Chapter 11. Last day of vacation.

So I'm kind of disappointed with the lack of reviews… Only 1? You know that I'm never going to give you the chapter 2 days early again right? I needed the cheer up…

It also gives me the feeling that you're not interested anymore… :|

Kate woke up, smiling at the sight of him still laying besides her. Yeah, she could get used to this. Again, she shook the thought out of her head. He was her friend for God's sake. Not her boyfriend. Not yet anyway. No! No. She needed to clear her head. She couldn't even think about having a boyfriend now. Her dad was a drunk, her ex had beaten her so bad she hid herself for Martha last night and then there was the fact that she always felt like her mother was looking down at her and saying 'How could you be happy without me?' and she didn't like that feeling at all.

She felt Rick move below her hand, that was on his chest… why was it there? He woke up and turned towards her. Hair messy from sleeping. So cute. No! damn. She caught herself again, but her thoughts got interrupted by his voice. "Hey, Kate. Good morning. Did you sleep alright?"

She nodded and smiled. "No nightmares."

"I'm glad. They don't do you any good." He sighed and she nodded in agreement.

"We should get up… Alexis is probably already done with breakfast and I need to write some more."

"Yeah sure." Kate agreed and got out of bed, followed by Rick.

They walked out of the bedroom, still dressed in pyjama's, and walked over to the kitchen where Alexis was already waiting for her breakfast. "Where's mother? I thought she would've made you breakfast?" Rick asked.

"She had an early rehearsal and overslept. And I didn't want to wake you… two." Alexis said turning around to see Kate walking out of her father's bedroom. "Daddy?" she questioned, confused with what was going on. "Is Kate your new girlfriend?" Rick almost spitted out the juice he just poured himself as Kate stopped in her tracks. She heard the question, and she kind of wanted to know how he would react. "No! No. She still just our friend." Kate's eyes fell to her feet, the way he said no… God it hurt. Rick continued, not noticing Kate's reaction but focusing on his daughter.

"Kate just needed someone to keep the nightmares away." Rick smiled and looked at Kate, who faked a small smile and walked over to the couch while Rick started to prepare the breakfast.

After breakfast, Rick started writing while Kate was busy with Alexis. It was her last day of vacation and although the little redhead loved school, she also loved being home. "So Lex, what do you want to do today?" Kate smiled at the little redhead who was sitting next to her, drawing.

"Uh, I don't know. Maybe watch a movie? Or go out somewhere? I feel like I haven't been out of the house in a while, even though daddy took me to the museum yesterday. I love it there."

"Oh? He did? Well, when I was your age, I loved it there too. My mom used to take me there at least once a month." Kate gave the girl a small smile as she remembered how she used to walk around the museum, hand in hand with her mom. "She would make time for me, and that was hard with her job. She was a lawyer." Kate noticed Alexis was watching her with big eyes, obviously wanting to know more about Kate. "My favorite part of the museum when I was little were the dinosaurs, because they were so big. We used to spend hours just wandering around and when it was time to go home, my mom would have to drag me out. But I knew she would take me again next month."

"How old were you when you first went there?" The six year old asked, loving the information she got from Kate.

"Oh I think I was about your age when we started it, but it stopped when I got into high school. I got less time, and I got kind of bored of it… but now I'd go back to those moment in a heartbeat." Kate admitted, remembering how sad her mom was when she had told her that she didn't want to do it anymore, but rather hang out with her friends. She was in her wild-child faze back then and when she looked back now, she wished she hadn't been so rude to her mom sometimes.

"Why?" Alexis asked, but then suddenly remembering Kate lost her mom. "I'm sorry Kate! I shouldn't have asked." The redhead declared before Kate could answer.

"It's fine Lex." She sighed and gave the girl a small smile. "So, don't you do anything like this with your mom?" Kate asked as she remembered the conversation she and Rick had. She remembered him telling her that she had been a better mother figure than Meredith ever was. And it had shocked her, but she also wanted to know how Alexis thought about her.

"No… She doesn't come here often, and when she does, all she wants to do is go shopping! I hate shopping with her!" Alexis exclaimed in frustration. "And last time, I heard her say she wasn't even here for me." The small girl changed from angry to sad. Kate took the girl into her arms and felt the redhead's arms wrap around her. "But you're here. You can do all the stuff she's supposed to do with me." Alexis smiled up at Kate with hopeful eyes.

