Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing: ?/?

Summary: Sequel to Epiphany, Jeff and Dixie are trying to have a baby, what happens when it is likely to be more difficult than they first thought?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, any original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for either of them to be used.

A/N: This is a direct sequel to Epiphany, please read that first to understand this story :) Reviews are welcome :)

Thank you to BeethovenRIP, chan. nelson4444 and Carlykinz for reviewing the last chapter, they are very much appreciated.

A transvaginal ultrasound is typically used for a woman under eight weeks pregnant due to the higher chance of seeing the foetus.

Chapter Ten.

Dixie allowed Jeff to take her up to the ante-natal clinic in a wheelchair, she was still feeling a bit weak from when she had collapsed earlier otherwise she would have complained about it. It was still sinking in that she was pregnant, she wondered how far along she was, probably not very far if she had taken the test a bit on the early side as she suspected that she had. There was a lot to think about, she would have to arrange to work at ambulance dispatch when she was further along and then maternity leave nearer the time to her due date. Tamzin would cover for her while she was away but there was a lot she had to think about besides work too. Preparing for the baby was going to take a lot of work, they were going to have to sort out a nursery and all of the things that he or she would need. Dixie knew that Jeff would spoil the baby rotten if she let him.

Dixie and Jeff found a nurse waiting for them when they went into the clinic, she wanted to know how far along she was and whether things were progressing as they should. 'Mrs Collier, we've been expecting you, follow me.'

'Can Jeff come in with me?'

'Of course he can.'

'Thank you.' Dixie was relieved that Jeff could go into the room with her. The nurse showed them to a side room and closed the door, she pulled the curtain back.

'We're going to do a transvaginal ultrasound as we believe you to be under eight weeks pregnant. If you could remove your trousers and underwear please and get on the bed, I'll be with you shortly.' Dixie let Jeff help her undress and get onto the bed, she was feeling a bit better but he really wanted to help her so she let him. The nurse came back and covered Dixie's legs with a sheet, Dixie watched the nurse prepare the equipment.

'Okay Mrs Collier, just relax and breathe deeply, you'll feel a small amount of discomfort but it won't last long.' Dixie took a few deep breaths and reached for Jeff's hand, she smiled when she felt his fingers close around hers. Dixie winced, the nurse was right about it feeling uncomfortable.

'You're doing well princess.' Dixie felt Jeff squeeze her hand, she felt better because he with was with her, it was easier to relax with him by her side. Dixie looked at the monitor, she couldn't see anything but the nurse clearly could.

'You're four weeks pregnant, the gestational sac is just visible here.' Dixie looked where the nurse was pointing and she could just see a little round area that looked different from the rest of the screen.

'Is everything all right?'

'Everything looks normal for the stage you're at.'

'Thank you, that makes me feel so much better.'

'You're welcome.' Dixie could hardly believe that something so small would one day become a baby. Dixie rested her hand on her stomach, she vowed to protect the baby that was just beginning its life inside of her belly.

Jeff helped Dixie dress again once the nurse had finished the scan, she still looked pale and accepted his help without complaint so she must still be feeling a bit weak. He was glad that Dixie was pregnant, he had shared her worries that she might not get pregnant but he had not let her see that he was worried. He had to be the strong one while they were trying for a baby. It had been very hard at the beginning when it felt like every moment of every day was filled with cravings for coffee and beer. He was tempted to start drinking coffee again but now that he had gone without it for two months he didn't really miss it, Dixie would more than likely stay off coffee while she was pregnant so he was going to do the same to support her. He'd also noticed that he'd lost some weight from around his middle, probably due to the fact that he hadn't been drinking beer lately, that and all the practising to have a baby was likely to have burned a lot of calories too. Jeff wondered how their life would change now that Dixie was pregnant, he would be a bit more cautious and look out for her more on shouts, he wished that she was going to work for ambulance dispatch earlier but he knew what she would say to that. He trusted Dixie, she would be sensible and not do anything to endanger herself or the baby.

Dixie took the arm that Jeff held out and they went out into the waiting area where the nurse was waiting for them. 'I have organised your first appointment for just before your tenth week, we'll fill all of the forms in and do a few tests to determine your due date and make sure that you are in perfect health. In the meantime I would like you to read through these leaflets and note down any questions that you may have. I also have the iron supplements that you will need, once you have taken these to get your levels back to normal you can start taking a normal supplement that has 30mg of iron in.'

'Thank you.' Dixie took the tablets and the leaflets from the nurse, most of what the nurse had said had gone over her head, she would read through the leaflets later and try to make more sense of everything. She still had the image from the monitor in her mind, that tiny little being inside her that was the result of the love that she and Jeff shared.

