Anniversary

Ronnie glared at the paperwork in front of him. He knew reading any reports from the morgue was something Joe and Matt avoided like the plague. Neither men were able to dissociate themselves from the victim and the families left behind. Taking his glasses off he noticed Natalie watching him through the glass panel in her office wall. Smiling slightly to himself he got to his feet before heading into her office.

"Guv."

"Ronnie." She looked up. "Anything?"

"We have a cause of death for Dominic. Looks like he was killed by a toxin ingested up to an hour before death." He watched as Natalie closed her eyes. "Would have been added to an alcoholic drink, according to Chloe."

"Bit weird, poisoning. Like something from an old spy movie."

"No offence, Guv but this is Croydon we're talking about, not a James Bond film." Natalie smiled at him.

"I know that."

"Both killed by a poison. Both apparently ingested it. It's a bit personal." She ran a hand over her face, exhausted.

"Nat? Are you ok? The boys?"

"My boys are ok. Daniel is spending New Year's Eve with his boyfriend and Christmas with his dad. Andrew is going to see his Dad on Christmas Day and spending Boxing Day with me." She sighed. "It's good they have their own lives. I mean they're twenty and seventeen. What lad wants to hang around their old mum at that age?"

"They're good boys. Andrew just misses his father." Ronnie stepped towards her. It killed him that her boys weren't as close to their parents as he was with his girls. Natalie shrugged. "And Danny, well we've all been young and in love."

"Yeah."

"Some of us not so young." Ronnie watched as she blushed.

"Ron, we're in work."

"Yeah. And I'm not touching you. The door is closed and if anyone walks in we are being nothing but professional." Natalie looked him in the eye, blushing slightly. "Nat, you know how I feel about you. How I always have."

"Denise hasn't been gone long." Natalie paused. "The girls."

"Love you as much as I do." She smiled.

"Let's just get through this week. It's the anniversary of the funeral tomorrow. A whole year since we lost Wes." Ronnie frowned. Natalie nodded.

"A year since Kate."

"Yeah." He knew what she was referring to. It felt like a knife in his gut to know what the young crown prosecutor had been through. He was just glad that the man who had been responsible for hurting her was locked up. He hated to think what Kate and Jake were going through.

Xxxxxxxxzz

Kate leant against the bathroom door as she listened to Jake reading to Charlotte. The baby seemed transfixed by her father's voice and Kate couldn't quite believe how her fiancé had taken to parenthood. She closed her eyes, listening to the water running in the bathtub as she closed the door. It was then the tears began to flow. Angry with herself, with the man who had attacked her and the not knowing about the paternity of her child she sunk to her knees and cried.

"Kate?" She jumped up, swearing profusely as she realised the bath nearly overflowed. Turning the taps off and climbing in she flinched at the hot water burning her skin.

"Kate?" Jake tapped the door. "Are you ok? Can I come in?" He sounded worried but she couldn't bring herself to answer. "Kate, if you don't answer me in the next three seconds I am breaking this bathroom door down. She swore under her breath before grabbing a towel and stepping out of the bath.

"Kate!"

"I." She opened the door, biting her lip as she looked up at him. "Sorry. I'm so sorry."

He grabbed her by the shoulders, ignoring the wet skin there as he stared at her.

"What is it?"

"I."

"Is it the wedding? Is it us?"

Kate shook her head, blue eyes wide as she looked up at him. "No."

"Tell me."

"I just, I thought."

"Ah." Jake paused before brushing her hair away from her damp shoulders. "It's him. Today. Isn't it?"

"I thought I was over it. I have my life back. I have a beautiful baby girl. I have a mad old cat. The best job and a man who for some unknown reason seems to love me. I." He pulled her into his arms. Kissing her hair as he held her.

"I do love you." He stated firmly. "You and Charlotte. Even Seb the guard cat has grown on me." She chuckled slightly before looking up.

"It just hit me. A year ago today we said goodbye to Wes. Then I started thinking about Michelle and how I'd never cope if I were her."

"Kate."

"Then. Then I remembered the wake and his hands on me. I tried to fight back. I." She swallowed hard. "Why now? Why am I having flashbacks now?"

"The anniversary?" Kate shrugged as he spoke.

"Maybe."

"Charlotte is sleeping."

"Good."

"Bed."

"Jake."

"You need to rest. You're exhausted. That isn't going to help matters." Kate rested her head against his chest.

"I don't want to be alone." Her voice small, almost a whisper.

"You won't be." He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

"Stay with me."

"Always, Kate. Always." He ushered her into the bedroom before laying on the bed next to her. The baby slept peacefully in her crib as the couple held each other knowing the man who had attacked Kate had left a scar that would take years to heal, if it ever would.

Xxxxxxx

A/N please review