Hope you all had a good Christmas. On with the story...
No one noticed the rather nondescript car parked amongst other cars and that was just how the occupants wanted it to be. Steve and Chloe were sat in a service car in an industrial estate, staking out one particular unit that they had received a tip off about. They were waiting to get photos of a corrupt police officer attending the unit from where counterfeit goods were being dispatched. So far they had been in the car for four hours with out any success, but at least it was now March and starting to warm up.
"How long are we going to stay here for?" Chloe asked.
Steve looked at his watch. It was early afternoon. "Maybe another hour, max," Steve replied. He didn't want to be particularly late getting back to AC-12 as he was going to see his parents for the weekend with Kate.
"You got plans?" Chloe asked.
"My mum's birthday," Steve replied distractedly. He could see a car approaching them in his wing mirror before it went past them and parked in the small car park in front of the unit they were interested in. "This could be it," Steve said as he got his little telescope out and pointed it at the car. A person soon emerged from the car, but it wasn't the officer they were interested in. "Maybe not," Steve corrected, disappointedly. This whole day was proving to be very frustrating.
Chloe pointed her camera and snapped a few photographs anyway. "You going with Kate?".
"Yeah," Steve replied. "And Bonnie. Josh is with Mark this weekend,".
"Things are ok with you and Kate?" Chloe asked.
"Fine. Why?" Steve asked concerned. Did Chloe know something he didn't?
"I haven't seen her at the pub on a Friday night recently, that's all,".
Steve smiled. Kate hadn't joined them at the pub because she couldn't drink and also the smell of beer had made her quite nauseated in her first trimester. "You'll see her tonight," Steve replied. "She's getting dropped off at AC-12 before we head home together,".
"And everything is definitely ok?" Chloe asked. She liked Kate and she liked Steve. She wanted this relationship to be successful.
Steve didn't reply but instead fished for his wallet and retrieved the photo that he kept there now. "You might as well be first to know...Kate's pregnant," he explained with a proud smile as he showed Chloe the photo.
"Oh my god!" Chloe exclaimed as she grabbed the photo and studied it. "A little Arnott. How cute. When is it due?".
"Not until September. Got a lot to do before then," Steve said. There was the nursery to prepare for their child as well as acquiring all the accessories. "We're telling my parents this weekend,".
"First grand child for them?".
"Oh yeah," Steve said. His mum would be overjoyed at finally getting what she had been hinting at for quite a while now. "Shall we go?" Steve asked as he put the photo back in his wallet and turned the engine on. Talking about his future child had put him right off work.
Amanda from cyber was talking to Steve when Kate arrived at AC-12 a little later. They were going over CCTV footage of the very unit he had spent the afternoon in front of with Chloe, hoping it would be more fruitful than the surveillance.
Rather than interrupt them, Kate occupied herself by making a list of things she needed to do at work on Monday morning. They were in the middle of a murder hunt and lots of work was needed on tracking down their suspect.
"Congratulations!" Chloe shrieked excitedly when she saw Kate who was leaning against a random desk and engulfed her in a massive hug. To say Kate was a little surprised was an understatement. The whole of AC-12 couldn't help but overhear and witness what was going on.
Kate looked at Steve and knew by his awkwardness that he had let their news out. At least she now knew what the hug was for. "Thanks," replied Kate.
"What's going on?" Amanda asked Steve, getting the feeling she was missing some big news.
"Kate's pregnant," Steve informed his colleague with a massive smile on his face. He was one proud papa already.
"Congratulations!" Amanda said as she gave a hug to both Steve and Kate.
Their news spread quickly around the office and soon everyone was crowding around the prospective parents and wishing them well. News even reached Ted. "I'm quite looking forward to watching this," he told the couple as he gave Kate a hug. Their relationship had improved to how it was before Kate had left AC-12. "The wee gobshite will get to see what I've had to put up with all these years," he continued, focusing on Steve. The DI had been just like an annoying child at times since he had joined anti-corruption. However, despite his teasing, Ted knew that the new baby couldn't wish for better parents. "Congratulations, the pair of you,".
Bonnie once again remained on Kate's lap as they travelled south to London that evening. She had remained very protective of Kate since they had found out Kate was pregnant.
"You ok?" Steve asked as he tried to help Kate out the car on his parents driveway.
