SOUL DEEP

KATE AND RANA PART 37

Compromises…

"Come here," Imran motioned to his sister, "I'm sorry things didn't work out, but its better to know now instead of five years down the road," He guided her to the sofa in his flat, "Sit," He sweetly ordered putting on the tea, "Kate's just so pig headed," She wept shaking her head, "She wants children, you don't and trying to change her mind just hasn't happened," Rana listened to him rolling her thumb over the engagement ring on her finger, "It doesn't matter, I still love her and I have to find away to make her see," She wiped away the streaming tears falling down her face, "What can I do to help?" He looked at her seriously, "You could knock some sense into that head of hers," Rana giggled trying to get past the sadness. "I could, but I don't know if it will change the baby thing, I have to ask, who was going to carry the child?" Rana looked at him strangely, "I don't know, it's been something I've tried to avoid, keeping her happy and at bay," She remarked candidly. Imran fixed them a cup of tea, "Drink, you need your rest, your going to have to figure out something, in the mean time I think you should avoid mum she's has steely knives awaiting," He winked with a grin, Rana felt a sigh of relief cover her.

Rana worked late into the evening, "I'm tired," She noted to Liz, "But I'm also anxious to get out, relax, have a drink or two," Liz leaned against the counter, "Why don't you ring Alya, I'm sure she would be a good and faithful listener," Rana frowned, "Yeah, uh, I don't think I'm much into, it's going to be ok, Kate will come around, but in the mean time, I told ya' so," She rehearsed clutching the purse strap on her shoulder, "Well you could go to that flat, grab a chilled bottled of wine and think to yourself about what you plan to do," Liz chuckled. "Yeah, Kate might be there and we would just have another row about it all, I never new becoming engaged would be so full of mishaps and misunderstandings," She replied, "You two love each other, things will be complicated at times, I know you'll do everything you can to work your problems out," Rana pursed her lips, "We haven't even discussed who would carry the baby," She talked aloud, "It seems you really haven't made a firm decision, could be Kate doesn't want to carry the child, which would give you the leverage you need to talk her out of it," Rana nodded, leaving and heading back to her mum's.

"Kate," Johnny called out to her, "Dad," She sat to the bar, "Have you and Rana made any headway with Dr. Gaddas?" He asked, "No, actually Rana really doesn't want children," She could feel her lip tremble, Johnny was tongue tied, "What? What happened?" He fished for an explanation, "She was just going along with it all because she didn't want to hurt me," She began to say, "Kate having children must be a decision made by both of you, did you even talk things out first before you made that decision?" He inquired prodding Kate. "I know dad," She shrugged, "I just thought with the engagement and marriage children would be next, I've always wanted a family," Johnny grasped her hand, "Your not doing these because of Aiden or you want me to have a grandchild before I die?" Kate felt her insides shrivel, "I love you dad and I know not getting to know Susie has been overwhelming," She surmised, "But it's not an excuse to assume Rana wants the same things you do, talking them out first is what you should've done, not going overboard, I assume Rana is having a hard time with this?" Kate furrowed her brow, "We've decided we need some space, I have a lot to take into consideration where we are concerned, I love her more then anything, I have to find a compromise," She looked him in the eye as he did her.

Kate entered the factory, "Carla about?" She inquired, the receptionist nodded, "Kate," Carla welcomed her in, "Decided about the job?" She tried to bypass anything concerning Rana, "Yes, I've done some thinking, actually that's all I've done is think," She was about to breakdown when Carla grasped her sitting her in the chair across from her desk, "Spill it," She ordered. "Rana and me, we've decided some time away from each other is for the best, Carla curled her lip up, "I can see this is driving you crazy," She shook her head in a negative way, "I thought when people got engaged, it was because they were in love, ready for a future, a family," Carla groaned cutting her off, "You should relish your engagement first, not decide what color the baby carriage is going to be, engagements should be fun, planning where you are going to marry, live, how you're going to manage your household, babies come later," She summed it up for her. "I truly thought Rana was in agreement or I at least assumed she was," Carla eyed the sad expression that shrouded her sister's face. "She didn't want to hurt you, you have been on this high since the engagement, but Rana has a say in things also, you can't push her feelings to the side for your own needs, it will be the two of you making decisions," Carla barked.

