The pair sat snuggled in each others arms on Kate's couch, their legs stretched out in front of them entwined. Both knew that they had a lot more to work through, but neither wanting to break the comfortable silence that had come over them.
Mike couldn't help but think about this being the way they would spend most nights for the rest of their lives. A baby in their arms, a few little toddlers playing on the floor in front of them, children lounging around them on family movie nights, their teenagers and their friends or girlfriends and boyfriends sitting on the couch chatting to them. It was hard to believe he had put this off for so long, yet now that it was right in front of him, he didn't want to wait another minute.
"We could just sit like this forever…" Kate suggested as she angled her head up to look at him. Even after all these years, she was amazed at the colour of his eyes. How they drew her in. They were the same colour she imagined her babies would have, blue like the ocean and full of that same love, passion and drive as their daddy.
Mike lowered his head slightly to place a kiss on her temple. "I hope we do." He agreed. "I don't ever want to let you go Kate." He whispered.
"I know you've got your meeting tomorrow… and that is handling all of the career wise formalities for you… but what about Ryan? What's your plan with him and working on your relationship?"
"Well, I don't know to be honest. I know that I would love to get to know him more, but I also need to respect his wishes." Mike sighed.
"What happened when he found out?"
Mike chuckled "Remember that black eye?"
Kate giggled "That was Ryan?"
Mike nodded in response. "I don't really blame him, to be honest. It must have been one hell of a shock to find out his godfather was actually his father."
"Yeah, he's a great kid though Mike. From what I've seen, he really loves you. I think you just need to persist with him. What do you think he will say when he finds out we're together?"
"To be honest, I don't know. I know he has a lot of respect for you Kate. But this is a completely different situation, you going from being his executive officer to his step mum."
"I think we do just need to persist, and be patient too. Allow him to work through things for himself, but support him through it."
"Yeah, I think so. I just hope he wants to be part of our family too."
"Our family?" Kate smiled as she looked up at him again.
"Yup." Mike nodded, proudly. "Our family."
"And what does our family comprise of?" Kate prompted, her heart soaring.
"A handsome and very intelligent dad…" He started.
"Naturally…" she rolled her eyes in response.
"The most beautiful and intelligent Mum, quite sexy too, If I'm being completely honest."
Kate laughed and hit his chest playfully.
"And I hope we will have 2, maybe 3 more kids… Although, I'll be in a world of trouble if we have a little girl who takes after her mummy."
Kate ran her hand up his strong chest, and around to the side of his neck.
"Mike, is that really what you want?" she asked, she knew this is where everything was now heading for the two of them, and she couldn't believe how her life would change.
"Oh, maybe a dog too. Kids should have a dog growing up." Mike joked.
"Mike…"
"It is exactly what I want, Kate. I'm truly sorry I made you wait this long… but now, now I am without a shadow of a doubt sure that this is what I want."
Kate felt her eyes film over with tears, his emotional confession the very thing she had waited to hear for so long. She gazed lovingly at him, before tears completely blurred her vision, before one escaped, running down her cheek.
"Hey…" Mike said, his voice filled with concern as he wiped the tear with his thumb.
"It's just…" Kate started, her voice breaking with emotion. "I have wanted a family for so long… I wanted a family with you, including you… but when I thought you didn't want that with me, I tried to make myself believe I could have it with someone else… I tried to talk myself into thinking I wanted that with someone else. But now… now I can't imagine ever having any of this with anyone other than you."
"Me either, Kate."
"Mike, when I found out that Ryan was your son I have to admit, I felt like my heart was breaking… Since being posted to Hammersley, since having you back in my life, I have had this little fantasy, a dream of our family. Our children… To be honest, I'm kind of jealous that you already have that with someone else."
"I do have a son with someone else, and I love my son…"
"I know it's silly…"
"Hey, you're allowed to have feelings about this. About our life together and what that may look like."
"I just… In my fantasy, I had this image of me and our babies making you a daddy." Kate whispered. "I feel so stupid for even saying that." She buried her head in his neck.
"Oh, sweetheart." Mike whispered. "It's not stupid."
"I'm so embarrassed." She mumbled, her voice muffled against his neck.
"Please don't ever be embarrassed for telling me how you feel, this new 'us' is going to be all about openness and transparency. I want you to feel like you can tell me anything."
Kate pulled back quickly, sitting up a bit straighter to look at him. "Oh god, Mike." Kate said, in a panicked tone. "I have those emotions, but believe me, I will welcome Ryan into our home and our lives with open arms."
Mike chuckled knowingly. "I know you will, Kate."
"Please don't ever think that he won't be wanted or included. I really didn't mean it like that" Kate continued, like she needed to reiterate her love of Mike's son.
"It's okay, Kate. I know you will. It's an adjustment to me too." Mike confessed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Do you think he will want to spend time with us? We could do a weekly dinner, so you two can try to build on your relationship…"
Mike felt his heart swell, the woman before him was so willing to facilitate him rebuilding a relationship with the son he didn't know he had. A teenage son, who at this point in time didn't really want to know him. "That would be nice." Mike agreed.
Kate rested her head back down on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his torso. "I do really hope he wants to be in our lives, Mike."
Mike sighed "Me too, Kate. Me too."
