Hope

Mared screwed her eyes shut as another contraction hit her. She was terrified but knew Tom was as worried as she was.

"You ok?" Mared asked as Tom raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Think you might have broken a bone in my hand." She rolled her eyes as the midwife and doctor walked into the room. The middle aged woman looked serious; her peach scrubs and theatre mask making Tom instantly nervous.

"Baby is coming out today." The doctor stated firmly. "Labour has progressed too far to be stopped. Mared, your baby is going to be born today."

Mared squeezed Tom's hand as he grew visibly pale. She had no idea why he was so scared; she knew he had been present at the birth of his older daughters. Tom swore under his breath, the profanity sounding worse in Welsh. The doctor carried on examining Mared before tutting.

"We have a scbu bed ready. Mared, your blood pressure is too too high and you are bleeding. The only way we can deliver the little one safely is an emergency Caesarian section. Now."

Tom closed his eyes. He felt helpless, totally useless to anyone and everyone. He kissed Mared's hand as she smiled weakly at him. Before he knew what was happening she had been wheeled away.

Xxxxxx

"So." Delyth sat on the edge of her desk; the map behind her on the blue wall. "You really think this will work? Honestly Sian?"

"Dunno till we try."

"This is Brian Prosser." Lee folded his arms. "The Brian Prosser. You know? Upstanding and respected police chief who just happened to be a complete scumbag to those he had control over. Complicit in murder, kidnapping, blackmail and terrorising women. He paid, remember. He paid for Mared and the Boss to be killed."

"I remember."

"And you, Sian my lovely girl have a bullet hole scar in your shoulder thanks to the grey haired prick." Lee shook his head as Lloyd handed him a mug of tea. "He's in prison. Let him rot. That's what I say."

"I agree." Lynfa walked into the room. "Plus if anyone meets him it's under our names. Not Mared Rhys."

"Ma'am." Sian sighed. "I've made the arrangements."

"That's ok." The older woman nodded. "I'll unmake them. He's being moved to a prison further away; he doesn't know it yet but maximum security cat A has a cell waiting for him in London."

The room fell silent as the news sunk in.

"He's lost." Lloyd sipped his tea. "Brian Prosser has actually lost."

"Yeah." Delyth nodded. "But, why is it I don't think it's the last we'll hear from him?"

The team fell silent, unable to disagree with the south walian woman. They all knew Prosser too well.

Xxxxxx

Tom leant against the wall of the maternity unit, knowing that there was nothing he could do but wait. Staring at the floor he barely looked up as Mared's oldest child headed straight for him.

"Tom? Beth syn bored?"

"Hi." He watched as the young girl stared at him; clearly terrified.

"Mam? Y babi? beth sy'n Digwydd?"

Tom sighed. He knew Elin was as worried as he was. He tried to order his thoughts. Resting a hand on her arm he ushered her over to the plastic chair a few steps away.

"The baby is on its way. But there was a problem. Mared is having an emergency c section. We just have to wait." He watched as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Elin, cmon." He hugged her knowing that Elin and Mared had been through so much together that another drama really didn't seem fair. They sat together in silence for what seemed like hours. The minute hand on his wristwatch taking his attention for an eternity.

"Mr Mathias?" He looked up to see Dwynwen walk towards them. Tom got to his feet as the midwife appraised the teenager next to him.

"This is Elin. Our oldest." Tom explained without thinking. Elin blushed. "Mared?"

"Is groggy. She lost a lot of blood. We have given her a transfusion and antibiotics." Dwynwen explained. "But the baby is fine. A little small but healthy."

"Thank God." Tom buried his face in his hands. Elin rolled her eyes.

"Do I have a brother or sister?"

"Sister. 4lb 2oz."

Elin squeezed Tom's hand. "I knew it! I said it'd be a girl! I'm going to phone the others. You go and see them!" Tom turned to her. "Are you sure?"

"Give Mam a kiss for me. And the baby. You should see them first." Elin pulled out her phone as she spoke. Dwynwen ushered him into the Recovery room where Mared lay sleeping. A drip fed into her arm as machines monitored her vital signs. Tom kissed her forehead as the midwife left the room.

"Hi." She whispered as she opened her eyes. "Tom?"

"It's ok. It's all ok."

"A girl."

"I know." He glanced over to the basement where a sleeping baby with a pink bonnet could be seen. "I think my fate is to be surrounded by amazing women."

"I love you." Mared yawned as her eyes locked with his. He kissed her again before moving over to the baby, he picked up the sleeping child before returning to Mared's side.

"Beautiful." Mared stared in wonder at her youngest daughter. "We made her."

"Yes." Tom smiled; acutely aware the anaesthetic was making Mared talk nonsense. "Yes we did. I've thought of a name."

"Good. I only had boys names. You name her." Mared stared at the baby as Tom eased her into her arms. She stared at the baby, captivated.

"Hope."

"Hope Mathias." Mared smiled at her daughter. "It's a good name. I like it. Hope." She turned to see Tom watching them and knew her entire world had just changed. All thoughts of corrupt police and killers left her as Elin arrived in the room. She finally had the feeling that the future was going to be a lot better for them; no one could hurt them now.

Xxxxx

A/N diolch for reading. Not sure I like the ending. May write more hinterland stories if anyone would like to read them.