A/N Hello all.

Thank you very much for your kind reviews for 'A Baby Together'. I'm back with the beginnings of another story I'm afraid. I've realised I quite miss not writing about Major and Mrs James and their life together. This first chapter follows on immediately from the epilogue of 'A Baby Together'. Again there's unlikely to be any angst or drama in this, it will probably just be the trials and tribulations of parenthood (as one reader suggested previously - thank you) and our hero and heroine will still be loved up. Please let me know if there is any interest and whether it's worth pursuing. Sorry about the title again - but naff titles for me are a speciality it seems. Anyway thanks for reading and hope you enjoy.

The usual word of warning - some swearing.

15th October 2018 - Afternoon (Mia - 3 days old)

Molly placed the changing bag and baby carrier in the boot of the Audi, closed the lid and moved towards the front passenger door, passing Charles as she did so. He was leaning into the rear of the car, struggling to fix Mia's car seat securely in place and swearing loudly.

"Thought we agreed just now that we were gonna mind our Ps an' Qs in front of baby girl."

Charles didn't look up, but Molly could hear the irritation in his voice as he responded. "She's asleep. It doesn't count!"

"Is that a fact? - I'll remind you of that then the next time you moan or raise your eyebrows at me Stern Face."

"Whatever..." He mumbled, cursing again, this time quietly under his breath. "For fuck's sake these bloody things haven't got any easier since Sam was a baby."

Molly opened the front passenger door, sat down in the seat and fastened her own seat belt, then turned to look over her shoulder at him.

"Remind me again why we ain't taking the pushchair?" she asked, playing the innocent.

He paused in his efforts, predictably rising to the bait, looking up at Molly. Detecting a faint twinkle in her eye, he sighed heavily and glared at her briefly. "You know why. It's going back. If we use it, the shop won't exchange it."

"Well, you do realise that the car seat came with the push chair? THAT'S WHY it's called a travel system." There was a slight edge of sarcasm to her voice.

"Yes I DO know Molls - THAT'S WHY I haven't cut the label off and why I'm not planning on taking it out of the car - they won't realise we've used it." He breathed through gritted teeth.

Molly glanced at their newborn daughter sleeping peacefully in the seat oblivious to her parents' 'conversation'. "Let's hope she don't throw up breast milk all over it then."

At that Charles issued a string of expletives, undid the seat belt and stepped back out of the car. Molly watched him stomp back up the drive towards the house carrying the car seat with him, with Mia still fast asleep in it. "What you doing now?" She called out.

He didn't answer, instead disappearing into the house with Mia. Five minutes later though, he re-emerged from the house carrying Mia in the car seat, opened the rear car door and began the lengthy process of fastening the car seat into the car again. Molly turned again to look, her eyes widening as she noticed he'd covered the entire car seat and straps with some muslin squares he'd evidently cut to fit. Mia lay sleeping oblivious.

"Charles James, you are something else!" Molly threw at him as he got into the driver's seat.

"Needs must Molly James, needs must!" He countered reaching across for his seatbelt.

...

"So where we going then?" Molly asked, absentmindly toying with her new eternity ring, as Charles put the car into reverse and backed it up the driveway.

He stopped the Audi, waiting for a neighbour's passing car. "Thought we'd pop into Amesbury, have a walk along the river if you're up to it, then grab a drink in the coffee shop. That ok with you?"

"Sounds good, but I made you a flask of coffee, it's in the boot."

"You did?" He leaned towards her, planting a quick kiss on her lips. "Knew there was a reason I married you!"

"I may have bought a packet of biscuits an' all."

"Digestives?"

She grinned, nodding at him and he beamed back at her, before stealing another kiss.

"You know how to spoil me Dawesy!"

"So does this mean I'm in your good books again Bossman?"

"You're always in my good books."

"So if I'm always in your good books you're gonna let me keep the pushchair, right?"

"Wrong!" He returned, before checking the road again for traffic and reversing out into it.

...

Charles parked up just off the high street. They both glanced over their shoulder to find Mia still fast asleep in the rear of the car.

"So whose gonna carry her - me or you?"

"Me obviously..." Charles' voice trailed off as he looked down at Molly's chest. "She snuggles into those boobs and she'll be waking up thinking the milk bar is open for business already."

