"Beautiful place this," Robbie remarked as they got out of the car. James strolled towards them, which seemed odd and entirely normal all at once. It occurred to Laura they'd never arrived at a scene together before but she'd not expected an early morning callout, and had only shoved her basic work pack in her overnight bag. More fool me, Laura had rued when her phone had leapt into action earlier than morning. James began to fill them in as they walked up the driveway. As Laura began to pull on her scene suit and Robbie instinctively helped her with the sleeve. She smiled up at him, surprised and he looked at her affectionately. Robbie wasn't sure what made him act so protectively, though, he supposed, it wasn't unreasonable to want to be sensitive to the needs of your pregnant partner. Laura seemed alright with it. He suspected she'd give him short shrift later if she wasn't. Anyway, Robbie was sure that James' bemused expression as he'd clocked them arriving together would give way to a number of pertinent remarks across the course of the day. It was a first for them. Never had they arrived at a scene together before. It spoke volumes, Robbie mused, about the seriousness of their relationship. It clearly showed that they were together, to anyone who cared to pass observation, and Robbie idly wondered how long it would take for Jean Innocent to hear about it.
As James and Robbie stood discussing the particulars, Laura knelt down next to the body she had been presented with, as best she could. Instinctively she reached for a pulse point, touch telling her how long the man might have been lying there. Peering under the car at the corpse, Laura grimaced. And it was awkward trying to kneel and peer underneath, even with a relatively small bump. It was already proving unwieldy. Not only were the man's injuries fairly horrible, but his death couldn't have been instant. That much was clear.
As she examined the scene methodically, she noticed firstly keys adjacent to his body and, secondly, that somehow he'd scratched something into the paintwork, which she'd need to point out to the officers at the scene. And grovelling round on the floor in her scene suit was neither dignified nor comfortable, especially in her condition. Deciding that she was as done as she could be, Laura eased herself up and began to issue her instructions to her team who had been arriving on the driveway as she assessed the scene.
"Some people do sleep very deeply," Hathaway observed as Lewis considered the front of the house, noting the open bedroom window. "So deeply they miss a violent murder going on outside their window?" Robbie queried, as they made their was over to Laura who was examining the hand of the victim carefully. "How's it looking, Laura?" he asked. "Like a man under a car at the moment," she remarked dryly, without looking up. When she did glance up, Robbie caught her eye. "I won't be able to judge lividity until we get him out from under there but based on the rigour mortis in the neck and jaw, dead maybe five, six hours? There's something else though." Laura sat back on her heels and pointed to something on the paintwork, and Hathaway and Lewis both craned to see what she was gesturing towards. "Some small scratches in the bodywork, with what seems to be flakes of the same paint in end of his keys," Laura said as Hathaway crouched down next to her. "It's a number? 500?" he said and Laura shrugged easily.
"It looks like Sieger wrote that as he was dying. Would that be possible?" Robbie asked, as they walked back up the drive towards Laura's team. "Depending on his injuries, it might have been possible," Laura replied. "Why 500?" Robbie mused and James gestured with his phone. "Look at all these search results for him," Hathaway interjected "he was quite famous, for a scientist." "What did he discover?" Robbie asked. "Well, it seems to have been more about his promotion of the theory of intelligent design, that the existence of the universe is down to an intelligent creator," Hathaway said and Laura fixed him with a look. "We know what it is, Sergeant," she replied sharply. Hathaway looked at Laura and then back at his phone. "Sorry," he said meekly. "Anyway, Sieger seems to have been a lead proponent of it. He ran a lecture series arguing that God and science aren't mutually exclusive." Robbie looked thoughtful. "Sorry I missed it. Anyway, explains why he was married to a vicar." He glanced at Laura "Do you know she's claiming she slept through the whole thing?" he asked. "Not convinced?" Laura asked and Robbie scoffed. "Nah. Not for a minute. How on earth could anyone sleep through that kind of racket?" he replied and a flicker of amusement danced across Laura's features. "Well, do let me know if you find out," Laura replied smoothly, eying Robbie for a moment before walking back up the driveway to her colleagues. Later, James would muse over this moment. Laura's remark was so wryly made that it was only the benefit of hindsight that made him realise that their relationship was of considerably longer standing that any of them had known. Robbie glanced at his partner."What did she mean by that?" Robbie remarked, indignantly. "I think," James replied, entertained "she means that you're a snorer, Sir." Robbie huffed to himself. "Val always said it was more of a gentle snuffle," he replied and James smiled to himself. "Perhaps she was just being kind."
