On Wednesday morning, Katy called a family meeting. She had refused to tell anyone what it was about and so the children had been dropped off at Jack's and the four Mitchell women had gathered around the kitchen table.

"So… I've been thinking about the situation here." Katy started slowly, looking between the three older blondes.

"What situation?" Glenda asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"The fact that there are eight of us living in this four bedroom house… ten when Amy and Ricky stay here." Her granddaughter clarified. "I mean; do you and Rox really enjoy sharing a room?"

"No." Roxy replied immediately. Catching sight of the expression on Glenda's face she shrugged. "What?"

"So, with that in mind," Katy continued, pulling some papers out of her bag, "I went to the estate agents. I'm thinking about buying number 28."

"Next door to Jack's?"

Katy rolled her eyes at her mother. "I'm not suggesting we install a connecting door, Mum. 28's on the market and it would be perfect. You and Rox can stay here with Matthew, Gran can keep the flat downstairs and me and the girls will move across to 28."

"How are you going to afford it?" Glenda asked seriously. "You've got this place and R&R to pay out for already."

"I used Archie's money for this place, so the mortgage is pretty low. You, Mum and Rox would be able to cover it easily." Katy told them with a shrug. "R&R is covering itself and I'm sure I can get a mortgage for number 28."

"Or… me and Rox could buy you out of this place?" Ronnie suggested.

"Yeah?"

"I'd feel better about that than living here and just paying off your mortgage, sweetie." She continued, smiling at her daughter. "You get Ritchie to draw everything up and we'll find the money, right, Rox?"

"Yeah, sounds good." Roxy nodded distractedly. "What's brought this on? We've been living like this for ages… have you got a bloke?"

"Oi, don't judge me by your standards, Aunty Rox."

"Nah, but seriously, are you and Isaac a thing?"

"No."

"So you wouldn't mind if I–"

Ronnie snorted. "You would really chase after your niece's ex?"

"She had a kid with yours." Glenda chipped in, helpfully.

"He's not my ex!"

"Well that was uncalled for."

"You started it."

"This is what I mean!" Katy pointed out, shaking her head. "I think we all need a bit of space… away from each other. I love you all to bits, but you're all just here… all the time."

"But that suits you when you need a babysitter."

"Gran."

"Not helpful, Mum." Ronnie sighed, shaking her head. "I think Katy's right. We all need our own space."

"I'm glad we're all in agreement." Katy told them with a shrug. "I'm gonna get onto Ritchie and the estate agent today. I'll see if they'll rush the sale through as fast as possible."

"You think that's likely?"

"Yeah, maybe… I dunno. We'll have to see what Ritchie says, I guess. I'll get on to it straight away." She glanced at the time. "I might pop over to my office and make a few calls while the kids are at Dad's."

"So are you hoping muggins here will offer to pick them up later?" Glenda groused.

Katy rolled her eyes. "Course not, I shouldn't be that long and, besides, Kush and I are taking the kids to the cinema later." Seeing the other three exchanging looks, she huffed. "Get your minds out of the gutter, the lot of ya. With Kat away, I think he could do with a hand occupying the boys for a bit."

"Since when have you been about helping other people?" Roxy asked, furrowing her eyebrows for a moment before a broad grin split her face.

"Shut up, Rox."

"Well I think it's very sweet." Ronnie teased, standing up and moving to put the kettle on, pressing a kiss to the top of her daughter's head as she went. "Besides, if you keep taking the piss she might not take our kids with her."

"What? And not hear the end of it?" Katy pointed out, rolling her eyes. "Nope… we're taking our lives in our hands and taking all nine kids."

"Bloody hell, you sure you don't want some moral support."

"We'll be fine." She assured them, before standing up. "I'd better get going if I'm gonna speak to Ritchie and the estate agents before I get the kids."

Leaving the flat, knowing that the three women would probably continue to speculate on her motives while she wasn't there, Katy hurried towards the R&R. She tried to avoid getting caught in conversation with anyone, knowing that she didn't really have the time to spare.

Waving at the bar staff, not pausing to speak to anyone, she immediately found her lawyer's number in her contacts and jammed the phone between her ear and shoulder as she scrabbled around for the estate agents' details in her desk drawer. Before she could even explain what she wanted, the older woman was speaking.

"Ah, Katherine… I was going to phone you later on this afternoon." The words, even in Ritchie's reassuring tone, set Katy on edge. "I've had an email from Tyler's solicitor. He's sent through some dates for mediation."

"He's done what?"

"Don't fly off the handle." Ritchie cautioned. "You need to stay calm and convince the mediator that Tyler hasn't got a leg to stand on. If that's really what you want, that is?"

"Of course it is, Ritchie. I just want this over and done with so we can continue with our lives exactly as they are now."

"Right. So the first date he's suggested is Monday 20th–"

"Good, fine, book it in. Whatever."

"Katherine–"

"Ritchie. The sooner I go, the sooner it's over." She reasoned. "Besides, I've got something else I need you to do for me."

As she explained her plans to sell 43 to Ronnie and Roxy and buy 28, Katy scribbled down the mediation meeting on her calendar. She was only half concentrating on what the older woman was saying as she thought about what the meeting could possibly entail. Although she was determined to get the upper hand, not having any idea what was heading her way made it incredibly difficult for her to formulate any sort of plan.

"So you think you can sort it?" She asked.

"Shouldn't be a problem. There won't be much of a delay; number 28 is vacant and you're not waiting on anything your end. I'll rush through your mortgage. I imagine, as long as your offer is accepted, it'll all go through in a couple of months."

"Excellent." Katy nodded, leaning back in her desk chair. "Surely that'll go in my favour too? Own our own house, got the bar… what's Tyler got?" Then she straightened. "Ritchie, what exactly will this mediation involve?"

"They'll ask you some questions and try to come to a compromise about what happens with the children." Ritchie explained. "The aim is to keep you out of court, Katherine. I would advise you to make that your main aim, too."

"I'm not letting him have my kids, Ritchie."

"I'm not suggesting that you do that for a second. All I'm saying is approach this with the aim of resolving it as quickly and easily as possible."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The older woman sighed deeply. "You're a Mitchell. Everything has to be hard work and a drama."

"Point taken." Katy acknowledged. "Fine. I'll be nice."

"Good. I'll confirm the 20th with Tyler's lawyer and get the details to you. I'll also sort the property sales."

"Thanks, Ritchie."

"I'll sent my bill straight to your accountant."

"Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do." She replied bluntly. "I also know there's more chance of me being paid quickly if I go straight to Jeff."

The Mitchell nodded. "Fair point. Just… send me those details and try and rush the sales through as quickly as possible. Thanks, Ritchie."

With a date that she could actually focus on, Katy made up her mind to do everything she could to influence the mediation, starting with making sure the children had a brilliant time at the cinema and were thoroughly spoilt.