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Chapter 57

Family Discussions

2100 – London, UK

Georgie fluffed her blanket as she rolled onto her side. Her eyes immediately went to Elvis lying on the cot a few meters from the bed. He had his hands tucked under his head, staring up at the ceiling.

"Are ya comfortable?" she asked.

"I am. How 'bout you two?"

"We are good." she said lifting the blanket to look at her bump. "I reckon little Daniel just kicked off his football match for the night though."

Elvis chuckled. "Good thing we 'ave that big garden waitin for him."

"Yeah. He'll have loads of room to run around."

"Course we'll 'ave to get him a big dog to run around with."

"First things first daddy." She said, lovingly caressing the fetus' movements.

"Yeah, I know. It's gonna be great George." Elvis said stretching his long legs out and flexing his toes. They were both chuffed about the imminent delivery and still trying to unwind from the day's ordeal.

"So your mum and dad are OK with everything?" Georgie asked.

"Affirmative. Ma is worried about you and the baby but she will be until the birth I suppose."

"Does Nonna know?"

"Oh yeah! She gave me an ear full." Elvis said rubbing his eyes.

"Verbal snap of the dish towel?" Georgie said with a chuckle.

"Exactly…and it stung just as bad." They both giggled, happy to enjoy some humor after today. "They're grateful we're OK and so and am I." Elvis said.

Georgie watched him. He seemed unsettled. The way he pinched the bridge of his nose and propped his hands behind his head again. "Are you OK?" she asked.

"Wha? Me?" he answered lifting his head to look at her.

"Yeah you, who else would I be asking?"

"I'm fine."

"Heachache?"

"Not really."

"Not really, but ya have one." she persisted.

"I am just wound up George. I need to relax. I'm good." He said shifting his body around on the cot. He could feel her eyes on him. "Ya gonna watch me all night?" he asked taking his eyes from the ceiling to look at her.

"Do I need to?"

"Oh stop it will ya!" he said now grinding his body into the cot, but smiling as he did so.

"I love you." She said with a childlike tease.

"Love you as well." He pressed his eyes closed, trying to compartmentalize and find a way to relax…but that thought kept creeping back, almost demanding him to bring it up. "Babe…." He found himself saying.

"Yeah?"

"Jason Speers offered me a job." There. He opened the can of worms.

"What?! The MI5 Speers?" Georgie was stunned as expected.

"Can ya believe 'at? After the debrief he asked me if I would be interested."

"Awwww Elvis, what did you say? she asked trying to reposition herself. He was up and sitting on the side of the cot in an instant.

"Basically told him not now."

"Not now? Well, we just moved into our cottage." She said with a hint of disappointment.

"I know. The only up side is 'at we'd be in London and closer to Laura." he said.

Georgie frowned sympathetically. She could well understand his dilemma. But things seemed to be working out between the two families. "Would you be happy in a job like that?" she asked, knowing Elvis was torn. He leaned his forearms on his thighs and looked up at her. Did he even know the answer to that? Their eyes silently communicated the pros and cons. They loved their new home in Hereford and Elvis really did not want to go back to living in a flat again. He knew she was thrilled to have a place of their own. Georgie knew it would be easier to be closer to Laura, but her little life was changing as well now with Debbie wed to Reginald. MI5 would not necessarily provide a safer environment for Elvis. Speers would not keep someone like Elvis behind a desk. His skills were too great an asset. Elvis could read her face. There was so much going on in their lives right now. His gaze was relentless as his mind inwardly discerned each scenario. Georgie took a deep breath when he finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Because I don't know the answer to that George, I think it best to hold. Maybe at some point it would make sense to move on…..but….not now."

She hoped the relief that began to drain from her was not too obvious. She wanted to support his decisions. He had worked so hard to achieve a mutual balance in their lives and this would certainly tip the scales. Elvis could almost feel her relief and moved to hold her. "I want wha's best for all of us Georgieee and I want ya to be 'appy, so unless ya feel otherwise, I reckon we should just stay the course." He said. She clung to him. All of the emotions of the day finally taking their toll.

"I think it is a great honor that you were asked to join MI5 and you're right, someday it may be a good decision to do so….but honestly Elvis, if you're asking my input, I agree with staying the course. I really want to go home. I hope they let me go home tomorrow."

"He put the rail down and sat on the bed, holding her as close as he possibly could.

"Then we'll make it 'appen babe." He stroked her hair and lovingly pressed his lips down on the top of her head as she leaned into the warmth of his body. "Get some kip. I' will work on getting us a transport tomorrow." he said.

"That's provided they let me go." she said rubbing a hand on his muscled forearm.

"We'll see wha' their advice is. "At's all we can do George. As long as Daniel can wait out…..we're good." he said.

"Ya hear that Daniel?" she said stoking her bump. "Daddy said to wait out."

"Hope he listens better than I do." Elvis said and Georgie let out a much needed guffaw. They both laughed and it felt so good. "If I had a better voice I'd sing ya both a lullaby." Elvis said rubbing his chin in her hair.

