"Katy, I think we're going to have to consider the very real possibility that this is going to end up in court."

Putting her head in her hands, the young woman exhaled sharply. She stared at the surface of the desk for a moment, before taking a steadying breath and sitting up straight.

"This isn't what I wanted, Ritchie."

"I know." The solicitor agreed. "I think we're just going to have to face up to reality. You agreed to mediation, you've suggested numerous options that have all been rejected; he clearly wants a war."

"This isn't Tyler…" Katy shook her head. "If nothing else, he never had the brains to be this vindictive."

Chuckling lightly, Ritchie agreed. "But clearly someone at his end does."

"So what's the next step?"

"They're putting in an application for a court order, but I'm trying to push for arbitration instead so we can keep it out of court."

"D'you think you can delay them for a while? If I can just speak to Tyler without any–"

"Katherine, I'd strongly advise against doing that." Ritchie cautioned her. "You could end up inadvertently jeopardising–"

"How could I possibly make this situation any worse, Ritchie? I'm not going to lose my temper or do anything to him."

"Just don't." The solicitor ordered firmly.

Katy sighed again. "Fine, fine, I won't. But this is really stupid."

"I thought you said that was his middle name?"

Snorting, the blonde thanked the older woman for her time and ended the call. She considered the consequences of the idea that Ritchie had attempted to veto for a moment, before deciding to take the risk. Pulling out her phone she scrolled through her contacts, looking for Tyler's number before typing out a message and sending it before she could change her mind.

'This is getting stupid. We need to talk. Can we meet?'

Guessing that she wouldn't get an immediate response, Katy placed her phone in her desk drawer and headed out of the office to discuss the arrangements for that weekend's Pride celebrations with Tina and Kathy. The older woman had been keen to get her son's input on their plans, but Katy had put her foot down. She reminded Kathy that Ben had nothing to do with the business and they were perfectly capable of organising the event without his help.

"What happened between you and Ben? Ian said you used to be as thick as thieves?"

"Things change, Kath." Katy informed her bluntly. "People change."

Grateful for the excuse to cut the conversation off there, Katy nodded at Leon as he waved her over to check the delivery of decorations. She laughed as he immediately put on a flower garland and a rainbow top hat, swatting his hands away as he attempted to place a set of oversized sunglasses on her.

"I reckon this year is gonna be even better than last year." Tina announced, swanning past in one of the new t-shirts.

"Yeah? Good." Katy grinned, before turning her attention to the barman who was still riffling through the box between them. "You better be bringing that boyfriend of yours here to celebrate. I ain't giving you the night off so you can go to some other bar."

"Of course, K. Nate's proper excited about it all."

"Do me a favour, yeah?" She requested, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Make sure Isaac has a good time."

As Tina and Leon laughed at her words, Katy grinned and headed up to her office to send off the finalised stock order Kathy had handed her when she'd joined them. She resisted checking her phone until it was completed, then she grabbed the handset from the drawer and unlocked it impatiently.

'You're right. I could come to your house?'

Katy hesitated for a moment. Tyler had told their mediator that he was living in a rented flat at the moment, somewhere near Hackney. Not fancying heading out there, Katy had to admit that the idea of him coming to her was probably much better.

'Sure. When are you free?'

The reply was instant. 'This afternoon?'

'About two?'

'I'll see you then.'

It was only as she fired off a quick text asking Glenda to pick up the kids and take them back to her flat that Katy started regretting her actions. She had no way of knowing what Tyler's motives were and Ritchie's warning about her making things worse was nagging at her.

'Dinner tonight?'

Katy jumped as her phone vibrated against the surface of the desk and she had to double-check who the sender was. A reluctant smile found its way onto her face as Isaac sent a follow up message before she could even respond to the first.

'Your place?'

'So you want me to cook your dinner for you?' She replied, smirking a little.

'No. I was thinking I'd cook for you and the girls. It's just that your place is easier.'

Katy hesitated. 'I've got a meeting this afternoon… not sure how long it's going to take. Maybe tomorrow?'

'Wouldn't you like to come home to an exquisitely cooked meal?'

