This really is the final chapter and it's only come 106 chapters later than I expected it to. Thank you so much for all the reviews, follows, favourites or just for reading it. I hope you've enjoyed seeing how it could have worked out for Ethan and Honey if she hadn't been so silly - even if I did end up getting rid of some of the best storylines in Series 30! I hope you don't mind the big time jump at the end.

Bonnie Sveen Fan, I'm afraid we won't find out in this story whether Rita is able to carry the baby for Zoe or not, but I'm imagining it will be a successful pregnancy. Maybe someone else will write a story about it! Or maybe I'll write a sequel one day. If you wrote one about Jessica and Zoe, I'd read it. Thank you for your review.

InfinityAndOne, it is nice seeing them all happy for once, isn't it? It doesn't seem to happen very often! Zoe and Robyn didn't get their happy weddings in Casualty, though at least they're both happy in my story. I can imagine Max staying at home with the baby while Zoe goes back to work. Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, I'm glad you worked out who Wagamama is. I wasn't sure many people would. Not even I knew who'd composed the bridal march until quite recently. I don't think the real Ethan ever means to be saucy, which means he can say the naughtiest things when even Cal the bad lad might hesitate! Thank you for your review.

Alicia screamed and put her hand over her mouth. "Sorry. But I'm so happy for you! You'll be amazing parents. I know you will. You did know that was a happy scream, didn't you?"

Zoe smiled. "Of course I knew, Alicia. And thank you."

Lofty smiled adoringly at Alicia and gave her a hug. "I think the whole of Holby could hear how happy you are."

"But it won't be just quite yet," said Rita. "Because…" She waited until everyone was looking her way. "…Iain and I are expecting a baby of our own. So we'll wait till a while after the birth."

"I knew it!" shouted Honey. "I knew you were pregnant. I'm so happy for all of you."

Everyone congratulated Zoe, Max, Rita and Iain. Honey left her seat so she could hug them all and then everyone else joined in too. She was so happy Zoe and Max had found a way of being parents.

"Are you okay?" asked Ethan, taking Honey's hand as they sat down again.

"Of course I am!" said Honey. "I'm married to you and I'm so happy!"

Ethan leaned close to her. "But I know how much you wanted to be a mother."

"And I will be," said Honey. "We're going to get started on that tonight, I hope."

Ethan blushed. "I hope so too."

They tore their eyes away from each other only when they heard a crash. Lofty had tripped over Dylan's chair-leg and landed on the floor at Alicia's feet.

"Are you okay, babe?" asked Alicia anxiously.

Lofty nodded, but he didn't get up. "I'm fine. But while I'm down here… Alicia, I love you. You make me forget I'm not the best nurse in the world. You even make me feel like I'm not clumsy. How can I be when you make me feel like I'm floating through the air? Alicia, will you marry me?"

"Yes, of course I'll marry you!" screamed Alicia, and burst into tears.

She wasn't the only one.

The car was waiting. It was covered in streamers and tin cans, just like Honey had dreamed of. Ethan was worried about causing damage to other cars, so they'd made sure the streamers were very short.

Honey was holding her bouquet ready for her bridesmaids to catch. Or rather for Rita or Alicia to catch. The last thing she wanted was for any of the others to get married again.

She closed her eyes, lifted her bouquet above her head and threw it backwards as hard as she could.

"I caught it!" shouted Jack in delight.

Jez looked terrified and excited all at once. "So, who's the lucky guy?"

"You'll have to wait and see who I ask, won't you?" said Jack, looking very pleased with himself.

Honey hugged Ethan tightly. She loved it when her friends were happy. "Do you think Mrs Beauchamp and Jacob will get married too?"

"I think that depends on Mrs Beauchamp," said Ethan. "If she wants to marry Jacob, he'll have very little choice in the matter. If she doesn't, he probably doesn't have a chance. But I hope they will. Being married is so wonderful."

Honey kissed him.

"Hey! Save it for the honeymoon!" said Cal. They'd only been kissing, but Ethan still blushed.

Honey hugged and kissed everyone goodbye. The last person she hugged was Noel. She didn't let go until Ethan said apologetically that they probably should be going.

"Bye, Dad," whispered Honey as Ethan helped her into the car. "Bye, everyone! See you when I'm pregnant!"

"Honey!" said Ethan, but although he was blushing again, he didn't seem angry or upset. He picked up the bits of dress that were hanging out of the door and tucked them in securely, leaning in to kiss her.

The rest of their life was beginning.

"What a big bed!" exclaimed Honey.

Ethan laughed as she launched herself through the air and landed facedown on it.

Honey rolled onto her back and smiled at him. "I'm never going on honeymoon again and I might be pregnant by this time tomorrow. I'm going to enjoy it while I still can!"

"That's a very good point," said Ethan, who couldn't have stopped smiling if he'd wanted to. He loved to see her happy.

He just loved her.

Honey's wide smile was replaced by a more sultry one. She flicked her hair so it lay partly across her face. "If I'm going to be pregnant by this time tomorrow, don't you think you should get started?"

"I, um, yes," said Ethan. "Definitely. Yes."

Honey kicked her legs slightly so her dress rode up, displaying shapely ankles. "You have done this before, you know, Ethan."

"But not since we got married," said Ethan. His heart was thudding and he felt slightly faint.

"Ethan, since we've been married, we've either been in a room with all our friends or driving a car," said Honey. "Even I know that wouldn't be the best idea." Honey smiled again. This time, her smile was more loving than sexy.

