Previously

"So, why did you become a cop?"

After a while silence I look up from the sink to her, she had a look which told me everything, something happened to her or someone close, I… Umm…. What do I say? She probably doesn't want me to ask, right?

Now, Ricks Prov

"Sorry" I answer it's the only thing that came to mind I don't know if it was for asking or what happened.

"S'Okay…. I ummm better be going" putting her head down and her hair falls around her face.

"No, no you don't not yet, I'm sorry for asking I just want to get to know you" jumping in front of her as she turns around.

"Why?" She asks barley above a whisper.

"Because I think your worth getting to know" I give hopeful smile.

"But I'm broken" She whispers, I put my hands on her shoulders slowly not sure if this is ok.

"No, no you're not broken, you may have baggage but all good people have, I have baggage" I give her another hopeful, wary smile.

"What's your baggage?" Looking up at me with a small smile.

I smile back "Where do you want me to start?" Wanting to hear her Laugh again, but it falls short, I sigh a bit, I take her hand and pull her to the table and sit her down carefully on the pulled-out chair. Still holding her hand and rub circles on the back of her hand.

"I'm not competing but I have a long list" With no answer but a smile I carry on "I have a kid for starters, then my public image, which is not me" I give with a playful smile "I don't know my dad, So having a girl worked in my favour because I don't need to teach her to play rugby or even baseball" Giving another playful smile and receiving a small one back "Huh, My ex-wife, her mother" Nodding to the door where on the other side Alexis was sleeping "Cheated on me, many times, but me being me I didn't listen to the whispers I wanted her to have both parents, until I walked in to them in our bed, she didn't even try to move just smiled at me" Laughing sadly at myself "I just grabbed Alexis who was crying in the next room and walked out" I looked around the small kitchen "Wish I chucked her out now" Chuckling at my stupid self-sadly.

"I'm sorry"

"Hey, it's been two weeks I'm over it, hey maybe you and Ryan, was it? can go and chuck her and who ever she got there out of my loft, she taking ages to move out" Giving her a smile and she chuckles sadly back.

"So, what happened to you? you don't have to tell me tho"

"Ummmm… My mother umm…."

She carried on telling me about how her mother died and how it changed her and her relationships and the effect on her father about all her worries. And finally breaking down, I bring her in to a hug moving on to my knees in front of her as she berries her head into my shoulder, we stay there for a while, I was enjoying her smell and just being close, I think I'm in love put I always get shot down for 'wearing my heart on my sleeve' as my mother would say. Yeah in love how many times have that been? I have the worst love life ever.

"Sorry" She mumbles in to my shirt.

"It's ok, who doesn't love a good cry, my shoulders always open as Alexis or my mother would tell you"

She laughs in to my shoulder.

"God I haven't cried in front of anyone for a while" pushing away from me.

I just gave her a reinsuring smile "Hey, want some food I'm sure I could make something up from the fridge and cupboards Alexis went to bed on an empty stomach so she may wake up to the smell" Giving mischievous smile. Which earned an eye roll and quirk of her lips, funny how quickly she can change to herself. This woman was extraordinary.

"Yeah ok I'm a little hungry"

"Great want to help?"

"Yeah"

"Ok look in the fridge I'll look around the cupboards"

"Ok"

Within 30mintuies we boiled pasta and peas, we sat at the table with chocolate and strawberry milkshake in front of us with chips in the microwave. The ding of the microwave sounded telling us our chips were done, I got up and got the box for each of us.

"Daddy" Came a sleepy voice as I sat down I looked behind me, there was my beautiful daughter leaning sleepily on the door frame.

"Come here"

She shuffles her feet over to me and I pick her up on to my lap she gives a sleepy smile and 'hey, Kat' to Kate who gave a smile and a 'Hey' back. Before Alexis slowly grabbing my fork and picking at my food I turned keeping my arm around her waist and open a draw and grabbed another fork, lucky I made enough for 2 on my plate. I ate over Alexis' shoulder while talking to Kate as she ate, I was succeeding in making her laugh but also earing an eyerolls off her, I'm in love with those eyerolls. Me and Alexis made a right mess with the pasta and peas we did a small argument over who was going to get the last chip Alexis won not like I was going to take a chip away from my baby. Which she dipped in to my milkshake, which ended in a detailed explanation to Kate why we did that. Kate was laughing the whole time over her food.

With food finished, we all sat at the table talking, normally Alexis would be begging to go to bed now, she reminds me when its 9 and that she must be in bed but tonight she's fighting it, probably because Kate is here. I check the time on my watch 11pm wow she is fighting it.

"Come on pumpkin time for bed I think"

"But daddy I'm not tired"

"It's 11, come on"

She looks at me for a moment back to Kate, who's smiling at her.

"11?"

"Yeah"

"Ok, Kate be here when I wake up?"

"No, I'm going home, to my bed" Giving a smile.

"Oh, Wish I could do that, but daddy's my heater and pillow! that's better than my own bed, but I miss my teddys" I give a sad smile and kiss her temple.

"What I'm not a good teddy" In mock horror. Earn a giggle from both girls.

"Yes, daddy you look funny in fairy wings" Giggling at me. And Kate full on laughs out loud.

"Ok guys I'm going to go alright I have an early day tomorrow" giving a huge smile

"You come over tomorrow?" Asks Alexis

"Umm no I have a big shift and I promised Lanie a girl's day out, But I'll try the next day"

"Ok" she mumbles.

"I'll try not tomorrow but the next ok"

"Ok" She says with a smile.

"We'll show you out, maybe I can have your number or something?" I ask hopefully.

"Umm sure" Getting up and holding out her hand, which I put my phone in to.

"Umm no password? You got have a lot of Games?" I shrug

"Nothing to hide and Alexis and I vs each other"

"Of course, you do" Rising an eyebrow at me.

I shrug again and give her a smile as she passes over my phone, and walks out to the kitchen door.

Me and Alexis follow her though to the front door, as she opens it Alexis gives he a hug which is happily taken with a smile on her face. As she walks back outside and Alexis takes her place by my hip.

"Bye I'll see you Thursday, hopefully" she says looking to Alexis then me and we both give a smile back.

"We'll be here" I answer.

"Bye" She says walking away.

"Bye" We answer in union.

"Daddy, I'm tired" I laugh

"Come on" Picking her up and putting her down on the bed while I get changed into my cotton flannel trousers, I would put on a top but I quickly realized that it was way too hot when I get used as a pillow. I slide in next to Alexis who moves in to my side and I put my arm around her, as she uses my shoulder as a pillow, I pull the covers over us and I fall into a sleep thinking of Alexis and Kate and the future.

Hey, only another 2 chapters to go. hope you've enjoyed it so far.