When Harry got in from work that evening it was already nearly quarter past ten. Taking his shoes and coat off he left them in the hallway then walked into the living room expecting to see Nikki but found the room in darkness. Checking that all the doors and windows were secure Harry then walked upstairs and quietly in the dark bedroom where he switched on his bedside lamp to give himself a bit of light, but not enough to wake Nikki who was fast asleep. Glancing over at the lump in the bed that was Nikki, Harry smiled slightly and a sudden rush of guilt rushed through him when he realised that he had stayed at work and left his wife and children for longer than he should have done. Leaning over his wife he placed a kiss on her forehead and she shifted slightly before settling down again. Harry got ready for bed quickly and climbed into bed glad that he had the next day off, he wanted to get his case over and done with and get justice for the Ralf Fabel but he also wanted to spend time with his sons on their birthday. Nikki mumbled something inaudible when Harry pulled the duvet over himself and wrapped one arm around his wife's waist and placed a hand on her expanding stomach. The baby kicked out against his hand and he muffled his chuckle in Nikki's hair as he kissed the back of her head before laying his head on the pillow and tried to sleep.

Harry woke with a gasp some hours later and sat up slightly in bed, running his hand over his slightly sweaty face he let out a small sob and placed one hand over his mouth to muffle it slightly. Nikki groaned beside him and turned over to face him and frowned when she saw the tears in his eyes.

"Harry?"

He jumped and turned his head to look at Nikki and forced a smile onto his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Did I wake you?" Harry asked, ignoring Nikki's question "I'm sorry"

"Harry what's wrong?" Nikki repeated more forcibly and slowly sat up and placed one hand on her husbands face and was shocked to see tears on his cheeks. "What happened?"

"The case at work" Harry whispered and had to bite back another sob "A little boy, only about six months older than Edward and Graham, he was beaten to death by what looks like his father while his mother did nothing to stop it. He had been abused for a long time before that"

Nikki bit her lip to stop herself from crying as she thought of this and nodded slightly letting Harry continue

"I just dreamt…dreamt that it was..was our boys who were in his place, not beaten just…." Harry couldn't bring himself to say the word 'dead' and took a deep breath and shook his head. Pulling Nikki closer he buried his face in her hair and let out another sob, Nikki couldn't help the few tears that fell from her own eyes.

"I don't know how a father could do that to his child" Harry whispered into her hair as he kissed it then he sighed and pulled the duvet back and swung his legs over the side of the bed "I'm going to check on our boys" he told Nikki and she gave him a small smile and a nod before laying back down in bed and watching him walk out of the room. Wiping her face free of tears Nikki wondered how a mother could just stand by and watch someone, let alone the father, beat her child to death. Nikki let out a small sob as she thought about it and brought her hand to her stomach when the baby moved and she rubbed it gently to try and settle the baby down. Harry walked back into the room after a few minutes and lay back down next to his wife pulling her closer and laying one hand on her stomach.

"Edward was fast asleep, Graham woke up slightly when I kissed him but then went back to sleep and Darius was also fast asleep" he told her and leant down to kiss her as she nodded "I'm sorry for waking you up"

"It's fine" Nikki whispered "Have the police got the parents in custody?"

Harry shook his head and sighed

"Just the mother, the father hasn't been seen since before last night" Harry gave her another kiss and ran his hand up the front of Nikki's bed shirt to lay directly on her stomach. Placing his hand on the bottom of her bump he felt the baby move under his hand and couldn't help but smile as he thought of the baby that was just under his hand. "That's our baby" he whispered "You would think after two other pregnancies and three children I would have got used to it but…"

"You haven't" Nikki finished for him and Harry nodded "I know neither have I"

The baby shifted again and Nikki sighed and moved closer to Harry, his hand still under her top on her stomach.

"Will you tell your son…"

"Daughter"

"Will you tell your child to go to sleep Harry" Nikki said sleepily and Harry leant down and pushed the bed shirt up and over her bump and pressed a gentle kiss onto the smooth exposed stomach.

"Go to sleep little one" he whispered against the skin and continued to kiss it and looked up when Nikki sniffed slightly.

"Sorry" she said and gave him a watery smile "Hormones"

Harry nodded and pressed one last kiss on her stomach, a smile on his face, then pulled the top down over her stomach and moved up the bed to press a kiss on her lips.

"I love you" he whispered "So so much"

"Love you too" Nikki replied and ran one hand through her hair before Harry leant down and kissed her, he went to draw back but Nikki pushed his head back down and deepened the kiss before he could protest. "Harry" she moaned as he ran his hands up her sides "Harry I…" she gasped as Harry kissed his way down her neck "I need..y..you"

"Are you sure?" Harry whispered against her shoulder and Nikki groaned in frustration.

Does anyone watch Primval? It's back soon! Whoo! :D

xxx