"Hello Caroline. I think we need to talk about things. About Kate and the baby and what will happen when it's born. You know I'm a part of this picture and Kate knows it too." Greg stood on her doorstep looking quite expectant.

Caroline quickly tried to regain her composure and not show Greg his unexpected presence had shaken her. She resolved to keep her facial expression passive but knew she was probably failing. "Hello Greg. I appreciate you have the need to talk with me about 'things'. However, ringing my son on his mobile is not something I think is appropriate. Could I ask that you stop ringing him please? He doesn't know who you are and he is only 15."

Caroline waited to see the response from Greg to her request and used this as a measure of how he would react to things. She remained on the doorstep not moving to show that Greg would be invited inside.

Greg looked down to his feet and then looked up with a slight grin on his face. "Caroline. I have left messages for you to contact me and you haven't so I had to make sure to would ring me. Your son seems like a nice lad. Lawrence? I think his name is?"

Caroline thought for a moment again tried to keep up a calm exterior. "What do you want Greg? Do you want to be a father to Kate's baby? Do you want to be in the picture for her future?" Caroline realised her error all too soon. She cursed to herself under her breath.

Greg smiled. "Ah. You know the sex of the baby then. I'm guessing you've been to see the scans with Kate. Well that is a surprise to me Caroline. After all the names Kate called you the night we…. Kate and I made love in that beautiful hotel room. She couldn't wait to see the back of you and your controlling nature."

Caroline held her nerve. She knew he was only trying to get her to react and pressure her with her insecurities. "Greg. Look I'm not being funny here but there is no Kate and you. I hate to break the bad news but you were only a means to an end for her. I'm sure she made that perfectly clear that night."

Greg's smile intensified his face turning into a grin. "That night? You mean the night we made love. Are you jealous Caroline? You couldn't give Kate what I could. Couldn't give her what her heart desired. Couldn't give her what I did and have given her?"

Again Caroline drew on her deepest resolves. She had met men like Greg in the education sector. Men who thought that their own satisfactions and feasts on women made them somehow superior to everyone else. She had met men who offered to take her to bed and show her what she was missing. She had shown that she herself could find their insecurities and the fact their wives probably didn't love them anymore. "Greg, please? Humour me here for a minute will you? I physically can't give Kate sperm. You're right there. I'm sure I don't need to give you a biology lesson. However, did you make Kate sing from the hilltops with her repeated orgasms that night at the hotel? Have you since then made her scream out your name so loud the neighbours complain?" She waited a short time to see his reaction. Encouraged by the fading smirk on his face she continued. "No? I didn't think so. I'm guessing she simply laid there and thought of England and probably me!"

Greg' face was now one of fury and anger at Caroline's comments.

Caroline continued. "Greg. I'm really sorry that you and Kate split up after you were at university but Kate is gay. I am gay and we are a couple in a loving and fulfilling relationship. We have our ups and down like everyone else. You were only ever someone who she could use to have a baby. So she could become a mother. If you really do want to be in the baby's life then this is not really the best way to go about it."

Greg's face changed again, his resolve and bravado shaken by the words that cur very deep. He began to cry. He turned his face away from Caroline embarrassed at his visible weakness. Much to her better judgement Caroline went out and put her arm around Greg to comfort him. "Greg. Come on. Come inside. Please?"

Caroline made them both a cup of tea and fetched Greg a tissue to wipe his tears and clean up his face.

She took a seat opposite him against the dining room table whilst he was sitting on the sofa. She had the advantage of being higher up than he was and looking down at him. She didn't want to lose the advantage her words had given her so far. "Greg do you want to be involved in the baby's future? Yes or no?"

Greg didn't answer Caroline and by the look on his face she took to mean indecision and not petulance.

"Greg. You need to decide pretty quickly about what you really want. If you have done this because you want Kate back then I'm really sorry but she isn't going to change her sexual orientation overnight. If you've done this because you want to be in the baby's life then I'm sure we can all reach an agreement."

Caroline waited until the words had sunk in and Greg had time to process them.

"Caroline. I'm sorry. I felt flattered by Kate's request to help her with a baby. She did tell me that you were together and that it was purely to help out but I thought I could light the spark we had at Uni' all those years ago. I guess I was wrong and now I've made a complete fool of myself."

Caroline looked at Greg with pity and not anything else. She considered her next move before speaking. "If you want to be in the baby's life then I'm sure you can be. But you need to be sure that you do. The last thing we would need is for you to be there and then walk away from her. That would be more damaging emotionally."

Again Greg didn't answer Caroline straight away and she again took this as a sign he wasn't sure. "How about you have a think about things and then give me a ring back. I'll give you my mobile number so you don't have to bother Lawrence again. Okay?"

Greg started to cry again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset Lawrence. He seems like a lovely lad."

Caroline smiled. "Well Lawrence certainly has his moments." Caroline paused not sure whether to carry on. "Greg. Lawrence is quite unsettled at the moment. His father ran off with another woman and comes back when he feels like it. Lawrence thinks his father doesn't love him anymore and he's hurting pretty badly. Lawrence doesn't understand that his father is lost and doesn't know what to do with his life. He is still too young to understand and he believes his father doesn't care about him. That is why I'm pleading with you to think about what you really want because whilst it's very important to Kate and I, and extremely important for the baby and her future."

Greg finally nodded to Caroline that he understood what she meant. He finally smiled for the first time in a way that displayed to Caroline he was okay. "I'm so sorry to cause all this upset with you and Kate. I really didn't mean to. I know you'll have a lot on your plate when the time comes. You know."

Caroline smiled. "Well to be honest Greg Kate had the baby on Boxing Day and she is very beautiful. We have called her Helena. I mean it when I say that if you would like to be a part of her life then we can work something out."

Greg smiled a broad smile again. "Helena? That's a lovely name." He took a deep breath before adding. "Caroline thank you and sorry again. I'll have a think about things but I'm pretty sure I'll say no to becoming involved. I'm still too young and irresponsible and I wouldn't want her to end up like Lawrence in the future."

Caroline smiled. "Please take a bit of time and have a think about it and let me know."

"How is Kate doing? Is she worn out with everything? I mean Helena would have been premature wouldn't she. Crikey."

"She is exhausted and she's resting at the moment. I've come home to get a few things so I can stay over with Kate to give her some support. Her mother will be staying over too."

Greg pulled a face at the mention of Kate's mother. "That's another reason I'll keep out of your way. Her mother can be quite open with how she feels about things. After Kate and I had been going out for only 2 weeks she asked me what my future intentions with Kate were. I was half drunk and I couldn't answer her. She gave me a right telling off. Don't ever piss Kate off because her mother comes out in her."

Caroline laughed at Greg. She remembered how Grace had given the nurse a dressing down on the Maternity Ward. "Oh I think I may have already seen some of that."

Caroline waved Greg off from the doorstep after giving him her mobile number. She was sure things with him would be okay now. She closed the door and sighed heavily. She was thankful that issue was pretty much sorted. She thought about popping back to see Kate and ringing Lawrence on the way. She smiled and took her bag to the front door. She went round checking the windows were all locked and then opened the front door. She stopped in her tracks at the site of yet another visitor!