Chapter 19

Cath and kids got home from the camping trip, and all went their separate way into their own rooms to get unpacked. When both Jay and Chelsea were finished they made their way into Cath's room to talk about the family counselling.

"You guys alright?" Cath asked as both her kids stepped into her room and took a seat on her bed.

"Yeah, we came to talk to you about family counselling." Chelsea replied.

"Okay, what do you think about?" Cath asked.

"If we go I am okay with going, because I think we need it, our lives have been different to other families and I think that the only way these problems are going to end is if we deal with them." Chelsea. She wanted Jay to hear it, and hope that Jay would go to counselling not because he wanted to but for her and for Cath.

"Jay?" Cath asked. She wasn't going to tell her kids why she wanted to do it and when, she wanted to find out what they thought first.

"Personally, it is not something that I think helps, but if it will help us get back to being a family then I will give it a try for you." Jay said, he hoped that the only people who would know would be them three and maybe Steve and Evie, because he didn't want his friends to find out. That was one of the main reasons why he didn't want to go but also he wasn't really sure what they would talk about, and what they wanted to find out about him.

"Thank you, for both of you willing to give it a try. I hope you don't mind but I have already booked us in for Monday morning before I go back to work, and in the morning to make sure that if they have any plans for the day you can still make them. But I want to tell you that things are going to get better between all of us and get back to normal." Cath said with a smile. "There is also something else I wanted to talk to you about. I was thinking about asking Steve and Evie to move in. I know that it is a big thing, but I wanted to ask them to move in now because I love Steve and I want to make sure that once they have moved in there won't be any more big changes in your lives. But I understand if you don't want them to move in." Cath said. She didn't tell them that she had already talked to Steve about it because then things could get messy between them, and them thinking that she was doing what she wanted to do anyway.

"Okay, but you do realise you are going to have to sort out the spare room." Chelsea said. The spare room was a just full of rubbish, half of the stuff they kept but never used and the other half was their dads and Nan's stuff that they didn't know what to do with. But the room was full of clutter and people could barley walk into it.

"That's okay. When?" Jay then asked.

"Not sure yet, I would have to talk to Steve and see what he said, and then have to sort it out and sort out the spare room." Cath replied. This conversation had gone a lot better than she had expected. In the space of half an hour, she had got her kids to go to counselling with her, and them to agree for Steve to come and leave with them.

They spent the next few hours in Cath's room, lying on the bed watching TV. Cath had missed this, all them together, spending time together in her room and on her bed like they had done when she was back on leave. The only difference being, this room was now fully Cath's room and not her mother in laws.

Meanwhile...

Steve and Evie had got home and much like Cath and her kids they had gone to their own rooms and started to unpack from the camping trip.

Steve was interrupted by a knock at the door. He walked down stairs to answer the door but was surprised that Danny and Grace had already walked in.

"When I told you to knock before coming in, I meant wait for an answer as well." Steve said walking down the final few stairs. "Evie is upstairs Grace." Steve said.

Grace took off upstairs to go and find Evie.

"What do I owe the pleasure Daniel?" Steve said taking a seat on the chair opposite Danny.

"Well I knew you would be back from your camping trip, I thought I would come and see how it went. Also, I thought I would bring Grace to see Evie as well." Danny replied.

"Well the camping trip went okay. Jay decided that yesterday would be the perfect time to have a breakdown. But after that things got better. Me and Cath talked about me moving into her house, after we had both spoken to the kids and I think I found out Catherine is more than my girlfriend, she is the girl that I want to marry." Steve replied.

Danny just looked shocked at him. Marry him? Steve didn't seem the type to get married. He was still surprised by the fact that Steve had a daughter. He didn't think Steve was the type to have kids and get married. This was a surprise to him. "Marry you?" Danny asked in his usual loud self.

"Danny keep it down. Not for a while yet, I have to speak to Evie and talk about moving in." Steve replied.

"Well it just surprised me. But fine, we can move on. What have you got planned for Evie when you come back to work?"

"Not much, she is coming to work with me on Monday, I have found this summer camp on Tuesday and Wednesday and that is all I have planned. Cath said her, and the kids will help out for the other few weeks before she goes back to school."

