This is the last chapter. Thanks for the reviews. On with the story ...


The small church for Ted Hasting's funeral was packed with people, most of whom represented the police force, current and previous. Kate and Steve were sat at the front, with Sheila. Ted had given her their phone numbers as people to call if anything ever happened to him during that last case. He hadn't expected a large blood clot from his leg to be his downfall. They had helped her arrange his funeral, although to be fair to Ted, he had done most of the work already. He had left specific instructions on what he wanted with his solicitor that he had written whilst still in the force.

"And now Steve Arnott will say a few words," the priest said, inviting Steve to the lectern. Sheila had asked him to do the eulogy, and he had agreed. He had put a lot of work in to his speech with Kate's help, to give him the send off he deserved. It was a very honest speech, dotted with many of Ted's sayings, and although it was a funeral, there were humorous recountings of their time working together in AC-12. He had the congregation laughing with his telling of Ted visiting him in hospital after his attack.

"How're you feeling, son?".

"Awful,".

"That's the spirit!".

After the service, the mourners congregated outside. Steve and Kate spotted a familiar face amongst them. "You should go and say hello," Kate said to Steve.

"You don't mind?".

"Of course not," Kate informed him. "I got you in the end,". Giving her a small peck on the lips, he left Kate chatting to some old AC-12 colleagues whilst he made his way over to the person in question.

"Hi!" Steve said awkwardly. It had been a while since they had last talked and things had been left a little weirdly between them. Steve knew it was mainly his fault. He had been too cowardly to tell her to her face that their relationship was over, instead choosing to just ignore her calls until she stopped phoning him altogether.

"Hi!" she greeted, in a Scouse accent. It was Steph Corbett. "Great speech,". She had heard the news about Ted's passing and had wanted to pay her respects. Her and Ted had developed some sort of acquaintance following the latter's guilt at having a role in the former"s husband's demise.

"Thanks. I hope he would have liked it,".

"I'm sure he would've," she said. "You're looking well since the last time I saw you,".

"Yeah, things are very good," Steve admitted. "I'm with Kate now," he explained, looking back over to his partner, who was still deep in conversation with her colleagues.

Steph knew Kate a little from when John was being investigated. She had seen the two officers work together and knew how close they were. She had often wondered why Steve had suddenly stopped their potential romantic relationship and now she had her answer. "I take it you managed to get your problem fixed then?" Steph asked. She was the only person apart from Kate who knew of his impotence problems.

"Oh yeah," He replied, a little embarrassed. "Umm Kate's pregnant,".

"Congratulations!" Steph replied, trying to sound happy for him.

"Thanks. We're starting to tell people as she is in her second trimester now,".

"Well welcome to the parent club,".

"How are you?" Steve asked, hoping she had found some happiness so he wouldn't feel so bad at his.

"Good. Good. Still miss John, but I'm doing better. I've met someone as well," she explained.

"Oh?" said Steve looking around for the person in question.

"He's gone to get the car actually. We've got a long journey ahead of us back to Liverpool so we're leaving very shortly,". Steph looked over to the road and saw her boyfriend's car pull up. "That's him," she said, before pulling Steve in to a hug. "Take care of yourself, ok?" she said as she let him go and walked over to the car knowing she would never see Steve again.

Steve watched them drive off before wandering back over to where Kate was. "Everything ok?" she asked as Steve rejoined the conversation.

"Fine," replied Steve, glad that he had taken the chance to speak to Steph again and get some proper closure. "Thanks for making me do that,".

"You're welcome," Kate replied.

"You ok?" Steve asked as he placed a hand on her abdomen. Her black coat was hiding any evidence of her pregnancy, but Steve could feel the slight swell that had emerged in the last couple of weeks.

"We're good," Kate informed him.

"Sorry to interrupt," they heard a voice say behind them. Kate and Steve both turned to see Chloe with another young woman beside her.

"Chloe!" They both said in unison.

"How are you?" Kate asked. The last time she had seen her was in the back of the van.

"Good," Chloe replied. "Looks like you guys are as well," she continued as she noticed Steve's hand still resting on Kate's abdomen plus the happiness that seemed to be emanating from them despite the occasion.

"Can't complain," Steve confirmed.

"This is my sister, Natalie," Chloe continued, introducing her colleagues to the woman she was with. "Natalie, this is Steve and Kate. They knew Dad,".

"Nice to finally meet you," Natalie said as she shook hands with the two police officers. "I've heard so much about you from Chloe.,".

"All good, I hope!" Steve replied. "You in the force as well?".

"God no!" Natalie answered. "I'm training to be a nursery teacher,".

"Very wise," Steve said, "although keeping little ones in line might be as much hard work as keeping police officers on the straight and narrow,".

"You'll find out which is harder in the not too distant future," Chloe piped up and Steve and Kate laughed.

"Thanks Chloe!" Steve said. "You know how hard it is with police officers. Are you thinking of sticking in AC-12?" he asked her, changing topic.

