"It's not right…" she shrugged as he moved forward placing his hands on her waist
"We can't change the laws, they came here illegally" he answered
"What and because of that a little boy could end up in foster care or sent back?" she said getting worked up
"What do you want me to do about it?" he sighed
"Work some of your charm, make sure her sister gets custody" she smiled
"I can't promise anything but I'll get Swaine to look into it" he said shaking his head
"No kid should have to go through foster care…" she said sadly
"Not every foster career is like the one who looked after you Kate…" he answered as she looked up at him sadly
"I know I just…"
"Your safe, I would never let anyone hurt you" he answered moving a hand up as he placed it on her cheek
"And I love you for that" she replied placing a hand against his chest
"Now can you please…" he said moving his hands back to around her waist as he lifted her up as sat her on the bench
"Put it out of you mind just for tonight" he said moving his head forward as she pulled back placing her hands against his chest
"Are you trying to seduce me?" she smirked as she looked deep into his eyes
"Is it working?" he grinned as his hand travelled under her shirt
"Mmm maybe" she answered moving her hands up running them through his hair as their lips met in a passionate kiss, later that night Kate laid in bed staring at ceiling as she looked over the sleeping form of the man she loved, the man she'd been having a secret relationship with for the past 2 years, the man whom she trusted with her life.
She'd joined HMAS Hammersley 3 years ago as a temporary Executive Officer at least it was only supposed to be temporary, she'd decided to stay when she realised she didn't want to leave the crew or Mike behind things between Mike and Kate were tense at first but after she was shot by Rick Gallagher he realised things had changed he was scared to lose her,
3 months later and they were over stepping the boundary and exploring things having spent their first night together in 4 years since he left her at ADFA deciding to try the whole relationship thing even if it meant they could lose their careers;
hell they did it at ADFA for a year before he got a posting, but if she was being honest the whole idea scared her but I mean how hard could it be?
Shifting slightly as she moved his hand off her abdomen she suddenly felt his grip tighten as she was pulled against him
"You okay?" he asked sadly brushing the hair out of her face
"Yeah…" she answered playing with the hairs on his arm
"Kate…" he sighed as he watched her face closely as she scrunched up her brow something she did when she was worried or about to lie
"I just…"
"What?" he asked moving to sit up so he could face her as she shifted to rest against the bedhead
"Do you ever think about changing things? The past or even the future…" she sighed
"You can only change the present or what's going to happen tomorrow, but yeah I do sometimes" he answered softly
"Sometimes I think if I had of noticed something was wrong maybe things wouldn't have gone the way they did…" she said crossing her legs as she leant forward
"Kate…"
"I mean I was his daughter I should have noticed he was sick, noticed that he was dying" she said tearing up
"Your Dad hid things from you to protect you, he wouldn't have wanted you to worry…"
"I was 10 I should have known" she answered as he gripped her hands in his
"You can't blame yourself Kate, Cancer is a fickle thing it gets you when you least expect it and sometimes it can make you stronger and other times it can make you weak your Dad took the high road and made sure his little girl was safe made sure she focused on her studies instead of worrying about him" he said squeezing her hand
"He was all I had, my Mother didn't want me I had no family foster care it was the only option…" she said starting to tear up
"And now you have me, and the crew we're your family and you'll never have to worry again" he said brushing the tear off her cheek
"I…" she began saying as he moved back to lay down as he pulled her towards him she rested her head against his bare chest
"I will never, ever let you go Kate I will always protect you" he said moving his hand under singlet as he softly rubbed her back
"You promise?" she asked sadly
"With everything I am" he said stopping his hand along her backbone as he travelled along the scar that took up half her back
"No one will ever hurt you the way that scumbag did" he said kissing her head as he felt her snuggle deeper against him
"I love you" she smiled softly moving her head to look at him
"And I love you" he said moving his head down placing a soft kiss against her lips before settling back into his pillow as they began drifting back to sleep in each other's arms.
