Chapter 32
"Yes, congratulations, you are pregnant. According to what you told me you must be around week twelve or thirteen." Kate smiled.
"You look happy, Lieutenant."
"I am, and shocked too."
"And your husband?" he asked looking at her rings.
"Oh, he's in Afghanistan on tour." She blushed.
"We were planning on starting a family when he returned; we got married before my deployment three months ago."
"Ah, a wedding night baby," the Doctor said smiling.
"Well, congratulations Lieutenant., I guess you forgot to inform to a little someone about those three months to plan."
"Thanks, it's that all?"
"No, Terri will take you to the next room for an ultrasound."
"Okay," Kate said as she stood up and soon she was on a gown laying on a bed waiting for the Doctor as she listened to Terri move around the room setting everything.
"Okay, shall we see the little one?"
"I guess." Terri placed a sheet over her legs.
"Pull up the gown, ma'am." She told her and Kate raised it a little lower her breasts.
"This is going to be a little cold, Lieutenant." The Doctor said as he placed the gel on Kate's stomach before grabbing the wand and started moving it.
"Okay! Everything looks around, as I said, twelve or thirteen weeks, will you want to see?"
"No," she answered after thinking. "I'll wait for my husband."
"Sure." He said cleaning the gel out of her stomach.
"All done, get dress and meet me back at the office." Minutes later, they were back at his office,
"Well, Lieutenant. As you are pregnant you will have to have a shore post."
"I understand."
"Good, and I would like to see you and your husband if possible in a months' time." Kate nodded. "Also, you need to inform NAVCOM. Any questions?"
"What about flying?"
"You can fly, as long as it isn't a long one."
"Okay., thanks"
"Anything else?" Kate shook her head no.
"Then, I see you in a month Lieutenant." He said shaking her hand.
"Thanks, Doctor."
Smiling she walked out of the hospital, found her car and drove to her second call appointment: NavCom. Once there, she walked to the Admiral's office, but he was busy. She walked around and found a computer she could use and unlocking it with her user, she opened a document and started to type her transfer request.
She finished the document and printed it, before sending a copy to her email. With her transfer request in hand, she raised her eyes and saw as the people inside the Admiral's office had just left.
"Lieutenant, I saw you earlier, I'm sorry you had to wait." The Admiral greeted her as he spotted her. "Come on in."
"Thank you, sir."
"First let me start with easing your mind, your request for two weeks leave has been granted for your belated honeymoon."
"Thank you, sir."
"And on the other hand, you will return to the HMAS Anzac for a two months patrol before it heads back to Afghanistan. Since you just arrived from your tour, you will be transferred to another frigate by then."
"Sir, by the time I return from my honeymoon I will need a shore posting." He sat back with a frown.
"Why would you want a shore posting, Lieutenant? That's not the best way to climb the ranks." He sighed, and Kate gave him her request. He took it with a frown, and read the note. "Oh, that changes things. Congratulations, Lt."
"Thank you, sir."
"Let me see what I can do. Does Lt Commander Flynn know about this?"
"No, sir. I found out a couple of hours ago."
"Alright. Sadly, there are no open posts in Cairns, however, as you are married to Mike Flynn your name will be on the top of the list along with the names of six or seven other couples." Kate grimaced.
"As I said, I'll see what I can do, Lt. If there's an opening I'll let you know."
"Thank you, sir."
The HMAS Darwin got to port on a hot day; Kate was waiting in the only shade she found on the dock which was filled to the brim with families. The frigate docked and the gangplank was lowered in place. Slowly, each sailor walked off the ship and into their loved ones' arms. She watched with a smile as she knew it would be a while until Mike could finally get out of the ship.
Hours later, Mike and his CO walked down the plank, her smile brightened and so did him as soon as he spotted her. Mike stopped in front of her and lowered his bag on the ground before wrapped her in his arms and kissed her breathless.
"Welcome home, Sailor," she whispered in his ear. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too; it's so good to be home finally." He kissed her again before he took a step back.
"You look different, did you cut your hair or something? You are definitively glowing."
"There's something I need to tell you." She said, "It's nothing bad. Remember we were planning on starting a family while in our honeymoon?"
"Yes?"
"Well, someone is thirteen weeks early than planned," she grinned placing her hand on her belly,
"Mike, we are going to have a baby!"
"What?" He said in shock
"I'm pregnant, thirteen or fourteen weeks pregnant!" Mike grinned as he pulled her into an embrace. "I love you so much!"
"I love you too Mike. Now, let's go home I know that some backs need washing." She wriggled her eyebrows, and he laughed.
An hour later in the shower, Mike could notice the baby bump the moment Kate took her clothes off. After a thorough wash on various positions. Couple of hours later Mike called his parents and sister to let them know he was back and give them the news.
The next morning, Mike was called to NavCom. He and Kate met at a café later before they returned to Kate's condo where Mike packed his bag. Later that night, he reached to his home in Cairns. After calling Kate to let her know he was fine and check on her, he went to the pub.
On the afternoon of the following day, he was in Kate's arms again after what felt like forever but was only a day. They went for lunch and to the movies and shopped for baby things. Finally, that night they grabbed the bags they had packed earlier and flew to Tahiti.
After two weeks of spoiling themselves and each other, they return back to Sydney. While Mike dropped their bags in the room, Kate opened the windows, and she noticed the light on the recording machine.
"Lieutenant Commander Flynn, this is commander Marshal of Cairns NAVCOM. I want you in my office Wednesday the twenty-six at zero eight hundred," was the first message they heard.
"I'll call the Doctor to change my appointment," she said to Mike.
"I guess I'll call the airlines," he sighed. They walked in different directions and hung the phone and cellphone almost at the same time.
"I spoke to Terri. Dr. Knight's nurse, I explained the situation, and she said to come tomorrow at 8 AM."
"And I got I flight for tomorrow afternoon."
"Good timing," she grinned.
"Yeah."
"So, with all this settled, what do you want to do?" He asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Shopping."
"Shopping? Whatever you need now?" he kissed the tip of her nose.
"Food, Mike."
"Oh, in that case, lead the way."
They woke early the next morning, and head straight to the hospital where Kate introduced Mike to her Doctor. Before he asked Terri to lead them to the next room. Kate changed into the gown before jumping into the bed. Mike winked at her as Terri walked to them and covered Kate's legs with a sheet and remembering the process, Kate raised the gown to leave her stomach uncovered as soon as the Doctor entered the room.
"Ready to see your baby?"
"Yes, we are," Mike said as he held on to Kate's hand.
"Here's your baby," the Doctor grinned moving the monitor for them to see. Mike and Kate smiled when they saw their baby for the first time.
"Is that? The heartbeat?" Kate asked as the Doctor raised the sound.
"Yes, it is."
Mike kissed Kate as they watched their baby moving. The Doctor took all the measurements needed and printed them a copy of the ultrasound before finishing it and cleaning the gel off Kate's stomach.
"The baby has a good size, and everything looks great. I would like to see you again in a month's time."
"Sure," Kate said
"And that's it."
"Thanks, Doctor."
"No worries, again if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." He said before he turned around to leave the room.
"Doctor Knight?" Mike called. "How long before we will know the sex of our baby?" The doctor grinned
"Next month."
"Thank you." The doctor walked out.
Once Kate was dressed again, they returned home. They spent a few hours talking about baby names and snuggling on the couch. After lunch, Kate drove him to the airport.
"I'll try to make it next month, Kate," he sighed.
"I know. Let me know on what ship you are going to be," she kissed him.
"I will love you."
"Love you too," she whispered against his lips before they kissed deeply once more. She watched him go and waited until his plane left before heading home.