A/N: to the guest who thought Kate was being a bitch - she's a teenage girl, she flipped out, it's normal. Thank you to everyone else for all of your lovely reviews, I know I didn't get around to replying to you all personally this time but I really do appreciate it. Apologies that I've been quiet for a week or so, freshers week at uni has been mad and I've hardly slept, never mind had time to write – and now freshers flu is hitting which isn't great! But things should be calming down a little now, proper classes are about to start and I'll be aiming to update this at least once a week, depending on my work load :)
Wednesday (continued)
"So did the two of you have a good morning?" Johanna asked her daughter as they stood together at the sink peeling potatoes and vegetables.
"Yeah, we did, actually," Kate smiled. Despite her reservations on going with Rick to meet his mother, she really had enjoyed herself. Martha was a lovely woman and it was clear she had done an incredible job raising her son alone and managing to support them both. "Rick's mom is great, I think you and dad would like her."
"Well I'm sure we'll get to meet her in due course," Johanna answered diplomatically. Her daughter had been insistent that her and Rick were simply friends and Johanna respected that, she knew Katie would tell her what she wanted to say and nothing more and that was fine, but it was clear as day that they were not 'just friends'.
Kate supressed a smile. It was obvious what her mother was trying to do, Kate had more than enough experience of dealing with her mother when she was trying to get information from her daughter. "I know what you're thinking, mom," she said, "But Rick and I are just friends." Well, it was a half-truth, right?
"Katie bug, I know you, remember?" Johanna answered softly. "And if you want to tell me that you and Rick are just friends then that's fine, I know you don't share your feelings easily, it used to make me feel awful when you were younger, that I couldn't even get my own daughter to tell me what was wrong but I learned to accept that it's just part of who you are." They'd both stopped peeling now and Kate had taken a seat at the kitchen table, her mother swiftly joining her. "But honey, you know it's not good to keep it inside and if you ever want to talk then you know where I am, okay? I love you and I only want what's best for you, you know that."
"Yeah I do," Kate smiled. "And I love you too mom…I know I don't talk to you as much as you'd like me to but I'm just not very good at taking about my feelings, especially when they're all still so muddled up in my own head."
"Sometimes talking can help straighten them out, sweetie."
"He kissed me," Kate blurted out in a rush. "The other morning, before we went to meet Lanie…and now I don't know what's going on because I know the Rick I have now is not the same Rick that I met. God, you should have seen him mom, he was cocky and arrogant and a complete jackass but now…well, you know him now, look how different he is!"
"Look, Katie, it's been evident – to your father and I at least – that there was something between the two of you since the moment you both arrived. We didn't push it because you told us you were only friends and we respected that but I can't take seeing you confused and worried like this Katie, I just wish you'd talk to me."
Kate's next words were out of her mouth before her brain even had a chance to filter them.
"I think I'm falling for him, mom."
Whilst Kate and Johanna began food preparations for the following days' festivities, Jim and Rick were on their way to Grand Central Station to pick up Theresa – Jim's sister – and her husband Mark, who were joining the Beckett's for thanksgiving. Jim had asked Rick if he'd like to tag along, claiming that some male company would be nice, it had been in short supply ever since he'd met and married Johanna – even less when they'd had Katie.
"So Rick," Jim began. "Are you enjoying being back in New York?"
"I am," Rick grinned. "I love it here, always have, there really is no place like home."
"Why did you choose to attend college in California then, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Not at all. I love New York, don't get me wrong, it's my favourite city on earth but four years or so ago when it came to me applying for college, I just wanted to get away. I don't know what Kate has told you about my family but it's always just been my mother and I. Don't get me wrong, I love her to pieces and I wouldn't change her for the world but as a seventeen year old, I just wanted to get away!" Rick laughed. "And so, I applied for Stanford – never in a million years did I think I'd get in but I did, and after that there was no other decision to make."
"Katie hadn't mentioned your family, actually, but thank you for trusting me with that piece of information, I can't imagine it's very easy for you to admit. Well, however you got there, I'm glad you did as I haven't seen my Katie this happy in a long time and I'm convinced that has something to do with you."
"I like seeing her happy," Rick admitted. "We didn't get off to the best of starts – mainly because I was a jackass and she called me out on that – and there were a few rocky weeks but I won her round eventually and I can honestly say I'm so glad that I did, she's been an amazing friend to me."
