Sorry for the delay! I had a wonderful Christmas. Thank you to those that asked! Hope you all did too. Back with another Chapter. Thank you once again for the love on the last chapter!

Katie was clearing up the remainder of the dishes when the door opened. She smiled. Either way it was one of her boys.

"Hey Mom!"

Katie cleaned her hands and headed out into the living room, "Hey sweetie hows Sally?"

Quentin took a seat on the couch and turned the tv on, "Good. She was kinda excited to see me. Don't know why" he shrugged. Katie thought it was cute. It was usually he girl that knew her feelings first. But they were only 10 and 11, that was thinking too far ahead. But she remembered her first crush on a boy, and Sally was a sweet girl. Quentin was obviously too blind to see it was a crush.

"Well you've been away a while. Shes probably just really pleased to know your safe. Plus who else is gonna play King of the Hill with her? Well obviously apart from you and.."she stopped. Realising who else used to play that game with them.

"Thomas" Quentin whispered quietly, switching channels as if he didn't care. Which she knew wasn't sure.

"Baby turn the tv off a sec" Katie said quietly taking a seat next to him.

He did as he was asked and faced her, "I know what your gonna say. Its ok Mom. It happened. I know Thomas isn't here anymore. Like a lot of my friends. But i have to see who is here"

Katie's mouth almost fell open, "Sweetie that's a very mature response. But its ok if you want to talk about it. I do understand"

Quentin nodded, "I know" he gently put his hand on top of hers, "i know that you saw it happen. So we can talk together if we wanted to. I know that"

Katie leaned forward and kissed his forehead, saying there for a moment, "I don't know what i did to deserve you" she whispered into his hair.

Quentin shrugged, "Good Mom i guess"

Katie giggled slightly, he was always able to make her smile. She was so proud of the young man he was becoming. Even without the "stable" environment. He had turned out pretty well. One of her greatest accomplishments.

"Can i watch tv now?" he asked pointing to the screen.

Now for another tough conversation, "Sweetie how would you feel about...because you know i want you happy...all i have ever wanted is for you to be happy...and if your not happy-"

"-Mom!" Quentin interjected, "your rambling so it must be important. Whats going on?"

Katie let out a breath, i suppose that was rambling, her son knew her too well, "Ok here goes...Jake and i are going to live together...but it wont be here...we are going to look for somewhere else, for the three of us"

Instantly a broad smile came across his face, "That's great!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!" he nodded still with a big smile, "can i get a new tv for my room?!"

Katie chuckled, "Err way ahead of us honey. And probably not. My salary with Jake's will be enough for a good home. But we can build on it, i mean it"

Quentin nodded, "So we are staying in Atlanta right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't take you out of school, plus Jake has to be close to the Police Station too-"

"-Not sure that's going to be much of the problem at the moment" a deep voice said from the door way and Katie turned to see Jake standing in the doorway with a box in his hand.

"Hey" Katie gave in response, "what do you mean?"

Jake quickly looked at her and then to Quentin, "Hey bud, mine taking this to your Mom's room for me?" he asked.

Quentin jumped up, "If you want time alone you just have to ask" he walked over and took the box from Jake's hand.

"For that smart response you can play the games on my laptop" Jake chuckled and watched Quentin's face light up.

"Awesome!" came the response and he was gone.

Katie watched as Jake came round the couch and took to his seat heavily, "Baby whats going on?" Katie asked noting the concern on his face.

He stretched his hand to her knee and rubbed his thumb as he spoke, "I saw Lex. I cant go back to work yet"

Katie felt like she had the wind knocked out of her, "We cant get a house can we?" she felt deflated. Her conversation with Quentin didn't need to happen. It was too soon to tell him. She should have realised.

"No. Hey, Katie look at me" she looked up into his eyes, "they think i'm still in there. They know i was the only cop left. They are still paying me. Its ok. Nothing is going to change in getting a house. Trust me. Nothing is getting in the way of that" he raised his hand and stroked it through her hair.

Katie felt a sigh of relief, "You want to go back though don't you?" she asked. Already knowing the answer.

"I was coasting in that job before" he shook his head, "but now all i wanna do is be a cop. Make a difference. The things i saw. I never want to see again. So I've said i'm going to help Lex from outside of the force. Hes the eyes and ears in there and i'm the knowledge he needs from in there"

Katie slowly shook her head, that made sense. But where would they start? "I want to help too. I'm sure Jana will as well. We all experience it"

Jake nodded, obviously understanding her need, "Yeah ok. We do it together. We work better as a team"

Katie gave a soft smile and gazed down the hall at Quentin's room, "Hes so excited" she told him. Instantly Jake knew what she was talking about and gave her a smile back, "you are going to regret letting him use your computer. We've gotta look for houses Jake"

"So i get him one for his birthday" Jake shrugged and raised his eyebrows.

"Right and when's that?" Katie questioned. Trying to catch him out. She knew they had talked about their birthdays in the Cordon. But it was only once. His was May 18th.

"November 1st" he replied and Katie couldn't hide her surprise in him remembering. It shocked her.

"I told you that once!"

"Yeah well, i told you once. I'm telling you again Miss Katie. I remember what my girl tells me" he leaned in and kissed her quickly, "yours is June 29th"

Katie's mouth dropped open, "Stop that! You seriously remember everything i told you?"

Jake chuckled bringing her onto his lap, "Your first pet was a hamster called squish, you were born in West Virginia-"

"Oh my God stalker!" Katie cried jumping out of his lap with a massive smile her face.

"Ok fine i'm a stalker, "he shrugged really not caring, "so whats my birthday"

"May 18th" she couldn't help it slip out. She knew too.

"Born?"

"Atlanta born and raised" she was falling into the trap. And with the coy smile on his face it wasn't going to stop, "and before you ask it was a dog called Fetch"

Jake raised his arms and pointed in her direction, "Ahh my stalker companion!"

Katie shook her head, "Fine! I'm right there with you. But girls listen more! You gotta admit its kinda strange for you to remember these things"

Jake stood up and slowly walked over to her, "Yeah well. I'm gonna be one of those guys who remembers anniversaries"

His arms wrapped around her waist and brought his face close to hers, "I'll remind you of that on years to come"

He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "You wont need to. I remember everything"

She giggled underneath him and swatted him away, walking to the kitchen, ready to make dinner for her family.