19 years ago: Age 10
"Kate Mathews this is Susan and Clive Williams; they'll be Fostering you…" the brown haired woman said looking at the small blonde haired girl standing next to her
"Nice to meet you Kate" Susan smiled as she smiled at the 10-year-old
"Likewise" Kate smiled softly
"And who's this?" Clive asked looking down at the teddy in the little girl's arms
"This is Reef; he was my Dads" she said sadly as she hugged the little bear tighter
"Why the name Reef?" Susan asked softly
"He's a Navy Bear" she said loosening the grip as she held him up to show the Navy uniform on the bear
"Well it's nice to meet you Reef" Clive smiled softly as Kate pulled him back hugging him tightly again
"Do you like the water Kate?" Susan asked moving back to stand next to her husband
"No, I can't swim…" she sighed
"That's okay, I can teach you we taught our 2 kids" Clive smiled
"Thank you Mr" Kate said softly
"Ah Mr and Mrs Williams, we've just got some paperwork for you to sign and then you can go" another woman smiled stopping next to them
"I'll stay with Kate" the brown haired lady said as Kate grabbed her hand
"We won't be long" Susan smiled as Kate and the brown haired lady moved to sit at her desk.
"Why can't I stay with you?" Kate asked sadly as she sat down
"It just doesn't work like that Katie, I may be your social worker but you can't stay with me permanently when there's someone willing to take you" she answered softly
"But I've stayed with you for 6 months now, don't you love me?" she asked squeezing her bear tighter
"Oh Katie, of course I do you're a very special little girl who will achieve great things but I'm your social worker I'm not allowed to Foster you…"
"Then adopt me, make me your daughter just please don't make me go with them" she replied moving forward in her chair
"It just doesn't work like that sweetie" she said sadly
"But…"
"Susan and Clive are good people they have raised 2 sons and fostered another before you" she said trying to reassure her
"Please Kelly don't make me go" Kate said tearing up
"You'll have a home now Katie, something you haven't had since you're Dad passed away 7 months ago, it will be an opportunity for you to start anew" she answered reaching a hand across her desk
"Kelly…" Kate began saying as Susan stopped next to her
"Ready to go Kate" she smiled as Clive stopped next to them
"Yes Ma'am" Kate said softly
"Be good Katie" Kelly answered as she pulled Kate into a hug as she moved out of the chair
"I love you Kelly" Kate said softly as she placed a kiss on her cheek as she pulled away from the hug
"I love you to kiddo, I'll be around once a month to check on things" she smiled as she moved to stand passing Susan Kate's bag.
The drive to the William's house was quiet and quick moving out of the car Kate stopped as she stared at the small house that looked like something out of a horror film
"It's not much but it's home" Susan smiled as she reached a hand out for Kate to grab they walked through the front door as Clive grabbed the bags
"Does your kids live here too?" she asked nervously
"No, our oldest is 24 he's working in Cairns about 10 hours away and our youngest is 19 and lives in Melbourne working in a television studio" she smiled
"You must be proud" Kate said letting her hand go
"Very, look Kate I know we could never replace your Parents but we will make sure you've got the best of everything" she smiled as Clive moved past them and down the hall
"Can I see my bedroom?" Kate asked hopeful
"Of course, it's down the hall on the right" she answered as Kate moved past her following Clive as she stopped in the doorway
"Welcome home Kate" he smiled placing her bags down on the bed as Kate stepped inside looking at the bright pink walls and the toy chest in the corner with a Cupboard next to it filled with some clothes
"We wanted you to have some new clothes" Susan said as she stood on the doorway with Clive they watched Kate looking around the room smiling
"Thank you" Kate answered as she sat on the end of the bed
"We'll leave you to settle in and then we'll organise some tea, is there anything your allergic to?" Susan asked as Kate nodded pulling a piece of paper out of her bag passing it to her
"Well it looks like we need to change our diets and other things" Clive smirked as they looked down at the paper that had the list of allergies on it 'Peanuts, Banana's, Eggs, Fish, Gluten, Codeine and Band-Aids'
"Can I take a nap?" Kate asked hopeful
"Of course, just come out when you're ready" Susan smiled as they moved out of the doorway and down the hall Kate shifted back into the pink doona as she hugged 'Reef' tightly as she began to cry softly
"She'll settle in, it's just all new to her" Susan said softly as they heard Kate's soft cries
"I hope you're right" Clive answered as he pulled his wife into a hug.
