Life back on the Square was suddenly thrown into turmoil as the reason for DI Keeble's visit to the Branning household was gradually revealed to the residents of Walford. Katy held her head up, refusing to let the gossiping and curious looks that were sent in her direction get to her. Lauren and Abi were refusing to talk to her and, through Whitney and Lola, she had learnt that they were more hurt than angry. Katy did regret that and she asked her friends to let the Branning sisters know that, although it made very little difference.
Katy was also still maintaining that Max was definitely not the father of her unborn daughters. As she had guessed, everyone's minds had jumped to that conclusion as soon as they'd discovered the truth, but Katy was refusing to waver from her story that the father was some Spanish waiter she'd met while in Ibiza.
As time went on and preparations for Phil and Sharon's wedding got into full swing, Katy found herself being dragged along with Roxy as the older Mitchell threw herself into her duties. When Sharon announced that Linda was taking over as Maid of Honour, Katy thought that her aunt might blow a gasket. Instead, the blonde seethed. She ranted and raved as soon as they were behind closed doors, but in public she managed to keep her cool.
Not particularly bothered by ensuring that Sharon had a day to remember, Katy was still hoping that Phil would come to his senses and realise that it was Shirley that he should be with. Things seemed to be looking up as she spotted the former couple in each other's company more and more often as the wedding drew nearer.
Ben's reappearance on the Square seemed to put a drastic end to anything that was building between Phil and Shirley, however. Katy was at the Vic with Whitney and Nancy, trying to pretend that the suspicious stares and whisperings of the other punters wasn't bothering her, when the doors opened and Ben walked through them. Katy almost dropped her glass of orange juice in surprise, her eyes immediately seeking out Jay. He looked guiltily at her, apparently remembering his promise not to get involved with Ben.
"What the hell…?" Whitney muttered, shooting Katy a look. She frowned as her friend simply shrugged, a dark look on her face.
"Who's that?" Nancy asked, glancing between the other girls.
"Ben… Phil's son." Katy informed her bluntly. "He's just been released from prison."
Nancy chuckled. "What did he do? Steal someone's sweets?"
"Murder."
"Eh?" The blonde looked shocked, her eyes flicking back up to look at the boy standing awkwardly beside his father.
"He killed Heather, Shirley's best mate."
Nancy's mouth dropped open. "Oh my god, no way? Him?"
Standing up abruptly, Katy walked over to where Ben and Jay were standing near the bar. Ben's face split into a wide grin as she approached and he held his arms out for a hug. Pushing him away, Katy scowled.
"Look at you! You're huge!" Ben said with a beaming smile. "You look great, Katy. I've missed you."
"What are you doing here?" She hissed angrily. "Did you even… what about Shirley? How do you think she's gonna take you coming back?"
"I'm back here for Shirley." Ben told her. He glanced over his shoulder before reaching out and wrapping his hand around her arm. Pulling his cousin over to a quieter corner of the room, he looked at her carefully. "Dad should be with Shirl, not Sharon. I'm here to make sure he realises that before it's too late."
"What? You think Shirley's going to listen to anything you've got to say? After what you did?"
"It's worth a try. He can't marry Sharon!"
Shaking her head in disbelief, Katy pulled her arm out of Ben's grasp and turned away. Returning to her table, she picked up her things and told Whitney and Nancy that she was going home. When they complained, asking whether it had anything to do with Ben's sudden appearance, she shook her head and informed them that she was tired and needed to lie down. They didn't look convinced by her weak denial, but they didn't attempt to stop her.
Roxy jumped when the living room door opened, springing up into a seated position and pulling her unbuttoned top around her quickly. Aleks simply smiled at the pregnant brunette as she rolled her eyes.
"I thought you were at the pub."
"I was… but then Ben turned up." Katy told her, already turning to head upstairs. "Don't worry, I'm going to bed. I won't interrupt your night."
"Good plan… We've got a busy day tomorrow, what with the wedding." Roxy called after her. "Don't forget we need to be at the Vic by nine tomorrow morning to get our hair done."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Climbing the stairs, Katy looked in on Ruby and Amy who were fast asleep in their bedroom, before shutting herself in her own room. She lay on her bed, fully clothed, staring up at the ceiling. Just as she was starting to drift off into an uneasy sleep, her mobile vibrated on her bedside table and make her jerk awake in panic.
'You can't avoid me forever, K. We're family.'
Scowling at the message from Ben, Katy almost threw her phone back onto the cabinet beside her and turned onto her side, running a hand over her stomach. She sighed, wondering whether life would always be so dramatic. She knew that the answer to that question was a resounding yes, but there was nothing she could do to change it. The alternative, leaving the Square and starting a new life away from her family and friends, was something she didn't have it in her to consider. As much as they drove her crazy, as much as she sometimes wished for a quiet life, she couldn't imagine life being any different.
