Apologies for any medical inaccuracies in these past few chapters. It might take me a while to update because I've gotten a bit stuck. I know what I want to happen in the next part but it's not fitting together at the moment! Suggestions may be helpful and would be appreciated! Please review if you have time :-)

Jac had started shaking uncontrollably as she waited outside theatre for news on her sister. Serena Campbell had walked up to Keller to check on how things were progressing when she spotted Jac's terrified form.

'Hey now' Serena spoke softly to the young consultant as she wrapped a blanket around her skinny frame 'the worst is over now, Jasmine is in good hands'

'I know' Jac smiled weakly, trying to steady her shaking hands.

'Let me guess, you were fine whilst you were needed in the emergency but now it's out of your hands you're feeling everything?' Serena sat down next to Jac as she nodded her head. 'Welcome to being a parent' Serena laughed softly.

'Parent?' Jac questioned 'I'm Jasmines sister.'

'I know but I've been watching you with her and Ava' Serena rubbed Jacs shoulders 'the way you've comforted and supported them, it's like you've taken on the role of parent for both of them'

'Maybe' Jac considered what Serena had said 'I mean we don't have any actual parents around so I guess I feel sort of responsible for her.'

'Here you go' Sacha appeared in front of the two women holding out a cup of tea. 'To warm you through and I know you don't like sweet but there's sugar in there for the shock.'

Jac took the mug and held it in her cold hands, the shaking now wearing off. 'I'm not wearing any shoes' she suddenly realised she'd left the house just in her socked feet which were now cold and damp from the outdoors.

'I noticed that too so I brought you my spare pair of socks' Sacha knelt down on the floor in front his friend as he pulled her wet socks off and replaced them with his dry, thick pair 'I promise they're clean' he smiled.

'What would I do without you?' Jac smiled back at Sacha and then burst into tears at his kindness. Serena took the mug of hot liquid off Jac to allow Sacha to wrap her into a hug. Serena had only seen Jac cry a handful of times and she knew the young woman would prefer privacy and discretion.

'I'll leave you to it' she placed the mug on one of the empty chairs and took her leave as Sacha nodded his thanks, still holding his crying friend.

'I can't do this' Jac sobbed into his chest. 'It's too hard'.

'Of course you can' Sacha soothed 'I remember us having the exact same conversation when you found out Amelia would be born with a heart condition. But you managed, and I know you've never regretted deciding to continue with the pregnancy'

'Of course I didn't' Jac dried her eyes on the clean tissue Sacha handed her 'but losing her broke my heart, and I don't think I can go through it again'

Sacha sat down next to Jac and put his arm around her. 'you know you've got my support don't you?' He spoke softly 'and Mo's and Michael's and Elliot's'.

'I know' Jac spoke thickly through her tears. 'Poor Ava being stuck with me through the most traumatic time in her life'

'Actually lucky Ava I would say. You and Jonny are great parents and you're doing brilliantly at dealing with all of this.'

'I'm an emotional wreck.'

'No you're being human' Sacah laughed squeezing his friend lightly. 'And that's ok.'

As Jasmine came around in the side room on Keller ward she could she her sisters face swimming in and out of focus.

'Jasmine?' Jac was saying softly 'can you hear me?'

'What happened?' she asked groggily

'It was as I thought; one of the tumours had caused an obstruction but they've managed to fix it.' Jac smiled as she helped remove Jasmine's now unneeded oxygen mask

'They haven't given me a colostomy have they?' she asked cautiously

'No don't worry, they managed to resect' Jac held her sisters hand 'you were lucky. I've rung Jonny and he's on his way in with Ava in to see you. I know it's gone past her bedtime but apparently she can't sleep until she's seen you'.

'Is she ok?' Jasmine asked 'she must have been terrified'

'she was because she was the one who found you' Jac admitted 'Jonny got her settled after we left fairly quickly apparently but it's unlikely she'll believe you're ok until she's seen you.'

'Poor Ava' Jasmine sighed 'she's only ever known me to be ill. She was only six months old when I got the diagnosis' she lapsed into an exhausted silence.

'Jasmine we need to talk about Ava's father' Jac decided now was as good as time as any. 'I know his name is Simon Jacobson and I know he is an English literature lecturer at the uni you went to.'

'Then you know enough' Jasmine closed her eyes. 'How'd you find all that out anyway? He's not on Ava's birth certificate.'

'Peter might have let his name slip out' Jac smiled at her sister 'and I think we both know the internet is a wonderful thing when you need information on someone.'

'So now you know' Jasmine sighed. 'Ava is going to have the most amazing parents in you and Jonny. She doesn't need her biological father and Peter has got it officially in writing that he doesn't want anything to do with Ava anyway'.

'You know one day, when she's grown up, Ava will start asking questions about her paternity and I'm not going to be able to answer them.' Jac sat down on the bedside chair 'now I don't know, you might kid yourself that knowing nothing about half of your genetic makeup is just fine but for me it's not. If I could find out who my father is I would.'

'Ava does not need to know a man like Simon Jacobson' Jasmine said bitterly 'if she went looking for him she'd end up disappointed.'

'Why?' Jac kept the conversation going 'I need to be able to give her a full and fair warning as to why she shouldn't bother looking for her father.'

'He was using me, he gave me attention and flattered me and used me' Jasmine spoke quietly 'I wasn't naive enough to think that he loved me and would leave his wife for me but when I told him I was expecting Ava his reaction was just vile. I thought he'd had some feelings for me but I don't think he ever did.' Jasmine sighed 'He insisted I had an abortion, I refused and left uni. Then he became angry said he would have absolutely nothing to do with this child, as far as he was concerned it wasn't his. He threatened to harm his own unborn child if I ever came anywhere near his wife. What kind of a man does that?'

'What did Granddad say?'

'About me being pregnant with Ava or Simon Jacobson?'

'Both'

'Well he was a bit shocked when I told him I was pregnant and then he was disappointed because I left uni. I haven't told him anything at all about Ava's father because I was so worried he'd hunt him down and give him a piece of his mind.' Jasmine gave her sister a wry smile 'It wasn't worth the stress. In the end he just said that every child is blessing and he was right because my Ava is however she came about'

'I'll remember to tell her that' Jac smiled at her sister. 'Now do you want some good news?'

'Always' Jasmine laughed, glad Jac was changing the subject.

'I hope you can plan a wedding in two months because Jonny and I are taking up your suggestion of nuptials on 23rd December in the hospital chapel.'

'I knew I could get you down that aisle' Jasmine said smugly 'and I've got a secret weapon in Sacha Levy. Between us we will be wedding planners extraordinaire'

Jac slumped back into her chair 'what on earth have I let myself in for?'