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 and chan. nelson4444 for your reviews and continued support, enjoy :)

Chapter Fifteen.

Dixie opened the door to Tamzin, she was right on time. 'Come on in Tamzin.'

'Thanks Dixie, something smells nice.'

'That will be the lasagne and garlic bread, it is near enough done.'

'Sounds lovely.'

'How is Tom?'

'He's good, he's quite jealous that I'm coming here tonight.'

'I'll save him some of the food and you can take it with you.'

'Thanks Dixie.'

'Take a seat.' Tamzin sat down at the table.

'How's things here?'

'Good, the kids and Jeff are having a good time. I love having them here.'

'Where are they?'

'They're upstairs, Sophia wanted her hair straightened by her daddy.'

'How are you feeling Dixie?'

'Much better, the tablets are working.'

'I'm glad to hear that.'

'I'm almost my normal self again, I have a few more days left on the tablets and then all my symptoms should be gone completely.'

'Good. How is the little one?'

'Nice and cushy I think.' Tamzin smiled. 'Though you won't see anything for another seven weeks at least.'

'I know, it will be exciting to go through this with you and Jeff.'

'I just hope I'm not going to suffer too much with morning sickness and so on.'

'I'll help you and I'm sure that Jeff will help you too.'

'Thank you Tamzin. I am sure that he will, he'll probably be very protective of me.'

'Yes, I am sure that he will be, it is sweet.' Dixie got up and looked in the oven, she put on the oven gloves and took out the container full of lasagne, the cheese was bubbling and it smelled wonderful. She started to put the salad and garlic bread on the table ready for Jeff and the kids when they came down.

Jeff stood behind Sophia, he was using Dixie's straighteners to straighten Sophia's hair, she had decided that she wanted to be like Dixie and that started with straightening her hair. John was sat watching, he knew that this was Dixie's attempt at giving them some time together. Jeff tried to push aside the feelings of sadness that he would have to let the kids go home in a week. It was getting harder to let them go home, he tried to stay strong for Sophia as it was hardest on her when she had to leave. If she saw that he was upset then it would only upset her more. 'You look very pretty my little princess.'

'Do you think so daddy?'

'I do.' Jeff carefully unplugged the straighteners and left them to cool down, Dixie would murder him if he let the straighteners set fire to anything. 'What do you think of your sister's hair John?'

'She looks lovely.'

'Thank you John.' Sophia hugged her brother and then Jeff. 'Daddy, do we have to go home?'

'Not yet.'

'What if I don't want to go home?'

'Sophia, you have to go home to your mum, your school is there.'

'But I miss you when I go home daddy.'

'I miss you too but you know that you can call me whenever you need to talk to me.'

'I know, I wish we could visit more daddy, I like coming here.'

'We like you coming here too.'

'One day, when I'm bigger, I'm going to come and live near here and then I can see you every day.'

'I'd like that. What about John?'

'He can come and live with me too.'

'Would you like that John?'

'Yes, I'd like that very much.' Jeff smiled, he was glad that his kids still loved him but he felt guilty that they had to spend their time split between two homes. Maybe he had been a better husband to Lucy then this wouldn't have happened. He knew that not all of the blame rested with himself, she was as much to blame for it all ending. Maybe if they had both been better people then it wouldn't have ended up this way.

Dixie called upstairs to Jeff and the kids, everything was ready for them to come and eat, she soon heard the kids run down the stairs and into the kitchen. 'Wash your hands please.' The kids ran to the sink and did as Dixie asked them. Jeff came into the kitchen as the kids sat down.

'Hi Tamzin.'

'All right Jeff.'

'Jeffrey, was your hands please.'

'What?'

'Pardon, honestly, how are Sophia and John meant to learn any manners when you go around saying what all the time.'

'Pardon, my lovely wife, what was your request?'

'Wash your hands before you eat.' Dixie looked pointedly at the sink and Jeff washed his hands, she ignored the obvious sarcasm in Jeff's comment and busied herself with putting the lasagne and salad onto the plates for everyone. Once Jeff had sat down at the table Dixie sat in her own place. She noticed that the kids were giggling and laughing at their dad. 'Okay everyone, eat up.' Dixie smiled as the kids tucked into their food, it pleased her to see that they ate their salad too.

Tamzin watched Dixie take control of the kids and Jeff in one fell swoop, she would make a wonderful mother when the time came. She ate her lasagne, it was wonderful, Dixie was an amazing cook, that little baby in Dixie's belly was very lucky to have a mother like Dixie and a dad like Jeff. 'Thank you Dixie, this is lovely, you'll have to give me your recipe for it.'

'I will do, I am glad that you like it.' Tamzin ate the last of her lasagne and salad and pushed her plate to one side. 'I think it is time for dessert.' Tamzin watched Jeff rub his hands together.

'Good, I like dessert.'

'Not for you Jeffrey.'

'What, why not?'

'Pardon, Jeffrey, you haven't eaten your salad.'

'Come on Dixie, please.'

'No, finish your salad and then you can have cake.' Tamzin laughed, Sophia and John were thoroughly enjoying seeing their dad get told off for not eating his salad. She laughed again as Jeff pulled a face as he started eating his salad.

Jeff glared at Dixie for making him finish his salad. 'Daddy, you should listen to Dixie, salad makes you big and strong.'

