The next day the rest of the family and certain celebrities were invited to Robert's and Martha's retreat. The President was there with all the SS around there was a helicopter buzzing around just for added Security. The party was in full swing. Everyone was having a good time. Jason Bateman was there at the request of Robert. Natalie Rhoads was also invited it was a interesting juxtaposition for Kate seeing Natalie again then Rick has been being compared to Jason most of his life and now he was looking right at him.
"Kate he really does not look like me does he?" Rick asked worriedly.
"No Rick he is not as cute as you. So why the sudden need to compare yourself with the Actor who plays Rook?" Kate asked with a lilt of humor in her voice.
"I dunno I guess I am being a bit insecure?" Rick replied grumpily.
Kate laughed "The man who single handedly took down the biggest threat to the welfare for the City of New York is insecure?"
"Well if you put it that way I guess I am not" Rick said sheepishly.
"Oh My Darling I so love you!" Kate kissed her husband.
Alexis notice her father and step mother interacting yelled "Get a Room!"
Kate stopped the kiss and stuck her tongue out at Alexis then continued passionately kissing her husband.
Everyone laughed at the antics between the Step Mother and Daughter.
Claire asked Alexis "What was that all about? I think it is fine seen those two so much in Love!"
Alexis turned her attention to her Cousin. "It was showing love, Cuz. In our family razzing is part of being so comfortable around them that you can act a bit childish now and then. Surely you have been the recipient of a few of my zingers Claire?"
"Not that I can recall" the willowy Blonde replied.
Alexis looked at her taller cousin as said "How's the weather up there? Now there! You been Razzed."
Rick looks over at his eldest daughter. "Oh dear it looks like Alexis has gotten too much to drink! She is becoming obnoxious."
"Let her be! The family has had some emotional times lately. A bit of childish behavior would do her some good!" Kate stated between kissing and nuzzling.
"Oh look at you all Ninja Lioness protector!" Rick teased.
"It must be these Pregnancy hormones which brings the protector out in me, Rick." Kate stated with a sigh. It was going to be a long 9 month Rick thought.
Robert got up and banged on his glass to quiet everyone down.
"Thank you for all attending this reception Martha and I would like to announce we are going to Puerto Rico for two weeks on our Honeymoon. So enjoy the party." Robert announced.
"Rick did you have anything to do with this?" Kate asked being still held tight in her husband's strong arms. They were gently swaying to the music only they could hear.
"I might have made the arrangements as their wedding present" Rick replied.
"You old softy come here" Kate again got lost in her husband's bluer than blue eyes then laid her head against his massive chest. She could hear his heart beat a very slow Lub dub every few seconds. There was something so comforting hearing that slow rhythm.
Eventually Alexis got too obnoxious! She had to be escorted by her Cousins back to the hotel where they all passed out!
"Soon Kate and Rick took Alexis's advice and returned to the hotel to continue their dance of love."
The party was ending Martha and Robert showed their guest out. Then they too followed their progeny into the dance of love.
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The next morning Alexis awoke with the worst hangover since her High School graduation! "I swear I will never drink again" she moaned.
There was a knock on the door. Standing fully dressed for exercise was her step mother.
"Kate now is not a good time" Alexis said looking extremely miserable.
"Yes I know you think that but exercise and water will do you some good plus a couple of aspirin for the headache." Kate stated. "Come on let's go."
Kate and Alexis were making it a habit to run together at least once a week. Today happen to be that the day. Alexis reluctantly but dutifully got dressed. They headed out to the indoor track that this hotel provided for their guest.
Kate was determined even though she was pregnant she would not become fat or lazy. Dragging Alexis out on the course was good for her she thought. She looked at her running partner and cringed internally. She really did look like death warmed over. However, after the first mile Kate noticed an improvement to Alexis's look as she was matching her stride for stride.
"So Alexis how are you feeling" Kate asked as the sweat was purging Alexis of all those poisons.
"I am feeling better Kate Thanks." Alexis replied.
"That is good, I told you this would help" Kate stated like the wise old woman she was.
"So how are you feeling about all these sudden changes?" Kate asked in a motherly way.
"Wow that is hard to describe, I am elated my grand parent got together it proves Love can win at the end. You having my siblings is such an incredible feeling. I just cannot describe it not even to myself. Meeting my Cousins who happen to be my age was a wonderful. I never had family growing up other than Grams and Dad. Meeting my Aunt Susan was bittersweet. She is such a kind soul that it was sad no one had ever visited her." Alexis stated.
