Summer of 2009 (Series 25)

Chapter 1

Hi guys!

Wow, it feels like a lifetime since I posted the final chapter of Falling Slowly but, eventually, I found time for a sequel so, here we are!

Just thought I should let you know there's gonna be a few surprises slipped in over the first 2/3 chapters so keep an eye out for them…

Enjoy!

Harriet pressed her head into her pillow and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to block out the sun that was peeking through the curtains. Working the night shift hadn't been too bad until the brunette remembered how bad she was at sleeping through the day but, luckily, she was off till Monday now. With a sigh, she rolled onto her back, realising now she was awake the chances of her getting back to sleep were unlikely.

The bedroom door flew open and the brunette grinned as Callum appeared in the doorway, still wearing his uniform, and dropped onto the bed beside her.

"Morning, sleeping beauty;" Harriet rolled her eyes and pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Or should I say, afternoon."

"Oh shut up. Count yourself lucky you don't have to work the night shift." Callum chuckled and leant forward, moving his girlfriend's hair off her face. He ran his finger along the freckles that littered the bridge of her nose whenever she caught the sun before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Harriet moaned against his mouth and Callum grabbed her arms tightly, pressing her back into the pillows. Harriet barely concealed a grin as she felt his lips travelling down her neck and towards her chest. In one deft movement, Callum pulled the woman's pyjama top over her head and onto the floor before continuing to press kisses down her body.

Glancing up, the brunette caught sight of the time and she swore loudly. Callum looked up at his girlfriend and frowned in confusion as she rolled away from him and clambered out of bed.

"What?"

"Have you seen the time?"

"Yeah, so what?"

Harriet rolled her eyes at the blank look on the man's face. "We're supposed to be meeting the others at the pub in an hour and I've still to get ready." Harriet pulled open the drawers and started hunting for something to wear. "Why didn't you remind me?"

"Do we have to go?" Callum climbed off the bed and wandered over to where his girlfriend was stood, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Can't we just say something came up?"

Sinking back into Callum's embrace, Harriet closed her eyes and breathed out deeply, the man's aftershave and the warmth of his body a comfort to her. "Nope." She stood up straight and grabbed the clothes she wanted off the drawers. "Any other time I'd gladly stay at home but Jo's got something she wants to tell us so hurry up and get ready!"

X-X

Harriet swung her's and Callum's interlinked hands as the pair of them walked into the pub car park that evening, her boyfriend grinning and shaking his head in amusement at the action. The brunette smiled and closed her eyes under her sunglasses, letting the evening sun warm her face. She loved the sound of London on a Friday night, everyone piling out into the pubs and bars after a stressful week at work.

Pushing through the double doors, Harriet immediately spotted their friends at a table in the far corner and she made a beeline straight for them while Callum headed to the bar. Once the man had brought their drinks over and Stevie and Smithy had arrived, the group ordered their food and settled back into their seats with their drinks.

"So, how's the living together thing going?" Smithy asked, taking a gulp of his pint.

"It's not that different really, we practically lived together from the beginning anyway." Harriet shrugged. "The only difference is we've got a house now rather than a pokey flat."

"You know what that means, don't you?" Smithy smirked. "All those spare bedrooms?"

"What?"

"Babies!" Harriet rolled her eyes and took a drink of her wine. "Mini Harriet and Callum's running about the place."

"I'll leave that to you and Stevie for the time being." Harriet nodded her head towards Stevie's protruding bump that seemed to have popped out in the few days since the brunette had last seen her.

"Well your goddaughter is gonna need some friends soon so you better get cracking."

"Goddaughter? It's a girl?" Harriet squealed at her friend before launching herself at him and Stevie and giving them a tight hug. "Congratulations!"

"What's going on?" Callum glanced up from his conversation with Sarah and Mickey, draping his hand over the woman's leg.

Smithy turned to face the others, barely able to keep the proud smile off his face as he glanced over at his girlfriend. "Stevie and I found out at our scan yesterday that we're having a girl."

The group broke out into hugs and congratulations for the expectant parents and Harriet felt Callum squeeze her knee gently. Glancing at her boyfriend, the brunette thought about what Smithy had said. Having her own children with Callum wasn't something she'd ever really thought about but at the same time, there was no one else she'd rather raise a family with.

Stevie slapped Smithy on the arm gently and the man held his hands up. "What?"

"I thought we agreed to wait until Jo and Sarah had told us their news."

"Don't be daft," Jo and her girlfriend said in unison. "It's exciting."

"What is your news anyway?" Harriet asked with a frown, suddenly remembering the reason why they were all sat here.

The two women shared an excited glance and held their hands out in unison. It took a second for Harriet to realise what their news was and she gasped, pulling Jo's hand towards her to inspect the diamond ring which matched the one her fiancé was wearing.

"You're engaged!" Harriet leant forward and engulfed both her friends into a tight hug. "When did this happen?"

"Sarah's birthday weekend in Edinburgh."

"Wait, you proposed to her?" Jo rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Yes, Stevie." Glancing at the surprised looks on her friends faces, she frowned. "What?"

"I told you they'd be shocked it was you and not me." Sarah said with a laugh. Jo simply rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to the side of her fiancées head.

Harriet felt Callum lope his arm around her waist, his fingers playing with the belt loop of her jeans. Smiling, she turned to face him and pressed a kiss to his lips softly, letting herself enjoy the happiness that surrounded her.

AAAAAAAND THEIR BACK!

Note the first two surprises I slipped in there…

Surprise N01: Stevie and Smithy are having a baby! Surprise N02: Jo and Sarah are engaged!