Late one afternoon, in early August, James strolled into the garden of one of the nicest pubs in Oxford. Robbie and Laura were sat at one of the benches, their backs to him, holding hands and he smiled at the sight. "Good evening," he said as he neared their bench and they turned to him, smiling. "Hello Jim," Laura said cheerfully and he flashed her a smile. "How are you faring in this heat?" he enquired kindly, and Laura sighed. "Oh, you know," she replied easily, running her hand over her bump and Robbie squeezed her knee. "So I assume you've dragged me out to one of Oxford's finest public houses for a reason this evening?" he enquired and Robbie and Laura exchanged a knowing glance. "Ah, yes" Robbie began and Laura smiled at James as he perched on the wall opposite them. "You've probably worked out that this isn't exactly a dinner for the sake of it," Laura said and James raised an eyebrow at her. "Laura and I are going to get married tonight," Robbie explained, and Laura chuckled at James' expression. "I'm sorry," James said blithely "tonight?" Laura nodded. "Will you look after the rings, James? We need someone we can rely on, " she said and James looked surprised and then pleased. "Wow, right, yes. Thank you. It'd be an honour," he said and Laura flashed him an affectionate smile.
Laura tucked a stray stand of hair behind her ear, and then turned to Robbie who was leaning against the door patiently. He considered her, before nodding approvingly. "You look beautiful pet," he told her and Laura smiled as he drew her in for a kiss. She'd chosen a cream empire line dress, decorated with blue flowers, which concealed her growing bump, and Robbie had opted for a cream shirt with dark grey trousers. It was proving to be an unexpectedly warm August Friday evening, and Laura was glad that she could get away with bare legs in the heat. "Are you ready?" Laura asked Robbie, and he nodded, entwining his fingers with hers as they made their way into the pub, and out towards the barn where a large table had been set out for their twenty or so nearest and dearest. "Oh, it's perfect," Laura said and Robbie smiled broadly at her visible delight in the set up of the room.
"Dad, Laura!" Lynne greeted them from the doorway, and Laura turned around. "Hello!" she said cheerfully, kissing Lynne's cheek affectionately, as Tim and Robbie shook hands. Jack threw himself at Laura's legs, wrapping his arms around them and she chuckled, crouching down to his level so that she could give him a cuddle, before scooping him up and settling him on her hip. Tim and Lynne glanced around the room, intrigued. "I feel as though this isn't your standard Friday night family meal," Lynne pondered aloud, catching her Dad's eye. He grinned and she fixed him with a knowing look. "Bar's open, if you want a drink before we eat. We opened a tab," Robbie told them innocently and Lynne's eyes narrowed. "You're up to something," she said accusingly and Robbie quirked an eyebrow at them. "Patience, love," he told her and she rolled her eyes. "I despair," Lynne said to Tim and he shook his head. "Come on Jack," Tim said and Jack scowled. "No. Laura!" he said, stubbornly and Lynne considered her small son, cuddled into Laura. "He's fine with me if you want to grab a drink," Laura said and Jack laid his head on Laura's shoulder triumphantly. "Laura," he said happily and she smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Patrick appeared a moment or two later, ducking to kiss Laura's cheek and then shaking his Dad's hand. "You alright?" he enquired jovially and Robbie nodded. "Aye, grand, just telling your sister to get a drink and stop mithering about a family dinner," Robbie replied and Patrick laughed. He exchanged a bemused look with Lynne, and then headed over towards the bar. "Oh, here's the boss," Laura observed to Robbie, shifting Jack slightly on her hip, as Jean came into view, James loitering behind her. "Oh, and Ellen, who is, incidentally, suspicious as hell about what is going on," Laura continued and Robbie chuckled. As Laura and Robbie continued to greet their colleagues, Lynne leaned across to her brother at the bar. "Okay, so I was buying this family dinner get up, until Dad's boss appeared. What the hell is going on?" she said and Patrick considered the room. "Maybe Dad's finally retiring?" he suggested and Lynne frowned. "But why wouldn't he just say so?" Lynne retorted, cradling a gin and tonic and narrowing her eyes slightly. "He