Two Years later
"I know pronounce you husband and wife," the registrar said, bringing the ceremony to a close. "You may kiss the bride," she said to Steve who gladly kissed his brand new wife to applause from their witnesses. Kate had willingly agreed to Steve's proposal of moving in together and they hadn't been apart since. In actual fact, Steve had moved in with Kate and then they found a house after living together a while; somewhere with a garden for Josh to expend his never ending supply of energy in.
Steve introduced Kate and Josh to his parents. Despite being slightly nervous about what Steve's parents may have thought about her, Kate actually liked them immediately and much to Steve's relief, his parents felt the same way about his new girlfriend and son.
The five-a-side team and Suzy welcomed Kate and Josh back to the team, recognising how well the two police officers were made for each other. Suzy and Kate spent most of the matches gossiping and as they grew older, Oli and Josh formed a very good friendship. Everyone was very happy when Steve and Kate announced their engagement. They chose to have a simple wedding in a registry office surrounded by their closest friends and family. Kate had Ted and Maneet from AC-12 as well as Kim who was still looking after Josh whilst her and Steve were at work. Steve had a few colleagues from work plus his five-a-side team mates and families.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr and Mrs Arnott," the registrar said to more applause. "Usually that would be the end of proceedings, but Kate and Steve have asked if we can do something else whilst you are all here today," she continued once the clapping had died down. "I'm going to need the best man for this part,".
Josh wriggled down from the seat next to Steve's mum who was now his new Grandmother. He had been the obvious choice for Steve to have as his best man.
"I haven't done this many times before, but it is a pleasure to grant Kate and Steve's request," the registrar informed the audience once Josh had joined them. "I have here an adoption certificate that once signed will officially make Steve, Josh's legal father," she continued, placing the important piece of paper on the table.
Steve had looked into adopting Josh after an unplanned trip to the hospital. It was on a day that Kim was unavailable so Steve had volunteered to look after Josh. It was early afternoon when he had phoned Kate who was at work...
Flashback
"How's it going?" Kate had asked from her desk at AC-12. It was the first time Steve had looked after Josh solo for the whole day.
"Err, ok," Steve said hesitantly. "Listen don't get mad OK?".
"What's happened, Steve?" Kate asked instantly worried. Steve hadn't answered immediately. "Steve?".
"We're at the hospital," Steve admitted sheepishly, bracing himself for Kate's reply.
"What?! Oh my god!" Kate had replied thinking she was going to have to go to Hastings and get some emergency leave. "What the hell's happened?".
"We are both fine," Steve had reassured her, noticing the rising panic in Kate's voice. "We were having lunch and I was giving Josh the left over Shepherd's pie from last night. Mum phoned and I took my eye off him for one second and Josh decided to stick a pea up his nose,".
"What? Why did you have to go to the hospital for that?" Kate asked smiling, greatly relieved her son wasn't gravely injured.
"I can't get it out!" Steve explained. "And neither can the doctor. Josh is going to need an anaesthetic,".
"You're joking?" Kate exploded, no longer seeing the funny side. Her little boy was going to have to have an operation.
"I wish I was, Kate. Josh has pushed it quite far up,".
"Great. So when is this going to happen?".
"Later this evening. You are going to have to be here though. I can't sign the consent form because I don't have parental responsibility,".
"But you are as good as his dad. You're way better than his real one,".
"But I'm not his actual dad," Steve said, deflated.
Kate had got permission to leave work from Ted and made her way to the hospital. After signing the consent form, it was a quick operation and the pea was retrieved from Josh's nose very quickly. But since then Steve had researched about how he could have parental responsibility for Josh. He revealed his findings on Josh's first birthday.
"You ok?" He asked Kate when they were alone in the house. Josh and a few family and friends were in the garden celebrating the little boy's milestone. Steve had seen that Kate was upset about something and had decided to ask her what was wrong.
"I was sort of hoping that Mark might remember his son's birthday," Kate had confided in Steve. "A card or something, but the bastard can't even be bothered doing that," she said, angrily. They had opened all Josh's cards and presents and there had been nothing from Mark. "How do I explain to Josh when he is older that his dad didn't want to know him?".
"Maybe it wouldn't matter so much if I become Josh's dad instead?" Steve had ventured.
"What are you talking about?".
"I could adopt Josh," Steve said. "Be his legal parent and have responsibility for him. I've been investigating it since that pea incident,".
"You'd do that.".
"In a heartbeat," Steve admitted. "In case you need reminding, Kate, I'm quite fond of him!" he continued as he wrapped Kate in an embrace. "What do you think?".
"I think me and Josh are very lucky to have you in our lives," Kate said, "and we take a serious look at adoption," she finished before taking Steve in a kiss.
