"Mum! Dad!" Steve shouted from the hallway as he entered his parents house with Kate behind him. They had arrived after having breakfast and checking out of the B&B.

"In here, Steve!" he heard his mother call from the living room.

Steve headed off down the hallway with Kate again following. It was the first time she had been to Steve's childhood home and she was taking it all in. There were lots of photographs around of Steve as a little boy that caught her eye and she couldn't help but stop and look at a few of them. His cheeky grin the same then as it was now. "Is this you?" Kate asked, pointing at one such photograph. A little boy in school uniform was happily smiling at the camera- his two top front teeth missing.

Yes," replied Steve embarrassed as he tugged on Kate's arm to get her moving. He hated that there were so many photographs of him as a young boy in display that she was bound to see during her visit.

"You were such a cutie," Kate teased, enjoying Steve's awkwardness. "What happened?".

Steve looked at her. If he weren't at his parents he would take her to bed and tease her back some other way. A stern look would have to suffice until then.

"There you are!" Linda Arnott exclaimed as she entered the hallway. She had been surprised that Steve hadn't yet materialised in the room after his greeting.

"Sorry," Kate said. "Just been looking at all these pictures of Steve," she explained.

"Don't worry, dear," Linda batted away Kate's apology. "I'm just about to do a round of drinks. Would you two like one?".

"Yes please," they both replied before following Linda into the kitchen and helping with the drink making.

"Did you sleep well?" Linda asked as she put the kettle on. It was an innocent enough question she thought, but caught both her son and his friend glance at each other. Only for a quick moment before Kate tried to carry on as normal.

"Yes, thanks," Kate said. "The bed was really comfortable," she continued. Linda noticed her son smirk a little at Kate's words. They were hiding something Linda quickly deduced. Had her idea of booking two vastly different rooms, encourage them to spend the night together in the four poster bed, she wondered excitedly. They had definitely looked very cosy last night at the party together.

"And breakfast lived up to your expectations?" Linda enquired.

"Amazing," Kate informed her. For some reason Steve wasn't saying anything. "We both had the Full English. All local produce. It was lovely,".

"So you'd stay there again?".

"Oh yeah," Steve replied this time. He would gladly stay in the same room and share the bed and bath with Kate again.

"That's good to know. I'll be sure to recommend it to friends in future," Linda said as she got the rest of the refreshments made.

With the drinks all prepared, Steve and Kate followed Linda in to the living room. Pete and Wilf were there as well as a couple of other relatives. The Arnott's were having a bit of a drop in and had invited people to pop in to see them as and when they could. Seeing two spaces next to Wilf, Kate and Steve headed over to him.

"Morning Wilf," Kate said as she took the seat next to Steve's grandfather. Steve taking the seat the other side of her. "How are you?" she asked as she gave him a little kiss on his cheek.

"I'm good, my dear," Wilf replied. "Even better now," he continued after the kiss. "You two look well as well," he continued, having noticed the rather large smiles both his son and friend had on their faces this morning and a general feeling of happiness radiating from them.

"Can't complain, Grandad," Steve replied as he surreptitiously squeezed Kate's hand that was resting between his and her thighs.

"Here you go," Linda said, holding both their drinks out as she made her way around the room being waitress, causing them to quickly let go and accept the hot mugs. "I think it might be time to open some presents," Linda suggested to her husband as she took her own seat. "Seeing as Steve is here now, why don't we open his and Kate's?".

Pete got up and found the two wrapped presents and card that Steve and Kate had brought. He gave one to his wife as well as the card and kept one for himself. Everyone watched as they opened the gifts.

"Thank you so much!" Linda said as she hugged her son and Kate after she had seen what they had been given.

"The balloon ride is ok? Steve couldn't remember if you liked heights or not," Kate revealed. They'd looked at other experiences just in case but nothing else really caught their eye. They just hoped they had picked the right thing.

"It's wonderful. I've always wanted to go on one and now I can. You've totally spoilt us,".

"Forty years is an incredible achievement," Kate replied. "My parents didn't last longer than eight years and I couldn't manage more than six," she admitted, quite ashamed.

"You were just with the wrong person, Kate," Linda informed her.

The morning continued with more friends popping in and out. Steve and Kate vacated their seats and helped Linda with waitressing duties. Steve also took the opportunity to show Kate around the home and garden which for some reason also appeared to include the utility room.

"Right, ok," Kate replied once Steve had informed her where they were. She had pretty much guessed for herself, the washing machine and tumble drier being a bit of a giveaway.

