"But…" Addy whined.

Alfie held up his hand to stop his daughter. "Adelaide, you are going to school, no ifs or buts.."

"What if Mum needs me today?"

"Nanna Meg is here, Marlee is here. Mum will be looked after."

"It's not fair, it's not fair that Marlee gets to stay home and I don't."

They had this argument every day for the past week. Addy didn't want to go to school because she was worried she'd miss her Mum having her baby. Especially now the baby was overdue. Everyone was impatient, none more so than Quinn herself.

"Marlee is too young to go to school. You know this Adelaide."

Even as she got out of the car when Alfie dropped her off she reminded him to come get her. It had been a tense trip in, and Alfie did realise how ridiculous it was to be having a tense stand-off with an eight year old about her FOMO. And that's precisely what is was, Addy had FOMO, she hated missing out on anything and she was jealous of Marlee, who quite frankly did not give a shit about the baby. She had no idea what was going on. "Don't forget me Dad."

"I could never forget you Addy, have a good day." He kissed the top of her head and adjusted her backpack on her shoulders. "Learn lots, be my Djinda."

Addy was devastated when her Mum picked her up from school, she barrelled out of class like she did every day in the hope that it wasn't her Mum waiting for her but so far she had been bitterly disappointed. If her Mum wasn't here maybe that would mean she had her baby at last, she was even more inpatient this time than she was with Marlee. "Oh dear." She just burst into tears. Addy just wanted to meet her new baby.

"I'm so happy to see you too Addy." Quinn chuckled. She squatted down slowly and gave her a hug. "I know how you feel my sweet little girl. I want to meet our baby too."

"Why won't it come?"

"It's just not ready yet."

"But when?" she stamped her feet a little, her voice shaking and on the verge of tears. This really wasn't going the way she wanted. "I'm sooooo desperate."

"Me too Adelaide, me too."

Addy gave another one of her epic speeches before she went to bed. They were always amusing, she explained what they were missing out on by staying 'not born' and also if they were worried about being born that they shouldn't worry because she didn't remember being born or being a baby and Marlee didn't remember either, but then again 'Marlee doesn't remember much, she's not very bright.'

Alfie sighed. "Please don't say that Adelaide." Marlee was bright as a button, she loved to talk and was always busy, working things out and loved books and puzzles. She was curious and engaging and annoyed Addy no end. "Say goodnight."

"Good night Bubba, please come tonight. I really, really, really want to meet you."

He took her up to bed and Marlee was already asleep. That girl loved her sleep and as soon as she got tired she went and found her koala and asked to go to bed. She'd have one story and then roll over and go to sleep. They'd been blessed with her, right from the start Marlee had been a good sleeper and she rarely came into their bed during the night. On weekends they'd have them both in the bed for a cuddle before breakfast but Marlee preferred to sleep in her own bed.

"Daddy, I'm going to dream about our baby coming tonight."

"That's a good idea."

"Will you?"

"Yes, I do every day. I'll tell you a secret." He tucked her into bed and made sure Ed was nice and snug beside her. "I can't wait either."

"Maybe if Mum jumps up and down it might come out?"

"Maybe." Alfie kissed her forehead. He had his own plans for how they could get this baby moving. It hadn't worked so far but he was willing to give it one more shot, he'd give it one more shot until the day Quinn went into labour. They had a Doctor's appointment tomorrow to see where they were at because if things didn't get a move on soon they would induce her.

Quinn didn't exactly jump up and down, but they got very active; she'd do anything to get this baby out, she was well over being pregnant.

She woke him up about 4am when she hauled herself out of bed. Quinn hadn't made it through the night for months and the last few weeks she was up every three hours. Crawling back in she rolled over and nudged him lightly, he only slept lightly until Quinn was back in bed. "Alfie, wake up…"

"What? Really again?" he chuckled.

"No, I think I'm having some contractions."

He sat up suddenly. "What? Really? Are you sure?"

"Well no, I am not sure, but I've had a couple of cramp like pains over the past hour or so."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"I wasn't sure what it was. I'm still not sure. Should I ring the hospital? Or Lola?"

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" He was prepared to take her in now. Her mom was here and would stay with the girls. Surprisingly he was calmer than he'd thought he'd be although neither of them were expecting it to last. They hadn't done the labour thing before.

