"I'm looking for my daughter, she was brought in about an hour ago." Imogen tried to catch her breath as she stood at the A&E desk. "Her name is…"
"Darling, she's here." Constance, who had flown to the hospital as quickly as she could while Imogen travelled by car with Tom and Fleur, stepped out from the curtain area as soon as she heard her wife's frantic voice. "She's about to go for an x-ray, we're just waiting for the porter to wheel her down."
"Dad, will you..?"
"We'll go for a little walk, if she needs you I'll text you." Tom had followed at a slightly less rapid pace with Fleur who was fast asleep in her pram.
"Thank you." Constance nodded at Tom before taking Imogen aside. "You need to calm down before you see her."
"Why…. oh God, what's happened?"
"Nothing you don't know. The X-ray will tell us more but we have a very scared little girl in there and the last thing she needs is to see how upset we are."
Imogen clasped Constance's hand in hers before taking a deep breath, " I know. Okay, I'm ready."
"Mummy, mummy." On seeing her other mother Zara immediately burst into tears.
Zara looked so small and frightened as she lay on the bed that Imogen felt herself choking up again. She tried her best to smile reassuringly as she kissed her daughter. "It's okay Sweetpea, Mama and I are here and the doctors will look after you.
"It hurts."
"I know little one." Constance sat next to Zara and stroked her matted hair. "But remember what I said, the doctor is going to take a picture of you from the inside and then they can make you feel better."
"A magic picture?"
"A really cool magic picture." Stephen, who was sitting with Zara gave her a wink before glancing at his sister. "Immy….."
He was interrupted by the smiling porter who arrived with the trolley. "I hear someone is going on an adventure. Are Mummy and Daddy coming with you?"
"No, Mummy and Mama are.", Imogen spoke through gritted teeth at the embarrassed porter. "Come on Sweetpea, let's get your picture taken."
"I'm so sorry.", Stephen whispered as his niece was wheeled out of the room.
"That doesn't help, does it?", Imogen hissed under her breath while following the trolley.
Thirty minutes later Zara was finished with her X-ray and was back on the bed while her parents spoke to the doctor.
"She has some bruising on her arm and leg but the only bone that's fractured is her radius. We'll put her in a cast and keep her here for a couple of hours to make sure she's okay."
"What about concussion?" Imogen couldn't stop her mind going to worst case scenarios.
"From what her uncle told us she fell on her side but you're right to ask. We'll give you a list of things to watch out for when she leaves." The young doctor smiled kindly. "I know it's little consolation but at her age bones heal quickly, generally within three or four weeks. I'll be back shortly and we'll get the cast on and sort out some more pain relief."
"Thank you." Constance replied from her place on the bed before speaking to Imogen. "I suppose we should let Tom know what's happening. Why don't you go out, you can feed Fleur at the same time?"
"Fleur?", Zara's ears pricked up. Her baby sister may have only been in her life for a few weeks but she absolutely adored her. "Where is she?"
"Fleur's a little too small to come in Sweetpea, she's not big like you so Granddad is with her. I'm going to go and give her some milk and I promise you'll see her soon okay?"
"Okay.", Zara whispered sadly. "And Granddad and Stevie?"
"You'll see them as well", Constance promised, not missing Imogen's angry expression at the mention of her brother. .
Even if she hadn't been able to hear the cries echoing along the hospital corridor, Imogen's heavy breasts told her it was time to feed their youngest.
"Just in time." Tom sighed with relief as his daughter found them. There had been a bottle in the changing bag but Fleur had downed that after they arrived and was clearly hungry again. "The receptionist said there's a room down the hall that you can use."
"Shhh kitten, I'm going to give you your lunch now." Imogen picked up the sobbing baby before directing her focus to her father to explain what the doctor had said. "She's asking for you so would you mind going to sit with Constance while I feed Fleur? Maybe bring them some drinks and something light to eat?"
"Of course pumpkin. I'll phone Amelia as well and let her know, she's been so worried. Stephen's gone to get some air so I'll tell him too."
"Tell him to go home. We don't need him here."
"Imogen…" Tom could see where this was going.
