Frankie was curled up on the settee in Graces office, the blinds closed and the door shut. Grace was stood making tea, a small corner of her office turned into a space for a kettle, cups, containers for tea, sugar and even coffee and spoons. When the tea was made Grace placed the two cups on the small coffee table and sat beside Frankie. Frankie didn't move much, just curled further into herself.
"Frankie, it's really not that bad." Patting Frankie's leg as she turned to look at her friend.
"Grace, I just don't know how I feel about it. If I even want to do it all again, if he wants to do it again." Shifting enough so she was sat up a little, her arms still wrapped around her midsection.
"Frankie, we both know how he will feel. What this really boils down to is how you feel. This is more about you than anyone else. You have to decide what is best for you." Picking up the two cups from the table and passing one to Frankie.
Frankie took the cup and sighed, she had no idea.
"I've just got back to work full time, Imogen is settled at the childminders, my jeans just fit me again, and my boobs finally belong to me again." Taking a sip of her tea as she groaned. "Grace, you've known me long enough. You know what I was like when we met, how I felt about commitment, marriage, kids." Sitting up properly so she could look at Grace. "Me and Boyd, I never thought it would end up like this. The house, the kid, the unwritten long term thing. Even after all this time it still scares the shit out of me. When I go home, bath Imogen and put her to bed, I just look at her, watch her sleeping. I'm still in awe she's mine. I don't know if I can go through all that again. How will I juggle two kids, work, Boyd?" Knowing the last one was the most difficult of all of them.
"Frankie, you've come a long way since we first met. You and Peter, that's the easiest one to work out. He loves you, more than he ever loved anyone in his life. It was you he turned to when he needed help, you he called, it was you who helped him deal with Luke's death. You were there to pick the pieces up, stick him back together. You made him whole, gave him a reason to get up every day. When you told him you were pregnant, you put the finally piece of the jigsaw together. If you have another baby, you know he'll be over the moon. He will be just as attentive, just as protective, just as stubborn when it comes to you working." Grace having every faith in her words about the relationship between the head of the cold case unit and it's lead pathologist.
"One child, two children, Frankie, you end up just as knackered. But you do get two lots of hugs, two little people who will make you laugh, cry, and smile until your face aches. Frankie, you're a great mum, and you'll be just as great the second time around. Just look at Imogen, she living proof of that. Now, go back to work, then sleep on it, see how you feel tomorrow. But know that no matter what you decide, we will all be here to support you, especially Peter." Taking Frankie's hand in hers as she attempted to reassure her friend.
"Thanks, Grace. I know you're right." Standing up as Grace let go of her hand.
Frankie made her way back to the solitude of her lab, one hand in her lab coat pocket. When she entered the lab all but two of the lab techs had gone home, the remaining ones cleaning up after the day's autopsy and filing away the last reports.
"You guys get yourself home, I'll finish up here." Wishing them both a good night when they left.
Once everything was cleared away she went and sat in the back office, turning the lab lights off but leaving a couple of lamps on. Sitting at her desk she switched her laptop on and tried to work, yet she was getting nowhere fast. She closed the reports she had been reading and stared at the laptops screensaver. The screensaver was made up of many smaller pictures. In the centre was a old picture, the original still sat to the right of the laptop in its battered brown frame. She remembered when the picture being taken like it was just yesterday, even though it was nearly ten years ago. She was the only one looking at the camera, Boyd was looking at her. They were both happy, laughing, enjoying the moment. It had been cold the day was picture was taken, or course the beach would be cold in February. They both had big overcoats on, a way to keep out the chill. They had their arms around other, enjoying the fact they were away from home and could share such an intimate moment. Frankie had no idea when the picture was taken that would be the last time they would spend time together as a couple, for many years to come anyway.
The pictures surrounding the centre one were again of Frankie and Boyd, some of them together, some on them on their own. The ones of both Frankie and Boyd together seemed to all be focused on Frankie's every growing bump. After them came pictures of scans mixed in with pictures of Imogen after she born. The ones that sat in two top corners were of Frankie with Imogen, while the two bottom corners were of Boyd and Imogen. Family pictures that showed how two had became three.
Frankie looked down at her now perfectly flat abdomen, her hand resting on it protectively. It was then she made her mind up, not that it was a major decision to make. She had never wanted to have kids, never saw herself as a mum. Then Boyd came along, turned her whole upside down. When Imogen was born she had rested a hand on her newborn daughter, taking in the wonder of what she had created, what Boyd and her had created together. Grace was right, one child or two children it made no difference, she would love them both. She shut her laptop down, and headed for the door, making sure the lights were off and the safe was locked.
She was halfway up the stairs when she saw Boyd open the door at the top to head down.
"I was just heading down to get you." Boyd told her as she stopped where she was.
"Please say we haven't got a case, we're due to pick Imogen up in thirty minutes." Looking at her watch then back up to Boyd.
"No, all clear. Let's go get our baby and go home." Holding out his hand as Frankie climbed the last few stairs to meet him.