"Oi!" Molly poked her tongue out at him, not exactly amused.

"Sorry Molls. Joking apart, I'll carry her - I don't want you overdoing things ok?"

"Ok."

...

Having secured Mia in the baby carrier strapped against his chest, Charles set off towards the high street; Molly following. She called out to him, struggling to keep up with his long strides, as he took a different direction to the one she'd anticipated. "Thought we were gonna walk down by the river?"

He paused, allowing her to catch up, then took her small hand in his as she drew level with him.

"We are. Just want to show you something first. Come on." He slowed his pace to fit in with hers, allowing for the fact that she hadn't long given birth. His steps took them to a family run estate agent towards the far end of Salisbury Street. He paused in front of the window, his eyes drawn to a photograph of a picture-perfect chocolate box cottage. She followed his gaze and he pointed it out to her.

"This caught my eye this morning. What d'you think?" He turned to look at her, smiling at the expression on her face as she took in the image. The property was beautiful and they both knew it.

"I...I think it's gorgeous but..."

"But what?"

"Well..." She shrugged her shoulders, "We already have a home."

"Molly we live in a married army quarter, it's not the same."

"So what are you saying Charles?" Her eyes searched his.

"I'm saying I think we should think about buying our own place, having our own home."

"What's brought this on all of a sudden?"

"It's not all of a sudden. I've been thinking about it for a while. Think it's about time we put down some roots."

She couldn't help but smirk, "What this from a man whose always loved living out of a bergen?"

He frowned slightly, "You know that's not exactly the case anymore."

"What about when we get posted elsewhere?"

"Then we rent out whatever we buy. But at least we'll always have somewhere that's ours and we can call home. And this is a good location - especially if I take a desk job at Army HQ one day..." She raised an eyebrow at that, but he ignored her and carried on talking. "Besides it will be an investment hopefully."

She chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating his answers, then looked back at the particulars in the window, her mind beginning to go into overdrive. She pressed her hand flat against the pain of glass near the photograph. "Can we afford it?" she mooted cautiously.

"Yes." He saw a look of uncertainty flash across her face and placed a hand on her chin, tilting her face up so that his eyes meet hers again. "Absolutely - 100% yes," he asserted resolutely.

She wasn't convinced. "What even allowing for the maintenance you pay Rebecca?"

He rolled his eyes, "Molly, she's getting remarried at Christmas remember? The spousal maintenance will stop, I'll only be paying child maintenance soon."

"But..."

"But nothing...So are you going in to get the details or shall I?"

Molly needed no second bidding, opening the door to the estate agents and stepping inside. Charles stood waiting outside, his hands holding onto Mia's little legs encased in a babygrow as they dangled down either side of the baby carrier. He planted a brief kiss on the top of Mia's head. "Knew your mum would like it Mia, keep your fingers crossed baby girl that the ceilings aren't too low," he whispered. Minutes later, Molly returned, details in hand. "They wanna know if we'd like a viewing. I said we'd get back to them."

"Good," he took her free hand in his again, holding her close as they crossed the road and headed for the river.

They began their walk, just past the bridge along the tow path, negociating a number of weeping willows on the river bank. Ten minutes in, they came to a wooden stile in a gap in the hedgerow, beyond which was a public footpath and a field. The field was framed by woodland, the trees being painted in the crisp, golden and scarlet leaves of Autumn. It was a perfect spot for a rest. "You ok?" Charles asked, conscious that Molly's pace had slowed. "Do you want to sit down over there for a bit?"

She nodded, the aches and pains she'd been suffering on and off after giving birth having knotched up a gear since beginning the walk. He clambered over the stile with Mia and Molly followed, wincing slightly as she did so.

"Molly are you in pain?" He asked as he helped her down the other side, his voice laced with concern.

It was no use fibbing, he was looking at her intently and he'd see right through her."A little," she breathed.

He took the picnic rug she'd brought from her and knelt down, holding onto Mia firmly as he spread the rug out onto the grass in sight of the towpath. He offered Molly his hand again, "Come on, sit down."

She did as he asked, settling herself down as comfortably as she could. She glanced over at Mia, still snuggled in against Charles' chest, and reached out to stroke her tiny hand. "D'you think she's warm enough?"

