It was over three weeks later and physically Zara was recovering well. The doctor was extremely happy with her progress and the cast had already been changed for a smaller, less restrictive splint. Constance had been correct, she had been able to go to nursery and had adapted well, although they had kept her off on Fridays which was soft play day knowing that not being allowed to participate would have upset her terribly. She had also proven her Mama right about her resilience, finding ways to eat, play, hug and eventually sleep comfortably with only one arm.

There had been meltdowns of course, baths were difficult and showers near impossible. It seemed she hated the plastic cover more than the actual cast and wasn't afraid to let people know. Water also played a part in her biggest breakdown since the fall.

"But I want to go for swims.", Zara bawled when she was told they would not be going again this weekend.

Imogen, crying herself at this stage from seeing her daughter so hysterical shook her head sadly. "You can't right now Sweetpea, but as soon as your arm is completely better I promise we'll go and stay in the pool for as long as you want."

It was little consolation to the girl who loved swimming with her sisters. She did take some solace in the fact that Abby and Ava said there was no way they were going without her. Eventually the tantrum was stopped by her Mama's suggestion that the four of them go to the cinema instead while Imogen stayed with Fleur.

"Thank you.", Imogen whispered before they left.

"No need to thank me, you just take it easy here and we'll see you later." Constance kissed Imogen and then the sleepy bundle in her arms. "You and Mummy are going to have a lovely time together and when we're back your sisters and I are going to give you lots of cuddles. Be good little one."

Just before she left she remembered something that had been on her to-do list for a couple of days. "Darling, while we're out it may be a good time to give a certain S-O-F-T T-O-Y a W-A-S-H?

Like Ava, Zara had a large number of teddies that she enjoyed playing with. However, unlike her sister she only ever wanted one to cuddle when she was sleeping or feeling a bit down. And over the past few weeks she had certainly been relying on the toy lion she'd had since birth a lot more. The fact that it had been a gift from Stephen was not lost on anyone.

"Good thinking, I'll give S-I-M-B-A a B-A-T-H while you're out." Imogen turned her attention to her children. "Have fun, you can tell me and Fleur all about the film when you come home."

"Bye Mummy, bye Fleur." The girls waved as they followed their Mama to the car, although one of them in particular couldn't help feeling a mix of irritation, concern and fear at what nobody seemed to be talking about.

Stephen was apparently still persona non grata to his sister and Abby was not one bit happy with the situation.

A few hours later they were back from the cinema and while Imogen was sorting clothes out with Ava's help Constance had brought Fleur downstairs in her carry seat. She placed the dozing baby on the floor before sinking onto the couch.

"How can sitting down to watch a film be so exhausting?"

"I know but they really enjoyed it, especially Zee. Look." Abby held up her phone to show a picture of Ava and Zara sat together waiting for the film to start.

"That's lovely dear." Constance smiled as she saw how happy her two middle children looked. She passed the phone back to Abby, noticing that she was forwarding the picture to someone. "Are you sending it to Granddad?"

Abby paused, she tried never to lie to her parents, white lies over homework didn't count, and she wasn't about to start now. "No, I'm sending it to Stephen." She looked nervously out of the corner of her eye. "Are you angry?"

"Of course not." Constance reached over and touched Abby's arm. "I know this situation is confusing but please don't think we don't want you to contact Stephen, he's your Uncle."

"Have you spoken to him?", Abby asked.

"Yes I have. After speaking to your grandfather we decided that I should update him on Zara's progress and tell him that, well, tell him that your Mum just needs a bit of space."

"Does Mum know?"

Constance shook her head. "No she doesn't which I don't like, but I will tell her once she's calmed down a bit."

"Well, she'd better calm down soon. Do you know Zee thinks that Stephen doesn't love her anymore?"

"What?" Constance turned to fully face Abby. "When did she say that?"

"Yesterday. I told her he's just busy with work and can't call us but she's not going to buy that for much longer. I know it was scary when she hurt her arm but it wasn't Stephen's fault."

"I know dear."

"Yeah well, Mum should know that too." Abby ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "I want to shout at her sometimes, to tell her to grow up but I know I can't." She waited a second before asking the question that had been going through her mind, "Do you think she has postnatal depression or something?"

It was a thought that had also occurred to Constance and she took a moment to carefully consider her answer. "I don't think it's my place to diagnose that. She's coping remarkably well with Fleur and her mood seems good in general, bar her feelings for Stephen right now.

"Abby, I'm not telling you something you don't know, you've known your Mum longer than I have, but she has a tendency to overthink and blow things out of proportion. The fact that she has just had a baby may have added to that. I have spoken to her about Stephen and she knows its something she will need to address. As for postnatal depression, we can't rule it out and I am keeping it in mind but she will need to speak to the doctor about that."

"I guess and you're right, she seems fine with us, I just wondered. That's the other thing though, I hate that Stephen is missing out on Fleur. She's even cuter now that she's smiling and it's like she really knows us. I want him to have that too. And Gaby, it's like she's afraid to call in case she's not welcome."

Again Constance was in full agreement, Fleur had developed so much and she wouldn't have missed a second of it. She also didn't want any other family members to miss any of their little flower's early weeks.

