Day 6: Part 1
"Sir Commander White on the line for you" RO's voice echoed through his cabin
"Thanks RO" he pressed the 2way before sitting down at his desk and picking up the sat phone
"Max, how's this on shore?" Mike fiddled with his pen
"Don't stall Mike, you asked to talk to me" she replied sternly
"Right…"
"So what's up?"
"I was just curious… as to when we'd be allowed to return back to port there's some thing's I want to discuss with you"
"We're discussing now" she sighed
"Preferably in person Max" he looked into the hall when he spotted his blonde Executive Officer walk past he motioned her into his cabin she politely obliged moving in she sat down in his lap
"Mike? You there?" Maxine's voice broke him out of his spell
"Ah yeah, yeah I'm still here" he cleared his throat
"So you going to tell me the reason for the call?"
"I want to take a shore posting" he replied his eyes never leaving Kate's while she brushed her hand through his hair
"What ah… what changed your mind?" Maxine asked surprised
"I just realised there's more I want in life and staying on board I can't have that"
"And you sure your ready to leave?"
"Somethings are more important than a boat" he smiled at Kate remembering back to last night
'"I've been thinking…" he answered through the silence his hand wrapped around the blonde in his arms
"Oh no…" she teased
"I'm serious" he rolled his eyes playfully
"I'm tired, can we just take this further tomorrow" she grinned at the feel on his hand on her waist
"Kate…" he shifted to lean on his side
"What?" she asked nervously seeing his seriousness
"I want to take a shore posting…" he brushed the hair out of her face
"Mike… You hate shore postings" she fiddled with the buttons on his shirt
"We can't have a relationship on the boat and this…" he grabbed her hand fiddling with the ring
"I don't want to hide Kate, I want everyone to know I'm getting married"
"Are you sure about this?" she interlocked her hand with his
"You know one bonus of taking a shore posting?" he grinned
"No?"
"I can do this…" he leaned down kissing her softly
"Whenever I want" he mumbled against her lips
"Hmm, I think I could get used to that" she grinned deepening the kiss'
"Well, things have calmed down a little here so I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement to let Hammersley back into Port I presume your XO needs to be taken for proper scans anyway?" Maxine's voice broke him out of his spell
"Yes, Swain's cleared it as just a few broken ribs and some bruising but she'll need proper scans just to make sure there isn't any more injures we don't know about" his hand around Kate's waist brushed against her side
"I'll work some things out from my side and let you know by the end of the day" Maxine cleared her throat
"Great, thank you" he nodded
"Is that all?" she questioned sensing some hesitation in his voice
"Um… No there's something else" he looked at Kate who was shaking her head
"Oh?"
"I'm getting married Maxine…" he grinned when Kate rested her head on his shoulder nervously
"Right… Um well congratulations, who's… who's the lucky lady?" she replied sadly
"The woman of my dreams, look Max I've got to go um let me know about the shore posting yeah?"
"Sure, fair winds Mike" she answered before the line went dead
"You know she's going to ask questions now" Kate moved her head off his shoulder
"I told you, I don't want to hide" he wrapped his now free hand around her waist
"The first question she's going to ask is if we broke the non-fraternisation rules and then…"
"Kate, relax"
"Relax? Mike what we're doing what we did it's against the rules…" she jumped slightly when he cut her off with a soft kiss
"We will work it out hmm" he pulled away
"What if…"
"Kate, your stuck with me no matter what happens" he pulled her into a hug
"Lucky me" she teased nestling her head into the crook of his neck.
...
"Morning X" Bomber smiled when she entered the galley to see Kate leaning against the bench with her hands wrapped around a mug
"X?"
"Hmm?" Kate broke out of her spell
"Everything okay?" Bomber asked nervously
"Oh yeah, just thinking" Kate smiled
"About?"
"Have you ever thought about your future?" Kate placed the mug down next to her
"Anything in specific?"
"When you think of your future where do you see yourself? Like do you see a white picked fence with a dog running around, kids, a dotting husband?"
"Is this about you and Mike?" Bomber shifted to lean on the opposite bench
"He wants to take a shore posting" Kate crossed her arms
"That's great! Isn't it?"
"In theory for his career yeah it's great but it's not what he wants, he loves the sea too much I know he'd always regret it"
"I don't think so, he's got you and taking a shore posting means you two can be together without thinking of the consequences" Bomber shrugged
"I know your right but… deep down I just can't help but feel guilty"
"Why?"
