Over the next couple of weeks, the house mates grew closer. Despite never having lived with a member of the opposite sex before, Steve was surprised at how easy it appeared to be with Kate. For Kate, the experience was a lot different to living with Mark. The atmosphere was much more relaxed. They had the odd squabble but were soon friends again. At work, their friendship helped their work relationship and they were soon Ted's best team solving the most difficult cases.
They spent most of their free time together, Kate helped Steve improve his cooking skills as they made meals together. They went to the gym together, their competitive streak coming out during their 5k runs on treadmills next to each other. They weren't joined at the hip though. At the weekends, Kate spent her time with Josh who was adapting fairly well to his parents separation. As she returned him at the end of one busy day together Mark informed her he would be going away with his new girlfriend the next weekend and Kate would have to look after Josh. It wasn't Jayne. Her and Mark had split soon after Kate's discovery of their affair and she was giving her marriage to Rich another go. "You could have given me a bit more notice!" Kate complained to her estranged husband, but he didn't seem that bothered.
Steve noticed that Kate was a little quiet that evening as they were watching TV together. "You ok, mate?".
"Just Mark being a twat again," Kate replied. "He's informed me this evening that he's going away next weekend and he wants me to have Josh,".
"Thought you would like the extra time with him?" Steve said.
"I do. It's just he hasn't given me much time to organise anything,".
"What do you need to organise?".
"Well where we're going to stay for a start," Kate revealed.
"Mark wont allow him here?" Steve asked confused.
"No, it's not that," Kate explained. "You are not going to want a five year old creating havoc around here on your weekend off,".
"Says who?" Steve retorted. "I don't mind. It's probably time I meet the little guy anyway seeing as we might be living together for the next six months,". Kate had finally found a flat that she really liked and could see herself living in. Well it was a show apartment really. The place was still under construction but she had put her name down and paid a deposit to get one when they were ready as all the other places she had seen were pretty awful.
"Yeah, maybe," Kate agreed. "You're sure you don't mind?".
"Absolutely," Steve replied, confidently. Come Friday night however, and Steve's confidence had deserted him as he waited for Kate to arrive back with Josh. What on earth had he been thinking to agree to this? He had little to no experience with young children and had no idea how to interact with them. Josh would probably pick up on it and not like him.
The sound of the front door opening brought him back to the present. "Steve?" Kate shouted from the hallway.
"In here," Steve replied letting Kate know he was in the living room. He found himself standing up from his seat as Kate entered with a little brown haired, blue eyed boy who seemed as scared as Steve at meeting someone new and was hovering very close to Kate.
"Steve this is Josh. Josh, this is my friend Steve," Kate introduced the two boys.
"Hi Josh," Steve greeted the little boy. Josh remained quiet.
"Say Hi!" Kate prodded her son.
"Hi," Josh said in a very timid voice.
"He's just a bit shy," Kate informed Steve. "He'll talk your leg off once he gets to know you," she warned him. "I'm going to put your stuff away," Kate told Josh. He was going to be staying with Kate in her room for the weekend. "Why don't you show Steve the toys you brought?" She suggested.
I'd like to see them Josh," Steve encouraged, hoping that Josh would soon relax around him.
Kate left them to it and when she returned to the room after unpacking Josh's little suitcase she couldn't help but smile to herself. Lying on their stomachs on the floor were Josh and Steve as they played with the Lego that Josh had brought. Their heads were close together and Kate could see that the pair had very similar hair colouring. Almost like they could be father and son. "Having fun?" She enquired.
"Yes mummy," Josh replied.
"That's good Josh but I was talking to Steve," she said cheerfully, pleased that they were getting on so well. She had been a bit anxious that their meeting wouldn't go so well.
"Yes thanks Kate," Steve replied. "Who doesn't like Lego?" He questioned.
"Yeah mummy. Who doesn't like Lego?" Josh copied.
