A/N: Hello! I would like to give a Huge thanks to the reviews and we should all give Metube imaginary gift baskets of delicious baked goods and high fives as the next few chapters are purely based on her idea that she has graciously allowed me to use :-) ENJOY!

Later that afternoon in the Command Centre,

"I can't believe it. What the hell were you thinking just standing there and not doing anything?" Taylor asked Jim, He had finished watching the video feed of Kate's visit with Lucas. He didn't know who to start shouting at first Kate for her conduct, Alicia for using drills to distract him or Jim for allowing Kate to see Lucas and the events to play out. The fact that he hadn't been told immediately and heard people in the market talking about it only made him more livid as he was supposed to know everything that was happening not be the poor schmuck who was last to know. He decided that since Alicia had made herself scarce and Kate would be in no state of mind to talk he'd start with Jim.

"You wanted Kate to go in-"

"In 2 weeks time, to talk. Not pull your gun and hand it over to Lucas!" Taylor exclaimed, he stressed the 'talk' making it clear.

"No one was harmed" Jim said, he silently added 'Physically'. Emotionally was another thing, it seemed the meeting ended with two melt downs of different varieties. Lucas's ego and confidence had been completely crushed and he was finally scared instead of smug and Kate. Well Jim knew she was having a crisis of character between being the soldier and person she was in contrast with who she had become over the last several months in Terra Nova.

"It could have easily been different and now the whole colony is buzzing about it," Taylor said.

"Not my fault your soldiers can't keep their mouths shut" Jim said, he had ordered those men to forget what they saw obviously they didn't feel it necessary to follow his orders as he didn't a military rank or the power in their mind to follow his instruction.

"Oh so now it's my soldiers fault not the disgraceful conduct of Kate" Taylor said mockingly.

"How did you see it going down? Did you really expect her to walk away-"

"Yes! She should know how to comport herself"

"Oh that's rich coming from you"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I watched you kick the crap out of Curran based on your bruised ego. You could have just knocked him out but no you had to make it hurt. I'm not saying I'm any better than you or Kate because in both cases I would not have acted better but you asked her to walk into the room with a man who nearly killed her twice, who tortured her for days. There was no way she could walk out of that room with him holding the power of whatever he felt he had over her" Jim said.

"So you allowed her to scare the crap out of him. What she did could be misconstrued as suicidal" Taylor said.

"I trusted her to know what she was doing wasn't suicidal and I'd do it again because I can't imagine a scenario where Kate and Lucas in the same room could end differently" Jim told him. Though he could imagine many a scenario where Kate broke Lucas's nose but it wasn't subtle or pervasive as what she did the room. If she punched Lucas he would have laughed but putting the gun in hands and scaring the man with words was enough to leave a lasting impression.

"Then she can't have be a deputy" Taylor said with a finality to his tone. Jim looked at him incredulously.

"Hold on, it was my decision to make her a deputy. You can't fire her-"

"I'm sorry did you get promoted to Commander of the Colony?" Taylor asked looking at Jim as he felt the man had overstepped his authority.

"No but-" Jim started only to be cut off by Taylor.

"Well then, when you do you can make the final decisions but as of right now. Kate's offer for Deputy has officially been rescinded. I can't condone that kind of reckless behaviour in my ranks" Taylor said as he moved to take his seat he didn't feel any better for the decision but he couldn't have Kate acting like a loose cannon.

"Oh yeah and locking up a man for three days and dosing his food and depriving him of sleep is so much-" Jim started only to be cut off by Taylor.

"Enough, I made my decision. I will inform her. You're dismissed" Taylor said as he picked up his plex and pretended to get on with his work. Jim threw his hands up in the air in defeat knowing there was no way of changing the man's mind and left the Command Centre.

"It's a bad decision" Alicia told him later over dinner. Taylor had told her everything wanting a second opinion to make sure he was making the right decision.

"That's your opinion, you saw her conduct in the room. She was reckless she disregarded the safety of herself and the others in the room" Taylor said he was hoping his wife would at least agree with him to some degree. He had made a copy of the recording and showed Alicia who didn't bat an eyelash in fact she didn't even look surprised in the least.

"So you're punishing her." Alicia said matter of factorily before she took another bite of dinner.

"It's not punishment" Taylor said.