and Laura clearly have something to announce," Lynne said and Tim exchanged a look with Patrick. His gaze fell on Laura for a moment, and he considered her silhouette. "How old is Laura?" he asked, watching her and Lynne frowned. "She was 44 in December," she replied, following his gaze and watching Laura and Jack. "If I was a betting man…" Tim said slowly "do you think Laura might be pregnant?" Lynne choked on her drink slightly before staring at her brother. Patrick glanced across the room. "What makes you say that?" he asked and Tim looked at Lynne sheepishly. "Do you promise not to hit me?" he asked and she glared at him. "What? Yes, fine." Lynne said. "Since when has Laura had boobs?" Tim asked and Lynne glowered at him, before looking again at Laura. "What, it's true?" Tim pointed out indignantly, and Patrick laughed. "Jesus," he said "not sure how I feel about the theory that my Dad might be having sex being completely proven." Lynne chuckled, shaking her head before she considered Laura again. "You know, Tim, I think you might be onto something…" she said slowly "because that dress is definitely empire line, and Laura has definitely developed cleavage since we saw her last. God, I don't know how to feel! Pat, I think we're going to have a little brother or sister!"
"Lucy! Martin!" Sam greeted his childhood friends warmly, and Miriam smiled at them. "Okay, so you two are here. Ellen is here. So this is clearly more than a meet up between the families," Sam said, considering his sister from the opposite side of the room. Lucy looked amused. "I did wonder if it was a temporal variation on the famous half birthday but the dates don't tally…" she said, accepting a glass of Prosecco and chinking glasses with Miriam. "Where are your brood?" Sam enquired and Martin gestured towards the garden. Sam nodded. "Our girls are out there somewhere, bemoaning the lack of 3G, or whatever the affliction of modern youth is currently" he said and Martin laughed. "How are yours? Five is it, you have? I know Laura sees you guys when she's down at the cottage," Sam enquired jovially and Lucy grinned. "Five of the little darlings, indeed," she replied, raising a glass in a mock toast. "Well, let's see if we can get to the bottom of this," Sam said with a degree of determination, as Robbie and Laura appeared amongst the group. "Come on then, you two, what's all this about?" Laura's brother enquired loudly, clearly bemused by being invited out en masse for a late afternoon family meal. Robbie and Laura exchanged a knowing look. "Well," Robbie began "Laura and I have decided to get married, and we'd like to celebrate with you all." There was a cheer amongst their friends. "About time," Jean Innocent said loudly and laughter rippled through the group. "So, is this your engagement party then?" Miriam enquired, and Laura laughed. "This is our wedding," Laura replied steadily and there was a collective gasp. "So, we're going to have our first course, and then get married in between the mains and pudding, and then celebrate over pudding, if that's alright with you all?" Laura continued, eyes sparkling and Robbie grinned. There was a hubbub of noise, as their friends and family reacted to their news. "We didn't want a big fuss," Robbie said "but we consider you to be, er, our nearest and dearest so we hope you won't mind us springing this one on you."
Just as they were finishing their main courses, one of the staff came in to let Robbie and Laura know that the registrar had arrived, and would they come and speak to her. "Well, this is a first for me" the registrar told them cheerfully. "I can safely say I've never married anyone in the middle of a meal, but I think it's a really lovely idea for such an intimate wedding." Laura smiled, glancing briefly at Robbie. "Yes, we thought so," she replied. They worked through the necessary paperwork and then the registrar followed them back into the main room. Their family and friends looked round expectantly. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," the registrar said cheerfully "if you're all ready and willing, perhaps we can begin the marriage ceremony for Robbie and Laura?" A cheer rose up from the group and Laura smiled broadly. As the registrar began to speak, Laura and Robbie tightly entwined their fingers with each others, smiling at each other happily. The registrar began to work her way through the various legal niceties, and at length, looked around the room.