The reason for showing her this room soon became apparent as Steve cast a furtive glance in the kitchen to make sure they were alone before closing the utility door and giving them some privacy. He put his finger to his lips as he did so.

"What are you doing?" Kate whispered, perplexed at Steve's behaviour. She was soon enlightened however when he pressed her up against a cupboard a stole a kiss. "Steve! Someone might see us!" Kate hissed. It was a bit of a weak protest. With the kitchen door closed and the window looking out on to a side passage that no one was using, they were fairly well hidden.

"Just needed to do that," Steve informed her. "It's been two hours since I last kissed you and it's driving me mad," he continued. They had had a little snog in the car on the driveway before they had entered the house.

"Didn't know you were such a romantic idiot," Kate said before kissing him again.

"Maybe we leave a little earlier than we said?" Steve suggested as he planted little kisses along Kate's neck. "Can't wait to get you home and christen the bed,". In all the time he had owned his current bed, Steve had not had a girlfriend. Finally it would be getting a proper workout.

"How can I turn down an invitation like that?" Kate teased, determined to put up a fight and not fall under Steve's spell as he continued to pay attention to her neck. She didn't last long and soon the two were caught up in a pretty heavy make out session.

"Oh my goodness!" Linda Arnott couldn't help but exclaim when she opened the utility door and saw what she had interrupted.

Steve and Kate jumped apart immediately, extremely embarrassed at having been caught out. "Mum, we were just...," Steve started to explain.

"I know what you were just doing," Linda interrupted him. "I'm not stupid, dear! Someone spilled a drink. I came in here to get something to clean it up," Linda explained her presence. She entered the room and closed the door behind her. "So is this what I think it is?" She asked excitedly.

"Yes, Mum," Steve replied. There was no point in denying it.

"Finally!" Linda exclaimed as she pulled her son in for an enthusiastic hug. "I'm so happy for you," she told him. "You deserve a bit of happiness after everything you've just been through!".

She released Steve and grabbed Kate into an equally enthusiastic hug. "And you've chosen well," she informed Steve over Kate's shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Kate!" Linda told Kate before giving her a kiss to her cheek.

"Thanks!" Kate acknowledged, a little bewildered at Linda's exuberance.

"Linda?!" Pete shouted from the hallway. His wife hadn't returned from finding some cleaning spray and he didn't know where she had got to. "Did you find what you were looking for?".

Linda released Kate. "Yes, dear! Won't be a minute," she shouted back. She reached past the couple to retrieve what she had come for in the first place. "I'll leave you two love birds alone," she said conspiratorially.

"Mum? Can you keep this quiet for a little bit?" Steve pleaded before his mother left them alone. "Just give us a bit of time to get used to being together,".

"Of course, dear. Mum's the word," she said as she tapped her nose and disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.

Steve looked at Kate. "Fat chance!" he warned her. "She'll tell dad before this evening,". Steve knew his mother well.


Hospital waiting rooms were very boring places, Steve decided a couple of weeks later. There was hardly anything to occupy his time whilst he waited to see his surgeon. He'd read and re-read all the posters on the walls until he had memorised them and glanced at the only magazine that had vaguely interested him.

He looked to his left. Kate was sat beside him, her nose was still in a woman's gossip magazine reading about someone who had got married to their pet. He had had no idea until they had become an item that she liked reading about such trash.

The door to one of the consulting rooms opened and Steve's surgeon poked her head out. Steve and Kate looked over to her expectantly, hoping she would finally call his name out. They had been waiting nearly an hour and were keen to get going. "Steve," she said, catching sight of him and smiling.

'Result!' Steve thought and smiled back. He almost jumped to his feet before holding out his hand to Kate and pulled her to her feet. They walked hand in hand into the surgeons room.

This was to be Steve's last outpatient meeting and just a formality. He was walking unaided now and upon reaching that milestone, Dan had discharged him from his care. This was a chance for the surgeon to discharge him from her care as well.

"How are you doing?" she asked as all three took their seats. She couldn't help but notice that Steve and Kate were still holding hands.

"Good," replied Steve.

"I've got Dan's report here," the doctor said, looking in Steve's folder of notes and skim reading the letter the physiotherapist had written after their last session. "How long have you been without the crutch now?".

"Ten days," Steve answered.

"And there hasn't been any problems?" she checked. "No pain?".

"Nothing," Steve informed her.

"Excellent news," the medic said. "Right, well if you don't mind jumping on to the couch here, I'm just going to examine you," she said, pointing to the table.

