Ch75

ET arrived home only to open the door and find an envelope on the floor. Frowning, he picked it up and walked to his bedroom. After lowering his bag on his bed, he opened the envelope pulling out the letter. He was shocked when he finished it. He looked at his watch and shook his head, before he headed for the shower and then, for Nikki's house.

The first thing Nikki noticed when she arrived at home, was the envelope. She picked it up and took it over to her room; she plopped herself on the bed and took the letter out. She smiled when she finished, folding it before placing it on the envelope.

Nikki stood up, leaving her duffel bag on the bed, and sorted her things out before heading for a much-needed hot shower.

She only noticed how long she was in when the doorbell rang and she quickly toweled herself dry before putting on her robe.

"I'm coming!" she shouted as she ran towards the front door. She let the door open slightly, and she saw ET standing out there.

"Hey! Come in!" she said moving to open the door. He couldn't but notice that her hair was wet, and she was wearing her robe.

He walked inside and took a deep breath as she closed and locked the door. ET looked at her in the eyes and cupped her face before he lowered his head and kissed her softly. Her arms wrapped around him and when he attempted to end the kiss, she kissed him passionately. She pushed him back towards her room, and soon they were slowly making their way to her room.

"You know that if the Navy finds out about this, we will be in trouble, right?" She whispered against his chest, an hour later. He caressed her cheek softly.

"I'm going to ask for a transfer when Hammersley's decommissioned in November."

"That's ten months from now."

"Yeah, but we can do it, Nikki."

"Can we? Without crossing the line, I mean."

"I guess we could if we set some ground rules." Nikki rolled over until she was lying on top of him.

"Hum, like not flirting while on patrol? Or in front of anyone else?"

"That's going to be hard. Especially with you on the uniform," he grinned at her.

"Josh!" she laughed slapping him on the shoulder.

"Cold showers for a while," he sighed making her chuckle.

"I'm sure you can handle it."

"Me? What about you?"

"I can handle it."

"What else?"

"No kissing! Unless we are here or at your place."

"I'll try!"

"Josh," she warned.

"I said I'll try. There is one thing we can do between now and November."

"What's that?" Josh moved over to the side and picked his jeans from the floor. "Aha!" he said when he found what he was looking.

"Nikki," he started as her eyes widened when she noticed the box. "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you agree to marry me?" He finished opening the box to reveal a half carat round diamond set in a white gold band.

"Oh, Josh!" she smiled with a tear running on her face. "Yes, yes! I will marry you!" Grinning he slipped the ring on her finger. Nikki moved forward and kissed him, rolling both until he was on top when they broke apart, he looked down at her.

"You know? This will be definitively a secret until the transfer," Nikki said

"Yes," he chuckled. "At least we will have a lot of time to plan the wedding."

"And what exactly made you buy the ring?"

"I received another letter," he confessed. "I guess it arrived while we were out on patrol."

"I received one; there was a date on it. February twentieth of 2018." Nikki said

"Mine said that date was our window of opportunity."

"Yes, but what that's supposed to mean?"

"I'm not sure," ET phone interrupted them. He rolled off Nikki and picked his phone. "Hello? Hey, mate! Nah, I'll meet you guys there. Yeah, sure!" He smiled turning to Nikki. "Chefo, he wanted to know if I needed a lift to the boss place." Nikki blanched and jumped out of bed.

"OMG! I forgot about the party!" ET smiled as he got up as they both started getting dressed.

"We can't show up at the same time," Josh said,

"I know. Look you call a taxi and head over there, and I will be there soon as I can," she nodded walked out to call the taxi. As she was talking with the company, Josh placed a kiss on her shoulder and waved leaving her place.

"Nav! You made it," Kate welcomed her when she arrived, an hour after Josh had left her place. "Everyone is in the garden."

"I'm sorry I'm so late," she blushed and noticed the party was in full swing.

"Don't worry; it wasn't set in stone." Kate winked at her.

"Auntie Nikki!" Emma said running over to Nikki, who crouched down to pick Emma up.

"My, Emma! You are getting bigger every time I see you," Emma giggled hugging her tightly.

"Wait until you see the boys," Kate added pointing towards ET and Buffer who had them in their laps. "And you are speaking of which boys?" Nav asked with a grin making them all laugh

"Mine!" They laughed. "Wine?"

"Ah, I guess I'll go with Guava mojo," Kate frowned, but Nav pointed her towards Charge who was making drinks with the help of Chefo.

"Oh well, I was wondering how long it would take for Charge to find the drinks," Kate said, making them all laugh.

After an appropriate time waiting for everyone to show up, Kate and Mike invited them to sit for dinner. There was a lot of food including cold meat, salads, baby potatoes with garlic butter and mini hash browns with truffles.

For dessert, there was cheesecake brandy snaps, ice cream, fruit salad, chocolate covered strawberries, and pavlovas. Drinks included wine, beer, soft drinks, juices and Charge signature guava mojo.

