Chapter 14

So how does this work? Asked Kim, as she pulled out her few belongings from her overnight bag and sorted them on the bed "Wow, I know I've been busy but you can't really have forgotten already" Kerry teased "Ha ha" Kim said sarcastically, "I mean, what's your comfort level? Do we...you know...?" Kim wagged her finger between the two of them, making Kerry laughed a little, "Well Kim, It's not an unprecedented sort of thing, after all our first time, or shall I say, second first time happened while Henry was here and there didn't seem to be any problems, why don't we just play it by ear." "Ok" Kim seemed to relax a little, "how about these?" as she gestured towards the clothing she was unpacking "I mean, do you mind if I leave them in a drawer?" Kerry looked over at her belonging on the bed and then noticed how nervous Kim looked asking. It was reassuring to see that Kim seemed to have the same apprehensions as she did as they broke ground on this next phase of the relationship, Kerry moved over to the large dresser against the wall and pulled out the top 2 drawers where she preceded to combined the belonging into one. "How about you use this one next to mine?" Kim grabbed her clothes and moved over to her direction, inspected the offered space, "Yep, this works. Thanks" Kerry looked relieved, "Good, and we will just keep making room as needed, Ok?" "Ok" agreed Kim, as Kerry went to pass Kim she felt her grab her hand, Kerry looked down at the entwined fingers and felt a warmth rise up in her chest, "Do you have any idea how much I love you Kerry Weaver?" Kim asked softly, as she gently pulled Kerry closer to her, Kerry didn't know exactly how to respond, she had hopped it was as much as she loved her, but that was an awful lot. "Kim, you show me every day how much you love me, but I will admit, it's nice to hear it too" Kerry leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips before pulling back, "finish unpacking and then let's go check on Hen and turn in", Kerry started to leave before she turned back towards Kim, "I love you too Kim, I hope you never doubt that"

Henry had had a long day and was sound asleep as the two woman snuck into place good night kisses on his forehead, the interruption caused the boy to stir a little and they heard a muffled "Night Mama, night Kimmy...I love you" Kim gasped a little at the quiet declaration, Kerry smiled as she watched Kim's reaction, "Well, you were right, looks like this is one little Man knows a good thing when he sees it" Kerry left the room and found she had to tug a little bit to get Kim to follow her out as she lead her back to the bedroom," I know how you feel, I can't tell you how often I catch myself just standing over him and watching him sleep, it's probably why he has so many nightmares" Kerry chuckled as she prepared for bed." This got Kim curious, "Does he have a lot?" she asked, "a couple times a week at least" Kerry answered as she was brushing her teeth, "Does he tell you what they are about?" Kim prodded, Kerry finished in the bathroom and switched out with Kim, "Sometimes it's a monster under the bed, but lately it's been about being caught in a burning house and he can't find his way out. He says he calls for me but I never come get him." Kim poked her head out of the bathroom "Oh Ker, that's got to be terrifying" Kerry was taking the decorative pillows off the bed, taking one to hold on her lap as she sat down on the edge of the bed, "I know, I can't help but wonder if it's some kind of a manifestation of the story we tell Henry about his birth mother and why she isn't around anymore" by now Kim was in full psychiatrist mode "Well, if you don't mind me asking, What have you told him about his Mom?" Kerry realized why Kim was asking but still it made her feel a little uneased, "Just that his Mother was a very brave woman who cared very much about other people, so much so that she made it her life's calling to help them when they were in danger and that she died doing just that." Kim had made her way over to the bed and was siding under the covers" "Um hmm, continue" Kim prodded, making Kerry shoot a 'are you serious' look over at Kim "What?" "Look, Kim, I know what you're thinking..."How" asked Kim, "I don't even know what I'm thinking yet, I'm just asking questions" Kim was shuffling her pillows trying to get comfortable "Ker, look, I'm just trying to get some information, what good is my training if I can help the people I love when something is troubling them?" Kerry really did understand where Kim was going with all this, she was just too plain exhausted to tackle it tonight "Kim, I love that this is important to you, but can it just wait for another time?" Kerry had slid into bed and was reaching to turn of the bedside lamp, "Right now I just want to snuggle up to this totally hot psychiatrist that has found her way into my bed that work for you?" Kim, realizing that the subject was officially closed, leaned in for a good night kiss. "Sure, that works for me. For now" she smirked.

Having Kim around more was working out way better than Kerry could have hoped, Now that her lover was staying over most nights, Kim had started to take on the task of getting Henry into school since there scheduled meshed so well and his school was located on the same street as her office. This slight adjustment meant Kerry was able to get home at a decent hour now that she was able to cut so much time off her morning commute, she had an hour just to herself in the mornings to tackle emails and paperwork before her staff even knew she had arrived. But it was way more than just a convenience thing, Kerry had begun to appreciate what it meant to have a partner, someone she could rely on and trust with her most beloved soul, She had begun to always want Kim there. Kerry had found that she was letting herself need Kim in a way she never thought she would or should again. She was finally starting to feel whole, like nothing was missing from her life anymore.

She knew it was fast but she couldn't help but want this to become a much more permanent situation.

Kim thought it was funny that she was actually laying on a couch, while talking with her colleague Paula, about how quickly her life had changed in a period of just a couple months. "Go on, Tell me how it makes you feel" Paula joked as she too saw the irony of the situation, "Really Paula?" Kim groaned "Hey, remember, you came to me " The psychologist returned, "I just asked if you thought I was moving too fast, not if I need an overhaul on my psyche" Kim joked, Paula put her notepad down and sat up straighter looking directly at Kim, "In all seriousness Kim I've never known you to be happier. You seem calm and more secure than I've ever seen. And I've known you since College." Kim nodded in agreement before Paula continued "Kim, I'm not really one who feels you need to put timetables on things, I find that situations resolve themselves at their own pace. I think if you really thought things were moving too fast you would be the first person to say 'Holy Shit! Things are moving too fast' and slam on the breaks, but you aren't doing that, I've seen no hint of your past fondest of self-sabotage. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. Instead, you decided to sit down with a friend and bounce some ideas of her and get a different perspective rather than staying in your own head, acting out a 100 different negative outcomes and deciding to end it before anything ever really happened. This is growth my friend" Paula smiled as she gently reached over to pat her friend's hand. "God, I think you're right Paula, I think I may have accidentally grown up" The two broke out in laughter. "It's about time Doctor" Teased Paula. "You know Kim, it's alright to let yourself want this and it's alright to take what Kerry is freely offering you. I suspect she is feeling the same way."