"I'm not an invalid," Kate said batting his hand away. Steve had definitely become a bit more protective of her as well, but not in a suffocating way as Mark had been. "Save it for my last trimester," Kate added when she saw the disappointed look cross briefly over his face.
"Hello!" Steve's mum greeted as she appeared on the driveway having spotted them from the house. "Hello Bonnie," she added as the dog went over to the new person for a sniff and was rewarded with some strokes. "Good journey?".
"Yes thanks, mum," Steve replied as he went to the boot and got their things. He didn't want Kate carrying anything heavy despite what she said.
"Come in then," his mum gestured and they all went in to the house.
They had a nice evening together before retiring to the living room. Kate did her best to join in the conversation but soon felt tired. Now she was in her second trimester the tiredness she felt was improving but her energy levels still weren't quite what they usually were.
"I think I'm going to have to call it a night," she said as she got up.
"Ok. I won't be long," Steve replied as he gave her a brief kiss. He was used to Kate getting early nights at he moment.
"See you all in the morning," she said as she left the room and headed upstairs.
"Long day?" Steve's mum asked. It was quite unusual for Kate to go to bed so early. "She looked exhausted,".
"Yeah," Steve replied. "She'll be ok tomorrow," he continued. He wasn't going to tell his parents his news yet as he and Kate had prepared how they were going to inform them tomorrow. True to his word Steve didn't stay up much longer and retreated to his bedroom where Kate was already in bed. "How are you?" He asked as he got under the covers beside her.
"Ok," Kate said as she snuggled up to him. He was her favourite pillow at the moment.
Steve's hand came to rest on her abdomen and started stroking it gently, hoping his child would detect his presence. "You're getting a bit of a bump," he noted as he felt a slight swell to Kate's usual flat stomach.
"I know. My work trousers are starting to feel quite tight. Might be time to buy some maternity clothes,".
"Does that include bras? Your breasts are bigger as well aren't they,".
"Trust you to notice that," Kate replied through a yawn, "but, yes, I am going to need some new underwear,". Her bust had indeed increased in size which was going to need a bit more support.
"i'll come with you," Steve volunteered. He didn't usually go shopping with Kate but bra shopping might be quite an enjoyable thing to do.
"We'll see," Kate agreed. Bra shopping with Steve could drag on for ages. It wasn't something she particularly looked forward to whilst pregnant.
"Happy Birthday!" greeted Steve and Kate as they emerged in the kitchen the following morning. It was a lazy day and everyone in the household was still in pyjamas.
"Oh thank you," Steve's mum replied as she took their proffered gift and cards. "Feeling better?" She asked Kate as she gave her a kiss.
"Much. Thank you," Kate said as Bonnie trotted over to her owners to greet them. "Have you been good?" Kate asked her pet as she scratched her under her chin.
"Bonnie's been fine," Steve's mum said as she started opening her card and reading it. "She's been out in the garden and had her breakfast," she informed the couple. Bonnie was quite comfortable around Mr and Mrs Arnott now. "Thank you dears," she said once she had finished reading the card.
Steve got Kate to sit at the table whilst he made them some breakfast. He kept a close eye on his mother as she opened their present. It was a leather hand bag that Kate thought she might like. By the looks of it, Kate had been right.
Steve looked at Kate once they had been thanked for the present. She have a subtle nod in reply to the instruction he gave her with his eyes. She reached in to the front pocket of her hoodie and pulled out a card which she handed to Steve's mum. "Just a little something else,".
"You shouldn't have," Mrs Arnott said as she slowly opened the envelope. It was another card and she was a little bewildered as to who it could be from. She'd already opened Steve's card which was also signed by Kate, Josh who she had met a couple of times now and Bonnie.
Mrs Arnott opened the card and found a black and white grainy photograph inside. 'Happy Birthday Grandma' she read. Her hand flew to her mouth in shock as she realised what the photo was. "Oh my goodness!" she said happily. "Is this what I think it is?". Kate nodded. Mrs Arnott took the photo and studied it before noticing there was more writing. 'Can't wait to meet you in September xx'.
Mrs Arnott got off her chair and went to her son and then his partner and hugged them both. "I'm so happy for you both,".
"Someone going to tell me what's going on?" Steve's dad asked.
"You're going to be a grandpa in September," Mrs Arnott informed her husband before showing him the first picture of their grandchild.
Mr Arnott studied the photo. He may not have been as vocal as his wife in urging their son to make them grandparents, but now that it was happening he couldn't wait.
