Changes

Chapter Ten

The next day began very early. Kate awoke to Rick kissing her gently. She smiled against his lips, and murmured, "Morning."

"Good morning, beautiful," Rick replied.

"How is it good? The sun's not even up yet."

"Yes, but seeing the sun rise over Uluru will be worth the early start." Rick rolled out of bed, and grabbed around for some clothes. "So up you get! Long day coming!"

Kate groaned, and rubbed at her eyes. "How long?"

"We fly out this afternoon."

Kate sighed, and sat up. She reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. "Off to Perth?"

"Yeah." Rick walked around to Kate's side of the bed, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "How are you?" he asked seriously.

"I'm fine," Kate replied, slightly confused. "How are you?"

"I'm wonderful," Rick replied, leaning down the kiss her again. "Having you here with me has made this the most perfect trip of my life."

Kate rolled her eyes, but she smiled anyway, and got out of bed. She dressed quickly, and threw her hair into a bun to keep it out of her face. She watched Rick as he quickly packed their bags, and finished by putting on his shoes.

"Ready?" he asked when he'd finished.

"Yeah," Kate replied, and she took his hand as he offered it.

"Well, let's go then."

"Good morning!" said Reg happily as Rick and Kate arrived at his car to drive out to Uluru. It was still dark, and Kate yawned.

"Morning, Reg," Rick replied, equally as happily.

"Bit early for you, Kate?" Reg asked with a smile as he opened the car door for Rick and Kate to get in.

"I've gotten used to sleeping in," Kate answered. "Holidays will do that to you."

"Well, I'm sure you're going to enjoy this," Reg replied. "Uluru is definitely spectacular as the sun rises."

Reg wasn't wrong, Kate decided, as they watched the sun rise. It lit up the rock with beautiful colours and Kate leant into Rick as they watched. Despite all the tourists and noise, Kate felt as though she and Rick were alone in this amazing place.

"Thank you," she murmured to Rick after the sun had risen.

"Any time," Rick replied, pressing a kiss to the top of Kate's head.

After the sun had risen enough to light the sky, Reg drove them back to Yulara, and they went for breakfast at their hotel. The rest of the day went quickly enough, with a drive out to The Olgas, another rock formation, followed by lunch, and finally back out to the airport.

Kate slept for the flight into Perth, and Rick tapped away on his laptop. Occasionally he would look across at his wife and smile. When they landed in Perth, Rick gently woke Kate for the second time that day, and grinned at her dishevelled appearance.

"We've landed," he said.

"Wonderful," Kate replied, rubbing her eyes. She cast a glance at her watch, and Rick chuckled. "What?"

"You'll have to change your watch again, time difference and all that."

Kate rolled her eyes at him again, a trait she never managed to overcome, and a trait that Rick didn't really mind at all.

"Anyway, we'll get to our hotel, then find somewhere to eat and have an early night. How does that sound?" Rick asked.

"That sounds perfect," Kate replied, as she recovered her cabin luggage.

They made their way off the plane, and into the domestic terminal of the Perth Airport. They collected their bags, and went to catch a taxi into the city. They checked in to their hotel, and then went for a walk through Perth city.

"It's really much smaller than Sydney," Kate said as they wandered through the city's two malls.

"Yeah," Rick replied. "It's kinda nice though. Seems a lot harder to get lost."

"True."

"So, food?"

"Sounds good."

They found a small restaurant and had a nice dinner together, revelling in being together and away from the hustle of New York.

When they made it back to the hotel, Kate collapsed onto the bed and sighed loudly.

"Ah, Rick," she said. "This trip has been wonderful. Thank you so much for everything."

Rick fell onto the bed face down next to Kate, and flung an arm over her midsection. "Any time, Kate."

Kate reached up to undo her hair, and she ran her fingers through it to loosen up the knots. Rick watched as she did, and he rolled onto his side, propping his head up with an arm. He licked his lips, and watched her as she stared back at him.

"What?" Kate eventually asked?

"Nothing," he replied.

"You're staring at me again."

"You're my wife. I'm allowed to."

Kate smiled slightly, and chuckled, before leaning in and kissing Rick gently on the lips. He kissed her back with vigour, and soon they were wrapped in each other's arms, trying to lay kisses on every part of the other's body. Rick was quick to divest Kate of her clothes, and he brought her to an orgasm soon after. As she recovered, he stripped his own clothes off, and he slid into her welcoming body. It wasn't long before she was writhing against him again, and then they were both calling out each other's names, and clutching at each other as though their lives depended on it.

Sleep came quickly that night, both catching up from the early morning and the long day they'd had. The slept, close together, not wanting to be apart, even while asleep.

A/N: It's been a while, I know. No more excuses, I suppose. I don't write nearly as much as I used to. But I will finish this story. I promise.

:)

Reviews are always welcome.