Ethan walked towards the bed.

"Can you take my shoes off first?" said Honey. "My feet are killing me."

Ethan moved to the foot of the bed and climbed on to it, lifting Honey's feet into his lap. He removed one shoe, then the other. He lifted one foot in each hand, stroking them with his thumbs.

"Ethan!" shrieked Honey. "They don't bend that way! Didn't they teach you anything at medical school?"

"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry!" said Ethan. He put her feet down again and then bent down, kissing one ankle, then the other. Honey moaned loudly, but it was only a couple of seconds before Ethan stopped worrying about being heard and enjoyed the fact he was making his wife – his wife! - happy.

He pushed her dress up a little higher and started to kiss every part of her legs he could reach.

"Don't stop, Ethan," sighed Honey.

"I'll never stop, Honey," promised Ethan. "I'll never stop loving you."

Nine months later

Ethan had known what it would be like, but it was so different when his wife was the one in pain.

"I love you, Honey. You're doing so well," he said as he sponged her face. "I'm right here and I'm not leaving."

"Make it stop!" shouted Honey.

"It will stop soon, darling," said Ethan.

"I want it to stop NOW!" roared Honey.

Ethan rubbed her back soothingly. "It's okay, Honey. I know it hurts, but-"

"What do you know?" yelled Honey. "Have you ever had a baby?"

"Well… no… but -"

"Then you don't know anything!" Honey put her hands over her face and burst into tears. "I hate this, Ethan!"

Ethan held her against his chest. "I know, darling. But you can do this. You've been so strong, Honey, and I'm so proud of you. You've been through so much, but whatever was thrown at you, you were always magnificent. And I know you're going to be magnificent again now."

"I don't want to have a baby!" screamed Honey.

Ethan knew she didn't mean it. "That's fine, sweetheart. We'll give it to Zoe and Max, and save Rita the trouble of carrying their baby."

Honey lifted her head and stared at him in disbelief. "You want to get rid of my baby?" She cried harder.

"No… no, of course not… I didn't mean…" Ethan tried to hug her. "I didn't mean it, Honey. I was just trying to be supportive. Of course I want our baby. I want it more than anything I the world. I love our baby so much and I can't wait to be a dad."

Honey leaned against him, still crying. "I'm scared, Ethan. I'm so scared."

"I know, sweetheart, but you can do this," said Ethan. "I know you can." He wiped her tears. "You can do this, Honey. And I'll be right here. Okay?"

"Okay," said Honey shakily. "I love you, Ethan."

"I love you too, Honey. And I always will."

"Honey?" That was the midwife's voice. "We're ready for you to push now."

Honey nodded and started to push. Ethan didn't let go of her the whole time. He breathed with her; panted with her; at times it even felt as though he pushed with her, though he knew Honey would argue if he even suggested such a thing out loud.

And then, it happened. They were parents.

"Is that my baby?" said Honey disbelievingly. "I've really had a baby?"

"Congratulations, Dr and Mrs Hardy. You have a little girl."

"We've got a baby girl!" Ethan was crying as he watched the baby being handed to Honey. She held it tightly and securely, gazing down at her in wonder.

"Ethan, look what we just made!" said Honey. She kissed the baby's bald head. "Ethan! There's a bit missing out of her head!"

"That's okay, Honey. That's normal for a baby," said Ethan. "It's called the anterior fontanelle. It's located at the junction of the sagittal suture, coronal suture and frontal suture and-"

"We've got a baby!" said Honey wonderingly.

Ethan smiled and cuddled closer to them both. "Yes. We've got a baby." The full significance of it hit him. "We've got a baby!"

"Can you see if you can get her to feed, Honey?" asked the midwife.

"Let me help you." Ethan took the baby from her while Honey undid the front of her nightgown. "Hey, little baby. I'm your daddy! I hope I can be a good daddy. I'm afraid a lot of the time you're likely to find me extremely annoying and rather embarrassing. That's what your Uncle Cal says and he does occasionally know what he's talking about. But you're going to be fine because you've got your mummy and she's the most wonderful, beautiful, incredible woman in the world and she makes me so happy." Ethan smiled down into the crinkled little face. "And I know you're going to be just like her."

"Ethan, I'm ready!" said Honey.

Ethan put the baby back into her arms. "There you go, sweetheart. She's so beautiful, Honey, isn't she? Oh, and she's clever! She knows exactly what she's doing. She's really rather good at that. It doesn't hurt, does it?"

"No," said Honey dreamily, her eyes misty. "You know I always scream if it hurts."

Ethan blushed. "Yes, um, well, um…"

But his embarrassment didn't last. He watched, transfixed, as Honey fed their baby. He realised his wife was even more incredible than he'd thought she was. And he was so lucky.

He wasn't sure how much later it was when Cal, Robyn and Lily arrived, having left nine-month old Matilda with Dylan, Iain, Rita, Rihanna, and two of the newest ED babies: Ciaran Keogh and Melanie Dean.

"She's beautiful!" said Robyn. "What's her name?"

Ethan looked at Honey and an unspoken agreement passed between them.

"Vanessa Lily," said Honey. "Nessa for short."

Lily put her hands over her mouth and so nearly cried.

"Vanessa means butterfly," said Honey. "Well, kind of. And Nessa's our little butterfly."

"More like a caterpillar," said Cal.

"No. Our little butterfly," said Ethan firmly, leaning close to his daughter and his wife. "And she's going to fly."