Chapter 4

Serena was sat at her desk in the office she shared with Bernie. In front of her was what seemed a mountain of charts which she need slog through by the end of the day. What most people didn't realise about been a consultant was the vast amount of paperwork it entailed. All charts had to be reviewed by a consultant, and as much as Serena cared or should say loved Bernie, Paperwork was something she was not good at. Bernie was just one of those people who was suited to action.

A week had gone past since she they had found out about Bernie's pregnancy, the shock and surprise that they had both felt had settled in and now it was a case of think about the practical elements of it all. There was still a lot to discuss, one important thing being the living situation. But for the moment they had put it on hold until Bernie's children were told and in case of Serena, Eleanor and Jason. Until they were told Bernie was putting off informing Hanssen and her colleagues, but she knew that they needed to be told especially as she would need maternity leave.

The had both felt great relief that Marcus had accepted the whole situation they way he did. There would be a lot of work need to ensure that the peace was kept and that the welfare of the babies was paramount.

Serena's head looked up from the chart at the sound of the door to the office open.

"I'm off Serena, the kids should be here soon," Bernie said calling out to Serena. Marcus and Bernie had come to an agreement that she should be the one that told Cam and Charlotte about their new siblings. Marcus realised that this news was not something that he could really impart, and considering the strained relationship between them, telling them together could be a mistake. Bernie had wanted to tell the sooner but this was the first time she had managed to get them both available at the same time. Cam was due on a shift later on that day and Charlotte was due to go back to university soon so she was running out of time with them being in the same part of the country, and this was not something she wanted to tell them separately.

Walking over to her desk Bernie picked up to gift bags which was she was planning to give to her children. She had come up with a way that she hoped would make telling them easier.

"You sure you will be Okay? Telling them? I can still come if you want." Serena replied back to her.

"Thank you, but no. I need to do this by myself." Bernie lent down slightly and kissed Serena lightly on the lips. Pulling away she spoke again "But depending how this goes I might need some major cheering up later on."

Things had been good between her and Cameron for a while now, working together side by side had helped them both reach an understanding and for Cameron an insight of what his mother's life had been like and why she had distanced herself away. That is wasn't to do with him but it was to do with her marriage and Marcus. With Charlotte it was still early days, there had been a thawing in their relationship but things were in some aspects still frosty. Charlotte was much like herself in personality and it took a lot for her to give. Spending Christmas together had helped tremendously but Bernie was living in fear that her revelation would end up burning the carefully repaired bridges they have made.

Bernie had beaten her children to pulses and had luckily managed to locate a table which could fit them all. The giftbag's for the children were underneath the table hidden away so they could not see them easily. As she waited, she tapped her fingers absently on the table.

"Bit distracted there, Miss Wolfe?" Cam said with a lilt in his voice, and an unmistakeable tone of teasing in it,

Bernie looked up in the direction that the voice came beaming when she spotted her son next to her. In the distraction, he had managed to sneak up on her. She reached out her arm and swatted him lightly on his left arm.

"You're not on duty Cam, I'm Mum now, not you boss"

Next to Cam was Charlotte. Unlike her brother who took after Marcus more, it was clear to see who she took after. when Bernie looked at her it was like looking she was looking into her mirror and seeing herself in her twenties again. Charlotte was a spit of Bernie, down to the blonde unruly mop of hair which could never seem to be controlled to the same dazzling eyes that she had.

Standing up slightly she turned and gave her daughter a peck of the cheek but she was pulled up more and brought into a hug by her daughter. Charlotte had always been more physical when it came to showing her emotions whilst her brother was more reserved like Bernie when it came to the physical side of emotions with his family.

"Hi,Mum." She said pulling away.

"Char." She said in response. Her voice slightly choked with emotion, not so long ago she thought she would never be in touch with her again, and the same for Cameron.

Walking over to one of the empty chair Cam sat down.

"What's up, Mum? " Cam was always straight to the point and he knew from speaking to Charlotte that something must be troubling their Mum. She had practically begged Charlotte to meet her, for Cameron it hadn't got so much of begging from Bernie, he was going to be at the hospital for shift an hour later if she had said to meet her and his sister for lunch.

Charlotte had also navigated her way around the table and had sat down.

