"Are you mocking me, Steve? And you came home after three years and didn't call me, you animal?" Danny got angry and punched him in the face.

Debby ran and went to her room where Catherine was dressing Joe after bathing him. "Mommy! Mommy!"

Catherine got scared. "What is it, honey? Something wrong with your father?"

"He and Uncle Danny are fighting! Run, Mommy!"

"Oh my God!" Catherine came down the stairs quickly, put Joe on the couch and went to the porch.

"What's that? Are you two going crazy?" Catherine yelled at them and they stopped to look at her.

"Your brother called me an animal, Catherine!"

"He's not my brother, Steve. He's been your best friend for fifteen years. And him calling you an animal was pretty normal, you didn't care, you even had fun," Catherine told him.

Steve was embarrassed and looked at Danny. He was embarrassed by his attitude. "I told you I didn't want to see anyone," he said to Catherine and went into the house and into the bedroom.

"What's going on, Catherine? Danny asked when he saw Steve look at her with irritation.

"He's lost his memory, Danny. He doesn't know you anymore, he doesn't know me and he doesn't know his own children. He's kind of lost."

"And you didn't think to tell us, Catherine?" Danny asked her.

"I came home with him and the kids less than an hour ago, Danny. I was going to headquarters tomorrow to tell you. He asked not to have any visitors because he needs some time".

"And where was he? What happened to him?" Danny wanted to know.

"He was in a monastery in Nepal," she answered to Danny and they heard Steve calling her.

"I'll tell you everything, Danny, but give me a few days alone with him."

"Catherine!" Steve called her again.

"I'm sorry, Danny, I need to come in," Catherine said.

"Call me tomorrow, Catherine," Danny told her and left.

"Okay, Danny. I'll call," she answered as she watched him walk toward the gate.

Catherine walked into the house and Steve was sitting in bed playing with Debby and Joe and avoided looking at her.

"I didn't call him, Steve, and I hadn't told him you were here either. He left devastated because you didn't want to talk to him. Do you know what it's like to find out that your best friend who was given as dead is alive, but then you find out that he doesn't want to talk to you?"

"What did you want me to do, Catherine? I don't know him and I saw him lurking in our house, I was afraid that he wanted to do something against you and the children".

"It's okay. When you're calmer, more confident, and want to have your friends visit you, you can apologize to Danny," she replied.

Steve just nodded.

"Come on, Debby. It's your turn to shower," Catherine said to the girl.

Debby, obedient as almost always, got out of bed and went with her mother while Steve continued playing with his son.

"Hey, son. Do you forgive me for not being here when you were born? Steve kissed Joe's forehead and hugged him. "It's really nice to know I'm not alone, that I have you, your sister, and your mother."

At night, Catherine put the children to sleep and then went to her room. Steve was sitting on the bed and seemed bored or upset, she couldn't decipher his expression.

"Catherine, I'm sorry about today," he said after a while.

"You got into a fight in front of Debby. Do you realize how you scared her?"

"I'm ashamed. Forgive me," he asked.

Catherine sat down next to him. "It's okay."

"I can go sleep on the couch if you want," he told her.

"I'm not mad at you, Steve. I'm just tired." She lay down and turned the other way.

Steve lay down next to her and looked up at the ceiling for a few minutes while he thought. He turned and hugged her, leaned his head against her back and put his hand on her belly. "I'm sorry about the rough hand."

"There's no reason to apologize." Catherine put her hand on his hand and they both fell asleep holding hands.

PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter.