During the next four days on Hammersley nothing was said about Mike and him being romantic. He was waiting for it but nothing happened. What Mike did not know was that 2Dads had a plan working out for their next patrol.
Monday
Hammersley finally arrives back at home base. Mike and Kate have been a happy mood the last couple of days. No one knows why, par Swain who thinks he has an idea as to what they are happy about.
Barry General Hospital
Mike and Kate are sitting in the waiting area of the hospital. As Barry General also sees to the Navy sailors for anything that is required by them. As the doctor walks into the waiting area he looks around before speaking. He sees two offices dressed in their Naval Whites.
"Lieutenant Kate McGregor?" A doctor asks. Mike and Kate both look up. The doctor sees how close these too are. HE also notices Mike's hand on Kate's
"That is me" Kate replies as she stands up.
"Would you both like to come with me please?" Kate looks at Mike and puts her hand out for him. He stands up takes her hand and they both follow the doctor to a room. The doctor shows them to two seats that are in his office before he sits down himself.
"Ok Ms McGregor my name is Doctor Jon Brett what can I do for you today?" Kate is not sure what to say. Mike can sense she is unsure what to do here.
"Kate honey it is ok go ahead and ask" Mike says softly to Kate. The doctor notices the soft caring loving tone Mike uses with Kate. Whatever is up with this lady at least she has this fine gentlemen with her to support her He thinks to himself.
"Umm I think I am pregnant" Kate chokes out. Mike gives her hand a squeeze and smiles at her.
"Ok and what makes you think this?"
"Well for the last four weeks I have not been very well. I came in two weeks ago approx. feeling unwell the doctor thought it was stress related due to work and personal related factors. After that visit I started to eat bananas which is a food I normally total hate. I am still vomiting in the morning but not as bad as a few weeks ago. And the other thing is that I am four days late. I have never been later before." The doctor goes through Kate's file on the computer and pulls up her blood work from two weeks ago.
"Ok Kate let's take some more blood work. I would like you to go give me a urine sample which we will test. I will compare this load of blood work with that of a few weeks ago. Now if you follow me Kate I will show you to the bathroom. You are more than welcome to stay here Mr Flynn." the doctor says after reading his name tag. Kate and the doctor leave the room.
Kate returns about 10mins later after having her blood taken and doing the urine sample for them. They sit and wait for the doctor to return.
Five minutes later the doctor returns to his office. He sits down.
"Well Kate it looks like you are pregnant. When was your last period?" Mike and Kate both smile. The doctor notices how happy they are by the news just by their smiles. She may have been worried about asking me about this but by the looks of it these two are more than ready to be parents. They seem very happy by the news not often to do I see these sort of smiles. The doctor thinks to himself.
"Just over five weeks ago. I have it for four to five days then go four weeks before it comes again. As I am on the pill and we do a five week cycle as it best with my system."
"Well with that information and how long your symptoms have been going on for I would say you are about four weeks along. The blood work which we will get back first thing tomorrow morning will confirm how far through you are. Now I am going to refer you on to the maternity area of the hospital so you can sort out a midwife. You will need to make an appointment to meet them."
"Thank you Doctor."
"No problem and congratulations to you both." The doctor says shaking both their hands. Mike and Kate leave and head off to Maternity to sort out a midwife and make their next appointment. Both smiling like the Cat that got the mouse.
At home later that night they both are laying on the couch enjoying some alone time. Mike's parents headed back home after the trail had finished.
"So what would you like a girl or a boy?" asks Kate
"I don't really care as long as it is health and has all its fingers and toes I don't care what sex it is." Replies Mike Pulling Kate further up his chest so he can place his hand on her abdomen.
"Kate honey where do you want to live?"
"What do you mean Mike?" Kate asks puzzled at why Mike would be asking her this.
"Well I was thinking we should move in together. My place is big enough for us to raise a family. But I was not sure if you wanted to live here or find a new place?" Kate now gets why he asked
"Mike I would be happy to move in with you. And this house is perfect for raising a family in." Kate replies
"So when do you wont to fully move in since you do have a good percentage of your clothes already here?"
"How about tomorrow I will ring a moving company and they can bring everything over here I need and maybe we could give Ryan the use of my place." Mike is surprised by this
"Why do you wont to do that Kate he does have Maxine."
"Mike Maxine spoke to me a few days ago told me about what happened between you two 19years ago. And that with Stuart showing up and Ryan not being a match that you might be Ryan real father. She told me that she wanted me to hear it from her not you since. Because she would feel bad if it caused a rift between us. So I was thinking since he is an adult he may wont his own place somewhere away from the other officers somewhere he can call home relax unwind and forget about work. I know it is a big help when you can do that."
"Wow I can't believe Maxine told you about it all." Replies Mike shocked that Kate already knew.
"Yes she did. And she said if it was not for the 4 bottles of red wine you both drunk that night it would never have happened. She said what you two did was a mistake in a way. As in she was married and should never have done it. But Ryan was never a mistake."
"Well honey I am proud that you are thinking of him like this."
"Well that and I am sure he wants to post off so he can date Bird. It would give them somewhere private to explore their relationship with out others getting in the way."
"Well it better happen after he posts off not beforehand thank you." Mike replies Kate giggles.
They sit there in silence some more.
"So how do we tell the crew?" replies Kate?
"Shell we see how long it takes for them to find out?" Mike replies with some check.
"Well I think Swain already knows. I think he clicked at lunch the other week."