"I will honey. I can do all the stuff you want to do." She said as she hugged the girl tight.

At the same moment, Rick walked out of the office. He stopped when he say the interaction between Kate and his daughter. He caught himself wishing that Meredith was more like Kate. But why couldn't she really? Kate was everything he wanted as a mother figure for Alexis. She had a job, was a strong woman and beautiful, inside and out.

Meredith was the opposite of Kate. She was an actress, but not a very successful one though, and she might be pretty, but she never came close to how beautiful Kate was. And the worst thing about Meredith, she could only think of herself. When she came to New York almost over a year ago, she was here for a job! Not for her daughter. And she never really wanted Alexis, maybe she wouldn't have found having a child hard if her daughter had been just like her, a shopaholic. But Alexis looked like her mother, but inside she was all Rick.

He caught himself staring and walked towards Alexis and Kate, who were now sitting next to each other on the couch. "Alright ladies, what are the plans for today? Anything you want to do pumpkin?" he asked and smiled over at Kate who gave his a small, fake smile back. Rick didn't notice though.

"I don't know. Maybe a movie, daddy?" Alexis said as Rick nodded.

"Alright, which one do you want to go see?" Rick questioned.

"I don't know, I don't think there's a good one playing now. Maybe we could just go out to the park and play in the snow like yesterday! And after we could go for a drink." Alexis said as Rick nodded. "That's okay with me pumpkin." Rick smiled as he turned his attention to Kate. "You're coming with us, right?"

Kate wasn't sure. She didn't feel so great after she felt her heart cringe at the conversation she overheard, but she did want to go out. Rick saw that she was doubting and sat next to her.

"It'll be fun, Kate. Go with us." He smiled as he put a hand on her knee.

"Okay." she said before she realized it but she felt like having some fun. She needed it.

They got ready to go outside but Kate had some trouble with her cast. She had so many layers of clothes on that she couldn't bend her arm good enough to get her hat on. Rick was busy with Alexis and once he was done, and saw how much Kate was trying to get the hat on he walked over to help her with it. "Come here." He smiled as he took her hat in his hands and went to stand in front of her. He pulled the hat over Kate's head. "Thanks" she smiled up at him, feeling a little better than before as she got lost in his blue eyes. She caught herself staring and looked away and he took a step back. "Come on Lex. Let's go to the park." Kate smiled as the girl took her hand and they walked out of the loft.

They walked through the snow in the park as Alexis ran in front of them, in a comfortable silence. "Daddy, let's try and make another snowman!" Alexis smiled as Rick nodded and walked over to his daughter as they started making the biggest part. Kate smiled at them but not knowing what to do. So she started making her own little snowman.

She was just starting on the little snowman's head when Rick came up behind her. He took a bit of snow in his hand and sprinkled it over her which made Kate look up and smile. "I'm glad you didn't decide to throw it at me." Kate explained as she stood up.

"Oh but I could still do that." He teased as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"You better not." Kate laughed as she took a hand of snow from the ground. When she got back up he was already running away from her. She threw it anyway and was happy to see the little snowball hit its target. Rick did the same but with a much bigger snowball.

He threw it and right as it hit her she turned and she fell backwards in the snow making Rick run towards her.

"Kate, you okay? did I hurt you?" he questioned as she smiled up at him from in the snow.

"No, I was just surprised that's all. Want to help me up?" Kate questioned as she sat herself up and held out her hand which he took.

But as soon as he took it, he was pulled onto the ground and he fell next to her in the snow.

"That's for getting my butt wet!" Kate laughed as she took in Rick's snow covered facial expressions.

"Okay, 1-0 for the lady. But not for long!" he grinned as he took a big amount of snow with his hand that she couldn't see and threw it at her. She couldn't get up so she just lay back in the snow with her arms covering her face.

Rick leaned over her and laughed. "Now it's 1-1."

She uncrossed her arms and found him lingering over her. Was the universe trying to tell her something? These moments occurred more and more every day. But she had heard him, she was just his friend, and she thought it was better that it stayed that way.

"Eumh, Rick…" she said.

"oh, yeah sorry." Rick said as he backed away and stood up, pulling her up with him this time.

They turned their attention back to Alexis while shrugging the snow of their clothes. She had managed to make all the 3 parts for the snowman and all that had to be done was put them on one another.