"Leave it with me dear. I'll…."

Constance was interrupted by a loud shout from the kitchen.

"Simba!"

Both she and Abby rushed into the room to find Zara pulling frantically at the door of the washing machine. "My Simba… Mama help my Simba."

"Shhh, it's okay Zee, Simba's just having a bath." Abby pulled Zara back from the machine where the lion's face was squashed grotesquely against the glass. "He's fine."

Knowing she needed to calm the distraught toddler down, Constance decided it was time for some magic. "Simba will be good as new in just a second." With that she opened the door and pointed her fingers into the machine before pulling out a perfectly dry cuddly lion. "Here you go."

"Simba.", Zara snatched her little friend and cuddled him close. "You're back." She was still crying as she sat on the floor holding her teddy.

"Little one, let's get you up."

"No."

Constance looked at Abby for inspiration, luckily the experienced big sister knew something that would get Zara up again.

"Come on Zee, Fleur wants to see you. Will you come with me?"

Zara peered up through her fringe, clearly trying to decide what to do.

"Go on.", Constance prompted. "You know you love being with your baby sister."

She did love being with Fleur and so Zara allowed herself to be led into the sitting room where she immediately crouched next to the baby seat, giving Fleur a kiss and talking to her through her still flowing tears.

"Careful Sweetpea.", Imogen warned gently as she entered the room. "Remember she's still very small."

"She's fine.", Abby muttered through gritted teeth. "We're with her. She was upset and Fleur is cheering her up."

"Upset?"

Constance took Imogen aside. "Her little friend was trapped in the washing machine."

"Oh God, I forgot he was still in there." Imogen felt awful as she knelt on the floor next to a sniffling Zara. 'I'm sorry you were sad Sweetpea.I know you love Simba a lot. I just wanted to make sure he was nice and clean for you to cuddle."

"He's my Stevie teddy.", Zara whispered. "He's my friend now."

Both Constance and Abby saw the pained look that passed over Imogen's face at Zara's words.

"Where is Stephen?", Ava enquired from the doorway. "We miss him a lot."

"Good question, where is he Mum?", Abby asked pointedly. She knew she was pushing it by the warning look from her Mama but someone had to say something.

"He's working poppet. Anyway, while you were out Fleur and I made some banana bread, who'd like some with some tea?"

Imogen didn't receive her usual enthusiastic response to the offer. Abby just shook her head before going to her room. She was followed by Ava who knew something was wrong and wanted to talk to her closest confidante. Zara didn't want any cake and continued to sit with Fleur and Simba while Constance made the tea.

"Go on, I know you want to say something.", Imogen murmured when her wife arrived back with the tray.

Constance said nothing for a moment, simply laced their hands together. When she did speak it was with love and genuine concern in her voice. "I do but nothing bad. Darling, I love you very much and I can see how much this whole situation has hurt you. I haven't wanted to push you too hard but I think that we need to talk. Not now, later, but please know all I want to do is love you and help you reconcile with your brother, who I also care about very much. Nothing else."

"Okay." Imogen answered quietly. "Can I have a hug in the meantime though?"

"I can do even better than that." Constance lifted a smiling Fleur out of her seat and passed her to her Mummy. "Zara, will you join us?"

Tears gone for now, Zara grinned at them and along with Simba joined the cuddle. She was soon followed by Ava who believed Abby when she said that everything would be okay and that they would see Stephen very soon. Also, her stomach was rumbling and she didn't want to miss out on Mummy's banana bread. Abby however stayed upstairs for most of the afternoon and evening was very distant to one particular parent over dinner.

"Should I go and talk to her?", Imogen wondered when the younger girls were in bed and it was just her and Constance back on the couch. Abby had gone back to her room but they knew she was still awake.

"Talk to me first. Please Darling, tell me what's going on in your head."

It was a couple of minutes before Imogen started to release her burden.

"I know I've taken things too far with Stephen, ignoring his calls and texts and telling him to stay away but I was just so angry, even though I know it was an accident. I also know it's affecting people, Jamie said he feels stuck in the middle, it's really hurting Dad, Amelia, Gaby and you of course. And the girls miss him terribly, especially Zara." She stopped to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I miss him too."

"Then call him or go to see him, tell him you want to make up."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It is." Constance held Imogen while her body shuddered with sobs. "You know how much I've envied your relationship with Stephen over the years, you bicker and tease but you're so close. Don't lose that Darling, please don't let your pride stop you from contacting him. He's the only brother you have. And he's hurting too. I didn't want to upset you but I've spoken to him and he's devastated at what's happened, even more so at the fact that he can't see the girls."

Then she delivered the argument that made Imogen realise she would have to do something. "What if one day it's two of our daughters in this situation? Not speaking, both hurting. What would you tell them to do?"

"It would kill me if they ever fell out like that.", Imogen wept. "It's just, it was Zara."

"What do you mean?" Constance was confused.

"That's all I could think when we got the call, don't get me wrong, I would have hated it to happen to any of them but right now I feel extra protective of Zara."

Constance said nothing, knowing the silence would encourage Imogen to keep talking.

