Ch 51

On Saturday morning, Mike just got his bag from the taxi driver in front of Kate's building. He had just arrived in Syndey and turned around to see a woman pushing stroller out. He smiled when he saw it was her.

"Kate," he called, and she stopped.

"Mike!" she exclaimed grinning.

He threw his bags on the floor as he reached her, and he took her in his arms and due to the proximity of her lips he couldn't help but kiss her. Mike took a step back to look down at her stomach and smiled when he saw the bump of the twins. She was almost eighteen weeks in her second trimester and absolutely glowing.

"I missed you so much," Mike whispered

"I missed you to Mike," Kate told him softly as she grabbed his hand and placed it slowly on her baby bump. "We all miss you."

"Were you going for a walk?" he asked since she was walking towards the outside when he spotted her.

"Yeah, down to the shops."

"Wait here! I'll be back in a few minutes," he kissed her and shouldered his bag running inside and making Kate laugh. She walked around the stroller and noticed Emma was awake.

"You heard daddy, didn't you, sweetie?" Emma smiled waving her arms and feet happily.

"Wait until daddy gets here then you can kick him all you want, ok?" Kate held Emma in her arms while talking to her.

"Look, Em. Here comes, daddy!" Kate pointed to the doors as they opened. Emma bounced in Kate's arms

"Hello sweetie, I missed you," Mike said grabbing Emma and kissing her cheek. "Easy there, Emma! You are hurting your old man!" he whined, and Kate laughed

"She's happy and excited to see you again, Mike."

"Oh, Kate. She has grown so much."

"I know! She started standing the other day," Mike turned to Kate, completely appalled for having lost something that important. She smiled at him. "Don't worry; I taped it for you."

"Thanks, Kate." He kissed her quickly.

"Now, if you are done mopping around, sailor. Let's go shopping," Kate grinned. Mike shook his head and laughed as they walked to the stores, he didn't let go of Emma the whole time.

While in town, they had lunch at a café. Mike feed Emma with yogurt and in the afternoon they returned home to their daughter could take her afternoon nap. Using the free time, the grownups sorted their bags and cuddled in the living room.

"What did Dr knight say about the twins?" Mike asked as they watched the rain falling outside.

"They are fine, bigger than normal size twins. It looks like we are out of danger, I still got to follow his advice for another month to be on the safe side... Other than that, it's all good"

"I'm so relieved," he sighed gratefully. "Do you want to know what we are having?"

"I thought about it. And I would like to know. Otherwise, it will be complicated to sort two bedrooms and names!" Mike smiled placing his hand on her stomach

"How about we decide names now?"

"Mike, isn't a bit early?"

"Ok, so maybe not decided it… just suggestions?" Kate nodded. "Okay, what would you like to name them if they are girls?" Kate thought about it chewing her lower lip as she did.

"Mikayla Katelyn and... Rose Sarah." Mike smiled.

"And you didn't want to choose yet," she rolled her eyes at him. "I like them. And if they were boys?"

"Mike Junior." Mike raised his eyebrows.

"Mike Junior? Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. Mike Junior and David Patrick"

"Why David Patrick?"

"Our fathers' name, and if we get one of each, then I would go with Mikayla and MJ. What do you think?"

"I agree, I like them. Now, my parents?"

"Tomorrow"

"Why not, you know they will stop asking once we tell them," Kate laughed

"That's so true."

The next morning, Mike drove them to his parent's place, and they noticed a minivan in the driveway.

"Huh, looks like mum and dad got visitors," Mike said

They got out of the car, and Mike got Emma out of her car seat while Kate got her things out. With everything ready, they walked towards the house and heard voices coming from the back of the house. Kate followed Mike to the back entrance.

"Hey, sis! This is a surprise," Mike said smiling making everyone turn to the voice

"Oh my god, Mike!" Hannah ran to hug him.

"Oh, my...is this Emma?"

"Yes, it is."

"She is getting bigger."

"Yes," he smiled sadly. "Hey, do you what want to hold her?"

"Want? Give her to me!" Hannah grinned as she took Emma from Mike's hands. "Hello Emma, I'm your auntie, Hannah."

"Hi Hannah"

"Kate! It's good to see you." Hannah took a step back to look at her and Kate couldn't be more relieved by her chose of clothes. She was wearing a loose top and a maternity skirt that hide her condition perfectly.

"You too," they both hugged.

They walked to the greet the rest of the family before sitting down around the table.

"Mike, Kate, beer?" Patrick asked.

"Nah, just orange juice for me, dad." Kate grinned.

"I'll have a beer."

"Sure." Patrick nodded and frowned. "Are you ok, Kate?" He asked in concern, Kate looked at Mike and then they both observed their family.

"Well, we've got an announcement to make," Mike said seriously.

"I'm pregnant," Kate added, and everyone looked at them in shock

"Congratulations!" Brad said being the first one to react to the news, then everyone else started to move and hug and congratulate them.

"How far along are you Kate?" Michele asked

"Almost eighteen weeks."

"What?" Hannah asked surprised.

"Why did you wait so long to tell us?" Michele asked them. Kate turned to Mike, and his hand found hers to give her some support.

"A few months ago," Kate started with a sigh, "I found out that I have something called secondary infertility which lowers my chances of getting pregnant," she finished biting her lower lip.

"But you still are pregnant, so chances weren't as low, right?"

"The Doctors said fifteen percent." Kate shrugged. "I was put on fertility treatment for six months. And seven weeks after the start of the treatment, Mike got two weeks off," She grinned as the others smiled knowingly.

