Following on from when Josh and Sophie went to see his parents

Back in Melbourne

Josh doesn't make any grand announcements at work, it's not his style. Everyone does notice however that he is remarkably happy, in fact downright chirpy which is unusual and disquieting ! They mutter between themselves; whatever the problem was with Sophie it seems to have been sorted.

After work

Lawson didn't want to ask in front of the others, but he is curious, something has obviously happened. They are walking out of base together at the end of their shift.

Lawson; "So, it's all sorted then is it Josh, you and Sophie ? No more time off to sort out lover's tiffs ?"

Josh; "No mate, circle me in for heaps of over-time"

Lawson is a bit worried by that statement. Does it mean that Josh has broken up with her and wants to drown himself in work ?

Lawson; "That's keen"

Josh; "Yep, need the money, got another mouth to feed soon….."

Lawson stops walking; "What ? You're kidding !"

Josh smiles; "Nuh, I'm not kidding"

Lawson; "Well, congrats then ! Who would've thought ?"
Josh chuckles; "Not you , hey ?"
Lawson; "Well then, lets go have a beer together. "

Josh; "Oh…. we should and we will, but not right today, I have to meet Sophie now, um, we're going shopping"

Lawson; "Shopping ? You hate shopping !"

Josh; "She needs my wallet ! We're shopping for an engagement ring"

Lawson; "What ! That too ! Geez, you don't believe in one step at a time ! Well, I'll be damned."

Lawson gives him a congratulatory hug and slaps him on the back.

Josh; "Listen, don't tell the others just yet will you ? I'd like to do it"

Lawson; "No worries mate"

Lawson walks off without Josh. He mutters to himself; "Unbelievable !"

Josh meets up with Sophie, she's smiling and he thinks she looks stunning.

Josh; "Hi gorgeous !"
Sophie; "How was your day ?"
Josh; "Just a quiet one, no real dramas."

Sophie; "Did you tell anyone our news ?"
Josh; "Which bit of news ? Don't know where to start ! No, actually I did tell Lawson but that's all for now, he'll keep quiet."

Sophie; "Why don't you tell the others ?"

Josh; "Lawson is really the only one that I trust completely……..I am going to tell the others but for now I like it being our little secret. I couldn't hide it from Lawson, he already started interrogating me !"

Sophie walks next to him, he has his arm around her protectively. Josh is astounded to think that there is a little Jophie growing inside her…….what a revelation !

Josh; "So, let's get this ring, hey ? What do you want, a giant rock ?"

Sophie; "Don't worry Josh, I don't like huge flashy things, I'm not going to bankrupt you !"

Josh; "Well, that's reassuring !"

They go into a couple of different jewelers and Sophie eventually chooses a delicate sapphire ring, she likes blue. Josh is happy with her choice and relieved to have finished the mission.

A couple of days later

Sophie is showing off her engagement ring to a few of her Uni. friends.

Lisa; "Wow, I can't believe it ! Who would have thought that quiet little Sophie was charming a rugged cop !"

Sophie: "Oh, stop it Lisa ! You've known about him for months !"

Lisa; "That's right, remember when he first turned up at the exhibition ? Standing in the corner looking so stern and intimidating !"

Jasmine; "And sexy too !"
Lisa; "Watch out, he's Sophie's man now !"
Jasmine; "I remember clearly what you said back then !"

They giggle together.

Jasmine; "So, what's going to happen with your studies Sophie ?"
Sophie; "Oh, who knows, it wasn't really going anywhere anyway. I've spent so many years changing from one thing to another….."

Lisa; "And you're not doing that again ? Hello ?"

Sophie; "I know, you're right…….but it's just the right moment with Josh…."

Jasmine; "Watch out ! She's going to start gushing again about that hero-cop of her's !"

Lisa; "Oh, if only you could set me up with one of his hot mates !"

Sophie; "Lisa ! Who do you mean ? Do you like someone ?"

Jasmine; "Uh oh !"

Lisa; "Well, maybe, who was he with the other day ? When we dropped you off at the pub ?"

Jasmine; "Oh, that's right ! Lisa was pretty interested in that bloke !"

