"Da-da-da-d-dy" Kate shivered. "Why is it so cold?"
"It's Canada darling." Bret said opening the door. "Julie we're here!!"
Kate hid behind Bret as Jade, Dallas and Alex all ran towards him for a hug. Julie came up for a kiss, "And who is this hiding behind you?"
"Hi," she shyly stated clinging to her dad.
"Hey there. You must be Kate. This is Dallas, Alex and you know Jade and you can call me Miss Julie if you'd like."
Kate just nodded feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Why don't you guys show Kate her room?"
"You need help with this," Jade said lifting her suitcase.
"Yes, please." Kate said.
"I like your jacket." Jade said.
"Thanks! You can borrow it."
Bret pulled Julie in for a hug, "I missed you." Julie said.
"Missed you too."
A few minutes later, Bret walks in on Kate jumping on the bed. The room was ultra-pink including posters of him on the wall.
"I love my room," Kate jumped once more before noticing Bret in the doorway. She abruptly stopped and gave a shy smile.
"What do you think your doing?"
Kate sat Indian style on the bed, "Nothing daddy."
"Mhm, right. Now put everything back on the bed."
"Daddy, my mommy sleeps here too?" Kate asked as she helped Bret make the bed.
Bret cleared his throat. The day he had been dreading since Kate's been able to talk.
"No K, your mommy doesn't."
"Ok," Kate simply said placing the pillow on the bed. Bret gave a sigh of relief.
"Where is she then?" Bret sealed his eyes as his heart raced.
I thought you'd be older before we had this conversation.
"Mommy is with the angels." Julie said walking in the room.
"Oh, angels. Ok, can I go play with sassy J?"
"Of course you can pussycat." As soon as she skipped out of the room, Bret slammed on the bed and covered his face. "I don't know if I can do this Julie."
"Don't be nervous Bret. She'll be fine her."
Bret packed the kids in the car to head over the Hart House.
"Wow, this papa's house?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, it's awesome!" Alex said.
"Where did you learn the word awesome?" Bret asked.
"MTV, duh dad."
"Duh dad." Bret mocked laughing with Julie.
The kids ran inside to greet their cousins, Julie walked to the kitchen with the women, and Bret went to dungeon.
"Hey everyone!" Bret shouted going down the stairs.
"Bret, what's going on?" Wayne said handing him a beer.
"Why thank you," He said to him. "Things are good. Kate is upstairs."
Bruce, Keith, Wayne and Ross all hurried out of the room.
Owen laughed, "Kate is very popular!"
"I know huh? How have you been bro, it's been a while."
He sighed, "Things are rough Bret, no lie. You know Martha is pregnant right?"
Bret patted his back, "Yeah. Julie told me. Congrats, you'll be a great father. You've been a great uncle to my kids that's for sure."
"Yeah, yeah. It's just nerve wrecking. So, how's Kate adjusting so far?"
"I think she likes it but, I don't know. She asked where Lori was today." Bret said with a scene of anxiety.
"Ouch but that's going to happen. Lori would what you to talk to her about it."
Bret slammed his beer on the table, "Well Lori isn't here is she."
"Sorry Bret," Owen paused. "I know talking about her is a tough subject."
Staring out the window, "I wake up every morning, turn next to me and expect to see her there but she isn't. I love Julie, don't get me wrong, but-"
"Boys dinner is ready!" Helen yelled.
"Toby, Brittany, Tory, Harry," Jade took a breather after naming off all of her cousin's to Kate. "This is Jennifer, Kristen but we call her Muffy and Nattie. You got that?"
Kate nodded as five men came into the living room. "I think our long lost niece is in this room, Kate?"
Ascending her tiny palm in the air, she waved. "Hi."
Ross picked her up and lifted her in the air as she giggled, "I'm your uncle Ross and this is your uncle Keith, Bruce, and Wayne."
"Whoa, I have a lot of family." Kate said stretching her head.
Ellie placed her knife on the right side of each plate as Helen walked back in the room. "Everyone should be coming soon. Is everything done?"
"Yes mom. Sit, sit down." Diana said.
"Okay then, fine."
"Hey mom!" Bret said wrapping his arms around her.
"Hey Bret dear. Where's Kate?"
"Grandma!!" Kate said running up to hug her.
"Why hello there. I was just asking about you," Helen sat Kate on her lap.
"Your house is pretty granny." Kate said looking around the full table. "Where's papa?"
"He's on his way. Come sit next to daddy." Bret said.
As everyone laughed and told on the road stories, Smith and Stu walked in the room.
"Sorry I'm late dear," Stu said kissing Helen on the cheek. "Hey kiddos."
"Hey grandpa," Dallas said.
"Now let's eat." Stu sat down at the head of the table surveying his family. "Looks like we had a guest Helen."
"Papa!" Kate whined. "I'm over here!"
After dinner, Kate sneaked down to the dungeon to find Bret. She got chills when she went down the dark stairs with a Popsicle in her hand.
"Daddy…" She whispered.
"Baby, what are you doing down here? Go back upstairs." Bret advised.
"Come on son, let the girl. Come here Kate." Stu signaled her to sit on his lap.
Kate stuck her tongue out her dad; he did the same, while the brothers wrestled on the mat putting each other in different holds.
"Ouch!" Kate covered her eyes but Stu put them down.
"No, no, no. You must learn to deal and respect wrestling Kate." Stu said. "You know how important wrestling is to your family."
Kate mumbled, "Yes papa."
"Good. Maybe one day you'll be a wrestler!" Stu's stated causing everyone to stop.
"Papa, I want to be a superstar!" The boys laughed.
Stu sniggered, "You are very much like your moth-" Bret cleared his throat and gave his father a look.
"Very much like your father."
The sun blared in Kate's face the next morning as she tugs at her clothes.
"Kate Scarlet, keep your jacket on!" Bret said pulling up to the school. For the past two months, Kate has noticed the routine her daddy has with leaving and coming home and even though she doesn't really understand what exactly he's doing. Bret has a pit in his stomach when they get out of the truck and he sees Kate's worried eyes when she looks at all the kids.
"What if these kids don't like me?" Kate said adjusting her uniform.
"Well, there's this thing I do before I go to work everyday that makes me feel better. Wanna know what it is?" Bret said.
"I am Bret Hart and I'm the best there ever is, was and will be. Now you said it."
"I am Bret Hart and I'm the best there ever is, was and will be." Kate said proudly.
Bret smiled, "You've got to say to yourself, I am Kate Hart and I'm the best there ever is, was and will be." Bret slid on her backpack on her shoulder.
"I am Kate Hart, and I'm the best there ever is, was and will be."
"Be strong woman! Julie will be here after school to pick you up, k?"
"Wait, are you leaving?" She sighed again.
"We've talked about this remember, wrestling. Vince McMahon is my boss and he needs me."
"OK, ok." Kate sees Bret pointing at his cheek for a kiss. "I love you daddy."
"I love you too. I told Julie to have you call me after your first day ok."
"Hello there, you must be Kate. I'm Mrs. Williams. I'll be your teacher. You ready to come inside." Kate hugged her dad one more time and he began to tear up on her shoulder.
"We'll take good care of her," Mrs. William's whispered.
Bret got back in the truck and stared out the car window as Kate opened the schoolhouse doors. She blow him a kiss, Bret caught it and drove towards the airport.