Knowing that their son would be in a new home that most likely would not be ready for Christmas, Steve's parents had invited them to spend the holidays with them and the extended family again. When they had initially accepted the invitation, Steve and Kate had been without Bonnie. The young dog would not be able to be left alone so Steve had to phone to ask if they could bring her. Luckily they agreed and so along with the presents being loaded in the car, there was all Bonnie's paraphernalia as well.

The dog sat on Kate's lap for the whole journey down to London. She was a very inquisitive dog and most of the time she had her front paws on the car door window looking at everything as Steve drove down the motorway. If it hadn't have been so cold, Kate would have been happy to wind the window down and see if Bonnie would stick her head out the window to enjoy the wind through her fur and ears as most dogs do.

She had fallen in love with the dog now as well. It hadn't been hard with Bonnie looking like a teddy bear with her curly hair and her eyes hidden mostly behind a fringe. Kate had bought her a pink gingham neckerchief to give her a bit of an edgy look but actually just made her look even cuter.

With a dog accompanying them, the couple made a few stops so Bonnie could stretch her legs, but on the whole, the journey went well. Bonnie was the centre of attention with all the people at Steve's parents. She loved it but would take herself to bed if it all got too much for her. There were lots of comments to both Steve and Kate wondering if Bonnie was a trial baby. They both dodged answering the question. Apart from that one night a year ago, neither had discussed children again.

Unlike the previous year, Steve and Kate had no work commitments in the holiday period so we're able to stay three days at Steve's parents, starting on Christmas Eve. Soon after their arrival, they were up to their elbows in preparation of the big day. Christmas Day was as raucous as the previous one with ten people again around the table and the games just as competitive.

"Did you have a good day?" Steve asked once they were in bed.

"Yes thanks," Kate replied. She loved his family after getting to know them well over the year.

They lay quietly together for a little while before Steve broke the silence. "I know our anniversary was a couple of weeks ago, but it's another one tonight," he muttered as his hands started travelling over Kate's skin.

Kate smiled at his unsubtle reference to it being a year since they had first slept together. "I know," she replied. It had been an amazing night and there had been many more since.

"How about a little celebration of that fact?".

"Tonight?" Kate asked and was rewarded with Steve's hands roaming over her backside before he brought her hips closer to his. Kate could feel his erection prodding her in the abdomen. "I'm not sure that's a good idea,".

"Why not?".

"We're at your parents who are sleeping in the room next door," Kate pointed out. "You don't like having sex when Josh stays over. I'm the same here,".

"I can be really quiet," Steve urged. "Besides they'll be fast asleep by now and if not, I'm sure they're both going slightly deaf,".

"I forgot to pack my Pill," Kate revealed. She had realised last night when she had gone to bed.

"It should be ok, Kate. It's just the one night," Steve muttered as he nibbled on his partners neck.

"Three actually. I'll have missed three nights by the time we get home," Kate retorted, trying her best not to give in to Steve. It was hard. She would have liked to celebrated this special anniversary as well.

"We should be fine," Steve reasoned as his hand went under the waist band of Kate's underwear and sought out her heat. She was as aroused as he was.

"Oh god," Kate moaned. "Why do you have to be so good at this?" she asked rhetorically. "Makes it very difficult to say no," she continued as she lifted her hips to allow Steve to remove her pants.

Steve adjusted their positions so he was on top of Kate. She willingly spread her legs to allow his access to her core and before she knew it he was entering her. Both grunting in satisfaction as he slipped all the way inside. He started moving his hips slowly. They had made love in many different ways over the year. Slow and lazy, fast and furious and in many different positions. Each time as fulfilling as the last. Tonight was going to be slow.

"I'll never get tired of doing this with you," Steve said as he rocked slowly,

"Me neither,".

"This has been the best year of my life," he said lovingly. "Not just the sex but being with you. If only I'd known my perfect woman was under my nose the whole time we were partners, I would have made my move a lot sooner,".

"And what would you have done?".

"Dunno but it would have involved you and me doing this without the gaffer knowing,".

"Can we not talk about the gaffer when we are doing this?" Kate asked. "Sort of ruins the mood,".

"Don't want that," Steve replied as he sped up slightly and concentrated on his hip movement. It wasn't long before they both reached their peak. "Love you," Steve said as he claimed Kate's lips in a kiss.

"Love you too," Kate admitted once the kiss had finished.

Chloe had a party at her flat for New Years Eve and Steve and Kate went along. They had a good time socialising with people who were mainly from AC-12. After the midnight celebrations, having consumed a bit of alcohol, they got a taxi back to their home.

Bonnie came to say hello as they entered the flat. She had been on her bed in the kitchen when she had been disturbed. On the whole she spent most of her time on her bed. It was only when Josh was visiting would she spend the night upstairs.

Having made a fuss of their dog and made sure she was settled, the couple headed to bed. Kate was at the sink brushing her teeth when Steve came up behind her and held her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. He caught her eye in the mirror in front of them. "Do you know what I've realised?".

Kate spat her toothpaste in the sink before she answered. "No. What have you realised?" she asked as she looked at him in the mirror.

"This is officially the longest relationship I've ever been in. Sam visited me in that cell and dumped me, three weeks after our anniversary,".

They looked at each other's reflection in the mirror and didn't say anything. The time that Steve had just mentioned had been one of their lowest times in their partnership. Even now, Steve didn't say much about his time in that police cell whilst being investigated for the murder of Lindsey Denton.

Kate turned in Steve's arms. "You ok?" She asked before giving him a hug.

"Yeah," Steve answered. It was getting easier to relive that time.

"Let's go to bed. I'm knackered. And a bit pissed," Kate said before heading to their bed. Steve turned the light off in the en suite before joining Kate under the covers.

"Does that mean I might get lucky tonight?".

"Maybe," Kate replied.

As per their usual routine now, they gravitated to each other's arms. "I got my wish as well, didn't I?" Steve realised.

Kate knew he was talking about. Last New Year's Eve. "You did. We're still together and horizontal in bed about to have sex,".

"Just got to work on your wish now," Steve said.

"What wish is that?".

"Chaotic Christmas with people bustling around your home, if I remember correctly," Steve replied. "We've made a bit of progress. We've got the house and now a dog. Just need to work a bit more on the chaotic bit,".

"How do you do that?".

Steve didn't answer immediately. He had an idea. He just didn't know how Kate would respond. "Maybe we could have a baby?". He had been thinking about it for quite a while now and knew he would like to be a dad.

Kate looked up at Steve in surprise, not knowing whether he was joking or not. She knew he was being serious straight away.

"What do you think?" Steve asked as he felt Kate tense in his arms.

"I don't know," Kate responded. They hadn't discussed the subject in depth at all. "Can I think about it?" she asked. It had obviously become an important issue for Steve so she would do as she promised and not dismiss it immediately.

"Course you can," Steve replied as he kissed the top of her head. There was a glimmer of hope. Kate hadn't said no.