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[Late Night Snack]
March 24th, 2014 (Just over 14 weeks)
Slowly coming through, Kate drowsily opened her eyes and was greeted with the snoring form of her husband. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, his face smooth and free of lines, making him look younger and more innocent. Reaching a hand over, she delicately ran a hand up and down his arm, her fingers drawing patterns over the soft skin.
She loved watching him like this, the quietness and intimacy of it all wrapping her up in a soft, warm blanket. Her lips curved upward in a smile as she moved her hand up to his head, brushing away the few tendrils of hair that cascaded his forehead, and threading the fine hair between her fingers.
Kate continued with her ministrations, totally at ease. This went on for a few minutes, her thoughts anywhere and everywhere at once. It was hard to believe she was starting her second trimester. How time flew on by, and she couldn't have been more thankful that soon the morning sickness would be over.
She had read in a magazine at the doctor's a few weeks back and learned that the second trimester was known as the "honeymoon phase", meaning that the next three months would be the easiest. But it also meant that her belly would be growing, revealing her pregnancy to the world.
Rick has been a bit on edge about her showing, not wanting the paparazzi to catch wind of the pregnancy. The paparazzi were like hungry wolves, waiting for the opportune moment to hunt and kill their prey. They were ruthless and would stop at nothing to get the juice and pulp they needed for their story. Rick and Kate were just surprised that they've managed to keep it on the down low, being extra cautious.
But as Kate lay there, the more she thought that it was going to get difficult these next couple of months. They would be out in public at a party or out on a case and some low life would capture a picture, sending it off to the magazine that paid the most. Of course, the paparazzi would find out eventually, it was bound to happen, but she didn't want it to be done in a cynical way.
The idea of talking to Rick about this in the morning put Kate at ease. They'd give a statement to Paula who would then give it to the press. It would be professional and in their control, unlike if a scumbag snapped a photo of them and sold it to the highest bidder without their knowledge. Only to find out about it in the following morning's headlines.
No, it'd be better to do this through Paula. No mess, no fuss.
Sighing lightly, Kate grinned at her still sleeping husband before, as silently as she could, she climbed out of bed. Lifting the covers off her body, she walked out of the room and headed for the kitchen.
All the thinking made her hungry.
Her bare feet padded against the cold wood flooring, the coolness of the ground sending tingles up her spine. Opening the refrigerator door, she searched for something to eat, but eventually came across nothing appetizing. Her stomach grumbled as she moved over to the pantry, seeing if she'd get lucky and find something in there. But, as luck would have it, there was not a single thing in there that grabbed her attention.
Rubbing a hand on her belly, Kate shuffled over to the cabinets and decided to make herself some tea, see if that would calm her never ending hunger. She pulled out a kettle, pouring water in it before placing it on the stove and flicking it on. It only took a few minutes for the water to boil; placing the tea bag in the ceramic mug, she then began to pour the boiled water in.
Sitting down on one of the bar stools, she took a deep sniff of the drink before taking a tentative sip. But as soon as the drink hit her taste buds, she felt like she was going to be sick. Quickly dashing to the sink, she spat out the tea, dumping the rest of it down the drain.
So much for that, she thought with a groan. What else was there for her to eat?
Going through the refrigerator and pantry again, she still couldn't find something to settle her stomach. Dropping her head, she stood at the refrigerator door, trying to think of something that sounded somewhat appetizing. Minutes passed before a smile crossed her lips, the thought of this particular food making her grin like no other.
The only problem was that this item of food was not anywhere in her home. She'd have to go to the store and pick some up, but a glance at the clock on the microwave told her that it was quarter past three, she really didn't feel like going out at this time of the night but her stomach gave another moan in protest.
An idea popping in her head, she smirked to herself as she walked back to the bedroom. Pushing the door open she could see Rick passed out on the bed, his body now taking up the entire space. He laid on his back, his arms and legs spread out, one arm dangling off the side. The covers were strewn out on the ground, only a small portion of the sheets remained on the bed, covering his left foot.
Shaking her head, she bit her lip to hold in the laugh that was threatening to burst out of her at the sight. For some unknown reason, she found it hilarious. Maybe it was the fact that she would be waking sleeping beauty from his deep slumber, forcing him to go out and fetch her food.
Yeah, that was it.
Kate climbed on the bed, sitting cross-legged as she began to poke and prod his stomach with her index finger. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," she whispered, but he didn't stir. Deciding that she had to be more thorough in her approach, Kate started to tickle him, her fingers moving swiftly over his t-shirt covered stomach.
He was up in a flash.
Swatting her hands, away Rick groaned and tried to move over away from her relentless fingers. "Go back to sleep," he mumbled, tucking himself in a ball.
Not having any of it, she got a strong grip on his arm and yanked him toward her so that he was back on his back. "Rick, I need to talk to you and I can't do that if you pass out on me."
A deep breath could be heard from his side of the bed, and he sat up slowly, propping a pillow behind his back. He rubbed at his eyes, trying to erase the remains of sleep from them. "I'm up. Now what is it?"
Biting her lip, Kate scooted closer to him. Practically sitting down on his lap, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I'm hungry."
What she wasn't expecting was for him to laugh. She didn't find this funny at all; in fact she found it quite the opposite.
