Doctor Gordon Ormerod walked through the hospital entrance with Tom and Katie either side of him, both of them holding one of his hands each.

'Best behaviour you two' he instructed

'Of course Daddy' replied Katie

'Will Jill be sleeping?' asked Tom

'She might be'

'What about the baby?' chirped his daughter intrigued

'I imagine he'll be fast asleep...come on just through this door. Knock the door you two'

The two children knocked together on the closed side ward door, a little harder than their father would have liked. Their step-mothers familiar cheery voice quickly replied 'come in!' to which Gordon pushed the door wide open and let his eldest two run in.

Jill sat in a high backed chair next to the hospital bed. For a woman who'd recently given birth she looked extremely well, glowing in fact. The female was fully dressed in her casual clothes and in her arms she was cradling a small bundled wrapped in a blue blanket.

'JILL!' shouted the young girl as she charged towards her beloved step-mother

'Hello darling' she replied 'calm down Katie.' Jill leant forwards and kissed Katie's cheek, placing her free hand on her stepdaughters shoulder.

'Is that our new brother?' asked Tom looking his dad in the eyes

'Yes, yes it is. Why don't you go and say hello?' Gordon suggested. Tom delicately walked towards his mother figure, barely making a sound. Out of him and Katie he was most definitely the shyest. On approaching Jill he leant forward and hugged her tightly, resistant to release his arms from around her neck.

'I've missed you Jill' he mumbled. The young boy and Jill had always had a unique connection, one where he instantly trusted and loved her.

'I've missed you too young man' admitted the female Doctor 'Now, are you going to say hello to your baby brother?'

'Hello' he whispered, mesmerised by the small bundle that Jill cradled close to her.

'Hello Jack' Katie added once she'd planted a kiss on his small head.

'Look Jill, he's opening his eyes!' observed the baby's older brother, who stood clapping his hands. The small baby began to stir in his mother's arms, letting out a small amount of noise as his eyes adjusted to the light.

'Nice of you to join us little one' laughed Gordon who was knelt between his two elder children. The father placed his little finger by his baby son's hand and instantly Jack gripped his finger. As gently as Jill could she handed baby Jack over to his father who, just as his mother had, guarded him with his life. Gordon stood up tall again, this time with his newborn son, and rocked him gently. Katie stood next to him on her tiptoes trying to get a glimpse at the new addition to the family.

'Dad, when will Jack be coming home?'

'In a few days I expect'

'The sooner the better!' insisted Jill desperate to get home to her family again. The two adults smiled at each other as their eyes locked.

'If you both sit on the bed then you can hold baby Jack if' ushered the middle aged man. Within seconds Tom and Katie had scrambled onto the hospital bed and were sat with their legs dangling over the side. 'Right, now hold your arms like I've got mine' instructed Dr Ormerod. 'Remember, just like when you used to hold Jonathon when he was a baby.' Gordon placed Jack in Katie's arms with Jill leaning across supporting his head.

In turn both children got to hold their brother. Their parents felt it was important that they were both fully involved in everything, just like they had been when Jonathon was born.

An hour later

'I'll see you two when I get home' insisted the step-mother

'Will that be soon Jill?' asked Tom looking for reassurance

'I promise I'll be home very soon. Now be good for your dad' Jill gave both the children a kiss goodbye before they left the room

'I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning love. Try and get some rest' ordered her husband; he planted a kiss on her cheek. Then he kissed his young son's head and left the room smiling. Almost immediately Jill fell asleep in the armchair, Jack asleep in his cot. Usually the babies were kept away from their mother in the nursery but given Jill and Gordon's status at the hospital there were allowances; the same with visiting hours. For now it was time for the tired but elated female Doctor to rest.