Your Love Is King

The Epilogue

"That one!"

Dan frowned and looked around him, lifting up a small wooden shape as he held it out. "This one?"

Rebecca giggled and shook her head, pointing at the jigsaw piece beside his knee. "That one!"

"Are you sure?" Dan grinned at Rebecca who appeared to simper and giggle, using Dan's knee to help her push herself up.

"Flirt." Charlie chuckled, glancing over.

Rebecca wobbled and held one arm out to steady herself, before grinning and toddling towards Charlie, attaching herself to her leg. "Din, mummy."

"Just give me two seconds sweetheart." Charlie ruffled Rebecca's hair and gestured to the form she was filling in. "Nearly finished."

Rebecca nodded, and stayed beside Charlie, one arm holding onto her leg as she chewed on the sleeve of her top, looking back over at Dan.

"…I don't mind helping." Dan offered, shrugging. "If you're busy."

"Dan!" Rebecca grinned, looking up at Charlie.

Charlie chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You've got yourself a fan for life there…" she smiled, reaching into her bag as she pulled out a small lunchbox and some baby wipes, passing them to Dan.

Dan looked perplexed, opening the plastic box as he unwrapped a bun, holding it out to Rebecca.

Rebecca beamed, sat beside him on the floor and took the bun, taking a bite before looking up. "T'ank you."

"Good girl." Charlie kept her eyes on the form, frowning slightly as she crossed out what she'd written. "Not with your mouth full though…"

Rebecca looked at Charlie, nodding emphatically, before taking another bite from the bun, her free hand falling into Dan's.

Smithy yawned and ran a hand through his hair, correcting his quiff as he let himself out of the locker room, heading back towards the front of the station. He looked around him and frowned as he found the front office empty, before his gaze settled on the corner at the back where Charlie was sat reading through a small booklet, Rebecca curled up on the chair beside her, fast asleep. Rebecca's head rested on Charlie's lap as she stroked her hair gently, her fingers occasionally fiddling with the curl on Rebecca's forehead. Smithy smiled softly to himself and watched them for a few seconds, before heading over, letting himself behind the desk. "You look shattered." He said quietly, kissing Charlie's forehead as she looked up.

"Not half as tired as you." She said, mock pouting as she leant forward, softly pressing her lips against his. "You sure you're ready to be back?"

Smithy nodded and smiled. "I'm fine…" He insisted, sitting the other side of Rebecca. "You should be-"

"At home…" Charlie finished for him, rolling her eyes with a grin. "You've told me."

"And you never listen." Smithy grinned.

"Hark at you." Charlie grinned. "You haven't been recovering in hospital!" she tutted. "They gave you a brain transplant whilst I wasn't looking, didn't they!"

"You only moan when I don't ask." Smithy smirked, "Besides, you shou-"

"If I stay in that house any longer I'll go stir crazy." Charlie sighed. "You moan when I unpack boxes, you moan when I try and set up the nursery, you moan when I-"

"I get the hint." Smithy cut her off with a frown.

Charlie smiled weakly and closed her hand over his. "I'm sorry…" she sighed. "I just…I can't stay there on my own." She said quietly. "I need to be here, and I need to stay

Smithy opened his mouth to speak as Rebecca shifted slightly, her arm falling forward on the chair as she slept, knocking against Smithy's leg. Smithy looked down and smiled, lifting Rebecca gently from the chair, "You ready?"

Charlie nodded, gathering her belongings, before faltering as a flash of pain flitted across her stomach. Smithy stopped at the gate and glanced back. "Chaz?"

Charlie took a deep breath and glanced up, smiling awkwardly. "Just a twinge…"

"You remember what the doctor said…." Smithy frowned deeply. "You shouldn't-"

"Shouldn't do a lot of things." Charlie forced as a joke, moving towards him. "But we still do…"

"If you're sure…" Smithy frowned, carrying Rebecca out to the car as she grumbled softly at the sudden blast of cold, snuggling against her father's chest. Charlie eased herself into the front passenger side, and Smithy leant over and passed Rebecca down to Charlie, who moved her gently in her arms, making sure she was holding her tightly as Rebecca's head fell back against her shoulder, her hand gripping Charlie's.