Kate sat motionless taking in what Carla had to say, "And if I agree to wait, who's to say she won't balk, I mean we could say a year or two, but what if I want this and she doesn't?" Carla sighed listening to Kate's ramblings, "That's when you find compromise, right now the most important things are, getting married, putting your touches on the flat, knowing who is going to be in charge of the finances," Carla snickered, Kate looked at her strangely, "Rana will be in charge of the finances," She assured her, they giggled. "It takes two Kate, making decisions should be by the both of you, you're entering into a partnership, together as a married couple, finances, jobs, children must be decided by the two of you," Carla advised, Kate listened, "Now about the job," Kate cleared her throat to speak, "Rana agrees that this would be a more stable job with better pay, I think its in my," She hesitated briefly, "Our best interest that I at least give it a try," Carla was elated, "Have you told Michelle?" She further probed, "No, I want to work part time there, that is if they'll let me," Kate replied, "Let them know, ask, if there's some hesitation, I'll talk to Michelle and Robert," Kate smiled, "Thanks Carla," She wrinkled her nose they embraced, Kate's mind still reeling from all the indecisions they had encountered as of late.

Rana dressed applying a fresh coat of makeup on her face, "Going out?" Saira entered her bedroom asking, "Yes, I need to relax," She mundanely replied, "Kate about?" She managed to ask, "Kate's working the evening shift and I thought Alya and I could spend sometime together," She remarked running the eyeliner pencil across her bottom lid. "Oh, Alya, I'm glad you two have made up," Saira seemed delighted. "Well if you'll excuse me, I'll be late, don't wait up," She clutched her purse from the bed and hurried out and over to the train station. Rana made her way to the gay bar that she had visited with Kate and Alya her heart shuttered pushing the door open and cozying up to a stool at the edge of the bar. "What'll ya' have mate?" The bartender questioned, "Red, chilled please," She laid her purse on the counter scanning the room her mind wonder back to the night she realized something very different about Kate. "Drinking alone?" The bartender wondered gazing at Rana's good looks with a sharp eye, "Uh, yes, just a little alone time," She quietly answered. "Let me know if I can get you another," She winked at Rana returning to the customers surrounding the bar. Rana sipped her wine a sad feeling shadowed her all she could do was think about Kate she spread her hand out looking at the engagement ring that adorned it, "Fancy seeing you here," A familiar voice echoed in her ear.

Rana slowly raised her head up to face Imogen she swallowed hard, "Imogen," She guzzled her wine. "Rana, Kate's dearest mate, so how is Kate these days?" She asked Rana remained silent, "Cat got your tongue?" She smirked, "Uh, Kate she's fine," She slightly rolled her eyes, "I see and your sitting alone in a gay bar, strange for a woman who claims to be straight," She insisted Rana wanted to get up and leave she felt boxed into a corner she tried to move but her limbs felt numb. "Uh, I, uh," Rana choked on her words, "Come with me," Imogen ordered kindly, Rana slid off the stool her purse in hand she followed Imogen to a dark quiet spot in the bar, "Please sit," She showed her to a chair at a table for two. "Kate how is she really?" She spoke softly and without convection, "She's fine, I mean getting along, still working at the bistro and she's engaged," Imogen frowned. "Engaged? Are you sure we are talking about the same Kate Connor?" She giggled swigging the shot glass full of liquor that sat in front of her. "I'm positive and she's happy or at least she was happy until," Rana lowered her head, "Ya' mean you don't like the new girl and you intervened rudely," Rana pursed her lips, "Ok I deserved that," Imogen furrowed her brow.

