Georgie Knightly had always presumed that she knew what she wanted from life; a steady career in the secret service, the freedom to travel the world and maybe one day she'd get herself a dog and call it Ziggy. But as she stared at the plastic stick in her hands, it seemed that life had other plans.

She was two and half years deep into her career working for MI5, she had faced and witnessed some of the biggest threats against her country. Yet the prospect of motherhood that came with the two blue lines on the pregnancy test in her hands terrified her more than any terror risk, any security threat.

Her hands trembled as she clung to the test, hoping and praying it might turn negative if she gripped the piece of plastic hard enough. She was twenty one years old, motherhood wasn't something she wanted, not yet at least, it was the sort of commitment that would require her to give up her career for at least a year, it would hold her back from achieving everything she'd set her sights on.

But the universe had a funny way of turning her life upside down, it did just that on the first day of MI5 training in the form of River Cartwright. It wasn't part of the plan, and Georgie Knightly loved a plan, from the day she turned eighteen she had a plan of what she wanted her life to look like, but falling for the blue eyed, copper haired fellow recruit was not part of it.

She knew that there was a way out, that she didn't have to commit to what was effectively a bundle of cells growing inside of her. But in the same way that falling in love with River Cartwright changed her life for the better, despite not being part of the plan, she wondered whether having a baby would be worth sacrificing the promise of fast-tracking through MI5's ranks.

Making that decision would have to wait, the day ahead was its own occasion and her white silk pyjamas were a reminder of that.

River Cartwright was a man of impulse, and in their two years together he had allowed Georgie to see that spontaneity wasn't such a terrifying idea. Which is partly why she said yes when he drunkenly proposed on New Year's Eve a year into their relationship.

She wasn't sure what her eighteen year old self would've made of her discovering she was pregnant on her wedding day at the age of twenty one, but she knew for sure that she would've revelled in her father's disapproval.

"Georgie, please tell me you haven't climbed out the window an hour before you're meant to walk down the aisle," The familiar voice of her closest friend from work, Sid, came from the other side of the door.

"I am very much here, Sid," Georgie replied, flushing the toilet and shoving the test into her pocket before washing her hands and leaving the en suite to see Sid staring back at her with a nervous grin, dressed in olive green pyjamas, "We both are."

Georgie pulled the pregnancy test from her pocket, Sid's eyes widening as she stared at it in shock, being a few months older than Georgie, she couldn't quite imagine being a mother herself, but to see her best friend in that position put the world into perspective very quickly.

"Is that what I think it is?" Sid whispered, trying to keep her face as neutral as possible as she assessed how Georgie might be feeling about it.

"Mmhmm," Georgie nodded, "Are Mum and Lyds up here?"

"No, your mum's taken the flowers downstairs for the men's buttonholes and Lydia's getting us more champagne from the bar," Sid replied, unable to read Georgie's eyes, "Which I suppose you can't have...unless you don't want to keep it."

"I think I do," Georgie whispered with a slight smile, promptly falling in love with the idea of a little human that was half her and half River, "I'm having a baby."

"You're having a baby," Sid squealed, wrapping her arms around her best friend, "The luckiest, coolest little baby the world has ever seen."

"When do I tell River?" Georgie asked abruptly, stepping back from Sid's embrace, "What if he doesn't want to marry me anymore?"

"Georgie, don't be fucking stupid, that man adores you," Sid reminded her, aware of Georgie's tendency to catastrophise any and every situation, regardless of how big or small, "Why else would he have proposed to you?"

"Because he was drunk and we were in Amsterdam," Georgie answered, trying desperately not to pick at her freshly manicured nails.

"If he'd thought it was a mistake then he would've taken it back the next day," Sid assured her, "And he didn't take it back, he'd bought the ring a month before, he literally asked Lydia whether you'd like the ring he'd picked out."

Georgie glanced down at her engagement ring with a fond smile, the sapphire stone set amongst tiny diamonds on the gold band, chosen carefully from her favourite jewelers in London, "I know you're right, I just-"

"Overthink everything?"

"Yeah," Georgie nodded, and while the prospect of motherhood was daunting, she knew that the love and trust that they shared would provide a strong and safe environment for any child, "I'll tell him tonight, when it's just us."

"This is pretty blood perfect, G," Sid whispered with a smile, "That baby is the luckiest little bean to have you two as its parents."

"You promise you won't tell anyone yet," Georgie was quick to reply, "My mother has just about comprehended the idea of the wedding."

"And your dad?"

"Tolerates River."

It wasn't River that was the problem, it was Georgie's father and his desire to control every situation. From the day she started school he'd been attempting to influence the people she called her friends, the people she dated. He insisted it was because he 'cared' and didn't want her to be taken advantage of. But as Georgie grew up she concluded that her father's own prejudices and need to protect his public image would always remain a priority.

But River was pretty much a picture perfect ideal son-in-law. He was a great agent, he adored Georgie, he was able to hold an intellectual conversation that he would often hope impressed her father and yet he wasn't good enough for the Justice Minister's 'little girl'.

