Authors Notes: Just as the show had to come to an end, so does this story...Thankyou to everyone who has taken the time to read/follow/review this story. I hope you enjoy the final chapter :)

Chapter 9 - Marshall, Mike and Kate

It had been a little over 6 months since the explosion and Mike had settled in his shore posting and seemed to be able to handle all issues that came to hand. 'Seemed' thought Captain Marshall as he walked towards Mike's office and overheard him on the phone. Whoever he was speaking to, he didn't sound happy. Marshall watched Mike who was hunched over, head down. Not wanting to disturb him and curious as to who was on the other end of the phone line, Marshall decided to hover in the door until Mike noticed him. While he was waiting, it became clear who he was talking to. 'They are still the same' he chucked to himself.

"Look...I said I'd sort it...ok...I said OK..." as Mike looked up he saw he wasn't alone. Feeling tired, frustrated, and now uncomfortable that his CO was hearing a personal call, he quickly finished the conversation, "Listen, I have to go, I'll see you tonight...Yes, I'll sort it...You too, bye." Mike let out an exasperated sigh as he hung up the phone before standing to greet his superior, "Sir, something I can help you with?" He and Marshall may have been friends, but something about him still made Mike feel like a seaman at times.

"No, just letting you know I'm here, sorting out a replacement for Captain Bailey. Sounds like it's you that needs some assistance, something you need sorted out?" Marshall said with a certain smugness to his tone as he took a seat opposite Mike, motioning for Mike to sit down too. Over 5 years ago when he had assigned Kate to Hammersley he had hoped, well if he was honest with himself, he had prayed they wouldn't kill each other. He had never imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that they would end up married.

Mike thought about Marshall's question for a second, "Any chance we could crash sail Hammersley?" He asked hopefully, "Their CO is driving me crazy at home."

"Honeymoon over already Mike?" Marshall replied chuckling. He knew what they could both be like and was glad he and never ended up in the middle of one of their arguments.

Mike nodded "She's just a little...frustrated at how long the renovations are taking." He explained. Mike was frustrated himself, but between their wedding, Kate being away and his extra duties at Navcom, he just hadn't had the time to do as much as he wanted to. Buffer, who had returned as Kate's Bosun, Ryan, Bird, even 2Dads and RO had been around to help, but it still seemed like every time they turned around there was something else to do.

"Mike, you buy a house with your new wife that needs fixing, and sooner or later, they are going to want it fixed. I still don't understand why you moved, I thought Kate's place was in that new area down by the lake?" Marshall asked, both amused at Mike's predicament, and confused as to why he moved. He had never seen Kate's place but knew the area it was in, and most of the houses in that area were new and quite nice.

"It was, but she was renting, this place it bigger, single level. It's just easier long term this way." Mike tried to explain without giving away too many details. He didn't really want to tell his superior that they wanted a bigger house to fill it with children, and a single level house so that it was easy to carry his wife to bed after she fell asleep on the couch, or any other reason.

"I guess my invitation to the wedding must have been lost in the mail?" Marshall asked trying to hide his smirk. He had heard what happened and was enjoying toying with Mike.

Mike ran his hand through his hair nervously, "Ahh...There weren't any invitations. It was supposed to be just us." He explained, but obviously Marshall had heard what happened.

"What happened then, I heard half the Navy were there?" Marshall asked amused as how nervous Mike was.

"Well, Kate, both of us, wanted Ryan there, that's how Maxine found out and she wanted to come, something about building bridges. Then Ryan wanted to ask his girlfriend and Kate didn't mind, she's the Chefo on Hammersley," Mike was about to continue when Marshall cut him off.

"The young seaman Kate is trying to get into the medics program?" Marshall asked for clarification.

"Yeah, that's her." Mike confirmed before continuing, "And once she found out, well it wasn't long before the rest of the Hammersley crew found out, they told some of the old crew, and well, word sort of spread." Everyone who had served in the Navy knew how quickly news could spread, especially when that news was a former CO and XO getting married. When that CO was Mike 'married to the sea' Flynn, and the XO was Kate 'Princess Perfect' McGregor, every man and his dog turned up to see if it was true.

Marshall couldn't hold it any longer and let out a chuckle, "Kate must have loved that." He knew that she was a very private person, and although he would have liked to see them get married, he was on a job at the time, and was glad he wasn't anywhere near Cairns when Kate found out how many people were there.

"Not really," Mike joined Marshall in letting out a bit of a laugh as he remembered that morning, "but I managed to convince her it really was just the two of us on what happened to be a very crowded beach."

"Smooth talking." Marshall acknowledged, raising an eyebrow. He wondered exactly how much of that conversation Mike wouldn't repeat, and how he really managed to smooth things over with Kate.

"More like fast talking. How long are you up here for, Sir?" Mike asked trying to change the conversation. It was good to see Marshall again, but couldn't help but feel that he was being mocked.