"If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage they should declare it now," she said and a ripple of laughter echoed through the room. "Alright then," she said cheerfully. "Before you are both joined together in marriage it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage is the union of two people voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others. I am now going to ask you each in turn to declare that you know of no legal reason why you may not be joined together in marriage." Laura quirked an eyebrow at Robbie and he shook his head amused. The registrar stated the phrase they needed to recite. "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why we may not be joined in marriage" they said together, and the registrar smiled. "Robbie, do you take Laura to be your lawful wedded wife, to be loving, faithful and loyal to her for the rest of your life together?" she asked, and Robbie looked directly at Laura. "I do," he said softly and Laura smiled broadly. "And, Laura, do you take Robbie to be your lawful wedded husband, to be loving, faithful and loyal to him for the rest of your life together?" Laura nodded, suddenly emotional. "I do," she said, her voice cracking. Miriam slid her hand onto her husband's knee and he glanced at her. "Are you crying already?" Sam enquired in a whisper, amused, as Miriam wiped her cheekbone. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed the side of her head, his gaze still fixed on his sister. Robbie took both of Laura's hands into his, stroking his thumb over her knuckles and they smiled at each other. "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Robert James Lewis take you, Laura Margaret Hobson to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, in sick and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life," he said steadily and a tear ran down Laura's cheek. Robbie smiled broadly at her, and reached forward to rub the tear away with his thumb. "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Laura Margaret Hobson to take you, Robert James Lewis to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, in sick and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life," Laura said, and Robbie considered her happily. "Who has the rings?" the registrar enquired, and James rooted in his pocket. He stood up, and strolled over to Robbie and Laura, handing over the box with a nod to the registrar and a beaming grin at Robbie and Laura. Robbie shook his hand, and Laura kissed his cheek affectionately. "Thank you," she said and he twinkled his eyes at her before going and sitting back down.
The registrar set their rings on her book, and held them so that Robbie could retrieve Laura's and slide it onto her finger. "Laura, my love," he said, smiling at her and squeezing her fingers slightly. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and fidelity. All that I am I give to you. All that I have I share with you. I promise to love you, to be faithful and loyal, in good times and in bad. May this ring remind you always of the words we have spoken today," Robbie said, slightly bemused by his tearful wife. Laura inhaled deeply, and then took Robbie's ring, before sliding it onto his finger. "I give you this ring, Robbie, as a symbol of our love and fidelity. All that I am I give to you. All that I have I share with you. I promise to love you, to be faithful and loyal, in good times and in bad. May this ring remind you always of the words we have spoken today," she said steadily, and he smiled broadly at her. The registrar smiled at the couple in front of her. "Today, tonight, is a new beginning," she said "I wish you many happy years together and in those years may all your hopes and dreams be fulfilled. Above all, may you always believe in each other and may the warmth of your love enrich not only your lives but the lives of all those around you. It now gives me great pleasure to tell you both that you are now husband and wife. Please join me in congratulating Robbie and Laura on their marriage!" The room practically reverberated with the cheers and hollers emitted by their friends, and Robbie and Laura laughed as they exchanged a kiss before Robbie cradled Laura in his arms and kissed her forehead.
