Yvonne and Arnold took a nice romantic stroll down to the officers club hand in hand. Arnold wanted to say something but he didn't want to blow it so he decided not too
"Are we going to be in silence all night?" Yvonne asked "or are you actually going to talk to me"
"Sorry" Arnold answered "I didn't really know what to say"
"It's okay" Yvonne smiled "why don't you tell me about Chloë"
"Chloë?" Arnold asked "why?"
"I'd like to know about her"
"Didn't Kriss tell you about her?"
"Only how Chloë was born and what happened between you and her afterwards"
"Yeah" Arnold put his hands to his face "I'm not proud of that"
"I know"
"I lost my girlfriend and daughter because of that"
"I know"
"I'll never make that mistake again"
"Arnold"
"Yes Yvonne"
"Do you regret sleeping with me?"
"No" Arnold shook his head firmly "not at all"
"What about Lilimay and Junior, do you wish I'd never got pregnant and had them?"
"No, I'm going to be a father to them, and Jemimah, as far as I'm concerned I've got five children"
"Five?"
"Yes"
"Why five?"
"Jemimah, Lilimay, Junior, Chloë and Theo"
"You're taking on Jemimah as well?"
"Oh yes, Jemimah needs a father"
"But she's not your responsibility"
"Chloë and Theo have two fathers, it's not fair that Jemimah doesn't have any"
"But you don't have too"
"I want too, she's a lovely child, I'd be so proud to be a father to her"
"Okay Arnold, I'd love you to be a father to them all, they're not McGruder anymore, I now have Jemimah Rimmer, Lilimay Rimmer and Arnold Junior Rimmer"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I wanted to give Lilimay and Junior your surname but they wouldn't let me because we're not married"
"I'm really surprised Kriss didn't talk to you about Chloë" Arnold shook his head "normally she can't say enough"
"Why not?"
"Chloë and Kriss are very close, they've got a really special bond, and it's very strong. Sometimes I think it's stronger than her bond with any of the others"
"First babies can be so precious, it doesn't mean she loves Chloë anymore than the others"
"I think Dave loves Llewey and Jim-Bexley more than Chloë, Alicia-May and Theo"
"I don't!"
"Why?"
"I think he's got a stronger bond with them, but he loves them all the same"
"Okay then"
"So Chloë" Yvonne changed the subject "she looks a lot like Kriss, doesn't she"
"Yeah" Arnold agreed, "You wouldn't know she is mine at all"
"So what's Chloë like then?"
"Exactly like Kriss, kind, loving, funny, she's wonderful"
"What about Theo?" Yvonne asked, "What's he like?"
"Lovely" Arnold smiled "I know he's only a baby but his character is coming through already"
"How old is he?"
"Four weeks"
"Really, I…"
"Marry me" Arnold interrupted
"What?" Yvonne replied, shocked
"Yvonne McGruder, will you marry me?"