"Don't Dad, not now." Imogen stalked out of the room, tears rolling down her face to match Fleur's and still not able to let go of what might have been. The thoughts were still with her once the newborn's hunger was satisfied.
"Immy…" Stephen approached his sister as she left the mother and baby room.
"I really don't want to talk to you now."
"But I feel so awful."
"Good, you should. My little girl has a broken arm because you weren't looking after her properly."
Stephen stopped dead at the harsh words, words that validated exactly how he was feeling since the farm trip with his niece had gone so wrong. "No, it wasn't like that. She just got away from me for a couple of seconds and tripped over a branch. I got her here as quickly as I could and…"
"She got hurt Stephen. She's in there, in pain and frighted because of you. I should have known not to trust you with her." Imogen's voice was low but her anger was abundantly clear.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you're irresponsible and careless and I want you to leave."
"Please don't send me away, let me help you, I can look after Fleur or sit with Zee."
Imogen scoffed and adjusted her hold on the baby. "You aren't going anywhere near them."
Constance, who had left Tom with Zara while she had gone to check on Imogen, just caught the end of the conversation. She could understand that Imogen was upset, she felt the same but she knew it had been an accident and was worried by what she was hearing.
"Darling, don't do this."
"No, I'm going to tell him exactly what I think of him and what he's done."
"Not here and not now when you're likely to say something you'll regret later." Constance's voice was firm but sympathetic to both. "Stephen, maybe you should go home, we'll let you know if anything changes."
Stephen was completely torn, he wanted to stay and see Zara but he knew how Imogen could be when she was this angry. He also knew that his sister-in-law wasn't being harsh, simply trying to prevent a worse argument.
"Tell Zara I love her and… tell her I'm sorry."
"We will.", Constance responded while Imogen turned away from her crestfallen brother.
"I thought you'd have more to say than that.", Imogen muttered when he was gone. "Aren't you angry?"
"What will being angry change?", Constance asked as she took Fleur into her arms, taking in the comforting newborn scent as she did so. "It's happened and as upsetting as it is, it could have been a lot worse. And I understand how you're feeling but there's no point in blaming Stephen. She's an energetic little girl, it could have happened when she was with any of us."
"So it's Zara's fault?"
Constance let out a deep breath. "That's not what I'm saying, all I meant was…Darling? Oh Imogen, come here." She pulled her sobbing wife to sit next to her on one of the conveniently located chairs, holding her close as she carefully balanced Fleur at the same time.
"I just, I.. Oh I know you're right, she's so energetic and full of life and seeing her in that bed looking so scared was just so hard. And she's going to hate being restricted by a cast. Will she even be able to go to nursery? She's only just beginning to enjoy it."
"I know but she's also very resilient and strong-willed, she'll find a way to cope with the cast. And as for nursery, we'll keep her off for the rest of the week but if they can take her we'll send her next week. And if she can't go or we have to cut it down to one or two days, she has both of us at home with her, not to mention Fleur." Constance was beyond grateful that they were both on maternity leave at this time. She was also thankful that, although she was still very new to the world, Fleur was so far proving a very placid baby who responded well to routine for the most part.
"I know." Imogen gave a weak smile. "And you're right, even with a cast she'll be keeping us on our toes? Have they put it on yet?"
"Not yet." Constance glanced at the clock, it was just after two. "There was a delay but they said within the hour. Tom is entertaining her for now." She knew Imogen wouldn't like what she had to say next.
"Amelia told Ava what happened when she collected her from school and apparently she's very upset. What I thought is that we could both speak to her now and then maybe when the cast is on you can go back to the castle with Tom."
"But…."
"Hear me out. Fleur is more dependant on you for her milk now and this isn't the right place for her. And if you go back you can take care of Ava as well. I'll stay with Zara, Tom will come back once he's dropped you off and then he'll take us home."
Imogen wasn't happy but knew it was the sensible option. "Alright but if you think I should come back you'll call me won't you?"
"Of course I will."
Before they went back to the ward they spoke to Ava who did indeed sound very upset and despite her Granny's presence seemed unable to stop crying.
"I know poppet, Zara wants to see you too but she'll be home soon. You stay with Granny and when I get back we'll have a cuddle with Fleur okay? Shhh. Okay, we love you. See you soon." Imogen was crying again as she hung up. "I'll call Abby when school is finished, if we time it right we can collect her on the way."
