It was the day before Halloween, and Emma had been assigned to CID, in light of Dr Sinclair's recommendations that she stay on light duties.
She was trying to get through as much paperwork as she could, before her appointment at St Hughes' at 2 pm that afternoon. She and Callum would be seeing their baby for the very first time. She smiled secretively to herself, her excitement building, as she allowed her mind to wander from the dull reports she was working on.
Dr Sinclair had been seeing Emma every two weeks, and was for now, extremely pleased with her progress so far.
Emma's only concern for now, was coping with her morning sickness, which at almost twelve weeks, didn't seem to be lessening. She and Callum had poured over the various pregnancy books, that Dr Sinclair had handed out on her second appointment, and both hoped that Emma wouldn't be part of the unlucky few, who had to deal with morning sickness throughout the entire pregnancy.
Soon, they would run out of reasons and ideas, to explain Emma's frequent dashes to the ladies'. Because of this Callum had casually brought up the possibility of telling everyone sooner, rather than later, once again reassuring her that he understood her reasons not to, if she so chose.
Emma was beginning to think he might have a point, as a familiar wave of nausea swept over her. She tried her best to hide it, as Max Carter approached her with yet more paperwork.
"Won't be a minute, Sarge," Emma said quickly, knowing she would lose this fight, as she dashed quickly from the room.
When she returned, ten minutes later, Max was at his desk, talking on the phone. As Emma settled back down to work, he made an excuse to come over to her.
"Don't think just because you're engaged to Callum, you can come and go as you please. It really hasn't done you any favours, has it?" he wanted to know, as he pretended to be busy.
"What hasn't?"
"Sleeping with Callum; not a good career move."
"Don't beat about the bush, will you Sarge?" stated Emma, caustically. "Actually, I don't need Callum to rise through the ranks." Emma smiled sweetly. "If I want to be in CID, all I really have to do is have a word with my father."
She rose to her feet as she finished speaking, heading towards the doors and the canteen.
Emma sat down next to Sally with a sigh.
"Roll on 2 o'clock," she said rolling her eyes. "In fact, just getting out of CID will be enough. I really can't stand another day listening to Max…" Emma trailed off, as Callum walked in, carrying a carrier bag.
Spotting her sitting with Sally, he headed over to them. Emma just having time to say to Sally, "Please don't say anything to him," before smiling brightly as Callum approached them.
"Got a surprise for you," Callum greeted Emma, with a bright smile as he placed the bag on the table.
Curiously, Emma peered into the bag, her eyes shining on discovering the contents hidden inside.
"You're a mind reader!" she beamed, as she took out the large tub of ice cream.
Callum laughed. "Not really," he said sitting down next to her. "I don't think I'd survive another night without ice cream."
Sally shook her head, as she and Callum watched Emma dig into the dessert, a look of deep satisfaction on her face. Over the last few weeks, Emma had started craving ice cream with a vengeance.
"Poor Pebble will be blue by the time they're born!" joked Sally, as Emma ate yet another spoonful, closing her eyes in ecstasy.
"I've cleared it with Inspector Gold," said Callum, helping himself to some ice cream, which earned him a rap on the knuckles, for his efforts. "So I'll be able to come with you for the scan. Meet you in the Front Office around 1 o' clock."
He grasped her hand briefly, before rising to his feet, and heading back out on patrol.
"You should tell him," Sally urged Emma, when Callum had gone. "Max has no right to say anything."
"After what happened when they brought Franks in here, I'm not taking the chance, Sally. He was lucky to get away with just a two-week suspension. If he knows that Max is trying to have a go, you know what Callum will do. Anyway, I can handle Max Carter."
Just after 2pm, a nurse called Emma and Callum through, to the room.
Emma hopped onto the bed, and Callum took the chair next to it.
"If you can lift up your top, I'll put some jelly on your stomach," said the sonographer after taking a few of Emma's details down. "I'm afraid the jelly is a bit cold."
She ran the transducer over Emma's stomach, expertly finding the baby within. "And there's your baby," she smiled. "He's certainly lively!"
Callum grasped Emma's hand as they watched in awe, as they saw their baby for the first time, wriggling and squirming. It kicked twice, and Callum glanced at Emma.
"Can you feel that?" he asked, still in awe at the wriggling grey image on the screen.
Emma smiled never taking her eyes off the screen, squeezed his hand. "It's too early yet, but in another few weeks, I will."
"There's the head," continued the sonographer, pointing out various parts. "And that little blip there, is the heart, beating nice and strong," she continued, highlighting the spot. She took a few more measurements, and then said, "All done, Emma, you can get up now. Everything is fine, from what I've seen today. Going by the information, your little one is due May 15th. "
Emma glanced at Callum, as they waited for some of the scan prints, to take with them.
"May 15th, " said Emma significantly. May 15th was the day she begun to awaken from her coma, after the bombings. It was hard to comprehend, that something so horrendous and terrifying as the bombings, had led her to this very moment, and be replaced with utter joy and love.
Callum hugged her, kissing the top of her head. "Is a day to celebrate, Emma," he said, swallowing a sudden lump in his throat. "Every day with you, is a day to celebrate. Pebble just makes it complete."
Emma pushed open the doors to CID, still feeling excited after seeing Pebble for the first time. She planned on giving her parents a copy of the picture when they came for their first visit to Callum's flat on Saturday, and another to Sally when she next saw her.
She'd been working for almost half an hour, when Max approached her again.
"Taking liberties with your breaks, isn't going down too well with the DI," he said, leaning over her desk, as if giving her instructions. "And don't think for one minute that your dad, can cover this one up like he did for Callum."
