Hi. Okay, this is the last part. I hope you all have enjoyed the story. Thanks for reading and thanks for reviewing. Much appreciated.
"Everything's at your pace."
"Andrea," he started, smiling up at her, "I missed you so much."
That was all she needed and she fell into his arms, wrapping her own round his neck and pulling him close. He could feel her sobbing against his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling away and lifting her chin so he could see her eyes.
She shook her head, "Nothing. I'm happy and relieved and…happy."
"Good," he whispered, capturing her lips in a kiss. She responded, deepening the kiss, her mouth forming a smile against his.
"I love you, my darling. My beautiful, wonderful darling," he told her, stoking her cheek gently.
She remembered herself and her eyes darted to the side of her, "Neil, everyone's watching."
"Let them watch. I don't care about anything anymore, except for you, our baby and us. Everyone and everything else can go to hell," he decided, before pulling her close and hugging her tightly.
"This isn't going to be easy, is it? We're going to have to overcome a lot of hurdles?" she asked, quietly, her words muffled by his shoulder.
"Yeah, we are. And it will be hard, but you know what?"
"What?" she replied, pulling away slightly and smiling at him.
He grinned, "I think we can do it."
O>
"Child's forenames?"
"Sophie Marie."
"Mother's name?"
"Andrea Dunbar."
"Father's name?"
"Neil Manson."
"Father's occupation."
Neil grinned, "Independent police consultant."
O>
Neil was in a house that he knew well. He could hear someone calling his name and he followed the sound of the voice into the kitchen. A figure stood at the stove, stirring a saucepan of something, her back to him.
"Andrea?" he asked, recognising her form.
"Neil! So it was you," she exclaimed, "I heard the door go, but I didn't expect you home so soon." She turned towards him, her stomach swollen with late pregnancy. A small child emerged from nowhere, shouting daddy as she launched herself at him, an older boy following close behind.
"Hey, guys," he greeted, "What are you two up to?"
"Jake's teaching me how to play football," six-year-old Sophie announced, proudly.
"Oh yeah, how's she doing?"
Fouteen-year-old Jake ruffled the girl's hair, "She's getting it. Slowly."
"Hey!" Sophie protested, flattening her hair, "Daddy, will you listen to me read my book?"
"Course I will, sweetie, but after dinner."
Sophie nodded and ran over to her mother, "Mummy, when's dinner?"
Andrea laughed, "Well, since daddy is home early, we can eat soon. Go and wash your hands first though. You're all covered in garden!"
Sophie skipped off upstairs, and Neil turned to his son, "You out tonight?"
"Nah, all my mates are busy. I'm going to show Andrea how to use that new photo software on the computer," Jake told him, nonchalantly.
"Right, well, Phil and Sam are coming over tonight with the baby, and Phil said he was bringing over that game you were after."
"Really?" Jake exclaimed.
"Yeah. He said something about 'wooping you' at it," Neil quoted, inexpertly.
"He wishes!" Jake laughed.
"Well, you'd better go and tidy your room so there's no distractions for your game," Neil told him, a roundabout way of getting him to tidy up.
"Cool!" Jake ran out the room, more likely to practice a similar game to Phil's than to tidy his room.
Andrea walked towards him, "Are you okay, honey? You're not normally home this early." He looked down and saw the wedding ring on her left hand, then wrapped his arms round her waist.
"I'm fine, I just thought I'd come and see my wonderful family."
"Are you sure?" she checked.
"Yes. Everything's perfect." He leaned in to kiss her, but she suddenly pulled away, her facial expression contorting into one of fear. His heart stopped. It was happening again, just like last time.
But then Andrea smiled and reached for Neil's hand, placing it on her stomach.
He felt a small pressure on the palm of his hand and his heart started beating again, "That's our baby."
"It most certainly is. Now where were we?" she asked, leaning into his kiss. And, in that moment, everything was perfect.
