"Mummy!" Ivy cried out for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Her shout woke her parents up who were fast asleep in their bed.

Kate sighed. She was exhausted and it didn't look like she was going to get much rest that night. Ivy's school had called her at work to inform her that her daughter had come down with some vomiting bug and could she come and collect her. MIT had been understanding and her DCI had let her go without question. She'd raced to Ivy's school and found her daughter looking very sorry for herself.

Once home she'd put her to bed but poor Ivy was really unwell and she had spent the rest of the afternoon and evening frequently attending to her ill child. She must have changed Ivy's bed at least five times. Her washing machine and tumble drier had been going non stop washing the frequently soiled linen.

Kate hoped the worst was over as Ivy had been sleeping for a couple of hours but that appeared to not be the case.

"I'll go," Steve volunteered, knowing Kate needed some rest.

"We'll both go," Kate compromised.

Steve's pyjamas lay on the floor in a heap and Steve reached over to retrieve them. He put on the bottoms whilst he handed his wife the matching top. Modesty covered, the two parents made their way to their daughters room. Ivy had been sick yet again. She looked very pale and quite lethargic as she lay helpless in her bed.

"I'll change the sheets. You take her for a quick wash," Steve said, taking charge as he surveyed the damage. Splitting the jobs would get everyone back in bed sooner.

"Come here, babe," Kate said as she got her daughter up and got her out of her soiled pyjamas.

"I'm sorry, mummy," Ivy said as she started to cry. She didn't like being unwell.

"It's ok," Kate said as she picked her up for a cuddle and headed to their en-suite bathroom. She didn't want to wake Josh whilst cleaning Ivy up.

Bundling the dirty sheets up, Steve headed down the stairs.

"Wha's going on?" Josh asked sleepily as he appeared at his bedroom door. Despite Kate's best intentions, he'd been woken up by all the movement.

"Your sister's been sick again," Steve explained. "Go back to sleep, mate. We'll be as quiet as we can," he said as he continued his walk downstairs. Josh did as he was toldand was quickly back in bed.

Putting the sheets in the machine he quickly put them on a cycle before finding some newly laundered linen that Kate had dried earlier and returned to Ivy's bedroom. He was just finishing putting the duvet cover on when Kate appeared with a clean Ivy.

"All good?" he asked and Kate nodded. She put Ivy back to bed but as her parents turned to leave, the little girl started to cry again.

"I'll stay," Steve said, recognising that Ivy didn't want to be left alone.

"You sure?".

"Yeah. You go back to bed,".

Kate didn't need to be told again and quickly left the room after kissing her daughter good night.

"My tummy's sore. Daddy," Ivy whimpered.

"I know Sweetheart," Steve said as he got on to Ivy's bed beside his daughter and reclined against the headboard. He hated seeing her unwell and would do anything to make her feel better.

Picking her up, he placed Ivy so that she was lying prone on his chest, her head on his shoulder. Her hand automatically came up to thread through the small amount of hair Steve had on his chest like Kate often did. Steve wondered if it was an inherited trait. His arms encircled Ivy as he gently rubbed her back, hoping to get his daughter back to sleep.

"I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day," Steve sang quietly in Ivy's ear. "When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May. I guess you'd say. What can make me feel this way. My girl. My girl. Talking 'bout my girl," he continued to croon.

It had become tradition for Steve to sing the song to his daughter whenever she needed help sleeping. He'd lost count of the number of nights he'd sung it whilst pacing back and forth in Ivy's bedroom trying to sooth her to sleep. Through trial and error he'd found the best results happened when they were skin to skin. Steve holding Ivy against his bare chest whilst she was just in a nappy. Maybe it was his warmth. Maybe it was feeling the vibrations in his chest as he sang, but it nearly always got her to sleep. He'd found it out the first time he'd held her.

Flashback

"You ok?" Steve asked Kate as they sat outside the labour ward waiting to be called in. Kate was 10 days overdue and she was going to be induced.

"Yeah," she said frustrated. "I just can't believe it's come to this,". She was annoyed that the baby still hadn't arrived despite doing everything to try and encourage its appearance. Steve and her had been on a few long walks. She'd had lots of spicy curries and even had sex to bring on labour but she still remained heavily pregnant. Josh had been right on time. Why couldn't this one follow suit? This baby was obviously very stubborn like both it's parents.

"Kate Fleming?" a midwife appeared at the door. Kate and Steve looked up. "Follow me," she said. Steve helped Kate to her feet before following the midwife to their room.

"So you're about 1cm dilated," the midwife said as she examined Kate, "so it's ok to proceed with breaking your waters," she explained and before long Kate felt a gush of fluid between her legs.

"So what happens now?" Kate asked.

"You might want to go for a walk. Hopefully that will bring on some contractions,".

"Doubt it," Kate said pessimistically. "This baby seems quite happy where it is,".