"It's strange, you know," Robbie said thoughtfully as they reached Hathaway's car. "All these years…" he tailed off. "Good strange?" Hathaway asked and Robbie nodded. "Yeah, really good strange," Robbie owned and James smiled. It was odd in a way to see Robbie so obviously contented with his lot in life. Hathaway realised several months later that Robbie had meant something quite different in that remark. All these years they'd been together, and no one had had a clue.
"Me Granny used to pay me in giant chocolate biscuits for mowing her lawn. I used to stay with her every year, out in her bungalow in Whitley Bay" Hathaway began to wonder quite where Lewis was going with this meandering trail of conversation. "Do you know when I last saw my grandson? Christmas? Took him a fire engine he already had."
"Why don't you take a week off? Go up there?" Hathaway suggested and Robbie shook his head. "Lynn just phoned me. He's been in hospital for the last three days," Robbie said and James frowned. "He alright?" Robbie pulled a face. "Well, he's not in hospital. But he's back at home, running riot, according to his Mam. Thing is, she didn't even call me until the whole thing was sorted. Didn't want to worry me," Robbie said and James couldn't quite work out his tone. "I don't even feel part of me own family any more," Robbie said with a great deal of melancholy. Anyway, that's it now. I've been going on about retirement for ages. Time I chucked it in," Robbie finished, between mouthfuls of biscuit. "Put me family first. And Laura, if she'll let me." Hathaway smiled "I'm sure she will," he replied, a little entertained and then he groaned inwardly as Lewis began to remind him about his prospects for promotion.
"I knew I'd come across her a few months ago. I heard her being interviewed on Woman's Hour a few months ago," James said as they strolled towards the science park. "Women's Hour?" Robbie replied in disbelief. "It's an excellent programme. You should download the podcast," James deadpanned. "Quite an impressive woman. She made some kind of break through in Alzheimers as a post grad. Became a fellow in her twenties, is hailed as some champion for women in science." Robbie groaned. "Oh, god, one of them," he said. "What, feminist?" James asked and Robbie scoffed. "No, overachiever. They make me uneasy…" The irony of uttering such a sentence to James of all people.
"From the degree of hypostasis, and the decreased pressure behind the eyes, I'd put the time of death at around 2 or 3am," Laura said as she talked Robbie through the post mortem results. Obviously, he'd turned up in time for her summary rather than the actual post mortem. He grinned at her and she frowned slightly. "What?" Laura said, bemused. "Nothing, carry one," Robbie said, shoving his hands into the back pockets of his suit trousers. "The contusions, multiple fractures and tyre impressions are all consistent with…" Laura trailed off as she caught him grinning at her again. "What?" she asked again. "I'm sorry, I'm not smiling at… I'm sorry," Robbie said, clearly entertained about something wholly unconnected to the post mortem she was trying to explain. "It's just you and me and…. It's all a bit odd now." Robbie gestured at the corpse in front of them. "I don't know," Laura considered "some of our best times together have involved a mangled corpse." Robbie laughed. " That's just me point, it's not normal, surely." Laura frowned. "We do have to work together Robbie," Laura reminded him "I hope this isn't going to be an issue." And why, she wondered, would it be an issue now, just because they'd decided to go public with their relationship. Laura stripped off her gloves and tossed them into the contaminated waste bin and began to wash her hands as Anne Marie came through the room. "I have been having a think though. You know how I'm always banging on about retiring? What would you say if I just did it?" Robbie asked. Laura shook the worst of the water from her hands and glanced up at him, before retrieving a hand towel and drying them. "I'd say about bloody time," Laura replied. "Would you? Really?" Robbie asked "You'd be alright about being with a pensioner?" he asked and Laura nodded. "Would that pensioner have my dinner on the table for me when I get home, and rub my back for me until I can retire too?" she asked, bringing her arms up around his neck, and Robbie grinned. "I'm sure he would," he replied and Laura smiled. "Then I'd love it," she murmured, and just as he was about to duck to kiss her, the door slammed on the other side of the mortuary and Anne Marie made her way back through to the main corridor. "You're not that old, Robbie. Most police officers retire at 55, or even earlier. You just insisted on muscling through beyond that. You're hardly elderly," Laura chided and he glanced at her affectionately. "Anyway," he reminded her, his hands resting on her waist, "you and I have bigger fish to fry…" Laura smiled. "Indeed we do…" she replied softly.
