Ok folks this is it. For this chapter I am assuming that ET is already dead and that the events of season 3 have already happened. That means that there will be some spoilers for various episodes throughout. Last chapter!

Spoilers: Guns (3x4), Red Sky Morning (3x8)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sea Patrol.

6 months later

Kate pushed the door to her cabin open. She and Mike had been avoiding each other since their argument in the ward room. Well, to be truthful, she had been the one who had been doing the avoiding. He had been trying to talk to her for months but unless it was absolutely necessary she had been ignoring him. She hadn't wanted to admit that he was right. Jim had broken up with her because she was still in love with Mike. She had finally realised that after Geoff Kershaw had threatened to reveal their affair. Kate snorted. Typical that, that she had taken around 3 months to figure out what he had in one look. And she had only fallen more in love with him after Nathan Taylor had tried to kill her…the second time. Mike had not only saved her life but he had held her when she needed the comfort. She had let herself enjoy that moment. He hadn't held her like that since her days in the Academy. Since that day that they had parted, never to see each other again. Since the day when they did the unthinkable and chosen their careers over love.

"Ok you and the CO have to work things out," Nikki announced as she walked in.

"Nice to see you too Nikki," Kate said.

"Kate 2 Dads just got chased up to the bridge by Bomber and the CO didn't even flinch," Nikki said. Kate stopped.

"What did he say?" she asked softly.

"Just told them to 'keep it down'," Nikki told her, using air quotes as emphasis.

"Oh god," Kate muttered.

"And yesterday Buffer dared Spider and 2 Dads to wear tutus for the day, saying that he'd sing in the mess after dinner to a song they chose," Nikki continued.

"What?" Kate asked. "I don't remember that."

"My point?" Nikki suggested. "I think that they're doing it to see how oblivious the two of you are."

"Uh huh," Kate said.

"Spider walked right past you, and greeted you, and 2 Dads wore fairy wings along with it!" Nikki exclaimed. "He asked you how he looked!"

"He did?" Kate asked, confused. "Am I supposed to remember Buffer as well?"

"No that was the CO," Nikki said. "He told Buffer to not disturb anyone."

"What did he sing to?" Kate asked.

"'You Belong With Me', by Taylor Swift," Nikki said.

"Tell me someone got that on camera," Kate said.

"Naturally but you're missing the point!" Nikki exclaimed. "This fight is screwing with both of your minds. Because of it the boys are getting out of control!"

"And you expect me to just make up with the CO because of it?" Kate asked.

"Oh yeah," Nikki said.

"Not a chance," Kate muttered softly, turning away before she felt her friend grab her arm and drag her out of the cabin. Once they were out of the door Bomber grabbed her other arm and helped Nikki.

"What's gotten into the two of you?" Kate asked.

"RO laughed while Buffer was singing," Bomber said.

"And 2 Dads kissed my cheek and called me 'darlin'' yesterday," Nikki informed her. They stopped in front of Mike's cabin and Nikki knocked.

"Enter," Mike called. Nikki and Bomber pushed Kate through the door.

"The XO has something to say to you," Nikki said before she pulled the door shut. Mike looked up.

Kate wandered around the small cabin for a few moments before she met his gaze.

"What's going on with us Kate?" Mike asked softly. "Is there anyway that we can go back?"

"Like pretend it never happened?" Kate asked.

"Which part?" Mike asked. "6 months ago? Or years ago?"

"6 months ago," Kate said. "If the weekend years ago hadn't happened we wouldn't have the connection that we have today." Mike smiled.

"True," he agreed. "You know that they behave like we're the parents?"

"And they've been misbehaving lately," Kate told him. "Like we're separating or something."

"Really?" Mike asked. "I hadn't noticed."

"Me neither," Kate admitted. "Nav told me before."

"How bad?" Mike asked.

"Spider wore a tutu all day yesterday apparently," Kate said, leaning against the wall. "And 2 Dads wore a tutu and fairy wings."

"Oops," Mike said sheepishly. "Probably should have noticed that."

"According to Nav he asked me how he looked," Kate shrugged. "I remember wondering what he was on about but I told him he looked fine and walked on." Mike laughed.

"Have you ever heard of a song that has the lyrics 'Laughing on a park bench thinking to myself, hey isn't this easy?' ?"Mike asked.

"'You belong with me' by Taylor Swift," Kate informed him.

"Thanks, for some reason that's been stuck in my head all day," Mike said.

"Apparently Buffer was singing it," Kate said.

"And I heard it?" Mike asked.

"And told him not to disturb anyone," Kate said with a grin.

"I definitely win the prize for the most oblivious," Mike groaned. "But tell me that it's on tape."
"When I asked Nav she looked at me like I'd suddenly grown another head," Kate told him. Mike grinned. They chatted for a little bit longer before 2 Dads knocked on the door
"Boss, there's something on the EOD that you should really see," he said.

"Sure, but take the tiara off your head first," Mike said.

"And give me the wand," Kate said. Muttering he did both.

"How did you know about the wand?" he asked.

"Tutu, wings, tiara, a wand was the next logical step," she explained. He rolled his eyes and walked off.

"And since when do any of the boys use logic?" Mike asked. Kate shrugged and they both started laughing. And as they started walking towards the bridge Kate was reminded of the next few lines of Taylor Swift's song.

"And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town, I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down. You say you're fine I know you better than that."

And that's it. The whole happy fluffy ending just didn't seem right for this one. Anyway a huge thanks go out to fantasy77 who has supported me through this whole story. Three pages on word, the longest chapter yet.

Princess