They settled on fish and chips and found a bench in the local park to eat them on as dusk approached.
"I think you've made the right decision about the baby," Steve revealed after they had finished their meal and the paper had been thrown in the bin.
"Thank you," Kate said, pleased that Steve and her were in agreement.
"When are you going to do it?".
"Now I've decided and have your blessing, I suppose I better go see my GP and book a date,".
"Can you let me know when it is?" Steve asked. "I'd like to take you and pick you up,".
"You don't have to do that," Kate replied. "Jayne has said she'd do it,".
"I would like to do it," Steve persisted. "I'm partly responsible for this problem, not Jayne. I know it's your decision, but it's still not going to be all that pleasant for you. I'm sorry that you are going to have to go through the procedure. The least I can do is take you there and back,".
"Ok," agreed Kate. "Thank you,".
"Good," said Steve, pleased his offer had been accepted.
"I'm going to need your phone number," Kate pointed out shyly, when nothing was forthcoming from Steve. "To let you know dates and times," she prompted.
"Sure," answered Steve before giving Kate his number. She pressed dial and soon Steve's phone was ringing. "That's my number," she said before they both added each other to their contact list.
Steve looked at his watch. It was getting late. "I'm gonna have to make tracks," he informed Kate. "I'm working tomorrow," he announced.
"Oh my god!" said Kate. "You should have said!" she scolded him feeling bad he was going to have a late night.
Together they slowly walked back to Kate's where Steve headed straight towards his car. What was the correct way to bid farewell to a girl carrying your baby after one night together? Steve pondered. He settled on an awkward hug.
"Bye then," he said, feeling Kate was stiff in his arms. The hug was too much, he realised, feeling a bit stupid. Should have gone with a hand shake.
"Bye," Kate said as she finally relaxed and returned his hug as she wrapped her arms around his waist briefly before she released him. "Call me when you get home so I know you're safe," she instructed.
"Sure," replied Steve with a smile as he unlocked his car and got in. Kate waved him off before letting herself back into her flat.
She sat down on the sofa and realised she felt a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She'd done it! She thought proudly and they were on the same page. Now all she had to do was see a doctor and get it all arranged.
She yawned as she realised she was exhausted. Maybe it was the pregnancy or maybe it was because she could now relax, but Kate decided on an early night. Jayne wouldn't be back until morning so she wouldn't be disturbed.
Getting off the sofa, she got ready for bed before climbing gratefully under the covers. Although she felt tired, annoyingly sleep wouldn't come. She tossed and turned for a few hours until she heard her phone beep. Shuffling around, Kate picked up the device. It was a message from Steve. He'd got back home safely. With a smile, Kate put the phone back down and settled back to sleep. This time she fell asleep instantly.
Jayne entering the flat the next morning after her night shift was what woke Kate and she got out of bed to see what type of shift her flat mate had had.
"Morning," Kate greeted cheerfully as she entered the kitchen. "How was it?".
"Quiet," replied Jayne. "I think I hate quiet shifts more than busy ones," she announced, "because the time just drags. It feels like I've been at work forever!" she lamented.
"I'm gonna have a cuppa. You want one?" asked Kate as she filled the kettle and set it to boil.
"Please," replied Jayne as she sat down at The kitchen table. "So how did it go with Steve from the Met?" she enquired. Jayne had been desperate to find out how things had gone all shift.
"Good," replied Kate. "I found out his surname," she revealed.
"Good," answered Jayne. This piece of news wasn't quite what she was interested in.
"You're not going to believe it, but it's Arnott," Kate revealed. "As in the makers of Tim Tams,".
"Really?" Jayne asked amused at the discovery as much as Kate.
"I know," Kate agreed.
"And what about the other thing?" Jayne asked.
"We both agree that termination is the best solution," Kate said as she poured the freshly boiled water in to two mugs.
"You ok?" Jayne asked.
"Yeah," answered Kate. "It is the best thing to do," she repeated before Jayne stood and gave her a hug. "I'm gonna try and get an appointment with the GP today to start the process,".
"You know I'll be here for support," Jayne said, still hugging Kate.
"I know," Kate replied. "Steve wants to be involved as well," she revealed.
"Oh yeah?" Jayne enquired interestedly. "Something going on between the pair of you?".
"No!" Kate retorted quickly. "He's just taking responsibility for his part in all this," she continued. "In a few weeks our acquaintance will be over," she protested although Jayne wasn't sure she believed her friend. "Thanks for tracking him down,".
"Forgiven am I?" Jayne asked.
"Absolutely,".
The next fortnight passed with an increasing amount of messaging between Steve and Kate. At first it was just about the time and date for Kate's procedure but then it expanded to include other things. A meme that one found funny or reminded them of the other. Sharing a good or bad work experience.
Kate encouraged Steve in pursuing his dream of working in counter terrorism and provided moral support when Steve's reply was a little despondent. His SIO had promised to see if there were any vacancies on the horizon but not to get his hopes up as it was a very popular branch of policing.
Jayne noticed her friend increasingly mentioning the man from South London but didn't say anything. She would let the pair work things out between them. She'd done what she could in reintroducing them. She just hoped that they could work something out as from what she had learnt from her very brief meeting with Steve, he was quite a decent bloke and would be good for her best friend.
Besides, Jayne had more pressing things on her mind, like her wedding in two weeks time. Everything was pretty much sorted except for a bombshell that another bridesmaid decided to drop on her.
"Jayne?" called Kate from the kitchen. She was in her uniform, munching on a bowl of cereal before heading into work for a late shift when she heard the front door to the flat slam shut. She hadn't been expecting her flatmate home- her and Rich had gone out for the day to run wedding errands. "Is that you?".
"Yes!" retorted Jayne in a tone that made Kate think something awful had happened.
"You ok?" Kate asked as she put her empty bowl in the sink and headed to Jayne's room. She entered and found her flatmate studiously examining her wedding searing plan.
"Not really, no," Jayne said.
"What's happened?".
"Cara has just decided to inform me that her and Scott have broken up," Jayne related to Kate. "Apparently that means he won't be coming to the wedding,".
"That's a shame," Kate said. Cara was Jayne's younger sister and another bridesmaid.
"It's a complete disaster!" Jayne clarified. "My seating plan is completely ruined. She's done this on purpose I swear," she moaned. Cara was the youngest of four sisters in the family and Jayne felt as if she was the favoured daughter by her parents. "There's going to be a spare place at the bridesmaid's table,".
"I don't think anyone will really notice," Kate soothed. She didn't quite feel the same as Jayne about the unfolding 'catastrophe'.
"I will!" Jayne snapped. "I want this day to be perfect" she moaned. "Is there anyone you can invite?".
"Not really," Kate replied. "Everyone you and I know is already invited,".
"Damn it!" Jayne cursed before an idea struck. "What about Steve from the Met?". Despite now knowing his surname, Jayne still called Steve by that description.
"I don't think so," Kate answered. She couldn't imagine Steve wanting to spend the day with a load of people he didn't really know. That, and she didn't know if they would still be in contact by then. "We'll find someone," Kate consoled.
"OK I'm putting you in charge of finding someone," Jayne instructed.
"Great," replied Kate, not looking forward to that task. She looked at her watch. Time to head in to work. "I better go," she said. "You'll be ok?".
"Yeah," answered Jayne. "Thanks Kate,".