Hello,

Here is chapter three. There are a few weeks covered here, and it felt a bit weird writing about the holidays when they aren't quite here yet. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Rick had insisted that they decorated the apartment for Christmas together. In the lead up to finals their schedules made it quite difficult to find the time to do it, so they found themselves decorating a week before Christmas Day. Kate found herself regretting allowing her over-zealous boyfriend buying the tree by himself. It was massive, and the first thought Kate had when she saw it was that they might just lose their security deposit on the apartment if the tree damaged the ceiling.

"Where did you get all these decorations?" She questioned as she tried to untangle the lights he had given her. They didn't have the money for anything new, but she could tell the tinsel was slightly worn, and some of the baubles were cracked.

"Mother is being whisked away by Mike for the holidays, so she said that we could use her stuff." Kate rolled her eyes at Rick's distain as he mentioned Martha's latest boyfriend. She'd find his mistrust of Mike cute, if he hadn't been the same with the last guy Martha had been dating.

"That's sweet of her," Kate replied. She stood up from her spot on the floor, something that she hated to admit she was finding increasingly difficult, and walked towards him on his spot on the step ladder. She handed him the first set of lights for him to wrap around the tree.

"I guess. It will be weird not seeing her over the Christmas though. When I was a kid, she always made sure that it was something we'd do just the two of us." He explained, sounding a little sorry for himself as he wrapped the lights around the tree.

"We'll do something with her in the New Year," She placated. Kate sat next to the box of decorations that was on the couch and started to root through. She'd be lying if she said her and Martha had similar ideas of what was tasteful, but she had found a few decorations that weren't too gaudy. She pulled one bauble out of the box and was intrigued when she found it was the only one that was wrapped in some form of tissue paper. She unwrapped it carefully and smiled as she read the inscription on it. "Rick, look at this."

She moved back towards him, the decoration held in her hand, and passed it to him.

"Baby's First Christmas," He read to himself, "She always put this one on the tree last. She explained to me last year that the first Christmas after I was born she hadn't been able to afford to decorate at all, or even buy a tree." He moved down the step ladder and stood in front of Kate, "She had seen this in a shop somewhere and made the decision to buy it anyway. That first Christmas was just the two of us, in our undecorated shoebox apartment. Her parents never had anything to do with her after I was born, but she said it was the happiest she had ever been."

Kate suddenly found herself respecting Martha more than she ever had before. She had moments when the idea of becoming a mother seemed so terrifying that it took her breath away. She couldn't imagine doing it all totally alone. She imagined a young Martha, clutching the very bauble in her boyfriends hands, stood in a store feeling guilty that she was unable to provide a good first Christmas for her son. Kate was so grateful for the woman, and the amazing son she had raised.

"Kate, are you ok?"

"Yeah. Just pleased that if someone had to knock me up it was you." She said lightly, hoping to keep the snarky conversation they had been doing all day. She leant forward and kissed him gently, stopping him from responding. "Now finish getting those lights up so we can get decorating."


Now that finals were over, Kate found herself with very little to do. Rick, however, still had work, and had even picked up some shifts at a bar where one of his classmates worked to make extra money. She really did appreciate everything he was doing, but she missed him. They were living together, and she felt like she was seeing him less now than she had when she was still in High School.

Kate had raised the point that she could also get a job, and earn some money to keep them going. She had actually looked into a few vacancies without telling him, but as soon as the places she enquired found out she was expecting, their interest in her dwindled. It turns out that hiring someone who was going to leave again in 6 months time wasn't exactly ideal.

That's how she found herself alone on Christmas Eve, sat in their apartment sorting through the few items of baby clothes they had bought so far. She was only a few days away from entering her 17th week of pregnancy. It was scary to think that she was close to being half way through, and whilst she had protested on the few occasions Rick had insisted they bought something for the baby, she was pleased that she had them now. Tangible proof, beyond the tiny bump she was now sporting. It was visible now through most of her clothing, apart from her thick winter sweaters, but she was sure she could still pass it off as having eaten too much if necessary.

They were going to start thinking about the nursery in the New Year. The room that would serve as the nursery was tiny, and was right next to their own bedroom. When they had first moved in they had laughed that the estate agent had claimed it could serve as a second bedroom, and had said they would just use it as storage for a few things.

Kate had just finished sorting everything into a small storage box when the door opened, signalling Rick's return.

"Hey, babe," She said without turning to him, "How was work?" He walked past her, pressing a kiss into the top of her head, before moving into the kitchen.

"Gross. I kind of feel like I need to wash the feeling of that bar off of me. Hey, you started dinner."

"Yeah, I thought it was probably my turn. I also went down to the mail box and collected the mail, I realised we hadn't done it in a few days. There's something there for you." She got up from the couch and walked over to him so she could check the food on the stove. He put his arms around her and kissed her neck. "Oh gross, you do smell awful." She squealed as she tried to squirm away.