"Well Grace goes away on Monday till the start of school, but before she knew she was going away, I found this summer camp for a week, if you would like the leaflet." Danny said handing over the leaflet Grace had brought home.

"You let Rachel take Grace away for 3 weeks with the custody battle going on?" Steve asked.

"I wasn't going to, but she is going to England to see her mom, she hasn't been very well. I was going to go with her but the Governor said I couldn't take three weeks leave." Danny replied.

Steve was a little bit shocked, that Danny hadn't asked him for leave, but had gone straight to the governor, for his approval. "I would have granted you leave." Steve said.

"Yes, but the governor would have had your neck for it, because you didn't ask him." Danny replied. He did think about asking Steve but he knew that Steve would need to governors permission and Steve would give it to him and he would face the consequences for doing this.

"Why do you want to go and see your ex –mother –in –law?" Steve was a little confused, as Danny had never really talked about Rachel's family. He only really knew Danny and Grace, and only got Danny's opinion of Rachel.

"Because Steven, she is my daughter Grandmother, and also she likes me a lot more than Stan, but it doesn't matter now."

Upstairs...

"Hi Grace." Evie said turning around from her desk. She had heard Danny and Grace coming in and then heard Grace heading up the stairs to her room.

"Hi." Grace replied. "What are you doing?"

"Just emailing my best friend back home. Haven't spoke to her since I got here." Evie replied. "But I can finish it later."

Both of the girls made their way over to the bed, and spent the next hour talking before Danny called up and told her they were going. The girls in the very few times they had become quite close. There was only a year age gap between them, which made them closer, but Grace was the first person she had met in Hawaii that was around her age, but they had a lot in common.

As all they said their goodbyes Danny and Grace left. Evie started to walk up the stairs back to her bedroom. "Evie, can we have a little talk?" Steve asked before her daughter disappeared.

"Yeah." Evie said turning around where she was on the stairs and following Steve to the sofa. Steve took a seat at one end and then Evie took a seat at the other.

"I know I have asked you these before, but this time I was you to be honest with me and not tell me what I want to hear." Steve started. When Evie nodded her head, Steve carried on. "How do you feel about leaving here with me, and moving away from your mom?"

Evie hesitated for a while, her and her dad had not really talked about this properly in a while and last time they had, it had not really registered about that had happened. "I am a bit confused, I like living with you, but I don't understand why mom did this. I don't understand why she just left, and I feel like she didn't want me and I was never good enough for her." Evie said. Steve could see the upset and confusion in her eyes. He could tell she was trying not to cry. "But I will get used to it. Mom didn't want anything to do with me and I don't think I want anything to do with her."

"You know your mom hasn't left you forever only a little while. She will come back." I hope. Steve added in his mind. He hoped that Sarah would come around, and come back, not to take Evie back to the mainland because he liked having Evie with him, but to just either explain why she left, or to have some contact with their daughter. Steve moved across the sofa so he was sitting down next to her, and put his arm around her. "But the second thing I wanted to talk to you about was Cath, Chelsea and Jay. I wanted to know what you think about them. I know last time I asked you, you said you liked her because I did, but I want to know what you think."

"I really do like them. Cath is really nice and shows more of a interest in my life than my mom does and Chelsea and Jay are really nice, they are fun caring and everything, and I had fun on the camping trip with them." Evie said. It was true that they all got on well. When they had gone to the tent last night Evie had woke up and they spent an hour talking all three of them, and getting to know each other better. Evie had liked that. In the small amount of time she had spent with them they had always been nice to her, and if her dad and Cath did get married, she would like them as her step brother and sister.

"What would you think about moving in with them?" Steve asked. He knew that Cath hadn't even asked Jay and Chelsea yet, but he wanted to be prepared for when she did. "It is not definite yet but Cath is going to speak to Chelsea and Jay and see what they think."

"I would like it." Evie said looking up at her dad with a smile on her face. Cath had an amazing house, and the bedrooms were pretty cool, she had yet to see a fourth bedroom but was sure that the house would have to have one, being that size. She wasn't sure if it would be that extravagant compared to Chelsea and Jay's but she knew it would be bigger and nicer than the one at her dads.

"Thank you. How about me and you go and get some shrimp for dinner?"

