Brian leaned back on his chair and interlocked his fingers behind his head. The evening breeze blew in and the fragrance of roses filled the room. It was Paige's perfume. 'That is strange' he thought. After questioning his sanity, he figured it might be on his clothes because they sat together on the train.

He was happy to finally be at home and scolded himself for missing Paige already. The cool music playing on the radio did not make him feel relaxed as usual. All it did was make him think of Paige, and long to be with her again.

Brian's mind raced with thoughts about her, and all the events that occurred during their visit to Dover. It was wild, crazy and scary. Anything apart from normal, but he enjoyed every single moment.

It worried him that he felt he could die and be alright when he was with Paige. Opening up about his past and his regrets left him feeling raw and vulnerable. He was pleasantly surprised by Paige's kind and non-judgemental response. After all was said and done, he felt like a heavy load had been lifted off his shoulders.

Brian put one leg over the other and looked at the ceiling. I have fallen in love with a teenager. Have I not set myself up for heartbreak? he wondered.

The thought of Paige brought a smile to his lips and warmed his heart. He pondered what the next line of action should be. Working on the lab analytical procedures would be complicated if they mixed business with pleasure. In that same vein, he wanted to be the voice of reason. He determined to do everything in his power to support her and her academics. They would need to need to sit down and lay all the cards on the table.

His sat upright sharply when his phone started ringing. It jolted him out of his thoughts suddenly.

It was Paige.

He cleared his throat, "Hello, Paige."

"Um, hello? Mr Rochester, please is that you?" the anxious voice asked.

He sat up straighter. It was not Paige's voice. "Yes, who is speaking? Where is Paige?"

"It's Madeline."

"Paige's roommate?"

"Yes, I need your help. Paige got a call from the hospital that her mum has been admitted. She is hysterical with worry and she is insisting on going alone. I think Paige needs you."

"Where are you?" Brian asked.

"At home. Do you have our address?"

"Yes, I am on my way," Brian replied. He rushed to put a shirt on and winced at the strain on his collarbone. After dashing out the door, he remembered that he forgot his car keys. He rushed back in, out and sped to Paige's house.

**

"Shh, it is okay, I am sure everything will be alright," Brian said. He held Paige in his arms as she wept. After superceeding speed limits to get to her house, he drove Paige and her roommate to Kensington Hospital. Unfortunately, by the time they reached the hospital, Mrs Adesanya had been kept from visitors. At least, for the meantime.

Paige looked up at him. "Fiddlesticks, I have gotten snot all over your shirt." She sniffed quietly, rubbing his chest. "They will not tell me anything. All they keep saying is that they are still running tests."

"I know," he said softly. They had been together all along, and he heard what the doctors said. It was clear she just needed a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. As he stroked her back, he was glad to be there for her.

Madeline awkwardly shuffled her feet. She dipped her hands in her pockets, and looked everywhere but at Paige and Brian. It was awkward hanging around the lovebirds, and she felt like she was spying on their private moment. She reasoned that they needed some space. Breaking the news about her separation from Simon, would definitely have to wait. Mrs Adesanya was on admission, and Paige was boo'd up. It was obvious that she was the third wheel. Nevertheless, she felt happy for her friend.

"I, um...need to get a thingy and go see Cinderella and her stepmother in the other wing," Madeline mumbled, pointing her thumb in a random direction. She decided that she could always check back soon.

"Alright. Don't be long, Mads," Paige murmured, with her face buried in Brian's shirt.

"Thank you, Madeline," Brian replied, without looking away from Paige's face.

Madeline shook her head and sighed. She put her wallet in the back pocket of her jeans, and popped some chewing gum in her mouth. Fleeing from the scene, determined to get a can of cola from the nearest vending machine. She envisaged that she would need some caffeine. Perhaps it was her haste that made her lose focus on where she was going. She collided with someone in the hallway, and fell backwards. A set of strong arms caught her, before she could knock into an ornamental plant.

"Oops. I'm sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going," she said as she straightened her top.

"That's alright, just be more careful next time," the baritone voice replied firmly.

Madeline bristled, but held her tongue. She reminded herself that she was there to support her best friend, and not argue with an arrogant tosser. Her ponytail came undone and her hair cascaded over her shoulders.

"Crud!" she whisper yelled, running her hands through it and re tying it.

"Are you here for a relative?" he asked.

"No. I am here for-"

Madeline's voice caught in her throat when she looked up and saw a warm, friendly smile on his face.

