"You said what?!" the gaffer exploded later that day as Steve recalled this turn of events. He was in Ted's office reporting back on his first day in VCU.

"I said yes," Steve repeated as he confessed what he'd told Matt Luckie. "I told him that Kate was my wife. Recently married,".

"Mother of God!" Ted said as he pinched his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he felt a headache starting to build behind his eyes, a sure sign his blood pressure was high. This investigation was not starting smoothly. "Why would you tell him that?" he asked Steve perplexed. "It's totally taken Kate out of this investigation-,".

"With respect, Sir," Steve interrupted. "Kate was taken out of this investigation when Luckie saw her name and photo on my phone,".

"Aye," agreed Ted. "Another cock up,".

"Yes," agreed Steve. "It was. But maybe this way Kate isn't completely out of it. She can help me with my undercover-,".

"Whilst she plays house with you?" Ted interrupted.

"I need all the help I can get on this one," Steve repeated. "Luckie hates me. I told him Kate works from home. She can do that. Just AC-12 work,".

Ted reluctantly agreed. "What exactly was DI Fleming calling you for in the middle of the day anyway?" Ted asked.

"She wants me to pick her up from the airport this evening," Steve replied.

Ted rolled his eyes. Hardly a police matter that had put this investigation in jeopardy. Maybe it was his fault for letting these two get too close that they relied on each other so much.

"Her mum is back on her feet and no longer needs Kate's assistance," Steve informed Ted.

"How did it go?" Ted enquired about Kate's trip. He was also aware of Kate's difficult relationship with her mother.

"Not good," Steve admitted. He'd had daily calls from Kate as she vented about her mothers latest behaviour whilst she was away.

"Does she know that she is now Mrs Arnott?" Ted asked

"Mrs Abbott actually, Sir," Steve corrected, pointing out his undercover name. Ted just glanced at Steve, warning him silently he was on very thin ice at the moment. "No she doesn't," Steve answered sheepishly. "I didn't know if it would sound better coming from you-,".

"Oh no! No way!" interrupted Ted. That was definitely something he wasn't going to do. He knew exactly what sort of mood Kate would be in after a visit with her mum and didn't want to be the one to make her even angrier. "I think that sort of news needs to come from her 'husband'," he said, passing the buck.

"Thanks, Sir," replied Steve, sounding anything but grateful. He wasn't quite sure how to break the news to his friend. Matt Luckie had advised a bouquet of flowers worked wonders when greeting one's spouse after some time apart. Steve had a feeling it was going to need more than that. He glanced at his watch. There was something else he had to do as well before heading to the airport.

"Am I keeping you, DI Arnott?" Ted asked, catching Steve checking the time.

"I've got to buy some wedding rings before I pick up Kate," Steve explained. "When I told Luckie I was married, he saw I wasn't wearing a ring. I told him it needed resizing,".

"Just go," Ted said, dismissing Steve. He wanted this meeting over before he had a stroke.


"Cabin crew prepare the cabin for landing," the pilot's voice announced over the tannoy.

Keen to get back home, Kate had already stowed her table and put her seat to the upright position before a crew member told her to.

Instead she looked out of the window as the plane began to land. Not that she could see much, the thick cloud cover obscured her view of the ground. It was a complete contrast from where she had just left- Spain, with its constant warm sunny days and blue sky.

Kate didn't care. Despite the poorer weather she much preferred being back in the UK. She'd been summoned abroad by her mother who whilst under the influence of alcohol had fallen down the stairs and broken her ankle. Kate's assistance was needed for a week whilst she was bed bound on doctors orders.

She had never had a great relationship with her mother but Kate's sense of duty prevailed and even though she hadn't wanted to go she found herself booking a flight and packing her suitcase.

It had been as bad as she had feared. As soon as she had arrived, the constant nagging and moaning began. Kate didn't fluff her pillows right. Her tea didn't have enough milk in it. Her dinner had too much salt. Too little salt. Kate couldn't get anything right.

And then the hurtful comments were directed at Kate. Why hadn't she worked harder at her marriage? A police officer was not a woman's job. Her hair cut was too short. She would never attract another man with the type of clothes she wore.

The only thing that kept her going was her daily phone call with Steve. Sometimes more than once a day if he could sense Kate was having a particularly bad day. He had known how much she was dreading her trip and he would do anything to help.

Ignoring her concern that it might be a backwards step, Kate had followed her heart and transferred back from MIT to AC-12 as she had promised Steve she would. It had been a good decision for their relationship as they had grown closer after discovering their relationship was a case of "you don't know what you've got until it's gone".

After work dinners together became the norm and after Steve telling Kate that a relationship with Steph Corbett was doomed to failure, Kate was sure that they were sharing an increasing number of special 'moments' together. It wasn't anything obvious, just a few glances longer than normal for platonic friends. A few more touches than necessary. An increased number of phone calls that went on for longer.

During her time away, she had been thinking about what to do regarding Steve, and Kate had finally decided it was time to lay her cards on the table. It was both an exciting and extremely terrifying prospect. She could have everything she ever wanted but if it failed she could lose everything as well.