Charlie smiled and kissed Rebecca's hand, stroking her thumb over it gently as she waited for Smithy to get in, before keeping tight hold of Rebecca for the journey home.

"What's wrong?" Smithy frowned, shifting on the settee as Charlie fidgeted and gasped for the third time in as many minutes.

"Backache." Charlie grumbled. "Side ache, front ache…."

Smithy frowned and moved his hand to her stomach, stroking it gently, before blinking as Charlie gasped and gripped his wrist. "I didn't do anything!"

"Get Becca." Charlie forced through gritted teeth.

"I've just got her off, she'-"

"Get. Becca." Charlie insisted, her knuckles turning white from the grip she had on his arm, "Get her bag and get her to mams."

"But-." Smithy's face drained of colour as he realised what Charlie meant, "…Early!"

"Try telling him that…" Charlie paused and panted, swallowing as she let go of Smithy's arm. "And be fast…."

Smithy's eyes widened and he all but jumped up, heading in the direction of the stairs, before coming back. "But what if-?"

"GO!"

"Dale!" Rachel Rogers blinked as she opened the door. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Gamma! Mummy sworeded!" Rebecca beamed and weaved past her grandmothers legs, pulling her bag along the floor behind her as she headed into the living room.

Rachel watched Rebecca pass, before looking back to the door, "…Dale?" She said again, taking in her son in law's petrified expression.

"Baby!" Smithy stammered, pointing at the car. "….Baby!"

"SMITHY!" Charlie yelped, gripping hold of the dashboard. "Move your arse!"

Smithy backed off from the doorway, heading over to the car as Rachel blinked. "Dale!"

"Charlotte!"

"Mum…" Charlie whimpered, clutching the dashboard. "Look after-" She trailed off and gasped, holding onto her stomach. "Smithy'll pick her up in the morning…." She panted as the car started up. "Make sure you hurt him…." She yelped. "Before I do!"

"Why did mummy tell daddy off?" Rebecca shuffled as she lay beside her grandmother, obviously now wide awake.

"She didn't mean to…" Rachel sipped from her coffee as she rested one leg on the bed. "She was just joking."

Rebecca glanced up from the book she was waving around, frowning. "But daddy not laughing."

Rachel chuckled and replaced her drink on the bedside table, checking the phone again, as she took the book, cuddling Rebecca to her. "Mummy was trying to take her mind off Jack."

"Why?"

"He was telling her that he wanted to come out to come and meet his mummy and daddy, and his big sister…."

Rebecca grinned and clamboured into Rachel's lap. "Cack!" She beamed, clapping her hands excitedly.

"You. Ever. Come. Near. Me…" Charlie paused to pant between the words, gripping Smithy's hand tighter. "And. I will… castrate you!"

Smithy looked at his hand, wincing. "But-"

"But nothing…" Charlie yelped and whimpered as she all but screamed. "Get it out!"

"Calm down, Charlie…" Smithy tried to soothe, rubbing her back.

"I'll give you calm down, you fuc-"

"That's it…" The consultant cut in, smiling encouragingly. "You're doing brilliantly, just one more push…."

"I can't…" Charlie whimpered, burying her head in Smithy's shoulder as she wound her fingers around his. "I can't…too tired…."

"Come on…" Smithy kissed her forehead, wrapping his free arm around her back as he held her tightly. "Just one more sweetheart, you can do it…."

Charlie sniffed and took a deep breath, holding Smithy's hand tightly as she pushed as hard as she could, crying.

"Don't you think it's time you got some sleep?" Rachel chuckled, watching the two green eyes that were peering over the top of the blanket at her.

"I want to see Cack." Rebecca beamed, dropping the blanket. "Mummy got him out now?"

Rachel glanced at the time, looking back at her granddaughter. "Daddy will ring when Jack's here."

Rebecca released a 'pfft' and settled back on the bed. "Story, Gamma?"

"Time for you to get some sleep…" Rachel smiled softly, brushing Rebecca's hair from her eyes, settling her down. "So you can be all wide awake to meet your little brother tomorrow!"

"I can go now?" Rebecca yawned, rubbing her eyes with both hands balled into small fists, blinking tiredly at Rachel.