After their dessert, Robbie found himself with a child on each side of him. "Hello you two," he said cheerfully and Lynne and Patrick grinned at him. "Where's Laura?" Lynne asked and Robbie gestured to the opposite side of the room where Laura was talking animatedly to her brother and his wife and their friends. "So, Dad," Lynne began and Robbie considered his daughter "Pat and I are wondering whether you had some news for us," Lynne continued, fixing her father with a knowing look. Robbie looked confused. Patrick pulled up the chair next to his Dad and sat down, while Lynne leant her arms around her Dad's shoulders. He glanced up at her and then at Patrick. "Is a wedding insufficient for one day?" he asked easily, holding onto his glass of beer. "Well, you'd have thought so, eh?" Patrick observed drily. "The thing is, Dad," Lynne said softly "Laura looks absolutely beautiful, but we were wondering if that lovely dress is concealing some news the two of you might want to share with your belovéd oldest offspring?" Robbie looked at them both, gauging their expressions. "How the bloody hell…?" he stuttered and Patrick laughed. "To be fair, Tim noticed first," he explained and Robbie sighed. "Laura," he called and she turned from the other side of the room. He gestured towards her, and she squeezed her brother's shoulder before coming back over. "Hello," Laura said cheerfully, and Lynne slid an arm around Laura's shoulder affectionately. "You alright?" Lynne asked and Laura smiled. "Never better," she replied warmly, glancing between the group. "What?" she enquired and Patrick and Lynne exchanged a knowing glance. "Lynne and I were wondering if you and Dad might have some more news for us," Patrick explained and Laura looked at Robbie reproachfully. "Oh, it's not Dad, he's kept schtum," Lynne said, amused and Laura sighed. She rested her hand over her bump and sighed, looking at Robbie. "We weren't going to tell people tonight," Laura said wistfully, and Robbie entwined their fingers. "I'm about 19 weeks pregnant," Laura said and Lynne and Patrick grinned broadly. Patrick leant in to kiss Laura's cheek affectionately. "Congratulations," he said kindly and Lynne beamed. "That's really lovely news," she said softly, nudging Patrick out of the way so that she could kiss Laura's cheek and give her a hug. "You've not been too sick or anything?" she enquired kindly and Laura shook her head, suddenly feeling a bit emotional. "No, no, I've been alright. A bit tired, perhaps," she said, her voice slightly choked and Robbie squeezed her fingers. "Good," Lynne said and Patrick nudged his sister. "Tim's gesticulating wildly," he remarked and Lynne sighed dramatically. "Sorry! Excuse me, will you?" she said and Patrick, Robbie and Laura watched her go. "I know we've had a rough few years," Patrick said to Robbie, and Robbie considered his son. "But I'm glad you're happy Dad. You deserve to be happy. It's what Mum would have wanted," Patrick continued and Robbie was astonished to find his eyes filling. "Thank you Pat," he said gruffly "that means a lot." Laura squeezed Patrick's arm and he turned to her. "Mum liked you Laura, and I think she'd like that you and Dad are together. I hope you and the baby, I hope it all goes really well," Patrick said and Laura inhaled slowly, before dashing away a tear. "God, sorry, I'm an emotional mess," she said lamely and Patrick smiled. "Nah, you're alright," he replied kindly and Laura nodded. Robbie squeezed her hand and Laura smiled weakly.
Observing the exchange from a distance, Miriam suddenly gripped Sam's arm. "Sam," she said urgently "Sam, look at your sister. Now." Sam turned, bemused and considered Laura as she spoke to Robbie and his children. "That's a very particular gesture Laura's making," Miriam said pointedly, swirling the remnants of her champagne in her glass. "Laura's pregnant," Sam said slowly and Miriam grinned. "Laura's pregnant," she replied happily and they looked at each other, amused. "And I thought my uncling days were long gone," he said wistfully. "Well, it rather looks as if you misjudged that particular subject," Miriam retorted. They exchanged an amused look. "Well, this is a turn up for the books," Sam said decidedly and Miriam smiled broadly. "She's achieved so much," Miriam said and Sam nodded "I always got the impression that she wanted this too, but somewhere along the line, she decided that it wasn't meant to be, but here we are all the same," he mused and Miriam nodded, then chinked her glass against Sam's. "I think she's coming back over," Miriam observed and Sam nodded. "Hello again," he said warmly as Laura came back to sit with them. "You getting all weepy?" he enquired kindly as Laura sat down and she sighed and nodded, sniffing slightly. "Pregnancy hormones, eh?" Sam observed lightly and Laura looked at him sharply. "Ah" she said woefully, resting