"—Mrs Adesanya. My best friend's mum," she concluded in a quiet voice.

Madeline continued to stare without blinking. He was not the most handsome man, but he had a pleasant, matured vibe.

"Alright, take care," he replied before dashing to the nearest elevator.

After they parted, Madeline wondered why she wished that she had asked for his name.

**

"Oh my goodness. Paige? Where is your mother? Have you seen her?" Mr Adesanya rushed into the reception area and spotted Paige and Brian.

"Dad!" Paige rushed to meet him.

"I am so sorry, sweetheart. I got here as quick as I could," he said.

"Dad, you flew in from a conference in Berlin. I did not even expect you so soon," Paige replied.

Mr Adesanya looked over Paige's shoulder to see Brian. "What is he doing here?" he whispered.

Paige drew her father by the hand towards Brian. "Mr Rochester drove Mads and I here. I had a panic attack when I received the call from Kensington Hospital. She called him to come help."

"Really? Thanks for your help, Brian," Mr Adesanya said. "By the way, what happened to your ankle?" he asked.

"I fell down a hill during our field trip. After Mr Rochester warned me not to climb it," Paige lied smoothly.

Mr Adesanya arched an eyebrow and pursed his lips, "What about Brian?"

"I bruised my collarbone when I fell and rolled in the bushes looking for her," Brian said. Perfectly backing Paige up, and telling Mr Adesanya the 'truth' at the same time.

Mr Adesanya's eyebrow arched higher, "Hmm."

A doctor walked up to them and smiled. "Good evening. How are you? Only two family members should come with me please," he said and turned on his heel.

Brian squeezed Paige's hand when she hesitated to follow the doctor. "Go ahead. I will be right here waiting for you," he whispered.

Paige squeezed his hand back and caught up with her dad and the doctor just before they entered her mum's room.

Mrs Adesanya lay in bed looking pale and tired. She had just finished receiving an intravenous drip, and her hospital bed was propped up. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.

"Hello, Ireti. Your husband and daughter are here," the doctor said cheerfully.

"Israeli? PG?" Mrs Adesanya inquired, in a drowsy voice.

Mr Adesanya rushed to his wife's side and clasped her hand. Paige moved to stroke her mother's hair.

"Ireti insisted that both of you be here before we break the news," the doctor said.

Paige's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my goodness. The test results are out? What is wrong with her?" she sobbed.

Mr Adesanya was worried but knew he had too be strong for his wife and daughter so he suppressed his internal anxiety.

"Congratulations, sir. Your wife is twelve weeks pregnant," the doctor said.

"What?" Mr Adesanya exclaimed. "I thought we could not have more-" his voice trailed off.

Paige's tears of worry soon turned to tears of joy, "Wow! I am so happy."

Mr Adesanya pecked his wife on her forehead. "I am going to do everything but grow the baby in my womb."

"Aww. How sweet," Paige teased.

"Babies," the doctor said.

"Babies?" Mr Adesanya asked.

"We are having twins, Israeli," Mrs Adesanya said.

"What?" Mr Adesanya and Paige exclaimed simultaneously.

The doctor smiled, "Congratulations."

Mr and Mrs Adesanya cried happy tears. Paige was all cried out, but she could not stop smiling.

"She was dehydrated and anaemic when she collapsed. Hence the drip to help restore her fluids. She has been prescribed some antenatal vitamins and registered for check ups immediately," the doctor said.

Mr Adesanya gasped. "Thank God she and my babies are okay."

"Mr Adesanya, you can take her home and come for her next appointment. She has been put on leave. Congratulations again."

"Thank you, doctor."

The doctor smiled and left.

Paige hugged her mum gently. "You have a nanny, cleaner and personal assistant in me. I will be available as much as I can, mum."

Mrs Adesanya hugged her daughter and whispered into her hair, "You have grown up so fast, and I am so proud of you."

"Thanks mum."

"I am sorry that I was not there for you as much as I should have been when you were a little girl," Mrs Adesanya said.

Paige drew away from her embrace. "This is not necessary. That is all in the past now."

Mrs Adesanya adjusted her lilac hospital gown and sat up straighter. It contrasted with her dark brown skin and dwarfed her slender frame. "You are old enough to know. It is necessary, PG."

Paige let out a breath. "Alright, mum."

