Caroline had stayed quite late with Kate and Helena, much to the disgust of the Ward Nurse who had been nicknamed 'Nurse Grim' by nearly all the visitors throughout the day. Caroline was entitled to stay as the co-parent in the same way father's had stayed with their wives and newborns. Nurse Grim had taken a dislike to Caroline and anyone linked with her. The fact that she hadn't challenged her on their first encounter, it was Grace, seemed to pass her by. Kate had felt cold so Caroline approached the desk to ask for another blanket for her and it was clear from the look on Nurse Grim's face that her request was unwelcome and not something she would have done were it not for her job description. Caroline took the blanket and couldn't help but give her a fake smile back with a cheery, 'Thank you dearie'!

As she drove home Caroline's thoughts returned to what would happen when Kate and Helena left the hospital. She couldn't move in with Kate without Lawrence. Kate's house wasn't big enough for them all. Kate moving back in with her at the house with Helena was going to be difficult while John was still around. Kate was right she needed to have a long chat with Lawrence but it was very late and she felt exhausted.

She smiled to herself because although she was very tired she was so very happy. She couldn't fathom why or how her feelings had changed towards Helena. She reasoned that it was probably down to holding Helena in her arms and she wanted Kate in her life no-matter what. The last few months had more than proved to her that life without Kate was a dark and hollow existence. She didn't want to go there again because the pain was unbearable.

She arrived home to find the house silent but competing with the Northern Lights. It appeared everyone had gone to bed and left every light on. She walked into the hallway, into the kitchen and found her mother in the dining room on the sofa asleep. She smiled at the site of Lawrence lying on his granny's shoulder snoring away.

Rather than shock her mother she gently nudged Lawrence on the shoulder to wake him. She whispered, "Lawrence."

He immediately stopped snoring and looked startled as if figuring out where he was. He rubbed his eyes and then reality struck. "Hi mum. How's Kate and the new baby?"

"Kate's fine and Helena is too. Thank you for asking Lawrence. How did your Rugby match go today?"

"We won mum. I wish you could have been there. I scored a try. It was brilliant." His face revealed he was so proud of his achievement. Caroline's heart tore. She so wished she had been there to witness his joy and his success. Anything he won was such an achievement. He wasn't as bright as William and she tried so hard not to let him believe it made her feel any less proud of him. She hugged him close. "I'm so proud of you. A try!"

"It was totally brilliant Mum."

"Lawrence. I'm sorry I missed it. We were going to come to watch you play but …. Well I guess you know what happened. I'm sorry love. I'll come to your next match." She took him in her arms and hugged him hoping he didn't feel the guilt she felt and the tugging in her heart.

"It's okay mum. I was worried about Kate and the baby. I guess it was a bit of a shock for you both."

Caroline smiled. She was taken aback by his genuine concern for her and Kate. She knew things had been difficult for him. He was still only coming to terms with his hormones raging around his body. Then his father left them which must have knocked his feelings out of kilter and then he finds out his mother is a raving Lesbian.

It wasn't the best of times to raise the subject of Helena but Caroline wanted to seize the moment. "Lawrence. How do you feel about Kate having a baby?"

Lawrence had a smile on his face. One that Caroline took as mischief. "Well, I'll admit mum. I was a bit shocked. I was pretty sure that the frogs in Biology were a boy and girl and not two girls! How… how did ….. You know…she ….?"

Caroline disarmed by his humour and his switch to asking a serious and curious question stumbled to answer. "Mmmmmm. She ….. Erm …. She had a friend, Greg from University who agreed to be a donor for her.

Lawrence had a confused look on his face. Then he looked enlightened. "Is that why you and Kate broke up before?"

Caroline felt a little embarrassed talking with her son about her personal life. It was one thing to chat with her mother or with Kate but her teenage son was different. "Yes. It was, but we're back together again now." Caroline smiled.

"Good. I'm glad."

Caroline was shocked at his reply. She always believed he didn't want Kate around and resented her affection for his mother. She was conscious of the attention she gave to him as well as Kate. At times she felt torn knowing that it was so hard for him. "You're glad? I thought you didn't like the idea of your mum being the only muff muncher in the village?"

Lawrence burst out laughing and woke his grandmother up. "Oops. Granny Godzilla's awake. I'm off to bed. Night mum."