"I would like that." Evie smiled.

For the rest of that night Steve and Evie spent most of it talking. Steve was finding out all about Evie's life and the things he had missed. He had found out that she liked some sports such as baseball but apart from that she would not play any sports. He found out she did play piano but stopped because she didn't like her lessons. It was about time he found out what he had missed, when he wasn't a big part of her life. After hearing all about her life he was thankful that she had become a permanent fixture in his life again.

The next morning...

Steve woke up early and did his normal exercise routine. He came back in a saw a text of Cath.

Woke up early, wanted to talk to you. Do you want me and you to go out for a late breakfast. Jay and Chelsea are in all morning if Evie wants to stay here. Xxx

Would love to. Pick you up and drop Evie off at 10? xxx

Sounds fun, got the perfect place, see you soon.

Steve went upstairs, and had his quick Navy shower. When he came down he went to his office and picked up some case files he needed to finish. He had decided that any free time at home, he was going to try and complete as much paperwork as possible, so if he had no cases he could spend that time with Evie before she went back to school.

It was about 9 o'clock when Steve heard that Evie was awake. He heard her wake up and go into the shower. He hoped she won't be long to get ready, so he could be on time for picking up Cath.

He was relieved when she came downstairs. He saw her hair was still a bit wet but thought she could wait until they got to Cath's to dry it. "Morning sweetheart, I am going out for breakfast with Cath and she said I could drop you off at the house to spend some time with Jay and Chelsea if that is okay?" Steve asked.

"Okay, I just need to dry my hair and put shoes on." Evie said turning back around.

"Can you get your shoes, I am sure you can dry your hair at Cath's." Steve replied.

"Okay." Evie replied.

They drove to Cath's house, Steve breaking a few speed limits to make it to the house on time.

"Where are you going?" Chelsea asked as she walked into Cath's room.

"Steve and me are going for breakfast. I hope you don't mind but I said Evie could come here for a while." Cath replied.

"That's okay, I don't have anything planned for today and I am sure Jay doesn't." Chelsea said. At that moment the door bell rang and selling Cath panic about finishing her makeup Chelsea decided to go and get it and leave her mom to finish getting ready.

Cath wasn't really sure why she was putting makeup on and doing her hair for breakfast, but she wanted to look nice for Steve. When the door bell rang she was a little surprised as she hasn't realised the time.

"Morning." Chelsea said opening the door. She moved to the side to allow both Steve and Evie in.

"Morning." Steve replied.

"Mom said she will be here in a second." Just as Chelsea finished saying that Cath walked down the stairs.

"Are you ready?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, Chelsea I am not sure how long I am going to be, will text you when we are coming back, there is food in the kitchen for breakfast and Jay said he will be down in a bit, but if he falls back to sleep go and wake him up." Cath said before kissing Chelsea on the check and saying goodbye.

When Steve and Cath had left both of the girls went upstairs for Chelsea to get dressed. "Do you want the hair dryer?" Chelsea asked seeing that Evie still had wet hair.

"Yes please." Evie said.

"It's over there it should be plugged in still." Chelsea said pointing to the dressing table.

"Thanks."

Chelsea made her way towards her dressing room to get changed. When she came out she saw Evie still sat in front of her dressing table.

"Would you like some help?" Chelsea asked, as she saw Evie with her hair still wet. She wasn't really sure why Evie had not dried her hair, but didn't ask why she hadn't dried her hair.

"Please" Evie said not moving.

Chelsea stepped over to where Evie was sitting; she picked up the hair dryer and hoped that if Evie needed to talk should would.

Meanwhile...

They drove to the coffee house that Cath had suggested. They talked a little but not really about what Cath had brought Steve out here for. She wanted to wait until they could sit down face to face.

"As much as I love spending time with you by ourselves, I feel that you have atria motives for coming to breakfast." Steve said.

"Well I spoke to the kids last night. And they are happy for you and Evie to move in with us." Cath said with smile.

Steve was a little shocked as when Cath had suggested this he was sure it would take longer for Cath to talk to her kids and get her to agree to this. "This soon?" Steve questioned.

"Well, obviously you need to speak to Evie and make sure you are both okay with moving in but, apart from that you can move in any time." Cath replied.

