Taking what is mine chapter 2

18 Hours earlier

Frank tried to stifle a yawn as he turned the water off in the showers of the men's changing rooms in Blackwall fire station. It had been Blue Watch's second night shift and they had been called to a warehouse fire just after 1am last night and had only just got back half an hour ago. His body ached from tiredness and all he wanted to do was go home, crawl into bed, hold Sally in his arms and fall asleep. No matter how much he wanted that, it wasn't going to happen. Not when you have 2 six-month-old babies that needed to be seen to. He loved his kids to the moon and back but it was tiring having twins.

It had been just over a year ago that the Russian satellite had burned up in the sky but he didn't remember the day because of that. He remembered that day because it was the second happiest day of his life. As the crew stood watching the satellite break up, he and Sally had stood watching each other, knowing that they both loved the other. When they had cleaned up, he went to see if she was ok in her locker room. It was then she told him that she hadn't taken the pill from the doctor and was still pregnant. He was so happy that his heart could have exploded with joy and he couldn't wait to be a father and finally have Sally as his girlfriend. Once their shift ended they moved all Sally's things into his flat and they had never looked back since. When they found out that they were having twins, his happiness got even bigger and it was the best thing that ever happened to him. Sally panicked again when she found out it was twins that they were having. She had finally got exciting about having a baby but the thought of double the work and responsibility had scared her again but he soon calmed her down and she got excited again as well. When Sarah and James were born, it has the happiest day of his life. He and Sally were not the perfect couple and still argued sometimes about things but never for long and they always made up. Together with the twins, they were a happy little family, something he never thought he would have.

Frank made his way out of the showers and into the locker room to get changed into a new clean uniform, even though it would only be on for 45 minutes until their shift ended. Once he was changed, he made his way down to the Mess to get some breakfast and coffee to wake up a bit more. All of the crew were there already but nobody said anything to each other. They were all exhausted from the last shout and were counting the minutes until 9am when Green Watch came in to replace them. As Frank took a seat opposite Sally, their eyes met and he knew she was thinking the same as him – I love our kids but I just want to sleep. He gave her a smile and she smiled back him, knowing they were in for a long day.

They didn't show affection towards each other at work unless they were alone. They didn't want any extra attention than they already got for being a couple and the teasing that went with it. If they went out on the roof for a smoke, the watch would tease them that they were going for a quickie on the roof or in the showers. Luckily though they both just brushed it off in good humour. Mick still hadn't reported them and he had no plans to as long as Sally and Frank kept it down at work as well.

The only sound that could be heard from the mess table was the crunching of the crew eating their cereal and toast as they waited for their shift to end. At around 8:40 the phone rang and Mick got up to answer it. "Station Officer Callaghan, Blackwall."

Mick listened for a few seconds before speaking again. "Oh yeah, sure. Hold on a sec." Mick replied as he moved the phone away from his ear.

"Adam, it's your mum. She wants a word with you, Frank and Sally." Mick said as he passed to the phone to Adam.

All three put down their breakfast and sluggishly got up to leave the mess, so they could talk privately to Elaine on the phone. Adam led them down into the gym so they could sit on something while they talked.

"Alright Mum" Adam said before letting out a yawn.

He listened while she talked. "Yeah that's right. Been up all night. All of us are bloody knackered!"

As Adam listened to his mum, Frank looked over at Sally as she sat on the weight bench fighting to keep her eyes open. He got off his seat and moved to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. As he did this, she leaned back against him and moved her hands to cover his and rubbed them gently.

"No worries. Let me ask them quickly." Adam replied to his mum.

He moved the phone away from his ear and turned to Sally and Frank. "Kate told mum we'd been away all night at a shout and mum's taking Ajay for a couple of hours to let me get some sleep. She says she'll take Sarah and James for a couple of hours too if you guys want some sleep."

Neither Sally or Frank had to think of their answer. The only time they got a full nights sleep was when they were on night shift but if they got called to a shout that wasn't always guaranteed. Also the only alone time they got together was when the twins were sleeping or when they were going to pick them up. They had the next 4 days off together but they had the twins for four days as well. To go home to get some uninterrupted sleep and alone time together was a rare opportunity, which they would gladly take.

"Tell her she's a lifesaver." Sally said with a hint of relief on her face.

Adam put the phone back to his ear. "They said that would be great." Adam went slight again. "Ok no worries. Ill speak to you later. Bye" Adam replied as he hung up.

"Does it make me a bad dad, that I was happy mum offered to do that?" Adam asked them as he got up.

"Nah, Mate. We just need sleep that's all. If we didn't have the shout, we wouldn't need to go home and sleep." Frank replied as rubbed Sally's shoulders.

"True." Adam went to open the door but stopped and turned back to them. "Oh mum said she'll call Andie and let her know to drop the kids off with her."