"That's nice, coming from the mother of my only child," She turned her head to look over her shoulder at him and raised her eyebrows.

"Open your letter, it's from one of the publishers you went to at the end of last month."

"Ah, another rejection letter" He stated forlornly as he picked the letter up off the counter and looked at the insignia on the envelope. Black Pawn Publishing. "Get ready for an evening of comforting your poor, stinky boyfriend, Kate." He opened the top of the envelope and pulled the letter out.

"Well you'd have to shower first, babe. Then I'm happy to do all the comforting you need." She expected a retort, their usual banter tended to flow even when either one of them was upset about something. He didn't respond. After a few more seconds of silence she turned from the stove to see him staring at the letter he was holding in his hands. "What's wrong, Rick?"

When he still didn't respond she took a step so she could stand next to him. She pulled the letter from his hand so she could read it herself.

Dear Mr Rodgers,

We are delighted to inform you that we are interested in publishing the manuscript that you recently submitted to our office. Confirmation of this publication taking place would be based on meeting with you to discuss a potential contract.

Please contact this office and advise when you are able to….

"Oh my god," She exclaimed after reading the first sentence. "They want to publish you, Rick!" He looked at her, finally out of his apparent state of shock.

"They want to publish my book." He pulled her in for a fierce kiss and then a hug that was just as passionate, causing the letter in her hands to become crumbled as she hugged him back.

"Congratulations, Rick. I'm so proud of you." She pulled back from the hug to kiss him again.

"This will make things so much easier, Kate. I know the first book wouldn't get me a massive advance, and it might not even sell, but if it does I wouldn't have to work at awful dive bars so we can get by."

She wanted to tell him to not get ahead of himself, but he just looked so excited that she couldn't bring herself to do so. His excitement was infectious, and she started to imagine what it could be like if the only obstacle they had was her working out her classes around motherhood. The idea of Rick being at home with the baby, and there not having to be a handover as she got home from college so he could go out to work made her feel lighter than she had in weeks.

She quickly extracted herself from his arms and turned off the stove. She moved back into his arms.

"Come on, lets go celebrate."

"I thought you said I needed a shower first."

"Well then, it's a good thing that the shower can just about fit the two of us."


"Rick, are you ready?" She called into the bedroom, "We don't want to be late."

"It's a New Years Party, as long as we are there before midnight we can't be late."

"That may be, but this is a party at my parent's place. So I really don't want to give my Dad any ammunition to act up this evening." He walked out of the bedroom in his dark blue shirt and black dress pants. She stared at him for a second, and found it incredibly difficult to resist the urge to push him back into the bedroom and have her wicked way with him. Her stomach had been feeling strange on and off all day though, so she really didn't think sex was the best idea.

She'd read in one of the many, many, pregnancy books he had borrowed from the library that the second trimester was the best of the three for many women. Kate had found that, just as the books had suggested, she suddenly wanted Rick all the time. Their sex life had always been healthy, but recently every tiny thing he did seemed to turn her on. She really needed to get a grip on it if she was going to spend the evening in the company of her parent's and their colleagues.

"Oh, I know that look. Do you think we could spare another 30 minutes?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, and looked incredibly smug.

"Believe me when I say that I would love to, but we seriously need to get going." She responded, hoping he wouldn't try to push her any further. Then they really would be late and she didn't know how she could explain that to her parents. Despite the fact she was already pregnant, she thought it was best for everybody involved if her parents knew as little about her sex life as possible, "But maybe when we get back later? When you're a drunk and I'm as sober as a judge."

"You're 19, you'd have been sober anyway." He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She moved her arms around his neck and went onto her tip toes to glance a kiss across his lips.

"Says the guy who was sneaking me drinks when my Dad wasn't looking last year."


The party had already been in full swing when they arrived. The drinks were free flowing, and she could see a number of her parent's colleagues were well on their way to being drunk. The television was on in the living room, currently on mute, so people could keep track of time to watch the ball drop. Kate made small talk with a few people, and lost track of Rick who must have been doing the same.

About an hour after arriving Kate found herself stood in her childhood bedroom nursing a soda, looking around the room that held so many memories for her. Whilst most of her stuff was now gone, it still looked like her room. The single bed was still in there, and she smiled as she thought of the nights her and Rick and spent in there, forced to cuddle up together, when her parents were out of town. She had posters of her favourite bands on the walls, but what Kate found herself staring at was the noticeboard she had on the wall above the bed.

There was a mixture of pictures of her and her parents, some with her friends, as well as photos of her and Rick throughout their relationship as well as other keepsakes. She smiled as her eyes flicked over the flyer from the poetry slam she had insisted they went to on the night of her senior prom, even though he almost begged to take her to the dance.

