Glenda was beyond thrilled by her granddaughter's latest plans for her bar. She told her, countless times, that bringing Kathy into the business was an excellent idea and Katy had the distinct impression that her grandmother would spend the majority of her time in R&R in the top bar, which they had decided would be where the gay bar would be located.

Tina was in her absolute element as they planned for the re-launch and Kathy seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself as well. Preferring to let them get on with it, Katy had sent Christian a message telling him of the development and promising that there would be a free bar if he was ever in the area. He had replied that Roxy would have been incredibly proud of her and that he'd do his best to visit at some point.

Whitney had confided in her friend that Ben still hadn't given Callum back the money he'd paid for the van. The knowledge didn't sit right with the blonde, who had no doubts that her cousin had known exactly what he was selling to the other man. Eventually, she couldn't stand it anymore, especially when her friends were struggling to get by as it was.

Catching him in the street, Katy asked Callum to follow her up to her office. He looked almost terrified as she closed the door behind them. Smirking slightly, taking pity on him, she crossed to the safe and took out a bundle of notes.

"Here… take this."

Callum frowned at her, stepping back and refusing to take the wad of cash that Katy was holding out in his direction. "What?"

"For the van. I know my cousin… Ben ain't gonna cough up, even though he knew that van was nicked. In fact, he probably sold it to you on purpose, because he's a dick." She shrugged. "Whit's my best mate and I can afford it, right. I know you two can't, so just take the money and tell her Ben gave it you back."

"I can't."

"You can and you should." She pressed, putting the money into his hands and stepping backwards.

"This is… this is too much. It didn't cost me this."

"Doesn't matter. Honestly, Callum, it'll make me feel better."

He blinked at her and then smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Katy ordered him, taking her seat behind the desk. "Seriously, don't mention it. I don't want Whit to know that the money came from me." She paused, her fingers resting lightly on the keyboard of her computer. "A bit of advice, Callum; stay away from Ben. He's bad news."

"He's your cousin."

"Yeah… that's how I know that he ain't to be trusted. Even the Mitchells don't trust him and we normally only really trust our own. Just steer clear, yeah? I don't wanna see Whit getting hurt."

"I… yeah."

Nodding, he mumbled another thanks and disappeared from the office. Katy considered his behaviour for a moment, before shaking her head and returning to the paperwork in front of her. Tina had decided that they needed a new range of cocktails especially for the new bar and had written out a new order list. Somehow it had fallen to Katy to actually put the order in.

Keeping one eye on the time, with Kathy and Tina now working at the bar fulltime it meant that she was able to do the school run everyday, something the children were delighted about, she placed the order. Katy had learnt her lesson and now triple checked every order she placed with the company. There was no way she was going to give them any excuse to screw up and blame her again.

As the time to collect the children crept closer, Katy left the bar and headed slowly in the direction of Walford Primary. She was early, deciding to pop into the Vic for a quick drink before leaving. Callum pushed past her roughly in the doorway and she frowned after him, before making her way to the bar.

"What's his problem?" She asked, Shirley, motioning over her shoulder as she perched on a stool.

"No idea. Usual?"

"Yeah, thanks, Shirl." She nodded.

"You seen your dad?"

"What about him?"

"He's on a date."

Katy's eyebrows shot towards her hairline. "Please tell me it's not Mel."

"Nah, look…"

Following Shirley's gaze, she watched Jack chatting and laughing with Denise. "I can cope with that."

The older blonde chuckled with amusement, setting a glass on the bar. She moved away briefly to get Katy's change before wandering over and leaning in front of her. She glanced towards the hallway that led up to the private flat, before nodding her head in that direction.

"Linda's banging on about signing Ollie up for swimming lessons so he can make some friends before starting school. You considered sending your lot?"

Katy snorted. "Nah. Besides, your Ollie is mates with my lot, so he's already got friends. Him, Matthew and the twins will be starting school together. They've already got a right little gang."

Shirley laughed. "God, they're gonna be trouble, aren't they?"

"They already are, Shirl!" Katy shook her head. "If Linda wants to get him ready for school, she should send him to the nursery. There's only half a term now, so I dunno if she'd get him in. My lot love it there."

"You try telling her that."

Finishing her drink, Katy said goodbye and headed out of the pub. She couldn't resist shooting a wink in her father's direction as she passed them, laughing softly at the shocked expression on his face. Clearly he didn't know what to make of her reaction to seeing him on a date with Denise and Katy thoroughly enjoyed knowing that he was panicking about what she might say.

Katy grinned as she accepted a drink from Whitney, happy to have one night where she wasn't working or at home with the children. The flat warming was turning into quite an event, for Jay at least, which his cousin was finding extremely annoying. As Whitney handed Jay the plunger, Katy snorted with laughter, earning herself a scowl from the young man.