"Then don't fire her. Just put off giving her the job until she has recovered from the fatigue and her injuries completely. If she can't pass basic physical requirements then she can't become a deputy" Alicia said, she knew it could possibly be the silver bullet for Kate. Alicia was sure Kate was burnt out not just physically but mentally as she was no longer rigorously training and maintaining the same edge she did in 2016. There was a good chance Kate would fail but at least it gave Kate a chance.

"Talk with the doc she might not sign off on Kate for another 6 months or more. Give Kate a chance to redeem her character, Lucas is a special case. She was taking her power back the only way she knew how. Sure she could have done it a better way but it's done now. Don't punish her. She did what you asked her to do. She saw Lucas you didn't set down the parameters or rules to her conduct" Alicia pointed out to him, Taylor had planned on having a good yell at Alicia after brooding in the Command Centre but when he came home and saw her he didn't have the energy or motivation to shout at her. He was getting protective more protective of her as the pregnancy progressed it was already high risk with her age and it being twins while give her undue stress.

"Fine, I'll talk with Doc Shannon first" Taylor said, he knew he had chosen the right response as Alicia looked happy.

The next morning,

"Taylor, Jim" Kate said surprised that he was standing at the front door. She knew this was not a good sign as she took in his serious expression. "You want to come in for a tea or coffee?"

"You have coffee?" Jim asked surprised.

"Malcolm drinks it from time to time" Kate said as she welcomed them into the house. Taylor looked around the clean house and spotted the tiny primate on a small tree in the lounge room hanging upside down and rustling in the branches. He noted the plex on the coffee table and knew they had interrupted her reading. He had spoken with Elisabeth who gave a brief prognosis saying that she doubted Kate would be in peak physical condition for at least another 7 months or more. Taylor called Jim and they discussed Alicia idea and now were informing Kate together. Jim was happy as Alicia was that Taylor wasn't going to dismiss Kate entirely and allowing the woman a chance.

"So how are you and Malcolm?" Taylor asked, he hadn't seen much of Kate or Malcolm in the past week but it wasn't like he had gone out of his way to see them either.

"We are good, but that's not why you are here" Kate said as the two men sat down at the dining table, Kate moved into the kitchen and made the coffee. She was dressed in a tank top and her wide leg yoga pants with her hair tied back in a messy bun.

"We're here to talk about the Deputy position" Jim said from his seat.

"I'm not going to get it am I?" Kate asked.

"You are but not until you have recovered from your injuries and passed rigorous training exercises" Taylor said.

"So I'm being put through the hoops for months?" Kate asked as she made the coffees and placed them on the table before taking her seat.

"I need to know you are at the top of your game. It's not going to be easy but it's the only way you're going to get the job" Taylor told her.

"It's a compromise it also shows the colony that you earned the position." Jim said.

"You'll also learn 2149 military discipline, relearn how to take orders and maintain control over your comportment" Taylor added, Kate pursed her lips as she had been in the Military for over 6 years. It felt like an insult but tried to not look offended.

"I have no issue with my comportment" Kate said dismissively as knew these hoops were for Taylor's sake not hers. She wanted it made clear that she was not going to apologise for what she did in the brig. While she was ashamed of her actions as it showed her lack of control on her emotions but she had accepted she would have acted no differently.

"But I do, what you did in the brig the other day was unbecoming. If you were an officer under my command I would have stripped you of rank and put you in the brig for 30 days" he told her.

"I know you're disappointed in me by my actions but I'm not a soldier anymore. I don't have to answer to you the same way a soldier does to his Commander. I want to be a deputy so if I have to go through rigorous training and a probationary period or whatever else you want to throw at me before you hand me a gun then fine I'll do it. But as far as I'm concerned I did what you asked which by the way was entirely unnecessary and insensitive of you and Mira to ask of me. Especially after everything I've done for you and this colony." Kate told him.

"I've made little progress with the Calculations" Lucas informed Mira, she did her best not to show her pleasure in seeing the tremor in Lucas's hand as he drank from the flask of booze she had offered him. Taylor had given her the flask before he allowed her into the cell room, it wasn't the best liquor but then Mira didn't drink so she didn't care.

"You still have two weeks to show progress" Mira said as Lucas coughed and sputter from the strong liquor.

