Sitting on the sofa Kate pulled her laptop towards her. Loading up Amazon she began scrolling through the page trying to find her gift for mike for their anniversary at the end of the week. She was cutting it close regarding delivery but she had no idea on what to get him as he was such a awkward bugger to shop for. She had already brought a bottle of his go-to favourite after shave but she wanted to find something a little more special, it was their 14th wedding anniversary after all.

"what are you doing mummy?" Grace asked walking over from the kitchen table.

"looking for a present for Daddy" Kate smiled "have you finished your maths?" she asked

"Yes!" Grace smiled sweetly "so why are you getting Daddy a present?" She asked bouncing on to the sofa.

"Don't bounce on the sofa" Kate raised her eyebrows before smiling. "I am getting a present for daddy because it's our wedding anniversary on Friday and I need to find him something nice. What about your literacy?" she asked looking at her daughter. Given the fact Grace quickly plodded back over to the kitchen table she knew the answer was no.

Turning back to the computer she clicked off Amazon as there was nothing inspiring, it was mostly commercial stuff and not the special something she was looking for. Searching through Pin-trest she came across a large photo frame with hearts filled with different maps relating to important places to the couple it was made for. Clicking through to the craft website it was on she found she could choose any number of key places and the words written on the frame

Choosing a frame with 4 key places. She filled in the requited details of what she wanted. Where we met- Watson's Bay, where we fell in love. (again)- Cairns, where we got married-Mission Beach and Our honeymoon- Fiji. She was pleased that it had a 5-7-day delivery time scale which for a handmade gift was very reasonable. She just hoped it would arrive on time as otherwise she would have nothing to give him.

6 days later Kate walked through the door it was after 6pm and She had spent most of the day at NAVCOM. She had been called in for a general meeting along with all the other Patrol boat CO's at Cairns base to discuss returning to normal patrols. As well as the revised timetables for the introduction of the Arafura Class ships. it was a long meeting. Every time she thought she could escape and head home a new topic of conversation was started and she couldn't sneak out. It was quite unusual as most of what they talked about could have easily been sent in an email but it was typical navy politics.

Putting her bag in the hall closet she walked towards the kitchen pulling her hair free from its bun. she was stopped in her tracks by Grace.

"Stop mummy" Grace held her hand up wearing her 'police' costume.

"What!" Kate said rubbing her the back of her neck as Nicole appeared in a little black skater dress with a white apron tied round her waist.

"Daddy says you're not allowed in" Nicole said defiantly

Rubbing her head, she just wanted to grab a cup of tea and get rid of this stress headache she could feel building at the back of her head. "Why" she sighed

"Because he is doing something special" Nicole said

"fine" she sighed it wasn't worth the battle and something special obviously meant dinner for their anniversary. "tell daddy i have gone for a shower and am getting changed" she said heading up the stairs. She turned as the girls ran back in to the kitchen she could have sworn they hi-fived each other.

Heading in to hers and mikes room she pulled her uniform off tossing it in to the washing basket before heading in to the unsuited and switching on the shower. Standing under the hot water she could feel it run through her hair and down her back, taking her stresses with it.

Stepping out she wrapped a towel around herself and headed back in to the bedroom. Smiling whilst she was in the shower Mike must have snuck in. There was a glass of wine left on the dressing table and a dress laid on the bed. It was a lacy ivory off white shirt dress that would hug her waist one she could dress up but also dress down as well. He had attached a label with 'wear me' written in his cursive hand. if she was being honest after the day she had, she would have preferred to have put her fluffy P. J's on and curl up on the sofa. But she didn't want to let him down. After blow-drying her hair she slipped in to the dress, it fitted perfectly and looked amazing. Brushing her hair so it fell over the one shoulder she stuck her feet in to a pair of red pumps.

Heading downstairs she walked slowly along the corridor. Grace was waiting for her at the door to the living room. She had changed out of her police costume and in to a glittery red dress.

"good evening madame, do you have... a...reservation" she said stumbling over some of her words like she was trying to remember what she had been told to say.

Smiling at how sweet her children could be "yes it should be under the name Flynn" she said

Grace looked in the book she was holding. It was the collection of fairy-tales she had got for Christmas. "right this way Mrs Flynn" Grace said grinning right up at her mother. Following Grace through in to the dining room Kate gasped. Mike certainly had been busy. She had wondered why the meeting went on for so long, he must have been behind it he was after all in charge of the Cairns base.

The room was dark apart from fairy lights draped in a curtain along the French doors by the table which was lit by candles. Mike stood in front of the table holding a huge bunch of ivory white roses.

"happy Anniversary Kate" he smiled

so part one of the anniversary. hope you like it and let me know what you think. it really helps I can not believe I have more than 30 chapters for one fic

huge love xxx