Kate's eyes fly open as her foot collides with someone. A moment later, conscious thought returns and she realises that she's kicked Mike in her sleep. Turning over to flash him an apologetic look, she just sees his silhouette as he shuffles. "Ouch! You bloody conduct orchestras in your sleep, you do." He grumbles. "That's like the fourth time you've kicked me."

"Sorry." Kate mumbles, unconsciously sliding a little closer to the edge of the bed to give him more space and snapping her feet together. "I'm a bit of a restless sleeper."

"A bit?" Mike challenges, and there's a scraping sound as though he's running his hand over his stubble. "I told you we should have gone to my house. At least I've got something bigger than a double bed."

"I'm sorry." Kate repeats, glancing at her clock and seeing that it's only just passed four in the morning.

"Don't apologise! I mean, it just baffles me that it was like filing myself into an envelope when I first got into this bed and now half the sheets are on the floor. Do you always flail like that?"

"I don't know." Kate huffs, tugging the sheet back over herself. It's hard not to take offense at his grumbling tone. "I don't normally ask for feedback. What about you and your snoring? Are we going to talk about that, or is it all just me?"

There's a moment silence, during which Kate is sure they are both glaring through the darkness at each other. And then Mike breaks it, in a more tentative tone than before. "Are we having a fight?"

Instantly, Kate softens. "I don't know." She scrapes a clump of hair from her face. "I just... I guess we've never really slept in the same bed before... and... just slept, you know?"

"Yeah..." Mike's silhouette shifts somewhat. She wonders whether he is just clinging on to his own side of the bed like she is.

"Do you think we're rushing into this whole moving in thing?" It's easier to ask in the darkness, easier to voice the deepest woes and not have to see the expression on his face. She doesn't think she could handle seeing him like that, full of pity or disappointment or anger.

"No." Mike answers quickly, before hesitating. "Do you?"

"No." Kate says, just as quickly. But she can't honestly say it's the truth. After all, she's done nothing but second guess herself this entire time and now… well, now it seems he's having the same doubts.

"I... I don't know." She murmurs before she can stop herself. And she hates how vulnerable she sounds. "It's just... I've never lived with a guy before, Mike. And... and there's so much we still..." She takes a deep breath. "I mean, the girls are all aboard and I guess for some that's half the battle but there's so much we haven't talked about. I mean, I'm... I'm near-broke and I'm... I'm dealing with all this shit about Maddie and... and Mike I know that I could die any day at my work and it's something I came to terms with a long time ago but... but have you?"

Mike hesitates for a moment, and all of a sudden she finds she needs to see Mike's face, even if it is flooded with all of her worst fears. Kate reaches out behind the mattress and flicks a light switch. In an instant, the fairy lights above her bed are illuminated, sending a soft white glow over the pair of them and the expanse of bedding in between. Like her, Mike is clinging to the edge of the bed.

He doesn't look surprised by her sudden need to see him. His eyes barely falter; even in the dark, he'd been staring straight into her eyes. "After the accident…" He begins, and unconsciously, Kate's fingers lift up to touch the scar on her head. "I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it." He murmurs, shifting closer to her and threading his fingers through hers. "It's your job. It's what you love doing and I'd never ever ask you to stop, but that doesn't mean that I'm..." His fingers clench, just a little. "Every time I smell smoke, I think of you trapped in a fire somewhere, hurt or alone and... and I don't know if I'll ever get over that. But... I want you to do the job you love doing. And I'd never want to make you feel like you'd have to stop."

For a moment, they lapse into thoughtful silence. Then Kate asks, "And... moving out of the house you lived in with Sarah?" She can't help but suck in a breath as she waits for his response, and she's not surprised to hear him do the same. "Mike, I'd never want to rush you into something you're not ready for."

"It'll... it'll be hard." He murmurs. "Maybe one of the hardest things I've done since I lost her. But... I think it's time?" He voices the words like a question, then swallows and corrects himself. "No. I know it's time. I know Sarah wouldn't have wanted me to wallow and... and I feel the same way. I don't want to wallow in a house of the past the rest of my life. And I don't want that for Rosie, either. And neither would Sarah."

"She sounds like an extraordinary woman." Kate murmurs.

"Yeah, she was." Mike agrees, and Kate doesn't push for more. But Mike turns to Kate and adds, "I need you to know you're not... you're not just a consolation prize or a... a distraction for me. This is real to me. I love you, Kate."

"I love you too." Kate moves into his embrace. "But… just because I need to move doesn't mean… I shouldn't have pushed you like that. I'll understand if you're not ready."

"I'm ready, Kate." Mike whispers, a hand trailing absentmindedly along her arm. "I'm all in. I want to live with you, Kate. Even if I have to wear shin-pads to bed. But..." He moves closer still, snaking an arm around her waist. "We're keeping my king bed."

"I'm telling you, it's perfect, Kate!"

Kate wedges the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she leans down to tug her pants on. "I just find it hard to believe you've found the perfect house after only a week."

