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, olivia. c. king1 and chan. nelson4444 for your reviews :)

Chapter Nineteen.

Jeff woke immediately when the alarm went off, he remembered everything that happened yesterday, Sophia running away and coming here, Lucy telling him that she didn't want Sophia back. He still had to go to work today, there was nothing they could do about it at such short notice. Tamzin would look after Sophia so that was one worry off his mind, for now anyway. Jeff noticed Dixie stirring beside him. 'Morning princess.'

'Are you feeling any better Jeff?'

'Not really, there is so much we have to think about.'

'I know, can we put it on hold until later?'

'I suppose you're right, it won't do me any good thinking about it right now.'

'It won't, let's get work out of the way and then we can talk to Sophia and let her know what is happening.'

'How do you always know what to do Dixie?'

'I'm a genius.' Jeff smiled, he couldn't help it, Dixie always knew what to say to help him feel better.

'A smile, that's better. Don't worry Jeff, we are going to get through this.'

'I know, I think I do anyway.'

'Come on, let's get up and get ready. Tamzin will be here soon.'

'You're right.' Jeff pulled the covers, he was going to have to face the day sooner or later, it wasn't going to go away.

Dixie put some bread into the toaster and set about making some tea for herself and Jeff, he was still very distracted after the events of yesterday. She heard the tap on the door, it would be Tamzin, she was right on time. 'Come in Tamzin, the door is open.' Dixie busied herself with putting the toast onto plates and buttering it. She turned her attention to the tea as Tamzin walked in the door. 'Morning Dixie.'

'Hi Tamzin, I'm sorry for getting you up so early on your week off, I didn't know who else to ask. Can I get you a drink or something to eat?'

'It's all right Dixie, Sophia is a lovely girl. I don't know what Lucy could be thinking treating her like that. I'm okay for now, I don't usually eat this early.'

'I don't know either, are you sure? I can get you something.'

'I'm okay, really, I'll have something later. How is Jeff?'

'He's angry, he has every right to be. I'm mad too, anything could have happened to Sophia.'

'I'm just thankful that it didn't. What is going to happen now?'

'I don't know, she's staying with us but we have a lot think about, schools and so on.'

'I can help with that if you like.'

'Thank you, we really appreciate this.' Dixie called up to Jeff and he came down to the kitchen, she was worrying about him, he was very rarely this quiet or subdued, she would talk to him before they started their shift together.

Jeff ate the toast that Dixie put in front of him, he was doing it to keep her happy, he knew that she would worry about him if he didn't eat. He sipped at his tea, it was just the way that he liked it. 'Thanks Dixie.'

'No problem.' He put his plate into the sink and carried on drinking his tea, he was feeling a bit better now that he had food in his stomach. 'Thank you Tamzin for looking after Sophia.'

'That's all right Jeff, she's no trouble.'

'Will you tell her when she wakes up that I love her and we will be back later.'

'Of course I will.' Jeff nodded and smiled at Tamzin, he was lucky to have people that he could rely on around him. He went upstairs and into Sophia's room, he tiptoed quietly to her bed, she was still fast asleep. He looked down at Sophia and smiled. He gently kissed her on the head. 'Daddy has to go to work but I will see you later. I love you Sophia.' He went back out of the room quietly and then joined Dixie downstairs. He wanted to say that he loved her himself, he knew that Tamzin would tell her what he said but he wanted to tell her too.

Dixie and Jeff said goodbye to Tamzin and went to work, Dixie had given her instructions to get herself something to eat and to make herself at home. They made it to the station in time for the start of the shift and got themselves changed. Dixie was thinking about Sophia and Jeff, it was going to be a big learning curve for them all. They were going to have to get used to having a child around that would need looking after and arrangements would need to be made for when they were on a shift that would clash with Sophia's school time. They were going to need a child minder too. Dixie mentally told herself off, she had told Jeff to put things aside while they were at work and she was thinking about everything herself. She clipped the radio onto her belt, she was ready for the day ahead.

Sophia woke up to find herself in her room at her dad's house, she remembered running away and getting on the train to Holby. She was glad that her dad was waiting for her when she got off the train. She had to be with him and Dixie, she liked them and they liked her. Sophia got out of bed and went into the hall, it was quiet, she went downstairs and found Tamzin sat on the sofa. 'Tamzin, where are daddy and Dixie?'

'They had to go to work so they sent me to look after you.'

'Okay.' Sophia climbed onto the sofa beside Tamzin.

'Your dad told me to tell you that he loved you and he will see you later.'

'Do you know if I can stay with daddy and Dixie?'

'No, I think they want to talk to you later.'

'I want to stay here, I don't like mummy, she said horrible things about daddy.'

'I know, Dixie told me what she said.'

'Then you know why I don't like mummy.' Sophia snuggled up to Tamzin, she hoped that she could stay with her dad and Dixie and she wouldn't be made to go back to London.

