Here is the third installment of the "What Hurts the Most" and "In Your Arms" series! I hope you guys enjoy it :)
"Kate, babe? Will you read this?," Rick called from his office. He turned back to his glowing laptop screen and grinned to himself as he typed out another paragraph.
Kate smiled and finished putting on her earrings. She adjusted her drapey gray top and walked through the doorway into Rick's office. She leaned against the doorframe and watched him as he typed furiously. He finally sensed her watching him and turned around, gaping the second he saw her.
"Where are your pants?"
Kate grinned and walked over to him, slipping into his lap and straddling him in her black lace boyshort panties and nude stilettos.
"Well, I'm not done getting ready yet," she whispered, kissing him softly. "And whatever this is sounded urgent."
He kissed her back, then nuzzled his nose into her neck. Eventually, he had to pull away.
"Before I make us late, I wanted to show you the newest chapter of the new Nikki Heat book."
"Sweltering Heat?," she said, leaning to look at the screen, her eyes scanning the newest pages.
"Mehh… The title is subject to change," Rick said, putting his head on her shoulder.
"Whoa, you're already on chapter 13? Honey, the last book just came about 3 months ago."
"I know, I've just been really inspired lately.," he said, touching his nose to hers.
"Oh, really?," Kate laughed. She kissed him.
"Yeah, I've got this really hot fiancé…." He said, kissing her neck. Kate laughed again.
"Oh? What's her name?"
"Kate," he said with a whisper. He kissed her again.
"Rick…"
"Mhhm hmmm…" he mumbled into her neck, sucking on her earlobe.
"No, Rick, if we don't get going, we will be late for your daughter's party."
He sighed as Kate got up and went into their bedroom. She came out a few minutes later in dark, tight, skinny jeans. She smiled and Rick and put her hands on his shoulders and tore him away from his laptop.
"C'mon, honey," she said. "I know you don't love the idea of Alexis moving out, but this is her last weekend at the loft, and you closed the Old Haunt for the night so we could throw her a fabulous party." Rick nodded silently.
"I know," he said, tugging on the edge of his blue plaid shirt. "I just don't understand why she has to move into her dorm 2 weeks early."
"So she can meet her future classmates, have time to get settled and feel comfortable," Kate said. She took his hand, her diamond engagement ring glinting on her finger.
It had been three months since Rick and Kate got engaged, and so far it was bliss. They hadn't started to discuss the details of the wedding yet, because life had been a little crazy. Rick had come back to the 12th Precinct with Kate, and murderers always got crazy in the summer. Kate was still taking her medication, and was down to one appointment a month with . Alexis was moving into her dorm soon, and shortly after she started her fall semester at Columbia, Martha would be heading off to London for a 2-month run of a play she was currently in.
Esposito and Lanie had been getting cozy, and Kate was pretty sure that whether Lanie caught the bouquet or not, wedding bells would be in the future. Kate and Lanie had been growing closer with Jenny, and many weekends, Rick and Kate spent at least one night on a double date with the Ryans or Espelanie (as Rick affectionately called them).
When the cab pulled up to the Old Haunt, Kate put her hand on Rick's thigh.
"Take a deep breath," she said softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He did, and then he took her hand and they got out of the cab, paying the driver and taking a second before entering the bar. Streamers in every color of the rainbow hung from the ceiling, the pool table had been pulled from the back corner into the middle of the room, and the bar counter was filled with platters of yummy food. The room was filled with Alexis's friends, as well as some of Rick and Kate's friends. They spotted the table where Ryan, Jenny, Lanie, and Esposito were sitting and headed for it, slipping into the booth.
"Hey, proud father," Ryan said, handing him a glass of Scotch. Rick took it gratefully, taking a large gulp. Kate squeezed his forearm before taking the cosmo Lanie was holding out to her.
"So, where's my mother?," Rick said. "I need to prepare myself."
Javi laughed. "I saw her chatting up some of Alexis's friends about fifteen minutes ago."
Lanie looked at Kate. "So, how the wedding planning going?"
Kate made a face. "Umm… don't hate me, but I kinda haven't really started yet."
Lanie laughed. "Oh, honey. Busy at work?"
Kate nodded and took a large sip of her drink. "Extremely."
Jenny looked at Kate sympathetically. "You don't have to tell me about that…" She put her hand on Ryan's shoulder. "This one hasn't been home before 10 in weeks! I hate how hard your job works you guys."
Javi joined in. "Sometimes I do too. But I love it, you know?"
Ryan and Kate nodded in agreement. The table sat in silence for a minute, and then Jenny grabbed Ryan's hand.
"Okay, enough talk. I need to dance."
Ryan grinned and followed his wife onto the dance floor. The song "Don't Do Me Like That" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came on and Kate nudged Rick's shoulder.
"I love this song! C'mon!"
Rick sighed and gave Espo a "dude-you-can't-ignore-your-fiance" look before following Kate onto the dance floor. He twirled her around and she laughed.
