Due South - Assignment Europe 12

Chapter 12 – Time passes

Ben came home after a long day at the Consulate and found Stine sleeping on the sofa. It was pretty common these days, there were only a month left before their baby would arrive. He stood by the side and just looked at her “She's radiant” he heard from behind and turned to see his father “Yes she is” he agreed “You've done good for yourself Benton” his father said and continued “I actually thought for a bit that I'd never get grandchildren, I mean you and the Inspector just walked around each other” Ben turned back to look at his father again “Dad, can you skip that old talk, besides Margret is married to Ray now” he told for 'the millionth time'.

The New Year's wedding had been fairly small, Margret's parents had come down for just the weekend, they didn't like to leave home very much, all the friends were there and of course the Vecchio's. Margret had had one a lovely white dress, and the bride's maids had all been smashing in matching purple dresses, Margret had let the girls chose models for themselves as long as they had the same color and you couldn't see that Stine was five months pregnant by the time. Ben glanced up on the shelf and saw the wedding photo. He had been Ray's best man, the only request Ray had had was that he worn a tuxedo and not his dress uniform.

Ben sat down besides Stine on the sofa and gently placed a kiss on her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open “Hi smukke” he had learned a few Danish words during the time they'd been together and he liked the ring of the Danish 'beautiful'. “Hi Ben, you're home already?” she asked “It's 7 pm.” Ben answered “I'm sorry I'm so late, but this transition takes it time” he was referring to that he now half time was working as a temporary Inspector. Ben had been promoted after doing a great work at the Consulate and being a great help to the Chicago Police that was why he now could help out running the Consulate when Margret had to stay home, it hadn't taken long after the wedding before she got pregnant and she hadn't been as lucky as Stine who had up until now not been that much affected, now Stine only got tired easily. Stine sat up in the sofa and put a pillow behind her back “I must have slept thru the alarm, I had planned on having dinner ready for you when you got back” she said tiredly. Ben smiled at her “You don't have to make dinner every evening” he said “Why don't I call for some Chinese?” he suggested and Stine thought about it “Sure, but nothing spicy for me” Ben went over to the fridge and took down the Chinese menu and placed the call.

“I'll just take a quick shower” Stine whispered not to disturb him. When he had ordered he joined her in the shower. Stine moaned when he ran his soapy hands over her back. It felt so relaxing and good. She turned around and put her arms around his neck stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “They were busy at the Chinese place, it takes around 30 minutes” Ben told when they broke the kiss. He put his hands on her stomach “Have I told you how lucky you've made me” he looked her in the eyes as the water flowed over them. “Not today” Stine said and reached for the shampoo bottle. She washed and rinsed her hair and added the conditioner. Ben quickly washed up and got out. When Stine turned off the water he helped her out and wrapped a towel around her, again resting his hands on her stomach.

“Did I tell you that it's planned for Queen Margarethe to come visit Chicago and she will of course come to the consulate” Stine said as they sat down at the table having dinner “No you didn't, when will this happen?” Ben asked “In two weeks, there will be a big banquette on the Saturday evening and we're both invited to it” she showed the official invitation. Ben smiled “I actually met her once when I was working in Copenhagen, I think it was before I met you which don't give much of a time frame” “That gives you a head up on me” Stine said “Of course I've seen her a lot of times, but never met her in person” she rubbed her aching back. “Do you want me to massage that after dinner?” Ben asked when he saw what she did and got a nod and tired smile back.

A week before the Queen's visit the Danish Consulate was buzzing with preparations, this Friday was Stine's last day before she went on maternity leave. When lunchtime came they all gathered in a room and had a little celebration for her, she got a few gifts for the baby from her colleges, there had been a big baby shower over at the Vecchio house the last Sunday and now she felt that she didn't need to buy anything herself for the baby.

When she arrived home she found Ben's father sitting at the kitchen counter as so many times before. They had had some nice chats during these months “Hello Stine” he said “Hi yourself” she was now comfortable with it, he usually turned up when she needed some support and couldn't call Ben as he was too busy at work or she couldn't call her mother as it was too late in Denmark. “So, what's bothering you today?” Robert Fraser asked his daughter-in-law. “Nothing really” she shrugged her shoulders “It's just....” she said “Oh, there's so many things running around in my head now” she hated to leave her part of the work to someone else, although the temporary assistant had seemed to be a good person, just a bit too efficient, almost like he had been Canadian instead of Danish. “I understand that's common for women in your position, I mean in the late state of pregnancy. Unfortunately I wasn't there for Benton's mother as I was posted in at a far away station by the time. Benton was two weeks old before I met him the first time” Stine thought back to the time when Ben had missed their first ultrasound and it could still make her furious and she'd never forgive him if he wasn't there for the birth “Now, now Stine” Robert Fraser said and wished he could have given her a hug “Remember I can read your thoughts as well as talk to you, but you don't have anything to worry about, Benton will be there for you” Stine sighed “At least he's not working with Ray and Stan for the time being” it had been more or less impossible for him to help the 27^th precinct lately. “But that was really the work he was trained for, I feel it's my fault he got positioned here in Chicago” Robert said “I know, but I feel much safer with him at the Consulate” Stine confessed before she walked over to the living room. She put down her cup of tea she had made and turned the TV on, it seemed that Robert had disappeared again, he did that all the time and she had wondered many times if he'd still be around for her to see and talk to when the baby was born.

The phone rang and it was her mother calling from Denmark, she said that she and Stine's father planned on coming to Chicago the week of the estimated birth and stay for two weeks. Stine got so happy she started to cry and went on crying after they finished the call. For once Ben came home a bit early and rushed straight over to Stine not minding the tears on his uniform. “What's wrong?” he asked and Stine tried to explain but Ben only understood half the words “Please darling” he looked at her and dried some tears away with his thumbs before reaching into a pouch on his belt for a handkerchief. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead “Will you tell me again?” and Stine told about how she had talked to her mother and that her parents were coming to visit. She looked up at him “Ben, I'm scared, what if something goes wrong, what if mother and father don't get here in time if it does” Ben sat down in the sofa and cradled her in his safe arms “Everything will be OK” he spoke softly “We've got an appointment with the doctor on Monday morning and you will see that everything will be all right” he put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up “Besides, we're meeting your Queen on Saturday and this baby” he put his other hand protectively on her stomach “This baby have promised me that nothing will stop you from that” Stine thought about how Ben many nights when they've gone to bed laid resting his head on her chest talking to their baby. Stine laughed “You're crazy Ben, as long as you promise not to go on any excursions with Ray and Stan I think I'll be OK too”

Disclaimer/Copyright 2013 and forward: I don't own anything from the series Due South, it's just borrowed for your entertainment. This is my story though and I feel I own that.