"Alexis, Susan just was trying to be protected from that evil man. The horrors she must have gone through. You have seen the videos and the transcripts right?" Kate asked.
"Yeah Dad showed them to me a bit ago when we thought we were under Dragon attack" Alexis said.
"That reminds me. You do know the Dragon is no more?" Kate asked.
"Yeah Gramps told me. So our family is safe. You are not going on the streets anymore and that is a good thing. Dad is working only with his brain and not placed in any danger. So that is good. I think Robert and Martha are staying at the other apt with me and the twins another good thing and maybe there will be more frequent visits with Aunt Susan in the future too. I think after all the upheavals I hoping to get back to some semblance of normalcy but in this family. Who knows what that is?" Alexis replied.
"Ok what about the revelation of your Father's family genetic heritage? Kate asked wondering what she actually felt about that herself.
That Dad is a Chimerical? Wow I guess I knew how Dad was different from early on but I did not care. He was my protector, teacher, and confidant. He was just there for me. His feminine side was always apparent. He would cry about movies or sad songs or the fact he used way too many beauty products than me! The part of his strength was hidden from me. I knew he was strong but I never test his limits. We just had so much fun! I mean he used to pull me in the sled during winter for hours but I never saw him tire. He would then slog through Snow drifts over 6' in the cabin in Vermont. He would chop the wood for the house too for hours and then play laser tag with me. I just thought he was my Dad." Alexis said reminiscing. "What about you Kate what does this revelation tell you about him?"
"Well Alexis when I first met your father at that book signing I did not like him at all! I mean I was pretty closed up emotionally and your father was able to penetrate all my defenses at that first meeting. He could see the real me not the outward persona I adopted. To be honest that scared me a lot! So I kept him at arms length but I knew in my heart he was my destiny. Now after 5 years of knowing him I am still a bit scared but I am slowly getting over it. I know we have not had the best of relations in the past but I am committed to your father forever! I do not say this lightly. I love your father so much it hurts being without him. I really do not care he is different. If he was not I would have never been attracted to him in the first place." Kate admitted.
Alexis was stunned Kate never been this open with her before. Other than her declaration of her love for her father that was repeated a number of times. Alexis thought her father was someone very special. "Kate what ever it is worth I am so happy you are my step Mother! You are far different than my own Mother. Who I see never chose to appear for this wedding" Alexis said bitterly about her own mother's lack of caring.
"Alexis have you contacted her lately?" Kate asked concerned.
"No I guess I have not done so I need to get back to school now that the disruption has ended" Alexis said slowing down to cool off.
Kate was concerned about Alexis avoiding her own mother. "Alexis the college can wait family can not. I learned that the hard way. Why don't you take a few days go out to Ca and visit with your mother?"
Alexis thought about that she really had not seen her mother since she was 17 and now she was almost 19! That was too long! "Kate you are right I should try to make arrangements to see her."
Kate smiled she knew Alexis seeing her mother and relating all the new things in her life would do them both good.
"Ok well I am cooled down so I am off to get a shower before your father awakes. Remember to join us later for Breakfast? Also awake your cousins too it is mandatory!" Kate ordered.
"I remember the breakfast Mom! Thanks for the talk!" Alexis said as she bounded off to her hotel room.
Meanwhile Robert and Martha were packed but before they would go there was first Breakfast with the family, So they drove to the hotel and soon the rest of the family appeared. It was a raucous time many jokes were cracked by Robert or her Dad Alexis observed. She had indeed took Kate's advice and called her mother.
"Meredith was in between jobs so she welcomed a chance to catch up with her grown daughter. So I'm leaving to go to Ca after breakfast too" she announced to the family.
"It seems this will be the last get together in the near future I wish everyone health and happiness!" Robert toasted.
The breakfast ended and soon they were splitting apart some to LA others to NY then others to their honeymoon.
"Aunt Kate and Uncle Rick mind if we stay at the loft until Alexis and Gramps and Grams get back?" Carrie asked earnestly.
"No problem at all" Rick replied "I was going to invite you myself. I think keeping the family close would be a great idea!"
"So it is settled you will be with us for 2 weeks!" Kate stated.
Both Claire and Carrie were happy over that arrangement.
The trip back to New York was uneventful. They had returned to the loft and got the girls settled in.
Rick was in the living room when he looked up and saw Claire come bounding down the stairs. He was a bit sad because the color of the hair was so wrong. He missed his little girl. Kate seated beside him noticed his gaze and the slight melancholy which graced his face.