her hand on her bump and Sam considered his little sister. "Well, it is pretty obvious the second you cradle your bump like that, it is," he replied teasingly and Laura sighed. "I was trying so hard, but I can't help it," she said reproachfully. Miriam reached for her hand and squeezed it. "I kept my promise. I didn't tell!" she protested and Laura smiled. "I'm about 20 weeks along," she said, in response to Sam's raised eyebrow. Sam considered this. "So, you're due in…?" he enquired. "Early January, assuming we make it that far" Laura replied "and we already know that it's one of each." Miriam and Sam stared at her. "Pardon?" Sam said faintly, as Miriam clapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god," she said "twins!" Laura nodded. "Oh, sod it, the important people know now, I may as well stop pretending," she said, cradling her bump properly and resting her hand on the top. Sam shook his head, as if in disbelief. "Laura," he said softly and Laura looked at him. "If you cry, I'll cry," she told him pointedly and he chuckled. "Twins!" he said "how exciting is that?" Laura laughed. "Yeah, pretty wonderful in a terrifying sort of way," she replied happily. Laura felt a touch on her shoulder and she looked round to see Martin grinning at her. "Laura!" He said, nodding to her bump and grinning at her. Laura smiled up at him and shrugged her shoulders modestly. " Twins, due in January, if we get that far," she said and Martin beamed at her before stooping down to kiss her cheek affectionately. "I'm so pleased for you lovey," he said kindly and Laura brushed her cheek ineffectively. "Thank you," she said, slightly emotional. Lucy appeared at her husband's side and considered the group. "What have I missed?" she asked, amused and Martin chuckled. Laura cradled her bump more obviously and Lucy gasped. "Oh my GOD, Laura!" she said and Laura smiled. Martin nudged his wife. "Twins!" he said knowingly and Lucy grinned broadly. "Oh, how wonderful!" she exclaimed and Laura smiled again. "When are you due?" Lucy asked, quizzing Laura and she ran her hand over her bump, wincing slightly as one of the babies made their presence felt. "January, if we get that far," Laura replied.
On the other side of the table, James, Ellen and Jean were considering the outcome of their evening with their colleagues and friends. "Well, this is a turn up for the books, wouldn't you say, Hathaway?" Jean observed and James laughed. "This is so exactly like Lewis that I wish I'd put money on it," he said wryly and Ellen snorted. "Until I saw Laura and Robbie together, I never thought Laura would get married," she said, sipping her champagne "but even after that awful business with Ligeia, there was something about the way she and Robbie looked at each other." She glanced slightly askance at Jean, who swallowed hard and took a overly large gulp of her wine. James looked bemused. "I wonder how long they've actually been together," Jean enquired, studying Robbie for a moment and Ellen shrugged. "At least a year," she said and Jean and James stared at her. "Really?" Jean said and Ellen laughed. "Oh, longer, I reckon, but Laura hasn't had a date with anyone since, well, since Ligeia died. So I would hazard that something has been going on for a while. Laura isn't impulsive. She doesn't rush into things, so this wedding might be a surprise to us, but I'd say she and Robbie have had this in mind for some time," Ellen explained and James considered this. "They've been the model of discretion," he observed "we might have thought that they only started seeing each other in May or June, but apparently it's been upwards of two years, or so Lewis says. Jean's gaze fell on Laura, stood up on the opposite side of the room, and as she rested her hand on her bump, Jean gasped. "Laura's pregnant!" she exclaimed. "Ah," said James, studying his fingers for a moment and Jean looked at him quizzically. "You knew, didn't you?" she said accusingly and James shrugged. "Not that today was the wedding until about an hour beforehand when Robbie asked me to look after the rings," he replied "but Laura did tell me she was pregnant a few weeks ago, in a moment of weakness." Ellen looked at him sceptically. "It was 4am, cold and pissing with rain. I think she needed an ally," James began to explain and Jean shook her head. "Bloody Lewis, he spends years worrying me endlessly, and then he pulls this out of the bag." James sipped his drink. "I suppose, given that this is Lewis, their marriage was inevitable. He's so traditional, I can't imagine he'd conscience having children borne out of wedlock." Jean frowned and Ellen choked on her drink. "Oh, god, really?" she said and James considered his options. "Metaphorically speaking?" Jean enquired and James shrugged. "You discuss that with Laura. I've breached enough confidences for one evening, I think," he replied firmly.