Throwing his head back as laughter burst out of him, Rick's body shook with tremors while Kate sat there with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.
This wasn't funny. And so, Kate told him so.
"Come on, Rick. It's not funny. I'm starving and we have like no food in that kitchen!"
His laughter stopped after a bit, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but when you said we needed to talk I didn't think it was going to be about food." He noticed her gloomy expression and he immediately regretted laughing at her earlier. Dropping his head to his chest, he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I laughed, okay? I wasn't being very considerate of your feelings and I feel really bad about it."
"No you don't." Kate pouted, acting like a child.
He pulled her in tighter. "What can I do to make it up to you? I'll do anything to get you to smile again." He was used to these mood swings of hers, but the only difference from this time and the previous is that Kate was faking it. She only put on this act to get him to do what she wanted him to do: get her food.
So far her plan was working.
As soon as the words left Rick's lips, Kate's demeanor changed in a flash. He was going to make it up to her. Perfect.
"Actually," she grinned, beginning to fiddle with the sleeve of his black t-shirt. "There is a little something you could do for me..."
Rick nodded and his answer was immediate. "What is it?"
Tucking her head down, her hair creating a cover to hide her growing smirk, she told him her list. "Could you go pick me up some peanut butter; ice cream, the sugary kind none of that organic crap; uh waffle fries; a jar of pickles; some toffee candy; and I have a real craving for some Taco Bell burritos smothered in hot sauce..."
He stared at her dumbfounded, his mouth open slightly and his eyes wide. "Oh, is that all?" He asked jokingly.
"Actually, no," she stated after some thought. "I'd really like a big jar of black olives, too."
She has to be joking; he thought as the processed all of the items on her list. She never was a Taco Bell fan before so why now? He looked at her with a confused expression, not entirely sure on what to do about all of that.
Rick didn't know what to say to that. He'd never experienced any of this when Meredith was pregnant with Alexis because he had been shut off from the whole thing, well, other than the actual birth of his daughter. So as far as Rick knew, this was a whole new ballgame for him.
"And, uh, you want me to get you all of that...now?" A glance at the clock on the bedside table. "Kate, it's almost three-thirty. Do you really need me to go to the store right this minute? Can't it wait until a decent hour of the day?"
"Now would be better," she said deadpanned, the only thoughts on her mind were that of the food she so desperately craved. "Please, I'm so hungry."
He really didn't have a choice in the matter, did he? She would just continually bug him about it. If he goes now, then he won't have to hear about it later.
Squeezing her tightly in his arms, he nodded. "Okay, okay. I'll go."
A squeal escaped Kate's lips as she hugged him tightly, her mouth finding his in a kiss. "Thank you! Thank you!" She peppered his face in kisses.
Rick kissed her back briefly before he removed himself from her grasp, hopping out of bed and stretching his limbs above his head. A few bones cracked, it gave him both relieve and a bit of pain. Trying to tame his messy hair, Rick disappeared behind the bathroom door, leaving Kate all alone.
She grinned mischievously to herself, happy that her plan had worked. She was going to get her food. Finally.
About a minute had gone by before Rick made an appearance, his hair somewhat combed. With a clean mouth and face, Rick shuffled over to the closet to produce a sweatshirt and sneakers. Kate's eyes were on him the entire time, watching his every movement. He was sluggishly moving to the bed, sitting down to tie his sneakers.
With a quick kiss good-bye, Rick left the loft, keys and wallet in hand.
"Kate!" Rick called from the front door, his arms full of brown paper bags and a white plastic bag, the Taco Bell logo on the front. "Food's here!"
It took not two seconds for Kate to bound in from the bedroom, stalking toward him. He leaned down for a kiss, but Kate didn't pay him any attention merely taking the bags and heading toward the kitchen counter. She needed the food and now.
Pilfering through the many bags, she took everything out and surveyed to make sure everything was there.
It wasn't.
"Um, Rick?"
He joined her at the counter, eyebrows raised in question as he stuffed his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie. "Hmm?"
Double-checking through all of the items, Kate let out a disappointed moan. "Did you forget to pick up the toffee candy? I don't see it in here."
Staring at her with a blank expression, he racked his brain as he tried to remember if that was on the list or not. It took him a few minutes, but Kate knew the minute he figured it out. There was a certain look of recognition on his face.
"Oh." Nervously, he ran a shaking hand at the back of his neck. "I- I will go pick those up then."
Giving him a nod of approval, Kate turned to her focus to the pile of food in front of her. "Thanks, Writer Man."
With Kate's back turned to him, Rick shot her a glare, raising his hands in the air and making a motion to choke her before turning on his heel. This was so irritating! She was driving him absolutely crazy! Going out in the wee hours of the night to fetch her an assortment of food when he should be sleeping.
"Be back in a bit," he tossed out over his shoulder, grabbing his keys and wallet out of the small bowl on the table near the front door before heading back out. "Frustrating woman," he mumbled sourly to himself as soon as he shut the door.
He had a feeling that this was just the beginning. Great...just great.
Ta-da! :)
Hope you all like it! I had quite a bit of fun with this chapter! Always fun to write scenes like this! :) Please let me know what you think by leaving a review! They are greatly appreciated! Next chapter will be posted on SATURDAY (February 16th) Until next time!
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