Belonging to the Iceman

A Long Distance Relationship

Kimi and Shantelle sat in the Doctor's examination room.

An adhesive patch covered the small needle mark from her blood test.

Finally, he came into the room "Shantelle and Kimi, congratulations you're going to be parents!" He said with a smile "now, it says here Shantelle that you are the nominated blood donor for a Mr Alain Prost."

"Yes that's correct," She said, feeling Kimi's hand holding hers.

"You are aware that you can no longer donate blood until nine months after the baby is born?" He asked

"Yes, I am aware of that" she answered, nodding "I just hope that he has another donor ready."

"So how far along is she, Doctor?" Kimi asked.

"Oh only 6 weeks Kimi, was this pregnancy planned?" The GP answered.

"No, it was not planned" Shantelle answered.

"And will you be having bub here in Brissy?"

"Well I work and live in the middle of the Northern Territory, so I was hoping Darwin" Kimi answered

"Oh, no...far too hot for Shantelle and bub I'm sorry Kimi, she must stay in Brisbane, the last thing we want is another miscarriage. What do you do in the Northern Territory?" The GP asked.

"I am the Head Stockman of Emu Creek Station" Kimi answered "I have to be back early tomorrow morning..."

Sacha poured them all a drink when he heard Kimi's Ute pull into the driveway.

"I am six weeks pregnant Sach!" She said happily

He hugged her "congratulations my beautiful Shantelle!" He said happily.

"Kulta" Kimi said seriously "we need to talk about what we are going to do, I can't walk away from the boys or the Station and I want you and bub to be healthy and safe!"

"We're going to have to have a long-distance relationship my Kimi; I'll stay here in Brisbane..."

"And I can take care of Shantelle, Iceman!" Sacha offered "making sure that if any problems arise I will get her straight to her GP..."

"You will get her straight to the nearest hospital and ring me at once!" Kimi said, laying down his orders. "Whether I am out Mustering or not you ring my mobile, am I clear Sacha?!"

"Yes Kimi, of course," Sacha said, slightly nervous. He had never seen the Iceman like this.

"If I do not answer after the first attempt, don't waste time trying to reach me, call my boss's wife and she will get onto the radio to get the message to me!"

Sacha was nodding obediently, taking everything in.

"All her Ultrasounds, I will be there for them Sacha, and her prenatal and birthing classes I will try my best to make it to them if I don't will you take her, please?"

"Yes...Yes of course!" Sacha answered.

"Now for her diet...." Kimi continued "if she is not allowed to have it, even if she adores it more than anything DO NOT let her eat or drink it!"

Shantelle had gotten annoyed "what am I? A dog?" She growled.

He kissed her and said "You know how much I am going to miss you Shantelle," He said tenderly.

"And I am going to miss you even more!" She said back "be careful...please!!"

He kissed her again "I always am careful Kulta! Oddie and Senna will keep me safe!"

"Do you have to go now?" She asked him, feeling sad.

"I have to get back Kulta, we've got a massive Muster tomorrow," He told her.

"Then I want you to take this with you and promise me you'll wear it when you go Mustering," Shantelle said taking her silver crucifix off and gently putting it around Kimi's neck.

"You give me your rules and I'll give you mine right back, Icey!" She told him.

He smiled at the precious Cross around his neck and said "I promise I will never take it off!"

He took her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

Saying goodbye at the Brisbane Airport was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

"I will see you in six weeks for your twelve-week Ultrasound Kulta," He told her trying not to cry. "You let Sacha take care of you! Don't overdo it and if you have any problems or pain, get to the hospital and let me know! I will leave as soon as I can to get to you!"

Before he had to board his flight she asked "Do you think you could ask Delphine to come to Brisbane and live with Sacha and me?"

He smiled and kissed "I think she wants to come back to civilisation, the heat and dust are getting to poor little Angeline!"

"Then what will our bub be like in the heat and dust Kimi?" Shantelle asked, worried.

He kissed her again. "Then I will step down from my position as Head Stockman if our child cannot live on the Station, Kulta...plain and simple!"

"You'll always be my Stockman though, Icey," She said kissing him, and then he pulled away and headed down the ramp.

As the plane took him away from her, Sacha gently wrapped his arms around her flat tummy.

"Do you want to go home, Shantelle?" He asked softly.

She nodded, feeling sad that her Kimi was gone but at the same time she felt amazing as Sacha's hands rubbed her tummy.

Her child, Kimi's child was already growing inside of her.

*

"Oh, I forgot to ask him about some wedding preparations!" Shantelle said disappointed as they finally got back to Warrawee House. "I want to get married soon before I start showing so I don't look like a hippo in my wedding photos!"

Sacha smiled and handed her a glass of Iced Tea.

"Am I allowed this?" She asked, grinning.

He winked and had a few mouthfuls out of his own glass.

"I won't tell Kimi if you don't!"

"Your Uncle Sacha is still one of my best friends!" Kimi said happily "Even though I was thousands of kilometres away from your Isoäiti, he took care of her the way I would have if I have been there AND to this day I STILL wear your Isoäiti's silver Cross, it became my good luck charm while I was out Mustering!"

"Yes but Sacha fell in love with Mum, remember Dad?" Amber asked

"Not like Nico!" Lucas whined, "please say he didn't take her out and marry her and get her drunk and, tell her to shut up!"

"And try to win her love and her heart!" Elysia added.

"The only person that had your Isoäiti's love, soul and heart was ME, Little One! Sacha was in love with Shantelle, I knew it plain and simple! But he wasn't Nico and he knew what I was capable of!"

"Who donated their blood for Alain?" Lucas asked

"A friend of the Prost's" Shantelle answered "Alain was there for Amber's birth, believe me!"

"So when did you two get married and WHERE?" Lucas asked.

"We are coming up to that part pretty shortly!" Kimi said, checking the time, it was almost eleven pm.

"My kids are going to be dead tired tomorrow..." Amber said.

Kimi grinned and said cheekily "Seb and Hanna can deal with them!"