Three and a half months later

Kate and Steve were sat in a small room in the Court building. The room where witnesses for the prosecution waited to be called to the stand. It was a relatively small room with a few wooden chairs placed in rows around the edges. Large windows were high in the walls allowing light in and only a view of the sky and tallest buildings in the city whist enormous oil paintings occupied the painted walls.

"You ok?" Asked Steve as Kate shuffled around for the millionth time in five minutes.

"These chairs were not made with eight and a half month pregnant women in mind," Kate muttered as she moved again to try and get comfortable. It wasn't the only reason she was restless. She was anxious about seeing her attacker again. She felt a kick in the ribs and moved a hand to rub the spot which didn't go unnoticed by Steve.

"Kick?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kate replied. "I think he knows I'm a bit nervous,". Their twenty week scan had revealed they were having a son.

Steve rested his hands on Kate's swollen belly and rubbed it to try and sooth his son. It was a habit he had developed as soon as he had been able to feel him move. Kate was still pretty sure Steve was going to be a good father. He would happily spend many an hour in bed just staring at Kate's bare belly rippling as their son stretched and moved in his cramped confines. He was getting very excited about meeting him soon.

"Hey," Steve whispered. "Just relax," he told his son. "Mummy's got a tough day ahead,".

The intimate family moment was interrupted by the door opening and a familiar face entering the room.

"Hi," Derek Wheeler said on seeing the couple. "Fancy meeting you guys here," he said, trying to lighten the moment. As SIO of VCU he was also going to be in the witness stand. Kate and Steve smiled in greeting. He'd kept up contact with Kate and Steve and was aware of their happy news. "How's it going?".

"Ok," Kate replied. "Just want it to be all over and then we can concentrate on this one," she continued as she placed her left hand over Steve's that was still resting on her belly.

"How far along are you now?" Derek asked.

"Thirty eight weeks," Kate said. "Two more to go although the midwife said his head has engaged at my last check up so I could go in to labour at any time. Knowing my luck it will be when I take the stand,".

"That would be... interesting," Derek answered. "Don't know if anyone has gone in to labour on the stand before. Certainly one for the history books,".

"Still can't believe that we weren't allowed to move the trial date," Steve said. They had expressed concerns when they had been told it but the defence team had put up resistance to changing it. "Seb thinks it is Xander's way of continuing to try and exert control over Kate,". Derek nodded.

The glint of a diamond ring on Kate's left ring finger caught Derek's eyes. "I see congratulations are in order," he said.

"Thanks," Kate said, smiling. "We went for a baby moon in Scotland last week and it sort of turned in to a honeymoon as well," she said as Derek noticed there was a wedding band beside the engagement ring.


Flash back

Kate sat in the passenger seat of the car wondering exactly where they were headed. Steve had been in charge of this little holiday and been very secretive about it. She did know that it was going to be somewhere in Scotland however as they had crossed the border just two miles ago.

They passed a sign welcoming them to the next village. 'Welcome to Gretna Green' it read.

"Didn't realise this place was so close to the border," Kate said as they entered the village and admired the quaint houses. Steve said nothing. They came to a stop outside the famous Blacksmith building. A few wedding parties having photographs were scattered around the place. "Why are we stopping here?" Kate asked bemused.

"Thought we could make us official," Steve said. "With the baby and everything,".

"Are you serious?" Kate asked. "I don't think you can just show up-".

"I've got us booked in at 2:30 pm," Steve interrupted as he produced the necessary documentation they would need all signed and ready to go.

"I don't know what to say," Kate said shocked.

"How about yes?" Steve asked as he produced a little jewellery box and opened it, revealing a simple platinum diamond ring.

"Oh my god Steve!" Kate exclaimed.

"You don't like it?".

"It's beautiful," Kate declared. "It's just I can't believe this is happening,".

"Is that a yes?".

"I've not got anything to wear," she said pointing at the top and leggings she was wearing. It was the most comfortable thing she owned at this stage of her pregnancy but she didn't want to get married in it.

"Is that the only thing stopping you from saying yes?" Steve asked.

"Maybe," Kate said.

"I packed something for you. That white sun dress I like you in. So will you marry me?".


Present day

"I didn't know he could be so romantic," Kate told Derek as she smiled at her husband. Of course she had agreed to be his wife. The simple ceremony with just the two of them, the celebrant and two strangers who agreed to be their witnesses was perfect.

Ceremony over and a few pictures taken, they continued on their way, heading further north to a remote little cottage with views of the Highlands out of every window. Steve had wanted Kate to be able to totally relax before the stressful trial and this place afforded them that. Reception was poor so the two had been isolated from the rest of society as they enjoyed their time together. The last before it was just the two of them became a family. They went for a few walks, nothing too strenuous for Kate, or spent many a time in front of the log fire in the cottage, the local pub or in bed.

