When It's Right, It's Right

Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
Gonna grab some afternoon delight
My motto's always been 'when it's right, it's right'
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?
When everything's a little clearer in the light of day
And we know the night is always gonna be there any way

Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
Looking forward to a little afternoon delight
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
And the thought of lovin' you is getting so exciting
Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight

-Starland Vocal Band

As soon as Kate shut the door Nick drew her into his arms, kissing her passionately. She pulled away after a few moments. "And what are you doing?" He stepped way slightly.

"Making up."

"Really?"

"This is an important part of making up," he grinned and drew her close to kiss her again. She walked backwards until her knees hit the bed. They tumbled onto the bed laughing together.

Nick woke Kate with a kiss. "Morning," she murmured.

"Good morning," he signed. "I'm heading out."

"Okay. See you tonight?"

"Of course," he smiled. He left and she got up. June and Olivia came by and asked if they could take Logan out for the day, Kate told them they could. She helped Elise clean the house before going out to the hospital where Dick had set up. She walked in.

"Kate!" Dick cried smiling. "It's great to see you. I hope nothing's wrong?"

"Not wrong per-cé," Kate said. "It's just... well, I think I may be pregnant. I was wondering how soon we can tell if I really am."

"How long since your missed period?"

"A week."

"That's a little early," Dick smiled. "You're usually regular?"

"Like clockwork."

"Well, come back in another week and I'll run a test," Dick said. "I could run it now but there's not much of a point since I don't know if it'll be accurate. It'll also give me time to do some research on it."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm very stressed," Dick confessed. "I'm just a vet. I'm way out of my league."

"You're doing great," Kate told him.

"I guess. I was about to break for lunch. Want to join me?"

"Sure," Kate said. They walked to a park and had a picnic lunch.

"How's Nick?" Dick asked.

"He's fine," Kate said.

"I take it he's the father?"

"Yep."

"And how's Logan?"

"Fine, June and Olivia took him out for the day." They finished eating. "You should come by for dinner," she said as they walked back.

"I think I will," Dick said. "I guess I need to relax a little."

"Yes."

"Thanks for lunch, I'll see you guys tonight."

"Great." Kate walked back to the house to see Nick sitting outside with Stu, Ralph and Elise.

"Where were you?" he signed but seemed relaxed.

"I had lunch with Dick, he's coming over for dinner," Kate said.

"Great, Nick has something to ask him," Ralph said.

"I talked to him, he said he can run a test next month," Kate signed. Nick nodded. "Hi, Stu."

"Hey," Stu nodded.

"Do you and Fran want to come by for dinner too?" Elise asked. "In fact ask that boy Harold, and Mr. Bateman as well."

"May as well invite Sue too," Ralph said.

"I'll ask Frannie, but I'm sure she won't mind," Stu nodded. "And I'll try to get a hold of the others. What time?"

"How does six sound?" Elise asked.

"Six sounds just fine," Stu said. "I'll see you then." He left.

"What are you guys doing home so early?" Kate asked.

"Brad told us to go," Ralph said. "He said it's Friday and we've been working too hard."

"Walk with me?" Nick requested.

"Sure," Kate said.

"You two have fun," Ralph said with a grin. Nick flipped him off behind Kate's back. Ralph laughed. Kate wrapped her arm around Nick's waist, sliding her hand into his back pocket. They ended up at a park and sat down at a table. Every so often someone would stop to talk to Nick but they were mostly alone.

Nick realized, as she cuddled up to him, how badly he needed this down time. Kate reminded him that it was okay to relax and be young and stupid sometimes. It was something he hadn't done in years. She stretched out on the bench they were sitting on laying her head on his lap. He stroked her hair watching the people walking through the park. She sat up a few moments later.

"Let's go home," she said her green eyes heated. Nick grinned and stood holding a hand out to her. They walked back to the house and down to their room. She practically tackled Nick as they entered the room.

They didn't even make it to the bed, he took her against the wall. She gripped his shoulders tightly, as he thrust into her. They finished together and stumbled to the bed. Nick wondered, as they lay awake, basking in the afterglow if sex had ever been this good. No, it hadn't, he decided, and if it gets much better I think it may kill me.

"It's 4:30," she announced after they had dozed for thirty minutes. "If we want to get cleaned up we'd better get going now." He reluctantly got up and they walked into the bathroom. They made love again in the shower and joined Ralph, and Dick upstairs. "I'm going to go see if Elise needs any help in the kitchen." Kate left the guys alone. The others soon arrived. They sat down for dinner in the dining room.

"So, what did you do for a living?" Stu asked Ralph.

"Worked in a factory," Ralph said.

"Yeah, me too," Stu said. "Putting together calculators."

This seemed to be the cue for everyone else to talk about their livelihoods. "I was a computer technician," Sue said. "Boring as hell, but the pay was good."

"I was a high school student," Harold said.

"I was a professor," Glen said. "Sociology."

"Soci-what?" Ralph asked.

"Fancy word for studyin' people," Stu said.

"I was a college student," Fran said.

"We all know what I did," Dick smiled.

"I was a secretary," Elise said.

Kate gave Nick's. "He moved around a lot doing odd jobs and took mail order courses."

"What about you, Kate?"

"I was in school," Kate hedged.

"What school?" Fran asked.

"I was a junior in high school," she confessed. Stu looked between Kate and Nick and grinned. Nick rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I like older men." Fran laughed and arched a brow at Stu clearly asking who was he to judge. They chatted a bit about the meeting, and a bit about their lives.

"He seems happy," Fran said as she helped Kate gather some drinks.

"Hmm...? Who?"

"Nick," Fran said with a laugh.

"Oh. He does?"

"You really haven't noticed how he looks at you?"

"Um, no."

"Out of curiosity, how many men have you dated?"

"Total? ... None."

"Ah. Well, that does make a difference."

"I've been out on dates," Kate hurried to explain. "I was just never interested in them enough to go beyond the first date. But with Nick it's different." She blushed thinking of one way that it was different. Fran grinned. "We should probably get these out there."

"Yeah." They walked to the living room. Kate handed out her share of the drinks giving Nick his last. He took it and motioned for her to sit next to him. Harold and Glen were in the middle of a long winded discussion. Nick took Kate's hand watching the two men go back and forth. Ralph looked a little lost as they talked, Kate couldn't blame him. Nick slowly traced his fingers over her hands loving how soft they were. He watched Harold as Glen and Harold debated. There was something disquieting in that smile.

"I was in contact with another group," Ralph said. "They're bein led by a guy named Larry Underwood, he seems pretty together."

"Why does that name sound familiar?" Kate wondered out loud. They talked long into the night. By the time that the evening ended Nick had decided that he'd have to amend the committee names.

"We'll have to do this again soon," Elise told the group as they left. Nick and Stu shook hands as Stu left. "My goodness, it's one."

"Yeah, let's head up to bed," Ralph said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kate said.

"Shall we?" Nick signed. They walked downstairs and Nick drew her close kissing her.

"I'm starting to think you're insatiable."

Nick smiled. "Is that a problem?"

"Not at all," Kate smiled kissing him.