PLEASE READ: Wow! I didn't ever think people would review let alone favourite and follow! Thank you so much :) I decided to write this as lots of people are returning to work again and I will still have free time to write, I thought it was only fair. I've been reading our girl fanfic for 3 years now and have been reviewing as a guest on the website but I've decided to write a story as I feel it's my turn to publish something for the number of stories that I've enjoyed on here! I'm very new to writing and I am still figuring out the app, the updates won't be as quick as some of the amazing writers on here (I have even greater respect for all of you now that I am writing something myself!!)

Anyway enough waffling! I've decided to keep Elvis alive and you'll see how I've pictured him at the end of this chapter!

Again, apologies for the poor writing quality, hopefully you can just use your inagination to picture it a lot better than I can put this on a page!

Please do leave suggestions for events/activities/ideas for future chapters that Molly and Charles (plus friends and family) could be doing, it won't be seen as arsey to give a suggestion!! thanks and happy reading Xx

...

'Shit shit shit' she whispers. Instinctively she runs into the bathroom and locks the door, just like when she was a teenager and needed some space for herself. With all the little bleeders running around it was the only place she would find some peace and quiet, the original version of the shitter roof in Afghan. She tries to come up with what to tell Charles, but the only thoughts in her head are 'why the fuck did I use the landline instead of my mobile' and her praying he didn't come up to find her.

"MOLLY?" He repeats, turning off the stove and making his way to the bottom of the stairs. "Molly James either you're coming down here or I'm coming up", he hears movement in the bathroom and the lock clicking. "Fuck" he mumbles under his breath, he places a hand on the bannister and his leg on the first stair but stops. He reminds himself to calm down, he'd already scared her into the bathroom and if he were to go in all guns a blazing he would get nothing out of her. He hangs his head down to look at the floor and curses at himself for being so stupid, for forgetting how often Molly feels vulnerable. He takes three deep breaths and ascends the stairs and into the bedroom. He tries the door handle to the ensuite but, as expected, it doesn't budge.

"Molly open the door"

She shuffles around inside but he doesn't get a reply. Now in full Major mode, he bangs on the door and says a little louder; "Molly just unlock the fucking door." A few seconds later the lock clicks and he immediately swings the door open to look at her, but Molly's glassy eyes were staring at the tiled flooring.

"Would you kindly inform me what the fuck is going on?" he says while crossing his arms, yep the no nonsense officer is in the room.

"Charles.. I.. just.. um.. well"

"Spit it out then"

"Jesus Charles calm down"

"Calm down? Calm down Molly, I've just listened to a fucking voicemail from Captain Evans. How do you think I'm going to react, start baking cupcakes and go pick flowers hmm? Molly you're my wife, we're meant to tell each other everything- what happened to no secrets? So, I'll ask again, why are you arranging to meet with Dr Evans?"

But still there's silence.

"Molly look at me". Her green eyes rise to meet his brown as he takes a step into the bathroom, but as he does so she takes a pace back. Her action causing a flicker of pain to run through his eyes, to a stranger it'd go unnoticed but his wife knew he was hurt.

"I'm sorry I thought you might've at least been a little bit happy, I dunno, fuck, I mean, whatever just leave it"

"Bloody hell Molly I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Be happy, christ, why the fuck would I be happy?" he hissed. It's only when he removes his hand from its resting position at the bridge of his nose that he realises she's now crying. A salty trail forming down her cheek, she tries to wipe it away with the back of her hand but she wasn't fast enough, Charles had seen it.

"Shit", he isn't sure if he said it out loud or if the word remained inside his head, but guilt flooded his veins. Yes he was mad, livid even, but he never intended to make her cry.

The silent cries turned to sobs, "Hell I knew you might be shocked but I didn't expect you to go all Captain Stern Face on me. I thought you wanted kids?" She manages to say, the words coming out like broken stocatto in between her gasps for air.