Charles wriggled two fingers into the baby carrier, slipping them inside Mia's clothing, feeling the back of her neck. "Yes, she's fine."

"She's gonna need feeding again in a minute." Molly proffered resignedly.

"Molly she's sound asleep. Make the most of it. You need a rest." Charles said, somewhat firmly.

Molly leaned back, stretching her legs out in front of her and closing her eyes, relishing in the afternoon sun on her face; it being unusually warm for mid-October. "Yes Boss," she smiled, unable or unwilling to argue for once. He wasn't sure which. She felt him move closer to her, his hand encircling her waist as he sat beside her sideways on, pulling her close. Almost immediately, his hand instinctively began to massage her lower abdomen gently. "Mmm, that feels good," she whispered, as her head rested against him. "How come you always know how to make me feel better?"

He murmured into her hair, smiling as he inhaled the faint smell of baby shampoo she'd washed it with that morning. "Told you earlier...you're easy!" Pausing his hand on her waist, he prepared himself for a mouthful. It didn't come. Her eyes fluttered open and she tilted her head to look up at him. "Only for you," she whispered instead. He leaned in, kissing the end of her nose affectionately, before his lips found hers. They were slightly moist and soft beneath his and she parted them, allowing him access. He moaned quietly into her mouth, savouring the sweetness of her again, before his tongue sought hers deepening the kiss.

Unfortunately for them both, Mia began to whimper and wriggle slightly beneath them. They parted company reluctantly, resting their foreheads together momentarily before both glancing at Mia still snuggled in the baby carrier. She was bobbing her head, instinctively rooting. Molly sat upright and adjusted her clothing, surreptitiously removing the cabbage leaves she'd placed in her bra earlier. Charles in turn beginning to lift their daughter carefully out of the baby carrier. Within seconds he'd transferred Mia into Molly's arms. He took off the baby carrier, putting it next to the changing bag, before stretching out on his side opposite Molly; his arm bent at the elbow, his hand supporting his head. He watched them both, committing the moment to memory, a warm feeling of contentment spreading through him. Mia was cradled in Molly's arms, happily nursing at Molly's breast, no problem with latching on this time, whilst Molly smoothed her daughter's hair with her left hand, clearly relieved. The stones in her eternity and engagement rings sparkled in the late October sun as Molly cupped the back of her daughter's head in her hand. She whispered softly to Mia, pausing to kiss the top of her head from time to time, unaware of Charles' eyes on her. After a while, she shifted Mia around in her arms to her other breast and glanced up finally catching his eye.

"What?" she asked, curious.

"Nothing. Just estactically happy that's all." He grinned, a sense of complete and utter joy radiating from him.

"Me too," she grinned back unreservedly. "Are we allowed to be this happy?"

"Yep definitely." He sat up beside her, pressing his lips to her forehead briefly, before reaching out for her left hand. He held it in his, caressing her ring finger tenderly and touching the eternity ring he'd just given her.

"We've come a long way Dawesy," He ventured, his voice husky with emotion. For the second time that day, a single tear trickled down his cheek. He looked up at her and she smiled at him, "God, you're a soppy bugger at times Major!" His smile matched hers, as he pulled himself together. "Only for you," he laughed, his words an echo of hers just a short while ago. "You hungry?"

"Nah, could do with a drink though." She gestured towards the changing bag with her free hand. "There's a bottle of water in there ...oh and your coffee." He reached for the bag, grabbed the water and undid the lid, before passing it to Molly. She smiled gratefully at him and took a sip.

"Biscuit?" he offered, as he located the packet and opened it.

"No thanks," she said, smiling at him as he dunked one in the thermos cup of coffee he'd poured himself. He caught her eye this time.

"What?"

"Who'd have thought five years down the line you'd be dunking a digestive in your precious coffee?"

"Yeah well, that's your influence Molls!"

"Hmm all my best habits have rubbed off on you which is just as well seeing as you were a right old Rupert when I first met you."

"Er less of the old thanks Mrs James!"

