Steve asks a few more questions then leaves with the other two officers to decide what to do next. Mike then takes his phone to Jarrod, who then leaves the room to ring Steve about it.

"Can she really do that?"

"No, she can't."

They both sit there in silence. Kate is on Mike's lap with her arms around his neck and her head on his chest, he has his arms around her waist.

Jarrod re-enters some time later and notices the way Mike and Kate are sitting; they don't even look up at him when he enters. I hope this goes ok, the things that have been brought up really shouldn't have been. I thought highly of Maxine but now I'm not sure what to think of her. You can see these two have some special bond. In the time I have known Mike, as a fellow sailor, I've never seen him like this before. This woman has his heart and always will by the looks of it.

"I'm sorry you had to find out some things via this and not me," she says quietly into Mike's chest.

"It's ok, honey," he replies while rubbing a hand up and down her back.

"No, it's not. You could lose your job because of me."

"I doubt that will happen and if it does we'll deal with it together."

"Really?" she asks looking at him now.

"Yes, really. I told you if we decided to give this one last shot there was to be no running, and that we had to be honest with each other and it works both ways. I love you too much to walk away now, even though there are still some issues we have to work through."

Mike and Kate are busy quietly talking to each other that they don't notice that the video conference has started again. Till they hear Steve addressing them.

"Sorry, Sir," they both say in tandem.

"Right, Commander Flynn and Lieutenant Commander McGregor. Due to the fact you brought to my attention several months ago about the two of you, and also the fact you have been upfront and honest with me, even allowing us total access to anything and everything we wanted, we've decided that there will be no action taken over the relationship that you both had ten years ago."

"Thank you, Sir," they both say in unison.

"Now, Commander White. Your actions were uncalled for, and you should never have used your position like you did. Giving out confidential information about what another officer has said is not acceptable. If you had suspected something between the two, you should of called both of them up on it. Also you should have provided Commander Flynn with the information of his reassignment to Hammersley, and not told another officer who then passed it on to him. Due to these actions, and that you have been unhelpfully in finding out why Lieutenant Commander McGregor's application for promotion never got to the board several months ago, I am putting a recommendation to the Brass that you be discharged. They will also want a hearing with you regarding these matters before going ahead with my recommendation. Until then you are on unpaid leave." There is silence again. Maxine does not look impressed at what Steve has said.

"Everyone is dismissed. Have a good weekend," Steve says to all before the video call is ended.

Jarrod walks over to the two and asks them how they are.

"Better now this is over with," Mike replies.

"What are your plans for the weekend?" Jarrod asks them both.

"I'm taking Kate off base tonight and going to go stay with my parents for a few days. We both could do with some down time, to be just ourselves."

"Good, enjoy yourselves and we will see you guys back on Monday."

"Yes, you will, Sir." They all leave the room and Mike rings his parents, arranging for them to come and collect them while they get themselves ready.

Over the weekend the base is a buzz of activity. It slowly gets around about Mike and Kate and on Sunday Jarrod finds out via one of the staff that there is a picture going around of Mike and Kate together in more than a professional way. He tries to track down who took it and decided to send it around to others.

At Mike's parents' place, Kate and Mike do some more talking about the different things that have come up thanks to Maxine. Mike's parents notice how they are very quiet when they arrived on Friday night, and they just sat on the couch together watching TV without saying much in general.

Mike is outside on the deck with a beer, thinking by himself.

I can't believe someone would hit a child just for the sake of hitting them. God, no wonder Kate has a thing against violence. I wonder if the fact her mother had a string of men coming and going from Kate's life as a child might be why she struggles with me on a personal level. She might not be sure that I mean that I am in this for the long haul; that I'm not going anywhere.

Though the abortion, I'm still trying to get my head around that I feel like I let her down. She should have been able to tell me about it. She was only 23 years old, but still, she should never have had to do it alone. I just hope next time she can tell me.

God, I hope this does not make her shut down again now it is all over. Just as she, no we, are making progress talking to each other.

Mike is brought out of his thoughts by his father arriving and tapping him on the shoulder.

"Son, you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine dad."

"You don't look it. What happened since we last saw you two together? You both seem like you're miles away."

"You know how I was telling you guys about Maxine and what had happened?"

"Yeah, you were telling us the other weekend when you were here."

"Well, there was a hearing about it today."

"How did it go?"

"Nothing changed for us, though Maxine has another hearing with the brass about it all."

"So what has gotten you worried then, son?"

"I'm worried because I don't want Kate shutting down on me again, dad."

"Why would you say that? She is still with you, isn't she?"

"Yes, but the things that came up today, she has not been able to tell me. They came via Steve, thanks to Maxine digging up dirt to use to get her way. Maxine has made her put her walls up with me once already. I don't know if I can handle it if they go back up and she leaves me again." Mike tries to control his emotions, but his dad can tell he is worried he is going to lose the women he loves.

"She's the reason you came down after the ceremony?"

"Yes."

"Maybe you need to show her that you're in this for better or worse. That no matter what has come up, and what is still to be brought up, that you're in this no matter what."

"She already knows, dad. I've told her. What else can I do?"

"Just wait here, son. I'll be right back."

Mike's dad leaves him out on the deck thinking about what has been said and returns five minutes later, carrying something.

"Son, your mother has been holding this for you. It's your grandmother's," he says while passing Mike a little box. He opens it to see an antique emerald ring.

"Dad?" Mike asks looking puzzled.

"Sometimes, Mike, women need more than words to show what you mean. It's a family heirloom. Your mother and grandmother both wore it as their engagement ring, now it's your turn to pass it on."

"But dad, what about mum? I know she still wears it."

"Yes, she did. But she agrees with me. It's time to pass it on."

"Dad, I can't take it. It's mum's ring."

"Yes, you can son. Your mother is fine with it."

"But Dad-" Mikes dad cuts him off.

"Your mother and I have been talking about this since you first brought Kate down to visit us. We know she's the one for you, Mike, and we wouldn't give you this if we didn't think she deserved it. We've already had a matching one made up and she's wearing it right now."

"Dad, um," Mike is lost for words.

"Have you thought about this? Thought that she might be the one?" he says while pointing to the ring.

"Yes, we've even spoken about it, but we're not in the right place for getting married, dad. I've still got to be able to trust her know she be honest with me before we take this step."

"Maybe this might help her open up. Once she knows you are serious about being with her and that you're not going to go running, I know it did with your mother."

"What do you mean, dad?" Mike asks. His dad then explains a few things about his mother, and something that happened to her, they talk for a good couple of hours outside on the deck.

Kate sits on the couch watching the TV, and every so often looks out the window towards the two males. While she is alone with Mike's mum, Megan, they talk about a few things. Kate is surprised to learn some things about Megan that she never thought she would have experienced. They open up to each other about a few things. For the first time in years, Kate starts to feel like some weight has been lifted off her shoulders and that she is not alone with this. She realises she doesn't need to be alone and deal with it all by herself, that sometimes having someone to lean on for support is an important part of healing. Kate is surprised at how easy she is finding it talking to his mum.

God, why can't I be like this with him. Why can I find it so easy to talk to her but not him about these things.