"Molly you aren't making any sense, what have kids got to do with this?" He replies, his hand running through the curls at the back of his neck, a giveaway for not just his stress and confusion but also the uncomfort at seeing his wife stood infront of him, unable to control her breathing through the crying he had caused. "Wait. Oh my god. Molly really?! Shit I've got this so wrong haven't I? Kids, you mean us, children kind of kids?"

She slowly nods her head as she bites her lip, anxiously awaiting his next words. He jumps towards her, lifting her by the waist with his strong arms and hugs her tight while spinning her around. He chuckles softly and whispers in her ear "oh Molly you make me the happiest man alive." He returns her feet to the floor and embraces her head in his hands, thumb stroking her cheek. It's only now that he remembers his previous, now totally uneccessary, outburst.

"Molly darling I'm so so sorry, shit, no wonder you started crying I've been such an arse. Come here sweetheart." She places her head aginst his chest where she can feel his beating heart.

"I dunno, I guess I just wanted to ask Captain Evans for some advice, you know for servicewomen becoming mums and that. I want kids, I want our kids Charlie but I want to be prepared. I don't feel ready to give away my career just yet, I thought if i spoke to some military mums it would calm me nut a bit."

"Oh Molly I am sorry darling, I doubt this is how you would've wanted me to find out!"

"Well to be honest I was shitting it coming up with what to tell you when I do go and talk to someone, so consider it a blessing in our own odd disguise" she laughs.

"Well it was still wrong of me to start a riot. I love you Molly James."

"Ditto bossman" she replies as she raises her head to his, where he plants a loving kiss on her lips.

"So, how many are we having then?" he murmurs.

"Oi, hold your horses, I'm thinking more like in 2 years time eager beaver"

"Well, I cant help but be over the moon Molls, I'm so happy! I thought maybe you'd never want kids, you know. With Sam and your career and that."

"Really? You know I love Sam to bits, and yeah I guess I do want to focus on the army for now but one day Charlie, yeah I do."

Now he kisses her with passion, wanting to show her just how grateful he was for her confession. "Guess we should start practicing then hmm" he murmurs against her lips as they gasp for air. "Cheeky bastard" she replies, shrieking as he picks her up and carries her over to their bed.

...

They lay cuddling in a comfortable silence, her head against his beating heart while his fingers ran through her long hair. Suddenly, she sits up and turns to face him.

"Molly?" He says worriedly as he too sits up, "what's wrong?"

"The pasta!" She giggles, "Elvis won't be best pleased we've managed to fuck up his family's recipe". He joins in with her laughter, "fuck it, I don't think starchy, cold pasta is the best way to celebrate the best news my wife could've ever told me hmm? Let's just get a takeaway".

"Chinese?"

"Anything for you gorgeous"

"Soppy bugger"

"Oh but I'm your soppy bugger and you love me for it Dawesy"

"Almost as much as I love a chinese" she laughs as he play tackles her onto the mattress.

...

They're sat next to each other leaning against the sofa, eating from the chinese on the coffee table in front of them as Finding Nemo plays on the TV screen ahead.

"You do know I'm really sorry for being such a dick earlier right?" He says.

"I know Charlie" she replies as he takes her hand in his and raises it to his lips, she smiles at his loving gesture.

"I'm not mad or anything, promise, but why didn't you tell me you wanted to meet Dr Evans?"

"I dunno, i never meant to be secretive, I was gonna tell you once I had someone to go discuss it with but I guess I was scared? We've never approached the subject of kids before and well I think I was worried by how you'd react. I thought maybe you wouldn't want to have more children."

"Oh Molly, that must've been quite scary to go through all that by yourself, but I'll tell you now hmm? I'd. Love. To. Have. Your. Babies." He said, each word followed by a kiss to her cheek.

"Our babies Charles. Besides the way you said that sounds like you'll be the one carrying em!" She laughed. "And it wasn't scary, I guess I just want to speak to some women who've been in my situation before, you know, I want to be as prepared as I can well in advance and properly know what I'd be getting myself into from an honest perspective of people who've done it before. I doubt being a mother and being in the army is easy."

