To all my readers, thank you for all your continued encouragement, and on that note, albeit later than I planned- (getting whiplash after being involved in a car accident will do that to a person) here is the epilogue to "The Return".

4 Years Later

7.15am

"Joshua your breakfast is ready!"

"Coming mum!" He calls back, as he quickly slips his homework and pencil case into his satchel.

"Don't tell mum..." He whispers to Buster. Who is panting beside him and wagging his tail... "I was supposed to sort this out last night". He confesses with a wink, giving him gentle pat on the head. He looks over at the clock, phew, he was still good for time, 20 minutes to go.

"Come on boy, let's go!" He commands, rushing out into the kitchen with Buster dutifully in tow.

"Joshua, you and that dog," Liv remarks, shaking her head... "I seriously think we should rethink his name and call him Shadow".

He scrunches up his face is distaste..."Nah... he looks like a Buster- don't you think?"

"What I think, is that he looks hungry... Make sure you feed him this morning, you forgot yesterday".

"I was running late mum..." He counters.

"And whose fault is that?" She counters back.

"Mine, I'll make sure I do it after I eat".

"Good, because I can barely put my shoes on these days, let alone bend down to fill up his bowl."

"I know mum, I'm sorry".

"Honestly, I don't know what your dad was thinking getting a puppy four weeks before this baby is due, even if he is adorable..." She softens, looking over at the little ball of fluff, playfully tugging on Joshua's trouser leg.

"How is Peanut this morning, any more pains?" Joshua asks with a mouth full of toast.

She smiles. "Well doctor Grant, Peanut has been giving me a run for my money this morning." She replies, rubbing her belly; she had been getting twinges all day yesterday, and this morning.

"Doctor Grant, haha, very funny mum... I'm just doing what daddy told me to do."

She walks over to where Joshua is sitting, and bends down and gives him a kiss on the head... "I know sweetpea, and I appreciate it very much... Now eat up, because grandpa will be here very soon."

She takes a seat at the table; tiredness seems to be a recurring theme these days. Her due date was not for another two weeks, but if this baby happened to make an early appearance she would definitely welcome it.

"When's dad coming home?"

"He's not due for another hour or so," she sighs. She hated when Fitz did the late shift, because she missed waking up to him in the mornings.

"Well, you need to take it easy until Dad comes home, because I don't want my little brother coming without anyone being here".

She laughs, "Trust me sweetheart, I can assure you, this baby will not come that quickly..."

"You never know mum!"

She chooses to humour him... "Okay, just in case, I will promise to take it easy".

"Scouts honour?" He offers her his pinky finger, in which she reciprocates. "Scouts honour..."

Shoving the last piece of toast in his mouth, Joshua quickly heads to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and then returns to fill up Buster's bowl, just seconds before the doorbell rings, signalling the arrival of Jerry.

He runs to the door, letting him in... "Hey Grandpa!"

As always, he enters with a cheery disposition... "Hey there Champ, you almost ready?"

"Almost, just need to put my coat on..." He answers, simultaneously grabbing his coat from the coat rack. Olivia is about to get up to greet him, but Jerry halts her in her movement.

"Don't you get up," he insists, walking over to her instead, and giving her a peck on her cheek.

"Hey dad".

"Hey beautiful, how's my little granddaughter doing?" He asks affectionately, giving her belly a little rub.

"Granddaughter?" She raises her eyebrow with a grin, then jokingly replies... "Don't say that in front of Josh, he has high hopes for a baby brother."

"Tough, because I'm holding out for a little princess. Besides, what with that scruffy mess living here now..." He points to the tiny pup, distractedly chowing down on his breakfast, "You're already out numbered with males in this house, so it's only fair". He winks.

"I agree." She winks back.

"I'm ready!" Joshua announces, rushing over to give his mum a kiss goodbye, "Bye mum", he bends down and gives her tummy a kiss too... "Bye Peanut."

"Bye sweetheart, have a good day at school".

"I will!" He replies brightly, making his way to the door... "Bye Buster!" He hollers, before departing.

Jerry follows behind.

"I'll see you later dad".

"Take it easy Liv".

"I will".

As soon as they're gone, and no longer preoccupied by food Buster starts to whimper... "I know boy, it's just you and me now".

8.42am

Exhausted, Fitz lets himself in-craving a kiss from his wife, then promptly followed by his bed. "Liv, I'm home!" He announces, when he doesn't find her in the living room or kitchen.

"I'm upstairs," she replies, sounding somewhat in pain.

He immediately picks up on it, and rushes upstairs to find her in the bathroom, one hand gripping the sink, and the other her belly.