"Rick you should not be so sad you will have many more little ones to feed and clothes in the near future." Kate said patting his hand which was on top of her still flat stomach.
"Kate you are right! I should be looking toward the future" Rick said with a tinge of wistfulness,
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The flight to Puerto Rico was uneventful. They were checking into their hotel crossing the lobby floor Martha noticed the Marque. It read that the Dr. Stilton would be the guest speaker.
Martha inquired "Robert could you get us two of tickets I am sure with the right amount they could be procured?"
"Yes My love I would be delighted to accompany you" Robert said.
Martha patted his hand as they strode to the elevator. Soon the tickets would be waiting at the front desk. Robert even called in a few favors. The President was not delighted to learn what that man had done to his friend's daughter and pull the SS detail off and placed them in the hotel room instead.
The symposium began as Martha watched with eyes of an eagle for the hated Doctor to appear.
Then there he was accepting the applause of the assembled guests.
Martha rose and addressed the man as she strode to the stage no one stopped her.
Getting to the stage "Dr do you remember me?" Martha sweetly said.
Dr. Stilton blood ran cold of course he knew her. Everyone knew her!
"What you don't? It is true I am no longer that 19 year old ingénue still you don't remember? How about a date April 1 1972! Does that ring any bells?" Martha said menacingly
Martha was getting closer and closer to the Dr.
The doctor was thinking quickly how to defuse this ticking time bomb.
"Ah Ms. Rodgers I do recall you giving me your young child a daughter. You could not believe you gave birth to a Freak! Then did you ever visit or even find out what sort of care? No you abandoned her!" the Dr. sneered. The crowd took a combined deep breath over that revelation.
Martha stopped mid stride and felt ashamed she did do that but then the anger returned.
"Dr. I was a scared 19 years old with no husband and having two children. You convinced me that you would take care of her." Martha accused with venom in her voice.
The crowd was hushed as the drama unfolded on the stage.
You convinced me to give up my daughter, you son of a Bastard Basilisk then you used her...as a LAB RAT!" Martha bellowed.
Stinson never saw the first blow coming, as his right knee crumpled behind Martha's expensive high heeled shoe he then toppled bodily to the floor. She dragged him to his feet against the wall, bent him over with a knee to the stomach, grabbed his nose between her knuckles and savagely pulled on it. She brought his ear to her lips.
"You're not facing a scared, disabled little girl now, Stilton, how does it feel?" Martha growled angrily
She slammed him back against the wall, hard enough to crack the plaster, eliciting a low moan from the man.
"I'm sorry," she said with mock grandmotherly sweetness, "Does it hurt?" as she grabbed a handful of his receding hair and yanked him forward this caused him to cry out in pain.
"Good!" she said as she brought her knee up into his groin, folding him up like a card table, before applying a elbow to the back of his neck, dropping him face first to the floor.
He rolled over and moaned, "Aren't you going to arrest her? She assaulted me!"
He said to the stunned hotel security guard. The guard ignored the evil man's pleas. What about you Robert?
Robert shrugged his shoulders as Martha regally swept from the room like the Broadway diva that she was, and quipped,
"Some scientist you are, Stilton. Has no one EVER told you to never to get between a mama bear and her cubs?"
With that Martha joined her hand to his arm and strode out of the conference room.
Alexis in Ca was looking through the net. Her mother was called away on a reading. So she was alone. She saw the video clip of her Grams handing the evil Dr. his just deserts!
Way to go Grams! She said out loud!
Alexis alerted both Kate and Rick who were busy cleaning the loft. They had not been home in awhile. Rick's cell phone beeped. Kate looked at the phone it was a text from Alexis.
"Rick you have a text from Alexis!" she yelled out.
"Honey open it and see what she wants?" Rick said from the laundry room.
Kate read the text.
Hey Dad you need to see this video
Then it gave the link. Kate clicked on the link and she was laughing so hard.
"Kate what is wrong?" Rick quickly came to her side.
Kate laughing pointed to the screen. Rick was amazed! He had never seen his mother in such a rage!
"Well it looks like the good Dr. got what he deserved!" Rick quipped.
Soon the twins were wondering what was going on and stopped their cleaning and found both their aunt and uncle in stitches of laughter. Rick pointed to the video replaying on his phone. Soon both young women were laughing too at the video.
Way to go Grams! Carrie said and Claire agreed!