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, enjoy this chapter ladies :)

Chapter Twenty.

The rest of the week passed quickly and Jeff soon found himself anxiously waiting for Lucy, he'd suggested that they meet where she dropped the kids off when they came to visit. He didn't want her coming to the house, Sophia had decided that she didn't want to see her mum so Dixie had stayed with her and he'd come to get Sophia's things from Lucy. He'd arrived early, he wanted to give himself some time to calm down and be ready to face her when she got here. He wasn't looking forward to meeting with her at all, it was likely to be very unpleasant.

Jeff saw Lucy drive into the car park and pull up next to him, he took a deep breath and got out of the car, he was going to have to face her sooner or later. He watched Lucy take Sophia's things out of the car, there was more than he expected there to be. He couldn't put it off any longer, he stood by quietly as Lucy took the last bag out of the boot. 'Is that all of Sophia's things?'

'Yes, where's Sophia?'

'She's at home with Dixie. Where's John?'

'John is at home, I need to do this alone. Oh yes, the other woman, what is she doing there?'

'She doesn't want to see you.'

'I see, you're doing a good job of turning her against me even more.'

'No, you did that yourself.'

'It doesn't have to be like this Jeff, maybe we can work something out.' Jeff felt Lucy's hand move up his chest. 'I could get rid of Alan and you could divorce Dixie and we could raise the kids together, both us, we were good together once.' Lucy fiddled with the button on Jeff's shirt and he moved away from her.

'I don't know what game you're playing Lucy, I will not divorce Dixie, I love her, I would never hurt her like that.'

'I don't know what you see in her, you could have me, does she know what you like Jeff? Does she know what turns you on? Do you remember when we made love outside, does sensible Dixie have the guts to do that?'

'I don't want you, is that clear?'

'Even when I'm throwing myself at you?'

'You're desperate Lucy, sad and desperate, you only want me because you can't have me. You've always been the same, you want what doesn't belong to you. That is why you cheated, you wanted what wasn't yours and now you have it, you're still not satisfied.'

'You don't know anything.'

'Yes, I do. I know that once you've got your claws into me again then you'll look for the next thing that you can't have and go after whoever that is. Get used to disappointment Lucy, because I will never be yours. I love Dixie, Sophia, and the baby, you aren't in the picture. Go back to Alan because I don't want you.'

'Then you can have your son too.'

'What?'

'You heard me, if you won't come back to me then I don't want anything at all to do with you.'

'You are a despicable woman.'

'I don't care what you think Jeff, I'll put John in a taxi to yours with all of his stuff.'

'No, you won't, I'll come and get him myself.'

'Fine.' Lucy turned on her heel and went back to her car, he couldn't believe what she had just tried to do and when he wouldn't leave Dixie she had just abandoned her son like she had done her daughter. Jeff fought to contain his anger, getting angry wouldn't solve anything.

Dixie was watching a cartoon with Sophia but the little girl seemed restless. 'Dixie, will daddy be okay?'

'Your daddy will be fine.'

'I am worried that mummy will be mean to him.'

'Don't worry, if she is then I will make your dad feel better.'

'How?'

'I will give him cuddles, a lot like I am doing to you now.'

'Okay, he will like that.' Dixie smiled at Sophia and kissed her head, she was a sweet girl.

'Do you want to take Little Abs for a walk with me?'

'Yes, I'll get my shoes on.' Dixie stood up and went to get her own shoes when the phone rang, she picked it up from the charger and answered it.

'Hello?'

'Dixie, I'm going to have to go to London.'

'London? Jeff, what is going on?'

'I'll explain later but can you get John's bed ready?'

'All right, Jeff, be careful.'

'I will, don't worry princess, I'll be back with you soon.'

'See you later Jeff.'

'See you later Dixie.' Dixie put the phone back in the charger and went to find Sophia, she wondered what had happened at the meeting with Lucy to make Jeff run off to London like that, was he bringing John back with him to stay for a few nights? Dixie sighed, she hoped that Jeff wasn't getting himself into trouble.

Jeff drove all the way to London, he was following Lucy and she didn't look as if she wanted to stop. He wasn't sure what was going through her mind, the last time they had met she insulted him and this time she had come on to him. He didn't trust her, what if this was all a ruse to get him to her place so she could try it on with him again, and then tell him that he couldn't have John. Why was she so quick to give up the kids? Did she really want to get rid of every bit of him that had ever been in her life? Jeff sighed, all he wanted to do was get John and get out of there. Jeff wanted to get John away from Lucy, she was acting very strange and he was worried that she may do something to him if John stayed there.

Jeff got out of the car in front of the house that Lucy stopped at, a man came out and John was with him, it looked as if Lucy had phoned ahead and told Alan to pack John's stuff. Lucy silently put John's stuff in his car and stood back. Jeff sensed the tension between Alan and Lucy, something wasn't right between them at all. 'John, why don't you get in the car?'

'Okay dad.' Jeff closed the door and went to get in the other side when Alan decided to break the silence.

'Lucy, what is going on?'

'John is going home with his dad.'

'Is this a permanent thing?'

'Yes, I want nothing of that man in my life.'

'They're your children.' Clearly Alan disapproved of Lucy's decision.

'They're his, come on Alan, we can always have kids of our own.'

'You know that I can't.'

'Then what use are you?'

'I'm not putting up with this, Lucy, you've changed, you're not the woman that you used to be.'

