Kate sat in front of the computer at NAVCOM. She had been on her shore posting for the past 19 weeks and despite her reservations was actually enjoying it. She was home every night and not being rocked around in her rack. On that First patrol after she had found out she was pregnant Bird and Nav had both been a little too over-protective making sure she didn't hurt 'the baby' it was never her. She did have to drag them both to one side and tell them to tone it down as others on the ship would start talking.
Looking at the charts for the latest patrols for Hammersley and Kingston she felt a kick just under her ribs. Rubbing softly at the spot she bent her head "hey calm down in there, mummy needs to work" she whispered smiling
"talking to yourself" Mike smiled
Looking up she saw Mike leant against the door. "no, I was talking to the baby". She protested brushing a stray hair out of her face. "I read you should always talk to your baby it helps with the bonding after its born. Apparently, they can recognise their mothers voice from in the womb"
Laughing he smiled "you almost ready?" he asked
Looking at her watch she didn't realise how late it was "i am going to be a while longer. I have all this to sort for Kingston and Hammersley before they sail tomorrow" she yawned wishing she could just abandon everything and curl up at home.
"do you want me to stay?" he asked going to sit down on the sofa
"no, you head off I shouldn't be too much longer" she smiled she didn't want to make him wait as he had been in since before 5 am for an emergency meeting.
"if you're sure" he smiled bending down kissing her.
"yeah see you later" she smiled up at him. "oh, and can you get me some of the cornflake cakes I like from Coles please" she fluttered her eye lashes
"sure" he smiled walking out. This was at least a normal craving
Leaning back in her seat she began typing finishing the document she was working on. Hammersley was due to sail at 09:00 with Kingston Departing at first light. She felt another Kick in her side. Rubbing her abdomen where the baby had kicked smiling, she couldn't believe everything that had happened and she couldn't to meet her baby. Turning her attention back to the documents she eventually finished them. Emailing them off to the commander in charge of both ships and also to the ships so the Commanding officers could read them.
Switching off the computer she walked outside. The cool air was a welcome relief, it was always so stuffy and warm inside so being out looking over the water was nice. The roads were fairly empty so the drive home didn't take too long.
Walking through the door the Kitchen smelt of burnt chocolate and something burning in the oven. Heading in to the kitchen it looked like a bomb had gone off. Mike stood starring at the oven watching what was inside.
"umm Mike what's going on" she asked placing her bag on the table
"well Coles had sold out of the corncake flakes so I thought I would make some"
"right and what's in the oven?" she asked already dreading the answer.
"the cornflake cakes but I don't know how long to bake them for." he looked
"Bake them? Mike, they don't go in the oven. did you never make chocolate nests as a kid?" she asked turning the oven off. Pulling out the tray the waft of the burnt corn and chocolate turned her stomach. Throwing the whole tray in the bin. "you just melt the chocolate and pour it over corn flakes then put them in muffin cases to set.
"that actually makes sense now. No wonder they didn't look right" he laughed at the face Kate was pulling him.
"seriously Flynn I think I am going to have to get you some cooking lessons" she laughed breaking up one of the chocolate bars Mike had brought. "right pan of boiling water on the stove please" she called.
Putting the bowl of chocolate over the pan she stirred it carefully till the chocolate was a lovely silky consistency. "now we add the cornflakes" she smiled picking up the box pouring them in to the chocolate stirring till they were all coated. "cupcake cases?" Kate asked
"we've ran out" mike called
"okay guess I will have to do chocolate hedgehogs then." Kate smiled pulling the greaseproof paper from the draw. Ripping off a piece she lay it on a baking tray she scooped mounds out on to the tray. Looking around she made sure mike wasn't looking before she scooped some straight in to her mouth.
"i saw that McGregor" he grinned
"i don't know what you mean Sir" she widened her eyes making herself look innocent
"come on. I'll finish up go sit down take the weight off your feet"
"thank you. They will need to go in to the fridge" she pointed to the cornflake hedgehogs she had made.
The following morning Kate awoke with the baby digging its limbs in all over. Shifting herself over she tried to find a more comfortable position
"morning" Mike smiled rolling over to face her.
"hey" she smiled, shifting herself again trying to get comfortable.
"what's wrong?" Mike asked
"just this one digging everything in, she has sharp elbows" Kate smiled
Placing his hand on her belly he could feel the movement of the baby inside. He smiled it was amazing to feel the little life inside of her. Sitting up properly Kate stretched out the knots that had developed in her back and shoulders. "think I will go for a shower" she smiled easing herself from the bed.
"cup of tea when you come out?" Mike asked
"perfect" she smiled walking in to the en suite.
She walked down stairs feeling better and thankfully the baby had stopped using its elbows and knees to kick or dig in everywhere.
"you okay" Mike asked handing her a cup
"much better" she smiled sipping her drink.
"do you want a lift today? Better than taking two cars" Mike asked
"fine, I'll just get my bag" she smiled grabbing her bag from the table where she had left it last night.