"You could strip paint off the walls with this stuff" Lucas wheezed before he took another sip this time he was prepared for the burn of the booze. He missed the booze like an old friend.

"I figured you'd appreciate it after your meeting with Kate. Rumour has it, that it didn't go well" Mira said, as she noticed he paled slightly from hearing Kate's name. It was good to see something scared the man.

"I was caught off guard" Lucas remarked taking another sip.

"I'm told she gave you a gun. You could have escaped" Mira said idly making conversation.

"It wasn't conducive to my long term plans"

"Now who's lying through their teeth" Mira said smirking. Lucas looked at her coldly.

"I admit I underestimated her" Lucas said carefully, "But it won't happen again" he added.

"Again? Lucas be smart even if you escape you have nowhere to go and let's get something straight even with my help Taylor will send Kate to find you. Apparently she doesn't need much motivation to track you down and kill you." Mira said.

"Perhaps you're right. For now at least I'll wait" Lucas said before he took another sip from the flask. His plans were useless as he had expected Kate to freeze in fear but she didn't. Right now he would have to start from scratch. Which more time living in the brig, at least he couldn't complain too much he got three meals a day and shower even if his four walls of dirt and concrete left something to be desired.

4 months passed in a blur though to Alicia she felt every day as she continuously grew larger and larger. And as she grew larger and larger the more Taylor treated her like a fragile object instead of the strong woman she was. She was 24 weeks pregnant; she had reached a milestone where if she went into premature labour there was a good chance the twins would survive but would be in neonatal care for three months. Not something she wanted as she'd prefer to carry them to term. Elisabeth had congratulated her as she said Alicia's stomach was a little bit bigger than the size of a woman with a single pregnancy. It was a relief to make it this far and the colony was incredibly supportive.

Alicia didn't mind people stopping to ask how she was and offering a compliment about how pregnancy suited her but she did however mind the unsolicited advice on parenting tips and mothering advice from the Terra Novan Mother's group. They were incredibly intrusive with their questions and asked her questions about her health that only she would share with Elisabeth if it were completely necessary she was not going to divulge to a complete stranger for all intents and purpose about how her nipples felt, her bowel movements or if Taylor and her were trying out new sexual positions. Then there were the questions about what her birthing plan was, who the god parents were going to be, did they have names, it just went on and on. To the point she wanted to scream but she just made excuses and left them before she reacted too terribly.

Taylor and Alicia were completely ready as the baby shower proved a success and people offering presents as congratulations. They had all the clothes, washable diapers, baby bottles, monitors and everything else one needed for babies. The funniest and best of all the news was that Taylor got his wish. The twins were girls. She could still remember him congratulating on her commitment to following orders. She joked about expecting a promotion and pay rise for going above and beyond the call of duty on having two girls. The two had laughed about it and celebrated.

"I swear every time we have lunch you keep getting bigger. May I?" Kate asked with hands out ready to feel Alicia's stomach after she welcomed Alicia into her house. Kate and Malcolm had moved into Kate's house two weeks ago after the glass was put in with a few doors and a coat of paint inside and out. They were practically next door neighbours. Kate and Alicia had lunch every day of the week, sometimes even Malcolm or Taylor would join them but that was on the weekends mostly.

Malcolm and Kate had been getting along better than ever. Kate recovered from her injuries and passed all the tests Taylor threw at her before he officially made her a deputy. She'd been working with Jim for only a week as deputy and trained with the soldiers to stay fit. Something she had been doing for months with Taylor. The two had managed to mend the bridge that Lucas had damaged and were back into their old friendship. Lucas of course was still in the brig and apparently working hard on the calculations though he showed no progress. Alicia still felt uneasy from him being in the brig but at least Taylor only visited Lucas twice a week instead of daily as he was now back performing his full duties as leader to the colony.

"I only allow you, Zoe, Elisabeth and Taylor to do this" Alicia said allowing her to touch her stomach. She hated when the other colonists asked. Kate's face lit up as the babies moved. It was a common occurrence now and while Kate had said it would be weird to feel something flipping and kicking around inside Alicia informed her that it was oddly comforting and made the girls feel more tangible and alive to her especially when they pressed on her bladder or kicked her in the kidneys or the ribs.

"They are so active, you're going to be run off your feet with them" Kate said looking up at Alicia before she looked back at Alicia stomach "Greeting from the outside world, it's Aunty Kate calling- Ah they kicked!" Kate said excitedly.

