Caroline and Kate sit through the night watching and waiting with Grace. Monitors beeped, screens lit up with different colours and the nurses came and went as the clock on the wall marched slowly. No words are exchanged between the nurses or the two women in their vigil. New Year's Eve played outside among the care free folk and people enjoyed themselves for the sake of 'auld lang syne'.

Caroline woke with a stiff neck and found Kate leaning over their two chairs resting her head on her lap. She couldn't move her lover without disturbing her. She looked up to find a blonde haired nurse dressed in blue scrubs smiling. The nurse whispered to Caroline, "Grace has done well during the night. The sedation has worked by resting her heart giving it chance to recover from the surgery. She's much calming and resting well now."

Caroline smiled at the kind words from the nurse. She nudged Kate stroking her hair, "Kate darling."

Kate woke with an puzzled expression on her face not comprehending where she was. Her childhood dreams of camping with her mother and father were only a mirage. Caroline's voice brought her back to the present.

"Kate? Are you okay?" Caroline moved a strand of hair from her lover's face.

"Yes. How is she doing?"

The nurse updated Kate on the details she had told Caroline, which made Kate smile. "Caroline did you hear that? She's getting better. She's a fighter. Thank you nurse."

Caroline held Kate in a huge warm hug and lifted her face into a kiss. They parted and Caroline stroked Kate's face reassuring her of her love and support. "Well, I know who her daughter takes after. Besides, Lawrence wants his chance for a return battle of Mario Kart."

Kate giggled at Lawrence's antics. "He really likes my mum doesn't he? We need to ring him and your mum to let them know how she's doing."

The two women were interrupted by the nurse. "Do you two ladies want to go up to the canteen and get something for your breakfast? I'll be here to look after Grace."

Kate looked at Caroline for reassurance and Caroline nodded and helped Kate to a standing position. "Come on Kate. Your mum will give me such grief if you're all skin and bone when she wakes up. Besides I can ring Lawrence on the way."

Kate leaned over and gave her mum a kiss on her forehead. "We won't be long mum. Just getting something to eat."

Caroline updated her son and Celia on the way up the stairs to the canteen. Kate ordered toast and tea for them both. They sat opposite from one another with Caroline watching Kate closely. Kate's appetite wasn't up too much and she struggled to finish one piece of toast. Kate looked into her cup of tea, repeatedly rubbing her finger around the top.

Caroline moved her fingers and gently stopped Kate's hand mid circle. "Grace is in the best place she could hope to be. She's had a lucky escape and now she improving. Maybe she wants to be there when her grand-daughter comes home or maybe she wants to show Lawrence a thing or two. Either way she's doing really well."

Kate's tears flowed down her cheeks and she lifted Caroline's hand to her cheek, kissing her palm. "It just brings home how fragile we all are. I thought she was invincible, big and strong and always the one there to pick me up. It makes all our problems, seem trivial and insignificant."

Caroline took Kate's hand in her own. "We've got each other and I'm not going to repeat the silly mistakes of the past. You mean too much to me. When we split I had the big kick I needed to realise you're so precious. Helena is precious and our future is together with your mum, William and Lawrence."

Kate looked out the window and smiled at the misty air and the sun rising, shining a light into the window. Kate doesn't immediately look Caroline in the eye. "She told me you were very beautiful and we made a lovely couple."

Caroline smiled at Kate still holding her hand. "You never told me that before."

Caroline waited before pressing on with her thoughts. "What do you think Kate? Can we be open and honest with everyone as well as each other now that we have Helena? Can we really deal with the possible fall out? Can you handle judging parents, middle England Governors and giggling kids in the corridor pointing fingers and the gossip?"

Kate smiled. "I'm a McKenzie and as you've already seen, we McKenzie's are tough as old boots. I can handle it if you can. Are you truly ready for this Caroline? What about Lawrence and how he feels?"

Caroline laughed. "I think Lawrence is a lot tougher than he makes out. He's told me about the kind of things people have said to him. The comments and the teasing he's had. He just wants me … us to be happy."

Caroline had a huge grin on her face.

"What? What are you thinking?"

Caroline had a huge grin when she stole Kate's last piece of toast. She slowly took a bite before revealing. "It's just something Lawrence said about Pride marches. I'm not going to a pride march. I'm not going there. You ….. you and Helena can if you want."

The two women were interrupted by the nurse who smiled as bright as the morning sun. "I think there is someone who wants to see you two."

Both women shot up together and almost ran up the stairs to the ICU. They found Grace without a ventilator and smiling. She tried to talk but her throat was too sore. Kate took her hand and felt the strong grip.

"Mum. Don't talk. I love you."

Grace smiled back and looked from her daughter to Caroline. She held her hand out inviting Caroline to hold hers. Caroline initially hesitated not comfortable with the gesture before remembering her past failings and where they had led. She took Grace's hand in hers and felt her grip. She smiled at Grace and held out her other hand to Kate.

"Happy New Year mum."

Grace's eyes widened with the realisation she had missed the celebrations which she looks forward to every year.

"Don't worry mum. We'll celebrate when you come home and I'll make us Acapulco Chicken and we can have fireworks … if the Doctors say you're well enough. Helena is coming home too mum."

Grace smiled and the nurse interrupted explaining that Grace needs to rest again and the women need to make arrangements for taking Helena home.