Most prominently, right in the centre of the board, was the first photo taken of the two of them after they became official. It was a photo Maddie had taken on a disposable camera one day at school. It was some sporting event, football if she remembered correctly, and she had gone along to cheer the team on. Rick had come along just to spend time with her. She was wearing his Columbia sweater to battle the cold, and they had their arms around each other. Kate loved that photo, and unpinned it from the board to take it home with her.

"Everything alright, Katie?" She flinched, and turned to see her mother stood at the door.

"Yeah. Sorry. I went to the bathroom, got a little distracted on the way back."

"I heard the great news about Ricks books." She said enthusiastically.

"He told you then?"

"Yeah, it was the first thing he said to me when he saw me. He's quite excitable isn't he?" She said fondly, seeing that particular side of her boyfriend in such a positive light. It was one of the first things Johanna had liked about Rick.

"You could do with a little excitement, Katie. You take yourself so seriously."

She had taken offence at the time, but had been able to accept since that it was probably true. Probably.

"You could say that. You should try living with him though!" Kate smiled, but it slipped away as she felt the strange sensation in her stomach again. She moved her hand to rub her bump.

"You ok? Johanna asked concerned, moving towards her.

"Yeah," Kate knew she sounded unconvincing, and this was confirmed by Johanna raising an eyebrow at her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I've just been getting this weird sensation all day. Not cramping or anything, or even nausea. Just weird."

"Does it feel almost like popcorn popping on the inside?" Johanna asked softly.

"I guess so. Why, what does that mean?"

"It means you are feeling the baby moving, Katie." Johanna explained. The smile on her face widened when she saw the look of awe on her daughters face.

"That's what that is?" She sounded excited how, moving both her hands to her stomach. "I read about it in a book, but I didn't expect it to feel so strange. That's amazing." She pulled her mother into a hug and held her tight. "I've got to go tell, Rick." She pulled away and walked quickly away from her bedroom.

"Katie," Johanna called after her. Kate turned at the door to look back at her mom. "You'll be a fantastic, Mom."

"Thanks, Mom." She replied, feeling herself blush. "I've learnt from the best." Kate seemed to suddenly remember why she was rushing out the room in the first place, and turned again to leave. "Love you."

"Love you too."


"Guess what?"

"Shit, Kate. What have I said about sneaking up on me?" She had found him alone in the living room, sat down watching the muted television. She was stood behind him, her mouth level with his ear. "You're like a ninja."

"Oh poor baby." She teased. She walked around the couch and joined him on it, kissing him gently once she was sat next to him, nestled into his arms. "So, are you going to guess?"

"Can I have a clue?"

"No."

"Your Dad has seen the error in his ways and wants to throw me a party for impregnating his only daughter at such a tender age?"

"What, no!" She smacked him gently in the shoulder.

"Shame really. I could do with a party in my honour."

"Rick, please. I'm being serious." He looked at her, tempted to continue with teasing her. He saw how serious she was though. Excitement shone through her eyes, and she had her lips pursed as if it was the only way she was keeping the words from jumping out of her mouth.

"Ok, what is it?"

"I felt the baby move."

His reaction was enough to make the rest of the room fall into silence for a moment, every eye in the room looking at them after his loud outburst.

"Sorry," he stage whispered. "Carry on." The room carried on, with a slight air of confusion and an eye roll from Jim. Rick turned back to his girlfriend, who was still beaming at him. "That's amazing."

He kissed her, deeply, not caring that they were sat in her parents apartment and that her dad was standing just feet away from them.

"It feels so weird, but yeah - it's amazing." She snuggled back into him, both of them content to sit in silence together until it was midnight.


It was around 2am when they made the decision to go home. They were stood at the door of the apartment, exchanging hugs - or in Rick and Jim's case a hand shake - and pleasantries.

"1999. I can't believe it!" Johanna exclaimed. "It's going to be a good year, I can feel it." She was hugging Kate, and as she released her daughter she placed her hand on the bump in between them. "I am so excited to meet this little one."

"Me too." She replied, "So, are you guys up for dinner on the 9th as we planned? We can go to that diner Rick was talking about."

"Definitely." Johanna confirmed.

"Great." Kate pulled fully away from her mother, and turned to her dad. She hugged him too, "I'll see you then, Dad."

"Looking forward to it Katie-Bug."

The use of the childhood nick name would usually irk her, but the sincerity in Jim's voice stopped her retort in her throat.

As she waited with Rick for the elevator down to the ground floor she found herself agreeing with her mother. 1999 was going to be a good year.


And there were are! I'm sure you can imagine what is going to happen next. I wanted to get a little scene between Kate and Johanna in there before the next chapter.

Chapter 4 is already written, I just need to go over it and edit a few things.

Please review :) I was kind of sad this only got two reviews last time.