Henrik Hanssen watched the fiery red haired consultant walk through the hospital car park with Nurse Maconie and little Ava from his office window. He congratulated himself on his achievements today. Jasmine Burrows operation had been more successful than he could have hoped and his plan to solve the 'Ava problem' had worked seamlessly.

'Why are you taking such and interest in Jac Naylor and her family all of a sudden?' Serena Campbell had joined him at the window out of curiosity to see what he had been watching. They watched as the couple settled Ava in the car, shared a quick kiss and then drove away.

'It is not a sudden interest.' Henrik replied in his usual monotone manor. 'She is an excellent CT surgeon and we cannot afford to lose those talents.'

'Yes I believe that is what I said about five months ago.' Serena hid a smirk 'don't you remember? When I came up with the 'Naylor/Maconie recovery' plan?'

'Yes of course.' Henrik's tone remained even 'which was why you had my full agreement.'

'You also asked me to lead it which suggested to me that Jac Naylor's personal wellbeing was not of your personal interest.' Serena sat down in one of the arm chairs furnishing the office. 'How much do you know about Jac's history? A bit of an enigma isn't she?'

'Oh not much.' Henrik sat back down at his desk. 'I've heard the rumours of course but one shouldn't rely on untrustworthy sources'.

Serena had learnt a little about Jac's past from confidential conversations with Ric Griffin and Michael Spence. What she had been told was extremely sad and not all of it had been included in the rumours. Her reliable sources had made her for more lenient and forgiving when it came to Jac's behaviour. She had often wondered why Henrik Hanssen had been so tolerant with Jac in the past. Yes the young consultant was most certainly talented but her fiery temper wouldn't have been indulged by anyone else. It was this that had led Serena to suspect the socially awkward Henrik Hanssen may be using the personnel files as way to get to know his staff. It was the only explanation as to how he so often avoided putting his foot in it and was able to manipulate the staff so well.

'Bit of an odd couple aren't they?' Serena was going to have one last attempt at getting Henrik to confide his sources. 'Jac Naylor a fiery, ambitious, talented surgeon engaged to an easy going nurse like Jonny.' Nurse Maconie didn't give much away to the other members of staff. Serena had guessed he'd had had other significant bereavements in his life from a conversation she'd had with Mo not long after the birth of Amelia but this was all she knew of the scots past. She wondered if Henrik would be able to reveal more.

'I don't tend to involve myself with my staffs personal relationships but love is what love is.' Henrik answered her 'I'm sure Ms Naylor and Nurse Maconie complement each other in many ways. Now shall we discuss actual hospital business?' Henrik could have sworn Serena Campbell had been fishing for something.

Ava had been yawning all the way through dinner. By the time Jac had gotten the little girl bathed and dressed for bed she almost asleep. Jonny watched from the doorway of their spare room as Jac helped Ava clamber into the middle of the double bed.

'When can mummy and me go home?' Ava asked her auntie as Jac got settled on the bed next to her. Ava immediately cuddled into Jac who felt her heart warm.

'Its 'Mummy and I' sweetheart.' Jac automatically corrected the little girls' speech and Jonny rolled his eyes at her. 'We don't know when mummy will be well enough to leave hospital yet so we have to wait and see. You may have to stay here for a while, if that's ok with you?'

'Yes' Ava gave a tiny nod of her head 'I like it here. Uncle Jonny is very funny.' Jonny grinned at this.

'Oh yes Uncle Jonny is a hoot' Jac rolled her eyes at Jonny who stuck his tongue out at her. Jac was glad Ava was laid turned away from the door so she couldn't witness his immaturity.

'Is this your room or uncle Jonny's room?' Ava yawned.

Jac quickly realised with Jasmine being a single parent Ava hadn't spent much time around couples and in Ava's limited experience of the world boys and girls had separate rooms. 'Well Uncle Jonny and I share a room so this was an empty room'.

'Oh' Ava yawned again. 'Is that because you get lonely Auntie Jac?'

'Yes it is' Jac purposefully did not look at Jonny who she was sure would be dying of silent laughter in the doorway.

'Sometimes when Mummy gets lonely at night-time she gives me big cuddle.' Ava said sadly 'I miss my Mummy.' Her bottom lip started to wobble and impossibly big tears formed in her eyes.

'Oh Ava don't cry' Jac wiped away the little girls tears. 'We're going to visit Mummy tomorrow' she looked over at Jonny for help.

'I miss Granddad and I miss my toys' Ava sobbed sending more tears cascading down her cheeks.

Jac smoothed the little girl's red hair whilst desperately trying to think of something helpful to say. Jonny walked over to the bed and sat the other side of Ava. He rubbed the sobbing child's back as he said 'Maybe we could go and visit Granddad's house and collect a few more of your toys?' Ava looked up at Jac who nodded to confirm this could be done. Ava's sobbing lessened as Jac played with her hair, lightly pulling strands of it straight and then letting them spring back into their lose curls.

Jonny pulled Ava's teddy bear out from under himself, having accidently sat on the toy in his haste to help Jac alleviate Ava's distress. 'You know what Ava?'

'What?' the little girl said thickly as she rubbed her eyes.

'Mr Bear wants to hear a story. Wouldn't you like to hear a story too?'

'Yes' Ava hiccupped a little.

Jonny began telling a Scottish fairy-tale remembering to keep his tone calm and even; a skill he had perfected whilst babysitting an over excitable Daniel Levy . As Jac listened to her fiancé's Scottish tones she watched Ava as she was slowly lulled into sleep. Jac knew she was starting to fall in love with Ava. She could only hope that Jonny would feel the same way too.

The couple had spent the evening cuddled up on the sofa before deciding to turn in for the night. Jac had insisted on watching Ava from the spare room doorway for a full ten minutes before she finally joined Jonny in their bed. 'Do you think she'll be ok? I don't think she's used to sleeping in such a big bed.' Jac asked Jonny as she slipped under the duvet.

'She's spark out' Jonny said pulling Jac into his arms. 'Besides if we don't make a big deal out of things she might just take all the strangeness in her stride'.

'I suppose so.' Jac kissed Jonny's cheek. 'You're really good with her.'

'So are you' Jonny kissed Jac on the lips.

'I think I may have done something which you may be a bit cross at' Jac buried her head against Jonny's chest.

'What have you done?' Jonny laughed.

'I've promised Jasmine that when the time comes I'll have Ava'.

'Why would I be mad at that?' Jonny squeezed Jac's tiny frame. 'I knew that would happen eventually.'

'I thought you'd say this was the sort of thing we should have discussed first.'

'Jac if it'd been up to me I'd have brought Ava home with us on the first day we met her.' Jonny kissed the top of her head 'your family is my family remember?'

'You really mean that?' Jac asked pulling away from Jonny so she could look him in the eye. 'Are you sure you want us take on my sisters child?'

'Absolutely' Jonny kissed Jac firmly 'one hundred' he kissed her again 'per cent sure.'