3 days later

Mike and Kate are meeting up with Captian Steve Marshell at a Cafe in a small coastline town, somewhere they hope that no other sailors are at. But he isn't sure if the people involved with the Pant Alum aren't around

He wasn't stupid he knows there is more to these two officers, he knows that they fell in love while on the last undercover mission together, and he also knows full well the effect of them being split up afterward had on Mike. He had arrived early to the cafe wanting to be the first one there, he also secretly wanted to see how the two are acting without knowing he be there, of course, it wasn't hard to miss the two of them, as they got closer to the cafe, both wrapped up in each other, like two normal people who are in love with each other acting like normal, not like they have to because of the rules and regulations.

The two enter the cafe and as soon as they see him they split apart like they've been caught out.

"How are you two doing out there?" Steve askes to try and say something. And they both reply.

"Mike, Kate dropped the damn Sir please and act normal, I saw how you two were outside," he says to the two of them both looking so guilty for being so carefree with each out when walking towards the cafe having no idea Steve was already there and waiting as they weren't supposed to meet for another 30mins, they both thought they would get a quick lunch in before they meet up with Steve. Steve also noticed an extra piece of jewelry on Kates ring finger as well, taking a mental note to put information in their file about it having a fear idea what it means to both of them. Knowing before they left she wasn't wearing a ring, and he knows the other two rings are due to the job they are doing so the third has to be from Mike. As much as he hates having 2 of his best officers doing this job and not that within the Navy, he also knows just how much time these two have lost because of it all. He knows by that ring when they do return they not returning as sailors but as partners.

For Kate and Mike, they both feel guilty for acting so carefree outside without a care int eh world. Enjoying their own company, acting as any normal in love couple would act. Of course, though old habits dye hard once around Steve as they resort back to their old ways, even when he speaks to them to act normal they still find it hard because for them him seeing them as anything but professional sailors would mean the loss of their jobs.

"We are good Sir, not much is happening feels like a bloody long shore leave, to be honest." comes from Mike.

"Any more contact since?" he asks and they both shake their head. Steve passes them both some papers to read, its more information, information from Hammersley. It shows those they are after are in and out of our waters several times a day or not at all but that doesn't make them wonder if they are in and out to loose track of others on the other side, a couple of times they have a different flag flying, which leads to the thought they all have had that they know how to get around the rules on the water and how to prevent being boarded.

The group makes small talk while eating to anyone else it looks like a normal lunch between friends, or family. Laughter being heard every so often from the group.

Back at the boat

Kate notices she left Mike's ring on when she was at lunch, she can't believe how stupid she was to leave it on, she just hopes Steve never noticed that she had it on, but it just feels right and natural to be on her finger.

"You ok?" MIke askes her and he sees her staring at the ring on his finger, he knows she is looking at the one he gave her, he wraps his arms around her waist pulling her into him.

"I left it on today, I hope Steve didn't notice it."
"And if he did so what, we both have agreed that once this is over with we are going back as partners, not as XO and CO, and once home we going to get married and then have that holiday in Tahiti like we had planned on doing some time ago." Comes from Mike, not at all worried or concerned if Steve saw the ring at all, he remembers the talk with him before Kate was posted as his XO

"Look, honey, Steve is not going to be worried about it at all, he just be pleased that we finally are doing this, I suspect he expected one of us to post off after the old Hammersley was decommissioned but both of us didn't make any move to get off."
"Yea, it was easier to stay as your XO and work alongside you then admit that I was still in love with you, and knowing the Navy I knew I would see you more as your XO than as your partner, your other half."

"I know working for them isn't easy at all not on the other halves, the ones left behind, and when you do marry within the Navy it can be months sometimes between visits." He says knowing that for them both being Navy she or he could end up on a Frigate, being posted for months away, that is time without seeing each other at all, Patrol boat is hard enough with weeks away but 6 months a year is even longer."
"Yes not an easy life, so I took the easy option, Mike. I knew I couldn't leave you no matter what, I knew when I got shot that look on your face that told me so much."
"YEa." Comes from Mike remember the day she got shot on Hammersley, while trying to save someone else life."

"I knew then that you too still cared for me just like I did but honestly were we ready then to admit that to each other. I knew I wasn't ready just yet, more so I wasn't ready to leave being by your side day in and day out." Comes from Kate, she sits there wiping the few lone tears that have run down her face, thinking back to that time where they had a love-hate relationship where neither could admit they still cared deeply for the other, both too proud to admit it both wanting to allow the other to move on, but neither knowing they couldn't move on even if they tried because when they did it never worked out.

"I was too, but I was also too scared to say I love you, to you, too scared to get my head bitten off, too scared you would run away, well not run away say no to me and then leave, like you I accept your offer to stay because for me having you beside me, meant I had someone I could trust, but it also meant at least you were back in my life and staying in my life. Even if it was only as my XO, but it also meant that over time I could see how things went, and maybe one day say I love you to you again," he says as he holds her close to his body. They have been doing a fear amount of talking about the past since being out here and it's been doing some amazing healing to both of them.

3 Days Later

Darwin headquarters.

1000hrs

Steve's Office

"Captain Steve Marshall Speaking" Steve says as he answers the desk phone at his temporary posting in Darwin.

"Steve, Chef of Navy here."
"Hi Sir how can I help you?" he says in reply, not sure what the Chef wants with him today considering he knows it is his first day back at work after a 3month holiday to visit his wife's family in New Zealand, so she could spend time with her dying mother.