Dixie and Jeff went back down to the station to find Tamzin waiting for them in Dixie's office. 'Hey, how did it go?'

'I'm four weeks pregnant.'

'Is everything all right?'

'Yes, the nurse said that everything is normal.'

'Good, how are you feeling?'

'I'm all right, a little tired but happy.'

'You should go home, it has been a rough day for you.'

'I can't, I have to finish off my work for today.'

'It's already taken care of, I've filed all the reports from today's shift and sent them to the trust.'

'Thanks Tamzin, what would I do without you?'

'It's not a problem, go home and rest, you're off for the next fortnight aren't you?'

'We are,' Jeff said, once he could get a word in. 'I'll go and get our stuff and we can go home.' Dixie gave Jeff the key to her locker.

'Thanks love.'

'Jeff's kids are coming to stay with us for some of the holidays, though it was Lucy that suggested that they come a bit early so she could go away with her man.' Dixie lowered her voice when she talked about Lucy and the man she had replaced Jeff with, she knew how much it had hurt Jeff at the time and she didn't want him to keep dwelling on it.

'Do you think he will tell her?'

'About me being pregnant? I don't know, maybe. Sophia will want to know, she's so looking forward to having a baby brother or sister.'

'You don't trust Lucy?'

'No I don't, she would stop Jeff seeing his kids in a heartbeat if it suited her.'

'You're worried that she'll stop Jeff seeing the kids if she knows you're pregnant.'

'Yes, I am, I wouldn't put it past her to tell the kids that Jeff doesn't want to see them because he's having a new baby now.'

'Then get in there first, explain what is going on to the kids and that Jeff will always love them.'

'You're right. Thank you.'

'You should talk to Jeff too, explain your worries to him.'

'I know and I will.'

'Good, keep me informed.'

'Maybe you could come to round to our house and eat with us and the kids one night.'

'I'd like that.' Dixie smiled and hugged Tamzin, she was right, Jeff did need to know her worries about Lucy and the kids.

Jeff drove himself and Dixie home, he had been very worried today when he heard that Dixie had collapsed but out of that had come some very good news. Dixie would be fine once her iron levels returned to normal, he was going to keep a good eye on her to make sure that nothing like this happened ever again. He would make sure that she had everything that she needed during her pregnancy even if it meant going out in the middle of the night to get it for her. 'Jeff?'

'Are you all right?'

'I'm okay, I do need to talk to you though.'

'What is it princess?'

'Sophia and John, I think we need to talk to them about the baby and let them know that you'll still love them even though we are having a child.'

'Where has this come from?'

'I know Sophia wants a baby brother or sister but have you ever thought that Lucy might try to convince them that you no longer care about them?'

'Is that what you've been worried about?'

'Yes, if she finds out about us having a baby then she might decide to stop you seeing your children and I don't want to be the cause of that.'

'What do you suggest?' Jeff wasn't sure that Dixie had anything to worry about but he would put her mind at rest.

'I think we should talk to Sophia and John and explain that the new baby will not change the fact that you love them and that you'll always be their dad.'

'Okay princess, that's what we'll do, when they come here we'll sit them down and tell them everything.'

'I know you probably think I'm being paranoid but I just feel like we have to do this.'

'I understand, your fears come from a real place and I will do anything to help you get over them.'

'Thank you Jeff.'

'Anything for you princess.' Jeff hugged Dixie, she obviously didn't believe that Lucy would be so open to him seeing the kids if she knew about Dixie having a baby.

Dixie felt relieved that Jeff was taking her seriously about Lucy and the kids, she didn't want anything to come between him and his children. Jeff would have to tell Lucy sooner or later, if he didn't then Sophia would and that would be worse than Lucy finding it out from Jeff. Dixie didn't know what Lucy's reaction would be, would she care? Jeff's marriage had been over a long time before they got divorced so maybe she wouldn't care at all. She had taken Sophia and John to London and away from their father so what else was she capable of? Dixie would not let Jeff lose his kids again, she would do whatever it took to make sure that he was able to keep seeing them.

Jeff smiled, Dixie was only doing this because she cared about him, Sophia and John. He really hoped that he was right and that Lucy wouldn't take it out on Sophia and John just because he had remarried and was now having a baby with Dixie. He would talk to Sophia and John when they arrived here, that was really all he could do as Lucy was out of his control. Sophia wouldn't believe anything bad Lucy said about them, she loved Dixie and Dixie loved her. Jeff wasn't sure when he would tell Lucy about the the baby, the only thing that he did know was that he wouldn't be telling her until after Sophia and John had spent the fortnight here. He wanted time to reassure his children that nothing would change, that he would love them always just in case Dixie was right and Lucy tried to stop him from seeing them again. He knew one thing, if she did try anything like that then he would fight her every step of the way.