"You could hum…." she said and sighed, completely content in his arms.

Xxxxx

0900 –

"Right, so I am gonna head over to Whitehall to collect our gear. I got a chopper transport for when ya get cleared for take off." Elvis said shrugging into his jacket.

"Sounds good." Georgie said smoothing the blanket alongside her. "Doctor should be in. The nurse said they want to do a thorough exam to see if I've dilated or anything."

"Is 'at good or bad?" Elvis asked, stilling his actions momentarily.

"It gives them an indication if Daniel will start putting me to work."

"And if you are dilated?"

"Then I'm grounded."

Elvis pressed his lips together. "Maybe I should just…"

"No….go on….let's be positive, yeah?"

He stared at her.

"Who's our transport?" she asked.

"Spunks."

"Spunky?! He's flying choppers now?"

"Yeah."

"Ya got Spunky to fly us out of here?"

"Wha? He's a good pilot. He keeps his hours up to snuff to maintain his license and it adds to his SF skill sets."

She stared at him

"It's the safest and quickest way Georgie."

"And if I do go into labour you'll fast rope me down, yeah?"

"Fuck sake, he will land on top of the nearest hospital if 'at 'appens." Elvis said, thrusting his hands into his jacket pockets, spreading his arms out like he had wings.

"Yeah, that might just get us on the news again!" she said and now it was Elvis' turn to guffaw.

Xxxxx

1030 –

Elvis had his Bergen slung over a shoulder and carried Georgie's bag in hand as he made fast tracks down the polished hallway inside of Whitehall. He took a brief moment to glance at his watch. No word from Georgie yet but he was making good time. Whatever the medical team determined, the couple would still need to wait out for Spunky. He laughed to himself when his mind offered a mental picture of Georgie being fast roped to the Delivery Room. Only she would come up with such a notion. The mirth evaporated when he saw three individuals waiting at the lift. There was one in particular he had every intention of engaging. The one with his hands cuffed securely together. Elvis assertively walked up to Oliver Knots and came within millimeters of his person. The major attempted to ignore him but the rise and fall of his chest clearly indicated he was intimidated by the SAS Commander. Dave Warner and the MP guard did nothing to avert the inevitable confrontation.

"How does it feel when it all catches up with ya?' Elvis said menacingly. Knots could feel the suppressed rage emanating from Harte but snidely turned his head slowly to look at him. Surely he would not assault him in front of witnesses.

"I have nothing to say to you Harte."

Elvis' brows rose sarcastically. "Not even an apology for placing my pregnant wife in danger?"

"I have done nothing to your wife." Knots growled through clenched teeth as he focused on the lift door, hoping it would just open and swallow him away from his antagonizer.

"Oh but you did tell Pettigrew we were 'ere." The deep, rasping tone of Elvis' voice was so threatening that Knots began to blink rapidly and gulped down the lump in his throat. Elvis sneered. "You told him and lucky for you….he failed. Reckon you two had something in common pal. Ya both failed!"

Dave Warner smirked. Knots' complexion turned scarlet and the lift door opened. Major Oliver Knots was escorted inside. He was turned around and stood face to face with Elvis Harte.

"Coming aboard?" Warner asked. The captain adjusted the Bergen strap on his shoulder, never taking his icy stare away from Knots.

"No thank you sir. Under the circumstances I prefer the stairs. Air is cleaner by far." Elvis responded. Warner nodded and pushed the door close button.

Xxxxx

1115 -

"There you are!" Georgie said as Elvis made way into the room. He was pleased she seemed upbeat and hoped it truly was good news. He dumped their belongings onto the floor and went to her.

"Wha' did they say?"

"Everything is stable and I am good to go." she said leaning on her hands and swinging her feet back and forth from the side of the bed. "Could ya put my bag up here please?" she asked patting the mattress.

"Sure." He swung her duffle up and plopped it alongside of her. Georgie immediately unzipped it and dug in.

"I need clean knickers."

"Good idea." Elvis said with a chuckle.

"Shut up!" she countered and waved said lingerie at him. "Hope ya changed yours." she said under her breath, amusing herself, but he heard her.

"I'm all commando babe." he said wryly.

"You're full of shit! You only went commando on missions."

He really laughed then. "So, ya did notice."

Her cheeks became rosy and she tried to press her lips together to keep from laughing but in the process flared the discomfort of her lower lip.

"Don't get flustered George." he said trying to press his own lips together but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

"Could ya just go take a walk or something?" she said.

"How 'bout I ring Spunks…."

"They're ya go!"

"I'll grab ya a brew as well." he said playfully backing out the door as he closed himself out.

"Go on….." She so wanted to fling her knickers at him.

Elvis walked away with that stupid I am so in love grin on his face. Georgie meanwhile muttered to herself, but quite actually to her bump, how maddening Elvis could be but that she loved him endlessly. Her emotions, or hormones or whatever were in high gear and she hummed their special song as she freshened up for the journey home.