"Yeah they do that a lot" Alicia said.

"Got two little mini Alicias in there. Ok enough of treating you like a human incubator" Kate said in good humour as she waved Alicia into the lounge room. "Have a seat, take a load off. Can I get you some water? Tea?" Kate asked.

"Water thanks, the place looks great" Alicia said as she took in the warm yellow hues of the kitchen and the apple green of lounge room. She took a quick look in a couple of the bedrooms noting the blues and dark aquamarines and the bathroom was white probably the only room Malcolm was allowed to pick the colour with black and white tiles.

"Thanks, Malcolm wasn't too enthusiastic about the colour scheme but now the furniture is in he loves it." Kate said as Alicia made herself at home on the couch and looked toward the kitchen area where Kate was.

"How are you doing?" Alicia asked.

"I'm ok, a little bored. I'm just training or doing nothing" Kate admitted as she brought two glasses of water over to the coffee table and sat down next to her. Whatever Kate was cooking it smelt divine to Alicia.

"It's a sleepy colony" Alicia said.

"Yeah all the bad guys are in the brig and when I just show my face in Boylan's bar the fights stop and people disperse. It's annoying I'm supposed to be catching bad guys and tearing up gravel in high speed pursuits of stolen rovers" Kate said dramatically. Alicia chuckled.

"Well you and I can start hanging out. Taylor has decided to take me off duty as I'm just getting too big to be waddling around the grounds. Soon I won't be able to fit into my uniform and all the colonist mummies are driving me nuts with their incessant chattering and advice on babies." Alicia said angrily, she was more annoyed at being pulled off duty 4 weeks before they agreed. She was already on light duties and working half days as it was. But Taylor decided it was better for her to just take Maternity leave early.

"If that's the case then you can start wearing Maxi dresses, I have some you can borrow that are loose fitted and in stretchy fabric. Should do the trick as your boobs are huge" Kate said looking at Alicia impressive bust line, pregnancy had really made them grow.

"Eyes up your perv" Alicia said smacking Kate's arm. The redhead looked up with a smile and shrugged.

"I can't help it. They are just there and anyway I'm not wearing the dresses at the moment so you can take them and avoid all the women as much as possible" Kate said.

"Thank you" Alicia said, she then noticed the ring on Kate's finger. "Kate you forget to mention something?" she asked pointing to Kate's hand.

"Oh this? Malcolm proposed how crazy is that?" Kate said downplaying her own excitement. "You saying yes" Alicia answered her as she grabbed her hand and inspected the diamond ring more closely. It was an18k White Gold Three Stone Diamond Semi Engagement Ring*.

"How did he ask?" Alicia asked as she couldn't but compare her ring to Kate's noticing Kate's was more sedate than hers but still beautiful none the less. Alicia loved her rings even if they wouldn't have been something she would have picked for herself she loved the sentimental value and the history attached to them.

"He asked right in the middle of-"

"Kate!" Alicia said cutting Kate off knowing Kate was inferring that Malcolm said it in coitus when she knew Malcolm had more class than that. Kate chuckled.

"I'm joking, we were planting the vegie and herb patch out back and we were checking plants off the list. He'd say 'Lavender' I'd say 'check' and tick off my list and after a few other herb names he then said 'marry me' and I was about to say 'check' but I looked up from the plex and there he had the ring in his hands. He asked me to marry him." Kate said.

"You obviously said yes" Alicia said.

"Well I said 'Are you serious?' to which he nodded, then I called him an idiot before giggling and crying while saying a very enthusiastic 'yes'. Then once the ring was on and things got all down and dirty" Kate said with a brilliant smile.

"So big wedding plans?" Alicia asked as she rolled her eyes at Kate's salaciousness.

"Well I said we should just go to the priest and get it all done but you know Malcolm. He's such a chick about it. He wants us to have a wedding. So maybe in a year or so" Kate said with a smile as Alicia rolled her eyes at Kate referring to Malcolm as being the 'chick' in the relationship. Though she was surprised they would wait a year.

"A year or so? Why the wait? Get married and get knocked up then our kids can play together. I already have a head start" Alicia teased her. She even rubbed her stomach to emphasise her point.

