Kris rushed around her temporary bedroom (the living room), searching for Lauren's favourite toy. She was already late and Rusty had come home late from seeing Gus so she didn't want to disturb him from his sleeping.
She gently shushed Lauren as she finished buttoning her shirt up in the process of finding this certain toy. "I'm coming, baby."
Lauren continued to bawl as Kris knelt down on her knees, checking under the sofa. She was annoyed to find her once neatly ironed skirt filled with baby sick. It wasn't even hers. It was Emily's.
She heard a door open and sighed, rocking Lauren's Moses basket as she sat on the ground with a frown on her face.
Kris felt the rocking stop as the crying suddenly stopped.
"Hey, Laurie. Guess what Daddy found on his bed?"
Kris wiped the falling tears she didn't know were trailing down her cheeks as she looked up at Rusty handing Lauren her favourite stuffed lamb toy.
"Thanks," she mumbled, getting up.
Rusty sighed. "Emily has a spare skirt if you want me to wash that one?"
"Please," Kris replied, unzipping the skirt from the back.
"It's in my Mom's room. Her fourth drawer by the left. I'll feed Lauren."
"How do you know I haven't fed her yet?" Kris asked, heading towards Sharon's room.
"She's been crying for an hour. I wasn't really sleeping."
So, you were probably talking to Gus, she thought. "Oh, okay. Thank you." She called out as she entered Sharon's bedroom.
She quickly took off the skirt and donned the new one, throwing the dirty one into the hamper. She walked out of the room to find Lauren happily responding to Rusty and grinned, kissing her daughter on the head.
"Mommy's going to work, now!"
"Will you be late?" Rusty asked. "I'm kind of going out with Gus."
Kris blushed. Why? She wasn't sure. "I don't know how long they require me for this post. I'll be also heading to the Law Division after for some information regarding a scholarship or something to help me. I'll be home by 5?"
"That's fine. Our movie's at 7."
"Well, I hope you have a great day," Kris told him, getting her borrowed blazer and handbag.
"Maybe we can visit you at work. I'm sure Mom won't mind." Rusty suggested.
Kris shrugged. "If you want to. I don't really want to cause an issue."
"No, it won't be. I have things to do with Buzz, anyway."
"Then, sure. I'll see you guys later," Kris smiled, leaving the house.
She was hesitant at first since anything could happen at any time. Maybe I should have taken Sharon up on her offer to drop me off.
She hailed a cab and was relieved to see a couple of twenty-dollar notes in her purse. Sharon? There was a note attached to one and she read it as she entered the cab and told the address of the MCU. [Figured you will need a ride. Rusty x]
A kiss? Was he taunting her? She hoped not as she scrolled through her pictures and found one of her, Lauren and Rusty smiling at the camera. They looked like the perfect family. But there were so many unspoken issues within the photo. She moved on and found pictures of her with her parents. She had spent the past year contemplating completely removing them from her life but she missed them, a lot. I'll call later, she promised herself.
When she arrived at work, she was met with a post-it note from Tao. "Our list of orders. Go to the coffee shop across from here, the coffee here tastes like mud."
Kris nodded. "Oh, sure. Is Captain Raydor in?"
Tao took out his wallet, nodding. "Lost the short straw so I'll pay for the coffees." He gave her three twenties. "And the Captain is in her office."
"Thank you," Kris smiled, heading towards Sharon's office. She knocked on the door and entered when Sharon had told her to. She noticed that Andy was with her. "Hi, I've just come to tell you that I'm here and already taking coffee orders."
Sharon smiled brightly at her. "I think Tao missed me on that list but that's fine."
"What do you want?" Kris asked, taking a pen from her bag to add to the list.
"Just a coffee. Black, one sugar." Sharon replied.
"Tao's got the short straw so he's paying," Andy told her.
Sharon nodded. "Okay. Oh, and get something for yourself okay?" She asked Kris.
Kris nodded again and smiled. "I'll see you guys later."
After the coffee run, Kris helped the team file their reports and finished folders as she waited for Rusty to arrive with Lauren. She had planned to ask Sharon about the possible scholarship but she felt embarrassed especially after all the MCU leader had done for her, job-wise.
She finally summoned up the courage to ask and knocked on Sharon's door, five minutes before the end of her work day. Where were Rusty and Lauren?
"Come in,"
Kris walked in and hesitantly closed the door behind her, opting to stand before Sharon. "Uh, I just wanted to ask if there was a chance I could get a scholarship or a reference in Law? So I can go back to school."