'Planning on breaking in, are you?'

'Ways and means, babe.'

'Tomorrow, Isaac. OK?'

'Fine. Have fun at your boring meeting.'

'I will.'

"Fuck!" Katy swore loudly, putting her head in her hands again.

She knew Isaac well enough to guess that he wouldn't back down that easily. Making up her mind to ensure that Tyler was gone long before there was any chance of the two men bumping into each other, Katy tried to force herself to focus on other things until she could reasonably justify leaving the bar and heading home.

Watching the time creeping past, the young woman finally admitted defeat and left the office. She called out a vague explanation about going to a meeting in Kathy and Tina's direction, waving a hand over her head as they said a confused goodbye. Closing her eyes for a moment, Katy headed home and let herself into the house.

By the time she'd done a quick tidy, there was a knock on the door and she took a deep, steadying breath before hurrying to let Tyler in, hoping that no one had seen him on her doorstep. He smiled warmly as he stepped inside, complimenting her on the house.

Not paying much attention to what he was saying, Katy led the way through to the kitchen and offered him a cup of tea. She distracted herself by getting mugs and tea bags, before she was forced to turn and face him properly.

"You're looking good."

Katy snorted. "Thanks."

"So… you wanted to talk?"

"Can I not even finish making the tea first?" She replied, arching an eyebrow at him.

Tyler chuckled lightly and held up his hands as she turned back to the kettle. Only when they were both settled at the breakfast bar with a mug in front of them did either of them attempt to speak again.

"Sorry… that was unnecessary." Katy admitted jerking her shoulders in an approximation of a shrug.

"It's fine."

"This… this court stuff is stupid, Tyler. How did it come to this?"

"I'm not sure." He admitted. "It all kinda just… spiralled."

"I would never stop you seeing them, you know that, right?"

"I know." Tyler nodded. "I just… I know that I hurt you and I was worried that…"

"You think I'm that…" Katy trailed off and shrugged. "OK, I am that vindictive." She conceded. "But I wouldn't punish the girls for something that's between you and me."

"Look… I know I've let you down and I know I could have been a better dad. I couldn't cope with you being ill and I know," he held up his hands, cutting off the sarcastic comment that was on the tip of Katy's tongue, "I know it wasn't about me. But it's the truth and I'm so, so sorry. I lost the best things in my life because I wasn't mature enough to step up."

"That's all well and good, Tyler, but where do we go from here?"

"From here?"

She rolled her eyes at his confusion. "I don't want to go to court. I don't want to put the girls through that."

"So we sort things out, here and now."

"Right. What do you want, Tyler?" Katy asked. "What do you actually want?"

"I want to be part of their lives… a proper part."

"Fine. That's what I want too."

"My dad would love to see more of them, too."

"Great… you know I like your dad." Katy agreed with a shrug.

"Maybe…" Tyler looked a little nervous about what he was about to suggest. "Maybe I could have them every other weekend and some holidays?"

Katy hesitated. "Your flat…"

"I'm looking for somewhere better." He assured her immediately. "Maybe… maybe I could just take them out for the day until I find somewhere decent?"

"I'm not trying to be difficult, Tyler." She promised. "I just don't want them staying anywhere…"

He nodded in agreement. "No, I get it."

"So, days out for now, every other weekend and some holidays when you get yourself sorted?" Katy clarified, tilting her head to the side and watching him carefully. "I'm happy with that."

"Yeah?" A broad grin spread over Tyler's face at her words.

"Yeah."

"Thanks…"

"I never wanted any of this." She reminded him. "I'd have let you see them more, but Spain ain't exactly on the bus route, is it?"

"So we can drop this custody stuff?"

"Definitely." Katy nodded firmly.

"We should have just sat down and talked about this ages ago, shouldn't we?" Tyler asked, looking a little awkward. "I know, I know, it was my fault…"

"It's fine. At least I know you're willing to fight for them. Just… don't fight me, Ty, yeah?" Sending him a small smile, Katy led the way to the front door. Leaning against the wall, she watched him grab his jacket from the banister and exhaled slowly.

"It was great to see you." Tyler told her.

"Yeah…"