Steve returned to base after the mission with Joe and didn't know how he would look at Catherine after being with Greer. He tried to convince himself that he wasn't wrong because in the end he and Catherine didn't have a relationship, but still the guilt haunted him. He arrived on a Friday night, and didn't call her because he thought it was late. Kelly, Freddie's girlfriend, was in town and Freddie would spend the weekend with her, off base, so Steve had all night to think without having Freddie babbling in his ear. Steve thought about what it would be like to date Catherine, hold hands, kiss her, and even some more daring thoughts . "Stop torturing yourself, Steve. That's not going to happen," he told himself.

The next day, Catherine received a call and smiled when she saw Steve's picture on her cell phone screen.

"Hey, sailor! Can you talk? Are you off the mission?" She told him.

"Yes, Catherine. The mission is over."

"And when will you be back?" She asked.

"Actually, I'm back and I'm at the base. Kelly, Freddie's girlfriend, is in town and Freddie invited us to have dinner with them later.

"I'm glad you're back and you're fine. I'd love to meet Kelly, but I don't know if I can make it, Steve".

"Why? Do you have another appointment?" He asked her and at the same time he blamed himself for asking. He would the last person who could convict her for having a date.

"No. I'm cleaning the house and I'm still in the beginning. I don't know if I'll be in the mood to go out after I'm done".

"Did your mother put you up to cleaning?" Steve smiled as he imagined her in an apron and with a duster in her hand.

"Did you forget that my mother moved to Norfolk with my father?"

"Oh, Catherine, it's true. I'd forgotten, I'm sorry," Steve told her.

"It's okay. Have fun with Kelly and Freddie. I'll see you on Monday?"

"Sure, Catherine," he answered her question and ended the call.

Catherine was surprised that he hung up the phone too fast and wondered if he'd been upset with her. Twenty minutes later he knocked on the door of her house and she smiled when she opened the door. "Why didn't I guess you were coming?" She hugged him with affection and joy and it made him feel even worse.

She looked at him still smiling. "In shorts and slippers, are you going to the beach?"

"No. I came to help you clean the house so you can come out with me later. I don't want to feel like the third wheel going out with Freddie and Kelly without you."

"Oh, Okay. Then you can start with the kitchen," she replied.

Steve went to the kitchen and didn't believe what he saw when he looked at the sink. "Cath, this is dirty play. Look at the amount of pots in this sink. How did you get all this pots dirty?

"Are you gonna wash it or are you going to stand there and complain?" She asked.

When they finished cleaning the house, Catherine ordered a pizza and they sat down on the living room carpet to eat.

"How are you feeling living alone?" Steve asked her.

"Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Did you know I almost adopted a dog?"

"Almost? You gave up?" Steve asked.

"Yes, or I'd have to compete with a five-year-old girl, and that wasn't fair. And I thought better of it, too. He would cling to me and when I had to travel I would have to leave him with someone else and he would suffer. We must not make those who love us suffer," Catherine told him.

Steve once again remembered Greer and came to the conclusion that he shouldn't tell Catherine anything." You're right," Steve told her and sighed.

"Why that sigh?" Catherine asked.

"Some things went wrong with this mission. We accomplished the goal, but not everything went well," Steve told her.

"Have we lost someone?" She asked.

"No."

"Then forget about it and try to do better next time," she told him.

"Enjoy my lovely company because Joe has already climbed me to a next mission."

"Wow, what a busy sailor," she smiled.

"That fuzzy carpet is so inviting," Steve said and lay on the carpet.

"Do you want to sleep? I have a guest room."

"No. I just want to get some rest and it's great here, but thanks for offering the room," Steve replied.

Catherine lay down next to him and found that he was right." That carpet is really good. It was the last purchase my mother made before she moved."

The two of them were lying there and looking at the ceiling.

"You miss her, don't you?" Steve asked.

"Very much," Catherine answered and bit her lower lip like she always did when she was apprehensive or nervous. "I miss my dad too."

"I'm sorry, Cath," Steve replied, and then slept.

Catherine watched him sleep and could see every line of his face, could look at him without fear that he would notice that she was watching him. She felt like touching his face, kiss him, but contained herself.

Steve leaned his head on her shoulder and her heart soared. It was possible to hear her breathing panting when he was around. She loved him and didn't have to say that to anyone because her body was already saying everything in silence. She thought that happy is the one who has the courage to expose your love to a person screaming to the seven winds, but she knew how to demonstrate her feeling in silence, loving him secretly every day.

PS: Thanks for your review in the previous chapter.