Rachel smiled softly and kissed Rebecca's forehead, shaking her head. "Soon, sweetheart…" She said quietly, holding Rebecca tightly as she fell asleep.

"Hello Jack…." Charlie whispered, beaming proudly, if tiredly, at the small bundle in her arms, looking up at Smithy as he leant across the bed, one arm around Charlie, Jack's hand curled around one of his fingers. "He's perfect…" She whispered softly, a tear threatening to run down her cheek.

"He's beautiful." Smithy smiled, brushing away the tear with his thumb. "Just like his mum."

Charlie smiled, resting her cheek against his hand as she cuddled the bundle tighter, returning Smithy's soft kiss. "There was a time…" she started, her voice laden with emotion. "…I didn't think we'd be here." She looked up, swallowing hard to stop the other tears. "I thought Jack…"

"Shhh…." Smithy pressed a finger against her lips. "Don't." He said quietly. "We're here… we're ok…" he assured her, much like he had regularly had to since Mitchell. "We're all ok…" he whispered.

Charlie nodded, sniffing hard as she carefully handed the baby to Smithy, carefully pulling herself further up the bed. "I love you…" She said quietly, looking at Smithy.

Smithy smiled, his whole face lighting up as Jack woke, watching him blink around the room, his gaze seemingly settling on Smithy as he yawned. "I love you too." he grinned dopily, kissing Jack's cheek, "Both of you."

"CAAAAAAACK!" Rebecca bounced in her grandmothers arms, beaming as she gripped the phone. "Daddy see now?"

"You want to come see him now?" Smithy chuckled, leaning against the side of the phone booth. "You'd have to be quiet, Jack and mummy are asleep at the minute…"

"Why?" Rebecca pouted.

"It was a busy night…Jack didn't come to see us till nearly the morning…"

"But he'll wake up?" Rebecca wriggled as Rachel continued dressing her, still clinging on tightly to the phone.

"Soon…" Smithy stifled a yawn. "Can you put grandma on?"

"Ok, daddy…" Rebecca nodded, "Wub you more than the houses."

"Love you more than the people." He grinned, slotting another twenty pence in the machine as he spoke to Rachel, organising a time for them to come down, describing Jack and the delivery, grimacing as he stretched out his hand, remembering the grip Charlie had had on it. "Just glad he's not twins….don't think me hand could have taken it!"

After the call had ended, Smithy turned to move back from the phone booth, before pausing, looking thoughtful, and lifting the handset, dialling a number. "Gina." He grinned. "It's Smithy…" He listened, smirking as she muttered about the time, threatening him with the early shift, before interrupting. "Thought you might want to meet someone…" He paused. "Jack wants to say hello to Nana…."

"Shhh…!" Smithy pressed a finger to his lips, lifting Rebecca up as she bounded towards him, kissing her cheek as she grinned and clung around his neck.

"Where's Cack?" Rebecca asked, attempting to whisper, before forgetting about it in her excitement, Rachel appearing behind them both, smiling as she looked over at where Charlie was still fast asleep, looking at the small cot beside the bed.

"Oh Dale…" Rachel clasped a hand to her mouth, looking as though she was about to cry, following him over to the cot, watching Jack kick his legs out, slowly reaching her hand out to stroke his cheek. "He's beautiful…"

"Caaaack!" Rebecca peered critically down at him from her vantage point in Smithy's arms, beaming. She waved and wriggled round to get a better look, her foot accidentally jarring the cot, causing Jack to wake with a start, sobbing loudly.

Charlie's eyes flickered open and she blinked around, looking across as Smithy replaced Rebecca to the floor, letting her climb onto the bed beside Charlie, before lifting Jack out of the cot, cuddling him closely as he attempted to comfort him.

Rebecca rested against Charlie, poking her stomach. "There 'nother Cack there?"

Charlie smiled sleepily, yawning. "No sweetheart, not another Jack."

Rebecca beamed and rested her head on Charlie's shoulder, watching Smithy and Jack. "We want no more." She shook her head. "No more boys."

Charlie grinned and stroked Rebecca's hair, watching Rachel coo at Jack over Smithy's shoulder. "What about another girl?" she asked, shifting to allow Rebecca onto her lap, cuddling her tightly.

Rebecca looked thoughtful. "We send 'Cack back and get a girl?"