'Yes, it does princess, but daddy is already big and strong.'

'I eat my salad so I can have cake, maybe you should do the same.' He couldn't argue with Sophia's logic, he quickly finished his salad and put his plate with the others on the side of the sink. 'Happy now Dixie?'

'Much better, now you can have cake.'

'Thank you my love.' Jeff kissed Dixie on the cheek and helped her put the cake in the bowls and our the custard on top. 'I love Bakewell tart, it is my favourite.' Jeff went to sit down with the cake but Dixie stopped him.

'Give that piece to Tamzin, she is the guest so she gets the first piece.' Jeff scowled at Dixie and handed the bowl to Tamzin.

'Thank you Jeff.'

'You're welcome.' Jeff watched Dixie hand round the other bowls of cake to Sophia and John and then she gave him his. 'Thank you Dixie.' Dixie smiled.

'I'll teach you manners yet Jeff.' Jeff just laughed he could see the funny side of Dixie's mothering.

Tamzin sat with the kids in the lounge, they were sat watching Shrek on DVD while Dixie and Jeff washed up. She had offered to help but Dixie wouldn't let her, she looked at the kids sat together on the sofa and smiled, for a brother and sister they got on so well. 'Tamzin, do you like Shrek?' Tamzin looked at Sophia, she'd been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed the young girl get up.

'I do.'

'Who is your favourite character?'

'Princess Fiona, I like when she becomes an ogre for good. It is so romantic.'

'It is. Do you think you will marry Tom one day Tamzin?'

'I would like to marry him one day when we're ready.'

'When do you think you will be ready?'

'I do not know right now, but I think that we will know when we are ready for that step.'

'Can I come when you do get married?'

'Of course you can, both you and your brother are very welcome.'

'Yay, thank you.' Tamzin smiled at Sophia, she was so sweet. 'I like you Tamzin.'

'I like you too.'

'You made mummy let us see daddy again.'

'Not really.'

'You did, for the party to celebrate daddy and Dixie's wedding, then daddy told her he wanted to see us and she had to let him.'

'I know, your daddy is very happy to have you here.'

'I like being here. Tamzin, do you think my daddy looks like Shrek?' Tamzin giggled.

'How do you think your daddy looks like Shrek?'

'He's bald like Shrek.' Tamzin laughed and Sophia giggled.

'Don't tell your daddy that.'

'I won't. I think Dixie is like Fiona, she's pretty and kind.'

'That she is, she also has quite the feisty temper like Fiona too.'

'She does, she tells daddy off a lot but I know that she loves him.'

'Of course she does, Dixie loves your daddy very much, she loves you two as well.'

'I know, she looks after us and makes us nice food.' Tamzin smiled, Sophia was very sweet and she loved her dad and Dixie a lot.

Dixie went into the lounge to find Tamzin sat in the middle of Sophia and John, they were both cuddled up to her as they watched Shrek. Dixie smiled at the scene in front of her, they'd had a good day and this was a good end to it. 'I see you're occupied Tamzin.'

'Yes, a little bit, I don't mind though.'

'Dixie,' Sophia said from her spot next to Tamzin. 'My daddy is Shrek and you're Fiona.'

'Am I now?'

'Yes, because you're pretty like her.' Dixie felt her heart warm at Sophia's words and she smiled.

'Thank you, you're very pretty too, I like your hair.'

'Do you? Can I have it like this again?'

'Of course you can.'

'Yay, I'm going to tell daddy.' Sophia jumped up off the sofa and ran into the kitchen.

'Dixie, Tom is on his way to pick me up.'

'Oh good, I don't want you going home alone in the dark.'

'It has been very enjoyable, thank you for inviting me.'

'It is my pleasure, consider it a thank you for everything that you're doing at the station.'

'I don't mind, I am just glad that you're okay and that you're having a good time.'

'We are, I can relax more knowing that the station is in capable hands.'

'Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to it.'

'I know.' Dixie turned at the sound of the doorbell. 'Looks like your lift is here Tamzin.'

'It does, doesn't it?' Tamzin turned to John. 'Goodbye John, it has been nice seeing you again.'

'Goodbye Tamzin.' Dixie smiled as John hugged Tamzin and then waved at her, he clearly liked Tamzin.

Tamzin went to the door with Dixie, she found Jeff and Sophia waiting for her. Sophia threw her arms around Tamzin. 'Goodbye Tamzin, will you come and see us again before we go home?'

'Of course I will.'

'Yay, thank you.' Tamzin hugged Sophia.

'You're welcome.' She hugged Dixie and then Jeff. 'I'll see you soon.'

'Take care Tamzin,' Dixie said as she hugged her.

'I will, you take care too, thank you for the food.' Tamzin picked up the boxes with some of the lasagne and the cake in.

'You're welcome. You take care of her too.' Tamzin chuckled as Dixie pointed at Tom.

'I will.' Tamzin knew very well that Tom wouldn't dare invoke Dixie's wrath, nearly everyone had seen Dixie in one of her moods and most of them didn't care to see it again, except Jeff, he never seemed to learn not to open his mouth and always ended up annoying Dixie. Tamzin waved one last time as she got into the car, she had enjoyed herself this evening, it had been good fun and a great way of unwinding after her shift. She settled down in her seat, she was looking forward to spending some time with Tom before they had to go to bed for their shifts tomorrow.