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, I hope you like the chapter :)

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Dixie sat at the table in the kitchen with the laptop, she'd managed to organise a child minder for the kids, she'd arranged the rotas so that herself and Jeff only worked days for the time being. Dixie was relieved that Nadia, the child minder, had been able to take John and Sophia at such short notice. They really liked her and she was very capable, she was still hired on a trial basis but it was beginning to look like she would be hired full time. Dixie had talked to John and Sophia and they had been having fun, they didn't seem to mind being left with someone else while herself and Jeff worked.

The kids were off school for another fortnight and by then she hoped to have found a place for them in the local high school. Dixie hoped that if she explained the situation to the school that they would let them get the kids in quickly. She didn't want them to miss out on too much schooling, especially as Sophia was just starting high school. Dixie sighed, there was a lot to think about, she was thankful that Jeff was working with her now and not shutting her out. She was still feeling a little bit guilty for making Jeff think that she would leave him but it was the only thing that she had come up with to shock him out of his mood. It was typical Jeff, he was thinking the kids were his responsibility and that he should deal with it all.

Jeff went into the kitchen, Dixie was looking at the laptop and frowning, she was obviously looking at schools. 'Dixie, what are you frowning about?'

'I want to get Sophia and John into school as quickly as possible, the local high school has places but I'm not sure that there is anyone there as it is the holidays.'

'Why don't you phone them?'

'I tried that but nobody is picking up.'

'It is quite late Dixie, leave it until tomorrow and then we can phone them again.'

'Yeah, you're probably right.' Jeff watched Dixie shut down the laptop and put it away.

'I am, we'll take the number to work with us and then we'll call them as soon as we get a spare moment.'

'Right, that's sensible.'

'Don't sound too surprised Dixie, I can be sensible every now and then.'

'I know, I just want everything to go right.'

'I appreciate everything that you're doing for them.'

'I love them too Jeff, I just want the best for them.'

'I know you do princess.' Jeff hugged Dixie, he didn't want her getting too stressed out as it was bad for her and the baby.

Dixie went into the lounge, trying to find a way to get in touch with the school had stressed her out, she should have realised that they would be closed as it was after six. She was trying to do right by the kids and get them into school so they could have a proper education. Dixie closed her eyes and tried to shut off the headache that was forming, she knew that it was the stress and pressure of trying to organise everything. 'Dixie, here, take these.' Dixie gratefully took the painkillers from Jeff and swallowed them down with the water he held out to her. 'Thanks love.'

'No problem princess. Why don't you go and have a lie down?'

'I'll be all right.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah, I'll just sit here for a while.'

'Okay, if you're sure.'

'I am, really, I just need a little quiet time.'

'All right princess.' Dixie smiled at Jeff, he meant well and was just trying to look after her, she was trying her best not to tell him off for being protective of her. He had been through a lot the past week and a bit and he was compensating by trying to look after her. Dixie lay back on the sofa and closed her eyes, her hand drifted down to her belly. She was approaching eight weeks now, in two weeks time she would have an appointment and they'd tell her when she was due. Dixie felt the little rounded part of her belly, it was definitely getting bigger, she wouldn't be able to keep it from everyone soon. When she knew her due date she would inform the trust that she was pregnant, she was going to stick to the plan of working on the crew until she was five months pregnant and then she would tell them that she was taking herself off active duty. She wanted the baby to be safe, she would miss working on the crew but it was better for the baby if she was out of the stressful environment of the station and being Duty Manager.

Jeff watched Dixie lying on the sofa, she looked quite peaceful, he was just glad that she was resting and not rushing around doing things. He wanted her to start taking it a bit easier, he could see her belly was becoming more and more rounded as the weeks passed and she got further into her pregnancy. Jeff knew that Dixie wouldn't slow down unless someone slowed her down, he hoped that she would keep her promise to work for ambulance dispatch when she got to five months pregnant. He would be happier when she was off the crew and working in a safer environment. Jeff thought about the scan that was coming up, he wondered if they would be able to find out the sex of the baby. All he was really bothered about was that both Dixie and baby were healthy, part of him wanted a little girl and the other part of him wanted a little boy.

Dixie felt her headache easing, it was getting better, the painkillers that Jeff had brought her were working their magic. 'Dixie, are you feeling any better?'

'Very much, thanks Jeff.'

'Good, you know that I'd do anything for you, don't you?'

'Yeah, I do.'

'If you need anything then you know where I am.'

'Of course I do.'

'I just want you to know.'

'Jeff, what has brought this on?'

'Nothing.'

'Jeffrey, you know that you can't lie to me, come on, out with it.'

'It is just everything with Lucy and the kids, I don't want it to drive us apart.'