Out in the corridor, Anne Marie grabbed Keith's arm as he made to turn into the main mortuary. "Yeah, I'd give the CP a few minutes," she said, entertained and Keith frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked, perplexed, and Anne Marie chortled. "I think I've just caught the CP snogging one of our DIs…" she confessed, smothering a chortle and Keith looked horrified. "Really?" he muttered "Which one? Actually, don't answer that. I've no need to know." The door burst open and Robbie strolled through it, walking purposefully back towards the station. To her credit, Anne Marie controlled her snort of laughter until Robbie was out of earshot, and when Laura came through, on her way to the shower, the two staff were in sufficiently genuine conversation that Laura thought no more of it.
Washing under the hot water in the mortuary shower, Laura closed her eyes. She soaped her skin carefully, noting, to her pleasure, the distinct bump appearing. Baby definitely making their presence felt. Allowing herself a brief moment of wonder at the way her body seemed to be adjusting to impending motherhood, Laura rubbed her hand over her abdomen, smiling to herself. The prospect of motherhood had been such a distant one for so long for Laura that even now she sometimes struggled to credit the changes in her circumstances in the last few years. But here she was, hopes and dreams carefully held and guarded for so many years finally coming true. She'd been quietly convinced that she'd be too old, that it simply wouldn't be possible, that time had run out. If someone had told her four years previously that she'd be pregnant at forty four, pregnant with Robbie's baby, she wouldn't have believed them, and yet here she was. She was going to have to be more thoughtful about her instinct to bring her hand to her abdomen though. It was such a cliched giveaway. Laura supposed she ought to be grateful she'd had almost no morning sickness so far, though the weariness she was feeling for much of the day was proving harder and harder to conceal.
"Robbie?" Innocent's voice drifted into his office. "What's this from HR about your pension forecast?" Jean Innocent appeared in the doorway. "Ah, yes, Ma'am. I was going to talk to you about that once I was certain," Robbie set down the photographs he'd been musing over as she stopped in front of his desk. "You're going?" she said incredulously. "Well, I'm giving it serious thought," Robbie replied and Jean frowned. "Something happened I should know about?" she asked and Robbie suppressed a smirk. Aye, he thought but that'll keep for another day. "Old age," Robbie replied "it happened when I wasn't looking." Jean looked less than convinced. "Probably when I was sitting here trying to figure out stuff like this," he continued and Jean arched an eyebrow. "Oh, don't be so bloody maudlin. You love it really," Jean reminded him and Robbie sat forward in his chair. "I love me kids. I love me grandson. I quite like Laura," Robbie replied, stumbling slightly over that last statement. "It'd be nice to spend some time with them," he concluded and Jean smiled knowingly. "Well, then I'm glad you're thinking about it," she replied cheerfully "that's not the same as thinking for one second that you'll actually go through with it." They exchanged a knowing look. "It's reassuring to know that one of us looks forward to going home at night," Jean remarked and Robbie grimaced for a split second as an awkward silence hung in the air. "How's the current puzzle looking?" Jean asked and Robbie scratched the back of his neck. "Well, house to house didn't come up with anything, and Sieger's place is too remote for CCTV to be of much use," he replied. "Or maybe Hathaway's solved it and you can get off early," Jean suggested as Hathaway appeared in the doorway. "Alas not," James said regretfully.
"Pint?" James asked and Robbie grimaced. "Normally, I would, it's just Laura…" he tailed off as he realised he didn't want to finish that sentence with "has her antenatal scan…" Robbie wasn't convinced that bombshell was one he wished to drop on the staircase of the station at that particular moment. Sending Hathaway upstairs to Innocent diverted his attention nicely.