"We really need to get you ready," Sid glanced between Georgie and the white wedding dress that hung on the wardrobe door, "We've got less than two hours until you'll be walking down the aisle."

Georgie had spent the best part of an hour being fussed over, Sid styling her hair while Lydia applied her makeup. Of course her father had insisted on hiring his daughter a hair stylist and makeup artist (no expense spared for his little girl), but Georgie felt most comfortable surrounded by her own people, Sid, her best friend from work, Lydia, her best friend since year one, and her mother, who was doing her very best to bite her tongue.

"George, what's your first dance going to be?" Lydia asked, propped up on the large queen sized bed, glass of champagne in hand as Sid buttoned up the back of Georgie's wedding dress.

"It's a surprise," Georgie replied with a slight smile, "But you'll love it."

"Not even a clue?" Lydia replied with a grin.

Georgie glanced down at her engagement ring with a smile, recalling the night several months prior when she and River chose their first dance song.

"Sshh," Georgie whispered, covering River's mouth as they drunkenly stumbled into her flat, "You'll wake the neighbours."

"They sound boring," River muttered with a smile, interlocking his hand with hers and leading her into her dark kitchen as he ran his hand up and down the wall in search of the light switch as though he hadn't been there countless times before.

"You've met them twice, Riv," Georgie couldn't help but smile at her drunk fiancé as she flicked the light switch on, illuminating her kitchen.

"Oh yeah," He nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket as he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, "I've got an idea."

"Can it wait till the morning?" Georgie yawned, more than ready for bed after four hours at the pub with their friends from work, "We've got an early meeting and I find Spider easier to tolerate on a decent night's sleep."

"This'll be fun," River insisted, peppering kisses to her jaw, "You know what we haven't done yet, for the wedding?"

"What's that?" Georgie frowned, knowing that everything was ready and in place for the big day.

"Our first dance," River replied proudly.

"You want to choose our first dance right now?" Georgie answered, "It's 2AM."

"I'll hit shuffle, first song we get, that's our first dance," River told her, and she didn't hate the idea, not in the way she would've done before she'd met him.

"You're really willing to risk our first dance being Smells Like Teen Spirit?" Georgie remarked.

"Yeah, your dad already doesn't like me, call it throwing caution to the wind," River replied.

"Fine, go for it," Georgie told him, assuming he'd probably forget about it in the morning and they'd end up choosing a reasonably classic first dance instead.

"Come here then," River spun her to face him, interlocking his hand with her's before pressing shuffle on his playlist, the sound of Bruce Springsteen filling the room.

"You know what?" Georgie grinned as River hummed along to the tune, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into hold, "I don't hate it."

"Georgie?"

"Hmm?" She looked up at Sid's reflection in the mirror, drawn from her fond daydream.

"I said 'did you decide on your something old, new, borrowed and blue?'" Her mother asked, sitting on the plush sofa, dressed in her plum purple mother of the bride dress. 

"Something blue," Georgie nodded, holding up her left hand and displaying her sapphire stone engagement ring, "Something borrowed?"

"Your shoes!" Lydia exclaimed, having leant her a pair of white heels that wouldn't require breaking in.

"Something old...Grandma's earrings," Georgie mused, inspecting her appearance in the mirror.

"And you've got your something new," Sid smiled fondly, the two friends sharing a knowing glance, "So we better get you to the hall."

Georgie and River had both agreed that they'd prefer a low key wedding, with a few of their closest family and friends. But being the daughter of a government minister came with expectations that Mark Knightly felt a need to meet. So the wedding ceremony was due to take place at a large stately home just outside of the Cotswolds. If they'd had their way, Georgie and River would've been getting married in a registry office with a small reception at their favourite pub that overlooked Hammersmith Bridge on the Thames. Georgie would've worn a casual white dress, River wouldn't have stopped himself from smiling as he watched her down the aisle.

The latter would still happen regardless of how many people were witness to their union, the stripped back wedding they both wanted would have to wait.

A knock at the door caught the attention of the four women, Lydia hurrying to the door in her olive green bridesmaid dress. She opened the door with a flourish to see Georgie's father and brother, her father wearing a black suit with a plum purple tie while her brother, Alex wore a grey suit with an olive green tie.

"There she is," Alex smiled as he entered the room, beelining for his younger sister, wrapping his arms around her with a proud grin, "You ready, George?"

"I think so," Georgie nodded, adjusting her hair that Sid had fixed into a half up curled style with an elegant and simple white ribbon bow.

"Georgina," Mark sighed as he approached his daughter with a smile, taking her hands in his as she winced at the use of her given name, "We are so proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad," Georgie smiled as she hugged him.

"We'll go and check on the guests," Sid nodded, gesturing for Lydia to join her as the two of them promptly left the suite, closing the door behind them.

"Georgina, can I just say, I know I've never been River's biggest fan, but your mother and I are truly happy for you," Her father assured her as all four family members stood in the living area of the suite, Georgie silently wondering how they'd each react to the news regarding her pregnancy.

"Thank you," Georgie replied with a grin, still unsure whether her father's approval was entirely genuine, "It means a lot to have you all here."

