Chapter Text
Kate drank her way through the evening as she always did when she had to sit through the endless commendation ceremonies. It was boring and unnecessary, despite having worked with Chloe for years, she wasn’t thrilled to be here. Just thrilled for her.
She had sat at the table with the PC’s and DCU Carmichael, sinking back the champagne glass after glass. She had recognised a few pc’s or detective’s she’s worked with while being undercover but nobody she really wanted to see. She lifted herself from her seat and headed to the bar, once she was equipped with a fresh glass of champagne she spun on her heels and headed back to the table taking her good time.
Steve was walking with his DS to go get some drinks, While on the unit he had met a young eager DS who he quickly got along with. Although she was very eager and annoying. Well walking his eyes fell upon a very familiar face, he froze. Kate.
She caught his eye, her whole face lit up in an instant, “Steve” She smiled.
Nothing had changed, his hair was still swept to the side, his stubble clearly as well kept as before, the classic suit and waistcoat combo was now black instead of blue which made him look amazing. A year had gone in his favour, especially with, what she assumed was his wife next to him.
Steve felt himself become overwhelmed with happiness as he saw her “Kate!” He was lost for words. Kate was standing with drinks alone, if it wasn't for the drinks he would’ve hugged her. “Christ it’s been so long how are you!” He asked eagerly to know everything that's been going on.
“Yeah, no, I’m decent” She nodded, “What about you? How’s work and everything?” She wanted to ask about his back but now wasn’t the time or place.
“I’m good, yeah, and work has been.” He paused, “Alright” He looked at the woman he was with “Kate this is Amelia, Amelia this is Kate she’s been my best mate for 10 years now” He explained.
“Hiya” She smiled despite feeling jealous of ‘amelia’. “I’ll come find you in a sec, I promised Tatleen i’d help her block out Pap” She smiled, lifting the drinks in her hands as she nodded to the table.
“Alright” He smiled as Kate walked off.
“She seems.” Amelia paused “Nice.”
“Yeah she is, Christ I haven’t seen her in around a year now!” He couldn't wipe the smile that lured on his face after his and Kate's previous interaction.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up then! In a bit Sir” She nodded as she walked off back to the table of people.
Kate practically threw the drinks into Tatleen’s hands, “Oooh, you have that smile again, that means you’ve fallen in love” Tatleen giggled, poking her as Kate touched up her makeup.
“Shut up, you” She giggled before rushing off to find Steve again.
Steve watched as Kate did her makeup with her friends, He smiled before pulling out his phone to reply to a message. He looked back up to see Kate walking back over “Hi!”
“Hiya!” She beamed, again. “Did you want to find somewhere a little quieter?” She asked, looking over her shoulder as the music got louder.
“Gladly” He laughed, “Do you want a drink?” He asked, looking to the bar and back at her.
She nodded, “That would be nice.”
Kate followed him to the bar and gladly accepted the pint he bought for her. They left the main function room and settled in a much quieter, private side room. Kate threw her clutch onto the little table and sat down on the sofa with a soft contented sigh.
“What have you been up to? I’ve missed seeing you.” He hadn’t stopped smiling since their first interaction that day.
“Just work, really” She laughed, “What about you? I’m guessing I better find a dress for your wedding” she smiled despite seething that she wouldn’t be buying a wedding dress.
“My wedding?” He asked, “Who am I marrying without knowing?”
Don’t say me, Katherine, keep it together.
“Oh come off it, you and Amelia are smitten!”
Steve nearly spat his drink out, “Absolutely not, I'd purposely fall down the stairs again before marrying her.”
She gasped, laughing at his bluntness, “Christ, I hope you didn’t tell her that before I came back”
“She pissed off before you came back over, What about you then. Do I need to go wedding suit shopping anytime soon?” He laughed.
She laughed, “Not unless you’re offering”
“That's the proposal over and done with” He smirked before having another sip of his drink.
That was it. She was sold.There was no way Kate Fleming would leave this Earth without marrying him. The game had begun.
“Oh no, You’re going to get down on your knee and ask properly, Arnott. I’m all about tradition” She giggled, gulping some of her pint before putting the glass down.
“And what counts as tradition for you then, I take it. I can't propose at a pub then.” to say he was taking mental notes ready was an understatement .
“Propose to me at all and you’ll get the answer you’ve always wanted” She grinned, running a hand through her hair.
He raised his eyebrow at her, “Jumping straight to marriage already I see” He smirked.
“You’re lucky I didn’t just ask for a baby, mate” She laughed, leaning back. “If you did, seriously ask me, you would get the answer you wanted” She said with a little less confidence and flanter.
He laughed at the proposal of a child, “Bold of you to assume I won't”
“Do it” She shrugged, pushing his arm. She always loved pissing him off, especially when he couldn’t be mad with her
“I’ll add a proposal to my to-do list then” Nudging her back, “Alright if i’m proposing what will you be doing?”
“Becoming your wife” She laughed, looking up at him again.