"What do you think, Writer Man? First dance song?"
Ricks shook his head. "No way. Our first dance song will be slow and romantic."
"I know, I was kidding," Kate said, biting her lip. She wrapped her arms around Rick's neck. "Did you have a song in mind?"
"Hmm…. Iris? Dream a Little Dream of Me? Piano Man…. No, Teenage Dream! Or Party Rock Anthem?," he teased, his suggestions going from legitimate to absurd. Kate put her hand on his cheek.
"I guess we do need to start planning this thing, huh?"
"Yeah," Rick said. "We'll do it together, like I want us to do everything for the rest of our lives."
Kate touched her nose to his as the song ended. "I like that idea."
Half an hour later, Kate was sitting at a barstool, drinking a beer and watching the party. Javi and Kevin were having a sudden-death round of pool, and Lanie and Jenny watched as they chatted and sipped their drinks. Martha and Rick were dancing to a Frank Sinatra tune, laughing and talking.
"Hey," Alexis said, sliding onto the barstool next to Kate. "How's it going?"
Kate grinned at her. "For me? Who cares. I want to hear all about how your party is going!"
Alexis laughed. "It's good. I get to see all my friends before they head off to schools all over the country – and I get to see my dad be happy." She nodded her head towards the center of the dance floor, where Rick and Martha were the center of attention.
"Yeah, as Martha would say, they really know how to 'cut a rug'," Kate said, winking at Alexis. "You know, in all seriousness, I'm so happy for you. I know I'm not your parent, but…"
Alexis took Kate's hand. "Hey, you're the best example of a real mom I've ever had. And I'm glad you're proud of me. I wouldn't want it any other way."
Kate leaned over, hugged her and kissed her hair. "You're a wonderful girl, Alexis. And the people over at Columbia are very lucky."
Alexis smiled, and then they both turned towards the dance floor and watched Rick and Martha. Rick looked over at them and waved, then dipped Martha.
"You know who's lucky? My dad," Alexis said, slipping off her barstool. "Because he has you."
Kate smiled softly, finishing off her beer and watching Alexis join a crowd of her friends. They were all pretty damn lucky. Her and Rick and Alexis.
xxxx
The next morning, Kate woke up on the couch in an oversized Columbia t-shirt, with Alexis snuggled at her side. She smiled at the sleeping young woman, her eyelashes fluttering as she slept. It was Alexis's last day in the loft, and Kate felt sadder than she expected to. Alexis may not have been her daughter, but she was pretty close to it. Kate rubbed her eyes and looked up, and saw Rick sitting the armchair across from the couch. He was holding a mug of coffee and smiling at his two girls. Kate waved to him.
'Hey,' she mouthed. His smile widened.
'Hey. Nice legs,' he mouthed back. She kicked one of her legs up in the air and wiggled her eyebrows at him. He grinned and got up, coming over to the couch. He bent down and placed a kiss on Kate's lips, then one on Alexis's forehead. He whispered to Kate, "Do you want me to move her so you can get up?"
Kate shook her head. "No." She looked down at Alexis and stroked her hair. "I'm gonna miss her, you know," she whispered to Rick. "I know not as much as you, because you're her father…."
"Hey, she loves you," Rick said, kneeling down next to the couch. "You have a right to miss her, don't think you don't."
Kate smiled at him. "Thanks."
Alexis moved next to Kate, stretching her arms out and yawning. She opened her eyes and saw Rick and Kate both looking at her. She smiled sleepily.
"Hey guys." She pushed herself up into a sitting position. Kate put her arm around Alexis's shoulders.
"Morning, sleepy," Rick said, sitting down on Alexis's other side. Alexis grinned. It was a pretty good deal to start her last day at home sandwiched in between her dad and her almost-mom.
"What are we doing today?," Alexis asked.
"Well," Kate said, winking at Rick. "Your dad and I took the day off from the 12th, so we were thinking we could help you set up your dorm room, and then spend the rest of the day having fun. See a movie, go out to dinner, shop."
Alexis beamed. "That sounds great."
Rick nudged Alexis's shoulder. "So it's totally cool if I'm shirtless when I move your stuff into your dorm room?"
Alexis laughed and punched his shoulder. "Eww, no! Save it for Kate, dad."
Kate burst out laughing and Alexis got up from the couch. "I'm going to go get dressed and finish packing a few last things."
"Okay, pumpkin. But you can come back and get stuff whenever you want!," Rick called after her eagerly. She stopped halfway up the stairs, turned around and just smiled at him.
"I love you, dad."
Rick sighed and let his head rest on Kate's shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She put her hand on his cheek.
"It's gonna be okay. Have fun for the next few hours, please? Don't spend the day upset," Kate said, kissing the top of his head.
"Okay," he promised. "In case I forget to say it later, thank you so much for being such a good mom to Alexis."
Kate's heart warmed when she heard Rick say that. She smiled to herself and held him close, trying not to get emotional.
"Any time."