"Tell her about the flat," Her mother nudged Mark with an eager smile.

"We said we were going to wait until after the ceremony, Jennifer," Mark reminded her.

"Well, we'll tell her now and then when we tell her and River later, I'm sure Georgie will do her very best pretend surprise face," She assured her husband. 

"Alright," Mark nodded reluctantly, "Georgina, as you know, when your brother turned twenty five last year, we signed the Bermondsey flat over to Alex, well, now that you're married, as a wedding gift we'd like to give you and River the Tower Hill flat."

"Really?" Georgie remarked in shock, having visited the flat a few times as a little girl when her parents were in between tenants. It offered panoramic views of the city with its large floor to ceiling windows and balcony that made the perfect sunset watching spot.

"It's all yours," Jennifer nodded with a delighted smile, "We'll get the contract signed on Monday."

"I don't know what to say," Georgie grinned, wrapping her arms around her parents, "Thank you."

"Enough of that," Alex declared with a smile, "Let's get you married, Georgie."

The four family members had made their way downstairs, avoiding the groom's quarters as they approached the hall that had been perfectly decorated for the occasion, adhering to the deep purple and olive green colour scheme. Georgie had done her best to avoid considering how much the whole event had cost her parents, but she continued to remind herself how desperate they were to splash out on such a beautiful wedding.

"Here we are," Alex smiled as they entered the small drawing room that led into the back of the hall where they were due to wait until Georgie walked down the aisle.

"We should take our seats, Alex," Jennifer told her son before turning to her daughter with a proud smile, "You look absolutely beautiful my darling."

As the two of them slipped out of the room and into the hall, Georgie caught sight of the altar, the celebrant who was set to conduct the ceremony was standing at the front, the room was pretty full, but she was yet to lay eyes on River.

"Hey," Sid whispered as she and Lydia rejoined the bridal party, both carrying their respective bouquets of sunflowers and wildflowers, "Everything okay?"

"Everything's good," Georgie nodded, glancing between her friends and her father, "Is River out there?"

Lydia and Sid shared a brief look of concern, "He's probably still getting ready," Lydia assured her.

"It's the bride that's meant to be late, Georgie," Her ever reliable father told her, "Not the groom."

"He's probably just deciding which flower to put in his buttonhole," Georgie insisted, twisting her engagement ring around her finger, "He's often late to briefings."

"It's been twenty minutes, Georgina," Her father hissed as he sat beside her in the small drawing room, Lydia and Sid sitting on the opposite sofa, "Where is he?"

"Have you spoken to him today, G?" Lydia asked as her concern grew.

"No," Georgie muttered as she stared out of the window, focusing on the horses in the furthest field, "It's bad luck."

"Hi," The group looked up to see River's closest friend and best man, Adam, whose attention remained solely on Georgie, "Can I have a word...in private?"

"Anything that you need to say to me, you can say in front of them," Georgie assured him.

"Erm, okay," He nodded, scratching the back of his neck as he took a seat in the vacant armchair beside Georgie, "I've spoken to River, and there's no easy way to say this, Georgie, but erm-"

"Spit it out, boy," Mark cut him off out of frustration.

"He said he couldn't go through with it," Adam answered as Georgie's heart shattered into a dozen tiny pieces, "He told me that he can't marry you."

"He said what?" Mark writhed as Georgie's body went numb and a lump formed in her throat.

"I'm so sorry, Georgie," Adam tentatively placed his hand on top of hers.

"It's alright, it's not your fault," She replied in a mere whisper as tears formed in her eyes.

"I'll get Alex and your mother," Mark declared as he stood up, feeling that they were both better equipped to handle emotions.

"If there's anything I can do," Adam told her with a smile he hoped would provide reassurance before promptly following Mark out of the room.

"He said he can't marry me?" Georgie repeated in a mere whisper with tears in her eyes, as though saying it out loud would make it easier to comprehend, "How did I go from a fiancée to whatever I am now in less than a minute?"

"Oh, Georgie," Her two friends took a seat either side of her, Lydia wrapping her arms around her and cradling her while Sid interlocked her hands with Georgie's, "I'm so sorry."

"Is there anything we can do?" Lydia whispered, running her hand back and forth over Georgie's hair.

"Build a time machine and stop me from falling in love with the man who I never thought would break my heart," Georgie sniffed as tears continued to escape her eyes.

"I'll see what I can do," Lydia soothed, kissing the top of her head.

"What am I going to do?" Georgie asked, wondering how she managed to gain a baby and lose a fiancé in the same day, a baby that she wasn't sure she wanted, a baby who she would have to raise by herself, "There's about two hundred people out there, how am I going to face working with him after this?"

"Hey, one day at a time," Sid replied, "You've got the plane tickets for the honeymoon, why don't you take yourself away for a while?"

"I don't think I want to spend two weeks in a hotel that River and I chose together," Georgie muttered.

"I'm sure if you called the travel company and explained the situation they'd let you change the flights and destination, it's a package deal, right?" Lydia replied.

"Is there anywhere else you want to go?" Sid asked, squeezing her hand.

"Somewhere with no fucking rivers."