"Not yet. It's still really erratic and like half an hour apart. Can we just lie here?" Quinn reached for Alfie's hand and pulled him back down. "Feel this?"

It took a while before she had another contraction and it didn't feel much different to him but he heard Quinn's breathing change slightly. Quinn did call the hospital and they asked her a few questions and gave them some idea of what to do and when to come in. By the time Addy woke they were a little more regular but not uncomfortable and they decided that while Quinn was still in the very early stages of labour that they wouldn't tell her. There was no way she would go to school if she knew.

Alfie took Addy to school and Quinn had managed to hide her contractions from her and didn't tell her mother until after Alfie had left. It wasn't long after he got home that Quinn's water broke and he took her in.

He found it terrifying and incredible to watch Quinn in labour. She walked constantly, rocked, breathed and zoned out to work her way through the labour. Alfie felt superfluous most of the time. She talked to him on and off and was amazingly calm. The closer it got the more anxious he felt.

This was new for both of them and when he told the Midwife that; while this their third child it was the first time either of them had experienced labour she looked at him strangely, he hadn't even thought about Quinn's medical record and it noted that it was her second pregnancy. "Oh, Quinn adopted my daughter when she was five, I wasn't around when she was born." The midwife still looked at him like he had two heads, he was speaking in tongues.

Quinn got in the bath and while she was on her knees , gripping the edge of the bath and Alfie knelt at the end and talked to her, helped her breath through her contractions and encouraged her. "You fucking rock." He whispered in her ear when she had a particularly intense contraction.

"I'm scared Alfie."

"Why are you scared? You've got this, we've got this. Tell me what to do?"

"Don't leave me."

"I am right here Darlin', I am not going anywhere. I can't believe what you are doing for us, you are making our family complete." He spoke to her quietly and he knew she was listening when she nodded but she didn't speak. "You've got no idea how much I love you. There are no words, none."

Pulling away from him suddenly Alfie was stunned at the intensity of the next contraction. "Okay…" the midwife rested her hand on Quinn's back. "Quinn sweetheart, you are crowning. Do you want to stay here?"

"No." While the water had helped she didn't want a waterbirth, she knew it was safe but she couldn't do it so once the contraction eased off they stood her up and helped her out of the bath.

She barely got out when another contraction started to build and she held onto Alfie and pushed and the strength emanating from his wife was gobsmacking. He was stunned at how hard she had to work, he expected it was brutal but it was so much more intense than he imagined. Between contractions she rocked back and forth and it was barely two minutes later that Alfie was stunned to see the midwife catch his baby. Quinn's head was buried into his shoulder, she was breathless and shaking violently and he needed the help of another midwife to hold her up. He glanced at the midwife and she held up his baby so he could see.

"Hey Darlin', we've got a little boy."

"Really?"

"Really. He's all boy."

Quinn lifted her head off his shoulder and saw her boy for the first time. He was screaming, slightly blue and had arms and legs going everywhere. "Is he okay? He's blue?"

"He's loud, angry and ready for a cuddle." The midwife assured them both that he was doing fine. "Being born is hard work."

Quinn couldn't hold him, she was shaking uncontrollably so they handed Alfie his son and he was cradling him and talking to him with Quinn just watching them until his cord was clamped and cut and they then helped Quinn onto the bed. "I made a mess on the floor." She laughed nervously.

"Not the first, won't be the last." The midwife chuckled and as soon as she was on the bed Alfie laid her son on her chest.

"Oh Alfie, he's just…" she gasped. "…he's ours?"

"He certainly is, he's perfect."

"Can I keep him? She looked at the midwives fully expecting them to take him off her like Marlee had been. "He's okay isn't he? I want to keep him."

"We'll have a good look at him in a minute but he's making enough noise to tell us he's just fine." She patted her leg. "He's all yours for now."

His hair was slightly darker than Marlee's had been, a bit more like Addy which would make her happy but he did look like his little sister and he was a lot bigger than her.

Quinn hated letting him go and Alfie watched them check him out and weigh their little boy. He a healthy 8lbs 3ozs and he was back with his Mom within minutes and apart from his diaper he was lying naked on his mother's chest while Alfie took as many photos and videos as he could.

They were settled in their room before they called Quinn's Mom and told her the good news and that Alfie was going to go home and pick up Marlee and then Addy from school. He wanted to bring them both in together to meet their brother.

