It had been over an hour that they were in the bathroom and he was feeling like shit. How could he have been so insensitive to her? Sure, they had talked about having a baby, but it never went as far as that, just a talk. She was still on the pill and he had always thought that they'd been careful and safe. But he did say what he said and now he needs to apologize to her for it. He kept watching the bathroom door and as he did he thought of all the things he could use to say he was sorry like roses, balloons, cupcakes, chocolate, and her favorite, shoes. As he sat there he realized that not a single one of these material things would really work. What he needs to do was tell her what was in his heart. This would be the only way to make her believe what an ass he really was.

Xx

Alexis gently caresses her mom's back hoping that it would bring her some relief. This is what had had her acting the way she was earlier she thinks. She wanted to soothe her and decided to make her dad the sacrificial lamb because let's be honest here, he did deserve it. They sat on the tiled floor with Kate close to the toilet, just in case then Alexis had an idea…

"Mom, dad can be a jerk sometimes, I swear he can, but the both of us should gang up on him, so we'll make a plan on how to do that later. But are you feeling any better now? Has the nausea settled down any?"

Kate was just about over the nausea and before she could tell her daughter that, she let lose a small giggle about what she said about Rick. But her thoughts went right back to the here and now. Her first thought was will this be an ongoing symptom? She just found out that she's having a baby and she is not too sure how far along she is yet. She really needs to see her doctor and as soon as possible.

"Sweetie, I'm feeling a bit better. But I can't say for sure if it will happen again though."

"Don't worry about that mom. We'll deal with it if it happens again. I'll be here for you, not like some of the male species that live here in this house." Alexis said.

Kate felt her heart warm at what was just said by her daughter. At least she had one person she could count on. This would be a long and hard road ahead. But she'd make it through with her daughter's help.

"Thanks, baby!"

They were both startled by the knock on the door and the timid pronouncing of her name by her husband.

"Kate…."

"You feel like talking to him? Alexis asked in a whisper.

"Not sure. But sweetie, while it might be fun to gang up on him, and god knows we should, this is something he wasn't expecting. I'll bet you anything, that he thought we were being safe. And as far as I know, we were. But what I can't believe is his reaction to this. I know that he is still trying to figure out how we got into this situation."

"Mom? Tell me that you're not thinking about, um, uh…." Her face went ashen in color when Kate looked at her daughter.

"Alexis just what are you asking me?"

Alexis noticed the way she was talking about them being safe and now she was pregnant she felt that the tone she used was more one of rejection or denial towards their baby so she had to be sure. She just came out with it.

"Mom, do you want to keep this baby?" She asked expecting the worst.

Kate's eyes went wide. At first, she was too stunned to say anything. How could Alexis think this? She scrambled to put together some words and get them out but came up blank. Two minutes had passed and the silence between them was deafening. But after finally getting her voice back she spoke.

"Alexis, listen to me, I want this child! There's no question in my mind, none at all. So, put that thought right out of your head! I'm keeping this baby."

"Okay, mom and I'm sorry for thinking that. Should I leave and let him in?"

"Yeah, I think we let him suffer long enough for now, don't you?" Alexis nodded and got up off the bathroom floor and then helped Kate up. She moved to unlock the door but before she could her mom stopped her by placing her hand on her arm. Turning around her mom said, "I love you, sweetie."

"I love you too, mom."

With that said she unlocked the door and left almost running into her father who was bent halfway over with his ear against the door trying to listen in. Knowing that she caught him in the act she told him,

"Seriously dad?" She threw her arms up in disgust and stormed out past him with a repulsed look on her face.

Seeing his wife give him the stink eye and a dirty look, he rose to a standing position knowing it was that bad. At first, he just stood there hoping that she would be the one to say something, god he'd even be okay with her yelling at him at this point.

"Kate… I just want to say that I'm so very so….

Kate cut him off before he could finish the whole word.

She would always be amazed by this man. He had a way to make her feel loved by saying something that caught her off guard but she needed to know why he felt the way he did.

"Why are you sorry? I really want to know why you are sorry. Do you think that I'd be a terrible mom?"

"Kate, no I don't think that at all I'd…."

"Do you think I'm too old to have this baby?"

"Come on Kate, now you're being completely ridiculous! Where is all this coming from?"

"Where is this coming from? Rick, you asked me if I was sure about being pregnant how could I not be? Listen, it takes two people to make a baby. How more positive could I be?" Kate asked him.

"Babe, you dropped a lot on me with no time to react…."

"Rick…" Kate started to interrupt him but was shushed by him quickly.

"No Kate, please let me talk." He held her by the shoulders and told her sincerely "Now, I realize that it was the wrong reaction and for that, I'm so very, very, sorry. I never meant to make you feel that I never cared that you're carrying our baby. But I do care."

Rick reached over to her and took her hand in his and she returned his act of affection. As he pulled her closer, he started to kiss her cheek and moved closer to her lips. But right before he kissed her he asked her,

"Kate, can you give me a second chance and tell me again? Like a do-over?"

He was in no way off the hook yet but she would always be amazed by the size of this man's heart. He always gave her what she wanted and never asked for that much in return. She was just about to tell him again when his phone rang and he gave her a miserable look. Since he had been promoted to Captain he had been given more responsibility that closely resembled more time in the office and less time out in the field. He looks to his wife and then back to the phone and tells her,

"Babe, I really need to get this. Please hold that thought."

"Rodgers." Rick answered.

"Captain, it's Smitty. We have a situation down at 1 WTC. It might be nothing at all, but with what that building has been through so far, I'd rather not risk anything."

"Lieutenant Williams, what exactly are you saying?" Rick asked.

"Rick, there was a low water pressure alarm that originated from the 63rd floor. It showed a drop in pressure in the standpipe system from 64 up to the top floor. The loss of pressure caused a water leak that is now draining down the elevator shaft from 63 down to 51. So, floors 64 thru 104 have no water supply leaving them unprotected in case of a fire and I don't the FDNY will like that so much."

"Where are you, Smitty? And please tell me that you heading there now." Rick asked.

"Rick, this is me we're talking about here! I'm heading towards the 63rd floor to see what this. I'm just about to step into the elevator."

"Smitty just keep me updated. If we need to roll on this at least we can be ready."

"I'll let you know what's going on boss."

The call ended and a look of distress came across his face. What if this was some kind of possible threat? There were so many scenarios that ran through his head right now. But he could only come back to the thought that this could just be a new building and parts can fail, this could be nothing at all. Couldn't it?

"Rick, what's wrong?" Kate asked.

She had seen the look in his eyes and then his problem-solving look quickly took over. Whatever he was thinking about, she did not have his full attention on their current issue standing in the bathroom.

"Kate, it could be nothing. But for now, I will wait until Smitty calls back. Now, where were we?"

"Babe, listen I might have been a little harsh about your reaction before. But we do need to talk about this, what you said really hurt me."

"Kate, it's me who should be sorry. I was an ass and I will do whatever it takes to see you smile again. So, do you know how far along you are?"

Kate saw him in a new light now totally committed to their child and she knew that they'd be okay.

"Not yet. But I will need to make a doctor's appointment to find out. So, you're okay with this?" Kate asked as her hand swept downward along her baby bump protectively.

He had really made a mess of things, so much so that she needed to ask if he was okay with her bringing a new life into the world. A life that they created. He would now do everything to make her believe that he wanted this baby just as much as she did.

"I'm more than okay, babe….