AUTHORS NOTE: Some well-earned lightness now for a couple of chapters, and you may recall the seed for this storyline with Mia was set with a throwaway comment mentioned back in Chapter 96. This is just a short transition chapter to introduce what is going to be coming up.

CHAPTER 147

One week later…

(CHRISTIAN)

"Thank you so much for your support and for being there".

I smile as I peer into my laptop screen. Gideon is looking back at me as we have one of our little daily chats.

"Gideon, stop thanking me. You really need to realise that you have people now who will stand beside you and support you… you need to expect that and take it as read that you have that support network around you now".

I see him smile ruefully and shrug, "I know, Eva, Angus and even Victor has said much the same thing to me… it just takes some getting used to. I am so conditioned to dealing with shit on my own it's hard for me to accept that support at times… so I just need you all to know I am grateful for it".

"I know and I get that" I say. "Listen, have you heard anything more from Corrine after she showed up at the crem?"

Gideon shakes his head, "No, as you know Jared called her to apologise and we talked about it afterwards. It appears they came to an understanding that she wouldn't bother us and we wouldn't bother her. So, I think her turning up that day was just her getting her own closure on that time in her life… after all at one point she was really close to Elizabeth".

I nod, "That's good… and how is Jared?" I ask.

Gideon sighs, "He's ok, I wish he'd told me about calling Corrine, to be fair though it's my fault he didn't as he did come and see me in my office that night and as soon as he came in, I ambushed him with what Arash told me about the developments with the trial and so it went out of his head. I think that he's doing ok though, he has started his new school and seems to be settling in. I'm doing my best to keep a check on things. As I say, we have the trial looming up soon so that is another thing he will have to deal with, but I'm trying to do my best to be a good father to him. He is an exceptional boy though, and he is incredibly close to Angus… it seems he is the first grandfather he has had. Both his adoptive grandparents died when he was young so he hasn't had that influence in his life, so he is enjoying building a relationship with Angus… and also Victor who is more than willing to step into the grandfather role for him".

"Will he have to testify?" I ask.

Gideon nods, "Yes, he was there when his father was shot, and he saw the car which Barnett was driving circling around the area so his evidence is vital, even though he didn't see Philip Martin shoot his mother, he saw him there at the scene. Plus, there are the child abuse charges which he has to give his evidence on. After the trial in Chicago, Philip Martin is due to stand trial in Seattle for his part in Jared's aunt and uncle's death. Jerry Barnett has thrown him under the bus completely and so Jared's testimony for what happened then is also vital even though he didn't actually see anything he heard the shots and he saw Barnett and his car a number of times that day… are you being called to testify for that one? After all you were involved when Jared called you?" he asks.

I shake my head, "No, but my security guys are. Taylor is testifying as are some of the men who Welch sent when the alarm was raised, what Barnett told them at that time is also key to the case against Philip Martin… do we know when this is all going to happen?" I ask.

Gideon shrugs, "I don't know, Arash is pushing for sooner rather than later. I think because Jared is a minor that will happen as nobody wants to retraumatise him at a later date. Obviously, the defence is very quiet on this and doesn't want it to happen any time soon, which could work in our favour that Philip Martin clearly has no feelings towards his nephew at all and doesn't care what this trial will do to him. Arash is continuing to put the pressure on though and pushing that fact that until this is out of the way Jared can't move on and that is unhealthy for a child".

"Will any special concessions be made for him in light of his age?" I ask.

Gideon shrugs again, "We are pushing for his evidence to be given by video link but whether we get it is another matter, I think that is more for very young children and victims of sexual abuse but we will try and get him every possible concession we can".

"Do you think we will get the result we want?" I ask.

Gideon smiles, "I hope so, we have an exceedingly strong case not only Barnett's testimony and the video which shows Philip shooting Angela Martin in cold blood, but we also have Bev's testimony and from what Arash has said she sang like a canary and not only threw him under the bus but ran him over with it by implicating him in absolutely everything!"