Marlee was just happy to see her Dad. She loved going to 'school' to get her Addy. They had a playground there and she was off like a shot as soon as she was out of the car. Addy certainly didn't cry when she saw her Dad, she literally ran at him and was a little breathless with excitement. "Where's Mum?"

"Ahhh Addy, she's got something to show you."

"At hospital?" she was jiggling around in front of him clapping her hands. "Is it a boy? Is it a brother? Is Mum okay? Is the baby okay? Is he pretty? I dreamed it, it worked. My dream worked."

Alfie squatted down in front of his daughter. He held her hands tightly but she couldn't stop squirming. "Yes it did. Mum is really good, she's amazing and she can't wait to see you and Marlee. We really want you to meet your brother. Come on."

"It's a boy? Oh my god, it's a boy? My brother" Addy was beside herself. "Marleeeeee….." Addy screeched at her sister. "Hurry up. We've got to go to the hospital."

When Marlee didn't move quick enough Addy literally went and dragged her off the swings. Marlee was unimpressed and Alfie had to run interference when they were both melting down for entirely different reasons, Addy wanted to go, Marlee wanted to stay.

By the time they got to the hospital Addy had managed to whip Marlee up into a tizz as well. He did like how excited they were about their new brother. He wasn't sure how long it was going to last but it was pretty cute right now. They were talking about him, how big he was going to be, what his name was, which they hadn't really decided yet and who was going to have the first cuddle and who he would love the most. Fortunately they decided he would love them both.

Quinn had just finished feeding him when they arrived. He was lying on her lap while she sorted out her own clothes. He let out a loud wail and Quinn loved watching him and all his facial expressions as he was trying to figure out life.

She heard them coming and Addy and Marlee burst through the door. "Mum." Marlee squealed while Addy headed straight for the baby.

"I'm so excited to see you both." Marlee scrambled up on to the bed and Alfie quickly grabbed the baby because she just didn't see him. Addy was beside herself and Alfie told her to sit up quickly on the bed and she could have a cuddle once she'd calmed down.

"Oh, I love him so much." She burst into tears when her Dad laid her brother in her arms. "Dad, he's so pretty."

"He is, like his sisters."

"Me?" Marlee crawled over the bed and peered at her brother. "Hi Bubba."

"Do you want to have a cuddle?" Addy looked rightly annoyed at her Dad for even asking Marlee.

"She's too little, she'll drop him."

Quinn didn't agree, much to Addy's disappointment. "It's Marlee's turn for a cuddle, she won't drop him Daddy will help her and you can come give me a cuddle. I haven't had one from you yet." Quinn held out her arms for Addy and she did enjoy cuddling her Mum.

"Are you okay Mum? He didn't hurt you did he? Did Dad help you?"

"Dad was wonderful, he kept telling me he loved me and you know how happy that makes me?"

"I like it too." Addy loved talking to her Mum about how much Dad loved them. They had always wanted Addy to know how special she was, especially once Marlee was born. While Addy had adored her sister and had waited for a baby for so long she started to worry that everyone loved the baby more than her because they 'didn't have me when I was a baby.' It was a little rough for her for when someone at school pointed out that Marlee looked nothing like her, she was blond whereas Addy was obviously much darker.

They had to deal with Addy not wanting to go to school and Sam also got in trouble for sticking up for Addy in the playground and pushing a boy over when he taunted Addy. Riley and Alfie having to go to school to discuss it with the Principal wasn't a great day. It did remind Alfie a little of when Mae went nuts at school defending him. She laughed raucously when she heard that Addy and Sam were in trouble. They were most contrite, Addy more so than Sam who was a little defiant until Riley read him the riot act and then he crumbled like a cookie.

"And you know who held him first, Dad did. He gave Bubba lots of cuddles and kisses so that he knew he was safe with us and he told Bubba all about his two amazing sisters who are going to love him and teach him so many things."

"I will." Addy hugged her Mum. "I will teach him like I teached Marlee."

"He is such a lucky boy."

"Did he get cut out?"

"No, not this time. He came naturally."

"How?"

"He had to come out of my vagina."

"Oh dear." Addy covered her eyes. That mortified her, she knew a few things and she knew no one was allowed to touch her down there but the thought of something so big coming out was a little more than she could handle. "Oh dear."