"Cheers." Sally shouted after him as Adam left and headed back up to the mess.

The day that the satellite had burned up into the atmosphere was the day that Frank and Sally had official began dating and celebrated her pregnancy. The same night, Blue Watch had gone to the twist to celebrate and Adam Benjamin had met Kate Spencer. The two hit it off and began dating however within a month Kate was pregnant as well. Like Sally, Kate was unsure wither to keep the baby due to the time that she had been with Adam but Adam was ecstatic about becoming a father and convinced her to keep the baby. Their son Ajay (Adam junior) was born 1 month after Sarah and James and all three were soon becoming best friends. Kate and Adam were still together and Adam moved into her flat just before their son was born. Elaine also liked Kate and how happy she made Adam and was besotted with her grandson. When Kate decided to go back to work early, Elaine had offered to look after Ajay while Adam was on day shift at Blackwall having recently sold her new pub and had moved back to London and settled into a new flat. Elaine had heard that Sally and Frank were struggling to find a child minder who had space for two babies. Everyone that they found, only had one slot left for one baby and they weren't going to split the twins up and pay two child minders. Elaine had always been fond of Sally and knew how much the poor girl had been through. She offered to look after the twins at the same time as Ajay so that they could spend time with each other.

Elaine would sometimes keep all 3 babies after Blue watch's shift ended so that the two couples could also enjoy some adult time without their children and enjoyed double dates. Frank and Elaine were now friends and had put the past behind them. She knew that when Frank took a beating from Jimmy Watts on Adam's behalf that he was a good man and was good for Sally.

When it came to blue watch's night shift, Andie had volunteered to look after Sarah and James during the night. Sally and Andie had been really good friends for a long time but Sally felt guilty asking one of her friends to give up their free night time to look after her babies. Andie had already raised her son and done all the work that went with it but Andie was adamant on helping her friend. She loved the twins and the twins loved her. Andie would stay in the spare bed in the twin's room at Sally and Frank's flat while she looked after them as everything that they needed was there. In morning depending on how well the twins slept, Andie would drive to the station to collect George and drop the twins off to Frank and Sally or George would get a lift back with them to their flat to go home with Andie. It was the perfect situation as it meant Sally could continue doing the job she loved while getting discounted childcare and leaving her kids with people she trusted.

Sally got up as well and went to the door but Frank lightly grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms for a hug. As he held her, she didn't want to leave the comfort of his arms.

"You know." Frank whispered seductively in her ear. "I think it's time that we had some Mummy and Daddy time since we have a rare opportunity."

Sally giggled at his words. She wanted some of that time to but decided to tease him first. "Play your cards right, Fire fighter Mooney and that may happen."

Before he had a chance to respond, Sally left the comfort of his arms and left the gym to go back to the mess, leaving Frank behind. He had tried to grab her arm to pull her back but he was to late and she was gone. Most men would get annoyed at her antics but he loved how feisty she was. With reluctance he pushed himself off the wall of the gym and went back to the mess to finish his breakfast.

As he entered the mess, he expected to get some joke thrown his way, as he and Sally didn't come back at the same time as Adam. Luckily the crew were to tired to make any kind of remark and nobody looked up when he entered the mess. Normally he brushed off any jokes about him and Sally but given how tired he was, he may have snapped today.

Finally 9am arrived and Green watch had arrived to replace them. Blue watch crew had suddenly found new energy as they all practically ran to the locker rooms to get changed and head home. Sally knew there was no point in changing as when she got home she would be changing yet again. Instead she slipped a sweatshirt over her top and changed her work shoes for trainers and shoved everything back into her bag. She pulled back the curtain and left her changing room hoping that Frank was ready to go to but when she found him, he was talking to Charlie, Adam and Craig. As he looked up and saw her, she made a downward motion with her hand signalling him to meet her downstairs when it was suitable to leave the conversation. She didn't wait for his response, as she wanted to check in with Andie how the twins were last night. She knew she could call Andie later but that would waste value time alone with Frank.

She quickly made her way out the station and into the forecourt where George was putting his stuff in the boot of Andie's car.

"Hiya." Sally said as walked over to the driver's door to speak with Andie.

"Alright Sal. Big night last night?" Andie said as she opened the window to talk to Sally.

"Yeah not had an all nighter like that in while. Would have been better with booze than a fire though." Sally told her.

"Can't handle all night boozers now girl. Ten is my limit then I'm bedded." Andie replied as George jumped into the passenger seat.

"How were the kids last night? Did you manage to get a good nights kip?" Sally asked her.

"Both of them woke up once in the night but only because their dummies had had fallen out. Popped em back in and that was them until 6am this morning. I'm loving these nights at yours to get caught up on my sleep from George's snoring." Andie replied.