Rusty's mother's eye twinkled. "Are you sure you want to do Law? How about business? I remember Rusty telling me once that you wanted to own your own company."
Kris blushed. Rusty told his mother about her dreams? "I did want to own my own company. The idea was kind of stupid but it would involve a lot of connections with other people," Kris started, finding herself sitting down. "It will sell creative works like sculptures, paintings, architectural plans. I would be the base and they would be the many pieces inside the web."
Sharon was impressed. It was something that she could invest money into. "So, it's just for artistical reasons?"
"Not really. It could be for anything but I would kind of be the selling point, helping others get their stuff sold. But if I go into that, it could be really difficult and I want to secure Lauren a future, not ruin it. That's why Law's kind of the way to go."
"It's up to you, Kristen. Just know, that we'll support you in whatever."
Kris frowned. "I just wish it was my parents saying that..."
"We're not stopping you from introducing them to Lauren or getting in touch with them. It just has to be under your regulations." Sharon assured her. "I think somebody wants to see you."
Kris turned around and brightened up when she saw her daughter already making Provenza swoon. "She's probably the only other girl to take his heart," Kris chuckled with Sharon.
Rusty turned and smiled at them, gesturing for them to come out to see them since Provenza wasn't letting go of the child any longer. They stood up and exited the office, Kris immediately taking her daughter and kissing her cheek.
"Hi, my sweetheart! Did you have fun with Daddy, today?"
"She ate her vegetables and I told her that I will buy her a new toy!" Rusty said proudly, taking Lauren's hand.
Sharon shook her head with a smile. "You're spoiling her."
"Says you," He retorted lightly with a grin. "Seriously, she's been very good. I thought that I would be like the first time I had her, screaming all the time."
Kris nuzzled her nose into her daughter's neck. "She was a week old." defended the child's mother.
"How was your first day?" Rusty asked her.
Provenza and Sharon had left to give them some space and Kris was thankful for that. She had a lot to talk to him about.
"It was great. A bit rushed off my feet but nothing a bubble bath can't fix. I mean, if I can have one?"
"Yeah, sure. You don't have to ask, you know. Our home's your home and all that."
Kris smiled. "I talked about career options. You know, Business or Law."
"And?"
"I could start up my own business and complete my business degree at university. But I'd have to go at night so I can still work here during the day. Or I could start afresh and get help in a Law degree. I'm opting for my own business, though."
Rusty nodded, leaning against Provenza's desk. He knew he was going to get slack from it later. "That's awesome. You could do a lot of things and if you need a good review, hit me up."
"Or a good lawyer. Yeah, your mom tells me things too." Kris smirked. "I think I'm done here. I'll just go and get my stuff and we can go?"
"Yeah," Rusty said, taking Lauren back. "I'm sure Mom's desperate to see Lauren for a little bit more."
Kris nodded and smiled, kissing Lauren's cheek as she made her way to the cloakroom.
This was a great day in a long time, Kris thought happily.
...
Now, they definitely looked like a perfect family as Rusty pushed a babbling Lauren and Kris walked beside them, her heels long since in her hand. They had decided to go to the park and meet up with Gus as a restaurant before all of them went to the movies. It was a relatively age-appropriate film but they still hoped that the walk and dinner would have tired Lauren out to not be a nuisance nor be afraid of the action film.
Kris felt herself lean into Rusty's side as he put a protective arm around her shoulders, steering the buggy with his right hand.
She wasn't sure whether she felt comfortable or not with this new level of intimacy but when an elderly couple sent a disapproving look their way, she leant out of his embrace and folded her arms in embarrassment. It was worse enough being judged when it was just her and Lauren but now when they knew they had a male support, it was worser?
"Kids should not be having children at this age! They should stay in school!" She heard the old woman tell her husband not so subtly.
Kris hung her head and refused to let the tears fall. She was on cloud 9. They weren't going to spoil the rest of her good day.
"I know! It's the girl, I'm disappointed with. She's no older than our granddaughter." The old man replied. There was another person involved in their conversation and she knew that voice from anywhere.
"Please, refrain from voicing your personal thoughts."
Kris looked up to see Rusty clearly unimpressed with how fickle minded they were.
"We didn't purposely put ourselves in this position. I bet your granddaughter wasn't raped and forced to live with that hanging over her head, hmm?"
Now, she was even more embarrassed that Rusty told them that. How dare you!
