Baby with my best friend (Casualty)

31

Holly knew how Cal hadn't taken the DNA test. She felt like he didn't want to know the results. But Holly knew they needed to know. So they could start making plans for their future.

Holly woke that morning. She saw Emilie sitting on the bed next to her. Cal walked in with Matilda in his arms. "Morning gorgeous. I did tell Emilie not to wake you."

Holly smiled and pulled Emilie onto her lap. She kissed her head. "It's alright. But I hope she made me some bacon."

Emilie giggled. She nodded and put the sandwich on her mummy's lap. Holly grinned. "Did you make this or daddy?"

"Daddy! I too little."

Holly nodded and smiled. She knew how complicated it all was. She sighed. "Babe. Do you think maybe we should talk about the DNA test? I mean, we need to know if Matilda is yours," she said as she took Matilda from him.

Cal nodded. He sat on the bed. "I know I need to. But I'm worried that she isn't mine and we've all grown attached to her. I don't think I could give her up."

Holly looked to him. "Who said we would need to? Taylor abandoned her baby did she not? And she's too young to go into a care home. So maybe we could adopt her. Even if she isn't yours," she told him.

Cal frowned. "You'd want to do that? Adopt another woman's baby? A woman who conned my brother out of thousands?" He asked.

"This baby. She's grown on me. She's grown on Emmy too. So it wouldn't be too hard. especially when social services see that she's settled here. She's in a routine. When they see that, they won't take her from us," Holly told him.

Cal nodded. "Okay. I'll take the test tonight."

***
Holly and Cal went into work. Holly walked over to Esmè and smiled. "Hey. You okay?" Esmè asked as she hugged her sister.

Holly sighed and nodded. "I'm fine. Just... Cal. He's worried that if he takes the test, and Matilda isn't his, the social are going to take her off us," Holly said.

"Not necessarily. They could see how well she's settled with you. How well she's doing and they could let you keep her. I think they will. Especially as you're a stable family," Esmè said.

Holly nodded and smiled. She looked to her sister. "How's my niece cooking?"

"A little madam who won't get off my bladder. We've decided to name her Nova-Rose. Hollie is her middle name," Esmè said.

Holly grinned. "I love that name. You and Iain are doing okay though? I know pregnancy can cause issues."

"We're doing fine. He's happy as he's getting a lot of sex. Hormones are driving me insane," Esmè said.

"Didn't need to know that."

***
Later on that evening, Holly and Cal were sitting in the flat. Cal had just put Emilie and Matilda to sleep. He handed Holly a drink and smiled. "I know I need to do this. But I'm scared," he said.

"I know babe. It will be okay. Esmè even said that with how Matilda has settled with us, the social won't take her."

Cal nodded. He looked to the swab in front of him and sighed. But could he actually go through with it?