Anyone who noticed the youngish man staring intently at the Arrivals board in the airport whilst holding a bouquet of flowers, would think that Steve was eagerly waiting for someone very important. They would be half right. Kate was very important to him. He just wasn't staring eagerly at the screen. He was nervously looking at it.

Steve still hadn't worked out how to tell Kate about their 'marriage' and just hoped it wouldn't signal the end of their friendship when he did. He'd gone with Matt Luckie's suggestion and bought some flowers. They might at least soften the blow.

Grabbing her suitcase off the carousel, Kate was soon heading for 'Nothing to Declare' as she made her way to the exit and Steve. As soon as she saw Steve, she instantly felt much happier, although her heart skipped a beat when she saw he was holding flowers. Why was he carrying those? Were they for her?

Steve saw her then and Kate saw his face light up with a massive smile. Her heart skipped another beat.

"Hey," Kate said when she finally stood in front of him.

"Hey," Steve echoed.

They continued staring at each other. Steve wanted to tell her she looked good. She'd caught the sun in Spain, but he held his tongue. If it wasn't for his 'problem' he'd make a move, but Kate deserved better. She deserved a man.

"Got this for you," Kate eventually said shyly, indicating the straw donkey wearing a sombrero that she was carrying.

Steve took a look at the totally useless gift. "Cheers, mate," he said.

"I might have some Sangria and a couple of bottles of Rioja in my case," she added as she handed the donkey to Steve.

"Now you're talking," Steve agreed as he accepted her present. "These are for you," he said as he handed Kate the flowers.

"Thanks," said Kate surprised. It was the first time that he'd ever bought her flowers and she didn't know what else to say. She didn't want to read too much in to it though. There were other reasons men bought flowers. Not just for romance. "What did you do?" she asked, teasingly.

Steve froze for a second but quickly recovered. "Nothing," he said as nonchalantly as possible.

Kate would have believed him except she saw his brief hesitation. She knew her friend too well. "Yeah, right," she taunted him.

"I just thought it would cheer you up," Steve continued.

"Oh," Kate answered, now feeling bad for fearing the worst.

"Let me take your case," Steve offered gallantly as he reached for Kate's suitcase. "Glad to be be home?" he asked as they started walking.

"God, yes," Kate said excitedly. "As soon as I get home I'm going to have a lovely bath before ordering a pizza," she informed Steve. "Time to look after myself,".

"Right," replied Steve, knowing he wasn't going to be taking Kate to her flat.

As they made their way to Steve's car, Kate talked animatedly whilst Steve grew quiet, knowing he was going to have to say something very soon.

"Are you ok?" Kate asked, noticing Steve's reticence to start the car once they were inside.

"Not really," admitted Steve. "There's something I've got to tell you,".

Kate's heart dropped. She instantly knew what he was going to say. "Your seeing Steph aren't you?" she asked sadly, confirming her worst fear. She shouldn't have let herself believe that maybe it was their turn. She was going to have to reconcile herself to only being Steve's friend.

"What?" said Steve as he processed what Kate had asked. "No," he answered.

"Oh," replied Kate embarrassed.

What did she ask that for, Steve wondered.

"So what is it?" Kate asked quickly, hoping to move on.

"You know the gaffer was talking about Detective Superintendent Luckie before your mum hurt herself?".

"Yes,".

"Well an opportunity has arisen to infiltrate his unit,".

"Oh?".

"You're looking at DI Steve Abbott," he revealed.

"You're undercover?" Kate asked, a little surprised. Steve didn't exactly have a great record at undercover work. The whole Lindsey Denton debacle was one big fuck up.

"Yeah," Steve admitted.

"Ok," Kate replied.

"There wasn't time to tell you," Steve continued in his defence.

"That's ok," Kate said. "So we're swapping roles?" she asked. "You're pushing from the inside and I'm pushing from the outside, this time?" She questioned before a thought hit her. "Hang on, if you're undercover, you shouldn't be here, Steve!" she pointed out. "If anyone sees us together they're going to realise we know each other. I better go," she said quickly as she moved to undo her seatbelt.

"Kate," Steve said as he stopped her with his hand. "We're not swapping roles,".

"So what am I doing?" She asked. Steve didn't answer. "Am I out of the whole investigation?" she questioned angrily, suddenly mad at her mother for making her miss out.

"Not exactly," Steve answered cryptically.

"What does that mean?" Kate asked.

"It means…..you're undercover as well,".

"How's that gonna work?" Kate asked, perplexed.

"There was a bit of an incident," Steve started to confess.

"What happened?".

"Luckie saw my phone,".

"Your real phone?" Kate asked.

"Yes," Steve admitted.

"Chrissake, Steve!" Kate scolded. "Even after I told you about what happened to me with Morton?". It was one of her biggest mistakes and one she wasn't proud of. DS Morton had caught her red handed with her real and undercover phone.

"I know!" Steve retorted. "I've already heard the gaffer say the same thing,".

"When did he see it?".

"When you called," Steve replied.

"Shit!" Kate exclaimed.

"He saw your name and photo and asked if you were my wife,".

"Oh...tell me you didn't say yes," Kate said with a horrible feeling she already knew the answer.

"……………….I said yes,".