Chapter 42

On Christmas day, Mike family arrived early in the morning bringing gifts with them, when they walked into the living room Kate was making Emma burp. The condo that normally seemed big was now crowded with Mike's relatives.

"Kate!"

"Hi, mum! She just had her feed," they heard Emma burp, Michele look at Emma while smiling

"She gorgeous!"

"Yes, she is," Emma burped again

"She's full of wind."

"Yes, she is. Want to hold her?" Michele eyes and smile widened

"Yes," Kate carefully passed Emma to Michele

"Hello sweetie, I'm your grandmother," she whispered and moved to sit on the couch next to Hannah and her kids who were all waiting to see Emma.

Mike walked over to Kate who was staring at his family that was enamored with little Emma, he enveloped her with an arm around her shoulder and kissed Kate's forehead.

"I told you they would love Emma," he whispered, she moved her hand to take the hand that was laying on her shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

"I know," she turned to him, and they kissed quickly before return to observe the image in front of them.

The whole family had a wonderful day and marveled with the nursery that Mike prepared leaving only when it was too late. Two days later they flew up to Cairns

They took a cab to the house, and on their way, Mike looked to the side only to notice that not only Emma was still asleep but Kate's eyes were closed. None of them had got that much time to sleep since there were only a couple of hours between the time it took to feed Emma and the moment they had to wake up to fly.

"Kate," he shook her shoulder when the cab stopped in front of their building,

"Kate, wake up we are home," she opened her eyes and blinked a few times.

"Hmm, ok," she whispered with a smile.

"Here," he gave her the keys, "Why don't you take Emma inside? I'll get the bags."

She nodded before she got down picking the car seat with her. Mike also went down and with the help of the driver he took all their belongings before giving the driver the fare. Once he found a way to take all their things he finally walked inside closing the door behind him with a tired sigh.

"Kate!" He called walking inside their home.

"Up here Mike!" He found her in front of the door that held a pink anchor and Emma's name; Kate was still holding Emma's car seat.

"Hey," he whispered.

"We were waiting for you, Mike," she smiled brightly.

"I'm here, open it," Kate opened the door and walked inside.

"Wow! Mike! It's like the one in Sidney."

"It is Kate"

Kate walked around the room while Mike walked over to the bassinet and placed one of the bags on the ground and the other on the changing table. He opened it and got what he needed out and started making Emma's bed just as she woke up.

On the other side of the room, Kate lowered the car seat and removed the straps to pick up Emma. Then she walked to a seat on the rocking chair looking towards the ocean with her legs mounted up on a footrest. Kate relaxed closing her eyes while she heard Mike rummaging around the room as she breast feed Emma.

By the time Mike finished with Emma's bed and bags he went to his room and fixed their bed and bags before walking back inside Emma's room. He watched the girls for a while; then he walked at Kate's feet. Feeling him watching her she opened her eyes and smiled.

"You look tired."

"I am."

"After Emma has her feed, I'll change her and put her to bed while you go and get some rest."

"What about our bags and groceries?"

"We can take care of that later."

"Ok" she sighed. Emma chose that moment to pull away.

Mike stood up and placing a towel over his shoulder, he picked Emma and rubbed her back. Kate fix up her bra and top then she stretched a bit before standing and turning towards Mike, who was walking around the room.

"Are you sure you will be ok with her?"

"Yes, Kate, go and get some rest," he leaned over and gave her a kiss

"Where did you leave our bags? I will need to make our bed."

"I already have."

"You did?" he nodded,

"Thanks," she smiled gratefully and kissed them both before walking towards the room.

She fell onto bed barely managing to get under the covers before she was asleep. When she woke up, Mike walked in carrying Emma

"Hey here mommy," Kate sat up rearranging the pillows and looking around until she spotted the time. Then she undid the nightshirt that somehow she had managed to put before falling asleep and took Emma out of Mike's hand.

"Feeling better?" Mike asked

"Yeah, but believe it or not I'm still a bit tired," she yawned.

"What did you do while I was sleeping?"

"Well, Emma and I went into town, I got some food and dinner, it's in the oven whenever you are ready."

"Mike…" she trailed looking at him

"You needed to sleep, Kate."

