Kate sat in the Kitchen staring out of the window debating whether or not to take the kids to the park for a run around. For the last few days, it had rained none stop so nobody wanted to go out because of it. They had preferred to stay indoors and watch the T.V and it showed all 3 kids full of penned up energy.

A crash from upstairs helped her make up her mind. Sighing she headed to the stairs.

"Grace!" she called from the foot of the stairs "What was that?" she called

Grace appeared at the top of the stairs.

"what" she blinked innocently

"that loud bang that seemed to come from your room"

"ummmm, nothing "Grace smiled sweetly

"right... well get your shoes on we are going to the park." Kate called back up. "You too Nicole come on"

Nicole appeared flouncing down the stairs. "do I have to. Samantha was just about to show us her new puppy" she sighed

"yes you haven't been outside all week and some fresh air will do us all the world of good" she said heading in to the office ignoring Nicoles protests.

Walking up behind Mike she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"hey" she smiled resting her chin on his head.

"Hi" he smiled turning taking his glasses off

"so I am going to take the kids to the park" she smiled

"well I am all done here for now so if you give me 10 minuets I will get changed and we can all go" he smiled

"perfect" she smiled back "i best go get Chris ready. And sort out the wellies because I think there will be a fair few muddy puddle just screaming jump in me" she said walking out of the room.

By the time they had got out of the house the sun had forced its way out of the cloudy prison it had been locked in for the past few days. The park was quite quiet apart from the odd dog walker or jogger running round the track.

Wrapping his arm around Kate, Mike pulled her close. They watched Grace and Chris running along the path, followed by Nicole who was listening to her music. Sitting on a bench they watched as the children began running around a couple of nearby trees.

Kate smiled watching the children. Letting out a small sigh she turned to face mike.

"you okay?" he asked as she rested her head on his shoulder

"yeah. I just wish I didn't have to go to sea tomorrow" she smiled weakly

"it is only for three weeks" Mike smiled softly kissing her on the top of her head

"i know, it's just been quite nice being able to spend all this time with the kids and..."

"Kate, what are you saying? Do you want to take a shore posting?" he asked looking at her

Pulling back slightly Kate looked up at him. "no! I love being at sea and on Hammersley but I also love being with the kids and... oh I don't know anymore" she sighed as Grace came running over.

"Mummy! Mummy Mummy! Look what I found" she said holding something out to her.

Taking it from her Kate inspected it. It was a large painted rock. On the one side it had a extremely good and detailed painted picture of the badge for Cairns base. On the flip side there was the name for a Facebook page 'Cairns Rocks' and it said 'pic-post keep or re-hide'

"i wanna hide it" Grace called. Making a grab for the rock

"Mummy would like to keep this one. Its really pretty" Kate smiled still holding on to it.

"but I want to hide it!" Grace stamped her foot.

"Hey. Its where Mummy and daddy work. That's why I want to keep it. so why don't we keep this one and we can paint some more ourselves to hide okay" Kate smiled

Grace thought about it for a moment. "umm okay" Grace smiled she seemed happy enough with that.

Walking further along the path Kate found a second rock. This one had the badge for Hammersley on painted by the same artiste. Even Nicole cheered up after she found a rock with a mermaid on by the lagoon.

Thankfully they had timed the walk right as the second they got home the heavens once again opened and the rain began to fall in a biblical fashion

"these rocks are amazing" she smiled looking at both sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"i don't see the point really in painting a stone" Mike sighed standing from the sofa heading in to the kitchen

"its really sweet thing. Its been around for ages as a craze, but from what I can understand it really Kicked off with a little girl in the UK who had terminal cancer and her brother used to paint rocks and hide them in the garden. More people started painting them and hiding them In her name to see how far around the world they could get. Some even made it here. People were asked to post a picture on social media. When she died people sent their stones from all over the world and they set them in the bandstand in the middle of the village she lived in" Kate smiled

"that is actually quite sweet" Mike smiled

Leaning over the side of the sofa Grace smiled "so when can we start painting stones" she grinned

"well its too late to go get some tonight so you can go with daddy tomorrow" Kate smiled

"yay" Grace skipped off up the stairs

"thanks for that" Mike grinned

"yeah well it will be fine. I have been reading all you need is a bag of beach cobbles. And don't go collecting them off the beach you're not allowed and then get some tester pots to base coat them and some felt tips once the base coat is dry then a bit of yacht varnish and you're done. You will be fine just don't let Gracie paint her shoes again" she grinned

"i turned my back for 2 seconds how was I to know she would paint her shoes"

"Mike they were white, brand new and cost 40 bucks" Kate folded her arms.

"fine I will cover them all in newspaper and I will base coat them so no paint"

That evening Kate sighed as she checked on each of the children as they slept. Inside she felt conflicted on one hand she loved her job and being at sea. A shore posting could see them being moved across country as brass would more than likely want one of them to be at sea. At least with the patrol boats they were short times at sea and relatively safe compared to a frigate or destroyer which could be at sea for several months at a time and sent to hostile areas. maybe staying at sea would be best. Nicole would probably hate them if they were uprooted and moved across country. Anyway, tomorrow would be a new day and she would be at sea.

hey sorry its been quiet but we have had some sun here and I am currently melting its so hot (we aint used to 30 degree heat in the uk) so sorry if this is a bit all over the place. I pant and hide rocks myself and got this idea after seeing some one in my rock club paint and post pics of the insignia of some of the RN ships that their family had connections with. anyway hope you enjoy and I am off to hide in the freezer for a few days till it cools down and hopefully get some more ideas for this fic. :D