Alfie wanted nothing to do with that discussion and Quinn wasn't entirely sure they were ready for it either. "Okay. Time for a photo, all of us. We need to take a photo to send to Lola and Mae and Bug."

Alfie took a photo of Addy cuddling her brother with Marlee kneeling up behind her hugging her big sister.

'Better late than never'

Adelaide and Marlee are over the moon to show off their little brother. Our 8lbs 3oz little man arrived calmly and beautifully this afternoon at 1336hrs. Quinn did an amazing job, I have no words to describe how incredible the whole experience was. We are completely in love with our boy, Addy and Marlee are already thinking of ways to torture him.

As for a name, right now he's our Bubba, so when we know, you'll know.'

They sent the message along with a photo of the three of them and also a photo of the baby and one with Quinn just after he was born.

The girls loved it when Alfie gave him a bath, the both stood up beside him and helped as best they could. Addy sang to him when he cried and Marlee's lip quivered and her little voice shook. "Please don't cry Bubba. It's okay, it's okay." She touched his head softly. "Why he crying?"

"Oh Marlee, he doesn't like being nude." Addy reliably informed her sister.

The little boy didn't love it at all. He had a good set of pipes on him and it wasn't until he was all wrapped up nice and tight and safely cradled in his Dad's arms that he calmed down. "Okay little man, Mum's ready for a cuddle now. How about some tucker and then sleep? You've got a whole mob on the way to meet you so enough of this?" Alfie cooed in his ear.

Quinn wanted to stay overnight, Alfie would have taken them home today but she wanted to stay. She was worried about him. With Marlee they stayed for four days because her milk was slow coming in and Marlee was so small so Alfie knew she was worried that the same thing would happen again. He thought she was an amazing Mum but Quinn had doubts about herself and he hated that.

Their girls were amazing. Sure Addy was almost four when she came into her life but Alfie could see Quinn's influence on her, she had an amazing ability to get Addy to calm down and focus. She thrived when she felt safe and Quinn made her feel safe. Marlee was just beautiful, she had a sweet nature and that was all her mother. She was bright as a button and blew them away with her development and Quinn made sure Marlee got the chance to learn and explore whilst still letting Addy flourish as a big sister.

While Addy was all up in the baby's business they both noticed that Marlee went quiet. She was kneeling up at the window playing with her koala that she had bought with her and paying no intention to what was going on in the room. Alfie went and sat with her and Marlee ended up in his lap having a cuddle. He loved when Marlee was a Daddy's girl, it didn't happen often, she loved her Mum mostly but every now and then she wanted her Dad. She tucked her head up under his chin and played with her Koala. Alfie kissed the top of her blonde head and looked at Quinn. She gave him a watery smile, she thought they were beautiful together but it hurt her to see her little girl struggling a little with the change in family dynamic.

They had seen how Mimi hadn't coped with Eliot and she was giving them grief but Mimi was so much younger than Marlee and they hoped they wouldn't have the problems Iris and Colton were having. Mimi would misbehave whenever Iris was feeding and would often tell Eliot to shut up and if Colton was holding him Mimi would try and pull him out of his arms. It was killing them, Iris was really struggling and Mimi wanted nothing to do with her Mom at the moment and would cry every time Colton left the room.

Much to Addy's disappointment Quinn put the baby back in his bed to sleep she just wanted to hold him all the time so he didn't get lonely and 'so he remembers me'. Marlee didn't move off her Dad's lap though although she did perk up a little. They talked about Addy's day at school and Marlee talked about the playground. "I climb high."

"Did you, you are such a monkey." Quinn giggled. Marlee had no fear of heights and would happily climb on anything. She loved climbing the tree in the backyard but knew she was only do it when a grown-up was with her, and Addy didn't count despite her insistence that she was 'bigger.'

"She's a koala." Addy corrected her.

Lola stopped in first, she was at work so it wasn't hard to stick her head in and have a cuddle. Riley dropped in briefly between patients just as Lola was having her first cuddle. "All these babies, I must say I am nervous every time she hits on me." Riley was well aware they were the butt of everyone's jokes about Lola getting pregnant when someone else had a baby.

"Oh he's so perfect. I remember Sam and Billy were this perfect once." Lola ignored him. "And then they grew up like their father and they are not so perfect now. Olive is perfect though, my little princess."

"Harsh Lola Bear." Riley played with the little boys hand.