As I go to reply, both our phones start pinging insistently. I look at Gideon and he looks at me as we both reach for them in tandem. I smile as I see mine is a text from Elliot, I know he and Meg were going for a scan today. I open the text to be confronted with a photograph of a scan picture and the words 'meet our daughter'. By the smile on Gideon's face, I realise he has received the same text.

"Is it from El?" I ask as I hold up my phone and Gideon nods.

"It is, I am so pleased for him after what he and Megumi went through" he replies.

I nod, "This is joyful news but the fact they also lost their son will always be there" I say.

A moment later there is a knock on my door and Ana pokes her head around, I tell her to come over and that I am talking to Gideon. She quickly comes over and peers into the laptop saying hello to Gideon and giving him a little wave.

"Have you heard?" she asks, "Did El tell you both?" she adds waving her phone at me.

I nod, and show her my phone and Gideon also holds up his phone showing the scan picture. She turns towards me.

"They are coming for dinner tonight, along with Mia as apparently she also has some news… has she called you?" Ana asks.

I check my phone and shake my head, "No, I've not heard anything from Mia, what did she say?" I ask.

"Ok" Ana replies, "She was a bit cagy when I spoke to her… almost nervous but excited at the same time" she says.

Gideon is listening and smiles, "Has she met someone?" he asks and my eyebrows rise at that scenario, as I am very protective towards Mia and will thoroughly check out anyone who is sniffing around her.

Ana shrugs, "To be honest that is what I was thinking, as she sounded so happy. I get why she is nervous though as telling you and El must be nerve wracking for her as you are her two big brothers… Lucy and Sadie are coming and also Grace and Carrick so we will have a houseful tonight" Ana adds.

I stare at her, "Is Gail aware?" I ask and Ana nods.

"I've spoken to Gail and I'm leaving work early this afternoon to be on hand to help her. We are not going overboard though just a simple dinner – we thought some Spaghetti Bolognaise or Lasagne?"

I nod, "That's fine with me baby, as you know if it's put in front of me, I will eat it!"

oooOOOooo

Later that day…

"Ok come and sit down, do you want a drink?" I ask as El and Meg arrive with Sadie and Lucy.

"I'll have a beer please" Elliot says immediately.

I nod, "Megumi? Sadie? Lucy?" I ask.

"Just some fruit juice for me please if you have it" Sadie asks politely to which I nod.

"Apple or Orange?" I ask.

"Orange please" Sadie responds with a smile.

"Could I have the same please Christian?" Megumi asks and I nod, before turning my attention to Lucy and I look at her questioningly.

"Do you have any Coca cola please?" she asks politely and I nod.

"We do, I'll get you one" I say with a smile.

As I am in the kitchen getting the drinks, I hear my parents arrive along with Mia and a few moments later Ana appears and goes to the fridge for some wine and pours two glasses.

"Just put them on here baby" I say, as I point at the tray containing all the other drinks.

We make our way back to the living room and see everyone chatting amiably. The drinks are handed around and talk seems to be centred on El and Meg.

"How are you now?" I ask Megumi and she runs her hand over her now noticeable bump.

"I need to talk to you about that, I'm mended but the hospital are still keeping an eye on me, but it appears everything is ok now with this little one and I am off the danger list now and I've been officially given the green light and told that I can now safely return to work. I don't need to be confined to light duties – but I don't really lift or carry anything heavy in my job so I will be returning to work as soon as possible, if that's ok, because I really am going stir crazy at home".

I smile in relief at that, "That's brilliant news, and Andrea will be delighted to have you back" I say.

Megumi grins, "I will be more than delighted to come back" she says.

"Why has it taken so long?" Sadie asks and Meg shakes her head sadly.

"I kept bleeding for a while afterwards, and there was a fear after I lost… well they thought I might lose both of them. I was on bed rest for a while and then I was allowed to get up but not allowed to do anything, but slowly I've improved but after the court case with Kate… I started bleeding again, and they thought that I was going to miscarry again. They put it down to stress and I was back on bed rest again. But I'm really ok now, at last".

