"So, we're agreed on telling everyone?" Emma asked as she pulled on her boots, as she and Callum were getting ready for work. She straightened up, and started playing with her ring subconsciously, still getting used to the ornate silver band around her ring finger.
It had been ten days, since Gina Gold's visit to the flat. The day before they had both been called to Sun Hill, to attend a meeting with both Gina and Heaton to discuss scaling down the surveillance, along with their impending nuptials and Emma's pregnancy.
"Yeah, but how? We can't just bring it up in general conversation," stated Callum, in the process of fastening his watch. "Except for Sally no one has clue. And when they find out you're pregnant…"
"I'm not ready to announce that just yet," said Emma quickly. "We can tell them after the twelve week scan, and maybe not even then."
"We'd have to announce it eventually," said Callum going over to her. "Can't hide a pregnancy away forever."
"I don't intend to," Emma griped, puffing out her cheeks, her face pale. "I just want to wait until I have to say something. And…well anything can happen in the first trimester, I don't want to tempt fate. I like it being our little secret." Emma admitted quietly, glancing at Callum quickly to gauge his reaction.
"Sweetheart, I understand about not wanting to tempt fate," Callum did his best to reassure her. "Everything is going to be okay. We can wait, before we let everyone one know about Pebble, if that's want you really want," he finished, just as Emma dashed from the living room.
"Are you going to be ok, today?" Callum asked, fastening his boots as Emma returned to the living room, still looking pale.
Emma nodded, weakly. "If anyone asks, I'll say I had a bad curry or something," she said, sinking into the sofa.
At the nick, Emma followed Callum into his office, taking her engagement ring off as she did so. Callum put it safely in the top drawer of his desk, and locked it. "Are you ready for this?" he asked, perching on his desk.
Emma nodded determinedly. "Yeah. I've been thinking we could maybe go to the Seven Bells after our shift? Will's been going on about meeting my mysterious guy for ages. We can say that mystery guy is showing up there, and they can all meet him then. It'll be relaxed and we can build up to it gradually."
"We?" asked Callum, a lop sided grin on his face. "You mean you. I can't bring it up. They'd suss it out, straight away. And where's the fun in that?"
Emma nodded in agreement. "I'll bring it up before briefing. I want to tell Sally everything, though," Emma continued, looking at him. "She was a little upset that I didn't tell her when we first got together."
"Em, I never expected you to keep it from her," said Callum, grabbing her hands in his. "She's a good mate, and I respect that. She's been great, keeping this to herself."
Callum glanced up as other officers started to fill the corridor outside of his office, and he released her hands with a pang of regret, wondering how he'd manage not to slip up in the next nine hours. "We'd better get changed, and I'll see you in briefing."
In the ladies locker room, Emma was just clipping her cravat into place when Sally bounded in. "That time away really did you some good!" she announced.
Emma smiled mysteriously. "Yeah, it was an eventful week," she admitted.
Something in the way she said it, piqued Sally's interest. "What happened?" she asked eagerly. "Didn't your parents take to Callum, after all?"
"Mum did right off, but Dad took some time, to get used to the idea. But by the time we left, he'd given his approval. Not that we really need it."
"Come on out with it! Something's happened!"
Emma just grinned, enjoying the suspense.
"Emma!" begged Sally, desperately.
"You have to keep it to yourself. No one else has to know just yet. And later on you have to play along, ok?"
"The suspense is killing me!"
"Callum asked me to marry him."
Sally's mouthed formed a perfect "O" in her surprise. "No way!" she squealed.
Then checking her hand and seeing no ring, her shoulders slumped. "You said no?" she asked, her disappointment evident in her voice.
"I said yes, but we're going to announce it tonight in the Seven Bells. I gave the ring to Callum, until we've announced it's him I'm seeing. You know how Will's been going on, and this is going to be the end of it," Emma paused, and bit her lip. "Getting married isn't the only thing," she said with a big smile.
"What? Oh!" gasped Sally as the penny dropped. "You're not…!"
