An epilogue.
"Dr Hobson, thank you for coming to court today. The court does appreciate that the timing is far from ideal for you," Mrs Justice Nichols said, glancing at Laura over her glasses and Laura nodded, before glancing down at her baby daughter, fast asleep and cradled in a sling, Constance's cheek pressed against Laura's sternum contentedly. Somehow a sympathetic usher had found space for Laura to feed Constance and then secure her in a position Laura was confident she would sleep in, for up to a couple of hours. Benjamin was settled with his dad in one of the side rooms since he would reliably take a bottle, but Constance was a different matter. Still, Laura reckoned they would probably get away with it. With a full tummy and a clean nappy and her mother close at hand, Constance was a placid enough baby. Definitely a first for Laura though, she mused, flipping over the first page in her evidence log and waiting for the first question. "Yes, indeed, Dr. Hobson, your attendance today is very much appreciated," the prosecuting QC said to Laura "and, er, our congratulations on your new arrivals." Laura quirked an eyebrow at the QC who met her look with wry amusement. Laura had been cross examined by this barrister on at least two previous occasions and she knew she was in for an exacting morning, which she hoped the baby would sleep peacefully.
It was only as court concluded for the morning that Laura was released from the witness stand, her work complete and she retired to the witness suite, relieved as Constance began to snuffle against Laura's skin. Laura smiled down at the baby, undoing the wrap in which she was held and holding her up for a kiss. "Didn't you do well, hey?" she told her daughter happily and Constance grinned happily up at Laura, kicking her legs happily. Laura reached for her briefcase, into which she'd stuffed a blanket and then laid it out on the floor so that Constance could wriggle for a little while. Satisfied that the baby was safe and happy, Laura reached for her phone and tapped out a message to Robbie, relieved to be done in court. Her chest ached, full of milk and she hoped Benjamin would be hungry. From outside the room, she could hear a wailing baby and she sighed, recognising her son's cries instantly. Robbie appeared at the door and he exchanged a weary look with his wife. "Oh, baby boy," Laura murmured, taking him from Robbie and considering her little boy, his face red and tearful as he wailed, all but head butting Laura's chest in his desperation to feed. "Alright, alright, it's coming my darling," Laura murmured as she undid the buttons at the top of her shirt and eased her vest down so that Benjamin could feed. He latched on enthusiastically, his wails subsiding as he guzzled, his hand clutching at Laura's skin and she gave him her finger to hold as he fed noisily. "Poor baby," she murmured and Robbie smiled. "Would he take his bottle?" Laura asked, and Robbie showed her a half drunk bottle with a shrug. "He only started roaring a few minutes ago, he's been fine," Robbie replied, sitting down opposite her and then reaching down to Constance who kicked her legs enthusiastically at her father. "How did Tansy do?" he asked, gesturing to their daughter and Laura grinned. "She slept through two hours of cross examination, and the only time she made a peep, I gave her my finger to hold, much like this and she settled back down for another twenty minutes by which time we finished," Laura replied and Robbie shook his head wryly. "What a pro, just like her Mam," he observed and Laura smiled, looking down at Benjamin. He looked up at Laura, his cheeks tearstained but still feeding contentedly, one hand splayed possessively against Laura's chest. Constance gurgled, kicking her legs and smiling up at her father. "Aren't you, my little love?" he said to her, sitting down adjacent to her.
Half an hour later, Laura gently eased her sleeping son from her breast and passed him to Robbie to wind and then secure in his pram. "So was he alright?" Laura asked, scooping up Constance and adjusting her shirt so that she could feed her from the other side. As Constance latched on, Laura sighed in relief. "Ooh, that's better," she murmured, touching Constance's cheek as she fed. Robbie came and sat next to Laura and she looked at him affectionately. "Well done pet," he said softly, and Laura leant into him, smiling as he pressed a kiss against her hairline. "The court staff were absolutely in awe of you, you know," Robbie said and Laura huffed in amusement. "I am glad it didn't go into this afternoon," she owned, toying with Constance's fingers as she fed. "Yeah, I bet," Robbie replied, and there was a rapid knock on the door before it opened to reveal the judge, sans wig and gown. "Ah, Dr. Hobson," she said cheerfully and Laura smiled. "Your Honour," she replied. "I just wanted to come down and thank you in person for attending court today. Knowing how tiny your little ones were, I appreciate it was some considerable effort for you and your husband, so I hope you won't mind me popping down," Lady Justice Nichols said kindly. She glanced at Robbie and frowned for a moment. "I think we've met before?" she replied and Robbie shook the proffered hand. "DI Lewis, Ma'am, formerly Oxfordshire Police," he introduced himself and she nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, I think I've heard you in court," she mused and Robbie nodded. "Aye, Ma'am, on more than one occasion," he demurred and she smiled cordially. Constance splayed her fingers over Laura's chest, still feeding and Laura glanced down at the baby at her breast. "Well, I need to get back but I'm glad I could down and thank you again," the judge said cheerfully, looking at the pram and admiring the sleeping baby therein. "What bonnie babies yours are," she mused and Benjamin pursed his lips as if considering this compliment. "Many thanks again," the judge said and Laura flashed her a smile as she made her way back out. A little while later, Laura laid a snoozing Constance in the pram alongside her brother and tucked her in, before wrapping her coat around her and picking up her briefcase. She tucked a blanket over both babies. Robbie wrapped his arm around her shoulder and squeezed them. "Bravo pet," he told her and she smiled up at him. They made their way out of the court, Robbie pushing the pram and Laura successfully navigating the assorted journalists in the melee outside of the court, out into the February sunshine.