Lisa; "Might be a bit too old for me though !"
Sophie; "Are you talking about Lawson ?"

Lisa; "No idea, I don't know what his name was……..let's see, hot, handsome, dark hair, serious looking"

Sophie; "Definitely sounds like Lawson, he didn't have a big goofy smile did he ? Because that's Dom and he's already married with a kid"

Lisa; "No, no goofy smile, too serious. Hmm, I do like a serious man !"

Sophie hits her on the arm; " Stop ! You're just pulling my leg"

Jasmine; "No she's not Sophie. She really couldn't take her eyes off him."

Sophie; "Interesting, so when was this again ?"
Lisa; "Are you already losing half your brain in the first trimester Sophie ?"
Sophie; "Huh ?"

They all laugh.

Sophie quizzes Josh that night in bed.

Sophie; "Remember the other day, the girls dropped me off at that pub and you drove me home ?"
Josh; "Yeah……."

Sophie; "Well, who was with you at the pub again ? I forgot."
Josh; "Why ? Who cares ?"

Sophie; "Josh ?"
Josh; "Lawson of course, why ?"
Sophie smiles to herself. So Lisa has the hots for Lawson, interesting indeed.

Josh; "Hello…..Earth to Sophie ? What's this about then ?"
Sophie; "Oh….just the girls were asking who you were with…."

Josh; "And ?"

Sophie; "Well, maybe one of them thought he was hot, ok ?"
Josh; "Really ? Who ?"
Sophie; "Come on Josh, it's just girl talk, and if I tell you , you'll go straight to Lawson, and what if I'm wrong and she didn't really like him ?"
Josh; "Alright then, but do some more investigating will you ? Because Lawson is a lonely old sod feeling sorry for himself, although he would never give that impression at work. He needs a girl and your friends are nice AND cute….just like you !"

And he pulls her over close to him in the bed, except that there's a growing bump in the way !

Josh reveals to the others

Josh to Sophie; "How do you feel about organizing a little picnic on the weekend ?"

Sophie; "Sure, why ?"
Josh; "Well, I guess not that little a picnic……..how about we invite our friends and I share our good news with all my crew who are in the dark ?"

Sophie; "Oh Josh, why don't you just tell them ?"
Josh; "Well, it never seems to be the right time, and, maybe I need you to support me ?"

He smiles sheepishly.

Josh: "Besides with you standing there in a tight dress or t-shirt half the news will be pretty obvious, Stella will certainly catch on real quick !"

Sophie; "Josh !"
Josh; "And you could invite your friend, whichever one it is, who likes Lawson !"
Sophie; "Hmmm, interesting………..Ok then"

Josh knew that would get her interested and keen to organize something.

Sophie; "But where are we going to do it ? We can't fit them in here !"

Josh; "Oh no, they're not coming to the apartment !" He thinks to himself, no way am I ever letting Stella on my home turf ! "We can do it at the local park, they have a nice picnic area there and enough space to play a game of footy, throw a Frisbee or whatever, spread some picnic rugs and chairs around."

Sophie; "Ok then. Do we need official invitations ?"
Josh; "No ! "

She starts organizing it. They re-think the official invitations though and print out some simple little reminder notices with the date and location etc.

At Josh's work.

Lawson to Josh; "When are you going to tell the others mate ?"

Josh; "Soon, don't worry, it's under control. We are going to have a picnic with all our friends."

Lawson; "You count everyone here as a friend ?"

Josh; "Well………"

Lawson chuckles.

Josh; "Oh, this is too complicated."
Lawson; " I don't know why you didn't just tell them"

Josh; "Will you come if we have a picnic, I mean, a Barbie at the park ?"
Lawson; "Sure, as long as the footy isn't on !"

Josh; "Well give me some dates then ! You gotta come mate."

Lawson; "Well that's nice of you"

Josh; "I need someone to support me ! " when in actual fact he needs Lawson there to set him up with Sophie's friend.

In the end they can't conceal what the picnic/Barbie is about and Josh has to reveal that it is an informal engagement party. Of course now everyone wants to buy them presents and Josh feels that it the whole thing is a giant beast that he can't control !