Here's chapter 3, updates are going to be slow (like this one) sorry! Hopefully you can all use your imagination to make my crappy writing a bit better, I'm definitely not as skilled as some of the awesome writers on here! Hope everyone is staying safe!
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He blinked open his eyes to the wail of the alarm clock currently screaming an unwelcome reminder that their time snuggled up in the warmth of their bed was over. Molly kicked him in the shin while moaning "turn that fucking thing off".
"Good morning to you too" he replied while reaching a long, tanned arm to silence the machine.
"Five more minutes" Molly grunted as she shifted further under the duvet. Charles stretched his arms above his head and headed to the window to open the curtains. The light flooded the room to his wife's dismay, a second grunt coming from her direction in their marital bed.
"Come on, you don't want to be late. Your Captain will bite your head off considering you're already leaving early for Sam's play"
"I'm too tireddddd" she whined back. Charles chuckled before realising his mistake too late.
"It's not fucking funny Charles, I've barely had any sleep" she scowled with a bit more vibrance than her previous words of the morning.
"Sorry, sorry. You just look so cute when you wake up" he said laughing again. "Besides, you weren't complaining last night". Molly couldn't see him with her head under the pillow, but she knew he was smirking.
"Oi, it's your bloody fault I'm so knackered, and if you ever want a repeat of last night, I suggest you go make us breakfast and leave me to have another ten minutes in bed"
"Mrs James, you know too well it takes two to tango. Plus, I can't help it if my gorgeous wife told me she would like to have my children one day" he replied while putting his dressing gown on.
"Ughh, too loud" said Molly, pulling more duvet in her direction to hibernate under. Charles just chuckled, getting one last look at Mrs James before heading downstairs.
"Moll, you're pancakes are done" he shouted in the vague direction of upstairs. This breakfast choice had become a mini tradition for them to eat on days when neither of them had any PT sessions, still Molly sometimes ate coco pops despite this, and for old times sake Charles would often find himself stealing a mouthful or two.
She appeared in the doorway, looking a lot more awake after her morning shower.
Charles pointed towards the calendar on the fridge, "It's Sam's play today" he spoke as he placed a plate of pancakes drowned in sugar infront of her seat at the kitchen table, just how she liked them.
"Mhm" she murmered through her first mouthful, "you said that already" she giggled.
He scoffed, "well yes, but I just want to double check you've got permission from your CO to leave early", sitting down in the seat opposite hers.
"Yup, we should probably drive in our own cars to work too, then later we can go up to London together?" It had not become unusual for Charles to drive them both to their separate barracks in the Land Rover when the couple expected to return home at the same time. Molly had learned to drive after her second tour to Afghanistan whilst Charles was busy at Headley Court, using her deployment money to buy a 4 seater, but she preferred the mornings they drove together, it allowed her to have her Charles for an extra ten minutes each time.
"Perfect, make sure you leave two hours early Molls. You know how hard it is to escape mid drill and we'll need time to change when we get back here".
"Charles, calm your tits. Anyone would think you're an officer in Her Majesty's Army! I've got the plan".
He chuckled softly while planting a kiss on her forehead, "Right, I best get dressed and leave in the next ten minutes or so. I've got transfer papers to sign before the squaddies turn up".
She nodded her head, "you should probably get a wiggle on then" she smiled.
Exactly eight minutes later and Charles was reversing his Land Rover down the drive, Molly following behind him ten minutes later.
Charles was making his way to his office after a quick coffee break, when he nearly spilt it all down him.
"Bloody hell Charlie how are you meant to fight the Taliban when seeing my gorgeous face makes you nearly shit yourself eh?"
"Nice to see you too Elvis" he throwed back.
"You look odd Charlie boy what's wrong with you?"
"What?"
"I dunno you look as if you've won the lottery or some shit. Trust me it ain't normal to look so happy at barracks, cor it's only 9am too".
Charles scoffed, "you have lost the plot you have".
"Nah, you look like Freddie once he's done a massive shit in his nappy, proud and that" Elvis teased.
"Elvis is there anything you actually want to say to me or am I just going to be compared to your son shitting".
"Come on Charlie I know you're hiding something".
"Sorry, it's classified" Charles smirked, haha got you there he thought to himself.
Elvis stared him down, and raised his hand to his mouth as he dramatically coughed. "Huhum. Lemme guess, you can't be getting deployed as I've just been in a meeting with the Brig and there ain't any tours happenin'. So, either you've got a promotion or you've persuaded Molly to get a puppy. Or she's pregnant but that's highly unlikely, she'd have told Georgie".
Charles stood there in silence then took a sip of his coffee.
"Wait, is Molly pregnant?!" Elvis remarked
"Fucking hell Elvis wind your neck in, do you want me to get you a megaphone so you can yell even louder".
"Charlie boy answer me!"
"No, she's not pregnant- ish".
"What do you mean ish? Y'aint making much sense ere Charlie".
"Molly told me she'd like to have kids in a few years time" he grinned.
