Sera squirmed as Ben checked her over, her lips quivering just as soon as the cold stethoscope touched her chest. I tried to shush her, calm her down, but my little girl had already decided that she wanted to cry. And cry she did. Once the first scream passed her lips, the rest flowed out soon after. 

"Sorry, Ben," I apologised to the doctor, wincing at the sound of Sera making her discomfort known. "She does this with the health visitor, too. Don't take offence."

Ben laughed good-naturedly. "It's ok, I'm used to it," he smiles my way. When he turns back to Sera, he starts to pull funny faces in the attempt to get her to stop crying but it's no use. Once Sera gets an idea into her head, she'll run with it. It's a Fletcher family trait, I've decided; there's no way she gets this from me. Ben frowned as he continued to watch my little girl. "Does she ever tire or get out of breath when she cries like this?"

"Not really," I answer. "Mores the pity. Why? Should she tire? Is there something wrong?"

Since Sera was born and we brought her home, Isaac and I haven't spoken much about the VSD. For some bizarre reason, Sera having a hole in her heart didn't factor very much in our conversations, even though I know it's been in the back of my mind these past six weeks. Ben checked Sera out after she was born and everything looked good but today was our first real appointment and I was panicked. 

Of course, I had read all the literature the doctors had given us and I knew what to expect but that was only ever in theory. In practice, I worried all day, every day about what could happen to Sera, which goes a long way in explaining why I loved to spend as much time with Sera as I possibly can. I think Isaac felt the same way, too, because he was always overly protective of her. If she yawned differently, if she sneezed, or if she blinked weirdly, Isaac would attempt to diagnose her with some sort of weird, little-known disease. Normally, she only did those things when her tiny body was trying to do too much in one go- she'd yawn and cough and create a tiny gurgling sound that was slightly off. It didn't mean she had contracted Leishmaniasis, whatever that may be. 

"Nothing's wrong, Charlotte," Ben was quick to assure me. He reached up and tickled Sera's cheek with his index finger and I felt her jump at the contact. She stopped crying and glared at the doctor who was trying to help her. Ok, maybe that she gets from me. Ben winked at her. "Usually, babies with Ventricular Septal Defect experience breathlessness or they can get tired much quicker than babies without VSD, that's all. She's gaining weight steadily so that's a good sign. I'll try to listen to her chest again and then if she's feeling up to it, I'll do a quick scan over her heart to check for any leaks. I doubt we'll find one but we can't rule it out, alright?"    

Thankfully, Sera stayed quiet and calm as Ben started his round of checks. For my benefit, he kept a running commentary, telling me that her heart sounded strong, the murmur that they'd heard in-utero had gone and that, no, there weren't any leaks that we should worry about. When he set about doing an echocardiogram, he nodded along, the smile on his face widening as he viewed the results in real time. 

"I'd like to run some more tests in the-"

The door to the room flung open and Isaac walked in, interrupting Ben's words. "What did I miss?" Isaac demanded, causing Ben to chuckle. "Is everything ok? I tried to get out earlier but I couldn't and then those damned nurses stopped me, something about Secret Santa, and I rushed here as fast as I could. So, yeah, what did I miss?"

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Ben said, making an obvious dig at Isaac. Ignoring his colleague, Ben continued to give me his determination. "I'd like to do some more tests. The VSD was on the small side before Seraphina-"

"Sera," Isaac again cut across the conversation. "We call her Sera."

Ben kept a straight face. "Before Seraphina," he pointedly said, "was born, the VSD was small and had the potential to close on its own. Due to a lack of a murmur, I think we need to look at things in more depth to see what we're dealing with now. Remember, she's been developing since we last had a good look. I'll book you an appointment- probably with Bob- for next week. Is that ok, Charlotte?"

I nod and thank Ben for everything. He said that it was his pleasure and then left the room, patting Isaac's shoulder on the way out. Isaac helped me repack Sera's bag before he took her from me and placed her in the pram, leaving the room ahead of me. Trailing behind, I watched as a swarm of nurses crowded around Isaac, cooing over how 'adorable' he looked with a baby. No one made a comment about Sera until an older, matronly nurse rounded the corner and looked down into the pram. 

"Oh, my days," she said loudly, gaining everyone's attention. "She is gorgeous. She must take after her mother."

Isaac's face dropped. "Uh, Carol, that's rude."

"No, sweetheart, it's a fact," she said in a matter of fact voice. Turning to the nurses, she clapped her hand once, loudly, and told them to disperse. Once they all disappeared, going back to whatever task they had to do, Carol looked over Isaac's shoulders and let her eyes fix on mine. "As I said, Sera takes after her mother. My, my, you are beautiful. Why on earth are you with this idiot?"

"Got pregnant," I answered, earning myself a reproachful glare from Isaac. I shrugged my shoulder. "What, sweetheart, it's a fact."

Carol roared with laughter and after embracing me in a warm hug, she told me that I was welcome around the ward anytime I fancied it. It was a rare thing indeed when a woman could put Isaac in his place and the more often that happened, the better, Carol winked at me. Shuffling off, she left Isaac, Sera and me together. 

