�Come on Beth it�s 11, I know you have not got college but there is no need to stay in bed all day�
Beth groaned and pulled the duvet further over her head �Mum you are so cruel�
�I know it is a perk that goes with having kids! Anyway I thought you wanted to go shopping�
�Oh yeah, got to get an outfit for Lisa�s party tonight, shall I ring
Dad and see if he can pick up Alex from school, then we haven�t got to rush�
�Yeah why not, I�m not exactly speedy at the moment�
�It is allowed Mum, you are nearly seven month�s pregnant�
�What attracted you to Dad?� Beth asked as June took a sip of coffee
�Why?�
�Well Kelly and Lisa said something the other day, we were talking about the baby and out of all my friends I am the only one who has got parents that are still together and has got younger siblings, I know Kelly has got a half sister Alex�s age and her dad�s girlfriend is expecting a baby and Lisa has got step brothers, they wondered what was it that you and dad had that made you so special�
�That�s difficult, your Dad and I have so much in common and are so alike in many ways, as well as being completely different, if that makes sense, maybe that is why we work so well as a couple.........I remember the first day I met him, he came into the station and he was like a bag of bones, he used to be so skinny�
Beth laughed � I remember when he used to be smaller than he is now, it�s true what they say about you can tell how happy a bloke is by their waistline, as they become more content�
�That is very true as far as your Dad is concerned, back then he was so different from the other blokes I had been out with, he was completely different to the other blokes at work too, he was then and still is now the most caring and sensitive man I have ever met, not ever intentionally cruel or horrible to anyone...it is impossible to say what it is that has kept our love so strong, you just know when it is right and I love your Dad more every day I know that is extremely corny but it is true�
�Was it love at first sight?�
�Defiantly, I never actually believed that it was possible until I met your Dad, he walked into the station looking like a little boy that was playing a dressing up game, looked so helpless and it melted my heart, I suppose
I have got a lot to blame Sun Hill for, if I had not had joint the police
I would have not met Jim, and not have four children with a fifth on the way�
�Did you always want to join the police?� Beth had now lost interest in her jacket potato and was fascinated with what June was telling her.
�Not always, I wanted to do something different, not many women went into the force when I did, your Dad always did, your Grandad once joked that the only reason I joint the police was to find a good-looking bloke, I can�t say it ever crossed my mind but it did happen... I remember the day Jim found out his application to CID had been accepted, he was so happy, that was why he joined the police, so that he could be in CID, he came into the canteen and picked me up kissed me but me back down then left, I didn�t realise why he had down that till Bob asked if I would miss not working with him on a daily basis. Grandad would have found it really funny that you have decided to join as well, he said that it would happen, he did ask when Ash was born whether we would get a pay rise for providing the met with next generation police officers, he would think that we are trying to get a football team going now, he would have loved to see you all grown up, he was so happy each time we told him that I was expecting, don�t know what he would have made of
Alex and the new baby, no doubt of told Jim to tie a knot in it� June laughed
�When we told him I was pregnant with Joe you were only 10 months old and I was four months gone and he asked whether or not we could leave each other alone for more than five minutes, it was so funny as your Dad stood there and looked like a little boy who had been told off whilst your Grandad tried not to laugh... I hope you realise that you have got to make at least chief inspector before you retire�
�At least, don�t you fancy going any higher up the ranks?�
June smiled �Maybe if I didn�t have you lot to deal with I might have,
I love working CSU, it is a real challenge, but I suppose you can never say never, look at your Dad�
�Were you surprised when dad decided to go for DI?�
�I was a bit, he hadn�t thought about it until the DCI asked him to be acting DI when Sam Nixon went, he thought it would be Debbie who got the job, but he enjoyed it so he was happy when he was given the job full time, anyway you rabble are not cheap to look after�
�But you would not change us would you mum?�
�Have I a choice?�
�I don�t think so, have you thought of a name for the baby yet?�
�Got a few ideas, not to sure yet really, actually I know what it will be named if it is a boy, but that is my secret, your dad likes Katy or Lucy if it is a girl�
�How did you come up with our names?�
�Well yours was easy, Michelle as Jim�s middle name is Michael and
Elizabeth because............�
�Because what?..........Mum?
�Because I fell pregnant with you in when we were on holiday in
Edinburgh, so your dad wanted to call you Beth because of it�
Beth looked puzzled �Beth?...............as in Macbeth, that�s very good, what about the others�
�Well I found out I was expecting Joe at Christmas�
�So it Joe had been a girl he would have been called Mary or Holly�
�More than likely� June smiled �With Ash, your dad had a friend called
Ash who had told him the his third born child would be a boy, well this friend was killed at 18 and when Ash was born your dad told me this story and we decided that Ashley would be the perfect name�
�That is cool, bet dad was freaked�
�He was, apparently this friend would say things like that all the time, he was someone who was positive about life and situations that he faced�
�That sounds like my little brother too�
�Exactly a good choice of name, and Alex was named after where I told your dad I was pregnant�
�Where was that?�
�Crewe train station�
�Crewe Alexandra, that is quite cool. My sister is named after some crappy second division football club; it�s a good job you weren�t at Stamford
Bridge other wise she would have been called Chelsea�
�I don�t think so, he might have tried to call her Highbury�
�That would have been bad, it�s bad enough that dad is an Arsenal supporter, without naming her that�
�Starting them young now in CID then?� Gina laughed as Jim entered custody with Alex
�She is more trouble then CID put together I think you will find Gina�
�She takes after her mother then�
�What are you saying about my wife Inspector Gold?�
�Nothing that is not already common knowledge Detective Inspector
Carver, now young lady did you have a nice day at school?�
�Yep, did some painting, did you know that mummy is having a baby�
�I did Alex; want do you want a brother or a sister?
�I wanted a rabbit, can I have some juice dad�
Gina and Jim laughed
�Of course you can sweetie, say goodbye to Auntie Gina�
�Uncle Tony� Alex shouted as she ran across the canteen to Tony
�Hello you, this is a nice surprise�
�Mummy and Beth have gone shopping�
�So have you come to help your daddy?�
�Yep, catch some criminals�
�I wouldn�t Alex you might show daddy up�
�Cheers mate� laughed Jim, he looked towards the canteen doors as June and
Beth came in �saved by the bell�
9pm August 15th
�Beth� called June as she winced in pain
�What�s wrong Mum?� Beth asked as she put her head round the door
�Ring your dad, my contractions have started�
Beth put the phone down
�He will meet us at St Hughs, he�s caught up at the moment, Joe�s putting
Alex in the car, we will get Ash on the way�
�Thanks Beth, it�s a good job you have got your licence�
Jim kissed June as she cradled their newborn son
�I love you so much�
�I love you too Jim and I believe that there is only one possible name for this little boy�
�Oh yeah?�
�Indeed� said June smiling
He came out of the delivery suite and looked at his four eldest children who were sleeping in the waiting room and had now been joined by Tony and
Polly
Tony jumped from his seat �Well anything?�
�How�s mum?� asked Beth, Joe and Ash in unison
�She�s fine, so is your little brother�
�Wicked� said Joe �So what are we going to call him?�
Gina Gold walked into the canteen �Can I have your attention please� the canteen fell silent �Thank you, I am happy to announce that June and
Jim have become parents to a 7lb 9oz little boy, named James Michael�
�When was he born Ma�am� asked Nick
�7 this morning, just as the shift began, how about that�
Jim looked down at his sleeping son, then turned to June and smiled at her
�Happy wedding anniversary June�
�Here is to the next 20 years of our life� she cupped his face in her hand
�And whatever that may bring�
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