A month later...
Steve woke up at 3:00 a.m. with a phone call from Catherine. "Cath? Did something happen? I called you several times yesterday, but you didn't answer me."
"I didn't answer because I wanted to surprise you. Can you pick me up at the airport?"
Steve smiled. "Are you here on the island?"
"I'm here. I'll stay a few days, but I really need to see you."
"Okay. I'll get dressed and go out and get you."
"I'm waiting for you. Thank you," Catherine replied.
Steve drove himself to the airport. He had arranged with her that he would see her the week before, but the Governor had summoned him to attend a benefit dinner. He quickly arrived at the airport driving in a way that she certainly disapproves of.
Catherine saw him and walked smiling toward him. Steve also smiled and they hugged when they met.
"I'm so glad you're here," Steve told her.
"I knew you'd like the surprise," Catherine replied.
Steve kissed her and then grabbed her suitcase. "Let's go home."
They came home some time later and went to their room. Steve knew something was wrong, but he decided they would only talk about it when the day dawned. At that moment he just wanted to be in her arms.
Steve woke her up in the morning and had a tray of breakfast in his hands. Catherine opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Good morning, sailor. What is that?"
"Your breakfast," he replied as she sat on the bed.
"Breakfast in bed? Wow! What progress!"
Steve put the tray over her legs and she pulled him in for a soft kiss. "Thank you."
"I'm going to need to go to headquarters today. Are you coming with me, or would you rather stay here and rest?" Steve asked her.
"I'm coming with you. I came here to be with you, no matter where."
Catherine broke a piece of cake and put a piece in his mouth.
"What's going on?" Steve asked her and she looked at him with the look of someone who didn't understand the question.
"What's bothering you? You're here, but at the same time you're away," Steve told her.
"I'm worried about Kevin, Steve. That's it."
"How's your friendship with Susan?" Steve asked her.
"It's shaken. She's living with that guy she met and Kevin doesn't like him, in fact Kevin is afraid of him. I had Kevin's birthday party at daycare and she didn't show up. All the pictures he has of the party are with me "
"I'm sorry, Cath. But you can't stay like this, he's not your son, it's not your responsibility."
Catherine's eyes filled with tears. "But he's a human being who needs help, Steve, and it's to me he's asking for help. On my days off I pick him up from daycare and take him to my house. He stays with me and the next day I take him to daycare again. His teacher told me that his face gets sad when he sees Susan and realizes that it's not me who's there to pick him up.
"It's a very complicated situation, Catherine. It's a situation you have no way of solving. Poor Kevin."
"And you know how I feel when I can't fix something. Kevin's lost a lot of weight, she's not taking good care of him. Susan wasn't like that, but living with this man changed her mind. I think now she sees Kevin as a nuisance in her life."
"Try not to think about it now. Have your breakfast and let's go out. You need to get a little distracted," Steve kissed her forehead and went to get dressed.
Catherine finished eating and went to take a shower. Half an hour later she went to the headquarters with Steve and met some new members. " The team is big now," she told him when they were in his office.
"Yes, and there's still Tani, but she's still on leave because of the baby. I needed to augment the team, Cath. I'm no longer a young to walk the streets chasing bad guys, so I had to delegate this to Junior and the new team members. In fact, I've been thinking a lot about retiring and moving in with you. Do you want me?"
Catherine put her arms around his neck. "What a stupid question. Of course I want you."
"Great," Steve replied.
"I just have doubts about you getting used to the city or staying all day doing nothing," Catherine told him.
"We can travel, enjoy life, every day is one less day in our lives and I want to live my old age by your side. You're the most important person in my life."
Catherine was thrilled by his words of affection. "I love you, Steve. I've always loved you."
"When I came home after we spent those days together, I thought about everything you are to me. I love you, and I'm not going to let anything or anyone take you away from me. You're my life dream, and I can't live without you anymore," Steve told her.
Catherine smiled. "Wow! I don't think you've ever said such sweet words to me as today."
They were interrupted by a baby cry. Tani was coming to headquarters with Kai.
Danny left the office quickly and Steve and Catherine did the same. "Look who came to visit you," Tani told friends.
"Can I hold him, Tani?" Catherine asked.
"Sure, Catherine," Tani gave Kai to Catherine and Catherine smiled to the boy. "You're beautiful, very beautiful."
Steve saw that she was smiling, but at the same time a sadness shook her. Surely she was thinking of Kevin
PS: Thank you for the comments in the previous chapter. They are much appreciated.