'What do you mean by that?'

'I mean, you're different, I don't know who you're becoming. Giving your kids away, having a go at Sophia because she didn't want to call me dad. I never wanted that, I was happy with her calling me Alan, it was you that insisted on it and look where that got you.'

'What do you know? You're useless as a man, you can't even father children.'

'I've had it Lucy, I'm moving out.' Jeff just stared at Lucy and Alan as they argued, he wasn't sure what to do, it wasn't really his place to get in the middle of them.

Jeff watched Alan go into the house, followed by Lucy, he could hear them arguing some more and then Alan came out of the house with a case in hand. He came over to Jeff. 'Look after them, they're good kids, they think the world of you.'

'I don't understand, aren't you supposed to hate me too?'

'No, I don't hate you, that's Lucy's thing. Between you and me, they're better off away from her, she's changed, she's not who she used to be. I'll give her some time to calm down and then I'll see if I can talk to her.' Jeff watched Alan walk away, he wasn't sure what to do, he had John waiting in the car and he really wanted to get his son away from this place. Jeff got into the car and put his seatbelt on.

'John, do you really want to go and live with me and Dixie?'

'Yes, mum has changed, she said horrible things to Sophia and made her run away. She said things to me too.'

'Like what?'

'That you weren't my dad.'

'Of course I'm your dad, I know it more than anything else in the whole world.'

'Can I see Sophia?'

'Of course you can, she's with Dixie. Come on son, let's get you home.'

'Okay.' Jeff wondered what else Lucy had said to John, maybe in time he would open up to either himself or Dixie. He started the engine and drove off, he was sure that he was doing the right thing in getting them away from Lucy.

Dixie let Sophia and Little Abs into the house, both the girl and the dog were very tired, they had been running around the park and playing. Sophia immediately took her shoes off, she went into the lounge and sat on the couch, Little Abs lay on the floor in front of her and Dixie smiled, the dog really loved Sophia. Dixie went to the phone and checked it, there weren't any messages, she was worrying about Jeff, she hadn't heard anything from him in a while. 'Sophia, I'm going to make up the other bed in your room, do you want to help me?'

'Can I stay here? I'm tired.'

'Of course you can.' Dixie smiled at Sophia and went upstairs, she took out the spare linen from the cupboard and made up a bed for John, she was still thinking about what Jeff was doing and where he was. She wondered if he was on the way back from London already. Once she was finished with making the bed she went downstairs and into the lounge. 'Sophia?' She went around the other side of the couch and saw Sophia sleeping on it, Dixie took the blanket down off the top of the sofa and carefully draped it over her. Dixie sat down on the other sofa and just watched Sophia for a while, she really was a lovely kid, how Lucy could abandon her like that Dixie didn't know.

Jeff stopped off at the services, he needed to call Dixie and get something to eat for himself and John. He took out his phone and dialled, he listened to the ringing and eventually Dixie picked up. 'Jeff?'

'It's me.'

'Where are you?'

'About half way home.'

'What is going on?'

'Can we talk about that when I get home? How's Sophia?'

'She's sleeping, she's been running about with Little Abs and it has tired her out.'

'It shouldn't be too long before we are back.'

'You're bringing John with you?'

'I am, he's coming to live with us too.'

'Jeff, why won't you tell me what is going on?'

'Okay, only because you're getting worked up and you need to stay calm.' Jeff explained everything to Dixie, what had happened with Lucy and how he'd had to go to London to pick John up. He left nothing out and then waited for Dixie to reply.

'She came on to you?'

'Yes, I told her no though.'

'I believe you, get back as soon as you can, that poor boy must be tired from travelling.' Jeff was relieved that Dixie believed him.

'I will get back as quickly as possible. I love you Dixie.'

'I love you too.' Jeff put the phone down, once they had finished eating then they would get back on the road.

Dixie didn't know what to make of what she had just heard, what kind of woman gets rid of her own children? She didn't get it, why were people like Lucy given the ability to have kids when she just abandons them? There were plenty of people in the world that would love to have children but couldn't. Dixie thought back to her own situation, she had gone through an operation just to have the child that she now carried in her belly and there was no way that she would ever give them up to anyone for any reason.

Dixie heard the car pull into the driveway and she got up, Sophia had woken up some time ago and they'd had something to eat, now she was watching cartoons. 'Is it daddy?'

'Yes love, he's back.' Dixie opened the door and let Jeff in, he was followed by a tired John. 'Right, bed for you young man.' Dixie was pleased that there was no argument from John, he was just about asleep on his feet. She sorted through his things and found him something to wear for bed whilst Jeff brought all of the bags inside. She made sure that John went straight to bed and then went back downstairs, she was glad to have Jeff and John back in one piece. She looked at all of the bags that now took up some of the lounge, Jeff looked just as tired as his son, clearly dealing with Lucy and driving for most of the day had taken it out of him. 'Bed for you too Mr Collier.'

'I can't, we have to sort out all of this stuff.'

'It will keep until tomorrow.'

'But Dixie...'

'No, you're tired and you need rest.'

'All right.' Dixie sent Jeff upstairs with orders to get into bed, once she got Sophia into bed then she would deal with Jeff. Dixie sighed quietly, Jeff had been through a lot today and he was going to need some comfort from her when she got into bed with him. He didn't like to admit it but sometimes he just wanted to be held, she would hold him and hug him as long as he needed her to.