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, tis Christmas day, enjoy the squishy.

Chapter Thirty-Nine.

Dixie lay in bed, it was still early and Jeff was asleep, there were times when their son would wake her up with his kicking or sometimes her legs would feel like they had a life of their own and a bit jittery. It was just restless leg syndrome and it stopped after a little while. Dixie yawned, she was glad that she had the day off as she was feeling a bit on the tired side, waking up early and working all day was beginning to take its toll on her and she was glad of the break even if it was only for a day. Dixie heard the creaking of the door as it opened and Sophia and John poked their heads around it. Sophia came over and stood by the bed. 'Morning mummy Dixie.'
'Morning Sophia, morning John. What are you doing awake?'
'We want to open our presents.'
'I see, I'm afraid that your daddy is still asleep.'
'Oh, never mind then.'
'Though if you were to wake him up then we could go down, have some breakfast and open all of the presents.'
'Can we?' Dixie smiled and moved her legs over the end of the bed.
'John, will you help me up?' Dixie found it hard to get out of bed sometimes now that her belly was getting bigger and usually she relied on Jeff to help her up. John held out his hand and Dixie put hers in it as she stood up. 'Thank you.'
'You're welcome Dixie.' Dixie smiled at John and she made sure that she was steady on her feet before she moved towards the door. 'Wait for me kids, I want to see this.'
'Okay mummy Dixie.' Dixie chuckled, she was looking forward to watching the kids wake Jeff up.

Dixie quickly went to the bathroom and then came back in to find Sophia and John still waiting for her. 'Okay kids, wake up your dad.' Dixie stood back as the kids moved near to the bed and then jumped on it.
'Daddy, daddy wake up!' Sophia shouted as she jumped up and down on the bed. Dixie started laughing when Jeff opened his eyes and looked at the kids. 'What is going on, it is too early, go back to bed.'
'It is not too early daddy, it is eight in the morning, Santa has been and left us all presents.'
'Five more minutes.' Sophia looked distinctly unimpressed that Jeff was making her wait so she decided that stealing the quilt was the best option, Dixie was relieved that Jeff had gone to bed wearing proper clothes instead of just his boxers like usual.
'Daddy, wake up.' Dixie started laughing again when Jeff opened his eyes, he had a very put out look his face, she was glad that she had gone to the bathroom as she wasn't sure her bladder would take the pressure of laughing and the baby as well.

Jeff looked at Dixie, she really was laughing at him, Sophia had put the quilt behind her and she had a smile on her face, he quickly grabbed hold of Sophia and started to tickle her. John had quickly moved out of the way before he could grab him too. Sophia giggled and squirmed as she tried to get away from him. 'Stop it daddy,' Sophia said and giggled some more. Jeff stilled his fingers and then let Sophia go. 'Go downstairs and wait for us, I'll get dressed and then we can open presents.'
'Okay daddy.' Jeff waited until John and Sophia left the room and then he turned to Dixie.
'I saw you laughing at me Dixie Collier.'
'I couldn't help it, it was just too funny.'
'I suppose you put them up to it.'
'No, it was all their idea, I just didn't stop them.'
'You're a naughty woman.'
'Are you a grumpy Jeffrey this morning?'
'Maybe, it might have something to do with being jumped on.' Dixie chuckled and hugged Jeff.
'My grumpy Jeffrey, come on love, let's go and have some breakfast.'
'Can I have bacon?'
'Seeing as you've had an early morning wake up call then yes, you can have bacon.'
'All right, some sausage would help me feel even better.'
'Don't push it Jeffrey.' Jeff knew that Dixie was joking, he heard the mirth and humour in her voice. Jeff held Dixie's hand as they walked downstairs together, he was looking forward to the day ahead.

Dixie made everyone breakfast and she ate some toast, there were still days when she felt a bit queasy and toast helped her to settle her stomach. Jeff made sure that she was sitting down, she was content to let him put the turkey in the oven while she sat down and rested. The kids went upstairs to clean their teeth and they quickly came back down again. 'Mummy Dixie, can we open our presents now?'
'Of course you can sweet pea.' Dixie held onto Jeff's hand as she got up and then they sat on the sofa together as the kids started opening their presents. She was excited and couldn't wait for them to see what their presents were. They had bought them a mix of small and large presents. Dixie watched as Sophia opened one of the smaller gifts and then smiled. 'It is a little dolphin on a chain, thank you mummy Dixie and daddy.'
'You're welcome. I have a little dolphin on a chain too, my dad gave it to me and told me that it would protect me. Your little dolphin will do the same for you.'
'Will you put it on for me?'
'Of course I will.' Dixie gently fastened the chain around Sophia's neck and then put her hair back for her. Dixie watched Sophia open the rest of her gifts, she had a mix of chocolate and sweets and a new art kit with lots of professional paints and pens in. It had been expensive but Sophia had been getting into art and drawing in a big way and the look on her face when she saw it was very worth it. 'I will be able to do lots of special paintings with this, thank you mummy Dixie, thank you daddy.' Sophia hugged them both and sat looking through her presents, she looked happy and it made Dixie happy to see her looking so pleased.