Rick took the second one to put it on the first and Kate took the head as they made arms with twigs and since they didn't find anything else, they drew the eyes but still used a twig for the nose.

"Look daddy, the little snowman is me." Alexis explained as she pointed to the little snowman Kate had made. "And the big one is you." She smiled as Rick nodded.

"Beautiful pumpkin." Rick smiled. "So, should we go and warm up at Remy's?" Alexis nodded as she took her father's hand and they started walking. Rick looked back to see Kate staring at the snowmen. "Kate? You coming?" he asked as he heard a yeah and Kate followed Rick and Alexis out of the park and onto the streets.

They sat in a corner booth in the back, Kate heard Rick say that it was his regular one because less people would notice them like that. He had said that he didn't get noticed in the streets, but more in places like Remy's or clubs. It would only be bad when a new book was out. Then the press would just follow him around for a week and then it all died down a little. There wouldn't be much press around other than on the book parties and book tour.

They sat there talking about random things with Kate and Rick having a coffee and Alexis a hot chocolate.

"So Alexis, was this day a nice 'last day of vacation'?" Rick asked looking at his daughter.

"Yeah, but I'm glad school starts again." She admitted to the surprise of Kate. Rick laughed at the surprise covering Kate's face and explained. "Alexis has always loved school, haven't you pumpkin?"

"Yes." Alexis smiled, "I like learning new things. I want to learn Spanish when I grow up. I like learning languages."

"Well, if you ever want to learn French, Lex, you can always ask me." Kate smiled at the beaming girl as she noticed Rick's shocking expression.

"You speak French?" Rick and Alexis both questioned and Kate let out a small laugh. "Yes I do. My mom thought me. It was something we liked to do over the years and we started around the time I was Alexis' age."

"Can you say something in French?" Alexis asked.

"Quoi?"

"That means what, right?" Rick spoke as Kate nodded.

"Can you say: 'hi, my name is Alexis and I'm 6 years old?" Alexis question as Kate nodded again in response.

"Bonjour, mon nom est Alexis et j'ai six ans." Kate spoke with a French 'r' and all.

"Wow. I want to try that!" Alexis exclaimed as she tried to repeat what Kate had said. "Bonjour, mon nom est Alexis… What comes after that?" she questioned as Kate repeated the line and heard Alexis repeat it almost perfectly.

"Good job Alexis." Rick smiled proudly at his little girl. "I think it's time we should go home." He spoke as both Alexis and Kate nodded.

As they arrived at the loft, Martha was back from her early rehearsal. Alexis immediately disappeared with her to her own bathroom to take a bath since she was cold from all the playing in the snow.

Kate and Rick just took a seat at the breakfast bar after talking of their gloves, hats and coats.

"Kate, are you okay? You seemed a bit off sometimes…" Rick questioned finally able to discuss the way Kate had fake smiled today.

"No, everything's fine." Kate dismissed but Rick didn't buy it.

"Kate, I know something's up. Don't lie to me." He said as he took Kate's hand in his. "Come on, tell me. I might be able to help."

"It's just…" she sighed, "What happened yesterday with my dad… it freaked me out. I want to know how he is, but I don't want to go back there." Kate admitted. Rick know that wasn't all, she was holding something back, but Kate was a difficult woman to read so he could just be wrong… he let it drop and focused on what she said.

"It's understandable Kate. He hurt you, it's normal to be freaked out." Rick gave her a sad smile. He couldn't imagine what Kate must be going through. Her mom had been murdered a year ago and her dad was now an alcoholic, not to forget, her ex who had beaten her. Her life had changed so much in the past year, and she was so lost and broken.

He pulled her in for a hug when he saw her eyes tear up. "Hey, Kate… don't cry. You'll always have me. I'll always be here."

"I don't know where I would be now if I didn't have you as my friend." Kate silently spoke. "Thank you for being my friend."

"Always Kate. Always."

Kate had just taken a long bath to warm up from the cold weather outside. She put on her sweats and she realized she didn't have any t-shirts left. The ones she didn't wear today were in the washer so she pulled out a deep red t-shirt from Rick's closet. She was sure he wouldn't mind. And he didn't. When she walked out of the master bedroom, she saw Rick sitting in front of the TV with his laptop on his lap.