"Mmm I'd make you right Molls" he replied, "are you scared to find out the realities of what being a working mum in the military would be?"

She sighed, "I guess I am, I mean I don't want to turn into me mum stuck at home with the bleeders doing the washing all day everyday. Or the sacrifices I'd have to make with me job and that. And I'm scared shitless Charles, what happens if I can't cut it as a mum? I think deep down that's why I want to go talk to someone who's been through all that, to prepare myself for a few years time."

"Oh darling, no wonder you've been feeling so stressed out recently! I think it's a great idea to go speak to someone army about it, maybe they'll be able to offer a new perspective or something. And as for not cutting it as a mum, you'd be a brilliant mother Molly. All you have to do is look at you with Sam and anybody can see how fab you are with him"

"Yeah but, I'm not, Sam's not," she stutters "what I'm trying to say is yes I love Sam like he's my own but I'm not his mum am I. I've never had anyone depend on me like our own baby would, Sam's got Rebecca for that. I'm just a bonus kind of thing. And I never looked after Sam as a baby either, plus I'm sure having two kids to look after will be a lot harder than one eight year old, especially when you're sleep deprived. I mean would Sam even approve of his dad having more children, surely he'd feel a little hurt or replaced no?"

"Woah woah Molly, I know it can be worrying but you practicslly raised your siblings. As for Sam, look how much he adores Harry and Martha, and he loves you even more. I'm sure he'd be delighted to have more siblings in the future."

"Yeah well there's still the army side of things, I mean I dont think I'd be able to give up going abroad for mentoring tours Charles, maybe that'll change in a couple years time but I love that part of my job"

"And youre bloody good at it too Molls, which is why I think you should go speak to some servicewomen who have their own children. Besides we can cross that bridge when we get to it hmm?"

"Yeah, and you did get the memo that that bridge is like, a good few years away right? I mean with you nearly in a zimmer frame I guess time is on our side."

He rolls his eyes "enough of the old Miss Dawes, I happen to know you love this 'ancient' soldier as you call me" he says while launching a tickle assault in her direction. Molly manages to roll out of his grip and she sprints up the stairs, Charles hot on her heels. They both fall about laughing when he catches up with her, lifting her over his shoulders in a firemans carry and into the bathroom to shower together...

...

She lay perfectly tucked into his body, his hand over her stomach spooning together, the duvet pulled up over them both. A single bedside lamp was shining on Charles bedside table, as they were preparing for sleep.

"I've only just remembered, but you never did say why you were so mad about Captain Evans and everything" she said.

He chuckled nervously before replying, "I heard around the garrison that he's selecting medics to go on a short tour to Afghanistan, Helmand Province specifically. They're going to do an innoculation programme for polio on all the children there."

"Well what's so bad about that?" She asked.

"Molly. Its Afghanistan?" He said sarcastically. "Everything always goes to shit in Afghanistan, I presumed he'd asked you to go and I was worried you'd agreed. It seems foolish now, but I was angry you'd gone against our agreement never to go back there again if we could avoid it. That place is hell Molls, I was hurt that you hadn't told me about your, as I now know, non existent deployment. I mean Elvis so nearly got blown up by that IED last time I was there. That would've been him gone, and with Azizi's betrayal I dont know who I can trust there anymore. I couldn't live if you'd gone and never came back." His voice now beginning to wobble.

"Oh Charlie, you know I always tell you about deployments as soon as I know myself. I get it though, I couldn't live a life without you in it either. And yeah, Elvis did come close. Imagine Georgie being left alone, bringing up Freddie without a dad. It doesn't bear thinking about if that was us. I love you Charlie" she said as she turned to face him, stroking her small hand over the day old stubble on the face of the man she adored so very much.

"I love you more Mrs James"

"Not possible Major James" she replied as he switched off the lamp.

His breathing became heavier as his body succumbed to sleep. While he was dreaming of a miniature Molly refusing to get in her car seat, arms crossed and bottom lip pouting out, she couldn't sleep. Her thoughts of a little baby Charles in her arms keeping her awake.