"I've just been handed leave forms for two offices then I find more paperwork from you in regards to these two officers. WTH is going on Steve, why did you approve leave for them both more so with no return date, you do realize that it makes it bloody impossible to sort out how long cover is needed for both of them. And then this other paperwork Steve approving a relationship between them without them knowing, I know they have no idea because their signatures aren't on the damn paperwork. SO do you care to explain why you have done this more so over and above Maxine White who I have already spoken to and was told to come back to work even though she was on medical leave so Mike and Kate could take this time off, making an officer return form medical leave so another can go on holiday is not acceptable Steve." HE says to Steve he knows he did wrong but so far hasn't been able to explain what is going on yet, knowing until the Chef was back he couldn't say a damn thing not even send anything either to him just in case.
"Sir you better ring on the secure line," Steve replies back, the Chef sits up in his chair.

"Steve?" he questions his tone having changed.

"Please Sir I can't say anything about it on this line." Is his reply before hanging up waiting for the line to go off again.

"Steve why the secure line?"

"Because Sir, as you are well aware of, I am Mike and Kates commanding officer, Not Maxine White even though they do report to her, and while you were on holiday Sir we had a major development which has meant both of them had to take urgent leave and I had no choice but to bring Maxine back into her normal role. The Pant Alum turned up in our waters, Kate noticed it while out on patrol, well Hammersley did."
"Oh." comes from the Chef knowing what Steve is talking about he is one of only a handful well five other Navy officers who know about these two and what they have done in their past.

"I saw them both a few days ago, they didn't tell me but I know Mike has asked her to marry him, she was wearing an extra piece of jewelry when I had lunch with them, plus they have been in contact with those on the Pant Alum. From what I witness before your meeting they too much in love and there be no going back to them being professionals on Hammersley Sir, I'm 100% sure they will not return as CO and XO for that Patrol boats."

"Are they safe out there?" Is his first question to Steve being more worried about their safety.

"More safer this time than last time that is for sure. They have the support and back up form Hammersley if she is needed, they have a direct link pager to the Buffer on Hammersley thank god her his past job's he has done he has been able to be of help. Plus this time around they both far more experienced." Steve says and he means in more ones than one compared to 10years ago when the two first went into this blind as, not knowing each other and having to learn to live with another person, share a bed with someone they do not know.

Back to the past

Mike and Kates place.

Bedroom

"Honey I need to stop," Mike says to her as he has been massaging her back, his erection straining within his undies, wanting some action for itself and he knows if he doesn't stop soon he be doing more than just laying the odd kiss on her back as he massagers her

"No do not stop I'm enjoying it." She moans out not at all happy with the loss of contact from him, the loss of his touch on her body, the kisses he was placing, and the feeling of his hands on her body.

At the start they were so careful about what they did and when and where, when at the house they never touched, but over the weeks waking up cuddled up lead to them kissing in the bed, then lead to them, kissing and cuddling on the couch or anywhere in the house. Yes they did this when out of the house but doing it in the house was odd for them. But they also could feel something an attraction to each other, a spark, they would feel it when kissing and touching when not at home and soon they just started doing it at home.

"God Kate don't moan like that, it makes it harder for me to control myself around."
"Well don't control yourself then." She says to him, she knows why he wants to stop but she has had enough she wants to know what it's like to be with a man, be with someone she has feelings for. She rolls over and gently places her hand on his manhood, and it doesn't escape her ears when he moans at her touch.

"Kate please stop."

"No Mike, I want to do this." She says to him. They look at each other. "I want you to make love to me please Mike, I want to know what it feels like to be with a man, to be with you." She says before she starts to kiss him her hand going under his undies and touching him, her skin on his skin. He flips them over so she is on her back and him hovering above.
"Kate at anytime you want me to stop you say so, if I hurt you tell me please." He says to her and she nods her head at him in agreement biting her lower lip in the process.

Over the next couple of hours Mike's shows her just what her body doesn't to him, they explore each other, finding a bliss a connection with each other. For Mike it's more than just sex, it was love and he knew after their lovemaking session he knew for sure that what he had with Kate was not because of the job, it was love. IT scared him but he wasn't going to let it go any time soon, well not until he was made too.

Kate is lost for words after what he has done to her body, the things he made her feel she had no idea she a woman could feel those things that deep that intense and she did.

IT is sometime later before both of them speak those 3 little words to each other, both knowing that they mean it. And for Mike he was just going to become even more protective of her than he was beforehand.

Present Time

MIke's Boat

"I'm please I let you show me what it was like back then." Comes out of the blue from Kate as the two lay curled up in bed together a movie playing on the TV series in their cabin. Mike isn't sure what she is talking about.

"What you talking about honey?"

"Me allowing you to show me what lovemaking was, you showed me what it really can be like, and even after so long for us it's just like the first time we connected with each other." She says as she watches what is playing. He just hugs her tighter to his body.

"I was honored that you gave me that honor of being your first."
"My first and what everyone else had to try and live up to and never did." She says out loud. "You know what though Commander, you do like to be the best at everything don't you, take charge, and show them just who is in charge?" She says cheekily back to him. And he grins at her. "Not that I am complaining Mike but after use back then it was hard to find someone who could do the things to my body like you could, not could, can still do to my body, it made it hard for me to enjoy it like I can when it is us together." She says somehow talking about their past, their past relationships becoming easier as time has gone on, both knowing now its only each other

"Well they do say making love is intense."

"It sure is."

"When we return where do you want to live, your place, my place, or shell we buy something together." Mike askes her, it's a topic she hadn't even thought about, to be honest about where they would live once they returned back she just expected to go back to her place. She moves and looks at him an questioning look on her face.
"I'm not returning to an empty bed Kate unless that bed is empty because we share that bed and one of us is out on patrol, we have lost so much time already I don't want to waste any more time." The two share a kiss before going back to watching the movie. Enjoying being cuddled up together without a care in the world.