"And that's all you are is it, friends?" Jim asked, with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. He and Johanna had decided last minute to cook up this little plan, deciding they wanted to know what was really going on. It wasn't that they were against them being just friends or more, as long as Katie was happy then so were her parents, but they also knew their daughter like no one else did, they knew how stubborn she could be and how determined she'd be about revealing her feelings. But Rick seemed like a great guy, and one that seemed to be willing to wait for Katie, for whenever she was ready, and Jim felt it only right to question his daughters new friend a little, and figure out where they really stood in the grand scheme of things. And if, like Jim suspected, there was more from Rick's side than just friends, he might even be able to give the young man a few hints into how to deal with his spitfire of a daughter – trust him to end up with a wife and a daughter with the exact same personality traits and temperament.
"I can't imagine Kate knows we're having this conversation?" Rick asked with a grin.
"Oh goodness no!" Jim replied. "She'd have us both by our ears if she found out I was planning this."
"Now that I don't find hard to believe," Rick muttered. "Kate and I…it's complicated. Like I said, we didn't start all too well and after some of the things that were said I know how lucky I am that she's still talking to me. We've worked up a great friendship over the past month or two and she's one of the people I'm closest to…we're great friends."
"Look, Rick," Jim began. "If you say you're just friends then that's fine, you're just friends, but both Jo and I can see the way you look at her…hell, I doubt it's much different from the way I used to look at Jo all those years ago! We know Katie can be stubborn and temperamental, she takes after her mother like that but you seem to get that already and not be phased by it…I guess what I'm saying is don't hold back because you think it's what she wants. Katie won't initiate those sorts of conversations herself, she never has, you have to go to her. And I don't know the ins and the outs of your relationship and frankly I don't think I want to but this game the two of you are playing is crazy…I'm sure the woman at the checkout in the supermarket could tell the two of you were into each other…just don't let her drive you away from what you want."
"I'm crazy about her," Rick blurted out. "She's incredible, everything about her, and I'm so glad we got things sorted because right now I couldn't imagine my life without her. Thank you, for what you said…I'm sure it can't be easy seeing your little girl all grown up but I'll look after her, if she'll let me." Rick knew what he needed to do now, no more tiptoeing around the subject, they needed a full and frank discussion about where they stood. He'd give her the rest of the week, he wouldn't make things awkward for her here at home but as soon as they made it back to California, they were talking whether she wanted to or not.
"I know you will," Jim smiled. "And if you don't…well, I don't think I need to tell you how scary Beckett women can be when they're pissed off."
No, Rick definitely didn't need a lesson in that.
Shit. Had she meant to say that? No. But then…yes. It was the truth and this was her mom, if she couldn't talk to her mom then who could she talk to? "I um…"
"Don't worry about it, Katie bug," Johanna smiled. "Your secret is safe with me. And sweetie? I'm happy for you."
"What, because I've fallen for a guy who will replace me the second I give him what he wants?" She muttered, lying through her teeth and regretting it instantly. "No," she sighed. "I shouldn't have said that. Rick is incredible and I know he isn't like that anymore and I doubt he was even as bad as I make out he was but…"
"You're angry at yourself for letting your feelings show," her mom supplied. "I know it's scary, honey, and I know you've never really got this close to a guy before so I'm sure things are all muddled up in your head but for what it's worth, I don't think you could have fallen for a better guy."
"He's pretty great, isn't he?" Kate grinned. God, he'd turned her into a blushing, smiling fool. Stupid man. She'd already decided that they needed to talk when they made it back to California at the weekend - that much was clear after their kiss but now…what was stopping her from taking the final leap and falling into a relationship with him?
"He's perfect for you, Katie. He looks at you the exact same way your dad used to look at me…"
"Dad still looks at you like that, mom," Kate smiled. "Even after all these years you're still crazy about each other." As much as she pretended to hate it when she saw her parents all loved up, Kate loved it really, it was adorable how much they still adored each other. "I'm just scared…Rick and I are such brilliant friends now and I'm so worried that turning it into a relationship is going to ruin everything…what if I lose him?"
"And what if you miss out on the greatest thing that's ever happened to you?"
A/N: I know it's only a short one but it's been a while and this is all I have time for today, I'll get started on the next chapter and get it posted asap!
Oh, and HAPPY CASTLE MONDAY, GUYS, HIATUS IS FINALLY OVER!
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