With a grimace, she greets him with wan smile and..."My waters broke 30 minutes ago!"

"Oh wow, it's started?!" He finds he's immediately stripped of tiredness, and instead it's replaced with excitement, albeit wrapped up in concern.

She nods, "Yep, it's started!"

Falling into doctor mode, he checks her over... "Why didn't you call me?"

"I knew you were on your way." She rationalises, breathing through the pain. With his hand under her belly, he can actually feel the tightness in her abdomen.

"How often are the contractions?"

"Every 20 minutes or so? They started not long after Joshua and Jerry left for school... That's when my waters broke."

"Okay." He's not so worried now, because he realises they have some time to play with.

Silently, together, they wait for her current contraction to end, whilst he rubs her lower back...When it ends she sighs in momentary relief... "I think it's stopped."

"Okay good..." He notes that she's set the bath. "Do you still want to take a soak before we go, or do you want to go straight to the hospital?"

She opts for a bath first, so he helps her to undress her and then gently lowers her in the warm water.

"There we go baby, right, you try and relax for a bit... the water will help, and I'll go and grab our hospital bags."

"What about Joshua? You've got to call the school, see if Jerry can pick him up?"

"On it already hunni, you just relax... And I'll sort everything out, including Buster."

He does just that, following their birthing plan to the tee. Within 15 minutes, he's sorted out Joshua, and has arranged for James to collect Buster and keep him for a few days.

"Any more contractions?" He asks, when he returns to Olivia's side.

"No, no more... Is Joshua sorted?"

"He's good, both mum and dad have gone to get him, they'll meet us at the hospital and James is on his way too."

10.28am

By the time they arrive at the hospital, her contractions had picked up in ferocity, and they were also coming closer together. However, Fitz was the perfect partner, and with his presence and guidance, despite the pain, Olivia was feeling very calm and collected. She thinks back to Joshua's birth, and the differences between them are quite substantial. It's amazing how much more confident she is in her abilities to get through this labour.

As anticipated, Jerry, Anne and Joshua are anxiously waiting for them at the delivery suite. What with Anne and Fitz working at the hospital luckily it afforded her the luxury of her own spacious room, with birthing pool. She wanted all options available to her, and the hospital were more than willing to oblige. Although, the birthing pool would be her preferred choice.

"Mum!" As soon as Joshua spots them he runs over to them.

"Hey sweetpea, you okay?" Liv asks, grateful that the contractions had abated in order to greet her son in a relatively relaxed manor and tone- Joshua was still young, and although her and Fitz had explained what giving birth would be like, him knowing she'd be in pain and seeing her in pain were two separate things, and she didn't want to worry him unnecessarily.

"I'm okay mum- how are you and peanut?"

"We're both good," she assures him... "It looks like you were right, peanut is determined to make an appearance".

"I had a feeling he was coming today".

Fitz clears his throat. "So you don't see your old man standing here?" He teases.

Apologetically, Joshua looks up at his father. "Sorry Dad, hi..." and then he immediately returns his attentions to his mum. Fitz laughs, Joshua was definitely his mother's boy.

"So what now?" Josh enquires.

"Well Dad and I need to get settled in our room first, and then meet with the midwife, then after that you can come back in and stay with us for a bit."

By this point Anne and Jerry walk over... "Hey Mum, Dad"

"Hey sweetie," Anne bends down and gives her a kiss on the cheek, and whispers into her ear... "How are you really feeling?"

Olivia looks up at her and replies honestly... "I'm alright mum".

Satisfied with her response, and knowing she's in more than capable hands, she responds..."Thats good, well in that case why don't we go and get some lunch and snacks from the shop and we'll meet you and Fitz in an hour or so?"

"That sounds good mum," Fitz intervenes, when he suddenly feels Olivia grip his hand tightly... She was having another contraction. He signals to his mum and dad to hurry along and take Joshua with them.

But Joshua, being always so attentive; doesn't miss a beat. "Mum are you alright?"

Anne places her hands on his shoulder, keeping him calm... "Mum's just having a contractions, she'll be okay, Daddy's going to help her, so no need to worry." Anne explains; but nevertheless, needing to hear it from his mother herself, wide eyed, he looks at her only for an answer. It seems Olivia is the only person that can placate him right now. "Nana's right baby," she manages, "so run along and make sure you pick me out a good sandwich, okay sweetie?"

"That's right son, because your mum's gonna need as much energy as she can get." Fitz adds.

Between the two of them, he finally eases up and allows Anne and Jerry to momentarily steer him away.