"I'll go make dinner then shall I? Leave you boys to it,". She didn't get a reply as they were too busy constructing something.
They had a nice evening together before Kate took Josh to get him ready for bed. "You've certainly made an impression on him," Kate said once she returned to the living room once Josh was settled. "He wants to know if you are going to spend the day with us tomorrow," she informed Steve. "Feel free to say no if you have something planned,".
"No I'd like that," Steve answered honestly. He was surprised how he'd liked spending time with the child. "I don't want to get in the way of you spending time with him though,".
You kidding? It's nice sharing the responsibility. It's exhausting doing it by yourself,".
And so Steve spent the whole weekend with Kate and Josh and really enjoyed it although was totally exhausted by the end of it. But it was fun, seeing the world through the eyes of a child and surprised himself with the realisation that perhaps he wanted a child. He'd always thought he wouldn't settle down, but since meeting Kate and now Josh he knew he had changed his mind.
From that weekend, Josh spent alternate weekends at Steve's flat with Kate. Steve was soon Josh's new best friend, a fact that hadn't gone down well with Mark, but was the opposite with Kate. She used the weekends to do things that could be better achieved by herself, such as the hairdressers, knowing that Steve could be trusted to look after Josh. One such weekend, Kate had left the boys to it whilst she did the food shopping and they were in the middle of a rough and tumble tickle fight when Steve's phone went off.
Chucking Josh over his shoulder much to the delight of the young boy who shrieked with laughter, Steve used his free hand to retrieve and answer the device. "Hello?" Steve said.
"Hello darling," came his mum's voice down the line.
"Hi mum," Steve replied.
"Not disturbing anything am I?" Sue asked.
"Not really," Steve admitted. Sue went on to talk about her week but Steve didn't really listen, more keen on making faces at Josh and getting him to laugh.
"How's Kate?" Steve heard his mum enquire.
"She's good," Steve replied vaguely, knowing his mum was fishing for an update on his friend. "She's out at the moment and I'm babysitting Josh,".
"Don't overexcite him," Sue warned. She could hear all the shrieks of laughter coming from the little boy over the phone, but secretly she was very happy her son was getting on well with Kate's son.
"I won't," Steve promised. "Did you want something, mum?" He asked, now keen to get this call over and resume playtime with Josh who was still slung over his shoulder.
"Is Kate coming to this wedding or not?" She asked. "The table plans are just about finalised and they want to know menu choices,".
"I forgot to ask Kate again," Steve admitted.
"Forgot to ask me what?" Kate asked as she stepped into the room, food shopping complete in a fast time without hinderance from either Steve or Josh.
"Is that Kate?" Sue asked.
Yes," Steve replied.
"Can I speak to her? Get a woman to do a job if you want it done," Sue told her son.
Steve held the phone out reluctantly. "Mum wants a chat," he explained before resuming his play fight with Josh.
Kate took the phone and headed to the kitchen where it was a bit quieter away from Josh's squeals and giggles. "Hi Sue," Kate said. "How are you?".
"I'm fine dear," Sue replied. "although my son is driving me round the bend. I've asked him several times to get back to me but he keeps procrastinating,".
"What's he done?" Kate asked.
"He's supposed to be letting me know whether you are accompanying him to this wedding,".
"God, I'm so sorry. I totally forgot about it," Kate apologised.
"It's not your fault," Sue acknowledged. "Steve has been reminded to ask you a couple of times,".
"Has he?" Kate asked, not sure why Steve hadn't asked her.
"So are you going to come?" Sue queried. "We'd all like to meet you,".
"I would have Josh that weekend," Kate hesitated.
"Bring him along. Steve's other cousin Jackie has two young boys who are Josh's age will be there,".
"You're sure it wouldn't be any trouble?".
"Of course not," Sue confirmed.
"Well then, me and Josh will be there," Kate promised. After all Steve had done to help her out recently, this was the least she could do in return.