"Do you like my bubba Riley?" Addy was about two inches from Lola and her brother.

"I do like him very much; your Mom and Dad did a great job making this little one."

"He came out of Mum's vagina."

"Did he?" Lola giggled. Alfie deserved all this and more. Lola saw him cringing as he cuddled Marlee who was still not loving all the attention the baby was getting.

"Yes? Did Sam come out of your vagina?"

"Yes Adelaide." It was Alfie's turn to laugh. "He did, so did Billy and Olive."

"Oh is it broken now?"

Riley and Alfie roared with laughter while Lola just patted her hand. "No, it's fine Adelaide. That's what it's mean to do, to have babies."

"Oh dear." She just kept repeating herself. Adelaide was not impressed with this girl thing all of a sudden.

Lola handed him to Riley for a quick cuddle and then had a cuddle with Marlee who she could see was struggling. "So what do we call him?"

"Mack." Addy blurted out.

"Mack?"

"Makuru Angus Ruzek Hollister." Alfie explained. "Aka Mack."

"It's a raborigine name like Marlee." Addy proudly informed everyone. "We love it."

"Hi Mack." Lola touched his cheek softly. "Welcome to the circus little man, you are gonna love it."

Eliot was a month old when they took him to the zoo, it was a perfect warm sunny day and Iris sat and fed him while she watched Mimi being chased by her Daddy. She had sat still for exactly three minutes before scrambling to her feet and shooting off across the grass. Colton was after her and managed to catch her before she tumbled off onto the pavement. She had settled down a little and didn't hate Eliot like she used to but she still wasn't that interested in him either, there were other things to do that were far more exciting than her baby brother.

Iris waved as she saw her sister-in-law heading towards them, Addy waved back madly and made a beeline for Iris and Eliot while Marlee was just happy to see Mimi and pulled her hand out of her Mom's and ran over to join them. Alfie was coming, he'd been a little side-tracked and Quinn had left him behind talking to every man and his dog.

They weren't sure why or how but Eliot had already picked up a nickname, he was little 'Ruze.' He looked a little like Adam, or so Iris thought and she had called him little Ruze one day. It was the little tufts of dark blond hair around his ears that reminded her of her grandfather and it had stuck. Mimi could say 'Uze and couldn't get her tongue around Eliot so 'Ruze' stuck for now.

Iris handed Eliot to Quinn for a cuddle when she arrived. "Hey Ruze. You've grown so much since I last saw you, you look so big in comparison." She cooed as she stroked his hand. Addy was up running towards her Dad when she saw him coming.

"Daddy, Ruze is awake, come show him Mack." Eliot hadn't met his cousin yet, Iris didn't bring him in when she came to visit although she had bought Mimi who just sat on her Mom's lap and ignored everyone. "Quick."

Barely a week old Mack was Addy's pride and joy, she was just as obsessed with him as she had been with Marlee. She had also decided that Ruze and Mack were going to be best friends forever so the sooner they met the better.

Addy adored him; Marlee was non-plussed she was too busy doing 'stuff' to worry about her brother. He was just there; Marlee was a sweet girl, always on the go but she had the calm personality of her mother and she loved cuddles and being close to her parents. Addy sometimes overwhelmed her with her bubbly personality and she was always dragging Marlee into mischief.

They loved his name despite the mixed response they got. Some people thought it was an 'interesting' name, Makuru was the aboriginal word for winter and Addy told everyone who would listen that her sister and brother had 'raboriginal' names because they belonged to her mob but she was the only real 'raborigine.

Alfie was in heaven too, he adored his girls and they were his world, he loved coming home to them and spending time with them but like Lola really wanted a daughter to get that mother/daughter relationship she missed so desperately Alfie was eager to be the Dad to his son that he missed out on. It was hard to explain and he was also determined to be the Dad to his girls that he knew his sisters craved. He eventually joined them once he had showed Mack off to everyone he encountered on his way through the zoo. It was Mack's first outing and he was getting spoilt and lots of love and attention.

It took a little bit of wrangling, cajoling and involved an army of people leaping, laughing and cheering to get them all looking in the one direction.

Sam, Adelaide, Poppy, Billy, Max, Marlee, Olive, Mimi, Eliot and Makuru.

The next generation were safely sitting beneath the shady branches of that precious oak tree.

Well that dragged on a bit...I think I am finally done with this family.