"Can we have everyone's attention, please? Swain called, standing up and helping Sally up. "We've got an announcement to make!"

"Sally and I've been to the Doctor before coming here, and we have shocking news to share," he said loudly, surrounding Sally's shoulder with his arm. "As you all might know: Sally's pregnant."

"Congratulations, mate!" Buffer said, and a round of congratulations followed. Swain raised his hand quickly to stop them. "Hang on! There's more to the news!" He grinned. "We are having twins!"

"Gee, Swain! You have been a naughty boy while on shore leave!" ET said, making everyone laugh

"Thanks a lot, ET."

"How far along are you, Sally?" Nikki asked Sally lowered her hand to her stomach, and her baby bump was already noticeable.

"I'm due at the end of June, but with twins, it might be may." She grinned, after that, the guys gave Swain a hard time while the women talked to Sally.

"Swain! Remember the talk we had on Christmas day on the bridge?" Mike asked, and Swain nodded.

"Yeah," he smiled. "You said that we might have twins."

"Hopefully one or two of them is a girl."

"I'm pretty sure we will love them whatever they turn out to be, sir."

"That's right."

Conversations about the past, present, and future came and went until around late when the last one of their guests left, and cleaning was due. After one, Mike and Kate finally crawled into bed for a few hours of sleep knowing their kids would wake them up sooner rather than later.

Kate and the kids remained in Cairns for three more days, before they had to fly back to Sydney and Mike spent every moment with them. Shopping, the park and the beach along with a visit to the Hammersley were ways of enjoying his family.

Once in Sydney, Kate helped the kids with their routine before she went to sort the bags. It wasn't until she was walking to the laundry room when she noticed the envelope on the floor. After leaving the things she was carrying, Kate took the envelope from the floor and read it on her way to the kitchen. She read the contents and lowered the letter to call Mike.

"Kate, made it ok?"

"Yeah, the kids are already watching a movie." From her tone alone, he knew something was off.

"It's something wrong? Did something happen during the flight? Or something?"

"No, not really. I mean, I've received another mysterious letter."

"Like the ones we received before we met?"

"Yup."

"And? Good news, I hope."

"It says I'll be moving to Cairns, next month."

"You are going to be transferred here?" He asked in disbelief

"Yes, supposedly I'll be there for six plus years," she added biting her lower lip.

"That would be great, Kate. Maybe a shore posting opens up or something."

"It could be, Mike. I don't want to get my hopes up in case it's wrong, you know?"

"I know. But it would be so great if you can make it."

"Yeah, well. I need to get back the kids. Talk to you soon?"

"As soon as I'm back. I love you."

"I love you more."

The next day, Kate returned to Watson Bay and the Hammersley left for a week patrol. Mike hoped that his new XO would be up to the task, but he was mistaken.

"Mike? What's wrong?" Steve asked once Mike entered his office a week after.

"Lieutenant Watson, that's what's wrong! The idiot thought he knew it all and almost send us to a collision course!"

"What?"

"What you've heard, Steve! The damn man changed the course during the night shift. Luckily Nav is amazing and noticed the change and checked the direction. She ordered to stop the engines and called me to the bridge. We were miles off course, and we were going straight to the reef!"

"How long did it take to return to course?"

"Fifteen hours!" The door opened, and Lieutenant Watson entered. "I want him off my ship, Steve."

"Lieutenant. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I changed the course to save time, sir." Mike turned to the Lieutenant

"You mean, you overruled and experienced Navigator and almost sink a Navy boat to take a shortcut through the reef? We lost not only fifteen hours of man time, but we also lost time and fuel, and we didn't reach to help a boat because you wanted to take a shortcut?!" Mike asked yelling at him. The Lieutenant gulped but didn't answer. Mike turned to Steve with raised eyebrows and clenching his jaw.

"I'll see what I can do, Mike. But you do leave tomorrow morning to take supplies to Port Moresby before a two-week patrol. I'm going to make some calls, but I can't promise anything."

"Alright"

"You can go, Mike. And when you get home, for the sake of the crew, give Kate a call," Steve added, making Mike smile.

"Will do. But let me know how things go with finding me a new XO."

"Sure, " Mike stood up and turned to leave the room. Watson stood up to follow Mike. "Lieutenant. You remain."

After a shower to cool off, Mike called Kate and explained what happened on his patrol; Kate couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"God, Mike. You guys were really lucky."

"Yeah, I've gotten a quick call from Steve before I called you. The Lieutenant is up for a Captain's table."

"It's what he deserves, right?"

"Yeah."

"And? Where are you?"

"In bed trying to relax," he huffed. "Why?"

"What are you wearing, Mike?" she asked mischievously.

"Why?" he asked was confused by the turn of the conversation.

"Well, I for once am wearing a green silk nightie. You know, the one you like," Mike smile remembering the last time she was wearing it

"Yes, I remember."

"The one you love how it feels against your skin…" she trailed, and Mike finally caught up. An hour later the call was ended, and Mike was finally able to sleep with a smile on his face.