Later that evening, Ellen slung her arm around Laura's shoulders and squeezed her affectionately. "Hey," Laura said, turning to her friend and Ellen kissed her cheek before stepping back and gesturing at Laura's figure. "I always wondered if I'd see the day when you got your happily ever after," Ellen said, lacing her fingers firmly into Laura's and the two women smiled at each other. "Well," Laura said and Ellen chuckled. "I hope he makes you happy?" Ellen said and Laura laughed. "You know, I think, that Robbie makes me very happy," she said softly and Ellen nodded. "I'm really glad for you, Laura," she said and Laura nodded. "Thank you," she said, her voice cracking slightly and they smiled at each other. "When's the baby due?" Ellen asked and Laura's smile broadened. "They are due in January," she replied and Ellen gasped. "Bloody hell," she said "please tell me it's twins, not triplets!" Laura's eyes widened, horrified. "God, no. Twins," she replied with certainty "a boy and a girl." Ellen grinned and squeezed Laura's hand again. "That's really lovely news," she said affectionately and Laura smiled happily.
A little later in the evening, the landlord came to find them. "Congratulations," he said cheerfully, shaking Robbie's hand and Robbie grinned. "Thanks. It's a lovely place here, we've had a wonderful evening," he replied warmly and Laura smiled, suddenly weary. "I wondered if I could make a gesture in honour of the occasion? Our nicest room is free tonight, and rather than having to head home when we call time, I thought you might like to crash here. On the house, in the house, so to speak?" the landlord said and Robbie and Laura looked at each other, astonished. "That would be amazing," Laura said wearily and Robbie held out his hand to the man again. "We really appreciate this, thank you," he replied and the landlord held out the key. "All yours. We'll drop you some breakfast off first thing, 9am-ish, let you sleep in," he said cheerfully, before he headed back off into the pub. Laura and Robbie looked at each other in amazement. "Well, this is a turn up for the books," Robbie said and Laura yawned, and nodded. "I have loved tonight," she said, squeezing his fingers "but I am so ready for bed now. I am done in!" Robbie chuckled and drew her close to kiss her forehead. "I bet. Shall we boot this lot out, Mrs Lewis?" he suggested and Laura yawned again and nodded.
"I have got one gift for you, to mark the occasion," Robbie told Laura a little while later, once they were cuddled up in bed, Laura's cheek nestled against his collarbone and he felt her frown. She looked up at him. "Oh?" she enquired and he nodded, before rooting behind him, under the pillow, and then presenting her with a small black box. Laura looked at the box and then at Robbie, brow furrowed. "I thought we talked about this," she said, confused and Robbie smiled at her encouragingly. "It's not an engagement ring," he said wryly and Laura looked at him seriously. "Open it, love," he said and Laura undid the clasp and popped the lid. Inside sat a thin band, white gold, like Laura's wedding ring, studded with tiny diamonds all the way around. Laura's eyes filled with tears and Robbie smiled to himself, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "It's an eternity ring," he told her and Laura swallowed a sob. "Oh Robbie," she said, her voice laden with emotion and he kissed her cheek again. "We made our vows to each other," Robbie said "and I know we both meant every word. But I wanted to give you something special to mark today, and I… I wanted it to show you how much you mean to me, how much I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you." A tear trickled down Laura's face and Robbie brushed it away with the pad of his thumb. "It's beautiful," she murmured and Robbie entwined her fingers with his. "May I?" he enquired and Laura nodded, as he retrieved the box and took out the ring. He took her left hand into his and slipped the ring up against her wedding ring, before curling their entwined fingers toward him and pressing a kiss to her fingers. "Thank you," Laura murmured, leaning her cheek against his and Robbie cradled her against him, a smile across his face.