Later that afternoon, Laura made her way across town to see a university friend who also happened to be an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Laura let herself into the practice and was greeted by Kate's very cheerful receptionist. "Oh, good evening, Dr. Hobson, Dr. Anderson is expecting you. Do have a seat, she'll call you in a few minutes," she said and Laura found herself a chair, perching on the edge and waiting for her appointment. It felt to Laura like an absolute age before Kate called her in. "Hello stranger," Kate greeted her as Laura sat down in the chair next to her desk. "What can I do for you?" Kate enquired cheerfully and Laura chewed her lip. "Well," she began "I'm pregnant." Kate considered her friend over her glasses and smiled warmly at her. "Congratulations! How far along do you think you are?" Kate enquired gently and Laura frowned. "I'm not completely sure, but I think about eight weeks," she replied "I had my IUD removed in December, and, well, it's June now, and here we are. Kate gestured to the table. "Can I examine you?" she enquired and Laura nodded, shrugging off her jacket and coming to lie on the examination table. "Are you sure you're only eight weeks?" Kate asked, after she'd examined Laura carefully and Laura frowned. "I'm not really sure," she replied "I mean, I suppose it could have been earlier." she replied, accepting Kate's hand and pulling herself up to a seated position. "I think you might be more like twelve weeks, possibly further," Kate said "but I'll need to run some more checks. I'm just going to set the ultrasound up." Laura frowned. "Can I call my partner?" she asked, and Kate nodded. "Of course," she replied "I can do your blood work while we wait for him if you like?" Laura pulled out her phone and sent Robbie a message. Kate's practice wasn't far from Robbie's house and she was confident he could walk there before Kate did the scan. If she was actually going to get to see the baby then she wanted Robbie there. Her phone buzzed, confirming Robbie was on his way. "Which arm?" Kate enquired, and Laura offered her right arm. "Robbie won't be too long," she told Kate who smiled. "Robbie? The same Robbie I met at your 40th?" Kate enquired and Laura nodded shyly. Kate drew off the blood she needed, and then pressed a wad of gauze to Laura's arm. "Was this pregnancy anticipated?" she enquired, taping the gauze down and Laura nodded, smiling shyly. "What made you take the test?" Kate enquired and Laura's smile widened. "Well, I hadn't had my period in a while, and I was overly emotional and suddenly in possession of inexplicably impressive cleavage," Laura began "We had decided to see if I could get pregnant but at my age, I thought it probably wouldn't be so easy." Kate smiled knowingly. "And yet, it rather looks as though that strategy has paid off?" Kate observed and Laura smiled. "So it would seem," she replied. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Kate enquired "while we wait for Robbie?" and Laura nodded. "That'd be lovely," she replied.
At length, there was a rap at the door. Kate's receptionist stuck her head around the door. "There's a Mr Lewis here?" she said and Kate beckoned him in. "Polly, feel free to head home. I can finish up here," she told her and Polly nodded before shutting the door behind her. Robbie sat down next to Laura, looking slightly awkward. Laura turned to him and he smiled warmly at her. "You alright love?" he asked and Laura nodded, squeezing his knee affectionately. "Right, let's get this ultrasound done," Kate said cheerfully. "Laura, up on the table, can you wriggle your top up and your trousers lower so that I can do the exam?" Kate shifted herself and adjusted the machine while Robbie came to sit next to Laura. She turned to him, and he detected a degree of anxiety in her eyes. He captured her hand in his and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Laura flinched as Kate dolloped gel onto her stomach and Kate apologised. "Sorry, sorry, it's cold. I forgot to warn you," Kate said, shifting the machine so that she could see the screen. She moved the wand over Laura's abdomen, pressing buttons and taking measurements. "Definitely pregnant," she told Laura, an eyebrow arched and Laura smiled wryly. "But you were right, I think, about eight weeks, maybe nine. But Laura, I thought you were further along because I could feel more than I should be able to for a single pregnancy," Kate told her and Laura looked shocked. "What do you mean, Kate?," she said urgently and Robbie caressed Laura's fingers with his thumb as she gripped his hand tightly. "Look, twins, Laura" Kate turned the screen and Laura's eyes filled with tears. "Bloody hell," Robbie murmured and Laura let out a funny sort of half sob, half laugh. "See, these are your babies," Kate continued, working her way through the measurements she needed to record, and printing some shots for them as she went along, talking them through it all. At length, Kate declared herself satisfied and she gave Laura a wad of tissues to wipe the worst of the gel away. Robbie gave Laura his hand as she sat up, and she laced her fingers firmly into his. As Kate went out of the room, Laura turned to Robbie and he kissed her deeply. They smiled at each other giddily. "You and I have some conversations tonight, eh?" he said and Laura nodded. "I think so," she replied and they smiled at each other again as Kate reappeared, with a handful of sonograph images. "Right, here you go. Congratulations!" she said cheerfully and Laura took the images from her, tucking them into her jacket pocket.
