One year later

Kate pulled in to the driveway and turned the car engine off. As she did so, the air conditioning also turned off and it wasn't long before the stuffiness in the car was too much to bear and Kate had to vacate the vehicle.

Shrieks of enjoyment from Josh met her ears followed by a deeper roar that could only have come from Steve. As Kate entered the house she smiled to herself as she knew what she was going to find when she reached the back garden.

They were in the middle of a heatwave and knowing that Josh's love affair with water was still going strong, Steve had decided to splash out on a very large inflatable pool for the garden.

"You're spoiling him," Kate had scolded Steve at the time, but actually she was quite glad of the opportunity to cool down in it now. It also had proved good at allowing Josh to practise his swimming strokes now that he had started swimming lessons.

Walking through the house to the back garden Kate smiled as she was proved correct. Josh was in the pool trying to escape Steve who was chasing after him. The two boys had developed a really good relationship since they had met the night that Mark first attacked her. Steve was proving to be an excellent father figure for her son just like Kate had known he would be. Josh was learning how to treat women with respect and how to behave in a committed adult relationship. It was what Kate had always wanted for her son.

The loving household that Josh was now part of had seemed to help him get over the trauma of seeing his father attack his mother. It hadn't seemed to have affected him at all. He still saw Mark, but with the supervision of social services. Mark had yet to convince them that he could be left alone with his son.

"I see you two are having fun," Kate said as she stepped out on to the patio. Her and Steve were currently renting a house together whilst looking for somewhere more permanent to buy.

"Of course," Steve replied as he caught up to Josh before lifting him up and throwing him back in to the water to loud squeals of delight from Josh.

"Again!" Josh said once he had resurfaced.

"In a minute, mate," Steve said as he hopped out the pool and made his way over to Kate, his brightly coloured shorts dripping a trail of water as he did. He gave Kate a wet kiss. "How did your appointment go?".

"Ok," she replied before giving Steve a kiss back. "Just a few cramps," she admitted. Kate had just been to the GP to have her coil removed.

Steve enjoyed being a father to Josh so much that he and Kate had discussed having children themselves. Steve wanted to try parenting right from the very beginning so to speak. Kate was keen for Josh to be a big brother and now she was finally in a happy relationship, she too felt another child would be good.

"You ok?" Steve asked concerned.

"Yes. Better get used to it," Kate admitted. "I'll be getting periods again in about three months apparently,".

"Lots of time for practise then before we officially start trying," Steve said.

"I suppose so,".

"You up to joining me and Josh out here?".

"I'll go get changed," Kate said before giving Steve another quick kiss.

"You comin' back in, Steve?" Josh asked from the pool.

Steve looked at Kate. "In a MINUTE," he replied, roaring the last word as he ran towards the pool and jumped back in, intent on catching Josh. Josh squealed again as he attempted to swim away from Steve before he was caught and thrown back in to the water.

Kate shook her head smiling to herself as she headed back inside to change. It turned out that Steve was just a big kid really when given the chance.

Keeping an eye on her boys from the bedroom, Kate decided on wearing a sport bikini. Pulling down her underwear she saw a bit of spotting. The doctor had warned her this might happen so it wasn't a cause for alarm. Not wanting to recreate a scene from Jaws if Kate did go in the pool she made a detour to the bathroom to pop a tampon in.

Steve had turned in to the tickle monster now judging from Josh's laughter as Kate finished in the bathroom and she changed quickly to join them. Who would have guessed that she could be so happy after all the shit she had been through?

The gaffer had taken the news of Steve and Kate's affair and subsequent romantic relationship fairly well all things considered and did his best to keep the pair together. He could see how they belonged together and provided the stable upbringing that Josh needed.

Josh accepted Steve's new role in his life easily although there was a brief moment when Kate hadn't thought so. He had wandered in in Kate and Steve having sex one evening and got quite upset.

Flashback

"DON'T HURT MY MUMMY!" he had shouted at Steve, mistaking Kate's groans and moans for pain.

Steve had quickly stopped at Josh's intrusion and uncoupled himself from Kate but not before Josh had seen his erection.

"Mummy, look at Steve's willy," he had declared pointing at the bit it Steve's anatomy which had now caught his attention.

"Let's get you back to bed," Kate had said as she quickly retrieved her dressing gown from the floor and carried him out of the room.

"Why doesn't my willy do that?" Steve had heard Josh ask his mother as they headed towards Josh's bedroom.

"Are you alright?" Kate asked when she reappeared in the bedroom some time later and got back in bed beside Steve.

"I'll live," Steve said, highly embarrassed at what had just happened. "I hope we haven't damaged Josh for life,".

"What?".

"Seeing us have sex,".

"He's fine," Kate said. "He mentioned that it looked like you were hurting me. We were in similar positions to when he saw Mark attacking me in the kitchen," she explained. "He's never seen people have sex before. He was too young when me and Mark did it,".

"So he understands I wasn't trying to hurt you?" Steve asked concerned.

"Oh yes," Kate said. "We've had a little chat about the birds and the bees,".

"How did that go?".

"Ok. Like a true male he was actually more interested in your erection and when he would be able to do that,".

"And how did you answer that?".

"Said i hoped it wouldn't be for a little while yet,".

End of Flashback

"MUMMY!" shouted Josh from outside. "YOU COMING TO PLAY?" he asked disturbing Kate from her memories.

"COMING!" she shouted as she grabbed a towel and her sunglasses. She felt the sun's heat in her skin as soon as she stepped outside and made her way to a sun lounger, spreading her towel down on it. She was going to do a bit of sunbathing before joining the boys in the water, although Steve had other plans.

"Your mum looks a bit too dry doesn't she Josh?" Steve asked the little boy as he got out the pool and headed over to where Kate was.

He quickly had her in his arms, one arm under her legs and the other under her arms. Kate found her arms going round Steve's neck to support herself as Steve walked them over to the pool in pretty much the way a Disney Prince would carry his Princess. He held her over the water.

"Steve!" Kate shrieked fearing an imminent dunking. "You wouldn't?!".

"Do it Steve!" Josh happily instructed from the water.

"Joshua Fleming you are supposed to be on my side!" Kate informed her son before Steve dropped her.

The water was cold on her first contact but as she recovered and stood up, it was actually very refreshing. She heard her son laughing heartily at Steve's antics as she rubbed the water and her hair out of her eyes.

"Right mister!" she threatened. "You asked for it!" she said as she made a move to her son. Josh squealed and started paddling away from his mother as she gave chase.

Steve jumped back in the pool intent on joining in the fun.

"Help me Steve!" Josh said.

"On it, mate!" Steve replied before catching Kate and allowing her prey to escape. For a little while at least. Until their kiss had finished. Then Josh was in big trouble as both adults were now giving chase. Which is just what he wanted as it meant more throws. And throws were the best. Flying through the air until you hit the water. Like a bird. Totally free.