Prompt 23: "If you insist."

Summary: Post 3x02 fic because I know I'm not the only one who wanted that scene to continue!

A/N: I shifted the timeline of one scene so that I could write it into this episode, so sue me. :P Enjoy the slightly suggestive fluff!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"But, what about our lives?" Timothy asked.

"Oh, I think we're going to be alright." his dad answered knowingly as he gently rubbed his mother's back.

"When do we have to say goodbye to Carol?" Timothy asked as he continued to observe the strange, but adorable creature in Shelagh's arms.

"They'll come pick her up in the morning." Shelagh responded. "She's only with us for the night, I'm afraid."

"Oh." Timothy sighed.

"You seem disappointed, son." Patrick observed.

Timothy looked up to find both his parents gazing expectantly at him. He supposed it would be alright to talk about this with them, but he wasn't sure how.

"Well, it's," he started, "it's nothing really."

"Tim, you know you can talk to us." Patrick encouraged. Shelagh proudly smiled at her husband. He and Timothy were making huge strides to strengthen their somewhat awkward relationship and she was thrilled. Timothy took a deep breath.

"Well, I think I'd rather like a sibling." he said with more confidence than he felt. The reaction from his parents was certainly not what he expected at all. He expected a long lecture about new responsibilities and changes a baby might bring, but he certainly didn't expect his father to burst out laughing and his mother to blush so profoundly that she buried her face in little Carol. "What's so funny?" he asked somewhat indignantly.

"Nothing, nothing." Patrick chuckled. "I just wasn't expecting a statement like that from someone who seems so against 'mushy stuff' as I believe you call it."

"Patrick!" Shelagh lightly smacked him in the arm and Timothy was thoroughly confused and slightly annoyed.

"What does mushy stuff" Timothy made a face, "have to do with anything?"

It took every bit of Patrick's willpower for him to not start laughing again.

"I'll tell you when you're a bit older, Tim." Patrick promised gleefully. "For now, what I will say is that your mother and I would also very much like for you to have a sibling and I think that's something we can work on."

Shelagh was going to add to his sentiment when she felt the hand that had been lovingly rubbing her back drift ever so slightly lower. Luckily, Timothy didn't notice at all.

"Do you mean it?" he asked excitedly. "I can have a little brother or sister?"

"Well, it's not really a matter of permission, persay," Patrick corrected with a grin, "but yes, I think a little brother or sister is definitely in the cards."

"That's brilliant!" Timothy exclaimed a little too loudly causing the previously-contented baby to let out a wail. "Oops."

"Well, there's your first lesson in babies, Timothy." Shelagh gently teased. "Come on, sweetheart, it's alright."

Shelagh stood and bounced the distraught Carol as she walked into the kitchen to prepare a bottle. Patrick and Timothy watched her with the baby, the former with a look of wondrous love and the latter with one of curiousity.

"Dad?" Timothy asked. "Did mummy ever want another baby?"

Patrick paused for a moment. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely surprised at the question, but he also hadn't thought about Marianne in that particular capacity in a very long time. She'd been sick for so long and he'd been so lost in his grief that it had been a while since he allowed himself to remember them as simple, loving parents in want of a child.

"I think we both did." he spoke slowly. "But sometimes, things just don't work out the way you expect. We were so thrilled to have you, though, and I think if any future little ones come around, your mummy would be so proud of the big brother you would be."

"Thanks, dad."

Father and son smiled.

"Off to bed now, it's getting late." Patrick instructed. Timothy gave his customary sigh, but made his way to his room. He was a little tired from the excitement.

Patrick waited until Tim turned the corner out of sight before he followed the sound of his wife humming into the kitchen. His smile could've lit the entirety of Poplar. She looked so perfectly in her element with baby Carol in her arms, bottle in her hand, and a sweet tune coming from her lips. She was born to be a mother, he thought, and he would do everything in his power to grant her wish for a child of their own.

"You're a natural." he sighed wistfully. Shelagh stopped humming and faced him shyly.

"Cynthia said the same thing at the clinic the other day." she said humbly.

"Well, she's right." he concurred. "You look so at home with a baby in your arms. I don't know how it took me so long to see it."

"It took me just as long, Patrick, and you were grieving. Neither of us was ready to admit our feelings before we did. I'm just glad we're here now." she smiled with pure love.

"Me too." he softly agreed with a kiss. "You realize our son has expectations now."

"Oh goodness, I can't believe you would torture him like that." she chided sweetly.

"He doesn't know what I was implying, Shelagh." Patrick laughed. "He's so horrified by the thought of us kissing that the idea of anything else would've sent him running for the hills."

"Oh, don't," she giggled, "we'll upset Carol." The young lady in question softly gurgled a bit and looked up at the man and woman whose eyes were filled with love before falling asleep. "I don't want to let her go." Shelagh admitted sadly.

"I know." Patrick slipped his arm around her waist protectively. "I promise, you won't have to let the next one go, not for a moment."

"Oh, and just how are you planning to keep that promise, Dr. Turner?" Shelagh asked with a mischievous smile. Patrick was momentarily stunned at the sly vixen before him, but two could play this game. He slid his arms fully around her so he could whisper in her ear.

"Why don't you lie the baby down and come find out, Mrs. Turner." Shelagh felt the familiar shiver ricochet down to her toes.

"If you insist, my love." she gasped. She let out a small whimper of disapproval when he let her go, but it disappeared quickly as he walked toward their bedroom with a wink. Carol was bound to need something in a couple of hours anyway, there wasn't really any point in them trying to sleep that night.

23 down, 27 to go! Hope you enjoy!