A.N- so after tonight's episode I did feel slightly guilty about jumping on the Christine hate wagon (no spoilers here) so I might do a slight plot twist later on where Nikki learns to appreciate her, thoughts? Thanks again to all those who favourited and reviewed! Also I don't feel I'm great a dialogue it can feel a bit tedious as some of the more exiting things are happening inside their heads rather than being spoken? Let me know that you think.

5. The barbeque.

The family of three stood on the doorstep, behind Tom's back josh pulled a face at Nikki as his father knocked on the door with the cheesecake he had chosen in his hands, carefully cradling it like a baby. Nikki smiled at Josh and pulled an unenthusiastic face back.

A smiling Christine answered the door and gestured them to come in. she pressed a kiss on both of toms cheeks.

'Hi Tom, come in, come in, oooh cheesecake lovely! Michael's out the back he's getting the barbeque sorted'

Nikki was next over the threshold and received an awkward kiss on the cheek.

'Hi Nikki, you look lovely'

'Thank you' said Nikki patting her dress down she wasn't too sure how to take a compliment off someone she disliked, but she decided for Tom's sake to be as pleasant as was physically possible for her.

Josh avoided the cheek kissing and hand shaking as Connor had heard the fuss from downstairs and called his friend up stairs to come and look at some English coursework he and Imogen had been working on, Josh had studied their books the previous year so Connor had wondered if Josh could shed any light on the mystery of Tennyson's 'The lotos-eaters'. He nodded politely at Christine as he wiped his feet on the door mat and made his way upstairs leaving Nikki still stood in the hallway.

'Come through, come through', ugh why was she saying things twice, Christine ushered her through into the kitchen where she had laid out a colourful array of salads to accompany their barbequed food.

'Wow, Christine, you've excelled yourself' said Nikki, genuinely surprised at the amount of effort she had gone to, she remembered the bought cheesecake and suddenly felt a tinge of guilt.

'Is there anything I can do? To help I mean? You look to have a lot on the go' asked Nikki.

'No, no I think everything is just about under control' Christine got two wine glasses down out of the cupboard and began to fill them with wine, 'is white ok?'

Nikki froze 'yep, that's great' she gingerly took the glass of wine and peered into the bottom of it.

Christine smiled at the other woman taking a gulp of her own drink, and proceeding to take two beers out of the fridge that she took outside to Tom and Michael. Whilst Christine had momentarily stepped outside to provide the men with light refreshments, Nikki spotted a wilting pot plant, hesitating for a only second she poured a sizable amount of wine into the pot (to pour it all out would be slightly obvious now wouldn't it) 'sorry' she whispered.

The seven of them were all cosily seated around the garden furniture; Nikki sat next to Tom who was talking loudly about football scores with Michael. On her other side Imogen was clinging on to Connor's arm whilst he and Josh were discussing this week's episode of 'game of thrones' Nikki listened intently to both conversations whilst tucking into her plate of food (which in Christine's defence was delicious)

'Nikki, are you ready for a top up' asked Christine, not waiting for a reply but filling Nikki's glass once again.

Not for the first time tonight she smiled awkwardly at the blonde.

Tom noticed his girlfriend wasn't behaving like her usual self,

'You alright love?' he asked with an air of mild concern.

'Yeah fine' she answered quickly, 'Christine, do you mind if I just use your bathroom?'

'Of course not, make yourself at home and all that'

'Thank you' and with that Nikki left the table.

Once she got into the kitchen she let out a sigh of relief and moved over to the sink where she emptied her glass of wine.

'Nikki?' Christine's voice came from behind her, Nikki was sure the gasp she let out when she realised that Christine had seen was audible. 'What are you-? Are you?, you're pregnant!'

Nikki just stood there, wine glass still in hand; it was as much as she could do to hold on to it.

'I.. No..I just.. I mean' she sighed it was out, 'Christine, please don't say anything i-'

'Ohh, Tom doesn't know yet does he' said Christine knowingly, 'don't have kittens Nikki, you're little secret is safe with me' she tapped her nose and walked back out into the garden. Somehow Nikki didn't trust her slurred promise, she would have to tell Tom in case something was let slip, and she didn't want him to find out like that. She was going to tell him. Tonight.

The rest of the evening went without any hitches but Nikki was glad when she was snuggled up in bed next to Tom. She rested her head on his shoulder listening to his breathing as he flicked though his copy of 'God of small things' making a few notes with a pencil as he read. She nuzzled his shoulder, they were so peaceful.

'Tom' she said finally.

He turned to her, 'yes love', his lips brushing her forehead so that his nose rested in her hair; he loved the smell of her shampoo. She pulled away.

'Tom im pregnant' she said, and for a moment she wasn't sure whether she had actually said anything, she searched Tom's face for any signs of a reaction 'Tom?'

'How long have you-'

'since Monday' she replied.

He smiled at her, meeting her eyes. 'why did you feel you had to keep that from me? Its fantastic' he said pulling Nikki close.

'I just, I couldn't be sure I was actually, you know, and tonight Christine saw me, I was pouring my wine down the sink, she figured it out, I didn't want her to tell you'

Tom chuckled, 'you weren't missing out, the wine was rank'

'Tom, will you tell Josh'

'Yeah'

They both fell silent, they felt there was nothing more to say although both their minds were buzzing. They lay in each other's arms and slept until morning.