Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Sorry it has taken so long to update. My muse seems to be eager to write stories for various other shows and stray away from this fic. But the plus side is once this chapter is completed, the next few chapters should write themselves quickly.

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Kate and Mike were sitting on the couch watching the news in comfortable silence as Kate mused on the changing nature of their relationship. They had gone from seeing each other almost daily – and being confined to close quarters with each other on a regular basis – to seeing each other in snatches of time when they were both off duty. It had meant some adjustments were needed, but at the same time, it heralded a fresh start to their relationship. Without the fear of fraternisation looming above them, or the need to be purely professional, the time they now spent together was stress-free. Relatively.

But tonight's 'time together' was shattered when the phone rang.

With her primary cushion dislodged when Mike stood up, Kate reached for another as Mike placed his phone to his ear with a curt 'Flynn'.

Judging from the look on his face, he was not happy with what the other person had to say. He finished the call with a heavy sigh and approached her once again, taking a seat on the table in front of the couch.

She propped up her head on the back of the couch as she took in his despondent look. 'We've been crash sailed.'

'Okay,' she responded and judging by his reaction, she guessed that he had been anticipating a different response from her. 'It's the Navy life Mike. It was bound to happen,' she elaborated.

'But I'll miss the ultrasound tomorrow.'

'I'll get plenty of pictures,' she promised reaching forward to kiss him on the lips before she moved him along with a shoo-ing motion. 'Go save someone.'

********************

For all her bravado the previous evening, when Kate found herself in the waiting room of the military hospital the next morning, part of her did wish that he was here with her.

When her name was called, she lifted her head and followed the perky nurse into a consultation room. Sitting on the table she waited for Dr Lucciadello to arrive as she aimlessly looked at the various posters on the wall. She turned when the door opened and the doctor entered with a smile. 'Lieutenant McGregor. How are we today?'

'Good thanks.'

'Feeling okay?' asked the doctor in a warm tone, fingers poised to document her answer on the clipboard.

'Apart from the morning sickness every morning like clockwork, yeah it's been pretty good.'

'Good, good,' nodded the doctor. 'Let's get you to lie back and pull up your shirt and then we'll see how everything's going shall we?'

It had been seven weeks since she had last seen a picture and as she looked at the black and grey blobs on the screen she marvelled that Skipper had grown so much already. Skipper? Now where the hell had that come from? Damn you Mike.

Her mental berating stopped instantly when she heard the doctor's next words. 'Do you have twins in the family?'

Twins?! 'I'm sorry. Did you just say twins?'

'Mmm,' was the distracted answer as the doctor looked intently at the screen.

'No history of twins in my family, but I'll need to check with the baby's father for his family,' she offered nervously, attempting to make her own sense of the indistinguishable shapes before her.

'Let me just check the angle...'

********************

She was standing in the kitchen chopping up capsicum, her body slowly swaying in time to some music, when Mike arrived at her apartment later that evening. He joined her there and wrapped his arms around her from behind to rest on her swell. 'How did it go?' he asked as he kissed the top of her head.

'Good,' she nodded, still intent on chopping – and eating – the crunchy red vegetable. 'The ultrasound went well.'

'I can't believe I missed it.'

'You'll get the next one.'

'I might need to send out a memo to every boat even considering entering Australian waters at your next appointment,' considered Mike as he snagged a piece of capsicum from the chopping board. 'At this rate the closest I'll get to an ultrasound is when our kid is actually born.'

'And I'd really prefer it if you were actually there,' Kate laughed in response, her hand grabbing his travelling hand to bring the pilfered capsicum to her own mouth.

'Don't you worry. I will be,' promised Mike pulling her closer back to him to kiss the side of her forehead. 'Now tell me more about the appointment. "Good" can't be all of it.'

'You got any twins in your family?' she asked nonchalantly, a small smile forming on her face - not that he could see it. She felt his reaction though when his hands tightened around her. 'Twins?' She could have sworn his voice was a pitch higher than normal.

'Mmm. Twins,' she confirmed, turning in his arms, taking another bite of capsicum. His hands were now on her hips.

'Dad was a boy/girl twin and my sister has twin girls, so yes there are twins in the family.' He paused and looked at her intently. 'Are you trying to tell me that we're having twins?'

'Nope,' she said gleefully. 'Don't worry Skipper is the only one in there.'

She rolled her eyes when Mike rent the air with a silent 'whoop' at her use of his nickname for their child before he touched his forehead to hers. 'Don't do that to me again!'

'Figured you could suffer through the same shock I did today!' she reasoned with a smile.

He drew back slightly. 'The doctor thought you were expecting twins?'

'Well why else would I bring it up?' she laughed patting her hands on his chest.

'Oh I don't know,' he said in a teasing manner. 'You take great pleasure in toying with me.'

Her objection is muffled when his warm mouth came down to cover hers and he lifted her body up to him. As her arms wrapped around his neck and she deepened the kiss, there were no words spoken for some time.

********************

Sitting at the table eating a late supper later that evening, Kate looked up from her plate to find him looking intently at her. 'What?' she said self consciously.

'Speaking of twins,' he said slowly. 'How would you like to meet my family?'

'You want me to meet your family?' she repeated in an incredulous tone, all thought of food now forgotten.

'Well yeah,' he said. 'I'd planned to introduce you anyway and Christmas seems to be a good a time as any.'

'Christmas?' She couldn't believe it. 'You want me to meet your family at Christmas?'

'Yeah,' he said, watching her face. 'Is that a problem?'

'No,' she said slowly, and realised that she meant it. 'Just unexpected.'

'Good, then it's sorted,' he concluded as he turned back to his meal.

'How many people are we talking about?' probed Kate leaning forward to rest her chin on her propped up palm.

'In the family or there for Christmas?' he responded with his mouth full.

'It's a different number?' she asked confused.

'Oh yes!' laughed Mike wryly. 'Immediate family is Mum, Dad, two sisters, a brother and three nieces and nephews. Extended is the various aunties, uncles and cousins that are in the area. 'Bout 40+ will be at Mum and Dad's place for Christmas Day.'

'Forty? Forty people?' said Kate faintly. She was glad her hand was propping her up, or else her jaw might have just dropped to the table.

'Not what you were expecting?' said Mike with a grin.

'Ah, no.'

Clearing the plates, Mike threw his last comment over his shoulder. 'We'll need to get the time off and book the flight to Sydney.'

'It's in Sydney?!'

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Next Chapter: Merry Christmas one and all!