'Who's Mumum's little gem? You are!'

Alexis leaned forward, cooing at Petra as she burbled happily while lying on her back on the wall-length counter-top in the nursery. 'It's a big day today, isn't it? Yes it is, it's Mumum's and Petra's first check-ins with the doctors today.'

Petra must have sensed her mother's apprehension about the visit, for she began to crumple her face up though that could have simply been the cold of the Vaseline Alexis was delicately smearing over her bottom to prevent diaper irritation.

'Oh, sweetie, it's okay, nothing bad will happen, that's why we go to the doctors to make sure we are strong and healthy. And guess what, we are going to see Auntie Jojo and Uncle RJ, and Omi and Daddy tonight for supper.'

Once she'd fasten the snaps of her onsie Alexis picked up her little girl and held her close while murmuring gently; the baby's pitiful whimpers were soothed and she flexed and clutched her long fingers against Alexis' shoulder.

'There, there my little gem,' she murmured softly, 'Mumum's here, it's okay, you're just fine aren't you? Yeah, nothing to be scared of. We're going to go find Papa, he's got your coat ready and everything.'

With the little one pacified, Alexis took Petra into the kitchen to find her other baby was now having a bit of a meltdown - Shane was on the phone with someone and clearly trying to fight to stay in control.

'Because it's not appropriate, and it will probably overwhelm her and scare her enough. No, I'm not trying to be a meanie, I'm just saying- yes I know she's the best ever. Yes it is for our family and- hang on.'

'Problem?' Alexis asked and Shane put his cell on hold.

'Jojo wants to stay home from school today to come with us to the doctors.'

'Let me talk to her.'

Shane handed over the phone, glad to let one stubborn redhead in his life talk to another. 'She's all yours, babe. Come here, Petra.'

Alexis waited until Shane had the baby in his arms to put on her adorable little fall pea-coat before giving her attention to her sister. 'Jojo, you have to go to school,' she began without any preamble.

'But I have to be there for Petra in case she cries!'

'Jojo, she is just being examined to make sure she's okay after the C-section I had to have. If anything you should be worried about me, since I'm getting my stitches out today.'

'Well now I have to go!' Jojo's voice rose shrilly, much in the same way that Martha's did when she was feeling slighted. 'You're important too, what if-'

'Jojo, my little bumblebee, here's the deal. It's Petra's first visit to the doctor and she's feeling scared already. I bet that if you made her a card at arts and crafts time, that would make her smile.'

'Really? Gee, I better get my stuff ready for the bus, then!' Suddenly charged with this responsibility, Jojo brightened like a sun after a cloudy day. 'Sorry and love you!'

'Love you too.' Alexis hung up the phone, turned to Shane. 'Done.'

'So that's what it looks like to have a mother who's also a shrink,' Shane replied with a smile as he tickled Petra's tummy. When she made happy noises before dozing off in her stroller, he gave a satisfied nod. 'Okay, all my redheads are happy, now off to the doctor.'

As Bishop kept earlier hours than Cook, Alexis had her turn first; she lay on the paper-covered padded table in the exam room, head turned so she could see Shane and Petra having story time.

'What are we reading today, Papa?' she asked, glad for the distraction to keep her mind off her stitches.

'We are reading one of the Ocean of Friends books, this one is about meeting Mickey Mako and how he seems very scary because he's always smiling with his mouthful of teeth and it frightens other fish away.'

'Ohhh, I see. I bet that one came from Nessa or Heddie or Tessi.'

'Heddie. She is so excited, she gets to go on her first scuba-trip soon and she wants Petra to learn about the ocean.'

'Nice. Hey doc.'

The door had opened and Alexis was smiling as seh saw Bishop come in, his pewter hair slightly tousled which told her the stern-faced doctor had just come from the hospital. 'Good morning, Weaver family. How are we doing today?'

'Itchy,' Alexis replied, smiling when Bishop lifted her exam gown to look at her healing incision. 'That means the stitches are ready to come out, right?'

'Let's have a look.'

With a gentle dexterity that was contradictory of his expression, Bishop carefully removed the medical gauze over Alexis' lower belly, gave it a pursed-lips stare. 'You're right, they are ready to be removed.'

He moved to the cabinet, produced a hermetically-sealed packet of suture scissors; Alexis closed her eyes, and tried to focus on the sound of Shane's voice talking to Petra rather than the tugging she felt on her abdomen.

'See, Mumum's all better now so it's time to get her stitches out. It doesn't hurt but it looks scary. Much different than what Papa does with his patients, yeah.'

'There we are.' Bishop deposited the snipped threads into a metal dish along with the scissors. 'Alright, Mama Doctor Weaver is all set, now it's Baby Weaver's turn with Doctor Cook.'

Alexis gave him a grateful smile, then felt her insides freeze when she heard Shane sniffle. 'Shane, what is it?'

'I..I suddenly have new understanding for my mom getting upset when I got my cast off my arm when I was fourteen.' He shook his head to clear it a little. 'Don't be surprised when Petra gets her boosters if I'm crying more than her.'