Greetings everyone!

Hope you enjoy the sequel to Covert Action

"On a Wing and a Prayer"

Chapter 1

The Perfect Gift

….. Three weeks later

0430 – Hereford, UK

The alarm was one of those irritating, cover your ears kind of alarms. But Georgie slept right through it. Elvis had been up and dressed before it even blared, so he dashed across the room to silence the menacing sound. As he did so, he took notice of his beautiful bride…..still sound asleep. He stared at her for a bit. She was used to early call, but right now, was completely oblivious.

"Oi! George!" He said touching her shoulder, then gently shaking her. She startled awake and wondered why Elvis was hovering over her. He smiled.

"Must 'ave been some dream babe."

"What?!... What time is it?" She stammered, reaching to look at the clock on the night stand.

"0430 hours. Wake up call corporal. Remember, we're back to trainin."

She sat up, raking her long brown hair back. "Yeah. Thanks." She literally rolled out of bed. Elvis watched her curiously.

"You OK?" He asked.

She looked up at him and sighed. "Good. Yeah. I'm just so fuckin knackered." She said almost bewildered. His brow creased.

"Did ya 'ave trouble sleepin?"

"No! Not at all. That's just it. I was out when my head hit the pillow."

"Peters workin ya too hard?"

"Nope. Don't think so."

"Comin down with somethin?"

She looked up at him again, then stared straight ahead. She had felt crampy but thought perhaps her period was imminent. "It's nothing Elvis. I'm fine. I reckon I just needed a bit more sleep."

He was buying what she was trying to sell. There was no reason for him not to. Since they were back home they could not be happier. "I'm gonna take a quick shower." Georgie said.

"Alright. What ya want for breakfast?" Elvis asked as he tightened the canvas belt around his waist. Georgie scrunched her face as she dug through her lingerie drawer.

"Nothin."

"Nothin?! You ain't hungry?" He said looking up as he quickly laced his boots.

"Nah." She said waving a hand. "I'll grab something later."

"OK. How about a brew?"

"Nothing Elvis!"

He pursed his lips. "In a mood are we?"

"Oh piss off! I need to get movin!" She said and brushed past him straight into the bathroom.

"Was it somethin I said?" He called after her jokingly. She slammed the door. "Shut up Elvis." He muttered to himself.

She stood there, shocked at herself for being so irritable. What the hell was wrong with her? Elvis was being kind. Georgie felt like she could not even stand herself. She looked in the mirror. Everything was a chore. "I must be pre-menstrual." She said to herself. Her own thought startled her. When was the last cycle? What the hell day was it? She had a period whilst in Afghanistan. Yeah. She remembered what a pain in the arse that always was when on tour.

She ran cold water in the sink to wake herself up. She bent over and splashed her face repeatedly and then…it struck her. She had been home in Hereford for three weeks now. Her mind began to do the math. Her last period was right before Elvis' rescue. Her heart thumped. She was late!! She scrutinized herself in the mirror, turning this way and that. Was she pregnant? She wanted to bolt out the door and tell Elvis, but thought better of it. She had to be certain. With all of the stress, she could just be late.

Xxxxx

1800 hours

"Ya ready?" Elvis asked as he walked into the medic simulation room at the training center. Georgie looked up.

"Yeah. Good to go."

"How are ya feelin?" He asked as he gave her a quick kiss.

"I'm fine Elvis. Really, not to worry."

His gaze lingered.

"Grab my jacket, yeah."

He not only grabbed her jacket, he helped her shrug into it. She glanced at him sheepishly. Feeling badly about her bitchy conduct this morning. She had not seen him all day to make any amends.

"Thank you." She simply said.

He smiled and truly hoped she felt better because something was causing his wife to be out of sorts.

Once they were on the road Georgie said. "If ya don't mind I need to stop at the pharmacy."

Elvis' head almost snapped as he quickly glanced at her. "Pharmacy?"

With subdued irritation she said. "Yes. Pharmacy. We're out of aspirin and I have a headache."

"Are ya sure you're alright Georgie?"

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. "Yesssss!" She could feel him staring at her and gave him a double take. "Keep your eyes on the road!"

"Must be that time." He muttered under his breath.

Of course she heard it.

"Shut up!"

