"You're going to be a father John"

Casey let the words sink in. He was already a dad. This couldn't be any different so why was he so scared? Alex is different, a voice at the back of his mind said, you skipped most of the 'fatherhood' parts with her.

He tried to find his voice, failing miserably, and in the end simply grunted.

The woman laughed at his typical response and lifted the heavy tension that had settled in the room. Casey put on a mock-serious face.

"What's so funny Verbanski?" He asked running a hand tenderly over her stomach. It still surprised her sometimes – how gentle he could be.

He was still shocked – she could tell – but as always he was hiding his feelings. He had a guarded look in his eyes and Gertrude realised something that made her laugh again. There was joy hidden behind the steel in his eyes. Joy, excitement and fear.

She pulled him closer and kissed him.

"Scared Colonel?" she murmured into his lips.

"Yes," he growled back softly, "terrified."