The revelation of Sharon and Ronnie's plan to get one over on Mel and Ruby had been postponed after Katy's escape from hospital and Tiffany and Keegan's wedding. They had planned to announce it after Sharon had signed the papers from Ruby's solicitor, knowing that they had absolutely no value as she'd already signed over her shares of the business to Ronnie. The smug expression on Mel's face was almost enough for Sharon to blurt out the truth, but she had managed to contain it until the moment she and Ronnie had agreed upon.

Ronnie had, understandably, been distracted by her daughter's antics and concerned about her wellbeing after being out of hospital for so long. Katy had waved away the concern, telling everyone she felt perfectly fine and, seeing as she was back in one piece, they needed to stop fussing.

On Monday, Ronnie and Sharon met outside the e20 and headed inside to reveal the news. Ruby was in the office with Mel when they entered, both looking up at the intrusion with differing expressions on their faces. The smug expression that seemed perpetually present on Mel's face was in full force, while Ruby seemed confused about why they might be there.

"How can we help you?" The blonde asked imperiously, her lips twisted into a smirk as she regarded them.

"I've just come to see how things are going. Maybe decide whether I want to change a few things in here."

Ruby frowned in confusion, glancing at Mel quickly, before turning back to the blondes in the doorway. "I don't understand. Why would you change things here?"

"I should have told you before we signed those papers… at that point this club wasn't mine to sign over."

"What?" Suddenly Mel looked thunderous. "What are you talking about?"

"Sharon had already sold her share of the club to me." Ronnie informed them simply, before turning to Ruby. "I guess that makes us business partners."

The expression on Mel's face told them that the matter was far from over, even as she stormed past them and slammed her way out of the office. Sharon smirked, before squeezing Ronnie's forearm and heading out as well. The brunette leant back in her chair behind the desk slightly dejectedly, something that made her new business partner smile even more broadly.

The aftermath of the crash and Mel's death sent shockwaves through Walford. Even Katy, safe in her hospital bed once more, felt the repercussions of the situation. Ronnie had broken the news to her daughter, telling her everything that had happened and clutching her hand tightly the whole time.

Katy stared open-mouthed as her mother talked, gripping the hand in hers and realising that she didn't want to let go. Her mind wandered back to how it had felt to lose her mother and Roxy, when she'd thought they were dead, causing a physical pain to burn in her chest. She shook her head slowly when Ronnie trailed off, looking at her tearfully.

"I missed you so much, Mum. I don't… I don't ever want to go through that again. It hurt so much more than anything I've been through before or since. Please don't…"

"I promise I will never do anything like that ever again." Ronnie assured her seriously. "I know… I know it's completely my fault that things have changed between us, but can we try and get back to how we were. I missed you, too."

Nodding decisively, Katy shuffled against the pillow and made herself more comfortable. Ronnie arched an eyebrow as her daughter started talking about going home; making plans for her return to the Square and the bar. Her mother exhaled deeply, knowing that it would do no good to argue the case. She was sure that Katy would be too tired when she got home to think about work when she didn't have to, but the inevitable argument if she said anything was not something she wanted to cause, especially after the argument Katy had had with everyone once she'd been returned to the hospital after her impromptu trip to Scotland.

"Welcome home!"

Katy winced slightly at the raucous, excited shout from the children as she walked into the flat. Glenda beamed at her, before moving forward, gathering her granddaughter in her arms and hugging her tightly. Once she'd gently disentangled herself, Katy gingerly settled on the sofa, allowing Ruby to burrow into her side. The twins and Matthew were eager to show her things they'd made and drawn while she was away, bringing her their school reading books proudly.

"How're you feeling?" Jack asked, leaning on the back of the sofa and resting his chin on the top of his daughter's head.

Katy grinned, tilting her head back so that she could look at him. "I'm fine."

"You're not gonna run before you can walk, are you?"

"Have I ever?"

"Only constantly."

Laughing, she shrugged her shoulders. "I just wanna get back to normal."

"Katy… you ain't fit enough to–"

"I'm well aware of my capabilities, dad." She told him, her tone signalling that it wasn't a subject that was up for debate. "But I ain't gonna be sitting around like some kind of invalid."

The rest of the evening passed without any arguments. Most of the family and Katy's friends popped in over the next few hours to see her and tell her how glad they were that she was home. Touched by the sentiments, Katy felt even more determined to get herself back to normal as soon as possible.

When the children asked about Christmas decorations, Glenda promised to take them to find a tree the next day. Katy told them that, while she wasn't sure she'd be able to go on the tree hunt with them, she was looking forward to decorating the house when they got home. Ronnie had smiled and tentatively asked whether she would be welcome to join in, causing her daughter to roll her eyes and reply that the older woman was paying.

Later in the evening, once the children had been put to bed, Katy finally had time for a proper, much needed conversation with her best friend.

"So… joint birthday party?" Whitney asked, flopping against the cushions beside Katy.

"I'm not sure I'll be up to it, babe. You'll have much more fun without me."

