(no subject)

"If there's any problems, Frances is out seeing to some kittens but I'll be around with my mobile all morning." Guppy says, finishing off filling in the last of the forms.

"Don't you worry Doc, he'll be fine." Barney says reassuringly, getting himself acquainted with Alexander. "The first day of nursery is much harder for the parents than the kids. And it's only a couple of hours. Oh, that reminds me, we have a special rainbow sticker for his file, to remind us to adjust his age."

Guppy watches as the new file is created, wondering how a baby can end up with so many ringbinders full of data at so young an age.

"What's that for?"

"Parents." Barney says. "And Ofsted. It's good to know that a kid's developing on time, but I'm not all that keen on the paperwork either. We keep a video diary of anything interesting or important we see the kids doing."

Guppy kisses his baby son, then hands him back to Barney. As he gets to the door, the baby suddenly starts to cry and reach back towards him in a most heart rending fashion.

"Keep going, he'll be fine." Barney calls to him, taking Alex into the next room.

Guppy is sure he hears a little shout of 'Da!'. But he knows that even if he did, the sound is a coincidence.