It took a lot of effort to get moving after they found out about the pregnancy but the chores had to be done. Both were happy in retrospect that Dylan had come by that morning and had taken James away. The chores they had to do did go a lot faster now even though they were just finished when James and Dylan came back. James couldn't stop talking about all the fish he had caught and Dylan had to keep telling the name of the little island they had gone to, but other than that it was a very relaxed atmosphere.

The men were working on the barbecue when Mike arrived. Kate was preparing some salads in the kitchen and James was somewhere playing on his own in the house. Mike had met Robert only a few times yet so he didn't mind it at all that Dylan was there.

When all the food was ready and the grown-ups had taken position on the large patio Robert called James to come and join them as well. It took forever for the boy to come down but when he walked onto the patio it was clear why it had taken so long; he was fixated on something in his hands.

"What do you have there?" Robert asked when James had arrived.

"It looks like a thermometer," James answered absentmindedly. "It was on mum's night stand. I wanted to see if she was still sick but this thing only says 'seven slash eight weeks'. Does that mean mum is going to be sick for that time?" he asked.

Mike's jaw dropped to the ground, hearing this information.

"Congratulations," he stated.

James gave him a strange look and walked towards him. "Why do you say that uncle Mike?" he wondered.

Mike realised what had happened and gave Kate and Robert an apologetic look. No one said a word for a while, not knowing what to say in this situation. Mike could hit himself for being so quick to say something about it.

"I'm sorry," he mouthed towards Kate who then shrugged and smiled towards Robert.

"Well, now you know. We discovered it only this morning so this is very fresh news for everyone," she said proudly.

"I do hope you can keep it a secret until we announce it to the rest of the world. It's still so early days. A lot can happen," Robert added to Kate's words.

Dylan stood up and walked towards Robert to shake his hand. "Congratulations. I'll keep quiet about it but I do have to confess I'm proud to already know this good news," he smiled.

He then wanted to walk towards Kate but right at that time James walked towards her and stood right in front of her.

"Why are uncle Mike and uncle Dylan congratulating you?" he wondered.

Kate kissed him on his forehead and pulled him closer to her. "Because we're going to have a little baby and because you're going to be a big brother," she explained.

Dylan looked at James to see what his reaction would be but there was only disbelief to see on his face.

"Where is the little baby now?" he wanted to know.

"In my belly, but it's really tiny so you can't see it yet," Kate replied.

"Kate, why don't you take James inside so he can ask you all kinds of questions? I'll entertain our guests and put meat on the barbie so when you two come back there's something to eat," Robert suggested. Kate nodded and took James with her to tell him all about the baby.

"I'm so sorry about that," Mike apologised again, but Robert shook his head and smiled.

"No worries. At least we don't have to come up with excuses why we are so radiantly glowing or why Kate won't drink any wine tonight," he said.

Mike was happy they were taking it so well. He had come here to get to know Robert a bit better but it wasn't going the way he had thought it would go and he did feel a bit guilty about that, whatever they would say.

"I promise no one is going to hear anything from me," Mike promised, not knowing what else to say.

"If you do, Kate will bite your head off for sure," Robert joked.

It lightened the mood considerably because all three men had to laugh at the idea.

"You're absolutely right," Mike agreed. "That's one thing I'd better prevent from happening," he added with a laugh.

The awkward mood had been broken and Mike felt a little bit more at ease.

"So tell us Robert, where did you meet Kate?" he dared to ask.

It made Dylan shake his head and quietly laugh.

"You have been away a long time, haven't you?" he teased him.

Mike felt uncomfortable again and shrugged. "Well, I know you were the doctor on the Towoomba when that ship picked her up from Tovalu," he recalled what he already knew.

Robert nodded and handed his guests a beer. "That's right. The first time I ever got to meet my wife she was wearing a burka, her hair was cut with a machete so it didn't look very nice and to top all that she was exhausted and hungry. That all didn't prevent me from having the patient from hell though. She was constantly contradicting me or telling me what to do," he joked. "I can't say I fell in love with her that moment but I did like the strong, fiery woman she is."

Dylan had heard all the stories before but it was fun to recall them again.

"I remember the day when Kate had to take James to the hospital after his fall. She had called me because she didn't know if she could get to the hospital in time or that she could stay there long, but by the time I arrived at the hospital the two of them just walked out. James all stitched up, with a broad smile on his face and his arm in a sling and Kate constantly looking backwards. She told me she knew the doctor from somewhere but couldn't remember where from," he reminisced.

"Kate told me you two had a date not long after," Mike said to Robert who nodded and smiled.

"We did. We saw each other a few days after the appointment in hospital and I was brave enough to ask her out to dinner. I was surprised with her eagerness to accept but when we finally were together I realised she liked me as much as I liked her and from there we took off on our relationship," Robert replied.

"I saw it all happen," Dylan said with a laugh. "One day I came into Navcom with my CO and Kate was smiling throughout the meeting even though she had to give us bad news and well, reprimand us for whatever we had done. What that was doesn't matter right now," he said, hoping he wouldn't have to tell the men after all.

"My CO didn't agree with the reprimand and left as soon as he could but I wanted to know why she was so happy and when I asked her she just…" he started to laugh, remembering how silly Kate had behaved then.

"It sounded something like this," he said while he started his impersonation of Kate: "Oh Dylan, I think I'm in love, no, I know I'm love."

Dylan had his voice high pitched and moved his arms excitedly but Robert and Mike didn't laugh. Before he could wonder why not, he felt two cold hands sliding around his neck, strangling him and when he turned his head to the right he faced Kate's smiling face.

"I've never sounded that ridiculous," she stated. Everyone started laughing to which Kate pretended to choke him a bit more before she sat down next to Robert, pointing at Dutchy. "Your impersonation is even worse than Spider's" she laughed.

Only Mike started laughing now, remembering the tape of Chefo's bucks party. When he saw the questioning looks on Dylan's and Robert's face he started telling the story, of course a lot juicier just to tease Kate. She was rolling her eyes and raised her finger a few times, telling him he had to watch out but Mike didn't stop for that. Robert listened intently and looked at his wife a few times. They looked so nice and cosy together that Mike couldn't even feel sorry for himself anymore. they looked so happy and it made him happy as well.

Kate leaned against Robert and looked around the group. She was glad they all had a good time, mocking each other and telling fun stories. James listened to half of the stories and was allowed to help the men to put some meat on the barbie but after a while he went inside to read his book or play with his toys. The conversation became a bit more serious and a few discussions about navy life or protocol followed. It was nearly midnight when both Dylan and Mike left with the promise to do this more often.