'Is that what you're worried about?'

'That and other things.'

'What other things?'

'That something might happen to you or the baby, what if we're on a dangerous shout and you get hurt, I'd never forgive myself.'

'Jeff, I promise that I will be careful, if anything dangerous happens then I will stay well out of it. Does that help?'

'A little bit. I don't want to lose either of you, or Sophia and John. You all mean the world to me.' Dixie sat up and hugged Jeff, she wished that he would stop worrying about her as it wasn't doing him any good.

Jeff relaxed into Dixie's arms, she was always so warm and loving, he wished that all of this with Lucy and the kids wasn't happening. That it could be easier for them, it had come at the worst time, he wanted to focus on Dixie and the baby but he was having to split his attention between work and everything that was going on in his life. 'Stop thinking.' Dixie's voice broke into his thoughts.

'I'm not.'

'You are, you tense up whenever you think of something stressful.'

'Do I?'

'You're doing it now, just relax.' Jeff felt Dixie's fingers tracing patterns over his back and he sighed, it felt nice and the tension he had been feeling in his muscles started to dissipate. 'That's it Jeff love.' Jeff listened to the sound of Dixie's voice and let it soothe away the stresses and strains of the day. He marvelled at how relaxed he was feeling now, being in Dixie's arms felt wonderful.

'You know Dixie, if we could bottle the feeling from one of your hugs then we'd make a fortune.'

'You're a strange man Jeff Collier.'

'But you love me.'

'That I do.'

'I love you too princess.' Jeff felt a lot better, Dixie always knew how to make him feel better, her hugs were magical, they could make anything better.

Dixie sent Jeff upstairs to make sure the kids were in bed, it was the school holidays so she was letting them stay up a bit later than usual but she still thought it was important that got enough sleep and it was getting a bit late now. Sophia and John were very good at going to bed when they were told to, there were times when they would start getting ready without being told to. She loved having them here even though it was a bit difficult right now. Getting a new place to live was next on the list, staying here wasn't a good idea as this place was just too small. Sophia was getting older and she needed a room of her own, she was getting close to puberty and it was important for a girl of her age to have her own room. Dixie wondered what Sophia knew about what was about to happen to her, maybe she should have a chat with her, she would run it by Jeff first but she was sure that he would be okay with it.

Jeff came back down to see Dixie still lying on the sofa, she looked a little bit tired. 'How is your headache?'

'It has gone.'

'Good, glad to hear it princess.'

'Jeff, what do you think Sophia knows about growing up?'

'She asked me how babies were made once.'

'Did she, what did you tell her?'

'Just the basics, I don't know how I'm going to tell her about the rest though.'

'Leave it to me Jeff, I'll talk to her.'

'Will you? Thanks Dix, I wouldn't know where to start.'

'I know, men aren't exactly the authority on periods.'

'She needs to know, I would hate for her to be surprised by it all.'

'Don't worry Jeff, I'll sit her down one day and we'll have a girlie chat.' Jeff was happy that he had Dixie, she was good for Sophia, easily the best person to talk to her about growing up.

Dixie untangled herself from Jeff's arms. 'I think I might go to bed, I seem to be needing more rest lately.'

'That will be the baby, they're doing a lot of growing at the minute I bet, slowly becoming a little person.'

'He or she is about the size of a raspberry right now.'

'They won't be that size for long, soon you'll start showing Dixie.'

'I know, I'll be the size of a whale.'

'You'll be even more beautiful than you are already Dixie. You've already got the glow of a pregnant woman.' Dixie smiled, it made her feel good that Jeff thought she was beautiful.

'Thank you.'

'My pleasure. I can't wait to see you grow with our child in your belly, then to feel him or her kick and eventually to welcome them into the world.'

'When I start to feel kicks then you'll be the first to know.'

'I really want to feel them kicking and moving.' Dixie gave Jeff another smile, she was pleased that his mood had improved, they had a lot to look forward to in the future. They had been blessed with a child and though things were a little difficult right now, there was plenty to be grateful for in their lives. 'Come on handsome, take me to bed, I want cuddles from my wonderful husband.' Dixie held out her hand to Jeff and he stood up, took the hand that she held out and kissed it. Dixie laughed and leaned her head on Jeff's shoulder, she felt his arm slip around her waist and hold her close. She turned out the light on the way out of the room and smiled, she really wanted to spend the night in Jeff's arms with his hand resting on her belly. Even now he was protecting their child, Jeff was a brilliant dad and she loved him dearly. 'I love you Jeff.'

'I love you Dixie.' Dixie allowed herself to be taken to their bedroom, there was so much hope for the future, she found herself smiling, they had plenty to look forward to and they would face it all together.