Part 3 of 3

The men jolt to their feet, surprised to see their boss in public after dark. "Chief!" Dwayne barks, glaring about like he expects trouble. "Sir!" Fidel stutters, wide-eyed with guilty alarm.

Their boss merely smiles and seats his wife next to his mother-in-law. The two women kiss and immediately fall into a hushed rapid-fire discussion which Richard pretends not to hear despite his slight blush since he's pretty sure they are talking about him. He instead says heartily to the men, "So! What are you two up to tonight? Isn't it rather late for you to be out, Fidel?"

Fidel looks furtive, "Well, sir, yes, sir, but no, sir, I can't go home, sir. My mother-in-law is on the warpath about my lack of ambition and how we need a larger house now that Rosie is going to have a sibling…" Everyone's head swivels and gives him goggling looks, "Um, er, did I forget to mention that?"

His boss thumps him on the back enthusiastically, "Yes, you did! By Jove, well done, man! Well done! That IS good news." He turns to his wife, "Isn't that good news, Camille?"

She smiles demurely, "Yes, yes it is, congratulations, Fidel." Her eyes are lowered and sly.

Dwayne halts in shaking Fidel's hand and cocks a suspicious look at her, "Eh? What's this? Why you actin' coy alla sudden? You got somethin' to tell us too?" He jerks a look to his boss, fresh surprise on his face, "Hey? You got somethin' to announce already? After just only four weeks?!"

Richard takes a breath and hold up a finger but then Camille reaches out and folds it back down for him and he closes his lips, looking down at her in question. "No," she lisps, "nothing to report, not yet."

"But," Richard says but is shushed by a wifely blush. He quiets and nods, smiles happily.

"Non," she repeats, "not until we're sure, my love. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up."

He sinks to her side, takes her hand, "Yes, yes, my dear, whatever you say." They are looking into each other's eyes now and everyone else feels a bit invisible and definitely ignored.

Dwayne coughs and elbows Fidel, "Um, er, OK then, I guess that's our cue to slide on outta here."

Richard hums without looking up from simmering brown fire, "Um, yes, and Fidel?"

Fidel pauses in climbing to his feet, "Yes, sir?" He hangs his head, sure he is about to be reprimanded.

Richard is trying to corral a stray lock of midnight hair and taking an inordinately long time to do it, "There is a posting coming up on St. Lucia in the next few months or so. They need an experienced Sergeant and the posting comes with a large house and a substantial pay raise." He chuffs as the rogue tress resists his attempts and says nonchalantly, "Your mother-in-law doesn't like to travel, does she?"

Fidel frowns, "No, sir, she doesn't, she gets motion-sick and has never left the…" He pauses, thinks, smiles, "Oh, right, sir. You're absolutely right!" Then he frowns again, "But that would mean leaving you and the team and Honoré! I couldn't do that! How would I solve crime all by myself?"

Now Richard is finding something very interesting in his wife's palm, his future perhaps, "Oh, no worries there, you'll have a new team who will see your value rather quickly, I'm sure. And, if not," he looks up, eyes stern, "I'll be sure to correct them. You're ready, Fidel. Go to St. Lucia, put in your two years then come back to us. You'll be ready for the DS exam by then." He looks to Camille, "And you will be ready for your DI exam. In two years there will be some big changes here on Sainte-Marie."

Fidel blinks, "Really, sir? Bigger changes than me a DS and Camille a DI? If she's DI, what will you be?"

Richard sits back, hands laced over his trim midriff, and scoffs, "Oh, I don't know, I could take a teaching position at the university." He cocks an eyebrow to his wife, "I had an offer about a year ago." Camille gives him a thunderous look and he laughs, "Not that I considered it at all, of course. No, I think I'll take over the Commissioner's office when he steps into the Governor's role." He places a gentle hand over his wife's and adds softly, "Unless, of course, I decide to become a house-husband."

Once again, green eyes fasten upon dark brown and this time the couple retreats in earnest, leaving everyone else here in this world while they re-enter their own little world, a world of only two (well, maybe three (or even four), it's hard to say at this point). After a moment, Catherine slips away to begin Googling the latest in baby accessories while the two officers ease up and out the nearest door.

"Well," Fidel says, breathing deep the refreshing night air, "time for me to go home. I think I can finally lay my mother-in-law's complaints to rest tonight." He laughs, "Me, a DS!" He looks to his friend, "And what about you, Dwayne? What will you be doing in two years' time?"

Dwayne smiles, "Me? I think I might be chasin' after another little hellion if this kid has his brains and her fire. You'd better hurry up and get back here before he or she wears me right out. And, in ten years' time, who knows but there's no way we can let a pack a little Pooles take over the island, hey?"

Fidel laughs, slaps Dwayne's shoulder, "Oh! When you're right, you're right! Law and Order must be maintained. Two years! I'll be back in two years and then we'll see what's what."

Dwayne watches the young man stride purposefully away then looks back through the bar door to the couple happily whispering to each other, and nods, "Yeah, we'll see, all right. We're gonna see a lot."

For, wouldn't you know it? Twins run in the Poole lineage… and Dwayne Myers has a lot of running to do in the coming years. Fortunately he also has DS Best at his side… even though they are often going in opposite directions at top speed in order to prevent the latest disaster and catastrophe, all to the great amusement and gratitude of the cunning horde's parents.

And neither officer would change anything. Not for the world.

END