"I know."

"I was thinking how about we go into town tomorrow to do some shopping."

"Haven't you just come from there?"

"Yup, but … we brought just a few things with us for Emma…."

"You are going to spoil her… but still sounds like a good plan to me."

"Good," he said smiling.

The next morning Mike and Kate drove to the waterfront where they parked the car. Mike got the stroller out from the boot of the car while Kate got Emma and her car seat out. Mike placed the car seat on the stroller tickling Emma's belly while securing it. Kate went for Emma's bags and placed them under the carriage.

"All set," Mike said grinning and offered his arm to Kate while pushing the stroller. They talked as they walked towards a café. IT took them a good hour to reach it and find a table for them. Seeing that his girls were all set, Mike went inside to grab something cold to drink.

"Lieutenant McGregor," Kate heard, and she looked up. She smiled and stood up,

"Commander Marshal, congratulations on your promotion, sir."

"Thank you, I thought you were stationed in Sydney," he frowned curiously as he signaled her to return to her seat.

"I am. I'm here on leave, sir. Care to join us?"

"Thank you," he nodded, and while he sat down, Kate leaned forward and took Emma out of her seat and placed her against her chest.

"You got a beautiful daughter there," Commander Marshal said, as Kate placed a towel on her shoulders before rearranging Emma's position.

"Thank you, sir. She has Mike wrapped around her finger," she smiled making him chuckle.

"I bet she has."

"Want to hold her, sir?"

"Sure," Kate moved Emma so she could give the towel to the Commander. He placed it over his shoulder before grabbing Emma. "She looks like Mike."

"Yes, except for her hair," He looked at Emma who was looking at him

"You are right, where is he anyway?"

"I'm right here, Steve," Mike said walking past him and lowering a tray on their table.

"I saw you coming here while I was inside. This is yours, Kate."

"Thanks," she said grabbing her cold drink. Mike then placed a cup of coffee in front of Steve before grabbing his coffee and seating with them.

"This is a surprise, Steve."

"It goes both ways, Mike. How long will you be here?"

"Well, I'm here until my next patrol, but Kate's going to be here for three weeks before returning to Sydney."

"Ah, so you will be returning before Mike's patrol starts," he said looking at Kate

"That's the plan, sir."

"How things on Childer, Steve?"

"Well, the crew is happy."

"How so? They were miserable when it was announced the patrol dates."

"But they are returning, Hammersley's towing them back to port."

"Really?"

"Yes, they caught a ghost net and damaged one of the pillars and two engines."

"That's bad. When are they expected?"

"About three this afternoon," Mike grinned and Kate rolled her eyes. Steve looked at them.

"I feel there's something I've missed." He said.

"Nothing much, Mike asked about the time because he wants to show Emma off."

"Tell me why does it sound so bad when you tell it?" Mike joked.

"Well, Lieutenant, it doesn't matter how badly you can make it sound, there's a lot of people who want to meet Emma, and they are not only on the Childer."

"Really?" Mike said

"Yes, and not only Emma."

"Huh."

"Everyone from NAVCOM to the other captains from the other patrol boats wants to meet you both. They are just getting over the shock that Mike got married, let alone the idea of him as a father… They all want to meet the woman who stole his heart away from the Navy and sea. And of course, meet Emma," Mike grinned while Kate looked shocked.

"Cool," Mike said.

"That's not all, the Chief of the fleet is keeping tabs on you two. Admiral Towers has been keeping him up to date, and after every detail, he has been informed of, he still can't believe that Mighty Mike got married," Steve said

"Well, what can I say if something better came along," Mike said looking at Kate, Steve chuckled while Kate blushed. They talk for a while when Emma fell asleep Steve lowered her on the car seat. He gave the towel back to Kate before picking his hat up.

"When you both get time, drop by NAVCOM, and bring Emma with you."

"We will, Steve." Mike turned to Kate with a confused frown.

"I didn't realize that we were important enough to make the Chief of the Navy interested in us," Mike said

"Sounds like you are a well-known man mighty Mike Flynn." He rolled his eyes at her.

"Where would you like to go next?"

"Let's go to the mall."