A/N: Co-written with a friend who also came up with the idea! Thank you for your chocolate contribution!
Kate slowly walked up the stairs to the bedroom. Stairs were getting a little more exhausting for her with each passing day as her belly swelled more and more. She thought her huffs and puffs as she did the stairs could be heard as far away as Halifax, but she was apparently quieter than she knew because she startled Caroline when she opened their door.
She found Caroline in a compromising position on the bedroom floor, red-faced from her solo activities. Caroline was huffing and puffing, too but for very different reasons.
"Caroline!" Kate exclaimed, shocked to find her in this manner but more than a little turned on by the sight of her skin all a glow with a light sheen of sweat.
"Kate," the dishevelled blond began without being able to make eye contact. She was more than a little embarrassed to be caught in the act.
"Caroline," she said in a softer tone as a broad, naughty smile erupted on her face.
"It's not what it looks like," Caroline continued defensively.
"Let me help you with that," Kate offered with a leering look as she gingerly lowered herself to the floor and took hold of Caroline's feet.
Caroline shifted her position a little and wordlessly resumed her movements, trying to stifle her need to grunt as her stomach muscles contracted; she realized her pride was still intact despite not wanting Kate to see this side of her.
"Just one question springs to mind," Kate said after a little bit. "It is what it looks like but why?"
"One lonely night after far too much Sangiovese, right after you told me you were pregnant, I decided it was time to..." she began to confess but ran out of breath before she could finish.
"Oh, Caroline." It was all Kate could manage as the penny started to drop for her and she didn't know whether to feel guilty or grateful. "Well how many is that?"
"Fifty," she said as she reached for a towel to wipe the sweat off and struggled to sit up.
"Fifty?!" She knew Caroline hated sit-ups more than thing else they use to have to do in gym class so she was impressed by her dedication.
"Yup. I've learned how to keep count even when the movement only serves to make my eyes want to roll back in my head. Frankly, the worse part is the effort it takes to get up off the floor when I'm done," she joked as she suddenly realized she was going to have to help Kate up as well. "If you'll move off my feet, I'll get up and then help you up."
"Hmmm. I was thinking that while we're down here we could do a little more of a workout but together this time."
"…What, now?" Caroline gave a smirk at the thought.
"Why not?" Kate shrugged, her hands beginning to massage Caroline's calves in a delicious manner. "If you've got the stamina after those sit ups, of course."
Caroline took Kate's words as a challenge, just how she was meant, and a few minutes later they both lay on the floor in various states of undress. Kate lay on her back trying desperately to ignore the baby now pressing on her bladder and focus on the hand Caroline was brushing up and down her thigh, or the lips that were currently attached to her neck. "C-Caroline?"
"Mm." Was all the blonde responded, moving her lips down to take a straining nipple in her mouth.
Kate began to wriggle, pressing her head back harder into the carpet as a moan escaped her lips. "C-oh! Caroline!"
"I am busy here, in case you hadn't noticed." Caroline finally lifted her head, a smile on her face. "What is it?"
"Baby. Bladder." Kate panted.
"Oh! Oh god, sorry. You'd think I would have remembered." Caroline grabbed a pillow from the bed and placed it behind Kate, allowing her to move slightly on her side. "Better?"
"Much." Kate smiled, capturing her wife's lips.
"Sh…shit! Shit, shit!" Caroline suddenly rolled away, curling up to rub her calf.
"Leg cramp?" Kate asked, a laugh shaking from her lips.
"It's not funny!"
"I don't think we're made for having sex on the floor, Caroline."
"It's not funny!" Caroline repeated, though she began to smile too. "Bed?"
"Why were you doing sit-ups, anyway? Really." Kate asked as they settled down to sleep an hour later, her fingers stroking Caroline's stomach tenderly.
"…I told you." Caroline's voice was small, embarrassed.
"Well, for the record, I think you have the most magnificent body I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes and hands on." Kate whispered in Caroline's ear before dropping a kiss to her cheek. "And if it's running around after a toddler you're worried about, or your age, I think anyone who can walk around in those heels all day every day is definitely fit enough to rival even a gym bunny!"
"…What's a gym bunny?" Caroline wrinkled her nose.
"Strike that. You're definitely three whole years older than me!"
"Oi! If you keep up with that, I shan't get up and help you to the bathroom at 4am." Caroline shot back, a smile softening her words.
"I'll just wet the bed."
"You will bloody not!" Caroline was grinning now, her lips barely an inch from Kate's. "Still got some energy left? You could help me burn off the cake I had for lunch."
Smiling back, Kate drew Caroline closer and captured her lips, her hand running over the skin on Caroline's stomach that was still slightly sticky with sweat. But then just as suddenly as it began, Kate pulled back. "What cake? Why didn't I get any?!"