"I sometimes feel that she's overlooked. Not by us or by the family really but, well Abby's the eldest and she's outspoken and artistic and there's the whole history between us. Ava was the first baby we had together and she's so outgoing and empathetic and people are naturally drawn to her. Fleur is going to be the youngest, and you know how everyone fusses over a baby. I just hate the thought that Zara might get left out of things."

She breathed a sigh of relief after finally releasing the thoughts she had been harbouring for longer than even she had realised.

"Oh my Darling.", Constance murmured softly. "We will never allow Zara to be left out. I do understand what you mean but she is an extremely talented little girl in her own right. She is a natural with animals and has been since she was a small baby. Also she's very active, she's a great little dancer and I can see her following in your sporting footsteps somehow, likewise she's inherited your singing voice and interest in music.

"In the same way I see how interested she is in magic and although I would never push her, it would surprise me if she's not gifted in perhaps a few areas of witchcraft. And even though she may be wary of new people, you and I both know how loving and caring she is, look at how well she's responded to Fleur. Not that she wasn't a great sister before she arrived, she already helps Ava when her emotions become too much and she worships Abby. Once Zara loves you she loves you forever."

Imogen smiled through her tears. "You're so right. You know, Stephen said once that she's like a perfect mix of you and me when it comes to her personality. Maybe that's true but I just want everyone to see how great she is in her own right."

"They do and they will and Stephen is probably her biggest champion. I know he loves all four girls but he's Zara's person, just as Jamie is for Abby and Amelia for Ava. Don't deprive her of him."

"I won't. And I'm glad you spoke to him, thank you for doing that. Oh I've been so awful, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be, I'm just glad we're talking now, you know you can always talk to me." Constance knew they weren't quite finished yet. "Darling, I was wondering if maybe you should speak to the doctor."

"You think maybe I'm depressed." Imogen stated.

"I, well…."

"Don't." Imogen kissed Constance gently. "I'm not angry. I don't think I am, maybe more anxious than depressed but you're right, I haven't been fully myself. I will have a chat to her when we take Fleur in next week but I also think I need to go back to my techniques to stop overthinking."

"Exercise?"

"That does help.", Imogen shrugged. "I haven't done too much since Fleur came along apart from walking and some yoga with the kids. I'm dying for a run. Actually I'm like Zara in the sense that I'd love to go swimming as well, especially using the sauna and steam room now that I can again."

"Then go for a run tomorrow morning.", Constance suggested, delighted that Imogen was already thinking of what she could do to make herself feel better. "I'll look after the girls while you take yourself off. And once Zara gets the all clear we'll go for "swims" as she insists on calling it and I'll look after our little water babies with Abby while you relax."

"Thanks Sweetheart and I promise, I will talk to the doctor and I'll stop holding things back. Exercise is one thing but I want to get back into playing my guitar and my other hobbies. I also know that this helps, just time with you to talk and well, be together. We haven't had that lately between Fleur's arrival and Zara's accident have we?"

"We haven't but we seem to be in a routine with Fleur for now and I know everyone is more than willing to look after them for a couple of hours while we have some time alone. I've missed that too." Constance pressed her lips against Imogen's forehead. "And Stephen?"

"And Stephen. I know I have to face up to him and I promise I will." Imogen wrapped her arms around Constance and hugged her tightly. "Can I ask for something that might sound a bit silly?"

"You can ask for anything you want Darling and I will give it to you."

"Kiss me." Imogen looked out from under her damp eyelashes. "I can't remember the last time we had a proper kissing session and you know, you're a very good kisser Mrs Drill, I hate to miss out."

Constance pecked her love's lips lightly before giving her a warm smile. "I have an excellent partner."

She moved closer and deepened the kiss, taking the lead in the way she knew Imogen wanted. They kissed slowly, enjoying the closeness, both thinking back to a time when kissing and hugging were the main ways in which they expressed their feelings for each other. Their relationship had evolved and become more intimate of course and though they were both eager to resume that part of their marriage, as they lay wrapped around each other on the sofa and later their bed, they agreed that sometimes the more innocent moments were just as much fun.

The following morning Imogen was jogging down their street after a slower than normal but still very enjoyable five mile run. She felt exhausted but pleased that she'd started to push her body again. She was also nervous at what may be facing her at home. The night before Abby's light had been off when they went upstairs and not wanting to disturb her she had decided to wait until morning. Now morning was here and as she had told herself during her run, she was going to be as honest with her daughter as she had been with her wife. And equally as honest with her brother. She just hoped they would be as willing to listen as Constance had been.

As she approached her house she noticed some commotion by their gate. "What's going on?", she asked Francis, the elderly woman who lived next door.

"Oh Imogen, thank goodness, I was about to knock on your door. A cat was just hit by a car, we think it might be one of yours, it doesn't look too good."

Imogen's heart was in her mouth as she approached the whimpering bundle on the ground. "Oh God, it is. Keep her here, I need to make a call."

She ran inside to find Constance rushing downstairs.

"What's happening? I was getting dressed and I heard a noise."

"I need to call Stephen, Pixie's been knocked down."