It has been about 6months since the day Commander Mike James Flynn had his car accident. The day that changed the lives of many people. There was so many people worried about him. It was not till the accident did Kate and his crew find out how much Mike meant to so many people. Even too this day he is still receiving letter and emails asking how he is doing.

At the inquest to the accident that somehow luckily did not cause any deaths, no one knows why but someone was looking down on this accident scene the judge said. He had never seen a scene like this that did not involve at least one death and the fact that Mike had survived he thought was a miracle. Mikes driver Lieutenant Adam Smith who is now walking on his own after suffering two badly broken legs. Explains how he saw the truck come towards them. He somehow managered to turn the car some but not enough. The actions of trying to turn the car prevented the truck from fully hitting Mike's side. It still hit the car but instead of a full impact onto Mike it was part impact that spun the car causing the driver to get trapped as well. The impact was enough along with the spinning and the second impact into another vechile caused Mike to black out. There was several cars involved. Mike already knew what Adam did as Adam explained it to him one day when Mike asked as Mike has no memory of it. His last memory of that day is leaving Maxine office after having told her he was leaving and that nothing she said or did was going to stop him. The driver was found guilty of the accident on medical grounds and was never allowed to drive again. This did not worry the driver as he had not driven since that fate full day. He had had a stroke while behind the wheel just before the accident. He was only 35yrs old and was left semi paralyzed on one side. Mike and Adam do not blame him for what happened as he did not plan to cause the accident. And no one can predict when you are going to have a stroke.

Mike has now made a full recovery and has been cleared fully fit for sea duty. This has made him happy in a way.

They have both been struggling in their own ways with how their relationship has been going.

Kate was missing seeing Mike every day. Being able to talk to him for hours even if it was about work. She was missing the way he would look at her, the slight touches he would give her. The worry she would pick up when she was hurt or when things did not go to plan. But most of all she was missing his closeness. Even though the last six years and five and half of it was spend on board Hammersley. She had gotten accustomed to him being around. Even though she has spent the last three to four months as Hammersley CO. Kate was starting to wonder about a shore posting for herself. She loved being out here on the water, she loved being with the crew but she was missing being with Mike and seeing Lizzie. As often when Lizzie was up on weekends Kate was out at sea or crashed sailed. She could tell from the way Lizzie would look that she was hurting as well. She understood that it was Kate's job but still the young girl wonted to spend time with her mother. Time that she got little of now Kate was back on Hammersley.

Mike was also struggling just like Kate. He missed watching her board vessels. He missed the sound of her voice when she was talking. He missed the looks she would give him. He even missed their throat ripping debates. But what surprised him the most was he did not miss being out a sea. He now knew the draw to the sea was the draw to Kate. Now he had Kate in his bed and his home for good this time. He hopes. The fire to be on Hammersley has started to go out but the fire to be closer to Kate to spend more time with her was starting to roar and become big. Mike would work hard during the week so on weekends he could spend it with Lizzie and Kate if she was there or if Kate was off during the week he would take the odd day here and there and spend it with her. Mike had noticed the few times Kate had been home on a weekend and Lizzie was there, if Kate was crashed sailed and had to go Lizzie would spend the rest of the time moping around the house. And nothing Mike did would cheer her up. Mike clicked after the second time this happened that his little girl was missing her mother. More than he released. He was starting to worry about the effect this would have on his little girl long term.

It is now 4weeks till Christmas. Kate and Mike are out shopping for gifts for their friends and family on a rear day ashore for Kate.

"Mike look at this" Kate says to Mike when she see's something in the window of one of the shops.

"Look at what?" Mike says looking at the shop window seeing baby items

"Wouldn't Nikki and Pete's little one look so cute in that outfit when it comes along?" Kate says to Mike point to this cute little number in the window.

"If you think so honey" Mike replies not really knowing what to say. Personally I think it would look better on a little Flynn. But Kate and I have not talked about more kids since my accident. We did when we had plans before she changed her mind. Would she wont to have more kids with me now? Mike smiles to himself as he is thinking. Kate looks at him and smiles. Wonder what he is thinking about.

"Mike I am going to go buy it for Nikki she will love it." Kate goes into the shop and to get the outfit while in there she looks around the store of other things for Nikki.

WOW there are so many cute outfits for babies and kids in this store. I wish I was buying for us not for someone else. I know we have Lizzie but I never got to experience the little baby stage or that. And seeing all these things makes me wont to have another one. I know we have not spoken about more kids since Mike had his accident I know we did before I pulled the pin.

Kate comes back out with her purchases she sees Mike sitting down on a nearby bench with two cups of coffee. Mike passes her one of the cups when she comes over.

The rest of the day goes by fast for them. They get just about everything they need. They only have to shop for each other now.