"I bet your granddaughter will happily continue her education without ever knowing how it feels to be disgusted with herself as a person and as a mother. And I sincerely hope that she never gets to experience what my friend has. And one more thing: she's stronger and she is in school!"
With that, he grabbed her hand, not meaning to be too harsh in his actions and led them away, Lauren oblivious to the rant.
"Why did you tell them that?!" Kris asked him, tears falling down her cheeks as they found a private area.
Rusty rubbed his face, placing his hands on her shoulders in some sort of comfort. "I'm sorry, okay? It just came out. I couldn't stand listening to them insulting you like that. You know me, I just run my mouth."
"I... I think Lauren's too tired to go out. We'll go home."
"Kris..., please."
"I'm done, Rusty. I know it was just their opinion but this wasn't the first time. Maybe it's time to be realistic. Look at me, I'm a disowned twenty-year-old who is just a major disappointment to everyone she meets. Maybe Lauren would be better off going into adoption." She said, her voice breaking. "She'll have a better life and I can continue to screw up mine."
Rusty shook his head. "No! No, Kris! Lauren is better off with us and you know that."
Kris scoffed. "Us? There is no 'us'. You're in a relationship with a guy you really love and I'm broken. I'd even say that I'll hand all parental rights to you and just leave. All I know is, Lauren should never have to put up with me as her mom."
Rusty was on the verge of crying. How did my day turn out like this? He was happily chatting away with his boyfriend this morning, planning their evening as Gus had to work all day. Then, he had taught Lauren how to crawl since she had been basically using her arms to drag her body around which as amusing as it was, had to change. Then he saw his mother which had brightened up his day even more because it reminded him that she was always going to be there for all of them. Now, he wasn't so sure whether he could describe his day as great anymore.
"Rusty, please," Kris mumbled.
"You're running away because of some backlash? They don't know what you've-"
"Excuse me?"
Kris closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before she turned around and faced the couple from before. "Yes?" She asked, quietly.
The woman stepped towards her and took her hands. Kris felt slightly insulted but the woman's next words shocked her. "I know what you went through. That's why... I had to say something. But you are stronger than I ever was when I see you and your boyfriend bring that little girl up."
Kris hated the fact that she called Rusty her boyfriend but he was Lauren's father so it was kind of untold. "You-you went through what I did?"
"I was raped. It isn't a shameful thing but it does stick with you for life. It's what you do after in your recovery that sets people right. I'm so sorry you went through that. Many young people get knocked up for so many different reasons: culture, rape, unexpected pregnancy... But knowing that you were doing something about it made us regret saying those words."
"Did you get pregnant?"
"Yeah. My... son, well he's doing well for himself. I know a little about him because I sent him for adoption. I couldn't help but overhear your argument and... I know, it's just our opinion but listen to what your boyfriend says. Don't give that sweet angel up because you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life."
Kris nodded. "Thank you,"
"I wish you all well."
Kris nodded again and watched as the couple left. She turned to Rusty and accepted his hug. It was long but it was short-lived when Lauren squealed for attention.
Smiling, Kris kissed her daughter's head, feeling slightly better as she slipped her heels on and they continued on their walk.
They arrived at Rusty's favourite burger place and waited for Gus who was running a little late due to traffic.
"Will you stay for the movie?"
Kris shrugged. "Depends on whether Lauren sleeps or not."
Rusty nodded and smiled when Gus finally joined them. He slightly leaned back when Gus tried to kiss his cheek but then he kissed Gus's cheek.
"I wanted to do that first," he smiled.
Gus chuckled and finally kissed his cheek before hugging Kris. They had gotten closer over the past couple of days and he had been a real help to her when Rusty and Sharon were out busy. Since he looked after his two sisters when they were little, he picked up a couple of things.
"How are you? Will you be joining us? You better because this movie's supposed to be the it movie of the year."
Kris giggled. "Fine! You boys better stop pressuring me! As long as we're home by 10 so I can prepare for work tomorrow, yes. And let's try and get Little Miss Fussy over here to sleep first."
Gus smiled and gestured to Lauren's babbling self. "Can I?"
Kris nodded. "I bet she loves seeing her godfather,"
"I'm a godfather, now?"
She blushed, shrugging. "Only if you want to. I... I don't really know anyone else. Apart from Greg but I've grown apart from that group."
"Same here," Rusty admitted. "It just happened but we still text now and then."
"Well, I'm hungry so let's order." Gus cut in. Today was meant to be a happy day.