Marshall realized that Mike had had enough and moved on, "Until the replacement is sorted. Just so you know you might be getting a tap on the shoulder later. I've put your name forward and there haven't been too many objections so far." Marshall said as Mike looked at Marshall to stunned to talk. Was he really being considered for promotion to Captain? How long had he been at Navcom? Surely there were others more suited? "You don't need to look so surprised Mike, you've done well since taking over here. It would be a big jump but you'd have support and you've always landed on your feet before."

Marshall looked at Mike to respond but nothing came out of his mouth, so he took his cue and stood to leave "OK, I'll leave your to think about it, I'll be around later if you want to talk." He said walking out of the office.

A few hours later, still trying to comprehend what had transpired in his office earlier, Mike was at his desk with his head down working through his files when he felt some-one looking at him. He looked up to see Kate walking in, his initial smile replaced by confusion when he saw the look on her face.

"This is all your fault you know." Kate spat at Mike walking into his office without so much as a hello.

Mike had no idea what he had done this time but really didn't want to have a fight at work. Hammersley had been in for 3 days and although he had been looking forward to seeing Kate, it seemed like all they had done was fight. They had also made up after each fight, but it was taking its toll on Mike and his frustration was growing, "Kate, I told you earlier, the plumber is coming tomorrow, the electrician will be there next week, so will the builder and I will start the painting as soon as they are done."

"Mike, I'm not talking about the house." Kate said dismissing Mike's statement.

Mike was completely confused and beginning to get angry, he genuinely had no idea what he had done. The only other thing she could be angry at was work, "Hammersley is in for engine repairs, other than that I'm not really sure what else can be my fault." Mike leant back in his chair and watched as Kate's body language changed slightly.

She placed one hand over her stomach and let slip the slightest of smiles. "I'm pregnant Mike." She said softly, knowing that he may need a minute to respond. She had known for a few hours and was still shocked. They had talked endlessly about having children, but never really talked about when, and neither of them were expecting it to be so soon. Not that it hadn't been through a lack of practising, it was just...unexpectedly soon.

Mike wasn't entirely sure whether his ears were deceiving him. Kate was pregnant? They were having their first child? Somewhere in the back of his mind it registered that it might explain the mood swings since she had been home, was she really pregnant? Coming out of his shocked state, Mike finally stammered out, "Pregnant. As in pregnant, pregnant?" He asked beginning to smile.

"Pregnant, pregnant." Kate confirmed, relieved to see a smile. Before she knew it, Mike was out from behind his desk picking her up and spinning around, calling out with a few celebratory cries as he did. As they continued to celebrate neither noticed Marshall entering Mike's office.

"Mike, Kate, good to see you again." Marshall announced his presence. Instinctively Mike and Kate took a few steps apart before Marshall continued, "Mike, I do expect a certain level of decorum from my senior officers, try and keep the yahooing to a minimum?"

"Yes Sir. Ah Sir, while you are here, I am going to need some leave in 9...?" Mike paused looking to Kate for confirmation.

"7 months, Sir." Kate replied. "You are also going to need to find a new CO for Hammersley, effective immediately." She announced

"Kate, you don't need to..." Mike started before being cut off by Kate.

"No, I want to, I want to be at home, with you." It might have been a spur of the moment decision, but she knew it was the right one. She didn't want to be at sea anymore, she wanted to be at home, with Mike, with her family.

Marshall already knew what was happening, he just wanted to hear one of them say it, "One of you two want to fill in the blanks for me here?"

"Sir," Mike started, a proud smile spreading across his face, "My wife has just informed me that she is pregnant." He couldn't take his eyes off Kate, who was looking back at him with her own smile. Both of them too overcome with joy to care what their superior thought.

Marshall looked from Mike to Kate and back to Mike, he had never seen them like this. He was truly happy for them, then a thought hit him – a child that was half Mike, half Kate could well be a force to be reckoned with. "Are you telling me that in what, 7 months there is going to be a little Flynn running around this place?" He asked, hoping that he would he well and truly retired if their child was to ever join the Navy.

"That's about the size of it Sir." Mike confirmed, his smile growing.

"Well then, congratulations. God help the rest of us." Marshall shook his head as he left the office, leaving the expectant parents together. As he turned back, he saw through the window as Mike pulled Kate closer for a hug, before pulling back to kiss her, neither able to stop smiling.

When he first introduced them 5 years earlier in that same office he never, ever imagined that this would be the outcome. He had hoped that Mike would learn to play by the rules a little more, and that Kate would learn to use the grey areas. Mike on a shore posting, Kate a CO of a patrol boat. Married and expecting their first child had not been part of the plan, but looking at them now, Marshall could not help but think that although unexpected, this was a very nice outcome indeed. He chuckled to himself again as he walked away. A naval officer in the making, half McGregor, half Flynn, 'may god help us indeed'.

fin.