"That is Swain nothing passes by him"
"Nope but I would say the crew would notice as soon as I don't step on board Hammersley for our next patrol." Kate replies Mike is stunned
"What you standing down straight away?" Mike replies shocked
"Yes I am Mike. I don't won't anything happening to our baby. So I am going to go see Maxine tomorrow about it."
"God Kate I love you so much. Thinking of our unborn child over your own wants. God I love you?" replies Mike with so much love showing in his voice. Mike kisses the top of Kate's head.
One Week Later
Cairns Naval Docks
Hammersley
The crew are all on the boat getting ready to leave port. They had their shore leave extended the following Monday. They were all very pleased about the extra time a shore. No one knew why they got it except Mike and Kate. Kate had been to see Maxine and had suggested a new XO for Mike. Kate informed Maxine not to tell Mike who it was. She promised Maxine that this person would be up to Mikes stands. This person agreed to do it which helped Kate out heaps plus was happy as to keep Mike in the dark too.
The crew notice Mike and Kate walking towards Hammersley. Mike had his bag and briefcase with him. Kate had nothing she was in her whites just like Mike. They were in deep conversation when they arrived beside Hammersley.
"Mike you go put your stuff away in your cabin I will wait here for my replacement." Kate whispers to Mike. Mike nods his head and walks off. When he returns Kate is on the boat deck leaning over the railing Mike goes over to her.
"Hey you going to be ok?" asks Mike worry sounding in his voice
"Yea I will be. It is just strange I am not going out there with you. I won't be seeing you every day. I didn't think it be this hard." Replies Kate a lone tear falls down her face. The next thing they are interrupted by the sound of a female officer
"Guys get a move along these supplies do not load themselves. 2Dads stop playing jokes or you be scrubbing Hammersley with a toothbrush" Replies Nikki. The crew who know Nikki turn around and start talking to her.
"Nav you can't boss me around you don't work on Hammersley anymore" replies 2Dads with check. Kate stand on the boat with a huge grin on her face.
"Kate what am I missing" replies Mike. Kate says nothing.
"2Dad's I am no longer Nav to you but XO thank you and yes I can because I am your new XO now move it we sail in 30mins and these should already be on board." Replies Nikki. Dutchy stands there stunned. HE looks over at Mike and Kate.
"Kate is Nikki my new XO?" asks Mike
"Yes I told Maxine to ask her and keep it a secret I knew she be perfect for the job and most of all I don't have to worry about her falling for you and also she already knows what you are like. Perfect replacement for me I would say." Replies Kate. Nikki has now boarded Hammersley. And walks straight up to Mike and Kate.
"Pleasure to serve with you again Sir" Nikki says saluting her new CO
"Thank you Nav. Opps I mean Nikki. Sorry it will take some time to get use to as the XO and not Nav."
"No problem at all Sir. Do they know yet?"
"Well no not till you said something we not told them yet. Or the reason behind it either." Replies Kate to Nikki
"Well Boss next time we are back here at base we are having a BBQ to celebrate."
"Yes we will Nikki now can you pipe all sailors to the boat deck please so we can inform them of the change of XO's?" replies Mike
"Yes Sir" replies Nikki and she goes off to do it.
Five minutes later all the sailors on Hammersley are on the boat deck. Looking at Mike, Kate and Nikki.
"Well as some of you already know this is Lieutenant Nikki Cateano. She use to be the Navigator on Hammersley till two years ago when she was transferred to a frigate. Today she re-joins us as our new XO."
"What why Sir?" replies Dutchy. Confused as to why Kate is saddening leaving
"Dutchy, and the rest of you I am leaving for personal reason plus in my current state of health I am unable to do my job as Xo on Hammersley safely. So Nikki will be taking over my job." Replies Kate
"When will you be back Ma'am?" Asks charge
"I will not be returning to Hammersley in the near future I am starting a shore posting today?"
"Why?" asks Bird sounding sad. Mike takes Kate hand and starts to talk.
"Kate is leaving us as she is pregnant with our first child." Replies Mike. The crew cheer and say their congrats.
"So with this information you will understand why she is stepping down and Nikki is taking over?'
"Yes Sir we do" they reply
"I also expect all of you to respect her just like you do me. She knows all my punishments and if I hear of any one of you being out of line you will be wishing I was still here because you will not only be facing her but me when you return to base. Ok 2Dad's?" replies Kate in her officer tone. 2Dads just nods his head in agreement.
After a few more minutes of small talk Mike gets the crew to finish getting ready to leave. Kate and him leave Hammersley Mike gives Kate a big hug cuddle and then they kiss. When they break for air Mike leans his forehead on Kate's forehead.
"I'm going to miss you both" replies Mike
"Me too the bed is going to feel so empty tonight without you there" replies Kate
"Hey honey don't cry" Mike says as he wipes a few tears off kites face with his thumbs.
"Sorry I am just not use to this. We have spent the last five years basically living together and now we aren't?"
"We will be back in port soon. We out there for three weeks and you know what it is like we most likely be back for supplies or a quick turn around you will get to see me. There is also email and the phone you can ring me any time ok?" Kate just nods her head. Mike pulls her in to his chest; he kisses the top of her head.
"Honey I need to go know and you need to go see Maxine so you can start your shore posting ok?"
"Yep. Stay safe out there Mike"
"I will and you too if you need anything just ring me or my parents they be there for anything you need."
"Will do. Fair winds sailor" Kate replies while breaking free of Mike. Mike walks across the gangway and on to Hammersley he salutes turns and then waves to Kate before heading inside to get Hammersley off on its Patrol
Kate heads off to start her shore posting. Both looking forward to what the future brings for them both and their family.