Mrs Adesanya sighed. "Your dad and I are first generation immigrants to the UK. We were young, in love and penniless back then. Your dad got a part time job, but it was not enough to sustain us when you came along," she smiled fondly at the memory of Paige's birth.

She folded her hands in her lap."I got a full time job, here in Kensington Hospital and we were in serious debt. I had to work extra shifts to keep us afloat."

Paige clutched her heart. Her conscience condemned her for being selfish and judgemental. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked looking from her mum to her dad.

"No good parent wants their children to worry about anything," her dad responded.

"We were delighted when you demonstrated musical talent. The violin belonged in your hands," Mrs Adesanya continued. "I did not mind picking extra shifts to pay for your lessons."

Paige hugged her mum tight, "I am so sorry, mum. Please forgive me."

"I am sorry I missed the Performing Arts night when you were in primary six. I don't think you ever truly forgave me for that."

Paige sobbed in response.

Mr Adesanya rubbed his wife's shoulder and patted Paige on the back as they shared the intimate family moment. He was glad they could finally move on.

"When your dad got a more prestigious, full time job. He asked me to switch to part time work or no work at all," Mrs Adesanya continued. "I tried making up for lost time, but you did not seem keen to accept it," she chuckled without mirth.

Paige was still speechless. She merely nodded slowly, in acknowledgement of what her mother was saying. She remembered the times she was polite, well behaved but cold to her mum in her early teens.

Mrs Adesanya held her daughter at arms length. "It is never too late to make amends. I hereby promise to be the fun, engaging-"

"Yes!" Paige shouted.

"- but firm mum, all my children deserve." She rubbed her belly and smiled at Paige.

"I promise to be the coolest big sis and the best daughter on Earth," Paige replied with a big grin on her face.

Paige looked towards the door and thought of Madeline and Brian. She could not wait to share the good news with them.

Mr Adesanya gave his daughter a knowing look. "You can't wait to get back to Brian, can you?"

Paige stuttered. "Um, what? That is-"

Mrs Adesanya's eyes widened. "Who is Brian?"

"He is just a postgraduate student who was assigned to supervise a departmental project, mum."

Mr Adesanya chuckled, "I dare you to look into my eyes and say 'he is just a friend'. Go ahead."

Paige crossed her arms, "Fine," she looked into her dad's eyes, "Mr Rochester is just a friend."

"Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Mrs Adesanya teased.

Mr and Mrs Adesanya had a good laugh at Paige's expense.

Paige huffed, but soon joined in the laughter. "I want to go and see Mads. She is here too."

Mr and Mrs Adesanya exchanged a look. "Warm regards to Mads, dear."

"Wait a minute. I want to meet Mr Rochester too," Mrs Adesanya said. She shifted her legs off the bed, and her husband assisted her with an affectionate arm around her waist. He carried her bag, and they followed Paige down the hall to the reception.

"Mr Rochester?" Paige walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. He had his head in his hands.

"Yes?" He shot up and saw Paige's parents right behind her.

"Hello, Mr Rochester. My daughter has told me a lot about you," Mrs Adesanya said.

"It is nice to meet you, ma'am. Please call me Brian."

"Okay, Brian."

Paige squirmed.

"So, I want to take my darling home. Will you take your dar- , sorry, friend back to London?" Mr Adesanya asked.

"Dad!" Paige wished that she could crawl into a hole and hide. How embarrassing.

Brian's cheeks flushed pink. "Absolutely, sir."

"Good. Call me after you have dropped her off at her flat."

Brian nodded, "Yes, sir."

"Dad," Paige whispered.

"What?" Mr Adesanya inquired with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Good night, Brian. Good night, Paige," Mrs Adesanya said with a smile. She tugged on her husband's arm and whispered 'leave them alone' in his ear.

"Have a pleasant evening ma'am, sir," Brian responded with a gentle smile and slight bow of his head.

Mr and Mrs Adesanya had almost walked out of the front door of the hospital before Mr Adesanya looked back. He smiled, and went out with his wife.

Paige and Brian stood looking at each other and smiling.
"I am happy to see a smile back on your face, Paige."

"Me too."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Brian asked.

Paige chuckled. "Sure. I will tell you everything on our way home,"

Mads came rushing down the hall. "Sorry, how's your mum?" she asked.

Paige pulled Madeline into a hug. "She is okay, I'll tell you everything in the car. Thanks for coming. You and Mr Rochester have been so helpful."

Madeline stepped back and smiled, "You are welcome. It has been a hectic day. Let's go home."