"Jesus Christ Charlie, that's it? THAT is the news. Honestly you're a lovesick puppy. Poor deluded fool. I thought you were about to tell me you've solved world peace or something" Elvis replied.
"Yeah, yeah like you've not changed since Georgie and Freddie hmm"
Before Elvis could answer, his phone rang from the pocket of his special forces edition combats. He looked at the name on the screen, declining the call he said to Charles
"See this, this is actually classified. I presume it's Whitehall wanting a debrief from ops in Pakistan. Catch up later yeah?" As he turned and headed off down the corridor, leaving Charles shaking his head and smiling.
He turned back around again and belted, "and tell Molls to tell Georgie the news, she'll love for Fredster to have a little mate".
"ELVIS!" Charles burst out, "shut the actual fuck up you massive cockwomble"
Elvis raised his middle finger and strolled off. Charles loved it when Elvis was at the same base as him, the nature of his job making it difficult for them to see each other often, but god he could be infuriating. None the less, Charles was hopeful that when Elvis' active duty contract came to a close at the end of this year he and Georgie would consider living down south near them. Thinking to the future, it would be useful for him and Molly to have their friends close by for childcare help when the time came to it.
Molly had left Keogh Barracks and was pulling up to the driveway. She noticed Charles' car wasn't already parked there, she came to the conclusion he must have eaten lunch at barracks and would be home shortly.
Putting the plate from her toasted sandwich in the dishwasher, she headed up the stairs to shower and get changed. Even though she didn't have a PT session scheduled for today, she had unloaded all the medical kit used for training and mentoring exercises from a delivery truck which was almost just as bad.
She was just about to start blowdrying her hair when her phone began to blast out the lyrics to a certain Elton John song. She knew it was her husband calling as she had changed the settings in her phone to play the iconic 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' whenever Charles was ringing, a pleasant reminder of their first Afghan tour together. She accepted the call and his voice came through the line straight away.
"Hey darling, how are you?"
"Surprisingly fine considering my Captain has given me an extra six am pt session for missing the afternoon. But that's not the issue! Where actually are you Charles?" She said jokingly
"Ah yes, there's an emergency meeting which all the Majors have to attend. I bumped into Elvis this morning, oh by the way he said to tell you he's excited for when we do have kids, anyway, he mentioned a debrief about ops from Pakistan so I reckon it's probably to do with that".
"Charles you do remember you were meant to leave early today right?"
"I know Molls, I'm sorry I really can't get out of it".
"Charles I'm not upset, but this is Sam's play. You're his Dad, you can't miss this Charles!"
"I know, I know. I'll have to drive straight to Sam's school as soon as it ends. I'm not missing his play for the world, don't worry. Wait, oh shit, you'll have to drive up there yourself too. Do you know the way?".
"Yeah it's fine I'll put google maps on just in case I need the directions. Charles you realise you've been on Salisbury plain today, you're going to turn up in mud splattered conbats smelling like a mixture of gunpowder and sweaty squaddies".
"Meh, whatever. At least I'll be coming at all." Molly heard voices in the background before her husband's voice filled her ears again. "Look Molls, I'm about to go into the meeting room now and I've really got to go. Could you phone Rebecca for me and let her know the situation?"
"I'll handle Rebecca. Love you Major James" Molly answered
"I love you too" he replied
"Oh and tell Elvis to mind his bloody business!" She said before hanging up.
Molly phoned Rebecca to let her know she was driving up without Charles, who would be arriving as soon as he could.
Molly pulled into a car space behind Hugo's car, Harry waving his little hands ecstatically when Rebecca told him it was Molly in the car.
She opened the car door and said "Hello mate! You excited to see Sam's play?"
"Yes!" He shouted, "Martha bloody well no cry" he added.
Molly chuckled and raised a suggestive eyebrow to Rebecca, who was currently holding the two month old in question.
"Oh lordy, I told Hugo to watch what he says in front of him, he seems to be in the repeat absolutely everything that anyone says phase."
Molly laughed, "I remember when all my little siblings did the exact same, went around chanting "Paolo Di Canio" and all the other West Ham chants, copying my Dad".
Martha began to stir in Rebecca's arms.
"Oh bollocks, I knew it would be a bad idea if I held her, probably thinks the milk bar is open for business".
"Here let me take her" Hugo offered, "and what was that about minding what we say infront of little ears?"
That, for certain, earned him a glare from Rebecca.
Sam's teacher came out of the hall and told the parents to start filing in. They left the buggy outside as it would've taken up the width of the aisle space and headed to get some seats. Harry took the farthest seat from the aisle with Hugo holding Martha next to him, then Rebecca and finally Molly following suit. She saved the aisle seat for Charles, 'if he would just hurry the fuck up' she thought. Sam would be gutted if his father missed his play for work, and Charles would be dissapointed too, having missed so much of his son's younger years to tours in Afghanistan.
Her pleas seemed to work, as Charles burst into the room. Molly could see him looking around for their party, so she waved to him. He saw and continued to run in their direction, he had to crouch half way through his journey as the lights dimmed and the music started. He sat down next to Molly and kissed her forehead.