"He's leaving because of me Bomber, so that we can be together without the secrecy" she bit her bottom lip nervously
"And? Mike he loves you Kate, for him this isn't a 'goodbye' or a 'I'll always regret leaving' it's a fresh start in his new life with you"
"Yeah…"
"So a dog hey?" Bomber teased
"It was just an example" Kate laughed
"Oh yeah and what about the whole kid thing?" she shifted off the bench
"Hmm" Kate hummed with a smirk
"Can I see it?" Bomber smirked pointing to Kate's hand
"Seriously? Your like the third person who's asked me in the past four hours I've been awake" Kate shook her head before extending her hand
"Way to go Flynn, it's beautiful" Bomber grabbed Kate's hand and admired the ring
"Only Mike Flynn would pick something that has a little bit of him in it"
"The Sapphire? It kinda resembles his eyes don't you think?" Bomber took a quick glance at Kate who was grinning
"Yeah, just like his ocean blue eyes"
"Kate McGregor you are completely smitten" she let her hand go
"Seven years I've gone to sleep dreaming of this exact moment Bomber, and now it's happened it just doesn't feel real" Kate held her hand up the ring shining under the light
"Well believe me, it's real" Bomber reached across pinching her
"Ow! What was that for?" Kate jumped
"Feel real?"
"Yes! And it bloody hurts" Kate rubbed her arm
"This isn't a dream Kate; you are marrying Mike Flynn you lucky duck" Bomber smirked widely
"I am pretty lucky aren't I?"
"So how long do you think he's had the ring for, because it looks custom made?" Bomber moved past her towards the freshly brewed coffee
"I.. I don't know" Kate shrugged reaching for her mug
"Who knew Mike Flynn was a romantic at heart" she teased pouring herself a brew
"Not me" Kate laughed softly Bomber's words 'How long do you think he's had it' doing overtime in her head.
Entering the bridge hours later, Mike smiled when he spotted Kate sitting in the Captain's chair deep in conversation with Swain about Chloe
"X" he interrupted
"Oh Sir…" she went to move out of the chair
"No you stay, I'm just here to make an announcement" he reached for the intercom
"Announcement?" she looked at him confused
"Here there it's the Captain speaking, good news we're headed home Commander White has given us permission to dock in Cairns, Cable parties close up and get ready to sail that is all" he placed the radio back down
"We're seriously going home Sir?" 2Dads piped up
"Yes 2Dads we sure are" he laughed
"YES!" he high-fived Charge
"I can't wait to sleep in my own bed" Kate sighed resting back in her chair
"You sure you won't be sharing someone else's bed?" 2Dads whispered
"2Dads!" Kate turned around to face him
"You… you heard that?" he asked nervously
"Wasn't exactly subtle mate" Swain answered from the controls
"Idiot" Charge hit him across the back of the head
"I'll go help with the getting ready to sail shall I?" 2Dads rubbed the back of his neck before quickly escaping off the bridge
"That was…" Swain shook his head
"I'm so sorry about him Ma'am" Charge sighed
"Honestly I'm too tired to even complain" Kate waved her hand before turning back around in her chair,
"You okay?" Mike asked her softly
"Yeah, just tired" she assured him
"Why don't you go lay down for a bit?"
"No I'm okay"
"Kate… Don't have me make it an order" he held his hand out pulling her up from the chair
"Fine, just for a few hours" she sighed letting his hand go and moving towards the stairs.
Taking up her previous spot in the Captain's chair Mike smiled widely
"So you finally popped the question?" Swain teased not know Kate was only halfway down the stairs she stopped to listen in
"Yes Swain, I finally did it" he laughed
"How long have you had the ring for?"
"Ah… about seven, six years" Mike shrugged
"And your only just proposing now?" he said surprised
"Kate and I weren't exactly in the position we are in now back then or even when she first joined Hammersley"
"You're pretty lucky you know"
"Yeah I am"
"Why someone as amazing as Kate would put up with your pig headedness is beyond me though" Swain grinned
"Ha-Ha" Mike rolled his eyes
"You got a catch there Mike, whatever you do don't let her go"
"Believe me I plan on spending the rest of my life making her happy" smiling to herself Kate moved down the rest of the stairs jumping slightly when she spotted 2Dads near the door
"Eavesdropping you'll get in trouble for that" he grinned
"I have no idea what your talking about" she shrugged moving into the hall
"Hey X" he called after her
"Yep?" she turned to face him
"Game on?" he held up the pack of cards
"You really want to loose again?" she grinned
"I was thinking we could play for something different this time" he moved towards her
"And what would that be?" she questioned when he dug into his pocket and pulled out three chocolate bars
"Something edible"
"Is that from Bomber's secret stash?"
"Could be" he grinned
"Oh she's going to kill you" Kate shook her head
"So is that a no?"
"Game on" she took the cards off him and moved into the Senior Sailors Mess
"Knew you'd cave, no woman can resist chocolate" he laughed following behind her.