"Let's try it, Kate," Steve suggested, trying to instill some positivity in to his fiancée. They would get married once Kate had recovered from giving birth.

Together they took the lift down to the ground floor and had a wander around a few of the small shops the hospital had before taking a trip to the coffee shop. It was as they were having a drink that Kate felt her first tightenings and she was surprised how quickly they grew in strength.

"Contraction?" Steve asked excitedly as Kate stopped talking and gave her belly a rub. She nodded as she slowly exhaled as she had been taught in antenatal class.

Since having Josh in his life, Steve realised he would like to be a parent from the very start. Kate was happy to give it another try with Steve beside her. They had been trying for over a year before Kate got pregnant. The stress from her divorce from Mark was the likely reason why she found it difficult to conceive. As soon as that was finalised, she became pregnant very quickly.

"We should head back up to the labour ward then," Steve directed and Kate agreed. They walked slowly, Kate having to stop every now and then as a contraction rippled through her body. Steve tried to help by rubbing her back as he had learnt in the antenatal classes.

"Four centimetres " the midwife said as she assessed Kate on her return. "You've certainly made good progress," she congratulated her. Steve smiled at Kate with the good news. As Kate got comfortable, the midwife placed two elastic bands around her belly. One to monitor her contractions and the other...the sound of their baby's heart beat filled the room.

"Is the baby ok?" Steve asked.

"Perfect," the midwife said.

The next couple of hours Kate's labour progressed as expected. On her next exam she was 8cm.

"Fuck!" uttered Kate. She'd been hoping she was fully dilated so she could start pushing.

"Not too much longer, mate," Steve consoled.

"Fuck off!" Kate said as another strong contraction tore through her body. "I'm not letting you get near me again. Ever," she informed Steve angrily. Her current predicament was all his fault. The contraction passed and Kate realised she might have been a bit harsh. "Didn't mean it," she apologised.

"I know," Steve said as he kissed her sweaty forehead.

"Kate can you move on to your left side?" the midwife asked.

"Yeah," replied Kate as Steve helped her move. "Is something wrong?".

"I'm just going to pull the buzzer to get more people in here," she said. "Baby's heart rate has dropped with that last contraction,". Both Steve and Kate looked worried. "I'm sure it'll come up," she soothed.

Pretty soon the room was buzzing with more midwives and obstetricians as they assessed Kate.

"Your baby's heart rate is dangerously low," Kate was told by the doctor in charge. "We're going to have to take you to theatre to do an emergency Caesarean section,".

"Ok," Kate said as a consent form was thrust in front of her. "Just do whatever's best for the baby," she said as her bed was wheeled out of the room. "Steve!" Kate called out.

"It'll be ok, Kate!" Steve called out after her, unable to go with her. The operation was going to have to be done under general anaesthetic as it was the quickest option.

Left alone in the quiet birthing room, Steve sat down completely shell shocked. Everything had been going well until the last couple of minutes when it had all gone to hell. He felt lost and totally out of control and he hated that. He'd promised Kate that everything was going to be ok. What would he do if it wasn't?

The delivery suite was suddenly filled with a baby's lusty cries. Steve couldn't help but feel a small pang of jealousy for the couple who had obviously just become parents to a healthy child. Why couldn't that be him and Kate he wondered as he continued to sit and fret for his partner and child.

The baby's cries got increasingly louder until Kate's midwife appeared at the door. "I've got someone who wants to meet you," she said and Steve saw that she was carrying the screaming bundle.

"Is that...?" He asked as the midwife approached him.

"Yep," the midwife said. "The cord had wrapped itself around her neck several times which was the reason her heart beat slowed. But it's back to normal now. She's fine,".

"She?" asked Steve. He and Kate had decided not to find out what they were expecting.

"Yes," you have a beautiful daughter," the midwife informed him as she placed the tiny bundle in Steve's arms for his first hold.

"Kate?" Steve asked the midwife, tearing his eyes away from his daughter. She had to be ok. Kate knew about babies and was going to show him how to care for one. He had absolutely no idea.

"She's ok as well," she replied. "They're just closing her skin. She'll be with you shortly.

That was welcome news to Steve and he could finally relax. He looked down at his daughter who was still screaming the place down. "You certainly know how to make an entrance," he told her. "Kept us waiting for days and then suddenly couldn't get out fast enough. Not sure if Mummy's gonna be all that impressed,".

The baby continued squawking. "Do you want to try a bottle?" The midwife asked. "She might be hungry,".

"I'll wait for Kate," Steve replied. "She wants to try breast feeding," he said as he started to rock his daughter, trying to calm her for the sake of his ears and those of the rest of the people in the vicinity. She didn't stop crying however and didn't look like she was going to stop either. Steve looked at the midwife. "Am I doing something wrong?" He asked.