"You look gorgeous, gorgeous" he whispered into her ear.
"Well you're the stand out one of the group, turning up in mud coated combats. Cor you don't half pen and ink too"
"Cheers, I love you too" he said sarcastically.
"Shhh" a dad from the row behind aimed at the pair of them. They gave each other a cheeky glance and turned to face the stage, Charles resting his hand on Molly's thigh.
Sam was absolutely fabulous and all four adults were so proud, cheering extra loudly when it was Sam's turn to give a bow. Charles' wolf whistling made Sam wave to them, which in turn lead a couple of the other parents in the audience to giggle. They filed out of the school hall and back into the playground to wait for the kiddies to come out.
"Charles" Rebecca called out his name, her glare a warning of the bollocking that was about to come.
"Good luck mate" Hugo told him, just a little too loudly as it turned out Rebecca had heard him too, earning Hugo a very pissed off look aswell. Molly couldn't help but giggle at Charles' face, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
Charles looked sheepish as he let his ex wife speak, Hugo and Molly desperate to hear a little gossip but only hearing the occassional word "unacceptable... stink of cow shit and sweat... embarrassing... known about this for months". Rebecca didn't have the chance to continue any further as the mini actors and actresses came flooding out of the hall entrance and into the playground.
Sam ran straight up to Molly and wrapped his little arms around her waist, "Molly, Molly did you see me? Did you see my costume?? Did you hear me singing super loudly?!" He frantically asked. She hugged him back and replied "We did Sammy! You looked great in your costume and all of us are so proud of you aren't we" she turned to the rest of the group.
"Of course we are Scamp!" said Charles who simultaneously lifted his son onto his hip. Sam may be getting bigger everyday but the experienced Major was used to carrying much heavier loads from his job. Rebecca gave him a kiss on his cheek, while Hugo ruffled his hair.
"You were brilliant Scamp!" His mother said, "I think you've definitely got your Dad's singing genes!" And they all laughed, but Charles couldn't help but notice the odd expression on Molly's face, he could always tell exactly how his wife was feeling just by looking at her, after all it had been how they had communicated four years ago on that first Afghanistan tour together.
"Molls" he said, loud enough for her to hear but quiet enough that nobody else heard. He jerked his head in his direction and she followed the signal to stand next to him. He hugged her and let her head rest on his chest.
"You ok? You look like there's something wrong?" He kissed her forehead.
"I dunno, just Sam came up to me and not you or Becks, dunno I guess I feel guilty you know?"
"Molly he came running up to you because he loves all four of us, he didn't hug Rebecca because she was holding Martha and besides you were the one who made his costume and everything. He's a very lucky boy, most kids only have two parents, but he's got four who adore him".
"Well yeah but still.."
Charles cut her off, "no buts Molly, you're not overstepping or whatever you want to call it, Sam loves you, I love you and I'm pretty sure Rebecca's grateful for you taking Sam off her shoulders for a bit every now and then!" He kissed her forehead again and pulled her in tighter to his chest, stroking her arms with his large hands.
"Daddy, Daddy I thought you weren't coming! I peeked through the curtains and I couldn't see you" Sam said with a hint of sadness to his voice.
Molly and Hugo both scoffed at Charles' stunned face, they knew Sam's remark was not going to help his case when it came to Rebecca's 'chat' earlier.
"I made a promise didn't I Sam, I'll never break one of our promises Scamp!" He replied.
They had hung around for another ten minutes or so talking to some of the other parents until Rebecca said they better make tracks as Martha was going to wake up for her next feed soon. Charles was holding Sam's hand as they all walked towards the carpark. As if on cue, Martha began to cry, well scream more like. For a tiny baby she did have big lungs! Her face soon turned bright red, her chubby legs began to kick and her big blue eyes became puffy. Harry didn't appreciate his sister's demands for more milk, covering his ears with his hands and shouting "bla bla bla bla" to Rebecca's annoyance.
Molly, noticing that Hugo was already ahead clicking the pushchair/baby seat duo into the car, called Harry over to her and propped him up on her hip. They soon reached the car where Rebecca sat down and began to feed Martha, happy as larry now she had gotten the milk she so desperately wanted. Harry was blabbering away to Molly about Thomas the Tank Engine, the sentences not quite making sense with his two year old public speaking abilities, with Sam joining in to sing the theme tune. 'Jesus' Molly thought to herself, she felt bad for Rebecca now! She had only experienced half an hour of all the kids together and the chaos was way more than she had predicted.
"Wow Becks, you're a trooper for bringing a two month old to a school play! I don't know how you manage all three of them, this is crazy" she chuckled.
Rebecca laughed, "I do have you to help though! Hugo could take notes" both women giggled again, as Rebecca moved Martha onto her other breast.
At this point Harry had practically turned into a zombie, and become a lot heavier since his body was limp, even though Molly was taking all of his two year old weight, it was nothing she couldn't handle. Charles had noticed the dozing child too, having secretly been looking at Harry draped over her shoulder for the past few minutes. Both he and his wife were thinking the same thing, imagining the same situation but with their own children.