"Shut up! We have a joint party every year." Whitney argued, conveniently forgetting about the birthdays Katy had spent away from the Square. "It won't be the same without you."

"Don't be stupid. You'll have a great time." Katy laughed, shaking her head.

"You'll at least come out for a couple of drinks, won't you? You haven't even met Leo properly."

Katy frowned, suddenly remembering the man. "Yeah… I thought you were gonna back off for a while. Didn't we have a deal?"

"When you meet him you'll understand, K." Whitney assured her, leaning forward and beaming. "He's so great. Leo is so caring and thoughtful… he's everything I need after everything I've been through."

"Whit…"

"Please, K… just meet him before you start judging him? You're so judgemental and you don't even know him!"

"I'm not judging him." The older woman replied, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, you are… you can't help yourself."

"Are we seriously doing this? Now?"

"Just give Leo a chance, babe, please."

"I never said I wouldn't." Katy pointed out. "You just assumed I wouldn't."

"So you will?"

"Never said that, either."

Whitney let out an irritated huff. "You're the worst."

"You've missed me, then?" Laughing, her friend nudged her in the side. "I'll come for a few drinks and talk to him before I make up my mind, alright?"

"I suppose that's all I can ask for." The younger woman groused. "You're gonna love him, I know it."

Katy wasn't so sure, unable to get her conversations about him with Ben and Callum out of her mind. She knew, though, that at the moment, before she'd properly met Leo, Whitney wouldn't listen to anything she had to say on the matter.

A short while later, everyone said their goodbyes and Katy was left in peace. Only Glenda and Ronnie remained in the kitchen, washing up the glasses that had been left and bickering quietly. Katy smiled fondly, shaking her head at the sound, before stifling a large yawn. She was just considering telling them that she was going to bed when the two older blondes appeared in the doorway. From the expressions on their faces she knew instantly that they were about to say something she, presumably, wouldn't like very much.

"We've been talking and we think–"

"Are you about to interfere with my life?"

"Only for your own good, sweetie." Ronnie assured her quickly. "We're not trying to tell you what to do or take over, we just want to help."

"Your mother is right," Glenda agreed, slightly bitterly, "as much as it pains me to admit."

Katy snorted. "Well that's fucking worrying."

"We think that I should move in here with you, just for a little while." Ronnie continued, ignoring their comments. "I'll sleep on the sofa, but we think that there should be someone here with you, just in case."

"Gran would be downstairs if I needed her." Katy pointed out, not best pleased with the idea at all. "But I won't need her. I'm absolutely fine."

"Now you're just being stupid." Glenda snapped. "You've just been discharged after a stem cell transplant. You know full well that they only let you leave on the condition that I was living here with you."

"And you are in the same house," her granddaughter replied grumpily, "I never said you were in the same flat."

"Katy, you're being ridiculous." Ronnie told her bluntly. "You know as well as I do that you're nowhere near ready to get back to normal life. You're not strong enough to go back to work, let alone going out for a drink with Whitney."

"Mum–"

"You know that you can't put yourself in situations where you might catch something. Your immune system–"

"I'm well aware of that!" The young woman snapped. "But I'm more likely to catch something here, from the kids, than I am from Whit at the pub!"

"It's not worth the risk, Katy."

"I've got weekly appointments and they'll tell me the second it looks like I'm in danger of getting ill." Katy reasoned, forcing herself to speak with a more placating, reassuring tone. "I'm not putting my life on hold because of this, Mum… Gran. I've missed out on enough."

The two older women exchanged a look, clearly trying to work something out.

Then Ronnie sighed deeply. "Fine. Fine, we won't try and stop you going to the bar or seeing Whitney, on two conditions."

"I'm not a child; you can't set me conditions."

"You're my child… Glenda's grandchild. We only want to keep you safe and help you recover as quickly as possible."

"At least listen to the conditions, darling." Glenda urged her, reaching out and squeezing her hand.

"Go on, then."

"The first is that you let me move in here." Ronnie told her sternly. Katy guessed that her mother would be staying whether she agreed or not. "The second is that if you do go back to work you only work for a couple of hours a day and that you stay in the office. No evening shifts at all."

Katy considered her words for a moment. "Fine."

Both Glenda and Ronnie looked a little surprised that she had agreed so easily. They exchanged a quick look, evidently wondering whether she was planning something or attempting to lull them into a false sense of security. Seeing their hesitation, Katy let out a long sigh.

"I'm not an idiot. I know I can't go back full time straight away and I definitely won't be up to any late shifts for a while." Katy shrugged. "But you can't sleep on the sofa; you'll knacker your back. You should take Matthew's bed and he can come in with me or swap with Ruby or something."

"Katy…"

"What? That's what you wanted me to agree to, right? I just think that if you're going to stay here you'll need to sleep in an actual bed or you won't be much use."

Ronnie smiled at her, before glancing sideways at Glenda. The older woman met her gaze for a moment, before nodding wordlessly. She cleared her throat and offered to put the kettle on, squeezing her granddaughter's shoulder as she passed and wandered into the kitchen.