Thank you for all the positive reviews so far. Apologies this has taken me so long to write. Please review to let me know if it was worth the wait

Jac waited for the lift up to Darwin ward with a grizzly Ava balanced on her hip. It was only eleven o'clock and already the little girl was feeling the effects of last night's late bedtime. Jac had let Ava sleep as late into the morning as she could but when the child awoke at nine it was clear her usual happy demeanour was not likely to make an appearance today.

'I promise I will be as quick as I can with Elliot and then we can go and see Mummy' Jac spoke to the little girl as they waited. Jac was showing uncharacteristic patience with Ava, understanding the little girl was still processing the drama she witnessed yesterday. 'And then we can go home and have a nice nap'

'Ok' Ava sniffled as she rubbed her tired eyes and dropped Mr Bear in the process. This went unnoticed by Jac who moved forward to step into the lift.

'Excuse me your little girl dropped her bear' a well-spoken voice sounded behind her.

Jac turned around and saw the gentleman who entered the lift behind her. 'Joseph!' she spoke in shock 'what are you doing here?' she took the bear off him.

'Elliot called me' Joseph looked just as surprised to see Jac as she was to see him. 'I'm hosting the Byrne Foundation Dinner tonight and he's threatening to pull out of the key note speech' he couldn't take his eyes off Ava 'who is..?' he let his voice trial off almost a bit afraid of the answer.

'This is Ava' the little girl hid her face into Jac's shoulder, deciding she was now shy. Jac suddenly realised the reason behind Joseph's nervousness. 'Relax Joseph she's my niece, not your secret love child' she rolled he eyes at him.

'I wasn't...I didn't' the man tried to lie pathetically

'Yes you did. You always did put two and two together and come up with five' her voice was sharp with her quick anger that Joseph remembered well. The lift doors opened and Jac stepped out onto the ward, striding purposefully to get away from Joseph.

'Look, I'm sorry, it's just she looks so much like you and well she'd be about the right age' he walked after her and placed a hand on her arm to get her stop for a second. 'I am sorry, this isn't how I would have planned for us to meet. Can we start again?'

'Ok' Jac nodded but her face didn't soften.

'Its nice to meet you Ava' Joseph now spoke to the little girl. 'I like your bear, does he have a name?'

'Mr Bear' Ava spoke softly not sure if she liked this man or not.

'Thank you for rescuing him by the way' Jac said as she set Ava down on the edge of the desk of the nurses' station. 'I don't know what I'd have done if he'd gone missing.' Joseph took note of the fact her voice was softening. He watched as she unbuttoned Ava's coat 'could you try and cheer up a little bit Pumpkin? Even a tiny smile would do.' She kissed Ava on the forehead and the little girl did give her auntie a small smile.

Joseph smiled as he watched a maternal Jac. He knew her reputation and had spent many years chastising those who made cruel comments about her icy heart but he knew she could be warm and maternal when needed, he had witnessed it himself on many occasions.

'Hey, what a nice surprise, my girls coming to visit me' Joseph watched as a tall, skinny male nurse with a Scottish accent kissed Jac on the cheek and then picked Ava up into a hug. He noted Jac's expression and remembered a time when she used to look him like that. His heart sunk slightly.

'Actually I've come to visit Elliot' Jac folded Ava's coat over her arm.

'Ah so you've heard' the nurse spoke again.

'Serena called me'

'Well he's hiding in theatre, seems determined to single-handedly do your list today as well as his own and probably Mo's if she's not quick enough to stop him.'

'I only had two electives today so that won't take him long. Perhaps I will go in, you know just to check on his work.' Jac had a mischievous look on her face.

'Oh you are evil' the nurse laughed 'I'll watch Ava whilst you sort out the Professor'

Joseph had seen quite enough of Jac's domestic bliss; this nurse seemed to have caused her to completely forget his presence. He coughed loudly.

'Oh Joseph I'm sorry' Jac spoke 'Jonny this is…'

'Joseph' Joseph stepped forward and offered out his hand to the man, his competitor in Jac's affections 'Joseph Byrne. I've also come to see Elliot'.

'Oh…' Jonny seemed a bit shocked as he juggled Ava onto his hip to free a hand with which to shake Josephs 'well it's nice to meet you Joseph. I've heard so much about you' he recovered himself confidently. 'Why don't you come with me to the staff room? I can make you a tea or a coffee whilst you wait for Elliot to finish in theatre.'

'Sure, why not' Joseph smiled politely 'it's been a long drive, a coffee would be good' he started walking towards the staff room.

Jac gave Jonny a horrified look. 'It'll be fine' he mouthed to her before following behind his fiancée's ex-lover.

Jac rushed to the theatre and was soon scrubbed up and stood in front of Professor Hope. He could tell from her body language that she was clearly not assumed. 'Jac, what a nice surprise' he went for a warm greeting and decided to feign innocence hoping she wouldn't cause a scene in theatre.