"Knowin 'ere's nothin I can say or do to fix the state you're in I ….."

"Better know when ya should shut your gob!"

He burst out laughing! She glared at him, steady and hard.

"Ya best put yer eyes back in yer head." He said as he pulled into a car park. "You're gonna need 'em to locate those aspirins."

Georgie scanned her surroundings. Elvis had pulled into Foster's car park and idled the engine. She tugged at her seat belt and threw him a look. "Just be a second." She said and was out the door. Elvis leaned back against the head rest with a stupid grin on his face. "Ah married life." He said to himself.

Georgie was up and down the aisles until she located exactly what she was looking for. Her eyes darted about to make certain Elvis had not followed her inside. For now, this whole thing was a secret.

Xxxxx

It was two days before Christmas. The Harte's tree was up and decorated. Elvis had rigged the strings of lights to a timer so that when they retuned home in the evening they were greeted by a lovely reminder of the season.

"I still think it's our best one as yet." Georgie said hurriedly unzipping her jacket. Elvis eyed the tree.

"Yeah. I reckon you're right." The next thing he knew, Georgie had her jacket stowed, pharmacy sack in hand and heading into their bedroom.

"Should I heat the stew?" He asked yanking his jacket down onto a wall hook, watching Georgie take off.

"Please do. I gotta go to the loo." She responded and he heard a door close. Elvis shrugged and made way into the kitchen. They were having simple leftovers of beef stew. It was cold outside and the thought of something warm and hearty to eat appealed to Elvis. He hummed a carol whilst he turned the cooker on.

Georgie wasted no time fetching her purchase from the sack. She opened the box and began to read the instructions carefully. Her heart was pounding as she absorbed every word.

Elvis turned the pot of stew down to a simmer and wondered where the hell Georgie was? He had the table set and reached into the fridge for a beer. He looked towards the bedroom. But no sign of Georgie exiting any time soon. He walked into the lounge and checked the water level under the tree. When he stood upright he saw the little reindeer ornament Laura had given him. He smiled and lightly fingered it, hoping she was enjoying her holiday adventure with Debbie and Reginald. The scent of the stew was wafting through the flat making his stomach growl and thinning his patience.

"Oi! Georgieeee! Wha' happended? Did ya fall in?" He shouted.

Georgie heard him and laughed, but maintained her focus on the task at hand. She looked at her watch. It was just about time….

"Oh my God! She said breathily, squinting her eyes and getting closer to the test strip. "Oh my God! It's true! She said excitedly. It was everything she had hoped for!

Now he was becoming worried. This entire day was just odd. Something was wrong with Georgie. He set the beer bottle down on an end table, intending to investigate when…..

"Elvis!"

"What the fuck?!" Elvis thought he would shit when he heard her scream. He flew to the bedroom door as it swiftly opened. "Georgie! Wha' is it?"

She was laughing and crying and her hands were flitting all over the place.

"Elvis you're not gonna believe it!"

"Believe what?"

"I'm pregnant!" She squealed, crouching down then jumping up into his arms.

Elvis was stunned and at a loss for words. He stared at her with his mouth open. This was so unexpected. Only when Georgie said, "We're gonna have a baby!" Did the moment fully sink in.

"Seriously!?" He finally sputtered.

"Yes!" She sobbed joyfully. His face exploded with happiness.

"Babe we did it!" He said.

"We sure did! Elvis I'm so thrilled!"

They kissed and giggled like two fools.

"Well come 'ere, come on sit down." Elvis said now doting over her. She laughed but humored him.

"Ya didn't 'ave a headache did ya?" He said, rubbing a hand up and down her back.

She shook her head and grinned at him.

"Ya bought one of those test things."

She laughed at that. "Yep."

"Are they accurate?" He asked, he was elated and concerned, and…..

"Elvis it lit up like the Christmas tree." She said grinning at him. "I'll call the doctor in the morning and make it official."

He nodded his head and smiled at her, then took her in his arms and kissed her. "I love ya Georgie."

She clung to him. "Elvis I am so happy!" She said snuggling into the warmth of his body.

"This is the most perfect gift we could ever give each other." He said lovingly.

Georgie shed joyful tears. It was so true. She waited so long … Elvis folded her even closer to him. "I love you both." He whispered tenderly to her.

Merry Christmas! xx