I nod, "Well you take your time and be sure to not overdo things" I say firmly.

"Thank you Christian, as I said to El I need to come back to work as being at home is stressing me out now more than anything else, you have no idea how happy I was to go to New York for Elizabeth's funeral, I mean how bad does that sound that I was excited about going to a funeral? My doctor okayed the trip and it was after it was established that it went well and I reported no ill effects today that I was officially told I could return to normality".

We talk a while longer and I notice that Lucy and Mia are whispering and in their own little world talking, and I turn my attention towards them.

"So, Ana told me you have some news, Mia?" I say.

The chatter in the room abruptly stops and Mia flushes and after glancing at El and then me she smiles shyly.

"I've met someone, he's lovely… do you remember how I was commissioned to plan the mayor's daughter's wedding?" she says and we all nod.

"Well, I met him there. He is the mayor's nephew and his name is Simon. We have been out for a few casual dates and I enjoy his company and he enjoys mine. Things progressed and he took me to meet his parents last Sunday, I had already met them of course at the wedding but it was the first time I officially met them as Simon's girlfriend. I've already introduced him to Lucy as I bumped into him while I was out with Lucy and I was hoping to have a meet and greet with everyone. I've warned him that it will be on a much bigger scale than when I met his family as he is an only child so it was just them".

"Simon… Simon what?" I ask as I try and run through the mayor's extended family.

"Burbank, Simon Burbank" Mia says and you can almost see the stars in her eyes as she says the name.

"Ralf Burbank's son?" I say and Mia nods.

"That's right, you know him don't you?" she asks.

I nod, "I do, he's a good man. I helped him out when his company got into difficulty, I was planning on taking it over, but he begged me just to help him out. He knew exactly what the problem was and needed my help and resources to rectify it. I saw the potential there to do just that and it has become a lucrative partnership from that point onwards. He is honest and straightforward and I enjoy doing business with him" I say.

Mia nods, "He was really complimentary about you when I met him. He said you'd helped transform his company" she says.

"What does Simon do?" mom asks carefully.

Mia looks at mom and smiles knowingly, "He's a doctor mom".

Mom gasps and her eyes widen, "Really? What does he specialise in?" she asks.

"He's a junior doctor at the moment and he specialises in orthopaedics. So essentially that's bones. He knows all about musculoskeletal problems. These may be injuries, congenital or acquired disorders, arthritis or conditions of the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments and associated nerves. He eventually wants to progress to be an orthopaedic surgeon… that's his ambition anyway".

"That's wonderful Mia I'm so happy for you" Ana says and that sentiment is echoed by mom, dad, Sadie and Meg.

"I'm thinking Sunday lunch maybe next weekend?" Mia asks looking towards mom for confirmation of that.

Mom nods enthusiastically and Mia grins.

"Thanks mom, everyone is invited of course I have tried to explain the convoluted family tree and I was hoping that Gideon and Eva would be able to be here to meet him as well?"

Ana and El both nod at that, "I'm sure they'd love to come… and don't forget Jared as well" Ana says.

Elliot lets out a snort of laughter, "Poor man will be running for the hills after being subjected to everyone" he says.

"Don't be mean!" Mia says immediately.

Elliot shakes his head, "I'm not, I'm stating a fact as you said yourself, he is an only child and when you met his parents that was it – just his parents. Whereas us…" he pauses and gestures around him, "There are a lot of us" he says

At that moment Gail pokes her head around the door to tell us that dinner is ready and we all make our way into the dining room, as usual Ana goes to help Gail bring in the food and my mouth starts watering at the sight of the steaming tureens of bolognaise sauce.

"Thank you, Gail, this looks delicious" I say as Gail places a plate of garlic bread down on to the table.

She smiles and then discreetly leaves us to it.