Jeff sat near John as he opened his presents, he had the same mix of chocolate and sweets but they'd bought him a new football, the latest kit of his favourite football team with his name on the back and a new pair of football boots. Jeff smiled at the overjoyed look on John's face, his son really loved football and Jeff knew that they had made his day by buying him the new kit. 'If you like we can take the football out for a kick around later.'
'Yes dad, I would like that very much. Thank you.' Jeff hugged John, he was so proud that his kids were good mannered and grateful for the gifts that they had received.
'Daddy,' Sophia said from where she was sat. 'You and mummy Dixie should open your presents now.'
'Okay my little princess.' Jeff went over to the tree and picked up the gifts that John and Sophia had wrapped up for them, he noticed that one of the gifts had both their names on. Jeff had noticed that the kids had been very secretive over the past few weeks and were always working on something when they came home from work but nobody was ever allowed to see.

Dixie took the larger gift from Jeff and they opened it together, when they got the wrapping off they saw a large photo frame inside that had been filled with different pictures of them all from when they had visited places together. The kids had obviously taken the pictures that she hadn't had time to get a photo album for and put them together to make this gift for them. Dixie looked at Jeff and she saw the emotion in his eyes, he obviously loved the present as much as she did. She picked up another gift and opened it, it only had her name on it. Inside was a set of baby clothes; hat, jumper, a little scarf and some booties that had obviously been knitted by hand. Dixie felt tears in her eyes, she knew that Sophia had learned to knit quickly but she hadn't expected to receive a gift like this. 'Sophia, you made these?'
'John helped me, he sewed them together while I knitted the parts.' Dixie hugged both John and Sophia, their gift to her had been so thoughtful.
'Thank you, both of you, your little brother is so very lucky to have you.'
'Mummy Dixie, why are you crying?'
'Because I'm happy sweet pea.' Dixie wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged both of the kids close to her again. Dixie smiled at Jeff as he handed her a very large bunch of roses, she opened her other gifts from him which contained a bottle of her favourite perfume, some chocolate and some of her favourite bubble bath. 'Because mummy deserves to be spoiled too.' Dixie kissed Jeff and then hugged him, she had noticed her bubble bath was running out but hadn't had time to replace it. Jeff had made her happy by getting her some more so she could unwind in the bath.

Jeff watched the scene in front of him unfold and he smiled, Dixie was so happy with her present and he picked up the one that had his name on it. He wondered what they had got for him as he took the wrapping paper off the present. Jeff found himself holding a little book, they had obviously decorated it themselves and he opened it to find himself looking at pages that were decorated with pictures they had drawn of their favourite memories of times they had spent with him and a list of reasons why he was the best dad in the world. Jeff felt a tear escape his eye, they had put so much work into their presents and he loved them for it. 'Come here kids.' Jeff hugged both Sophia and John tight. 'I love you both so very much.' Jeff was feeling quite overwhelmed by emotion and he felt Dixie's arms wrap themselves around him and hold him too. He was glad to have the people he loved the most around him on this day. Jeff picked up the gifts that Dixie had bought for him; some aftershave and the Spooks DVD set that he had been talking about for ages, she'd also bought him a bottle of the beer that he liked so much. He was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing with it later on, once the kids had gone to bed.

Dixie relaxed on the sofa as Jeff put the finishing touches to the dinner, the smell of the turkey was making her stomach grumble and she was looking forward to eating. The kids were quietly watching the television. She was still thinking about the gifts that they had made, it warmed her heart when she thought of the baby clothes that they had made. She noticed that John had given Sophia a little tub of handmade bath bombs and some soap and Sophia had given John a painting that she'd done of a footballer scoring a goal and some of his favourite rocky road chocolate that she'd made herself. She loved the little family that she had found herself surrounded by. The day had been lovely and she was looking forward to eating as her sickness had gone and sharing dinner with Jeff and the kids.

Jeff finished putting the dinner onto the plates, he made sure that everything was perfect and then he went into the lounge. 'Okay everyone, dinner is ready.' Jeff helped Dixie up and then joined the kids in the kitchen. Once everyone was sat down they started eating. 'Thanks for cooking Jeff.'
'It's my pleasure princess.' Jeff tucked into his own dinner and watched in satisfaction as everyone around him seemed to be enjoying the food that he had made for them. He was really enjoying being around his little family, the joy that he had felt from receiving his gifts from Dixie and the kids hadn't left him yet and he was still very happy.

Dixie's mind wandered over the presents that they had bought for the son that was yet to be born, just because he was in her belly still didn't mean that they weren't going to buy him some presents. They had bought him a teddy and some bedding for his cot, in about three months time he would be with them and he would be using the presents they had bought for him. Dixie was excited, they had everything they needed for their Little Bug, it was all waiting for him when he decided to enter the world. For now she would enjoy the time that she had with Jeff and the kids, she knew that Jeff had asked the kids to look out for her and it made her feel cared for and loved. Dixie looked around the table at her family, she loved them all so very much and she knew that they loved her too.