'It's been quite a morning for surprises' Jac answered him 'phone calls from Ms Campbell, bumping into Joseph Byrne in the lift, I can't help but wonder what will happen next.'

'Oh' Elliot paused in what he was doing 'that must have been quite a shock.'

'Did you know he was coming?' Jac hissed

'Of course I did. He's hosting the dinner' Eliiot concentrated on his stitching. 'Cut please' Jac cut the thread for him 'I obviously wasn't expecting you to be here at the same time.'

'Yes, well if you weren't throwing your toys out of the pram, for whatever reason, Serena would never have called me, I wouldn't have come in and my fiancée wouldn't be making my ex partner hot beverages in the staff room.' She continued to hiss at her old mentor.

'Oh dear' Eliott couldn't help but be a little bit amused, despite his guilty conscience. 'And you've left them alone together? Are you sure that's wise?'

Jac glared at the theatre nurse who dared to let out a snort of laughter. 'No I do not think it was wise but the situation seems to have run away with itself'.

'Well I'm sure you can trust them, they are adults after all and don't forget Joseph is happily married. He's changed a lot in the past three years' Elliot spoke as he checked his handy work.

'I trust Jonny, but don't forget Joseph has a quick temper which I have been on the receiving end of more than once' Jac inspected the Professors work with him 'and Joseph hasn't changed as much as you think. He saw me with Ava and immediately assumed she was his child that I had kept secret from him.'

'Oh poor Joseph' the professor chuckled as he start to close up the patient.

'Poor Joseph?!' Jac exclaimed angrily 'what about me? You need to fix this and fix it fast. Agree to do this bloody speech at his stupid dinner.'

'I can't Jac' Professor Hope spoke quietly as he worked 'I'd feel fraudulent, the Hertzig is only enjoying its current success because of you. I can't do a key note speech about that on my own.'

'I don't understand, it's not as though I haven't got credit for my work, my name is all over the research papers' Jac scowled at him.

'Jac I can't go on pretending you are a mere research fellow, you saved the Hertzig project from certain death. You are my partner in this, whether you like it or not 'Elliot smiled.

'So Jac said Ava is her niece' Joseph spoke casually as Jonny put on the kettle. He watched the red hair child as she sat at the table drawing pictures.

'That's right.' Jonny confirmed for him taking mugs out of the cupboard. 'You know Jac has a half sister?'

'Yes I was there when she donated her kidney' Joseph felt the need to remind this man that before him he had been Jac's confidant .

'Yes of course' Jonny was decreasingly liking this man manner. 'well she showed up a few months ago. She's terminally ill and now we're legal guardians for Ava.' He fetched the milk from the fridge 'Jasmine, that's Jac's sister, was readmitted last night so that's why Ava is a little grumpy' he whispered.

Joesph nodded his head to show he understood. 'so what has Jac been doing with herself this past year and a half? There's not been much heard from her career wise.'

'Perhaps you should ask Jac that question' Jonny tried to keep his tone friendly.

'Well she was doing well with ground breaking procedures. Seemed there wasn't a month that went by without her publishing something'.

'I'm sure Jac will be pleased you've taken such a keen interest in her career, but like I said you'll have to discuss it with her.' Jonny handed Joseph his coffee.

'You do know how much benefit doing the key note speech with Elliot would give Jac?' Joseph took a sip of his coffee 'There's a lot of important people attending tonight who have also been taking a keen interest in Jac's research and have been disappointed by its decline'.

'Are you suggesting this has something to do with me?' Jonny laughed.

'Yes' Josephs face suddenly became stern 'you have no idea what a waste of potential it is for Jac to give up on her career for some nurse'

'Look pal' Jonny's voice suddenly became angry 'I don't know who you think you are but you clearly have no idea what Jac and I have been through. Yes I know she's talented and yes she has one hundred per cent of my support. My god, as a nurse I've seen many doctors in my time and I know how to spot the good ones' Jonny glared at this man. 'But Jac and I…' he breathed deeply 'we lost a child and it is that, that has taken precedence over any career ambitions.'

'I'm sorry I didn't know' Joseph felt embarrassed but he still wasn't going to back down against this man. 'I know Jac has made some important improvements to Elliot's Hertzig. You should be encouraging her to show off her abilities, like I said otherwise it goes to waste'.

'Perhaps you should just back off yeah?' Jonny was trying very hard to control his anger 'I hardly think I need advice from a man who uses his fists to express himself to a woman.' Jonny was secretly pleased when Joseph choked on his coffee 'you know nothing….' Jonny suddenly stopped as he looked over to where Ava had been sitting. 'Where's Ava?' his angry tone suddenly changed to panic.