When he returned, he looked even more irritated, particularly when he noticed something sitting on the kitchen counter. Grabbing at it, he glared around the room.

"Downstairs is out of bounds." Jay announced irritably, holding an urn tightly. "I've got a body in one of the coffins; I don't want it brought up next."

Katy snorted with laughter, before holding up her hands in defence. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Yeah, well, it ain't your business that's getting trashed, is it?"

"Jay, my whole business is people getting trashed." She reminded him with a wink. "Look, d'you want me to help you tidy up?"

"Nah. Nah, you're out having fun for the first time in ages." He told her, nudging her arm. "Besides I think you've got an admirer…"

Katy followed his gaze to where a young man was leaning against the wall, eyeing her with a smirk on his face. As their eyes met, he raised his lager bottle in her direction and grinned broadly. Katy whirled back to face Jay, her eyes wide. He laughed at the sheer terror in her expression.

"What? You ain't a nun, are you?" He teased her. "Besides, how long has it been?"

"Not that long! I ain't talking about this with you, Jay! Might as well discuss my sex life with Ricky!"

"Go on, then." He encouraged, nudging her in the young man's direction.

"No!" Katy shook her head vehemently, planting her feet firmly on the ground. "I ain't ready. I don't… I ain't ready."

"What? Tyler's getting married in like two months, Katy. You can't wait around doing what… punishing yourself?"

"It ain't about Tyler!" She snapped, slamming her cup down on the counter and pushing past him. She banged her way out of the flat, leaning heavily against the wall and putting her head in her hands. "You don't get it. Just leave it, Jay."

"Nah, I won't." He argued, pulling her into a hug. He completely ignored her attempts to push him away, until she gave up. Katy sagged against him, fisting her hands in the back of his shirt and burying her face in his shoulder. "What's happened?"

"Nothing. Nothing has happened. I just–"

"Bullshit." Jay pulled away and frowned at her, seeing the expression on her face and knowing that there was something really wrong with her. "Tell me, Katy."

"I am telling you. You're just not listening!"

"I know you better than that, Katy. Give me a little credit, yeah? I'm gonna keep asking until you tell me."

She scowled at him. "You really wanna know? I don't trust people, OK? I don't trust people to get too close without hurting me or leaving, OK?"

"But you trust me?" Jay asked, his eyebrows furrowing as he considered her words.

"I love you like a brother, Jay. I know that you would never hurt me, but… but I still don't trust that you won't leave me at some point."

"What, so you're gonna live the rest of your life not letting anyone get close to you?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me."

"Katy…"

"Seriously, Jay, drop it now, OK?" She ordered him. "Just get back in there and enjoy yourself, right?"

"You're coming with me, though, yeah?"

"Nah, I'm not in the mood anymore." Katy shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her upper arm in a comforting gesture. "I'm gonna go. You go and have a good night."

"Well maybe I'm not in the mood anymore."

"Shut up, Jay."

"Stop telling me to shut up." He told her angrily. "Stop telling me I don't understand. You just told me you don't trust me and you think I'm gonna abandon you some day. Out of everyone… out of everyone, Katy, I thought you had my back."

"I do!" She snapped. "I've always got your back, you know that."

"Right, so give me a little credit, yeah?"

"Whatever, Jay." Katy sighed, shaking her head wearily. "I'm just so tired; so fucking tired of always getting the shitty end of the stick. I'm tired of people thinking they can do what they want and walk all over me. I'm done."

Throwing up her hands, the young woman stalked out of the building dramatically. Instead of heading home, however, she walked the short distance to her bar, ignoring almost everyone in her path and swiping a new bottle of vodka and a glass on her way up to her office.

Pouring herself a drink, she drained it in one go before refilling it and dropping heavily into the chair behind her desk. The bottle landed on the surface with a bang, closely followed by the glass. Katy leant backwards in her seat, grabbing her drink, not reacting as she spilt vodka on the paperwork in front of her.

"You alright, Mitchell?"

Katy turned her head and looked at the woman who'd spoken, shaking her head slightly and refocusing her gaze on her drink. She didn't answer, just grabbed the bottle and topped up her drink with a generous dose of vodka.

Tina sighed and moved it out of her way. "Come on, Katy. You haven't really been yourself for days. Whatever's going on, this isn't the answer."

"Yeah? You know nothing about it. This is exactly the answer, thanks."

"Come on, kid… you're better than this."

Katy scowled at her. "I don't pay you to patronise me, Tina. Just get on with whatever you should be doing and leave me alone."