"For now," Chloe answered.

"If you ever want to try VCU, let me know. We could use someone like you," Steve said.

"Or MIT," Kate added, giving Chloe options. She wasn't going to stand by and let Steve poach Chloe quite so easily

"Thanks," Chloe responded. She hadn't known how Steve and Kate would be with her after her betrayal so she was happy to see they were the same with her as they had always been.

The four said their farewells shortly after and Natalie and Chloe left Steve and Kate alone for a little while before Gill wandered over.

"Hi!" Kate greeted the doctor as she gave her a little hug. "Wasn't expecting to see you here,".

"I didn't know Ted Hastings personally, but I've heard a lot about him. Thought I would come and pay my respects and support the two of you," She revealed.

"Thanks," Kate replied.

"Plus it gives me a chance to check on you. Make sure everything is ok and that Steve has got over his surprise?".

"Yeah, I'm good thanks. Just about got my head around it," Steve informed Gill.

"Glad to hear it," Gill said. "And you?" she asked Kate.

"Yeah I'm feeling a lot better now I'm past the first trimester," Kate informed her.

"I'm so glad everything is out in the open. You have no idea how hard it was to keep Kate's surprise from you, Steve,".

"Well I've certainly had a valuable lesson," Steve said. "Not sure I'm going to be surprising Kate again," he admitted.

"Finally!" Kate exclaimed, pleased to know she wouldn't be getting any surprises again. At least she hoped so.


Five and a half months later...

"How do I look?" Steve asked as he entered the room where Kate was sat on the bed. He had changed into a pair of blue hospital scrubs. "Think I'd make a good doctor?" he asked her.

"No comment," Kate replied sternly. She saw the look on his face drop a little. He had only been trying to alleviate some tension. "Sorry. Just a bit nervous. Actually I'm bricking it," she explained, whilst taking Steve's hand and squeezing it . They were waiting to go in for a caesarean and the thought of being cut open whilst awake was finally hitting Kate.

The loud screams of a woman in the heavy throes of labour was heard throughout the labour ward where Steve and Kate were. It sounded as if she were being tortured. "Can't be as bad as what she's going though, eh?" Steve suggested, trying to be positive.

"I don't remember it being that bad with Josh," Kate answered. She had given birth naturally with Josh but it wasn't an option with this pregnancy.

During her second trimester her bump grew a lot more than expected and she was sent for another scan to find out why. It had been an anxious day for both Steve and Kate who were worried that there might be something wrong with their baby, especially as Kate was a bit older this time round.

The ultrasonographer had a surprised look on her face as soon as she had applied her probe to Kate's protruding belly and had gone to get a senior to check her findings.

"Is it bad news?" Kate had asked when the second person also had a a surprised look on their face.

"That depends," he had replied. "How do you feel about twins?". He had said as he spun the screen around to the expectant parents who for the first time had a shared surprise. "One of them must have been hiding behind the other at your first scan," he informed them.

"Are they ok?" Kate eventually asked, once she had processed the news. They waited as measurements were taken of both babies and were so happy when both had been declared healthy. Friends and family were as shocked as Kate and Steve when they were told they were having twins but it didn't take long for everyone to be excited about the extra new baby, although Steve had voiced his opinion that they wouldn't be having any more!

Kate was now considered slightly more high risk so had a few more antenatal appointments than normal, but everything had gone well. Due to the position of the babies however, it was decided that a C-section was the safest way for her to deliver and now here they were.

Whilst she was slightly nervous about the impending surgery, Kate was also really relieved it would all be over soon. She was thirty eight weeks pregnant and extremely uncomfortable. Her belly was a lot larger than it had been with Josh, her back ached constantly and she couldn't sleep all that well. A hard kick broke her from her thoughts and her hand rubbed where she had felt it.

"Everything alright?" Steve asked.

"Yeah. I think they know somethings going on," Kate explained. Steve put his hand out and rubbed her stomach as well. He felt one of his children give him a good strong kick in reply.

The room they were in, became more noisy as the first lady on the C- section list was pushed in, holding a new baby who was screaming at the top of it's lungs.

"Christ!" muttered Steve quietly to Kate. "It's not happy about something!" he observed as another piercing scream filled the air.

"Don't Steve," retorted Kate. "If you think that's loud, we are going to have two of them!" she reminded him. Steve's face became serious as he took that fact on board.

The curtain around the bed was pushed back and the midwife appeared. "Alright, Kate and Steve, we're ready for you now,".

They were led into theatre and Kate sat on the operating table as the necessary monitoring and cannulas were inserted before the spinal anaesthetic was given. Steve sat on a stool in front of her giving moral support. It was soon all done and surgery was under way. Steve was sat at Kate's head as the obstetricians did their surgery behind a screen.

"You ok?" Steve asked as he saw Kate pull a face.

"Yes. It just feels really weird," she informed him.