At that moment Tom jogged towards them to tell them it was time for the cast and after passing Fleur to her grandfather they made their way back to Zara. To their relief she didn't cry as the cast was going on, in fact she seemed quite taken with the doctor and answered all her questions about their family.
"I have three sisters, Absy, Ava and Fleur, she's a teeny baby."
"Oh wow. And do you have any pets?"
Zara's face lit up as she described her many animal friends. "Me and Stevie visit lots of animals as well. He fixes them when they're sick. Like you're fixing me."
Constance squeezed her wife's hand at the mention of Stephen before refocusing on Zara and the doctor who was just finishing up. "Well done little one, you're a very brave girl."
"Can we go home now?"
"In a little while." Imogen told her. "Mama is going to stay with you while I take Fleur home so she can sleep and have some milk. Is that okay?"
Zara thought about it for a moment. "Okay but will I be home for tea?"
The doctor responded to both mothers' quizzical looks. "We'll try our best."
Her best was almost good enough and five hours after Imogen had arrived home, two hours after normal dinner time, Zara was back at the castle and being welcomed by her concerned family.
"Hey Zee." Abby bent down and gently hugged her sister on her good side. "Have you been getting into trouble again?"
"Big trouble Absy, look at my arm."
"I see it" Abby kissed the blonde hair. "But you'll be better soon won't you? And we'll help you if you can't use your arm."
"Yeah." Zara was distracted by Ava who stood sniffling and clutching her Mummy's top. "Don't cry Ava."
"But.. but.. you got hurt." , Ava sobbed.
"I'm okay." Zara held out her unbroken arm and took Ava's hand before whispering something nobody else could hear but made her sister brighten up a little.
"Of course you are Sweetpea. And you had lots of adventures didn't you? Why don't we go in, get you clean, changed into some comfy clothes and you can tell everyone about your day while we a late dinner, I bet you'd like some pizza?"
"Yes please." Zara was too tired to be her usual excited self but she smiled softly as her Mummy carefully lifted her into the castle where they were followed by her still anxious and very protective older sisters. "Can I say hi to Fleur now?"
"Oh yes, she's missed you very much.", Imogen whispered, grateful at least that they hadn't needed to deal with an overnight hospital stay. Zara was home where she was going to receive the best care possible while she recovered.
For a moment her mind went to Stephen but the sympathy she felt was soon pushed aside as Zara moaned slightly, clearly having forgotten her cast for a second. Over the years both she and Constance had dealt with plenty of minor injuries and illnesses, it was always horrible to see their children in pain but this seemed far worse. Part of Zara was broken and to Imogen there was someone very clearly responsible.
"Careless, just careless as always.", she fumed to herself as she entered their living area. "Well this time he can deal with the consequences."
"Stephen spoke to Tom and Gabrielle several times this afternoon." Amelia told Constance as they finished making dinner. "He's still besides himself, so is Tom if I'm honest, about Zara of course but you know how he is if Imogen and Stephen are arguing. I tried to speak to Imogen but I didn't want to push her."
Constance let out a long breath as she leaned against the counter. "I know, neither do I, not just yet. Firstly, today was hard on all of us, not to mind that she's still only a few weeks postpartum and though she won't thank me for saying it, I know from experience her hormones are all over the place. Let's just give her some space for now."
Amelia had no choice but to agree but she couldn't help wondering just how long this unfair anger with Stephen would go on for.
As for Constance, she was having exactly the same thought as she made her way upstairs to her girls to give them all the comfort they needed. She just hoped that Gabrielle who had left just before they got home was able to do the same for Stephen. She also hoped Imogen's fury would fade once things had settled. Stephen was a huge part of their family and the girls needed their uncle, especially Zara who absolutely worshiped him and had mentioned him several times as they waited to go home.
"Will Stevie come and see me?", she had asked her Mama as they cuddled on the hospital bed.
"He loves you very much and he'll come to see you very soon, I promise."
Constance just hoped that for all their sakes it was a promise she would be able to keep.
A/N: Will it be enough? All will be revealed over this months story arc. Thanks for reading.