Arriving home Kate walked in to the kitchen, she smiled over at mike who was sat at the table looking out the window.

"Hey" she called putting her bag on the table "where are the kids?" she asked

"in the garden letting off some steam" he smiled walking over to her "how was your meeting?" he asked

"short" she said pulling a jug of water out of the fridge, pouring herself a glass. "it was 5 minuets if that. Smith was just this is your new buffer, I am the CO of Hammersley, then he handed me these guidelines for socially distancing on the ship before he headed off to another meeting apparently"

"so who's your new Buffer. Anyone I would know?" he asked

"actually yeah. Its Pete" she smiled

"no way. Well I guess it is a small world in the ADF. Although I thought he was on the mine hunters in Sydney" Mike smiled

"well he has just got a Divorce so maybe he was looking for a fresh start in familiar surroundings" Kate smiled

"i didn't know he had even got married. I guess we have lost touch with a lot of people in the last few years" Mike sighed. "anyway, what are these guidelines Smith gave you?" he asked

"here" she handed him the folder from her bag. "its impossible, how can I run a fully operational bridge if we can't have the full crew, I need up there." she sighed

Scanning through the many documents that were in the file Mike eventually looked up. "well none of this has come through from Brass so I don't know what Smith is thinking." Mike said

"i did think that," Kate frowned "so do we follow them?" she asked

"well stay safe obviously but Hammersley is your ship, you run her how you see fit. Because all of these are all impossible."

"right, well I am going up to get changed" she smiled walking towards the door. She turned as she heard sniggering from Mike behind her. "yes I know I have a big pink stain on my butt. And thanks for telling me this morning before I left, I walked through NAVCOM like this" she pouted

"honestly I didn't see it when you left. Did anyone see it?" she asked

"probably the whole of blooming NAVCOM" she said "thankfully Pete told me as I was leaving" she sighed "hopefully it will come out with a second wash." she called over her shoulder as she headed upstairs.

She returned downstairs half an hour later having showered and changed in to a simple pair of leggings and a t-shirt. "so how were they?" she asked Mike as she re-entered the kitchen.

"okay, they have mostly been outside as the sun is out so that's kept them quiet and the girls seemed to have stopped moaning for now" he said

"well that's something I suppose. So I am guessing they haven't done any of their lessons this morning?"

"well they have been outside so I guess you could count it as science" he grinned

"so that's a no" she laughed

"well..." Mike paused

Sitting down at the table Kate pulled her bag towards her, pulling out the folder again. She decided she may as well have a quick read so then she at least couldn't be accused of not looking or following orders.

The peace and quiet she had been banking on lasted all but 10 minuets as Grace came crashing through the door beaming as soon as she saw Kate.

"Mummy can you come play with us" she pleaded

"not at the moment mummy has to read something important before she goes back to sea on Friday" Kate half smiled. Playing out in the sun even if she still was a tad cross with her daughters seamed far more appealing than reading all this so-called safety advice that contradicted its self on every other page.

"please mummy" Grace begged "we're having a water fight

"20 minuets I just need to finish this" Kate sighed.

"yay" Grace cheered running back outside

Kate watched as Grace ran round the garden. There was no point in arguing and as for still being mad with them she had calmed down a little and knew that the truth would come out eventually. Closing the folder up she decided enough was enough. Heading out she grabbed the water cannon that Grace handed her and the 4 of them all chased Mike round the garden soaking him with the pistols they had. He did get his revenge by emptying a huge bucket of water over Kates head, he had even hidden some ice cubes in the water to make it extra cold.

"MIKE!" She shrieked running after him. By this point the kids had gotten bored with this game and sat watching as their parents ran round the garden. "i am so going to make you pay for that!" she growled

"i look forward to it" he grinned his eyes glinting in the last of the sun before Kate also emptied a bucket of water over him.

so I am not entirely happy with this but I wanted to show a little of what happened when Kate got home and it was a nice sunny bank holiday here (typical its sunny and we cant go out! it normally rains on BH's in the UK) thank you so much for sticking with me. I think this will be the first time I have a fic that has hit 20+ chapters as I have lots of other little ideas written down. anyway let me know what you think and enjoy

xx