Author's Note: WARNING! This chapter might make you very hungry, it did me while I was writing it haha NYLF xx
Rick and Kate sat opposite each other, while Lex sat beside her dad, once Kate had directed them to a booth in the corner of the diner.
Alexis went straight into looking at her menu. Rick however, couldn't stop staring at his girlfriend. She was beautiful, always, Rick would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know that, but seeing her with his kid was different. There was this shy vulnerability to her that made his heart ache with the need to hold her. She was so nervous about Alexis liking her, something they have to talk about later, because it had him worried, just as much as it warmed him from the inside.
"You've been here before, Kate, what do you recommend?" Alexis asked, looking up at the detective.
"Oh, well, that depends on what you like." She stumbled, a little apprehensive still. "Personally I adore my regular; the Double Cheese Burger with Special Ketchup, Cheesy Curly Fries and a strawberry milkshake."
"Where do you put all of that?" Rick was unable to not ask, regretting it a little when she blushed.
"I work out a lot." She murmured, before turning back to the little girl. "My friend Lanie likes the Southern Fried, Hot and Spicy Chicken Burger, with regular fries, and one of my partner's Espo always gets the Chilli Drenched Bean Burger. Or, if you prefer something a bit lighter, Kevin, my other partner, usually gets the Chicken Wrap with Salsa and Sour Cream." Kate finished, realising she was probably overwhelming the girl.
"Wow, it all sounds so good." Alexis murmured, biting her thumb nail as she looked back at her menu. "I think I'll get your usual." Alexis smiled, making Kate's heart trip as she smiled back. "But can I get a coke?" She waited for Rick's nod before closing her menu. "What about you, dad?"
"I think I'm gonna get the same burger, but with regular fries and a chocolate shake."
"You gonna get your usual?" Alexis asked, looking up at the detective.
Kate looked to Rick, for reasons he was unsure of until she opened her mouth. "I, uh, I think I might just get one of the wraps, haven't decided which one though." She smiled wanly before looking down at her menu.
Rick turned to Alexis. "Hey, kiddo, go wash your hands, I'll order for you, if she comes before you're back."
"Okay." Alexis smiled before slipping out of the booth towards the bathroom.
"Hey, Kate?" Rick asked gently, once his daughter was out of ear shot, gently stroking his finger against his girlfriend's knuckles.
"Hmm?" She hummed, not looking up.
"Your body is awesome, babe." He kept his voice low, but loud enough so Kate wouldn't miss it.
She set her menu down in front of her with a small sigh.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was an issue, I was just surprised and spoke without thinking." He apologised softly.
"It's not, an issue I mean, it's just," she sighed.
"Babe, you can eat whatever the hell you like, I'm not the kind of guy that will suggest you get salad, and be turned off if you eat anything with calories in it. Hell, I love that you're not afraid to eat what you like, rather than being calorie conscious."
"I lost so much weight when I joined the academy, my training officer was worried for my life. I passed out after a stakeout once and was on an IV for six hours." She confessed quietly.
Rick took her hand involuntarily.
"He told me, with the job we do, we need to make sure we up our calorie count, because we burn so many. So now I'm more careful to watch my calories, but to make sure I get enough, not to limit them."
"Then why did you hesitate?" He asked quietly.
Kate shrugged. "I guess, most guys don't seem to like the girl that can eat as much as, or more than, them."
"I'm not that guy, Kate." He smiled at her softly, squeezing her hand. "I'd want to be with you even if your were the size of a house."
Kate scoffed a little.
"I'm serious. You're smoking hot, Kate." He winked, making her blush. "But it's not the only thing that attracts me to you."
Kate smiled, leaning across the table to kiss him, quickly pulling back when she saw Alexis coming back.
Once they had all ordered, Kate having ordered her usual meal, complete with strawberry shake, making Rick smile, Alexis decided it was time to assess her dad's apparent new girlfriend.
"So, Kate," She started, unaware of the sheer dread she's just lodged in the detective's heart.
"Yes, Alexis?" Kate replied, ridiculously proud that her voice didn't waiver.
"Dad said you're a detective?"
"Yeah." Kate smiled. "I qualified for detective nearly nine months ago."
"What kind of detective are you? I read that there's lots of different types." Alexis continued.
"I work in homicide." Kate smiled, a little uncertainly. "Though I don't think homicide is very lunch table appropriate."
"Kate's right, pumpkin." Rick intervened.
Alexis nodded. "Okay. What's your favourite film?"
Kate smiled, getting more at ease by the minute. "I really like Marvel, so anything from them is good. You can't beat a good Disney film either."
"Disney is good, dad's the comic fan though." Alexis wrinkled her nose, adorably in Kate's opinion.
"That's okay, me and Kate can have Marvel marathons." He smiled at her, winking at Kate to make her giggle.
They talked for a few more minutes, before their bubble was burst by the chiming of Kate's cell.
"Sorry." She murmured, bringing it out to read the text once Rick had waved her apology off.
"Everything okay?" Rick asked quietly when Kate's brow furrowed as she frowned.
"Umm, yeah, just, not who we were expecting to have their alibi fall apart." Kate murmured, still reading, before realising where she was. "Sorry." She apologised, quickly putting her phone in her bag and turning to Alexis. "It's been amazing to meet you, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to go."
"It's okay. You're at work." Alexis smiled.
Kate smiled brightly at her. "Maybe next time you're in town we can meet up again? I might be able to get a day off if you wanted, but have a think okay, no pressure." Kate smiled.
"Okay. Sounds good." Alexis smiled. "Go kick butt." She giggled, making Kate laugh.
"Will do, Kiddo." She winked at her, grabbing her bag before turning to Rick. "I'm sorry." She breathed.
"No. Like she said, you're at work. We knew this could happen." He absolved her.
"Okay, call me later?" She asked quietly, smiling when he nodded.
"Of course." He stood to give her a quick hug and to kiss her cheek. "Stay safe."
"Always." She smiled, waving at Alexis as she strode out the diner.
"So?" Rick asked, turning to his kid once he'd watched Kate leave.
"I like her." Alexis smiled. "She talks to me like a person, not just a little kid."
Rick smiled and slung his arm around her, pulling her in to kiss her crown. "Yeah, I think she's pretty cool."
"And she's really pretty." Alexis continued.
"Yeah." Rick sighed happily. "That she is."