Present Time:
Kate was standing in the kitchen staring into space as she waited for the kettle to boil she didn't hear Mike move up behind her
"How you feeling this morning?" Mike asked as he placed a hand on her back she jumped
"What are you doing?" she asked turning to look at him
"I'm sorry I just…" he answered looking at her panicked face as he pulled her into a hug
"Kate… I didn't mean to scare you" he said sadly as he felt her wrap her arms around him
"No I'm sorry, I just didn't expect you to be awake" she sighed as the kettle boiled
"How long have you been up?" he asked as she pulled away from the hug and moved across the kitchen to the kettle
"A few hours…" she sighed pouring the hot water into two mugs
"Only a few?" he asked knowing she was lying
"Maybe since 5am" she shrugged stirring one of the coffee's before passing it to him
"4 Hours?" he asked taking the mug from her as she moved back to the bench stirring hers
"I couldn't sleep" she sighed placing the spoon in the sink
"Why didn't you wake me?" he said a little annoyed as he placed his mug down and grabbed her arm
"You needed you're sleep" she smiled softly
"Kate you haven't been sleeping well for weeks" he said concerned
"I'm fine honestly" she answered moving to grab her drink as he grabbed her arm pulling her flush against him as he leant against the bench
"Talk to me" he said sadly resting his arms around her waist
"I'm just thinking about tomorrow" she sighed placing a hand on his chest
"You're Dad's anniversary" he replied softly looking deep into her eyes
"I just miss him that's all" she answered moving forward as she rested her head against his chest
"He would be so proud of you, for the woman you've become" he said kissing her forehead as she moved her head back to look up at him
"He would have loved you" she smiled
"You think so?" he asked grinning
"I know so" she answered moving her head up as she placed a kiss against his lips before pulling back to grab her coffee he stopped her smirking
"We're not done here" he grinned widely pushing her against the fridge
"Mmm I need coffee first" she grinned
"After" he smirked running his hand down her side as he moved it under her thigh lifting her leg up slightly
"Coffee can wait" she said moving her hand against his neck as she pulled his head down to meet his lips against hers in a passionate kiss.
"I made you some gluten free Pancakes" he smiled re-entering the room an hour later with a tray of food
"My hero" she smirked as he sat on the bed
"I honestly don't know how you can eat those" he said shaking his head as he placed the tray on her lap
"Well it's either that or" she grinned shrugging
"I love you and all of your weird allergies" he winked at her
"Their not weird" she said playfully crossing her arms
"I've never met anyone allergic to so many things, or someone who couldn't eat eggs I mean" he shrugged smirking
"Hey it's not my fault you don't like these delicious pancakes" she said cutting a piece with her fork as she moved it up to his lips
"No! Get that gunk away from me" he laughed
"Come on just one bite" she smirked
"I'm not putting that in my mouth" he said shaking his head
"Ok…" she said dropping the fork as she moved the tray onto the bedside table as she moved forward running a hand along his arm his breath hitched
"See it like this, you have just one bite" she said resting on her knees with her head just inches away from his
"Or… You won't ever get to have this again" she grinned closing the distance as he went to kiss her Kate bit his bottom lip before moving back and picking up the fork with the piece of pancake on the end as he tried to calm his breathing
"That's not fair" he smirked as she held the fork in front of his mouth
"Think of it as compromising" she grinned widely
"You mean if I don't eat this brown looking so called pancake I can't have you?" he answered moving forward
"Yep" she smirked
"Well you see that just won't do" he replied shaking his head
"Really?" she asked testing him
"Now Kate come on, you don't mean that you can't resist me" he answered moving forward as he pushed her hand to the side
"Is that what you think?" she asked as he grabbed her waist pulling her down so she was laying down he hovered above her
"Oh absolutely" he replied grinning as he starting kissing her neck slowly moving towards her lips
"You've always been powerless to resist me" he winked as she moved her head up to kiss his lips
"Drop the fork first" he answered moving his head back
"But…"
"Kate, drop the fork" he laughed as she moved her hand as she took the piece of food off the end of the fork
"What you said get rid of it" she laughed as she placed the fork on the bedside table swallowing her mouthful of food
"Better" he grinned moving his head down as he kissed her lips biting her bottom one like she had done minutes earlier
"Mm 2 time's in the same morning my, my Mr Flynn" she smirked as he brushed a hand along her waist
"Like I said powerless to resist me" he grinned
"You sure it's not the other way around" she replied moving her left leg wrapping it around his waist before he laughed as he moved down kissing her more passionately he felt her hands brushing along his chest he knew things were starting to heat up as Kate began with her signature move of running her fingers through his hair as she smiled against his lips.
In order to understand alot more about Kates past each Chapter we'll go back a few years each time getting closer and closer to her 'Present time' and focus on a few key things that happened in Kate's life to get this first Chapter to make sense. For example: The past in this Chapter is 19 years where Kate is 10 then next Chapter we'll go back to it being 16 years where she is 13 and so on until we reach her current age where she is 29, I hope that makes sense :) Enjoy the first chapter! Xx