Dixie sat with Jeff in the rec room on their break, she looked at the text message that she had just received. 'Sophia is awake, Tamzin has given her some breakfast and she's making sure that she takes a shower.'

'Oh good, is she all right?'

'Tamzin says that she's asking if she can stay with us.'

'I think we should tell her when we get back.'

'That would be for the best, telling her face to face is better.'

'Yes, I'm not going to tell her what Lucy said. All she has to know is that we've decided to let her stay with us and Lucy has agreed to it.'

'Okay, she will not hear it from me, that horrible woman has done enough to that poor child.' She noted that Jeff stayed silent at that comment. 'Jeff, are you all right, you've been quiet all day.'

'When I think what could have happened to Sophia out there on her own.'

'It didn't, she's safe with us now and we're not going to let anything happen to her.'

'I know, nobody will hurt her while we're around.'

'Try and put yesterday behind you Jeff, we have more important things to think about.'

'I know.' Dixie watched Jeff's hand sit on top of her stomach. 'I think you're growing a little bit there Dixie.'

'Maybe, I have noticed my stomach is a little more rounded than usual.'

'How are you feeling?'

'I'm getting a little bit of sickness every so often but other than that I'm fine.'

'You will let me know if it gets too bad, won't you?'

'Yes, don't worry, right now I'm all right.'

'Good.' Dixie smiled at Jeff, he was definitely feeling protective of her, she was trying not to get mad as he had been through a rough couple of days and getting protective of her was his way of dealing with it.

Sophia was getting impatient, Tamzin had told her that her dad and Dixie were on their way back. She heard the car door close and she went to Dixie when she came in and hugged her. 'Hello Dixie.'

'Hi lovely, have you been okay?'

'I have, Tamzin made me lunch and we played with Little Abs.'

'Good, I am glad to hear it.'

'Where's daddy?'

'He's just locking the car.' Sophia waited for Jeff to come in and then she hugged him tight.

'Hello daddy.'

'Hello, my little princess. Come and sit with me, I want to tell you something.' Sophia took Jeff's hand and went into the lounge with him.

Jeff sat Sophia on his knee. 'Now then, Sophia, you must promise me that you won't run away again. You gave me quite a scare.'

'I know, I'm sorry daddy, I promise I won't run away again.'

'That's all right. I talked to your mum last night and we agreed that you should stay here for a while.'

'Can I really stay here with you, Dixie and Little Abs?'

'Yes, it has been decided.'

'Yay, thank you daddy. I like being here.'

'We like you being here.'

'Do I have to go to school?'

'Yes, we will find somewhere for you to go to school.'

'Please make it somewhere nice.'

'Of course I will, nothing is too good for my little princess.'

'What about my clothes and my favourite toys?'

'Your mum is bringing them to us at the weekend.'

'Do I have to see her?'

'Not if you don't want to.'

'She might make me go home, I don't want to go home.'

'Don't worry my little princess, nobody is going to make you go anywhere that you don't want to.'

'Thank you daddy.' Jeff held Sophia close to him, nobody would take her away from him.

Dixie sat down at the table in the kitchen, the sickness from earlier took over and she took a few deep breaths to try and rid herself of the churning feeling in her stomach. She slowly sipped at a glass of water and when she felt a bit better she stood up. She was glad that it wasn't too bad right now, she also hoped that it wouldn't get much worse in the weeks to come. Dixie looked at Sophia as she came in the kitchen. 'Daddy says I can stay.'

'Are you happy?'

'Yes, very, I do miss John a little bit though.'

'We can invite him for tea this weekend if you want, I'm sure your mum will bring him when she drops all of your clothing off.'

'Yay, thank you Dixie.' Dixie smiled as Sophia hugged her tightly, the little girl reminded her of Jeff, she had his eyes and his loving personality. Lucy didn't deserve Sophia and Sophia was much better off without that woman in her life.

Dixie left Sophia playing with Little Abs in the garden and went into Jeff, he was looking at a piece of paper. 'Tamzin left us a list of schools in the area, I didn't realise there were so many.'

'We have time to look at them and make a decision.'

'I want her to go somewhere good Dixie, somewhere she can get a proper education.'

'I know you do, we will find her somewhere decent to go.'

'Thanks Dixie, I know all of this is very stressful and probably at the wrong time.'

'Don't worry about it Jeff, we're in this together, you and me.'

'Has anyone told you you're an incredible woman?'

'You, I do believe this is the second time actually.'

'I mean it. What did I do to deserve you?'

'You must have been good to someone in a past life.' Jeff smiled and Dixie put her hand on top of his, there was a lot of work to do in the coming weeks, moving house was looking like a very real possibility and finding Sophia a school. First of all they had to deal with Lucy and Dixie feared that it would not be a pleasant meeting.