As they walked back from the appointment to Robbie's flat, Robbie took Laura's hand into his and squeezed her fingers. "God, Robbie," Laura muttered and he chuckled. "You wanted a family," he reminded her happily, pressing a kiss to the side of her head and Laura let out a shaky breath. "And that's exactly what we're getting," Robbie continued, squeezing her fingers again. Laura turned to him, eyes wide and he smiled at her. "Laura, we're so lucky," he murmured and she smiled in return. "I'm terrified," she murmured and he stopped, turning and taking her into his arms, and drawing her close to him, not caring who saw. "I have total faith in you," he told her, cradling her closely "this going to be wonderful." Laura leant her forehead against Robbie's chest and he smiled, dropping a kiss into her hair. "How lucky am I, to get to do this twice in my life?" he mused and Laura smiled to herself. "twins though, Robbie," Laura said, bemused. "I'd just about got my head around the idea of one baby." He snorted and she looked up at him. "I love you," Robbie told her seriously "so very much. And this is going to be the most wonderful adventure." Laura sighed and squeezed him slightly. "I love you too," she replied and he smiled at her. "Come on you, let's get home," he said and Laura reluctantly let him go. Robbie captured her fingers into his again and Laura smiled to herself, her free hand instinctively drawn to her pelvis, resting her hand over her uterus.
"Do you want to find out?" Robbie asked later that evening, as they relaxed in his flat, some old comedy on in the background, cuddled up on the sofa and Laura sat up, and considered him, frowning. "Find out? Oh, you mean, the babies? What we're having?" she asked and he nodded. Robbie's expression easily betrayed his excitement. Laura caressed his cheek with her thumb and he smiled at her eagerly. "Kate said she thought they were fraternal, rather than identical, so it could be boys or girls, or one of each. You really want to find out, don't you?" she asked and Robbie nodded. Laura bit her lip and he looked at her hopefully. "You don't think it would be fun to wait and find out when they're born?" Laura mused, smoothing his hair and he looked at her, veritably pouting. "What's the point of medical advancement if you can't utilise it?" Robbie enquired and Laura laughed loudly. "Oh, the irony of having my words quoted back at me," she said wistfully and Robbie chuckled. He slid his hand over her hips, allowing it to rest gently over her stomach, before glancing up at her. "Two kids, eh, our Laura," Robbie mused happily and she smiled. "A little family of our own," Laura replied, linking her hands with his "now there's a prospect." Robbie glanced around him. "I reckon it's time we moved in together," he continued and Laura laughed loudly. "Do you think?" Laura replied, amused and he nodded. "Should we look for somewhere together?" Robbie asked and Laura considered this. "I do own a three bedroom house," she pointed out and Robbie pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Well, there is that," he replied amused "only I didn't like to presume." Laura snorted. "Well, I'm pregnant with your children, we've told our families we're getting married this year… it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to consider that we might make our residence a joint one at some stage," she said and he smiled broadly. "Shall we start with you moving into my place, and if it doesn't really work then we can look for somewhere bigger?" she proposed and he smiled broadly.
"Are you really terrified?" Robbie asked quietly, and Laura bit her lip. "A little bit," she replied and he cuddled her into him, knowing that if he allowed her a bit of time and space, she'd most likely open up to him. Robbie rubbed his hand over her arm, in what he hoped was a soothing fashion. "I don't know, Robbie," Laura said softly, at length "I'd sort of got my head around the idea of one child but two? I mean, bloody hell. The potential for complications has just doubled overnight." Robbie kissed her hairline and Laura sighed. "I know the medic in me is massively overthinking this," Laura continued and Robbie smothered a chuckle. "I'm equal parts thrilled and scared, if that makes it any better," she owned "and there's so much to think about. I'm going to have to tell work officially soon. There are handling procedures I'm simply not going to be able to do for a few months for a start. And I'll need to talk to HR about maternity leave. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin." Robbie smiled against her hair. "It'll be fine, Laura. Paperwork and HR are entirely manageable. Just give them your best 'don't start with me' look, and they'll sort it straight out," he suggested and she dug her elbow into his ribs, fixing him with a resentful look. "What'll you tell your kids, Robbie?" she asked anxiously and he smiled broadly. "I plan on keeping it simple," Robbie said, looking down at her happily. "I just want to tell them that the prospect of having more kids as great as them was too much to resist, and here we are. I reckon they'll be alright about it. Families come in all shapes and sizes. This is just ours."
A/N: To be continued...