AN: Happy holidays everyone! As expected, I didn't have a chance to post anything these last few days, but chapter 9 is here.

Enjoy! :D

CHAPTER 9

"Kate?" Rick asked again.

If Lanie didn't know any better, she would have said she was in a movie. Kate was turning around in slow motion, or that was what Lanie saw, Rick's eyes were the size of saucers, the sun was shining around the couple like a halo, and everything seemed to stop when their eyes met.

'Maybe I could pursue a writing career' thought Lanie.

"Rick!" Kate knew that there was a high chance to run into him, but she was still surprised.

'More like shocked.'

"This is not the time for you, go away!"

After seeing the hurt in Rick's eyes, she realized.

"Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes, yes you did." Said Lanie. She wanted to say something more but after seeing the look Kate was throwing her, she thought better.

"I'll leave you two to talk. I'm going back to the hotel but if you need me just text me or call me and I'll be right there." Whispered Lanie reassuring Kate that someone has her back.

"It was good to see you, Rick. I hope I will see you again until we go back home."

"It was good to see you too." Said Rick, hugging his friend.

He still looked hurt but tried to put a brave face on. The worst part is that Kate knows him better than anyone and she saw right through him.

"I didn't mean it earlier. I swear I-… This is so hard. You know I'm not good with words."

"Kate, breathe. Take our time."

"Of course I wanted to see you. Seeing you just made my day better. I was talking to myself. I didn't want to hurt you. Please believe me."

After hearing this, Rick's mood improved considerably.

"God, I missed you, Kate Beckett! It's so good to have you here." And he went to hug her.

"Let's hope you'll still think that in a few minutes." Mumbled Kate.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were talking to yourself again?" Rick smirked.

"What brings you to LA? I thought you were training with your parents at their law firm."

"I am, but I wanted to talk to you, and I thought it will be better in person. Can we go somewhere? Somewhere private preferably."

"Sure. We can go to my dorm room. My roommate is working so we will be alone. This way." Responded Rick concerned.

After a few minutes' walk, they arrived in Rick's room.

'What does she want to talk about? It must be something bad since she wanted to do this in private. What if she wants to break up with me?'

'To break up you have to be together, which you're not.'

'He's not wrong, you know.'

Kate was thinking of a different conversation.

'What if he's going to leave me? What if he doesn't want to be a part of our life?'

'Don't live your life thinking of what-ifs. Maybe he's not the one but he has the right to know what's going on.' Kate could hear her mother and Lanie. It was like they were there, and they knew what's wrong.

Both Rick and Kate were thinking about rejection, but neither was ready to dive into it for fear of being true. If someone else was there with them, they could have cut the tension in the room.

"How are you feeling? I know you said you're fine, but you promised to go to the doctor. What did they say?" Rick decided to break the ice.

Kate started tearing up. Not only does he remember, but he also still cares about her.

'Damn hormones.'

"Hey, Kate, what's going on? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." Kate tried to recover.

"Then why are you crying? Something happened, I can tell. Kate, I will be right here with you. We will face everything together, I promise. Can you please tell me what's wrong?"

"Let's hope you'll think the same after I tell you."

"Now you're really scaring me. Tell me what happened. I don't know how to help you if I don't know what's wrong and I want to help you. It pains me to see you like this."

"I don't know where to start. I don't know what to say."

"Take your time. We'll take it step by step; you don't have to tell me everything right now. I know I kind of pushed you away and I will always be sorry for that but now I want to prove to you that I'm a new person and I'm all in."

"Rick, you don't have to prove me anything. And you don't have to change yourself. I lo- like you for who you are. I don't want you to be someone you're not." She almost let the 'l' word slip, but Rick didn't seem to notice.

'It's too early to think about love.'

The truth is he did notice but didn't want to add to Kate's stress.

"I'm afraid you will hate me after I tell you why I came here."

"Hate you? Why would I hate you? Kate, I care about you a lot. I can't even tell you how hard was for me to not talk with you those 2 months. I know we started talking again a few days ago but sometimes I think everything is in my head, that I'm dreaming. I can't thank you enough for getting me another chance. I won't lose you again. You have my word."

"How can you be so sure?"

"God damn it, Kate. I love you!" he wasn't angry. On the contrary, he felt relieved saying those words.

"I loved you for a long time. I think you were still with Josh, but I couldn't help feeling this-" Kate silenced him with a kiss.

"Wow, that was- wow," Rick said after a few moments.

"I'm sorry, but you were rambling, and I couldn't stop you. Although, you're cute when you're rambling."

"It's the truth. I do love you. So much. Sorry, I took you the chance to tell me why you're here." After seeing Kate tearing up again, he tried to reassure her.

"Hey, look at me." He waited a few seconds for Kate to look into his eyes.

"That's better. Now hear me out. Everything will be alright. We well sort it together. I will be by your side for as long as you want me."

'What if I want you forever and you don't want me? What will happen then?'

"You will tell me in your own time. I don't want to rush you to do anything."

Kate was thinking about what the best approach is but her mouth decided to do the work and she just blurted out.

"I'm pregnant."

AN: It seems that Kate and Rick have bad angel/good angel moments, but who doesn't, right?

Please let me know what you think about this chapter.

Until next time!