"Sounds wonderful," Derek said.

"It was," Kate agreed.

Their chat was brought to a halt by the door opening and a court usher entering. "Kate we are ready for you now,".

"Right. Ok," Kate said as she awkwardly got to her feet and smoothed her dress over her bump.

That had been another problem with a trial date so late in her pregnancy, finding something to wear. She had eventually settled on a black sleeveless dress that clung close to her body with a matching jacket that was left open as it didn't do up over her bump.

She ran a nervous hand through her hair. She'd grown it long after her attack, trying to make herself look different to the woman that had caught Xander's eye all those months ago.

"You've got this, Kate," Steve said encouragingly as he stood before his wife. He was giving evidence after her so was unable to be in the court room giving silent support. He knew their barrister Seb would look after her. They'd run through many times how her evidence would go and tried to prepare her for her cross examination as well. "I love you," Steve said as he gave her a brief kiss.

"Love you too," Kate said before following the usher out of the room.


"Your Honour, I'd like to call Kate Arnott to the stand," Seb informed the judge. Opening statements had been given by both the prosecution and defence barristers and it was time to start presenting evidence to the jury. As per usual, the prosecution would go first.

Out of the corner of his eye, Seb saw the defence barrister flick through his notes. The judge also saw it.

"Something wrong, Mr Farquhar?" he asked.

"I don't seem to have a Kate Arnott on the witness list," Mr Farquhar informed the judge.

"My apologies," Seb said. "I've been informed that Kate Fleming got married last week. She now goes by her married name," he continued, wondering how that news would be taken by the rest of the court.

In the dock, the accused seemed to become a little agitated at this information.

"Is there a problem with your client?" the Judge asked the defence barrister. He looked back at the dock and saw Xander wave him over.

"Excuse me, Your Honour," Julian Farquhar said before hurrying back to the dock where a hushed conversation took place between barrister and defendant. Seb noted it looked a little heated before Julian returned to the bar. "We are good to proceed," Mr Farquhar informed the court.

The door behind the witness stand slowly opened and Kate walked to her place where she was sworn in.

"No!" shouted Xander from the stand as he saw her pregnant belly for the first time. Wearing black had hidden her bump from view until she had had to turn sideways to look at the court usher and swear her oath. "You filthy dirty whore!" Xander shouted causing Kate to jump.

"Silence!" Barked the judge. "You will not use such language in this courtroom," he advised the accused. "Any more outbursts and you will be in contempt,".

"I beat his seed from your body. You've betrayed me again!" Xander said angrily.

"You must have missed a bit," Seb said, which earned him a glare from the judge but he didn't care.

That set Xander off and he started getting violent in the dock. He threw his chair at a guard before hitting the plastic sides to the dock. The judge ordered the jury and Kate out of the court room immediately and she was shown back to the waiting room.

"That was quick," Steve said as he got to his feet and helped Kate take a seat.

"I know," Kate said. "He saw I was pregnant and started shouting abuse," Kate explained. "The judge has paused proceedings,".

"So what happens now?" Steve asked.

Kate shrugged her shoulders. "Guess we wait for him to calm down,".

It didn't take long for Sebastian to enter the room, still in his black silk gown, although he had removed his wig. "Mr Furlong has changed his plea to guilty," he told the occupants. "You will no longer be needed to give evidence today. We are going to reconvene in a little while for sentencing," he explained.

"Really?" Kate asked, greatly relieved she wouldn't have to go through being in the stand.

"I think seeing you pregnant has made him realise you'll never be with him," Seb said. "I have a little confession to make," he admitted.

"Go on," said Kate, very interested in what her barrister had to say.

"I might have forgotten to mention to the defence team that you were pregnant," Seb said. "From reading your statement, he obviously wasn't keen on you being with someone else. What better confirmation is there than you carrying another person's child," he admitted. "And he was worked up before you even entered the room because I'd told him you had got married and using Steve's name,".

"You're forgiven," Kate said. "Thank you," she said gratefully which was repeated by Steve.

"You're welcome," Seb said.

"So we're free to go?".

"Yes," the barrister said before shaking hands with the couple and Derek before leaving, pleased to have been able to win the case so easily.

"Well thats a surprising end to all this," Derek said as he got to his feet. "Not that I'm upset about it or anything,".

Steve and Kate and Derek made their way out of court. Derek bade them farewell before Steve grasped Kate's hand and walked away from the court, not stopping once to look back. Finally it was over.