"How are you feeling?" Mrs Arnott asked Kate as she took Steve's vacant seat beside her.
"Much better now I'm over twelve weeks,".
"My first trimester with him," Mrs Arnott said, pointing at Steve who was dishing up their porridge, "was absolutely horrific. Morning, afternoon, evening and night sickness,".
Kate pulled a face. "Mine wasn't as bad as that," Kate said, "but I'm glad I'm over that bit,".
Josh was the last person they told their news to. Kate wanted to be the one to do it and by herself again. She found an opportune moment when Josh next stayed with them.
Steve was playing in a football match and Josh was teaching Bonnie a new trick when she walked in to the open plan room. He had already taught Bonnie to sit and give a paw on command. It looked like they were working on some kind of act where Josh pretended to shoot Bonnie and she would lie down and pretend to be dead.
"How's it going?" Kate asked as she watched several unsuccessful attempts at the trick.
""Not very good," Josh replied as he stroked the dog.
"Don't give up," Kate encouraged. "You'll succeed eventually I'm sure,". Josh took on board what his mother said. "Hey Josh can I talk to you about something?".
"Yep,".
"How would you like to be a big brother?".
"Dunno,".
"Oh. Well you see me and Steve are going to have a baby," Kate explained, hoping he might be a bit more enthusiastic.
"Is it a boy or a girl?".
"Don't know yet," Kate answered. "Would you like to see a picture?". Josh nodded his head and Kate showed him her copy of the ultrasound. "That's your new brother or sister," she explained, pointing to the image of her baby in the photo.
"Is it in your uterus?" Josh asked.
Kate looked a little shocked that Josh knew that particular word. "Yes it is," she replied. "How do you know that?".
"We're learning about it in science at the moment," Josh informed his mother matter-of-factly.
"Oh," Kate answered. "So you know all about it then," she teased her son.
"Yes," Josh said, not understanding his mother was joking. "You and Steve had sexual intercourse,".
"That's right," Kate said. She had made a decision she would never shy away from any difficult discussions with her son when it came to sex so she continued on. "It's a healthy part of any normal adult relationship. Your dad and Jackie probably have sex as well,".
"They've split up," Josh replied.
"Really? When?".
"Not long after we got back from skiing," Josh informed his mother. "Dad's going out with Jill now,".
"Oh right," Kate said as she processed Josh's news. Her ex-husband's social life had obviously become more active since their divorce. "Well they are probably having sex as well,".
There was silence for a bit as neither mother or son knew what to say next. "You ok?" Kate asked. Josh nodded. "You've gone very quiet,".
"Can I ask something?" Josh enquired.
"Course you can," Kate assured her son, wondering what he might be questioning her about and hoped she could answer it well.
"It's about sex," Josh clarified.
"Yes, I sort of assumed that," Kate mentioned.
"Is it nice?" Josh asked. "Because it sounds pretty gross to me,".
"You keep thinking that for the next couple of years please," Kate instructed. She had no desire to be a grandmother yet. "But to answer your question, yes it is nice. When you are with someone you really love it's the nicest thing you can do with them,".
Josh was silent as he digested Kate's answer. "Does it hurt?".
"No," Kate replied. "Not if you and your partner both want to do it. That's the most important bit. You should never force anyone to have sex, ok?" she continued, the police officer in her coming out.
"Were you having sex last night because you were moaning and groaning a lot," Josh pointed out. He had had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and had heard the noises coming from his mum and Steve's bedroom.
Kate flushed bright red. She had reached the point in her pregnancy where she was experiencing quite an increase in her libido. Steve had no complaints as they were making love most nights and had done so last night. Josh must have overheard them. "Well that's because I was enjoying it," Kate explained. "Like when I have a hot chocolate brownie
"And when I have chocolate ice cream?". Josh asked.
"Yes," Kate said.
"Can I go play with Bonnie now?".
"Yes," Kate said and Josh quickly stood and went over to the dog who had been having a quiet nap on the floor whilst mother and son had been talking.
Kate wasn't entirely sure how the talk had gone but it had been rather illuminating. She was going to have to be quiet whenever she and Steve had sex when Josh was in the house. At least he hadn't wandered in to their room. She wouldn't tell Steve what had happened. She had only just managed to convince him to have sex with her whilst Josh was staying over. This would put him off completely and her hormones couldn't deal with that at the moment.