"Well, the girls have already looked through it and they agree with me. And they've picked out their rooms already, and it's close enough that they won't have to change schools. And it's not too far from the fire house and-"

"And within our budget?" Kate presses. The silence on the end of the phone gives her her answer. "Mike, I told you. I want to be able to go halves." Movement in the change room catches her eye and she looks up to see 2Dads and Buffer watching her curiously. Rolling her eyes, she picks up the phone with one hand and straightens up. "Look, shift is starting. Can we talk about this when I get home?"

"Sure. Stay safe." Mike calls, hanging up. Shoving her phone into her locker, she whips around to see them still staring at her.

"What?" She challenges, holding her arms out.

"Home?" Buffer repeats, a curious look on his face.

"Mike?" 2Dads adds, a mischievous grin splitting his features.

"Budget?" Charge supplies, popping up from behind a locker. "Don't tell me our reclusive Miss McGregor is getting serious with a boy."

A buzzer sounds and they make their way towards the trucks. "Saved by the bell." Buffer mutters, slapping her on the back.

"From a male point of view..." Kate begins as she settles herself in the truck once more, wiping soot from her face. The fire had been a relatively small grease fire in a café kitchen, put out in no time, and they were all making their way back to the station, all tension from the initial call lost.

"Oh, here we go." Dutchy twists around in his seat so that he's looking straight at her. "Yes, I was wondering how long it would be before you finally came to me for advice. And yes, you are being ridiculous."

"You don't even know what we're talking about." Kate protests, rolling her eyes. "Geez. I go to ask you one thing…"

"Oh yes I do." Dutchy corrects. "You and Mike are finally getting your act together, but now you're being stubborn about allowing him to pay for more than half of the deposit on a house."

Kate just manages to keep her jaw from dropping. "How did you find out?"

"Overheard you whinging in the locker room." Dutchy answers frankly. "And you are completely overthinking things."

"No, I'm not." Kate argues. She makes to turn away but Dutchy reaches out and stops her.

"You're trying to keep things simple in case everything goes wrong." He interjects, and Kate freezes. As she turns back to face him he smirks, raising an eyebrow. "So am I right or am I right?" Kate just resists the urge to thump him. "Look, to the casual observer-" Kate snorts. "-it seems as though you're still planning for worst case with one foot out the door. But… the guy loves you. And he loves your kid, right?"

"Right."

"And you love him, and his kid?" Dutchy continues.

"Well… yeah."

"So... if you're intent on living this life together, then... what's the harm in him contributing..." He hesitates, waving his hand in the air, and Kate can tell he's trying to find the most diplomatic way to speak. "...funds proportional to his income while you do the same?"

Kate blinks as the truck pulls into the station once more, mulling his words over. Then she smirks. "Smooth." She concedes.

"Dad?" Mike jumps, very nearly tumbling from his desk chair as he whips around to peer at the doorway where Rose is standing. He hastily replaces the photo frame back on his study desk and turns to face his daughter, feeling oddly guilty.

"Rosie? Uh…" He clears his throat, pushing his desk chair back slightly, though still bumping into his desk. His monitor wobbles ominously. "What are you doing up so late?"

"It's only half past seven." Rose tentatively steps into the study, leaning against the bookcase. "Dad..."

He can't hide the tears prickling the corners of his eyes, can't stop the tremor in his voice. And his gaze gives him away as Rose follows it. Slowly, as though cradling a fragile baby, she picks up the photo frame and brushes a thumb across her mother's face. "I was… just remembering when we first bought this place." He moves next to her, so that he too can see the picture. "On the moving day it bucketed down and you had a terrible fever and everything that could go wrong did and… and by the end of it we were exhausted and you'd suddenly come good, giggling and running around the house and… and your Mum said that she never wanted to move again."

"Dad..." Rose begins again. "If you're not ready to sell the house-"

"No, it's… it's the opposite, actually. I am." Mike murmurs, smiling at the image of Sarah, looking exhausted, clutching the baby Rose. "But it's hard. Like I'm… saying goodbye to another part of her."

"It's not easy, Dad." Rose wraps an arm around him, resting her head against his arm. "I miss her too. And then... it feels silly to miss her because I can barely remember her. Just... flashes. Fragments and feelings. But you... you knew her."

"She was amazing, Rosie." Mike gently twists a strand of her hair around his finger. "And she loved you so much."

For a moment they both stand there, staring at the photograph. And the memory of that day seems a million miles away.

"Dad?" Rose begins again, her gaze still on the photo. "You know it's not... betraying Mum to be in love with Kate, you know?" Rose murmurs.

"I know. I know. It just..." He tears his gaze away from Sarah, turning to Rose. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Rose nods, and Mike is struck – not for the first time – by how very wise and mature she looks. "Dad, you've spent my whole life looking after me. And you've done an amazing job. But... you need someone who'll look after you." Rose squeezes him to her side for a moment. "And you forget... Bridie and I knew you and Kate were made for each other, even before you did."

Mike gives a small smile and clutches Rose to him. "You're an amazing kid, Rosie." He murmurs. "Just amazing."