Author's note: sorry if there are errors... bad docs program on cellphone and no beta... i try to catch most errors before posting but can't catch them all... here is the rest of Thanksgiving... next two chapters with cover some holiday family fun fluff and maybe a little m-rated fun then the wedding fun begins... reviews are welcome!
"I was planning out a trip to a Christmas tree farm and your dad suggested that we turn it into a family outing. What do you think?" Rick covered fast.
"Sounds great. So we go get a tree?"
"Yeah and while they are delivering it, your dad suggested that we going skating at Rockefeller Center. I thought that you, me, Jim, Mother, and Alexis could enjoy a bit of time on the ice. You up for it? We could go next weekend." Rick's joy oozed out with every word.
Kate moved to sit down next to Rick and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I will try. I want to do this. It could be our new holiday tradition." Kate smiled at Rick then her father. She knew that Christmas had not been the same for either of them for years. Now maybe things could be different.
"Maybe one weekend we can go shopping and get some hot cocoa at Serendipity." Alexis added.
"It all sounds great. I will try to work it out but never know when a body will drop. Maybe we can plan it off the days I am not on call. That way we can all enjoy it."
"Great thing about being retired, I can do things whenever I want to. I'm in." Jim stood and laughed. "Well it has been a great evening but I need to get home. Rick, Alexis, thank you for a great day."
"You are welcome anytime, Jim." Rick reached out to shake his hand. Jim took it grateful.
"Here I will walk you to the door dad." Kate stood up and patted Rick on the shoulder.
Alexis stood as well and gave Jim a hug. "Thanks for coming." Then she whispered, "I will call you later to make all the plans." Alexis then moved out of the hug and he saw a mischievous smile grow on her face. Jim nodded in agreement then moved towards the door.
Once at the front door, Kate went to give her dad a hug. "Thanks for coming dad. I glad you had a good time."
"Me too Katie. It is good to see you so happy. Rick is good for you. His whole family is. You deserve to be happy like this." Jim looked over her shoulder at Rick and Alexis laughing and joking in the living room. "You deserve to smile. Your mother would be happy for you sweetie. I still feel that she led you to him. Afterall it was your mom's book that got you into read his novels, which lead to you to working together and eventually falling for one another."
"I am Dad and I think so too. I have been thinking a lot about her recently. This time of year also brings out my memories of her." Kate's face showed a hint of sadness over her words then she pressed through the clouds in her mind. "I am determined to enjoy this time of year though. Rick and Alexis are making it easy as well."
"Its just good to see the old you back. Go enjoy the rest of you evening with your family and don't worry so much about the future. It will all happen when it is suppose to." With that Jim gave his daughter a hug and left.
Kate went into the living room and Alexis stood and gave Rick a hug goodnight. She then moved towards Kate. "Goodnight Kate. Thank you for a great day."
"Goodnight Lex and thank you. You helped out more than I did." Kate softly stated as she hugged the young woman in her arms.
"I'm not so sure about that. Having you dad here felt like we finally had a complete family for dinner tonight. I can't wait to do more holiday stuff now." With that Alexis let go of Kate and headed upstairs.
"Me too Lex." Kate called after her as she moved into the living room and found Rick stretched out on the couch. She snuggled up into his side, placing her head softly on his shoulder. She felt his arm wrap around her and a content sigh drift softly out of him. "Thank you for today, Rick." Kate whispered as she settled deeper into his side and took on his warmth.
"Always Kate. Wait until Christmas. You will love the holiday season in the Castle household." Rick smiled the placed a gentle kiss into her hairline.
"I already know I will." Kate stated but with some restraint.
Rick pick up the longing in her voice and asked, "Kate, what is it? What's bothering you?"
Kate debated on whether to bring this up now. Would it ruin a perfect day? Or could it finally bring them closer to being fully together? "Well," Kate started. Rick turned towards her to urge her to continue. "I was wondering when we would start talking about. You know. The day."
"Day? What day?" Rick's face molded to support that confused tone that accompanied with words. He watched as Kate's eyes stared at the ring on her hand and her fingers wiggled it around, like they did when she was nervous about something. "Oh! That Day! As in what happened in May or when will we be doing it again?"
"We sort of know what happened in May and I am done looking backwards. What I am wondering is if we can talk about replanning it now." Kate was still staring down at her ring, scared to see Rick's face and his feelings on the matter. "I mean, we seem to be better now and on solid ground so why are we still waiting?"
"I feel the same way but I thought that we could take on one thing at a time. I know that the holiday season has always been challenging for you so I didn't want to throw too much at you at once. Why don't we take about it after the new year when we can put our minds to it and make it the perfect day for us." Rick eased Kate's face up and she saw a dazzling smile brush across his face and knew in an instant that he meant every word.
"So you still want to marry me?" Kate asked, a little ashamed she had to but needed the answer as well.
Rick could see the uncertainty in her eyes and it caused his heart to break. "Of course I do. Kate you are the woman I love and the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I have been in love with you so long that I can not imagine my life without you in it." Rick pulled her on top of his lips and wrapped his arms tightly around her as if he was shielding her from the world. He continued, whispering in her ear, "You are the reason I get up in the morning. The reason I breath. My goal in life now is to make you happy and feel loved and safe. As long as I accomplish that each day I feel like my day was successful. I need you in my life now Kate so yes I want to marry you. I have wanted nothing more than that for years now."
Kate sat back to look Rick in the eye and he saw what his words did to her. She had the most beautiful smile spread across her face and tears falling from her eyes. She reach out and kissed him deeply and passionately. She could never match his words but her actions always seemed to do for him what his words did for her.
Finally a few moments later, Kate pulled away and stood up off Rick's lap; against his wishes. She held out her hand and said, "Let's go to bed so I can show you just how much I love you." Rick stood and grabbed her hand then followed her into their bedroom for a night filled with passionate love.