AN: Hey guys! This is the last post for this year so I hope you will enjoy it. Happy New Year everyone!

Enjoy chapter 10! :D

CHAPTER 10

Kate was wishing for a hole to open and just swallow her.

'It would be the easiest way out, wouldn't it? You wouldn't have to explain anything to Rick.'

'But what if he wants to know, huh? Why would you want to get his right to know?'

Kate was conflicted while Rick was quiet.

'I think you broke him.'

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was just like a fish out of water.

"Please say something." Kate tried to break him out of his thinking.

"I just want you to know that I didn't plan this. To say I was surprised is an understatement."

"How long?"

'Oh, so he does speak.'

'Can you please get out of my head? I want to have a conversation with Kate, not with you two.'

"I found out a few days ago, but I had to come here to tell you in person. It felt wrong to tell you over the phone."

"That's not what I meant." Rick was extremely vague. It wasn't like he didn't try. He did but he felt like his voice just flew out the window.

'Can he be more specific? What does he mean? Oh! OH!'

"I'm around 8 weeks."

"That's when we were…you know." He made some weird hand gestures.

'Why do you have to be an idiot? Why are you acting like a teenager?'

"Yeah, when we slept together?!" She said, eyeing him suspiciously.

"So does that mean that I'm the father?" he didn't want to get his hopes high.

'But a man can dream, right?'

"Yes, Rick. It's yours." After a few minutes of portraying no emotion, he looked- relieved?

"Wait. Did you really think I would have come here to tell you I'm pregnant with another man's child?"

"Well, after the last few weeks when I was a complete jackass… I thought you hate me. I still can't forgive myself."

"Rick, we talked about this. I can't hate you."

"And you should. Forgive yourself I mean. I did." She added after a few seconds.

'He seems like he doesn't realize what you told him a few minutes ago.'

Kate just finished her thoughts when Rick started again.

"I think maybe you should tell me again why you are here. I think I may be daydreaming or imagining things." Rick said while sitting on his bed. He felt like he couldn't be standing.

"Everything I said it's true. You were not dreaming or imagining anything. As terrifying as it sounds, I am pregnant. I was afraid to tell you. Hell, I am still afraid for what's to come."

It was the first time he saw Kate so scared. That was the exact moment he realized this is real, not some kind of joke from the Universe.

'Oh my god. Oh my god.'

'Stop freaking out, you idiot. She's scared and you're scaring her even more with your lack of response. Say something. Open that dumb mouth of yours and say something.'

"Ehm, cool."

'Oh, god. This is even worse than when you stole that police horse. And you were drunk and naked.' Even Rick rolled his eyes.

'That's dumb, mate.'

'No shit! Apologize. Now!'

"Cool? That's all you have to say. Wow, and I came here to talk to you. Thank you. This means a lot." Said Kate while trying to get out of Rock's dorm room.

"No, sorry. Please, Kate. That came out wrong. Please, can we talk?"

"You have 5 minutes. After that, I'm out of here. You showed me that it was a bad idea to come and talk to you."

"I'm really sorry Kate. You have to believe me. I didn't mean that. I'm shocked by the news, surprised that you're here, angry for how I treated you the last two months, confused, scared. You name it."

"So you think my life is a picnic right now? Do you think that after I leave this place I will start singing, picking flowers and dancing? You think I'm not scared?" Sighed Kate.

"I didn't say that. I just want to reassure you that you're not the only one. But from the looks of it, I'm not doing a great job. Kate, all I want for you is to be happy. That's all that matters to me."

"But your happiness matters too. I want you to be happy too. That's why I came here. To talk about things and maybe make a decision together."

"And we will," Rick said hugging Kate.

Kate believed him. It felt like every single piece fell into its place. But she still couldn't stop thinking of rejection. More for her unborn child than for herself. After a few minutes of being in Rick's arms, she started pulling away. Looking out the window she saw a couple with a baby. She started smiling thinking of a future with Rick.

Seeing Kate was lost in her thoughts Rick decided to say something.

"Kate, I'm here for every step of this journey. Assuming you want to keep the baby." He looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"Really?" she turned around so fast in fear that if she didn't, he might change his mind.

"Rick, I don't want you to do something you don't want. I don't want to force you to do this."

"Kate, stop and breathe. I want this. I want to do this with you. You know why?" when she shacked her head he continued.

"Because I can't see my life without you. I never loved anyone the way that I love you, and it may seem fast, what with us just started talking again, but that's how I feel. I would lie if I told you I didn't picture a future with you. You being pregnant made me realize that this can be true and it made me love you even more. So of course I want to do this, as long as it is with you."

"This is not some- you're not joking, right?"

"This is the most serious thing I've ever done. Why would you think I'm joking?"

"Because since I found out I couldn't stop thinking of every scenario. I kept thinking about you rejecting the baby, about you not wanting to be with me anymore because of what happened with Meredith."

"Kate, you're better than Meredith, times infinity. I wouldn't compare you to her. She wanted to be with me just for my money. She didn't want to know the real me. She didn't want to know my dreams, my life plans, anything. But you- you are extraordinary. You made me want to be better even if you didn't know. And yeah, everything seems scary now, but we will face everything together one step at a time. I won't say that it will be easy, but I want you to know that I'm right here and I am all in. I will always be."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"So, we are doing this?"

"We are! Thank you, Kate."

"For what? I didn't do anything."

"You made me the luckiest man alive by giving me a second chance. And now I get to be a father. It

may be nothing for others, but for me it's everything. I love you so much!"

Kate couldn't stop laughing seeing him so happy. Their future might be full of obstacles and uncertainties, but they will be together.

AN: I want to thank everyone that continues to read this story. You are one of the reasons I keep writing.

I know I said I try to post the whole story until Christmas, but something didn't feel right so that's why I decided to add more chapters. I will try to post more and be more active, but I won't make any more promises. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep them.

See you next year!

~Alex~