The next day...
Catherine and Steve ordered breakfast in their room. Steve hugged her as she sweetened the milk for Kevin. "That was the best night of our lives."
Catherine looked at him uncomprehendingly. "We didn't do anything, Steve. Kevin coughed several times during the night, the bed was small for the three of us, and I almost didn't sleep because my body is sore from being in the hospital for a week napping in a chair."
"I was looking at it from the romantic side, Cath. It was the first night of the rest of our lives together even if we didn't do anything. Being next to you is more than enough to make me happy."
"Aww, Steve..." Catherine smiled and put her hands on his face pulling him into a soft kiss. "You are absolutely right. It was the best night of our lives."
Steve kissed her again for a few more times. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.
"Love you too," Steve replied with a wide smile.
"Can you wake Kevin up before his milk gets cold?" Catherine asked Steve.
Steve sat on the bed next to Kevin and called him softly so that he would not be startled. "Kevin, wake up." Kevin did not wake up and he had to call him three more times.
Kevin opened his eyes and looked at Steve. "Where's Aunt Cath?"
"Aunt Cath is here in the little room organizing your breakfast. And Uncle Steve doesn't even get a good morning?" Steve said to the boy.
"Good morning, Uncle Steve." Kevin replied shyly.
Steve took him on his lap and Kevin wanted to take off his diaper. "I didn't know you still wore diapers, buddy." Steve removed Kevin's diaper and boy smiled. "You're glad you got rid of that weight, aren't you?" Steve said.
Kevin nodded his head saying yes and kissed Steve's cheek as Steve took him on his lap again. Steve smiled and kissed Kevin's cheek as well.
Steve took Kevin to sit at the table for breakfast. "Good morning, honey!" Catherine said to the boy.
"Good morning, Aunt Cath."
"Here's your warm milk and the cheesy bread you like and some toast with jam. Everything is delicious."
"I took his diaper off, Cath. Should I have put another one on?" Steve sat down too.
"No, I just put it on him to sleep," she replied and sat down to eat breakfast as well.
Kevin coughed again and almost choked on his milk. Steve was worried and helped him.
Catherine was also worried. "The doctor said he would cough for a few more weeks, but I'm going to see the doctor in our town when we get there..."
"It's good to hear a second opinion," Steve replied.
"Just thinking that he was perfect until last week makes me so angry with her," Catherine said and soon regretted it.
"Who?" Kevin asked.
"No one, Kevin. I was just thinking out loud."
"Aunt Cath, did Josh die?" Kevin asked. He was referring to his favorite toy.
"Yes, dear. Josh died. I'm sorry," Catherine replied.
"I don't want to go back to my house anymore, it burned down." It was the first time Kevin had referred to the accident that had occurred in his house.
"You are going to move in with me and Uncle Steve. It will be just the three of us, honey. I don't know when you'll be able to see your mom again."
"Cath..." Steve asked her not to say any more. "He's only three."
"You're right, Steve. I'm sorry."
Kevin continued eating and then made a request to Steve. "Uncle Steve, can you give me a new Josh?"
"Of course I can, Kevin. But what was Josh?" Steve asked.
"A panda," Catherine replied.
"Okay. We'll find a new Josh."
Kevin didn't mention his mother and Catherine didn't talk about her anymore. Two hours later they got into Catherine's car and drove home. Kevin hurried up the five steps that led to the porch and waited for Catherine and Steve by the door.
"Looks like someone is anxious to get into the house," Steve said to Catherine.
The next day, Steve brought Catherine breakfast in bed. "Good morning, Cath."
Catherine stretched out in bed, "Good morning, Steve."
He sat down on the bed next to her. "I'm feeling weird."
"What do you mean? Are you feeling sick?" Catherine was worried.
"No. For the first time I'm starting the day without having anything to do, without having to rush out after getting a phone call..."
"And are you missing it?" She asked.
"I don't know how to answer that question, Cath."
"I've been thinking, Steve. When I get final custody of Kevin we can move to Hawaii permanently. He was in the hospital for a week and no one visited him, no one called to see how he was doing. I like it here, but there are no other reasons to stay here."
"We'll work that out later. Right now what matters is just the fact that we're together. We've done crazy things like crossing half the world to be together in our Navy days, and now we're here. I'm all yours," Steve told her.
"All mine," Catherine pulled him into a passionate kiss.
"Oh, I forgot that I still have a mission," Steve said interspersing his words with kisses on Catherine.
"What mission?" Catherine asked.
Steve looked at Kevin who was sleeping in a bed next to him. "I need to find a new Josh."
"Oh, that's right. If Uncle Steve promised..."
"Uncle Steve delivers," Steve said completing her sentence.
PS: Thank you for your review!