When he heard footsteps he turned towards her. She looked stunning even though she was just wearing some sweats and an oversized shirt. "How do you say: 'You are beautiful' in French?" Rick grinned as Kate chuckled.

"Vous êtes jolie. That's when you're being polite, and when it's your friend you can just use Tu. So Tu es jolie." She smiled, and blushed. She was glad he wouldn't be able to see because of the dim light.

"Well then, Tu es très jolie." Rick smiled she was sat down next to him on the couch while she dried her hair with a towel.

"Tu est vraiment un charmeur." Kate smiled as confusion covered his face. He tried to figure out what it meant.

"Did you just say I'm charming?" Rick had a big grin on his face.

"Yes," she laughed, "I said you really are a charming man." And she blushed a little.

"Why thank you Kate." he smiled.

"What are you writing?" She asked as she tried to look at the screen but pulled it away from her eyesight. "Hey… can't I know?"

"No, you can't. it's a surprise. You'll just have to wait like every other fan to read it."

"And what makes you think I'm a fan?" She questioned.

"Oh, I know you're more than a fan, you're a huge fan because you let me sign 'in hail of bullets' and that's my first one, so you've been reading my books since the very first and seeing how worn out it was… you've read it quite some times." He explained "You know I can just get you a new one if you'd like."

"No." she instantly said, "it's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but that book… it means a lot to me."

"Okay, no worries." He smiled.

"Hey, I was thinking of going back to my apartment tomorrow." She admitted and his smile fell, but she didn't notice because she avoided his gaze. "I've run out of clothes and it's not like I need more help. I think I can manage on my own."

"Oh, okay." he said like it was so casual that someone moved in or out of his house every day. She tried to get another response, but she didn't get one from him.

"Well I'll go pack my stuff." She said a bit harsh and in confusion, she would expect him to care more about the situation. She stood up and ran up the stairs to the guestroom. "Kate?" she heard him yell before she shut the door. What made her switch moods like this? She wasn't normally like this…

She took her bags from the closet and started packing as she heard footsteps up the stairs. She went to the bathroom as she heard knocks on the door. "Kate? Did I do something wrong?"

She sighed as she walked out of the bathroom and dropped the bag. She opened the bedroom door and looked at him.

"No, I'm sorry. I don't know what was wrong with me. It's- I…"

"Hey, I know… you've been through a lot. I don't blame you." He said as he pulled her in for a hug.

"And it's not you. It's just the entire situation. I guess you just reminded me of the moment I told Will that I wasn't going to come with him to Boston and he just shrugged like he didn't care."

"Well, I do care about you" He said as he pulled slightly away from her. "A lot." he smiled as he pushed a lock of her damp hair behind her ear and she looked up at him into his beautiful ocean blue eyes.

He leaned closer and was surprised to see that she didn't pull away. He placed a soft kiss onto her cheek. "I care." He said once again as the hand slipped from her cheek, to the back of her head as her eyes flicked to his lips and back up to his eyes. Next thing she knew he felt the warmth of his lips on hers. She felt this warm feeling inside of her run through her veins. She never felt like this before.

When their lips parted she felt his lips linger a second longer.

She opened her eyes to look in his and smiled as she brought her hands up to his neck and brought her lips onto his again. This time their kiss was more than soft, it was full of affection and… love. Her lips parted as his tongue brushed over her lower lip. He heard her moan and he felt like he was going to melt. They pulled away from each other and tried to catch their breaths. "Wow." She heard him mumble.

"Yeah." She smiled at him as he saw a sparkle in her eye like he'd never seen before.

"You have the most beautiful eyes." He laughed.

"I could drown in yours." She smiled as her breathing became regular again and pressed one more soft kiss to his lips.

"Want me to keep the nightmares away again?" he asked as she nodded. "Come on then." He smiled as he picked her up and she laughed. He carried her all the way to the master bedroom and laid her down. They cuddled up next to each other. "Go on, go to sleep. I'll be here when you need me." He said as he brushed his hand through her hair.

-x-x-x-

So I basically wrote this entire chapter in this weekend and I think it's the longest chapter yet, over 3500 words. I really wanted to update but I just had no inspiration and homework and upcoming exams are being a b*tch. I don't think I'll be able to upload before my exams start on Friday…

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. And please let me know you're still interested because otherwise I'll just drop the story.