February 3rd 2010 was the night of the Tottenham and West Ham friendly and Gavin was getting ready for Smithy's arrival as he and his wife stood in the hallway.

"OK, I'll be about four hours tops," He said to Stacey as he fixed his hair in the hallway mirror.

"OK, babes," She replied as she heaved herself down her parent in law's stairs, plonking herself down on the bottom step. "What time'll the match finish?" She asked, taking a mouthful of tea from the mug she held in her grasp.

"If there's no extra time about tenish," He answered, turning round to face her. "But when West Ham lose Smithy'll want to drink himself into oblivion, so I'll have to get him home first but I'll be back by 12:30 at the latest,"

"That's what you said last time," Stacey quipped, setting her tea aside and pulling herself to her feet.

"I wasn't that bad!" Gavin said in defence.

"You spent the next day asking where Valerie was," She laughed, fastening her dressing gown tie.

Before Gavin had time to reply, they were interrupted by Smithy's voice.

"No, no, I know, I know!" He insisted as he walked through the door. "I know I didn't fold it to the best of my ability, and I'm sorry, yes, I will make it up to you!"

"Who's he onto?" Stacey asked her husband, but Smithy agitatedly waved his hand for them to shut up.

"Nessa?" He suggested, wrapping his arms around her.

"OK, yes, that will be very satisfactory. OK, yep. Nothin' really I'm just about to go out to the football with Gav, what's occurin' at your end...Thomas the Tank Engine? Good,"

"Smith – we have to get going," Gavin whispered and Smithy nodded in reply.

"OK, now I have to go, no I won't be a nuisance to the public... I promise, now bye, no Neil – Daddy's has to go now... what tone of voice – there was no tone of voice! I love you and be a good boy for Mummy, bye-bye,"

As he hung up his phone and turned round, he noticed the bemused looks of Gavin and Stacey's faces. He shrugged, "Kids,"

"Right, let's get going!" Gavin said, grabbing his jacket. "C'mere," He directed at his wife, kissing her and hugging her. "See ya Mum, Bye Dad!" He called, through to lounge and they both chorused their goodbyes. "Bye babes," He grinned, "Bye, mate," he added, rubbing her stomach.

"See ya Stace!" Smithy called, waving at her.

"Bye, you two," She smiled as they closed the door behind them. Suddenly, she felt a minor twinge, worse than an ordinary kick. "Shh, shh," She murmured, gently massaging her tender belly. "You go back to sleep,"

"Alright, boys?" Smithy asked as he and Gavin walked towards the men stood outside the large stadium.

"Look it's the sheep shaggers!" Budgie exclaimed in reply, pointing towards the two of them as they came towards the group.

After about five minutes of banter which involved insults that revolved around sheep, Welshmen, Nessa and toilet brushes, all ten of them headed inside.

GASGASGAS

"C'mon, Gav, mate, it's starting!" Budgie insisted, nudging his mate.

"I know, one sec!" He replied as he finished tapping in his text to Stacey on his mobile.

Game just started, speak to you soon. Love you Gav xxx

He selected Stacey's number then clicked send before switching his phone off, placing it back in his pocket and beginning to join the rest of the boys in their cheering and chanting.

"So I said to her, Brenda, I have no idea what you are planning or what you hope to achieve, just put the bat down," Pam said to Stacey as she took another mouthful of wine.

"And did she?" Stacey asked, looking incredulous.

"Did she buggery!" Pam replied, leaning forward, "If you ask me, she only did it because she knew it was true!"

"So what happened after that?" Stacey pushed, interested as to how the story ended.

"Well at that moment the police turned up and I asked if I could go with her in the car, but they said the only way I could do was if I was arrested,"

"And?" She pressed, desperate to see how it ended.

"Well, she's a good friend, Stacey, but not that good of a friend – I have had an unblemished record since 1972 and I don't intend to start all of it again!" She stated matter of factly.

"Oh, not the Brenda story again?" Mick groaned, appearing at the French doors after having a cigarette.

"It has to be told, Mick!" She retorted, frowning at him.

Stacey shook her head in disbelief. "Well of all people! I mean she seemed so normal!"

Pam and Mick both nodded in agreement.

"It's the menopause, Stace, does strange things to all of us!"

"No, Stace, it was the fact that she came home to find Graeme in bed with the next door's gardener," Mick put in.

"Yes well that as well," Pam dismissed, draining her glass before adding. "Right, well Mick's about to go off to the shop to get some more wine," she began, turning to her daughter-in-law.

"Is he?" Mick interrupted, looking towards his wife.

"Yes, he is," Pam affirmed giving him one of her looks. "Is there anything he can get you?" She added.

"No, I'm fine thanks," Stacey smiled in response.

Mick turned towards Pam, "Bottle of red?" He asked.

"Double that," She corrected him.

"Right well that was him exactly one minute after he was born," Pam smiled, fondly as she passed a picture of her newborn son to his now wife. "Three minutes... ten minutes... eighteen... twenty three... forty five... one hour seventeen minutes," She continued, examining each picture before handing them to Stacey.

Stacey turned over one of the photographs in her grasp, expecting to see a time on the back put it was plain white. "Pam, how do you know what time it is if there's nothing on the back?" She asked.

Pam looked at her with a knowing smile. "A mother always knows, Stace,"

"He was a big baby!" She observed, staring intently at one of the pictures.

"Hmm," Pam nodded, taking a mouthful of her water – a substitute from her lack of wine. "11 pounds, three ounces,"

Stacey choked on her tea. "11 pounds?" She asked, incredulously. "How is that even possible?"

"Oh, Stace, big lads the Shipman men are," Pam stated, "Mick was 10lb 8 ounces, his Dad – Errol – was 13... are you alright, Stace?" She stopped and stared at her daughter in law. "I'll bet you're looking at a good ten pounds,"

As she spoke, Stacey began to feel very odd, a low rumbling feeling breaking out in her belly.

"Are you alright, Stace?" She asked, concerned.

"No, I don't feel so good..." Stacey grimaced as shooting pains began to shoot across her stomach.

"Stacey?" Pam asked again, lowering her glass and moving to go and sit next to her. "Stace?"

Suddenly, there was a gushing as Stacey's waters broke.