The midwife looked up from her paperwork. "No. You're doing just fine," she said to the new father.

Steve got up and started pacing with his unhappy child. "I've got sunshine," he started to sing quietly to the bundle in his arms, "on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I got the month of May,". His daughter's cries started to lessen.

The midwife smiled to herself at the cute sight before her.

"I'd guess, you'd say. What can make me feel this way? My girl," Steve sang. His daughter stopped crying. "My girl," he continued, pleased to have worked out how to comfort his daughter by himself.

"I think that song's going to be very useful in the coming years," the midwife said.

"Talkin''bout my girl," Steve continued. His daughter finally opened her eyes and gave Steve a very thorough checking out as if assessing whether he was going to be suitable father material. He obviously passed the test as she remained quiet. "Hi!" Steve greeted her.

The door to the room was opened and Kate was wheeled in, still drowsy after the anaesthetic.

"Here's Mummy," Steve told his daughter.

"Steve?" she mumbled.

"I'm here," he said.

"The baby?".

"She's right here," Steve said. Kate opened her eyes and took in the sight of Steve holding their child. "She's perfect, mate," he said with tears in his eyes.

"Why isn't she crying?".

"She has been," the midwife piped up. "Daddy here has been working his magic,".

Kate smiled at Steve. He had been worried about his skills as a father but she knew he was going to be fine. "Can I have a cuddle?" she asked him, reaching for her baby. Her abdomen pulled a little bit at her actions and she winced.

"You ok?" Steve asked concerned.

"Yeah. I'm fine," she answered as Steve placed her daughter in her arms.

End of flashback

In bed, Kate heard Steve singing to Ivy through the baby monitor she'd reinstalled for the night whilst Ivy was unwell. She smiled to herself. It had been ages since Steve had last sung to their daughter and it brought back lots of memories of Ivy teething. She closed her eyes. It wasn't just Ivy that the song had a calming affect on.

When she opened her eyes a few hours later, Kate found she was still alone in the bed. Getting up, she headed to Ivy's bedroom and found that Steve had fallen asleep with Ivy still on him. They both looked peaceful and wanting to let them continue to sleep, Kate pulled the duvet up over them but disturbed Steve.

"Hi," whispered Kate.

"Hi," Steve echoed.

"You didn't come back to bed. She been ok?" Kate asked. "She hasn't been sick again?".

"No. She's been fine,".

"Hopefully that's the last of it," Kate said. "You gonna come to bed? It's still early,".

"Yeah," said Steve. He'd fallen asleep awkwardly and felt a little stiff. Carefully he got off Ivy's bed and pulled the covers over his daughter who remained fast asleep before following his wife back to bed. Husband and wife were soon out of it.

The next thing Kate knew she was awaking to an empty bed and the sound of Steve vomiting in the bathroom.

"You ok?" She asked sleepily.

"Feel like shit," Steve moaned.

"Have you caught Ivy's bug?" Kate asked as she got out of bed and approached the en-suite. Her husband was knelt in front of the toilet looking very grey. That would be a very definite yes.

"Think so," Steve said very sorry for himself.

Kate helped him back to bed before resuming her nursing duties. This time with Steve as her patient. At least he was better at getting to the toilet in time so it was really just keeping him hydrated.

Josh appeared at his usual time for a weekend, totally unscathed and free of illness which Kate was pleased about. She and her son had a quiet morning together whilst the others in the family slept. Ivy appeared in her pyjamas, clutching her favourite teddy late morning. "I'm hungry, Mummy," she said as she crawled in to Kate's lap.

"Let's get you some toast," Kate said.

"Where's Daddy?".

"He's caught your tummy bug," Kate said as she heard Steve retching again upstairs. It was probably time to go see how he was doing as well.

Placing Ivy at the kitchen table with her toast and jam,Kate headed upstairs with a fresh glass of water in her hand. She found Steve huddled under their king size duvet.

"How you doing?".

"I wanna die," grumbled Steve.

"Poor baby," Kate said as she climbed in to bed beside her husband and pulled him to her to that his head was resting on one of her breasts. "Ivy's better if that's any consolation," she said to Steve as she gently rubbed his beard in a soothing manner. Steve grunted in response. "Nothing you can say can take me away from my guy," Kate started to sing after a while.

Despite feeling lousy, Steve smiled, recognising what Kate was doing.

"Nothing you can do 'cause I'm stuck like glue to my guy," Kate continued.

"Glad to hear it," Steve mumbled.

"I'm sticking to my guy like a stamp to a letter. Like birds of a feather, we stick together. I'm telling you from the start I can't be torn apart from by my guy,".

"Too fuckin' right," he mumbled again.

"You gonna be ok?" Kate asked. "I better go check on Ivy,".

"I think I'll survive," Steve acknowledged drifting back to sleep.

"Love you," Kate said as she carefully got off the bed and left Steve to sleep.