Before they knew it, they had a son, swiftly followed by a daughter . Steve was allowed to leave Kate and cut the cords of his new children and take some photos for Kate who was still being operated on. "They're perfect, mate. Absolutely gorgeous," he said as he returned to his seat at Kate's head, gave her a kiss and showed her the pictures he had taken.

"Are they ok?" she asked Steve very worriedly. "They're very quiet," she observed.

The midwife had overheard Kate's concern and joined the conversation. "They're fine, Kate. Really healthy and a good weight. You just have two really chilled out children,".

"Not sure where they get that from!" Kate replied. "Let's hope it lasts,".

A couple of hours later and Kate was on the post natal ward with Steve sat beside her. They had been given a side room as they needed the extra space with an extra baby. The newest holders of the Arnott surname were swaddled up tightly and sleeping in the same crib together. Their calm nature had so far persisted, only letting out a few cries to let their parents know they were hungry.

Kate's anaesthetic was starting to wear off and she was a little sore but no where near as bad as she thought it was going to be.

"We need to think of some names, mate," Steve mentioned from his seat. He had hardly taken his eyes off his children since they had entered the world. He was making the most of it as he knew his mother was frothing at the bit, waiting to meet her grandchildren. Once she met them, he would hardly get a look in!

"I know," Kate replied. "I think we should try and honour the Gaffer if we can, with our son," she said, reminded of the last thing Ted had said to them.

Steve knew what she was talking about but decided to have some fun. "It's a little out there but I suppose I'd get used to it. Gaffer Arnott. It has got a bit of a ring to it, hasn't it,?".

"Don't be a twat, Steve," Kate replied, laughing, knowing he was joking.

"OK, Edward then," Steve reasoned. "But I could use Gaffer as a nick name?".

"You are not calling our son Gaffer under any circumstances," Kate retorted, putting her foot down. "and Edward would be for the birth certificate only,".

"So what do you want to call him, then?".

"Teddy. Because he's really cute. Like his daddy," she offered.

As if on cue, they heard a little whimper from their son in his crib. Steve got out of his seat and picked his son up, before he woke his sister. "What do you think of Teddy, mate?" Steve asked his son as he held him against his chest. He angled his head to look his son in the face and just saw two big eyes staring back at him. "He seems ok with it," Steve informed Kate. "Alright, Edward officially, but known as Teddy. Or the Gaffer," he slipped in which earned him another look from Kate.

Feeling left out, a little cry from the crib was heard as their daughter woke up and discovered she was sleeping alone. Steve handed Teddy to Kate who gladly accepted him, kissing the top of his head and breathing in that new born baby smell as she rested her son's head against her shoulder.

"So what do we call you, little miss?" Steve asked his daughter who stopped crying the moment she was lifted out her cot. "She looks so much like you, Kate," he observed as he gazed at his daughter.

"But we're not calling her Kate," Kate informed him. They hadn't really discussed names and hadn't know what gender their children were going to be so it seemed like it was going to be a difficult task.

"Can't think of anything that rhymes with Teddy," Steve said.

"Good," retorted Kate, "because we wouldn't be calling her that," Kate decided.

"What's wrong with rhyming names?".

"Its a bit…naff," Kate explained. "And don't say Gaffer, either," she warned before Steve suggested it, even jokingly.

"No that's Teddy's nick name. This one's nick name can be …..Jaffa. Rhymes with Gaffer,".

"I'm going to press that buzzer and get security to escort you out in a minute," Kate threatened, although she knew he was just winding her up.

They sat for ages, throwing names about that they could call their daughter but not liking any of them particularly. Kate was beginning to give up hope when Steve suddenly spoke up.

"Is it naff to call her something beginning with the letter T?" Steve asked, seriously.

"What were you thinking?" Kate asked, intrigued.

"Well if Teddy has an official name, its only fair she gets one. So how about Matilda. And we call her Tilly. Teddy and Tilly,".

Kate thought about his suggestion. "Teddy and Tilly Arnott. I like it," she announced.

"So that's final?" Steve checked and Kate nodded. "Hello Tilly," Steve said to his daughter who was still in his arms. "We finally got there and without murdering each other as well," Steve commented, pleased with himself and Kate.

The twins were starting to get a bit restless and appeared to be hungry so Steve helped Kate get them settled at her chest. She was going to try and attempt breast feeding them as well as express milk so Steve could help with some of the feeding times. They were soon suckling happily and Steve watched Kate gazing at her youngest children. Josh was going to be one of the first visitors to meet his new brother and sister in the coming days.

As Steve moved in his chair, he felt something dig into his leg. He knew what it was. He had put it in his trouser pocket before they had left for the hospital that morning. He hadn't worked out how to do it, more just wing it and see how it went. Now seemed to be the perfect time with his new family all together.

"Kate?" he said, pulling Kate's attention towards him. "Sorry forgot something. One more question about names. How do you like the sound of Kate Arnott?" he asked as Kate saw him pull a little box out of his pocket and opened it, revealing a diamond ring inside.

.