"Josh, can I come in mate?" Steve asked as he knocked on Josh's bedroom door.

"Yeah," was his one word answer. Steve stuck his head round the door and found Josh on his bed with Bonnie beside him. "You ok?" he asked as he entered and took a seat on Josh's bed. "Your mum told me what your dad said,".

"She's upset isn't she," Josh said, getting upset himself.

"She's upset for you," Steve said. "She just wants you to be happy,".

"I don't know how to chose," Josh admitted.

"Well how about something to take your mind off it for a bit?" Steve suggested. "How would you like to play some five-a-side football? Our junior team is missing someone and we wondered if you'd like to play,".

Josh thought about Steve's suggestion. He did really like playing football. "I don't have any kit," he said.

"You've got your spare boots here," Steve said. "There's some spare team kit we can get you tomorrow,".

"Ok," Josh said cheering up a bit. "I think I'd like that,".

"Good lad," Steve said and went to leave but changed his mind. "Can I say something?". Josh nodded. "Your mum said your dad told you we were going to have another baby,". Josh nodded. "I know you're not my son but I love you just the same as Ava and the new baby. If you wanted to stay here it would be fine with me," Steve said. Josh thought about what Steve had said. "Ok?".

"Yeah,".

"You hungry?" Steve asked. "We've got some lasagne downstairs for you if Ava hasn't eaten it all,".

Josh's eyes lit up. He liked lasagne as much as his sister.

"Everyone, this is Josh," the coach of the five-a-side team said to the rest of the team the next morning. There were a few mumblings of welcome before the referee blew the whistle to gather the teams. Josh cast an eye to the sidelines. His mum and Steve were there giving encouraging waves. Ava was in her buggy currently sleeping and Bonnie was sat on the grass watching. She had given up trying to join in the game after being denied many times by a strong tug on her lead.

After a hesitant start, Josh soon found his feet and was feeling part of the team. Having not seen Josh play football before, it became apparent that he was actually quite talented at the game and scored a few goals. Steve became quite animated at the sidelines, running up and down shouting encouragement to his almost stepson and joining in the half time team talk.

Before long the full time whistle had blown and Josh's team had won. "Hey Josh!" said the coach as they walked off the pitch, "You played a good game. If youre free next season, why don't you come and join the team,".

"Really?!" Said Josh excitedly. He'd had a great day and was buzzing. He'd made new friends with the team and they all seemed to want him to join them.

"Way to go, Josh, mate!" Steve praised Josh as he fist bumped him. He was certainly pleased he'd suggested playing football to him as it had gone so well. Taking Josh's muddy boots, Steve and Josh wandered over to Kate who was playing with Ava and keeping hold of Bonnie. "Guess who's been offered a place on the team next year?" Steve proudly informed Kate.

"Wow! Well done Josh!" Kate praised as she ruffled his hair. Ava handed her brother a piece of soggy biscuit she had been sucking on as a reward.

"Thanks Ava," Josh said as he took the mushy offering before throwing it on the ground without his sister noticing.

Kate drove her family home as Steve and Josh dissected the match, minute by minute on the way. "Did you see when I did that header?" Josh asked excitedly.

"Of course I did," Steve replied enthusiastically, seemingly knowing which header Josh was talking about. "And that fake one, two you did around the defender was amazing," he praised . "You're pretty good at football you know. You should seriously think about joining the team,".

"If I'm here," Josh said, suddenly remembering the decision he had to make and Steve could have kicked himself. He'd suggested this activity to take Josh's mind off everything and instead had focused Josh's mind on it. Steve looked to Kate for help and luckily his fiancée saw.

"There's probably clubs in Manchester as well, Josh," she suggested.

"Duh," Kate heard Josh say from the back seat. "They're called United and City, Mum," her son explained cheekily.

Kate found Josh in his bedroom with Bonnie on Sunday afternoon. He had been up in his room for a little while and Kate had come to tell him it was almost time to leave and go back to his Dad's place. "What you up to?" Kate asked as she poked her head around Josh's bedroom door.

"Just thinking," Josh replied as he scratched Bonnie's head. Kate didn't need to ask what about.

"Oh," she said as she sat down beside Josh on his bed. "Have you made a decision?".

"I think I want to stay here with you," Josh informed his mother.

"Really?" asked Kate, surprised. She had been certain Josh would chose his father to live with.

"Is that ok?" Josh asked concerned. "Steve said it would be. He hasn't changed his mind has he?".

Kate reached for her son. "Of course it's ok ," she said happily as she gave him a big hug and kissed his head. "And Steve hasn't changed his mind. Can I ask what made you chose me?".

"I just have more fun here," Josh answered. "I'm in my bedroom at home, but here I've got Bonnie and Ava,".

"And the new baby," Kate added.

"And the new baby," Josh agreed. "And now football. Steve's cool. I get on better with him than Jill,".

"Sounds like you've thought about it a lot," Kate noted.

"I have," Josh said. "Mum?".

"Yeah?".

"Can you be with me when I tell dad?".

"Of course I can," Kate promised.

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