Emma nodded, still grinning. "Found out I was pregnant the day after he proposed. The Inspector and Superintendent already know, but I want this kept between the three of us, for now."
"I haven't said anything so far, have I?" asked Sally hugging Emma. "I can't believe you're getting married, and having a baby too!"
Sally and Emma entered the briefing room together, and headed over towards Will and the others.
"So, how was your week away?" asked Will, as they approached. "Hope you didn't get up to too much mischief!"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Emma smirked. "In fact, I finally managed to get him to agree to meeting up at the Seven Bells after work, if you're still so eager to meet him."
"You bet we are!" said Will, seriously. "Have to make sure he's up to the task of treating you right. Another Matt we don't need."
"Trust me, he's nothing like Matt," said Emma seriously, as Callum casually walked into the briefing room. "And he certainly doesn't need half the MET breathing down his neck. You'll frighten him off."
"Maybe that's the idea," said Will, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Before Emma could reply, Will turned to Callum. "How about it, Sarge? Up for a few drinks at the Seven Bells, and check out Emma's mysterious guy?"
Callum turned, and eyed the young PC up and down. Mentally telling himself, to keep his cool, and not lamp the guy. "PC Keane's love life is of no interest to me, PC Fletcher," he stated and Emma's face paled. If she didn't know any better, she would have believed him.
"Come on Sarge," Will continued. "If you'd known Matt and how he treated Emma, then you'd understand why this is important."
"I don't know him, so why drag me into it?"
"Because she's a mate. Or supposed to be."
Callum appeared to think about it. Then he nodded. "Ok, why not. Should be a laugh if nothing else," he said, bluntly, before walking off to stand with the Inspector.
Callum and Emma stood at the bar waiting for their drinks. He quickly handed her engagement ring back, which she slipped into her purse, for the big reveal later.
It had been a long first day back, with Callum as Custody Sergeant, and Emma on the Front Desk. This had been the first time they'd seen each other since the morning briefing.
"So, how are we going to do this?" she asked, hoping she sounded casual and relaxed as she stood at the bar.
"I have absolutely no idea," Callum sighed. "But for now, I'll stay at the bar, and you and Sally can sit at one of the tables or something. No point telling them straight away," he said with a wink.
Her drink came and she returned to Sally and a few others from the relief. Sally nudged her, as she took a sip of her drink, a knowing smirk on her lips. She leaned closer to her friend so they wouldn't be overheard. "Nervous?"
Emma nodded. "I have no idea how we're going to do this," she admitted.
"You'll think of something," Sally prophesied. "But don't drag it out for too long."
Half an hour later, Emma returned to the bar, standing casually next to Callum. While she waited she slipped her ring back on.
"So, what's the plan?" asked Callum, watching. "They're getting restless."
Emma's shoulders slumped slightly. "This seemed such a good idea," she pouted.
Callum smiled. "Maybe we should just forget the whole thing, and sneak out. Not as if they'd notice," he said taking a sip of his pint, and looking around.
"You're a bad influence, Callum Stone," she said, turning to look up at him. She raised her eyebrows. "But I like your style."
"You do, do you?" he asked, moving closer to her, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I do," she said, raising her chin slightly, as his lips captured hers eagerly. She could taste the beer he'd just sipped, on his lips. She stepped closer to him, his hand rested on her arm, lightly.
"You've got to be kidding me!" said Will, his voice revealing his shock. "Stone is your mysterious new fella!"
They smiled through the kiss. "Rumbled," Callum muttered, before they both turned to face the stunned officers.
"How long has this been going?"
Callum placed an arm around Emma's waist, as she leaned against him, comfortably.
"Long enough to know it's what we both want," said Emma, leaning closer into Callum. "And for me to agree to marry him," she finished looking up at him. He smiled down at her, and gave her a quick kiss, that hinted of more later.
"You're engaged too? You sly buggers!" stated Roger.
They gathered around, as Emma wriggled her fingers, flashing her engagement ring, proudly, as she wallowed in the appreciative "oohs" and "aahs."