"Oi! I don't snore." George shouted at them from the passenger seat.

"Mate, yes you do." Sally shot back at him laughing.

"Well I can't be as bad as Charlie. He snores and talks in his sleep." George replied.

"That's very true." Sally said to George and then turned back to Andie. "Thanks for dropping them off at Elaine's."

"Anytime. She's got their car seats for when you go to pick them up. Enjoy your sleep and time with Frank." Andie winked at her as she started the car engine."

"Oh we will. Speak to you's later." Sally said as she moved away from the car.

"Bye Sal." Andie and George both said as the car drove out of the forecourt and out of view.

Once they were gone, she made her way over to her and Frank's car to wait for him but as she approached the car, she realised that he had the keys in his jacket pocket. She sighed as she leaned against the car but at least it was a nice morning to be stuck outside.

"Frank locked you out has he?" A voice said interrupting her thoughts.

She turned around and seen Mick putting his bag in the boot of his car. "Nah Gov. Just in a rush to see Andie about the kids and forgot he had the keys in his pocket."

"At least it's dry." Mick said as he looked around Sally for something. "Speaking of kids, aren't you missing two? Just seen Andie and George leave."

"Normally yeah but Elaine knew we were up all night and got all three of them just now so we can get some sleep." Sally replied.

"She's a good egg that one. Handy for you and Frank as well." Said Mick.

"Yeah we couldn't have asked for a better situation really. Plus it means Sarah and James get to spent time with another baby their age." Sally replied back.

"Exactly." Mick said as he closed his boot. "Any other plans for the next 4 days off?"

"Not really. Maybe take the kids to the park, maybe spend time with Adam and Kate and just having family time." Sally said, as she was nervous to ask him the same question. "What about you?"

Mick took a deep breath thinking of how to answer. "Gonna work on the site for a couple of hours each day and then spend time with Liam this afternoon when he gets out of school. He's staying with me tonight and ill take him to school tomorrow. Then we've got our meeting tomorrow night." A look of pain crossed mick's face as he spoke.

Shauna had gotten pregnant around the same time as Sally but unlike Sally, Shauna was ecstatic and couldn't wait to welcome her second baby although Mick was concerned about the whole situation. Eventually he warmed to becoming a dad again and was getting excited. Just as he was getting excited about becoming a dad again, tragedy struck for them. When they went for their 12 week scan, the doctor told them that there was no heartbeat and that Shauna had miscarried, leaving her devastated. Mick tried to comfort her but she was inconsolable and pushed him away. Mick said they could try again but Shauna only wanted the baby she had lost. This resulted in them separating 6 months after the miscarriage and sharing custody of Liam. Mick had suggested that after another 6 months that they should reunite as a family one night for dinner and once Liam was asleep, they would revaluated the last 6 months and see where they stood with their marriage. Tomorrow it would be make or break for his marriage.

"Hope it goes well. Let us know how it goes." Sally said awkwardly to him.

"Yeah me to." Mick replied.

"Alright Gov?" Came another voice.

Sally turned round and seen Frank coming towards them.

"Yeah alright mate. Looking forward to some sleep and a few days off."

"Yeah tell me about." Frank said as he opened the car and then went to open the boot so he and Sally could put their own bags in.

Frank would never admit this but he was still slightly jealous of the close friendship Mick and Sally had. He knew that Sally loved him and not Mick anymore but he could see in Mick's eyes that he still had feelings for her. He hadn't wasted all this time fighting for her just for Mick to grow a set and swoop Sally off her feet. She was his and his alone.

"Well, I better be getting off. I'll let you know how it goes Sal." Mick said as he walked back to own car."

"Night Gov." Frank shouted as he got in the drivers seat.

"Night. Hope it goes well." Sally shouted as she jumped in the passenger seat next to Frank.

When Sally was talking to Mick she could see that he still had feelings for her. She knew that Mick would never have left Shauna and Liam for her. It was just a crush she had on him whereas with Frank it was love. He was the only man who made her feel valued and fought for her. Joe had done that to but not as much as Frank had and Frank had also given her two beautiful babies, who she couldn't imagine life without now. Joe and her had never discussed children meaning she may never have been a mother if it wasn't for Frank. He showered her with affection and little gifts but the best gift he had ever given her was Sarah and James.

"What's happening with Mick?" Frank asked as pulled out onto the main road heading for their flat.

"Tomorrow he and Shauna are meeting to decide the state of their marriage." Sally replied as she ran her hands through her hair.

"Oh yeah. That'll be 6 months since they separated." Frank said.