Mia finished feeding and he took her from Molly cuddling her to his shoulder, in order to wind her. He supported her with his right arm whilst stroking and patting her back with his free hand. Molly adjusted her clothing again and grabbed the changing bag, withdrawing the estate agent's particulars she'd placed in there earlier. She snuggled in next to Charles so that they could both see them. They sat in a companiable silence, pouring over the details together. Eventually, Charles spoke,"So what d'you reckon? D'you want to make an appointment to view it?" Molly nodded immediately, already more than a little in love with it.

"It needs some work doing to it but hopefully nothing this Rupert can't handle... Molly?" He prompted, having missed her earlier gesture and unaware that in her mind they were half way to moving in. "Yes it's lovely, though I wouldn't say no to a new kitchen," she looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh an' one of those range cooker thingys like your mum's got." She half joked.

"Dream on Dawesy!"

"Well can we at least have a roll top bath? I love 'em."

He didn't want to put a dampener on her enthusiasm, but at the same time he knew he ought to mention a potential problem. "Don't get carried away. It's got to pass the James family test first."

He watched her visibly slump beside him.

"What test?" she asked nervously.

"The height test. I'm gonna have to check out the height of the ceilings first, don't fancy a crooked neck from stooping the whole time or a bang to the head if the ceilings or these beams in the kitchen are too low."

"Oh I dunno - sure we can work something out?"

"What d'you have in mind half-pint?" He joked whilst altering Mia's position aware that she'd drifted off to sleep on his shoulder. He nestled her head comfortably in the crook of his elbow as he supported her bottom with his hand. Dropping a kiss down on to her button nose, he was rewarded with a reflex smile.

Molly, meanwhile, ignored his jibe. "Well..." She turned to the last page, pointing to a photograph of the garden. "Sam, Mia and me can have a bedroom each and we can convert this outbuilding here for you."

Charles placed a thumb on his chin, tapping his mouth with his forefingers as if giving due consideration to her suggestion. "Hmm my own den...that might just work...wouldn't have to put up with your insults for one thing...oh and your nagging for another." She elbowed his arm sharply without warning and he feigned injury, straining his voice as he spoke. "Actually...on second thoughts...it wouldn't work at all."

"Why not?"

He recovered his 'composure' and continued. "I'd miss your body too much. Especially when you press it into mine when you're feeling all 'thing'. You know first thing in the morning, last thing at night, in the early hours, mid afternoon, late morning, early evening, late..."

"Ok, ok, I get the picture," She hissed, blushing bright red, as an elderly couple walked passed glancing in their direction.

He continued to tease her, raising his voice up an octive, revelling in her discomfort. "And our options as to venue would be extremely limited if we could only fit a bed in there. That outbuilding doesn't look very big. There'd be no doing it on the kitchen table, on the sofa, on the rug by the fire, in the shower, up against the kitchen work top, in the bath, up against the console table in the hallway, on the stairs and last but not least..."

"Charles stop!" Molly cried out, by now mortified. "We've never done it on the stairs." She insisted, desperately trying to distract him from mentioning the one place they'd done it in the early days of moving in together that she was so very, very embarrassed about - on account of the fact that they'd almost been caught in the act by his parents arriving earlier than expected for a BBQ one Sunday.

"Really? I thought we had."

"No, we made it to the landing, if you remember rightly."

"Oh yeah," he nodded and she breathed a sigh of relief as he appeared to have forgotten. Her relief, turning to despair seconds later, as he began to snigger.

"Well what about that time when we..."

"Charles if you EVER want to get into my knickers again, I suggest you put a lid on it RIGHT NOW!" She practically screamed at him, before slamming her head against his upper arm in embarrassment having clocked a couple of cyclists riding passed when it was too late. They were laughing loudly, obviously having overheard Molly's outcry. She could feel Charles' shoulders shake, as he too began to chuckle. Mia was oblivious to it all, still fast asleep snuggled in against her dad."God I hate you sometimes!" Molly mumbled, desperately trying to quell a bubble of laughter that was building up inside her, as she too saw the funny side. She raised her head to look at him, frowning in mock horror as he continued to snigger. "You know what Charles James? With or without low ceilings - an outbuilding conversion sounds like a bleedin' brilliant idea. That way I can get away from you an' all!"

...

A/N P.S I've never been to Amesbury, Wilts, so apologies if my very brief description of the area by the river is all wrong.