She’s got that same twinkle in her eye, the one Steve has always adored, the one he’s always strived to see. The smile he lived for.
“Wouldn’t argue with that.” Steve missed her smile and laugh, He missed her more than he’d like to admit not a day went by since he transferred where he didnt think about her.
“Come back” She pouted, she partly meant to AC-12 but partly because he had leant away to put his pint down
“Considering it honestly, I have missed AC-12. And you of course.” He sat back in his seat looking towards her again.
“I love Chloe to bits but I miss you, it’s not the same without you” She sighs, pleading with her eyes, “Uh, sorry mate, but you’ve not been here for a year and you’ve not even hugged me yet!” She exclaims, “What a twat” She laughed, nudging him
He laughed at her bluntness before opening his arms for her to lean in.
“It’s been a year and you can’t even drag yourself off your arse to hug your best mate?” She scoffed, getting up despite her heels making her feel like she’s walking on pins.
He laughed at her comment as he slid out of the booth to hug her.
“Come on, little man” She wheezed, pulling her dress down.
“Shut up” He laughed as he pulled her in for a tight long overdue hug.
She quickly stopped laughing, resting her head on his shoulder as they hugged for what she wished was forever.
After a year of not seeing each other and now finally together again Steve had felt the happiest he had been in so long.
“I’ve missed you so much” She whispered.
“I missed you too” He whispered back, not wanting this moment to ever end.
“Getting soft in your old age, mate” She chuckled, clinging to him as tightly as she could.
“Shut up” He murmured “You’re no better, who made me stand up to give them a hug”.
“I’ve always been soft, cheeky shit!” she defended, relaxing her arms around his shoulder so that she could hold on for as long as she needed.
Steve looked up to see Hastings looking at them both from the bar, Steve laughed softly. “Not always”
“Name me one time then, smart arse” She laughed, being too short to even be aware that anyone could see them, nevermind Ted watching them.
“Right maybe you are soft then” He laughed soon forgetting that Hastings was watching them.
“Also known as wife material” Kate laughed softly.
“Planning my proposal as we speak”
“Should have done it years ago. At least then nobody would judge you when you carry me out of here” She grinned, looking up at him.
“We’ll just say this whole event was an engagement party” He smirked looking down to make eye contact with her.
“Just missing the ring” She teased, wiggling her fingers so that they tapped his back. “Kate Arnott doesn’t sound too bad, mate”
“When I just so happen to carry a ring with me then I’ll do it.” He laughed as she suggested last names.
“I mean, we’ll be lying if we pretended we both didn’t know that your great granny’s engagement ring lives in your glove box on the gold chain you got for Sam” She mumbled, laying her head back down on his shoulder as the previous champagne began catching up with her.
“Christ, how did you remember that?” He laughed, amused by her drunken memory.
“Always thought you were going to use it on me” Kate replied, fiddling with the corner of his collar as she spoke. “Ask the gaffer how raging I was when I saw her wearing it” she huffed.
“Christ, bet he loved that” He laughed looking back over to where Hastings was sitting.
She smiled, “Not really, but he didn’t have much choice, he has to listen to me, I’m like his only child” She shrugged, seething at the memory.
Steve tightened the hug again as he rested his head on her shoulder, “Was it his usual nod and agreement?”
She nodded, laughing, “And the wink when I said I should go back to my desk.”
Kate shifted in his arms slightly, letting her head lean against his so that when he spoke, his words sent tingles down her spine.
“Seen that wink many times.” He laughed, he let out a comfortable sigh.
“He’s going to give me away at our wedding, you know?” She informed him, smiling at the thought. “God, our wedding is going to be amazing!”
“It will be, Christ imagine hastings giving a speech” He smirked at the thought of their wedding.
Kate laughed, “This wedding’s been 10 years in the making” She said, a little softer
“Better be good for 10 years of waiting” He laughed softly.
“Steve, I really mean what I say,” she began, lifting her head accidentally brushing her lips against his cheek as she looked at him. “A year away has just proved that, that I can’t be without you” She whispered, her cheeks flushing.
He blushed at the comment as he looked towards her, “Same with you, Kate” He paused “I’ve missed our takeaway nights and even just when we stayed up till early hours at work trying to put missing pieces together. I mean, I'd trade my job to just do one of those things again.”
“Everything is better with you” She smiled, “Work, life, even tonight I was having a foul time and then I saw you and I’ve not stopped smiling since, If that isn’t-” She stopped, contemplated her next words with baited breath.
God, she knew that she felt it but did he? Was this ever going to work? Could they marry eachother? Would she just ruin it again?
No.
This is Steve, the only person who’s stayed by her side, the only man she wants to keep by her side. He knew more about her than anyone. She needed him more than anyone. She trusted him more than anyone.
This is love.
“If that isn't?” He questioned, He knew what she was going to say but wanted to hear it before making any assumptions.
Kate chuckled, “You’ll have to get me very drunk if you want me to say it first”
“Is that a challenge?” He smirked.
“It is now” She grinned.