"Care to give me an update on the case?" Nikki asked as Harry sat down next to her on the sofa and handed her a glass of red wine before allowing her to snuggle into him and wrapped one arm around her shoulder.

"Well the police came today, apparently they don't get much action up here so they wanted to get in on the action as quickly as possible, and they are going to take the fingerprints of every adult in the town tomorrow just for reference in case we find anything with useable prints"

Nikki made a small noise to make sure Harry knew she was listening and then let out a contented sigh and snuggled further into Harry and allowed him to take her glass from her and put it on the table. Harry then reached up and ran his hand gently through her hair before pressing a kiss onto the top of her head.

"Can we try" Harry asked suddenly and Nikki looked up at him and frowned "For a baby I mean"

"But...we're not married" Nikki stated and Harry shook his head

"So?"

"And we've only just got together"

"Yeah you're right it was a stupid idea" Harry shrugged and looked away from Nikki but she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek and moved his head so he was looking at her again.

"No it's not, it's a perfectly reasonable idea" Nikki assured her lover "I just wanted to make sure you meant it and knew what you were saying"

"I did mean it" Harry nodded "and you know we don't have to be married to have children, are you still stuck in the dark ages Nikki?"

"Shut up" Nikki giggled as she slapped him on the chest "Leave me alone"

"Fine then" Harry joked as he went to get up but Nikki refused to move and pulled him down again before kissing him passionately.

"Don't you dare" she whispered against his lips before moving away and laying her head on his chest again "and yes we can try for a baby"

She missed Harry's happy grin as he heard this.

"People may think we are rushing things" Nikki added after a few seconds and Harry's grin faded as he thought she was changing her mind.

"Ah but those people can keep their opinions to themselves" Harry told her "They don't know us so they can't judge us"

"I was talking about Leo" Nikki told him and looked back up at him worry in her eyes "I mean what's he going to think when we go back? He sent us up here, both of us single with no indication we are going to get together, to do a case and we go back as lovers trying for a baby"

"Simple. We just don't tell him we are trying and when you get pregnant we feign surprise"

"You've thought all about this haven't you?" Nikki asked as she chuckled and Harry nodded.

"But I have been in love with you for so long Nikki I don't care what anyone says anymore and I want to start a family with you" Harry told her and Nikki silenced him with a kiss.

"Is there a hot water bottle in this house?" Nikki asked suddenly as she pulled away and Harry winced sympathetically before standing up to go and find one for her.

--------

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked as he climbed into bed, Nikki had ventured to bed an hour beforehand but was still awake.

"Like my stomach is getting ripped out" she replied evenly and buried her face in her pillow "I hate men sometimes"

"We're sorry" Harry told her as he lay down and pulled her closer to him "That we don't understand what you go through"

"I don't know why the men up here see women as inferior" Nikki sighed as she opened her eyes and turned her head slightly "Or just generally men in history really. I mean we go through this every month just for the simple fact that we aren't pregnant, and then when we get pregnant we have to carry around extra weight for nine months, not to mention the morning sickness, the hormones, the swollen ankles and then we have to give birth to the children and then we have to stay at home to..." her rant was silenced by Harry's lips on hers.

"I think you are amazing" Harry told her as he broke away from her "Now do you want some painkillers?"

"No thank you" Nikki shook her head and moved back slightly so she closer to him and pulled the duvet further up her body "Just hold me and I'll be fine"

-------

"Good morning" Harry grinned as he walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Nikki who was waiting for the kettle to boil, she was still in her pyjamas and to Harry looked like she was in pain "Are you still in pain?"

"How do you know?" Nikki asked as she turned to him with a confused look on her face as he shrugged and pressed a kiss onto her lips.

"I can tell" he replied

Nikki suddenly felt extremely happy that Harry could understand what she was feeling just by looking at her, it made her feel very loved and special.

"I'll take some tablets and I'll be fine" Nikki gave him a small smile "Us women are used to it"

"Stop making me feel guilty" Harry whined as he kissed her again and Nikki scoffed and shook her head.

"I didn't say it to make you feel guilty"

"Of course you didn't" Harry replied sarcastically "I'm going back to the field up top today"

Nikki groaned and turned in his arms, ignoring the kettle as it finished boiling.

"Harry we've been up there twice already" she moaned "How many times do you want to trek up that hill?"

"We still haven't found the murder weapon" Harry explained "I want to see if we've missed it or if it was buried in one of the graves. Are you coming or not?"

"I suppose so" Nikki sighed dramatically "A walk might do me good anyway"

------

"Good morning" came Arabella's voice as Harry and Nikki walked past her house "How are you?" this was directed to Nikki.

"I'm fine now" Nikki nodded and gave Arabella a smile "Thank you for yesterday, I needed that chat"

"Some of the women are meeting here tonight" the younger woman informed Nikki who nodded and glanced at Harry who motioned with his head towards Arabella's house as if giving her his permission "Come around at about five"

"I'll be there" Nikki confirmed then turned and walked away with Harry in the direction of the farm "You know they aren't the meek humble women the men think they are"

"Really" Harry said "So they are kind of like you then, pretending"

"I suppose they are but I don't have to act like this for the rest of my life" Nikki replied as they got to the bottom of the hill.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Harry asked Nikki seriously but she could see his mouth twitching as he tried not to laugh.

"Are you mocking me?" Nikki gasped "I am not in the right frame of mind for you to be mocking me Cunningham"

"I do apologise my love" Harry sighed and grasped her hand tightly "I'll make it up to you when I can"

"Good" Nikki grinned and looked up at the hill "Come on then, let's get it over and done with"

I have an entire day off school tomorrow so there will be major re-typing of 'Balance'..I might even upload a chapter or two..and some more chapters of this story will be writen as well.

xxx