He knew how horrible it sounded but part of him was glad that Shauna that had miscarried. There was a chance that the baby could have been his but he didn't want that hanging over his head. Someone would have eventually figured it out, especially if the kid had looked like him, which would have then led to more problems. When he and Sally moved in together she wanted to know everything so that they could start a clean slate meaning she knew that Frank did sleep with Shauna and his reasoning behind it. She was mad at first but soon realised that she had slept with Frank originally to get Mick's attention, which hadn't worked. Fate had decided fore them and it was all in the past for Frank and Sally.

"Yeah." Sally yawned as she replied.

They fell into a comfortable silence on the way home with the radio playing softly in the background.

It was only a 15-minute drive back to their flat and Frank managed to find a parking space right outside their flat entrance.

"Do you want a smoke?" Frank asked her as he turned the engine off and got out the car.

"No I'm alright. Give us your bag and I'll stick a wash on." Sally replied as she shut the passenger door and went round to the boot.

When Sally got pregnant she had given up smoking and Frank stopped smoking around her and in the flat. After the twins were born, Sally started smoking again but only if she was on a night out or if she was stressed but never around her kids or in the flat.

Sally grabbed both bags while Frank closed the boot after her and then went back to lock the car. Before he got his lighter out of his pocket, he went back over to Sally and gave her kiss, which she happily returned before turning to go inside.

"See you in a bit." Sally said to Frank as she opened the entrance door to their block of flats. Frank was trying to light his cigarette but nodded to her when he heard her.

Sally quickly made her way up the three flights of stairs to where her and Frank's flat was. Luckily the place had an elevator for occasions that they needed to get the double pram with the twins in it downstairs if they were rushing somewhere. As Sally reached her door, she put the key in the lock and when the door opened she couldn't believe it.

The flat was spotless.

The kitchen was gleaming and the twin's bottles and dummies had all been sterilized. The living room was dusted and the ironing pile that Sally had been meaning to do, was done and sat in piles ready to be put away.

"I gotta pay her more." Sally thought as took her shoes off and made her way into the kitchen to put the washing on. She put her and Frank's uniforms and their dirty gym gear into the washing machine and turned it on. She put the workbags back into the storage cupboard and grabbed the pile of ironed clothes that had to be put away for the twins and put it away in their room. Once she had put everything away, she closed the door and went back to the living room. As she walked past one of the tables in the living room, she noticed that there was a message on the answer machine. She hit play on the machine to hear it.

"Sally it's your mum for the 4th time this week. Why are you ignoring me?" Her mother's broad northern accent came out of the speaker. " I just want to know how my grandkids are doing? I bet their so big now. Seeing them once a month isn't enough time with them Sally. The next time you have four days off, come up to Leeds or we'll come to you. Plus you need to think about getting them both christened as well. Hope you and Frank are doing well. Speak to you soon."

As the message ended, Sally gave a heavy sigh. Before she got pregnant, Sally was lucky if she went back to Leeds five times in a year. Her life was in London now. She still spoke to her sister regularly and kept in in touch with her parents but they were never a close family. When Sally had the twins her mother phoned her several times a week and was always trying to arrange dates to meet each other. It was because Sally's parents didn't want to miss out on watching their grandchildren grow up. She would never deny her parent's access to the twins but there was only so much time she could spend with her parents, so the visits were spread out. Sally's sister had recently found a new partner and they were expecting a baby. She hoped when the new baby arrived, her parents would spend more time in Leeds with the new grandchild.

Sally felt her eyes go heavy again and knew it was time for sleep. Mummy and Daddy time would be after sleep. She did a quick sweep of the kitchen and living room to make sure everything was off before going into the bathroom to brush her teeth and use the toilet. She came out and went to the main bedroom and closed the blinds. As she closed them, she heard the sound of the front door being opened, closed and then locked meaning Frank was back in. She heard Frank going into the bathroom as well. Sally took her worktop and trousers off and changed into her night vest top and underwear. She climbed into bed and reached over to her bedside table, to charge her phone and set an alarm for 1:30pm. As tired as Frank and Sally were, they only needed a few hours of sleep or they wouldn't sleep tonight.

Once she put the phone back on the bedside table, she turned around and seen Frank had climbed into bed in his boxer shorts. They lay on their sides, facing each other and when their eyes met, Frank opened his arms for Sally. She happily accepted and snuggled up in his arms with her head resting on his chest. He softly bumped her forehead with his chin, forcing her to look up at him. Their heads moved at the same time until their lips met to kiss each other.

"Am I only getting the one?" Frank whispered to her as there lips separated. Sally giggled in response and moved back to kiss him. More deeply this time as she placed her hand on the back of his head to pull him in closer.

Sally broke apart first, knowing they would finish this later. "Good night." Sally said as she turned around in Frank's arms so he was spooning her.

"Good night." Frank replied as he pulled her closer to him and held her tighter.

Within seconds they were both fast asleep.

TO BE CONTINUED