The morning dragged painfully slowly. Sitting at the computer Kate could feel a sharp kick across her stomach. Placing her hand over she bent her head "hey remember what mummy said about working she needs to get on" she soothed picking up the folders she needed. Pushing herself up from the desk she headed to the door "ow" she cursed as a sharp pain dug in to her stomach, it was sharp enough to knock her back.
Regaining her balance, she walked towards the door when a second much stronger pain hit her. Dropping the files, she was carrying she doubled over in pain. Mike walked past at that moment.
"Kate!" he pushed the door open wrapping his arm around her as she fell forward.
"somethings wrong" she hissed with the pain "I... It's too early." she whispered falling to the floor. Passing out with the pain
"Kate!" Mike called cradling her. "Call a ambulance!" he called out the door
Opening her eyes Kate felt like she had been hit by a truck. It took her eyes a while to figure out where she was. Looking round the room she was in was dimly lit and she was in a single bed that was more uncomfortable than her rack on Hammersley. she could see a needle in her arm connected to a bag of IV fluid Something felt different she remembered being in total agony. There were bits of bright lights and being wheeled down a corridor voices talking over each other but it for her was inaudible.
Moving her hand over her stomach something felt different. She was still swollen and had a little bump but she felt empty inside. She couldn't feel her baby. Turning her head, she saw mike sat beside her looking pained and worried.
"where's my baby" she whispered
"Kate" Mike called with relief wrapping his arms around her
"Mike where's my baby" she whispered again tears forming in her eyes her mind playing the worst possible theories.
"they had to take her to the NICU, she is fine" Mike stroked her hair
"take me to see her" She whispered "please"
"Kate you have just had surgery. You need to rest, the doctor said you need to stay in bed for 12 hours at least" Mike hugged her
"Mike please I need to see her. If you don't take me, I will go by myself" she tried to move out of the hard bed. She fell back against the pillow pain radiating across her middle. "please go to her, she needs to know she is not alone"
"i will go up in a minute I want make sure you are alright first"
"go now please" she looked at him.
"okay but you need to rest." he kissed her forehead.
Falling back on the pillow tears began to fall as she watched him leave. She wanted to be with her baby and hold her close protecting her but she was stuck here.
It was three days before the doctor said Kate could do some 'light exercise' and go down to the NICU. Sitting in the wheelchair Mike had pushed in she looked at the incubator their baby lay in. Standing up she looked at the baby inside with all wires coming out of her attached to various machines. It looked like something from Doctor who on some far distant planet.
"she is so small" she whispered stepping forward looking through little window.
"she is like her mother. Stubborn and a fighter" Mike stepped closer placing his arm around her shoulder
"i am not stubborn" Kate turned her head slightly looking at Mike. "i just wish I could hold her" she sighed placing a hand over the glass
"i know but she needs to stay in the incubator. You can put your hand in though" he opened the little window on the side for her.
After squeezing some of the hand gel on to her hand she slowly placed her hand in running a finger down the baby's cheek. Smiling as the baby let out a huge yawn her eyes trained on Kate. Running her finger down the tiny arm she felt the fingers grip tightly around her own finger. "she knows I am here" Kate whispered. "hey baby" she cooed yawning herself slightly
"come on let's get you back to bed, and maybe we can think of some names. We can't Keep referring to her as baby or her can we" Mike Smiled guiding Kate back in to the wheelchair.
"I want to stay" Kate turned looking up at him
"she needs to sleep too. Come on we can come back later" Mike bent forward kissing the top of her head
"fine" Kate sighed reluctantly leaning back. She ached all over and was feeling tired
Climbing back on the bed she shuffled over as far as she could go without falling off the other side sitting next to her mike pulled his legs up so he was sort of lay next to her. "i got this" he smiled pulling a book off the side, "to give us some ideas on baby names." he flicked through "what about Bondi"
Turning she looked up at him. "seriously, no I am not naming my daughter after a beach"
"okay what about Cydney?" he asked
"again, no way. What if we get stationed there she will get bullied."
"okay what about Leander?" it's quite unique"
"Mike I am not naming our daughter after a ship. A Leander was a light craft used in ww2 buy New Zealand" she hit him playfully on the chest.
"Mary rose?" he suggested turning the page.
"again, that was a ship, let me look through the book" she pulled it from him
Flicking through she Landed on a page. "Perfect" she smiled "Cordelia, it means daughter of the sea in Celtic and Latin" she smiled "Cordelia Flynn"
"i like that although still think my ideas were better"
"Mike they were a licence to her having the piss taken from her" she yawned resting her head on his shoulder.
Carefully mike slid his arm from under her neck. Tiptoeing out of the room he made his way back to the NICU he couldn't resist taking another peek at the tiny bundle of life. She was tiny but beautiful she was truly her mother's daughter and was fighting every step of the way becoming ever stronger as time went by.
so I know I said one more but I actually have one more after this. I thought I should include a little of how Baby Flynn entered the world. I will say again I have never actually had a baby so have know idea what it is like or how long recovery is. please enjoy and let me know what you think. the last chapter will be about a year or so in the future. enjoy x
P.s the names Mike suggested I found on google. I think most of them are pretty and dont think any child deserves to be bullied if they are called that. Kate was thinking literally with the names and the meanings behind them not the name its self .