This chapter was done quickly, so forget about any spelling/grammatical errors. :)

Chapter 10

Jim looked at Rick. He was speechless. Finally finding his voice he spoke slowly.

"She likes you Rick. Don't break her heart."

"I won't sir." Rick smiled after a moment of silence Rick looked at his watch. "Well I should get home."

"Good night Rick." Johanna said brightly from behind Jim.

"Hoped you enjoy your evening Mrs. Beckett." Rick nodded at Johanna. "Mr. Beckett it's always a pleasure." Rick extended his hand. Jim shook it hesitantly.

Rick nodded and started toward the sidewalk. Johanna turned and watched the man go.

"Jim, for the love of God, lighten up on Rick." Johanna scolded her husband walking up to the door.

"I'm just…"

"Just what Jim? Katie likes him, he likes Katie. He's the first decent guy Katherine has brought home since… God I don't know. Just let up on him a little bit."

"I just don't want Katie's heart broken right before she goes off to college. They seem to be getting rather serious… Don't you think?" Jim said walking toward the door where his wife was standing waiting for him.

"I'm sure she and Rick will do the right thing, like I said he's decent, kind, smart, has a good head on those shoulders."

Jim nodded still unsure about the idea of his daughter in a relationship before she flies across the country to go to school. But his wife was right, their daughter always did the right thing not matter her stubbornness or rebellious streak. There was no doubt in his mind that Katie was Johanna and his daughter, both had been stubborn and rebellious, sometimes they still were. Jim smiled as he and his wife entered their home.

X-X-X-X

Rick was already thinking his plan through as he carried his sleeping girlfriend up the stairs of her townhouse. He couldn't ask her out tomorrow he had a father/daughter day with Alexis, but the following day she would be at her friend, Paige's house for most of the day, celebrating both girls birthdays. And he knew exactly where he was going to take Kate that day.

He walked all the way home, enjoying the fresh air on his skin. It was late, but the life never died in New York City. The normal sounds filled the air, car horns blaring, sirens wailing, people yelling. Rick was born and raised in the city, he had been used to the sounds his whole life, but when his mind was on Kate the noise of New York vanished, time slowed. He couldn't begin to describe the feeling when he tried to write in one of the scenes in his books, he could only find one word to describe it, it was the same word he used to describe Kate, extraordinary.

His feet carried him home while his mind wandered back to Kate, asleep still in her denim shorts and tank top. Her smell still lingered in his lungs; he could feel her presence in his mind and around him. He didn't realize he had even walked through the front door, before he heard his mother's voice.

"Where have been Richard?" Martha's voice floated from the couch.

"Hmm." He hummed.

"Richard Rodgers! How dare you do the walk of shame in front of me!" His mother scolded.

"What? No, no. I was not doing the walk of shame." He defended. He bent and kissed her on the cheek.

"Richard, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just… thinking."

Martha smiled at her son. "I could tell. But what or better yet, who were you thinking about is the real question." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothin' just… thinking." He said. "Is Alexis asleep?"

"Yeah, she dozed while we watched Toy Story around 8."

"Must be tired, she never goes up that early."

He moved toward the stairs before his mother could call him back. He walked down the short hall to his daughter's bedroom. Her door was cracked slightly; Rick could see the light cast into the hallway from her 'Little Mermaid' night light. Pushing her door open carefully he stepped into her bedroom. Alexis was asleep, her long red hair clashing horribly with her hot pink bed sheets and pillow case. Looking at his watch before entering he smiled. Leaning over and kissing his daughter's temple he whispered in her ear.

"Happy birthday, pumpkin." She stretched out at his touch, but flipped so she was on her stomach and not her side. Rick stifled a laugh.

"I love you, baby. See you in the morning." He placed a gentle kiss in her hair.

He left her door cracked and made his way downstairs. He walked to the laundry room and from the top shelf of the cabinet he pulled a bag of wrapped packages. Turning he jumped a little at the sight of his mother watching him.

"Jesus. Mother, don't scare me like that." He said walking past her and placing the parcels on the bar.

"You never answered my question Richard."

"What question?"

"Where were you all afternoon?"

"Out."

Martha narrowed her eyes at her son. "With Kate?"

Rick didn't answer, but moved some of the gifts around to give a better effect.

"Richard?"

"Yes mother?" He asked innocently.

"Were you out with Kate?"

Rick looked at her and quirked and eyebrow, smiling crookedly at her.

"You must like this girl. You two seem to spend a lot of time together."

Rick nodded in silence. "I was thinking about taking her to Ellis Island day after tomorrow."

"Sounds nice. I remember one of my lovers taking me to Ellis Island…"

"Mother stop there please, before you scar me."

"Richard you are so melodramatic."

"Am not. And you don't have to share any stories about your past lovers." He said with a disgusted look on his face.

Martha rolled her eyes. "I'm going to head up to bed. Good night Richard."

"Good night mother."

X-X-X-X

At 6:30 the next morning Rick was awoken by excited shrieks from his daughter.

"Daddy! Dad! Get up! Daddy wake up!" Alexis yelled as she jumped on her father's bed.

"What," He sat up and grabbed his daughter, earning a shriek and giggle as he pulled her close. "Is so important that you are waking me up at 6:30 on a Friday morning?" He asked, pretending to forget it was her birthday.

"It's my… 6th birthday!" She said excitedly as she held up seven fingers. Rick laughed and bent one of her fingers down. "Oh." She blushed.

"It's your birthday? Oh my gosh, I forgot!" He slapped a palm to his forehead. "Looks like I didn't get any presents." He joked.

"Yes you did! They're on the kitchen counter!"

"Really? You must be Sherlock Holmes because I couldn't find any presents last night."

"If I'm Sherlock Holmes that makes you Watson." She said, pointing toward herself then Rick.

Rick mock thought for a moment. "I guess it does. Now where did you say those presents were Detective Holmes?"

"This way Mr. Watson." Alexis said bouncing off the bed, pulling at her fathers hand, and marching toward the door.

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