"You look worried Mum, what the matter? She asked

Reaching under the table she pulled the two gift bags out making sure that they got the right colour bag in front of them. Taking a deep breath she exhaled slowly before she started to speak.

"You are both right, I do have something to tell you and yes I am bit worried. I also do know that I sounded desperate when I spoke to the both of you and asked you to come here. I have some very important news to tell you which I couldn't really tell you down the phone. Firstly I want you to open the bag in front of you, and both one of you say it, yes I know that Christmas is over, it is not Easter and it is neither of your birthdays."

Both of children grabbed hold of the bags and started to open them, Cam made it into his first and pulled out a t-shirt, unfolding it he read the words on the front Cameron Dunn Big Brother."

"Um, thanks, But Mum, I got that memo a long time" Cameron nodded his head at his sister. " I have had to put up with her for over twenty years."

Cameron was joking when he said those words, Bernie knew that her son and Charlotte was close. With her being away for long stretches of time and Marcus working long hours himself that had learned to rely on each other and were always there to support the other one where needed.

Charlotte had by that point got her bag open which also contained a t-shirt with different words than her brothers. Charlotte Dunn Big Sister was emblazoned over hers. Bernie could see the confusion in her face reading those words. Whilst Cameron had grown up with a younger sibling, Charlotte was the youngest and used to that fact.

"Um, What?" She said looking down at the t-shirt at back at Bernie's face.

"Cameron, Charlotte" Bernie Began. "I know you never thought you would ever hear this words from me, especially at this moment in time. I'm Pregnant, 6 months pregnant in fact."

Both Cameron and Charlotte's face shared the same look of shock, Bernie decided to press ahead with the rest of the story.

"I know that your maths skills are both up to par, but yes, your Dad is the father" For the moment Bernie was not coming out and saying about the twins. She wanted the news to settle in first but she revealed that. "Marcus knows already, and while he was surprised as I am about the news he is happy about it."

"And you Mum?" Charlotte said reaching over and grabbing her mum's hand whilst looking worried herself. Her mind racing so much.

"I'm shocked as I said and after a few moments of understandable doubt, I am happy about it. There is a long way to go in regards to logistics between me and your father, but despite the divorce, he has told me he wants to be actively involved. But all I care about at this moment is how you two feel."

Cameron was the first one to speak out

"Seriously Mum. I'm floored, really floored. You are totally right I never thought I would hear those words, I thought that towards the end that you and Dad weren't close in that way."

Bernie could clearly see that Cameron was trying to not come outright and ask about his parents having sex, he knew the facts of life as they say. But as what is normal for most children he didn't want to know that about his own parents. Especially when one of those parents had revealed themselves to be bisexual pretty much, and was currently actively involved in a relationship with another woman.

"You were right Cameron, towards the end we weren't really close in that manner. I know both of your are old enough to understand how children conceived, but before we split up we were close for one last time." Bernie replied; she wasn't going to tell them like she had with Serena why that happened. "Also before we go any further, as it's is getting harder to keep my pronouns straight. I am pregnant with twins."

"Twins" Charlotte muttered. This was an even bigger shock for her.

"Mum, Can I have a word alone please."

Bernie looked across to Cameron who quickly made his excuses and left them alone. He was intrigued by Charlotte's response. Since she had been told her face had got paler by the second and she seemed to be turning into a bag of nerves by the second.

"What is wrong? I know this is a surprise, but I thought you would have loved being a big sister. You were always so good with your younger cousins."

"It's not that, I'm happy if you are happy. And whilst it is strange to becoming an older sister at my age I have no issues with that. It's just, um well I have some news of my own to tell you, well you and Dad. I wasn't going to tell you just yet. I wanted to wait a few more weeks."

Bernie's heart rate shot up at Charlotte's words, a sinking feeling was fallen over. She was hoping that what she was thinking was not true, that those few words that she had said to Marcus when he presumed the scan was Charlotte; were not about to come back and hit her in the face.

"What news Charlotte?" She said her tone very serious

"I went to the Doctor's today. He confirmed something for me that I had a suspicion about. Mum, I am 10 weeks pregnant."

"You what.." Bernie choked these words out not wanting to believe what she had just heard.

"I'm pregnant Mum."