Kate walked along the quay side pushing Belle in her pram. It was a glorious sunny day with the winter sun beating down but a nice cooling breeze blowing up the channels of the rivers in to the city. She had dressed belle in the DPNU's that Bird had given her as they finally fit her after 3 months. Kate wasnt sure about putting her in white being so young but decided that as she was going onboard Hammersley for the first time to see all her aunties and uncles before they sailed on a 2 month patrol it would be cute. Leaving the pram at the bottom of the gangway as it was awkward to get it up and round the tight corridors of the ship. Holding Belle she saluted the ensign and stepped on to the ship. It felt weird being on the ship with Belle.
Nav was on the bridge checking the charts for the next patrol.
"permission to come aboard" Kate grinned calling up the steps of the bridge.
Nav turned and looked at Kate. Before Kate had even climbed the last step Nav had taken Belle out of Kates arms and began talking baby to her.
"can I have my baby back" Kate smiled jokingly
"nope she is coming to sea with us. We need a new first mate" Nav grinned before looking back at Belle who was staring up at Nav." yes we do are you going to come sailing with us yes your are" she cooed talking baby.
The rest of the crew walked on deck to see their Boss.
"Ma'am" they all smiled
2-dads looked over at Belle grinning "she is actually quite cute" he smiled
"do you want a cuddle" Kate asked lifting her daughter out of Nikkis arms
"ummm okay" he was unsure and wiped his hands on his trousers.
Kate gently placed Belle in to his arms and turned to talk to Bird who was excited to see Belle in the uniform that she had made. 2dads looked down at the baby in his arms. Belle scrunched up her face and began to wail not nice little cutesy wail, but a full throttle this man is trying to kidnap me scream
"Ma'am," he called holding her at arms length
" 2-dads she is a baby if you hold her like that she will scream" bomber called lifting belle out of Leo's grasp and holding her close. The second bomber had taken her the screams subsided and Belle snuggled in to Bombers arms. 2-dads stepped back glad that the screaming Belle was now out of his arms.
""2Dads don't tell me you are scared of a baby" buffer called grinning looking over Bombers arms.
"so whats motherhood like?" Nav asked turning to Kate
"exhausting breath-taking amazing there isn't actually one word that can describe it really. She is amazing she ins changing each and every day. She sleeps so well only wakes for a feed. But I think the navy may have affected her" Kate smiled
"whats wrong" Nav asked looking at the perfect little bundle in bombers arms
"she is fine just I think the watch changes must have gotten in to her blood. That's the only time she wakes for a feed is watch change."
"that's is unusually cute. I think" Nav grinned looking at belle who was now snuggled in to Buffers arms. It was quite comical to see buffer holding the tiny Belle. A big muscular bloke cooing over a tiny baby.
"poop face. I swear she just pulled a poop face" buffer called holding belle at arms length
"what is it with guys and babies" bird smiled as Kate took Belle off Buffer.
"come one you lets go get you changed and then go see daddy shall we" she cooed taking belle holding her close
Once she had changed belle Kate walked back on to the bridge to say her goodbyes and that she would see them all when they came back.
"fair winds nik" Kate smiled as she walked back over the gangway saluting the ensign as she went past
It didn't take long to make the walk from the dock to the NAVCOM offices. Pushing the pram up the winding ramp. It got caught on the drain at the top. Gently she forced the pram over the bump almost colliding with Maxine.
"do you need a ... oh its you" Maxine called
"oh I am fine thanks for the help" Kate muttered under her breath. "Maxine" she forced a smile. "how was Scotland"
"allright. So is this yours" she indicated to Belle scoffing to her self at the DPNUs that she was still dressed in. It was 100% tack town in her opinion
"yes." Kate found her self beaming like she did every time she did when someone asked her about belle.
"how old is she"
"5 months on Friday" Kate smiled
"right and she is yours and..."
"mike is her farther yes" Kate could see where Maxine's mind was going.
Maxine wasnt convinced if her maths was correct then this made Kate pregnant before they married. There was no way that mike would have done something like that and risk the wrath of his mother. She still had some digging to do. "well I guessing that your on your way up. I wont keep you." Another polite smile followed before she side stepped around the pram and headed down the steps towards the docks. "and congratulations Mike must be thrilled to be a dad again" she added.
Kate shook her head walking through the doors of NAVCOM. Taking the lift up one level to Mikes office she found him sat at his desk.
"Knock. Knock." She smiled poking her head round the door. "someone wanted to come and see daddy" she wheeled the pram through the door. "I have just seen Maxine outside. She was asking all sorts of questions about Belle. Please tell me that you have found another posting. She is up to something I swear." Kate lifted belle out of the pram and sat on the sofa that was in the office.
"I am working on it. I have sent a recommendation to Tasmania just waiting to hear back. Anyway how is my little princess" he smiled sitting next to Kate. And placing belle on his lap.
"she is fine. Went on to her first ship today. Everyone on Hammersley loved her in her DPNUs" Kate smiled.
"lovely." He smiled
"I can see your buisy. What time will you be back?" she asked
"not sure. I am sorry but there is a lot to sort brome Chinders and Launceston all are in for major repairs. Some fault on the navigation system so now the whole fleet needs checking so it is a major nightmare."
"what about Hammersley she is out tomorrow"
"she is about the only one okay. She hasn't had the upgrade yet so she is still operational" mike smiled
"right well best let you get on. Say bye bye to daddy" She whispered in to Belle's ears waving her little arm
"bye and I am sorry Kate" he leaned in kissing her and placing a kiss on Belle's cheek.
Kate pushed the pram out and made the short walk home placing Belle in her cot she sat on the sofa with a cup of tea. She just hoped that Maxine wasnt going to cause any trouble.
Mike was sat in his office trying to lease with the engineers to sort out the navigation updates so they worked. Starring at the report for the 1000th time trying to make head nor tale of it. He was surprised when Maxine walked in to his office uninvited and with out knocking.
"Maxine what can I do for you" He sighed it was pointless to argue against her.
"I need to talk to you about Kate"
"not this again. Why cant you see I LOVE Kate and we have belle now..."
"that's what I want to talk to you about. Are you sure that she is yours. I mean..."
"you are unbelievable. Why you say that."
"well I was talking to Kate out side and well I how old is belle really"
"5 months. She was 8 weeks prem. That's why she is so small. Look I want you to go. I will talk to you tomorrow at 10:00. This victimisation of Kate has to stop.."
"I am only looking out for you mike. I don't want you to get hurt like when she got back with that Jim after 2 seconds"
"have you forgotten that was because of you telling her I would never give up Hammersley. 10:00 tomorrow"
"Sir" Maxine sulked.
Mike returned home after midnight. Kate was asleep upstairs Slipping in next to Kate. Maxine was suppose to be a friend and he couldn't understand why she had changed so much and couldn't be happy for him. He looked over at the cot next to Kate Belle was asleep softly snoring. Sliding back out he looked in to the cot. She looked so much like Kate but her eyes were steel blue like his own she knew that Belle was his he had no doubt of that. Maxine would just have to lump it and accept that he was no longer at her beckon call.
okay so hope you like this and I think I have one more chapter left and I am thinking of a futuristic chapter maybe belles first birthday. I always thought Maxine had her nose put out of joint because of Kate. please leave a review xxx