Social services were contacted and came to visit Steve and Kate and Josh. They could see Josh and Steve clearly adored each other had and were happy to inform the unconventional family that they met their requirements for adoption. The only thing stopping them was Mark. He was going to have to be found and asked if he would mind giving up his parental rights to Josh. It took a while to locate him as Kate had no idea where he now resided, but once found he quickly agreed to allowing Steve to be Josh's legal father. With that done it then went through the courts and finally they had got the certificate making it official. Kate and Steve had thought that their wedding would be a great time to sign it and make the whole family official.
Present day
Kate watched as Steve signed the certificate making Josh an Arnott, like she had just become. She then took her seat to sign her name as well.
"Am I 'dopted now?" Josh asked Steve as Kate was signing her name. They had been keen to be as honest with Josh as possible and explain what adoption meant. Josh was more than happy to go along with the plan.
"Yep," Steve said as he lifted the three year old into his arms.
"So you're my daddy now?".
"Yep, you're stuck with me for good now," Steve said, happily.
"Yay!" Josh said, as he hugged Steve enthusiastically, drawing laughs from the gathered family and friends.
"Can I introduce the new Arnott family," the registrar announced and more applause filled the room.
With his new son in his arms, Steve reached for his new wife's hand to bring her to his side. "I think we're done here?" He checked with the registrar who nodded. "Excellent," Steve said. "My family and I would love you to join us in a little celebration then,".
"About time," Ted bantered back. He was happy that Kate had found Steve. They made an excellent couple and since the little bump in the road they had encountered at the start of the relationship, had only grown stronger. Josh had an excellent father figure at last.
"Follow us then," Steve said as he led everyone out of the room and to the small pub they had hired for their wedding reception.
A little later that evening, Steve led Kate into a lovely hotel suite where they would spend their first night as husband and wife.
"Oh my god, It's lovely!" Kate gasped, as she took in the four poster bed and the large claw foot bath tub that was in the bathroom area.
"Mum and Dad's present to us," Steve explained, happy his wife liked the room.
"I feel bad that we are here and they are having to look after Josh as he comes down from his sugar high," Kate said. Josh had spent much of the reception running around the pub garden with Oli, fuelled by cake and sweets.
"Well seeing as mum was responsible for giving Josh his sugar high, I think it only right that she deals with the aftermath," Steve said as he gathered his wife in an embrace. He had spied his mum giving Josh lots of cake and had warned her of the consequences but she had brushed him off, citing that it was a grandmother's prerogative to spoil her grandchildren. "Anyway enough talk, Mrs Arnott, I've got some husbandly duties to attend to and consummate this marriage," Steve murmured in Kate's ear as he led her to the bed.
A little later, well quite a bit later as they had made love twice, both Steve and Kate were in the big bath. Kate was resting against Steve's chest extremely contented with her life as she lay there letting Steve run his fingers over her wet skin. He was very diligent in making sure her breasts were clean. "You're quiet," Steve noted. "You ok?".
"Of course. Just thinking that's all," Kate said as she smiled at her husband and gave him a brief kiss. Husband. She knew she would never get tired of calling him that.
"About?".
"How we met. That assignment to counter terrorism. I wasn't going to take it you know. Didn't want to go undercover and leave Josh. I'm just glad I changed my mind, that's all," Kate admitted. She hated to think what her life might have been like if she hadn't.
I'm glad you did as well," Steve agreed. "So what changed your mind.".
"Kate rolled over sending water over the edge of the bath as she did so. "I saw a photo of you," she admitted bashfully as she looked in to Steve's eyes, the ones she had been drawn to in his picture.
"Love at first sight?" Steve questioned interested. Kate had never mentioned this before.
"No," she replied quickly.
"Let me down gently, eh?" Steve teased.
"It was your eyes. They looked so sad that I wanted to get to know you and try and make them happy,".
"Did you succeed?". Kate studied his eyes again.
"Yes,".
"Good because you've made me so happy. You're my wife and Josh has been calling me 'Daddy' all afternoon. I don't think I could be any happier,".
"Really?".
"Really," Steve confirmed.
"Not even if I tell you that I'm pregnant?" Kate hoped Steve would be as happy as she was at the news.
"Seriously?" Steve asked stunned.
"Took a test this morning," Kate confided.
Steve was quiet for a little while as he pondered the news. Kate was pregnant with his child and he would be a father of two. "Is this how it's going to be from no on?".
"Pardon?".
"You being right the whole time," Steve explained. "Now I'm the happiest I've ever been," he continued before leaning forward and giving his wife a thorough kiss and consummating their marriage for the third time.