"I always have a very good timing," Mike grinned receiving a joke punch from Kate.

"Well, after a couple of weeks I had a cramp and got my period. I went to see my doctor after that, and he ran some tests to check my condition and how the treatment was working and surprised me when he told me I was pregnant. So, due to the," she stopped and chewed her lower lip. "bleeding I've experienced he wants me to keep an eye on me and twins."

"Twins!" They all said smiling.

"Yes," Mike smiled. "Still there was a devastating truth hidden in this happy one."

"Devastating?" Michelle asked worried about what they might tell them.

"Yeah, during the ultrasound my Doctor found something… related to the cramp and bleeding I've got."

"Kate suffered a miscarriage, and lost one of the triplets." There were strangled cries from their family. "And the Doctor didn't know if the twins would get past it."

"And that's the reason why we didn't tell you or anyone about them. My doctor said that if I managed to get past the second trimester, they would be out of danger." Michelle walked to her and embraced her tightly.

"We understand your wishes and position, Kate. But you know that you could've told us, and we would be there for you when Mike was on patrol, right?"

"We know, mum. We simply couldn't deal with our hopes and fears. Let alone give you all the hope when there was a chance of losing them."

"We understand, son," Patrick said

"Do you know what you're having?" Hannah asked

"Not until next month."

"Well, one thing's for sure. You two didn't waste any time," Brad said to make the situation lighter. Hannah slapped him in the back of his head making everyone laugh.

"Mate! If you and Hannah were in our shoes, you would be doing what we've been doing"

"Yeah! You are right about that" Brad said grinning then he wriggled his eyebrows. "We aren't in the same situation, and we are still doing it," and that won him another slap.

The tension ebbed away after Brad's intervention as Hannah pushed the conversation away from their sexual lives and onto naming the twins and flowed away easily after that.

By the time, Mike and Kate returned home it was late, and Emma was already sleeping. And while Mike took care of Emma, Kate sorted her diaper bag. Afterwards, when Mike joined her in bed, Kate snuggled to his side and feeling safe she fell asleep. He smiled at the view and planted a kiss on her forehead before Mike's eyes were also closing and he too fell asleep.

With Kate at Watson Bay and Emma in her daycare, Mike went to do some shopping to spoil his two girls. Grinning the whole time he grabbed the ingredients and things he needed for his master plan. Later that night, when Kate walked into the condo pushing the stroller, Mike was already waiting for her and kissed her softly.

"Welcome home," he whispered.

"Thanks, Mike." She smiled surprised. "Oh, something smells good."

"Homemade lasagna and garlic bread," he wriggled his eyebrows, lowering down to pick Emma.

"Mm, I can hardly wait," she said.

"Hello, you too, sweetie." He kissed Emma forehead. "I'll take care of Emma, why don't you go and soak in the bath," he offered

"Mike"

"Go on, it's already drawn," he kissed her. "And you don't want to throw away a nice hot bath, right?" She shook her head, Mike walked behind her and pushed her towards the bath, making her laugh.

"You are going to spoil us all rotten!" She said walking to the bath as he made Emma wave before they turned towards the kitchen.

Kate pushed the empty stroller out of the way, before walking to the bedroom. She got rid of her uniform and strolled to the bathroom where a full bubble bath was waiting for her. Soon she was laying in the tub closing her eyes and enjoying the way the warmth relaxed her body.

"Hey, someone else wants to join. If you don't mind," Mike said, and her eyes fluttered open. A naked Emma was kicking happily in the air. Kate sat up and took Emma, placing her on her lap with her little back against Kate's stomach. And Mike sat next to them on the ground.

"It looks like Emma's enjoying it," Mike said as bubbles flew away with their daughter kicking the water.

"Yes, she is. She loves her bath times." Kate's eyes rested in Emma for a few moments before raising them towards Mike. "Thank you for this; it's exactly what I needed."

"You deserve it, Kate."

"So, what have you been buying, besides vanilla bath balls and groceries."

"I found some pamphlets to look for the next nursery."

"Mike"

"Kate… it's only a look. There's no need to decide anything yet."

"Ok"

They talked for a good amount of time watching Emma playing with the bubble. She was touching it and squealing happily. Soon, Mike stood up and grabbed a towel, unwrapping it he walked towards them.

"Come on, sweetie. Bath time's over, I'll bet your hungry," Emma looked up at Mike, then ignored him splashing around. They grownups chuckled, and Kate picked her up and pushed her towards Mike. "Come on, let's get you dressed while mummy enjoys her bath."

Kate watched them go before she moved to turn the hot water on again, once the water returned to a comfortable hot she relaxed back closing her eyes again. Almost an hour passed by until Kate joined Mike in the kitchen wearing baggy pants and a top.

"How was your bath?"

"Awesome, thanks. And Emma?"

"Well, I've given her dinner, and she started to fall asleep. So she's in bed. I think all that fun in the bath tired her out," Kate smiled watching him placing their food on plates.

"She's going to miss you tomorrow."

"And you are not?" He said smiling

"Course I'm going to miss you, Mike."

She kissed him before she picked the plat with a garlic bread on it and turned around towards the dining area. Mike followed her, and they sat down to have dinner.

"I've been thinking about the nursery themes for the twins," Kate said as she took a bite of her lasagna

"Have you?" she nodded. "What's your idea?"

"I think we should go with the same Emma has."

"Pink rooms? What if one of them is a boy?" She rolled her eyes.

"We can go for blue if they are both boys or sea blue-green if there's one of each."

"I like it," Mike said after a while of thinking about it. Kate smiled, and they continued talking while having dinner.