14.02pm

As it turned out she didn't like the birthing pool at all; because instead of it making her feel relaxed and tranquil, it only served to make her feel overheated and flustered, so she opted for the aid of the birthing ball instead, as soon as Joshua abandons it, when Jerry takes him out the room in the guise of him getting some much needed fresh air. To be honest, Joshua was finding it really difficult to watch, as her pains began to rapidly increase, so everyone felt it was best for him to leave. And Jerry, who was more than happy to escape himself; being somewhat old fashioned and feeling far more comfortable outside the birthing room, kindly offers to keep Joshua occupied outside.

However, Anne stayed with them, and was presently rubbing the base of Liv's back in circular motions as she moans through yet another contraction, meanwhile Fitz; who has not left Liv's side for a second, whispers to her pleadingly… "Baby please reconsider, I think you should take the epidural…"

She shakes her head from side to side, as she grimaces through the blinding pain.

"I know we opted out of having one in our birthing plan, but that doesn't mean we can't change our minds". He tries to reason, but she's not having any of it.

"No", she breathes… "I don't want it…" she objects adamantly. She can tell that he's worried, and that he's finding it incredibly hard to watch her in so much pain, but she knows how much she can handle, and she's certain that she can do this without an epidural.

She squeezes his hand, waiting for the short reprieve between contractions to come. And when it does, she leans forward and momentarily relaxes against bed, still balanced on the ball. Catching her breath, she turns to face her husband… "Fitz, please don't fight me on this… Look at me…" Which he does so, unable to mask the concern in his eyes… "I'm alright, but if you want to help me…" She halts suddenly, and then scrunches up her face as she finds herself blindsided by another fierce contraction…

"Call the midwife in here now…" she bites out.

Anne immediately gets up and calls for assistance.

"Liv?" Fitz questions.

"I think the baby's coming".

14.16pm

With the help from the midwife, they manage to get Liv back onto the bed to be examined, at which point the pain is unrelenting and all she can do is cry out in anguish… It's amazing how close she is to changing her mind on the epidural front, when the midwife announces that she's fully dilated, and it's time to push…

"Really?" Fitz can hardly believe it, whereas Liv is thankfully relieved.

Taking that as her cue, Anne quickly slips out the room to call the boys, to tell them to head back because the baby is on its way, as the Midwife instructs Liv on what to do next…

"Okay Olivia, on the next contraction I want you to bare down…"

14.21pm

Fitz holds Liv's leg up and into position, and Anne quickly mirrors his actions when she returns to the room, both now coaxing and encouraging Liv to push. "You can do it baby!"

She's pushing in time with her contractions, pushing and working so hard, that tears begin to fall from her eyes. Anne is urging her to continue, telling her she's doing great, that's she's almost there… that she can see the baby's head. Of course Fitz can see it too, in fact he can't take his eyes of it; he's so caught up in the awe of it all he's unable to speak, so instead, he squeezes Liv's thigh to his chest as he watches on intently, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second child. Poor Liv, she is so focused on the task at hand, she hasn't even noticed that he been rendered speechless, as now, on the nurse's say so, gut wrenchingly, she screams through her last and final big push, successfully delivering the baby's shoulders, followed by the rest of its body, which in comparison seems to slide out of her body almost effortlessly.

Chocked up, Fitz cries out lovingly… "Oh you've done it Liv, my God you've done it."

"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Grant, she's gorgeous". The Midwife announces with a huge smile, cutting the cord.

"She?" Liv replies in sheer awe, as the tiny baby is gently placed upon her chest.

"Aaaaaaw, it's a girl". Anne clarifies, with tears brimming in her eyes.

Wordlessly, Fitz leans in and kisses Liv on the lips, thankful, overwhelmed and feeling incredibly proud, tears of joy fall from his eyes as he tells her simply, "I love you so much."

"I love you too." She replies emotionally. Her heart's so full right now, it's fit to burst wide open. "Look at her Fitz, isn't she the most beautiful girl in the world?"

"Yes she sure is, beautiful, just like her mother."

14.39

Joshua's smile is one to die for, when Fitz places the tightly bundled baby into his awaiting arms… "Joshua meet your baby sister Adina". In that very instant, staring at his sister's angelic little face, he's forgotten all about his desires to have a baby brother, and instead finds himself completely and utterly smitten… And thus filled with wonderment and excitement, he whispers to his sister ever so softly… "Hey there peanut, I'm your big brother... It's finally nice to meet you."

Adina Etta-May Grant: Born 01.03.2016 :At 14.22pm