Frankie went to the childminders while Boyd went home to start preparing tea. He ran Imogens bath so it was ready when Frankie came back in, then they swapped so he bathed their daughter while Frankie finished making tea. Boyd came downstairs twenty five minutes later with Imogen wrapped in her bath towel. He had her pyjamas over his shoulder and her nappy in his hand. He sat in the living room getting her dried and ready while Frankie dished out the tea.
"You two ready?" Frankie's head appearing around the living room door as Boyd wrestled Imogens pyjama top on her.
"All done." Boyd exclaimed as he stood up and hoisted Imogen on to his right hip.
Frankie stepped forward and took Imogen for Boyd, carrying her through to the kitchen as Boyd followed behind them. Even though Imogen had had her tea they always sat her with them at the table and she had supper before bed. With the very antisocial hours they worked they liked to spent as much time together as a family as possible. When everyone was finished Frankie picked Imogen up and carried her upstairs to the nursery, Boyd cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher.
When Boyd entered the nursery the lights were low, stars were being protected on the ceiling from a mobile while Frankie sat in a rocking chair, Imogen sleepily suckling on her breast. Frankie looked up as Boyd entered, stroking her daughters hair absently. He perched on the dresser behind Frankie, reaching out and stroking the baby's cheek. Imogen gave a great big yawn and gave up feeding, tiredness winning out. Boyd stood up and went to get the baby, easing her out of Frankie's arms as he went to place her gently in her cot. He cuddled her close, kissed her head, and stroked her cheek before placing her in her cot and tucking her in. Frankie had covered herself back up, looking again at her abdomen before standing up. Standing beside Boyd she leaned against him, sliding her arm around his waist. He slid his arm around her waist as they both looked at the sleeping baby.
"You think this room is big enough for two babies?" The question coming out before Frankie's brain could even stop her mouth from saying it.
"What?" Boyds brain trying to figure out what Frankie was on about.
"The nursery, would it be big enough to fit two babies in?" Smiling up at Boyd as he looked around the room and then back at her.
"Why would it need to fit two," stopping mid way through asking when he twigged, Frankie giggling nervously as she saw the comprehension dawn on Boyds face.
"Come on, let's talk about this somewhere that won't wake our daughter up." Leading Boyd out the nursery and into the living room.
Frankie sat down, pulling Boyd down with her as he seemed to be in a trance.
"So?" Frankie asked turning to Boyd as she watched his face carefully.
"I just, are you," the bristles of his beard making a scratching sound as he rubbed his hand over his face as he tried to take in what Frankie was hinting at.
"I'm pregnant." Finally saying the words out loud.
"Another baby, we're having another baby?" The shock clear in his voice and on his face.
"That's generally what being pregnant means, or it did when I told you last time." Laughing as Boyd still tried to grasp what she had said.
"Wow, Imogen is only nine months old." As if stating how old their daughter was would change anything.
"Yes, she is only nine months old now, I was there when she was born. But she'll be a year and a half when the baby arrives, close enough in age to grow up together." Her hands folded in her lap as she wrung her hands together.
"Yeah, she will be. Are you sure you want to do this all again? You've just got back to work full time, your figure back to pre-baby, we'll most of it." Eyeing up her breasts as he said the last part.
"I'm sure. I know how much Imogen changed my life, how much she's changed yours. We have room for two babies, so yeah, let's do this." Smiling as she watched Boyd smile.
Frankie found herself being pushed back into the settee, Boyd pushing her down as he pinned her under him and wrapped her in a hug. Boyd shifted so they were both lying side by side on the settee, Frankie head on Boyd's shoulder.
Boyd pushed Frankie's t-shirt up enough to see her abdomen, letting his fingers dance over the faint stretch marks she had gained when she was pregnant with Imogen.
"I can't believe you're pregnant again." His fingers stilling as he placed his hand palm down on her abdomen.
"At least this baby wasn't conceived on some dark, cold, middle of nowhere country road." Placing her hand on top of his as she spoke.
"Don't tell me this was from the night Mel and Spencer got married?" The amusement in his voice as he asked.
"Has to be since we haven't done it since. We've been working or to bloody knackered." Turning so she was facing him.
"Wait till they find out, Mels never going to let us live this down." Placing a kiss on his jaw.
"You up for a repeat performance?" Wiggling his eyebrow as she kissed his jaw again.
"Always, daddy." Making Boyd growl as he kissed her.
They did make it to the bedroom eventually, stopping in the hall, on the stairs and on the upstairs landing to strip off clothes. They made love slowly, Boyd worshipping every inch of Frankie's body. When they lay sweaty and sated afterwards Frankie curled up to Boyd's chest, feeling him spoon up behind her.
"I love you, Boyd." The use of his surname still being used when they were intimate.
"I love you too, Frankie, both of you." Kissing her temple before he nuzzled her neck.
"A family of four, who would have thought," Frankie whispered as she closed her eyes.
"Another chance to be a family. That's more than I ever dreamed of, even more now it's growing." Boyd's voice thick with emotion.
Frankie and Boyd feel asleep, spooned together, dreaming of babies and the future making them both smile.