When Madison walked through the threshold of their house with her daughter in her arms it felt like they had finally come home… all of them, mother, father and child! Nothing could change the fact that they were a family! The family she had always wanted.

…

Holly was fussing so Madison rocked her in her arms while Scott hurriedly dropped the bags and the car seat by the door before getting his camera out again and snapping his hundredth photograph. He then hurried over to the couch as Madison headed in that direction, plumping up the cushions so both his special ladies had a comfortable place to rest

"I don't want to leave you." he said sadly.

"You're leaving?" said Madison in surprise.

"The meeting with Marissa… I told you." said Scott. "I shouldn't be long, but Erica is coming in especially, I need to at least make an appearance."

"Of course." said Madison, her face dropping at the sound of Marissa's name.

"But if you want me to stay…" said Scott concerned about Madison's sudden change in mood.

"No, no, it's fine." said Madison, finding him a smile. "It will give us girls a chance to settle."

"I'll bring us back supper; how about that?" said Scott as a compromise; kissing her cheek and Holly's forehead in turn. "What do you fancy from Krystal's?"

…

Holly wouldn't stop crying. Madison tried walking to calm her down; she spent a long while pacing the lounge back and forth, back and forth; rocking her gently to get her to settle. Then she tried singing to her… then she checked her diaper… then she tried a feed… but it seemed all Holly wanted to do was cry!

Eventually Madison laid her down in her crib and tried to get her to sleep, twisting the mobile overhead so the butterflies moved and stoking her daughter's cheeks. Holly was red faced and bawling, her hands screwed up into little fists. Nothing was stopping those tears.

Madison was certain her little girl was crying because she was angry and Madison was sure she knew why. It was because Holly knew her daddy had gone; that he had left them alone. It was because she knew he would rather be with someone else rather than here with them on their first day home.

"It's alright," Madison cooed trying to soothe her daughter. "He'll come back. Daddy always comes back. No one is going to break up our family. I won't let them!"

…