"How long did it take you to come to the reality that she was the only one for you and that your were in love with the only person that could ever make you truly happy?" Rana looked up to Imogen, "I knew before you and her broke up, I couldn't admit it and I made both of our lives miserable," She answered. "And when did you tell her?" She eyed Rana with amusement, "Not long after you split, I kissed her," Imogen gave her a seriously look, "And how did Kate take it?" Rana shrugged her shoulders, "Not very well, I was married and Zeedan was her best mate, but I knew what I was doing, you were right and I told Kate that, the way you said I looked at her, it was as if you could read my mind, the windows of my soul were opened to everything that I was feeling, I was guarded, but above all I was never homophobic," Imogen sat back crossing her arms. "Zeedan?" She asked, "Divorced," She was quick to reply. "I see," Rana interjected, "Kate is engaged to me," She finally spoke the truth, Imogen stirred, "I knew it, I knew you couldn't be without her," Rana felt small but proud, "I confessed my love for her it was a challenge at first, we had an affair, Zeedan found out, I felt awful, Kate was devastated, we were apart, then together many things happened that nearly ruined our relationship," Imogen cut in, "So why are you here, alone?" She quizzed.

Rana looked at her, "When Kate and I got engaged, Kate got out of her head," Imogen whistled with a grin, "I'll say, go on," She implored, "We've never discussed children, Kate has in her mind that we need to have a baby right away," Imogen stopped her, "Kate? With a baby?" Rana bowed her head and shared the story of Aiden's death and Johnny's illness, "Seems you two are at a sticking point," Imogen declared, "We are apart now, needed space I guess you could say, I love her Imogen and I don't want to lose her, but in reality she hasn't taken me into consideration, children have never been in my scheme of things, we should get to know each other, travel, have journeys, learn new things before we're tied down with children," Rana explained feeling she could openly express herself to Imogen. "Kate can be hard headed when she wants something, but I can't help but think you were looking for something when you came here," Rana lowered her shoulders, "I've accepted the fact that I'm gay, I'm not seeking companionship, but this is a comfort zone for me, I'm not around a place where I have to worry about Kate walking through the door, I just can't deal with the heartache," She muttered.

Imogen felt sorry for Rana, "Hey, maybe you were just looking for someone, a woman to share your pain with, it happens, women get so bottled up with there unhappiness that they seek out others, it doesn't have to be about sex or a one night stand," Rana giggled at Imogen's words, "I can assure you Kate is the only one for me, if we can just get past her pig headedness," They both laughed, "If you want my advise, you need to go somewhere, away from Weatherfield and talk sincerely, others don't need to be involved, just you and her, one on one until you can find compromise, from the way you've talked Kate truly loves you Rana," Rana bit her lip in a grimace, "She does, but it's getting her away from Weatherfield, what if she doesn't agree? What then?" She mumbled thinking of the consequences, Imogen groaned, "Seems Kate needs some convincing," She noted, "I'm glad you were able to face the truth, discovering who you are, coming out isn't always easy," Rana listened keenly, "But you can't start a marriage on a pile of lies," She warned, "Thank you, I should go, take care," Rana left Imogen with some comfort, she needed to forge a plan to get Kate away from Weatherfield.

Jenny fixed Kate a cupper they sat down together alone, Johnny was still at the Rover's, "How's Rana?" Jenny quizzed, "I guess ok, we haven't talked in a couple of days, this whole baby thing has got her out of sorts she can't seem to wrap her head around it," Kate complained, "Children are a big step, have you even considered the expense outside of getting pregnant?" Jenny voiced calmly, "I have, but I've spent so much time just trying to think of ways," Jenny sighed, "Which of you would carry the child?" Kate shook her head, "We really haven't discussed it, Rana doesn't want children," Jenny breathed in deeply, "You're going to have to take into consideration her feelings and desires, Kate marriage is a big step and right now adding a baby in the mix might not be such a good idea," Kate moaned lowly, "But I really feel Rana will come around, dad needs this Jenny," Jenny was caught off guard, "Kate you can't plan for a child because you think this is what your father wants," Kate felt gutted at Jenny's words.