Steve did as was asked and the doctor quickly checked him over. He had good range of movement in his back and legs. His reflexes were all as they should be and his scars were healing nicely.

"Right, well I agree with Dan," the surgeon said as she took her seat behind her desk after finishing her exam. Steve took his seat beside Kate and quickly took her hand in his whilst the surgeon wrote a few notes of her own. "You have recovered fully from your injuries and I'm happy to discharge you from my care," she informed Steve with a smile.

Steve couldn't help but return it. He had finally got there!

"I'm guessing your other problem has also resolved?" she asked, gesturing to Steve and Kate's clasped hands.

"Yes," replied Steve, blushing as he did so. Since returning from his parents anniversary weekend, Kate had pretty much moved in to his flat and bed.

"Good," said the doctor. "I hope things work out for you both,".

"Thanks," replied Steve. So far his parents, Dan and now his surgeon were happy about his new relationship. Hopefully it was an omen that the gaffer would also be of the same opinion when they finally informed him.

"Well I think that's it," the doctor declared. "I don't want to keep you any longer. Unless you have any questions?".

"I have a couple actually," Steve admitted.

"Go on," the doctor urged.

"Can I drive now?".

"I'm happy to sign you off on that," the surgeon replied and Steve nodded.

"And what about the gym?" he asked. "Particularly running. I'm going to have to be able to chase down those pesky people that just won't come quietly,".

The doctor nodded. "As with everything since your accident, start low and work yourself up," she explained. "I don't want you getting on a treadmill and doing 10K straight off," she continued. It wasn't often she would have to give such advice but she had come to know Steve and how much he pushed himself. "Try a small distance and repeat it frequently before increasing it. Listen to your body. Any pain and have a rest,". Steve nodded in understanding.

"I'll make sure he does," Kate reassured the surgeon. She also knew what Steve was like and how competitive he could be.

"Good,". The doctor knew that Steve would be on a tight rein with Kate in charge. "Anything else?". Steve shook his head. "Well I think that's everything then," the doctor said as she got to her feet.

"Thanks doc," Steve said as he got to his feet. "We got you a little something," he said and Kate pulled out a card and some chocolates from her bag before handing them over to her. Dan had received something similar on his last visit as well.

"You shouldn't have," the doctor said. "You did most of the hard work yourself,".

"Yeah, but you helped," Steve replied cheekily. "It's been a pretty tough time but everything has turned out a lot better than I thought it would," he said as he took Kate's hand once again.

"Ok well don't take this the wrong way, but I hope I don't see you again," the surgeon said as she shook hands with Steve and Kate. "Don't piss off any more criminals!" She advised him.

"I'll try my best," Steve answered.

The couple walked out the hospital hand in hand, both pleased that they had got the good news they had been expecting. Reaching the car park, they meandered their way through the maze of parked cars until they reached Kate's service vehicle.

Before she could find the keys, Steve had Kate pressed up against the car. "I meant what I said in there," he told her, nodding to the hospital building. "I'd do all this again if it meant us getting together at the end of it,".

"Aww. So sweet," Kate teased before Steve kissed her. She knew what he meant but would rather not have to repeat the last several months ever again. "Let's go home," she murmured as they pulled apart. They could celebrate Steve's good news better there.

"I'll drive," Steve declared as he dangled Kate's car keys in front of her. Now that he was able to, he wanted to drive Kate around after all the chauffeuring she had done for him.

"How did you...?" she asked as she patted her jeans pocket where her keys had been residing. She hadn't felt him swipe them from her at all.

"Distracted you with a kiss. I'm a good kisser," he bragged.

"Thief!" Kate retorted.

"Please?" He begged, deploying the best puppy dog eyes that he could muster.

"Go on then," Kate agreed as she pushed off the car and went round to the passenger side, delighting in Steve's glee at getting his way.

They got in and Steve adjusted the seat before starting the engine. "Oops!" he said as a loud crunch of gears was heard as he tried to find reverse.

Kate didn't say anything. It was his first time behind the wheel in a while so was bound to be a little rusty. He didn't need her criticism.

With reverse found, the car lurched back before stalling. This was proving a little more difficult than Steve had thought. Kate remained silent, thankful that they were in a service car and not all that bothered about the damage Steve might be inflicting on the engine. She would let him find his groove again before she let him anywhere near her own car she thought to herself.

"Just relax," she advised, feeling like a driving instructor with a learner driver. It seemed to do the trick though. Steve persevered and eventually after a few kangaroo hops and squeal of tires the car was headed home.


One more chapter to go...