"That's what I said!" Kate said with mock enthusiasm "But Malcolm said having kids isn't a competition" Kate made a face which Alicia laughed at as she knew Kate was being funny and not being serious " But anyway, the thing is we can't decide on what we want for the ceremony. The only thing we have decided it has to be an autumn or spring wedding, preferably outdoors. Leaning towards the orchard in spring with the flowers" Kate said thoughtfully.

"It would be beautiful" Alicia mused.

"Yeah, honestly I think it would be easier to just have a large dinner at Boylan's with a cake. Maybe get Taylor to officiate that could be fun" Kate said.

"I don't think Taylor wants to open that door. If he did it once then he's have a line up of couples wanting him to officiate their marriages"

"Yeah well not to worry. Oh! Carter told me the Baby cribs are finished but he wants to air them for a few more days to make sure all the fume smells from the polish or whatever uses are gone before sticking them into the room" Kate informed her.

"Good, I was going to annoy you about that today" Alicia replied.

"Sure, anyway! I planned a big lunch as I am starved. I hope you brought your appetite" Kate said and she wasn't lying as fifteen minutes later Kate covered the dining table with many dishes varying from many different types of grilled vegetables and fish to salad and rice among other items.

"He has the nerve to tell me I'm working too hard that I should take my leave now" Alicia grumbled as she piled the food on her plate and continued to eat. She had vented about her pregnancy woes of achy joints and sore muscles to Taylor and his constant 'suggestions' of her going on Maternity leave early.

"Did he order you or suggest that you take it early?" Kate asked.

"Does it matter? I said I'd stay on duty until I am 28 weeks along and that is what's going to happen" Alicia said firmly she had a plan and she was not deviating from it.

"Alright" Kate said.

"What?" Alicia asked suspiciously as Kate was giving up too Kate reasons with her or tries to until Alicia goes red in the face from pure frustration but she understands that Kate is only helping her to see things more clearly.

"I'm agreeing with you. If you want to work then it's your choice" Kate said as she ate some more grilled eggplant with honey miso paste on it.

"That's right, I just sick of people telling me what to do and 'helping' me because I'm pregnant. It's like I've become an invalid. Reynolds had the nerve to try and help me up the stairs to the Command Centre. I nearly broke his nose I was so angry." Alicia said.

"When was the last time you got laid?" Kate asked innocently.

"Why does everything revolve around sex with you?" Alicia asked,

"Uh oh deflection it's been a long time hasn't it? like a day?" Kate teased, it earned her a dark look from Alicia.

"Taylor refuses to since you told him the babies know when we are having sex" Alicia told her. She threw her napkin at Kate who was laughing. "It's not funny!"

"I was joking" Kate said still laughing as she remembered Taylor's face when she feed him that joke, she had added that he'd probably give the kids dimples too. She didn't think the man would take her serious as he had access to a database with all the information one could imagine possible to disprove her jokes and reassure himself.

"The girls kicked after I – you know" Alicia started.

" 'You know' the technical term for orgasm in the 22nd century?" Kate asked with an innocent smile, Alicia felt tempted to throw her slice of carrot at Kate but decided it was better not to waste food.

"Anyway he freaked out and now he's all 'We can survive a few weeks of no sex, don't want you going into premature labour blah blah'" Alicia said doing her impression of Taylor before rolling her eyes. "It's your fault" Alicia told her darkly. Kate sniggered at her friend's dark mood.

"I'm sorry, I'd throw a leg over but I don't think your husband would be happy. Would you like me to give you a foot massage?" Kate asked as she wasn't sure what the correct response was.

"Maybe later, why didn't I marry you?" Alicia grumbled, she missed sex, it was relaxing, fun, pleasurable and she hadn't had sex in two weeks since Kate told that joke. Taylor wasn't helping her as he loved to give her massages and unintentionally getting her all hot and bothered only when she tried to initiate he'd stop them. She was beginning to feel like a glorified human oven instead of a living, breathing and very sexy woman as Taylor was more concerned for her and the babies' health than reminding of this simple fact.

"Because I don't have a beard, an eight pack or man tools to service you with. Anyway you had your chance to have all this" Kate gestured to herself "and you declined it so don't go crying now" Kate said with a cheeky smile.

*Kate's engagement ring... just google Natalie K NK19000-W 18k White Gold Three Stone Diamond Semi Engagement Ring