"We both know you're with me for reasons other than the fact you got pregnant," Isaac smirked dangerously in my direction. Momentarily forgetting Sera, he bridged the gap between us until I was wrapped in his arms. His lips melted against mine and heat began to rise in the pit of my stomach, a sure sign that this kiss could lead to more. It's just a shame we're stood in the middle of a hospital ward. "You're also with me because I know how to make you writhe in sheer pleasure unlike anyone else."

I purse my lips. "Maybe. Although, that bullet I bought from Ann Summers all those months ago-"

"Ok!" Isaac's voice loudly bellowed, earning him a funny look from a passing doctor. When he was sure that there wasn't anyone else around, he released me from his grip and tilted his head towards the lift. "Come on, we have a half decent coffee bar in the Lagoon Restaurant. I'll buy you a latte and a cookie."

During the lift journey down and the walk to the GOSH restaurant, I filled Isaac in on everything that had happened while we waited for him to arrive at Sera's appointment. He agreed with all of Ben's assessments and promised that he'd be with me next time so that I didn't have to go through all that on my own. What if Ben had delivered bad news, he argued. 

I rolled my eyes at that, knowing that Isaac could be a little over-dramatic at times. Taking over the steering of Sera's pram, I find a table in the corner of the restaurant, somewhere I could park the pram without it being in anyone's way. When I went to a café last week with Sera, a man gave me a bit of a mouthful about obstructing his pathway while I had my 'tit' out. I had a comeback for him but before I had the words out of my mouth, Keira stepped in and started lecturing him about breastfeeding and how she hoped that his mother, wife and daughters were 'fucking proud' of him. I have to say, my cousin does have a way with words. The man walked off with his tail between his legs, looking justly ashamed.

"Here you go," Isaac's voice pierces my ears as he sets down a tray. True to his word, he's bought me a latte and a cookie. Placing the plates in front of me, he sits and starts to add the sweeteners to my mug, stirring it and then sliding it into my hands. He does the same for his drink, an Americano, raising the cup to his lips and sipping from it. "Guess who called me this morning?"

I swallow the first mouthful of my lukewarm latte and raise my eyebrow questioningly. "Who?"

"My mother," Isaac replies, his words knocking me for six. I gawped at him, wondering how he was being so chilled about the news. If I were him, I'd either be freaking out about her suddenly getting in contact or I'd be really pissed off that it had taken this long for her to get in contact. It's been, what, two months? Dita has a lot of explaining to do. "May's completed six weeks of rehab and she and Xavier split up. Alice has been keeping me up to date and stuff, but Mum called to officially update me. Then she asked if she could- if they could- come over and visit us. They were asking about Sera. Mum wants to take her on a pre-Christmas shopping spree. She asked after you, too."

"Oh," I numbly say. I wasn't sure what the right words were for this occasion but then again, are there any right words? While I liked Dita, Alice and May, as well as Darius, I think they were in the wrong for protecting May when they did. Isaac was the only one who wanted to do something to help May and he was shunned by his family for speaking out about it. I wondered what his stance on all this was. "What was the outcome?"

Isaac sighed. "I don't know." He ran a hand down his weary face before allowing his gaze to fall on Sera. His face brightened as he watched her. "I'm glad May got the help that she desperately needed but... I don't know, I'm really angry with them all. Mum, especially, but how can I deny my family the utter joy that is Sera? Martha, too, to a certain extent but she's less joyful and more a pain in the arse. I told them that, if they wanted to come over, it would have to be after the Courtenay Ball. Mum is going to find a date and then let me know. I think we should invite them over, have a family dinner, see if we can all be civil."

I smile and reach across the table to grasp his hand. I didn't need to say anything because that gesture was enough for us. That was the beauty of our relationship; we were so comfortable in each other's presence that we were always on the same page with everything, knowing what the other would say without saying anything at all. I couldn't imagine having that with anyone other than Isaac, and truth be told, I wouldn't want it with anyone but him. 

"Do you want to know why I'm really with you?" I randomly ask him, referencing the conversation that we'd had not even half an hour ago. Isaac shakes his head, genuine curiosity in his features. "Because I never saw you coming but when you got here, and when I caught up, I realised that I am permanently in love with you. It's not the sex, it's not the kisses, it's not getting hot and heavy in the shower. Those things are great but I could live without all that. I couldn't, and won't, live without you. That's why I'm with you, Isaac Lachlan Fletcher."

Isaac beamed. "Yeah? Well, the reason I'm with you is for the sex, the kisses, the getting hot and heavy in the shower. Oh, and the fact that I am permanently in love with you too. That's got to be worth something, Charlotte Louise Fletcher."

"Fletcher?" I coughed, choking and spluttering out my latte. 

"Yeah, that doesn't sound so great," Isaac's nose scrunched up in distaste. "Charlotte Louise Clément-Delaney is better."

No, it isn't.

And here's your update. 

So, we're getting ready for Isaac's family's comeback. 

Is he right to invite them over for dinner?

Will it all end in tears?

How does Charlotte Louise Fletcher sound to you? Y/N?

I've also written the Christmas themed one-shot for Mick and Lyanna's story. (I did need the 10% leeway on the word count. When I publish it with the real Mick & Lyanna book, I'll give you a longer chapter- roughly 2000 words, which is my standard word count for updates. I'll let you know when that's up.)

I've also written about half of Pitter Patter. I can't wait to see your reaction on that! It's going to be fun for me to see your comments... 

See you Wednesday, my loves!

Sarah xx