That evening while Mike is on the phone talking to his parents organising what is happening over Christmas. Kate decides to put Mikes washing away she grabs his socks and goes to put them away finding his sock draw all messy she pulls everything out and in the process find a little velvet box. She looks over her shoulder and listens to see if Mike is still on the phone. She is still hearing him talking. What is inside? Kate opens the box and the she is shocked Oh my god it is the ring he wanted to give to me years ago. He has held on to it all this time. Kate closes the box and returns it back to its spot in Mike's sock draw. She puts away his socks and the rest of the washing before going and running herself a bath. Not sure what to think of the ring she found. The ring she remembers so clearly as if it was yesterday when he asked her to be a family with him.

If I had said yes then how many kids would we have now?

Where would we be now?

Would we still be happily married?

All sorts of things were running through her mind while in the bath.

The next day Kate is back out on Hammersley. Having been crashed sailed due to a mayday call. Nikki was not impressed to have her girly day cancelled with Kate but she did understand it is the Navy and so Nikki went around too visit Mike instead. They spent the day talking about all sorts of things.

Mike and Nikki are now on a break from the course.

Two weeks later

It is the start of the start of the Christmas school holidays and Lizzie has come up from Brisbane to spend it with Mike and Kate.

"Daddy is mummy here?" Lizzie asks

"Mummy is out on Hammersley sweetie she will be back next week."

"Ok Daddy" Lizzie says before heading off to her room with her bag.

"Mum how has she been for Alisha and Brent since she was here a few weeks ago?" Mike asks his mum while in the kitchen making them a hot drink. Mel can hear the worry in his voice.

"Have you asked her yourself?"

"Yes but she just changed the subject on me. And each time I tried to bring it up she refused to say anything." Mike replies as both his mum and him sit down on the couch. Lizzie is still in her room.

"Mike what's wrong?" Mel asks noticing when Mike was talking he sounded worried

"I'm concerned about Lizzie mum"

"In what way Mike?"

"Well to me she seems to be missing Kate. And today I didn't even get a hello she just asked me if Kate was here and she look sad. Last time she was here I felt like she was not herself. I get the feeling she prefer to be with Kate than me."

"Mike honey I don't think that is what is happening. She is getting to see you so much more now well the both of you. You both don't hide the fact you have a beautiful daughter together. She will be missing her mum Mike. Just give her time."

"But why won't Alisha tell me how she when she is with them?"

"That might be because of me Mike"

"Mum what did you say to her?"

"I may have suggested that she lets Lizzie move up here."

"Mum why did you say that to Mel"

"Because I feel that Lizzie should be living with the both of you and I have thought that from the start from Mike. I know Alisha provided Kate with the out she wonted but kept her within the family but I have always felt that Lizzie needs to be with her real parents Mike and Alisha has known this."

"Mum do you think that is right. Saying that to her."

"Mike she has to realise that at some stage you two might use the clause me and your dad put in the adoption papers that you and Kate signed." Mike is shocked

"Mum what clause is that?"

"The one that allowed you both to take Lizzie back if the two of you got back together and wonted your family to be together as a whole." Mike stands up off the couch and starts to pace the lounge.

"God mum was that bloody well wise? And does Kate and Alisha know about this?" Mike is not impressed

"Kate no, Alisha yes. And yes I thought it was a good idea and I still think it is a good idea. Even Alisha thought it was ok at the time."

"God mum that is just not on or fear to Alisha and Brent. They treated her like their own child. They love her how could you think to tell her to give Lizzie back to Kate and I. God mum I just hope she still wants to come up here for Christmas."

Mike start to feel weird. His chest gets tight he is finding it hard to breath. He bends over clutching his chest. He starts to feel light headed. He then passes out on to the floor of his lounge.

Mel rushes to Ring emergency services having no idea what is going on with her son. Lizzie comes out to find her father on the floor. She runs over to him and starts crying and yelling at him to wake up.

"Daddy wakeup please daddy" Lizzie then shakes him

"Granny why won't daddy wake up"

"I'm not sure honey" Mel replies she can see the fear in Lizzie's eyes

"Daddy no don't leave mummy and me we need you. Daddy wake up" Lizzie then lays down beside Mike she puts her head on his chest and cry's.

This is how the paramedics find Mike when they arrived 15mins.

Mike is still unconscious on the floor with his nine year old daughter not wanting to leave his side who is in tears and keeps telling her father to wake up. Mel holds Lizzie to her chest.

The Paramedics attach a heart monitor to Mike and notice his heart rhythm is all over the place. They shock him but it does nothing. They shock him again with no changes. They decide they need to get him to hospital straight away

The next thing Mike is in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. Mel and Lizzie follow in the car. Not knowing if Mike will make it.