Chapter Twenty-Nine

It was a rainy New York kind of day, Rick was looking after his granddaughter for Alexis and Jack so they could go to work. Much like Kate; Rick enjoyed spending time with Hallie Rose, after all it has been quite some time since they had little ones in the loft. Once Jake and Reece came along; they were done. Rick had his quartet; two boys and two girls. Kate had her trio plus Alexis.

Rick hadn't been to his P.I. office in weeks since he had been spending time at the precinct with Kate and the others. And since that was case; Alexis had to go in to make sure the office was still standing so to speak. When Alexis and Jack dropped off their daughter with Rick that morning; Hallie Rose was fast asleep in her car seat. The munchkin had fallen asleep in the car as she rode in the back of her parents' car as they made their way to the loft.

While his granddaughter slept away in her car seat after being dropped off and the rain continued to fall outside; Rick started to plan a co-engagement party that he and Kate would share with Lily and Nicholas Javier. Just as Rick started to figure out whether it was better to have the party at the house in the Hamptons or on one of the many rooftops in the city; Hallie Rose woke. Hearing the cries of his granddaughter; Rick knew that she wasn't sure why she was where she was and that was why she was crying.

"It's okay; Hallie, Grandpa is here." Rick said as he unbuckled and picked up Hallie Rose.

Even after being taken out of car seat; Hallie Rose was still a bit fussy.

"Don't worry, sweetie; it's alright. Your mom and dad will be here to pick you up tonight. Until then you get to hang out with your fun Grandpa for a while before Grandma Kate gets back from work."

With that, it seemed that Hallie Rose to have settled down and adoringly looked up at Rick from his arms.

"You want to know what I was working on before you woke up; kiddo?" Rick asked his granddaughter.

Hallie Rose babbled back in response. Rick then made his way back to the other side of his desk with Hallie Rose in his arms.

"I was planning an engagement party for your Aunt Lily and Uncle Nick to have with Grandma Kate and me."

Hallie Rose just kept looking at Rick while he kept talking, little did either one of them know but while Rick talked Kate had come home from work to change out of her wet clothes after she had chased down a suspect. Kate was watching her husband and granddaughter from afar after she had changed. As she watched and listened; a smile came to her face as the sight before her reminded Kate of all the times in the past that Rick had these one on one conversations with their three kids in the past.

"An engagement party for us to share with our daughter and son in law to be; really babe?" Kate questioned.

After Kate had made her presence known, Rick look up at her as she made her way to him and Hallie Rose. Once she was within inches of her husband and granddaughter; Kate extended her arms so she could hold Hallie Rose. Rick complied and handed over Hallie Rose to Kate.

"We both know that the party is for Lily and Nicholas Javier; don't we Hallie. Grandpa can't hoodwink us." Kate said.

It was then that Kate and Rick shared a knowing look with the smile they shared.