"I spoke to Evie last night about us and us moving in together and she was happy for us too. But I need to speak to Mary about the house and then pack but I am sure we can move in soon." Steve replied.

"That will be fine. We just need to sort out the spare room and clean it and decorate it for Evie, but if it isn't ready I am sure Chelsea won't mind sharing." Cath said, things were getting better fast. She couldn't believe how much hers and Steve relationship had changed in such a short space of time, all she knew was that she could see herself marrying Steve and grow old with him.

"Well that is sorted then. I will call Mary when I get home. What did the kids say to counselling?"

"Chelsea was up for it and wanted to do it. Jay is up for it because me and Chelsea want to go, but I think it will help him most, to deal with everything. We start tomorrow morning, before I go back to work."

"As long as they happy and things get better, that is progress to becoming a family." Steve said.

"Also, I spoke to Chelsea last night, and she said she has a few plans for the rest of the holiday, but nothing fully planned, so when you're at work she will watch Evie."

"That would be great. I am taking her to work with me tomorrow, because she said she wanted to see it, and hopefully I won't get a case, Tuesday she is going to a day camp but apart from that I have nothing planned for her. I was looking into a different week camp that Danny suggested but I haven't asked her what she thinks of that first." Steve said.

"I am glad to see the kids are getting along." Cath said.

"Me too, it makes our lives easier." Steve said with a smile.

"It sure does."

"You ready to go back to work tomorrow?"

"Sort of, I think the time I have had off has gone fast, but knowing that I won't go home to a lonely cabin, and instead being going home to my kids and when you move us, you are Evie make me think work is going to get better."

"I am looking forward to coming home to you, after long cases." Steve said, standing up and leaning over the table to give Cath a kiss. They were interrupted by their food being delivered to the table. They both pulled away and sat back down to eat their food.

They spent most of the time they were eating, talking about Cath's job and her going back to work, and if she was ready, and her hoping that they never asked to go on ship again because she was sure if she did her kids would never forgive her and their relationship would be ruined for good.

"Are we still on for dinner tonight, because I am thinking there is no point in you going home for the day." Cath said.

"Well if it would be a waste of time I am sure we could spend the day with you. Tell the kids about moving in together." Steve replied.

"Sounds like a plan."

After Steve had been to pay the bill, they headed back to his truck to go home, and see the kids.

Back home...

Chelsea had finished drying Evie's hair and they had spent some time playing with hair and makeup. Chelsea had straightened Evie's hair and then let Evie play with her hair and do her makeup. Evie never put any makeup on, as her mother had always been against her wearing it so young and she wasn't sure what had dad thought, so decided not to test it.

Jay had finally woken up and made it downstairs. He was in the backroom watching TV, leaving the girls in the living room, watching some girly TV show. He had seen it and made a quick exit to the back room.

"I will be back in a minute." Chelsea said moving away from Evie.

She walked into the back room to go and see Jay.

"Morning" Chelsea said as she walking into the backroom. "You made a quick exit from the living room."

"Yeah there was no way I am ever going to watch, whatever was on the TV." Jay said, as he finished that sentence they heard the front door open, which they assumed to be Steve and Cath.

"What's the betting that Mom spoke to Steve about moving in?" Chelsea said.

"I would bet a lot on that." Jay said. He knew that as soon as they had said yes that she would ask him the first possible chance she got.

"You two alright?" Cath asked as she walked into the back room.

"Yeah, Jay thought he would take shelter in here away from the TV in the living room."

"Good idea." Cath said.

In the living room...

Steve had gone down and sat next to Evie while Cath went to check on her kids.

"Your hair looks nice." Steve said.

"Thanks, Chelsea did it." Evie replied.

"You remember what we talked about last night?" Steve asked and waited for a nod of her head. "Well me and Cath are going to talk about it with you, Chelsea and Jay tonight, I just wanted to make sure you are alright with it."

"Dad, I am fine with it, you can stop asking me." Evie said, with a smile on her face. Yesterday when her dad asked her, she had said yes and she meant it, but after spending time with Chelsea this morning, it had reinforced that she was okay with this.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and are enjoying the story. Please review they make my day.