had what Jean called his 'innocent face' on.

'Yeah, shouldn't be too difficult. Just get some lengths of wood and attach them to the head and footboards.' Bill turned to walk away.

'Er...Bill, I can stitch a wound and set a bone but I don't know one end of a screwdriver from the other.'

Before he knew it, Bill had volunteered to sort it out that afternoon, for Mrs Blake, of course.

Lucien gave Bill some cash for the wood just as Jean came back from the chemist.

'Ah, Jean, Bill has just volunteered to come and put some sides on a bed for Bobby.'

'That's very kind of you, sergeant, thank you.' Jean smiled at him.

'Yes, well can't have him falling out of bed, can we,' he mumbled, 'I'll pop over later, then.'

Lovely', and she smiled again. Lucien claimed she could melt ice with that smile. 'Lucien, we need to get back.'

'Right oh!' Lucien was thoroughly enjoying himself. Deep down he felt he was the happiest man in Ballarat, if not the whole world. Jean was happy, he'd sorted out a way for Bobby to sleep safely and his adored wife was expecting his child. Life just kept getting better and he didn't think it could after he married Jean.

By the time they got home they were both in need of a cup of tea and Bobby was getting grizzly. For speed and efficiency she asked Lucien to make the tea and she would change Bobby. Nappy changing lessons could start later.

Sitting down together in the kitchen they discussed which room to put Bobby in. Lucien suggested his old room but it had a double bed in it; they'd treated themselves to a new bed when they turned the studio into their room. They would have to swap it with a single from one of the other rooms. Lucien thought Mattie's would be the easiest and he'd get Bill to help later.

'I could help while Bobby's napping,' offered Jean.

'Not in your condition!'

'I'm pregnant, not sick!' Jean was appalled to think he felt she needed cosseting.

'Jean...' there was a warning note to his voice, and while she knew he was right she wasn't used to being wrapped in cotton wool, she'd worked on the farm while she carried both her elder boys.

'I'm sorry, Lucien,' she got up and kissed him, 'I'll try to be good.'

He pulled her onto the knee that wasn't occupied by Bobby and she put her arms around his neck. Bobby watched them kiss. He smiled. He liked Amah and Anpa, they liked cuddling and so did he. He wriggled in between them and Jean drew him into the embrace.

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After a light lunch, Jean put Bobby on the couch for a nap, he needed to get into a proper routine and this was a start. As Lucien washed up, she stripped the beds and folded the line neatly on the dining table, adding the pillows to the pile. She hoped Mattie might come back one day, and when she did the double would be ready for her. She missed her friend and decided to write that evening to tell her all the news.

Lucien watched her put the last of the pillows on the pile with renewed respect. As much as he wanted to protect her, he knew he had to let her find her own limits. Yes, she was a little 'mature' he hesitated to think 'old' to be having a baby, but she had delivered two healthy boys and there was no reason she shouldn't do so again. He sighed and resolved to let her take the lead, but watch for any signs of...oh, he didn't know what yet, but he'd guard her with his life. Women had been having children for eons, what did he, a mere male, know about it!

KNOCK, KNOCK!

'That'll be Bill,' he broke the quiet.

'I'll go, you can get the mattresses.' Jean in home keeper, no longer the housekeeper, mode, sashayed, yes sashayed down the hall. Now, now Lucien!

'Sergeant, hello!' Jean greeted Bill with a big smile.

'Mrs Blake,' he replied.

'Oh for heaven's sake Bill Hobart, how long have you known me? It's Jean, she laughed, the last bastion of formality gone.

'Right...Jean,' he smiled.

'I really appreciate this, Bill, Lucien's not good with tools unless it's a bone saw or a scalpel.'

Jean showed Bill into the house where her husband was manhandling a mattress towards what was now Bobby's room. She left them to it.

In the kitchen she started to prepare a casserole for dinner, she could keep an eye on Bobby from there. When that was done and in the oven she sorted through the clothes she had chosen for him. She noted the shoes she had taken off him needed a polish, they were shabby but they'd last a little longer.

In the bedroom Bill was in charge. He'd considered the issues and decided that if he hinged the sides and put clips on the ends Jean would be able to make the bed easily and lift the boy out safely. He liked Jean; he couldn't understand what she saw in a bloke like Blake, but they both seemed happy. Mind you, Blake could still be a bloody nuisance when he'd a mind to be!

'Hold that there.' He told Blake as he lined up a hinge.

It didn't take long to sort out the sides, Lucien was impressed.

'Bravo Bill! Excellent job!' Lucien clapped him on the shoulder. 'Now let's get the mattress on and I'll make the bed.'

Make the bed, Bill was astounded, surely Jean did that. But something about Blake's demeanour around his new wife made Bill think again, they worked well together, helped each other.

'I can't do much about the house but I can make the beds,' Lucien grinned, 'why don't you go and see if Jean has any tea on the go, we could both do with a cuppa.'

Bill ambled into the kitchen, a bemused expression on his face.

'Ah, Bill, tea?' Jean smiled. Bill had noticed she did that a lot more these days.

'Please, the Doc's just making the bed.'

'Right, sit down. I hope Lucien didn't get in the way.'

'No, no, he was fine.' Bill wasn't sure how to take this last remark. It sounded like she was referring to a child, not a grown man!

'Dinner will be in half an hour,' she called through to Lucien, 'no pillow for Bobby!'

'Yes ma'am,' Lucien peered through and gave her a mock salute, which resulted in her throwing the tea towel at him. Bill was almost embarrassed at this display of domesticity.

Bill got up to leave.

'Where do you think you're going, Bill Hobart!' she demanded.

'Well...', he motioned towards the front door.

'Sit right there, you're staying for dinner and...' as he made to refuse 'I won't take no for an answer!'

Bill didn't dare.