A/N: I am republishing this story. There have been edits made. Text that has been italicized is a flashback, and text that has been bolded is from the show. I am merely borrowing characters besides though that are not recognized.
A/N: This chapter does contain information regarding the death of a parent. This is a warning.
Kathleen looks around the nursery. They had painted the walls a slate grey with hints of blue and green. There was a crib alongside a double-wide dresser. There was a singular dresser with a book hutch on top. They had chosen a warm chestnut finish for the furniture. They covered the windows with long blackout white curtains along with window valances. Pink floral and deers were the theme throughout. She had found the Deer Floral collection from Sweet Jojo Designs when she was shopping with Gail. It was perfect for what she had envisioned the nursery to look like.
Kathleen waddles over to the crib. There is a blanket on the side of the crib. A pushed on her stomach and lowered her hand to feel her daughter. She couldn't believe that any day now she would hold her little girl in her arms.
"Spot checking again," Luke asks as she leans against the door to the nursery.
"If I say yes," she says as she turns and looks at him. "I only want to ensure that we are not forgetting anything?"
"I'd say all that is missing is the baby itself," he says as he walks towards her and wraps his arms around her waist. "You heard what Anna and Barb said yesterday. Everything is going as it should. Now it is time to be patient."
"I am attempting to be, but sometimes it is hard," she says as she leans into his hold. "It's hard to believe that these nine months have flown by."
"Tell me about it. I hope she doesn't grow up as quickly."
Kathleen only shakes her head as her daughter places a kick against her father's hand. It was as if she knew he was talking about her. "I think you got your response," she says as she tilts her head to look at him. "She'll do what she wants."
"Wonder where she got that from," he says as he leans down and places a kiss on her lips. "What else is she going to pick up from you and Gail?"
"When in trouble, always call Sam," she says as she returns the kiss. "You keep worrying like this, and you'll have grey hair before my dad does."
"I'm not worrying as much as pondering the future. I already know that she is going to be brave, loyal, and kind, like her mother. Though at the same time dedicated and rebellious."
"Not to mention stubborn."
"There is no arguing about that quality. I have heard a lot of the parents in your life saying that you three seem to have grown up fast. That they can't believe how fast it was."
"That's because they are reflecting. Every time I meet up with my dad, I see him get misty-eyed because I know he wishes my mom was here. Same with Aunt Elaine. They are also a different generation than we are. When I was born, my dad took a week off and then was back to chasing leads on drugs, the same with Uncle Bill. Aunt Elaine took the least amount of time she could because she was afraid of losing her spot.
"It's one reason she was so adamant about me taking as much time as I could before going back to work. They all have regrets and they don't want us to make the same ones. I hate to say it, but most of it stems from the guilt of losing my mom."
"You never talk about what happened back then."
Kathleen lets out a sigh before waddling over to the chair between the wide dresser and crib. It was a cool grey fabric with a small ottoman in front of it. Steve gave it as a shower gift. It was an electric recliner and swivel glider with a USB port. He reasoned it was both comfortable and practical, as mom or dad could relax with the baby. She sits down in it as Luke sits on the ottoman and grabs her feet and pulls them into her lap.
"It was the summer between fourth and fifth grade," she starts. "About six weeks after the disastrous long weekend hunting trip."
A nine-year-old Kathleen sat in the back of a Honda Civic. She trained her eyes on the landscape of the city passing by. It was time for the summer break at the cabin.
"Mom, do I have to go?" Kathleen asked as she turned towards the red-headed woman in the front seat. "Can't I stay home?"
"Grumps would miss you," Aileen Boyd said as she looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror. "He promised no more hunting trips. Plus, who would keep Gail company?"
"Still," Kathleen said as she watched the scenery. "Why can't you and dad stay this week with us?"
"Your dad is finishing up a case and then will be there," Aileen said as she drove.
"And you?" Kathleen asked. "How long till you can join us?"
"I promise as soon as I have a lead on this recent case. I hope it won't be more than a few days."
"Mom, when has that ever been the case?"
"True, but I'll get your Uncle Bill to help me out if I get nothing within the next few days. You know I love spending time out at the cabin as much as you do."
"I know, but somehow this time feels different."
"What do you mean?" Aileen asked as she turned to look at her daughter with a concerned face.
"I don't know. I have this gut feeling that something bigger is going on," Kathleen said. She shrugged her shoulders. "It could be the extra hours you have been working."
"That is true," Aileen said as she continued down the highway.
"She dropped me off. A few hours later she was dead outside a known Emmett Boys location," Kathleen finishes. She unconsciously rubs her hand against her stomach. "I never got rid of that feeling. After her death, my dad switched from drugs and vice over to guns and gangs. He worked for almost eighteen months straight, trying to come up with a reason for her death."
"When I worked, Martinelli and Ryan's cases brought up those feelings again," Luke comments as he watches. "The Ryan case. The preliminary hearings are coming up."
"Aunt Elaine is hoping that the prosecutor will get an adjournment," Kathleen says. She lets out a deep breath. "She is hoping for at least till the end of June."
"He could take a plea deal," Luke says as he looks at her. "He is looking at 10 to 30 years in prison."
"You hate plea deals," Kathleen mentions as she looks at him. "You think it's disrespectful to the 'cops' hard work?"
"Certain cases I can understand them for," Luke comments as he watches her. "Where it benefits the victims, plea deals seem to be a better way for them to recover. You don't need the extra stress of worrying about being on the witness stand. You have come so far in the ten months since that day. I'd say it's better to keep the past behind us."
"15 to 20 is what the prosecutor will accept, but the defence wants 10 to 15," Kathleen admits.
"No way, they go for ten years, not with three victims," Luke comments.
"Elaine is going to suggest 15 years with parole after 10 for good behaviour," Kathleen says. She looks around the room. "I can understand where she is going, but I am more afraid of what happens after."
"Nothing happens after," Luke says as he looks at her. "We all go on with our lives. You, me and Fay go on with our lives. We concentrate on us now and you always remember that there are always a few bodyguards, only a call away."
Kathleen shakes her head and laughs as she watches him. "That reminds me, check the first drawer of the smaller dresser."
Luke looks at her confused, before getting up and walking over to the dresser. "Should I ask?" he says before opening the drawer. A pink onesie with black writing that says 'Sorry Boys, Daddy says no dating.' "That's cute. Where did you find this one?"
"A small boutique on Alexis Boulevard," she says as she watches him go through the drawer. "I got a couple of boys to beware. My blank is a cop. One for each family member."
"That's cute," he says. He also notices the three Toronto Maple Leafs onesies. There was also the Montreal Canadiens outfit. "What ones did you get for your dad?"
"There's a cute blue one that reads 'Back Off, I have a crazy grandpa and I'm not afraid to use him'. A black one reads 'I'm so cool, my grandpa retired to spend all day with me'. There is another one that reads 'mess with me you mess with my Grandpa and you don't want to mess with him'. There is one fore, Gail and Steve, that states 'if you think I'm cute, you should see blank'."
"You know your dad will not retire?"
"He is talking about lowering his caseload, which is good enough for us. There is one that reads a 'daddy's girl.' I also got one that reads 'daddy's girl and mommy's world'. Another one reads 'gorgeous like mommy'. A different one reads 'I'm cute, mommy's hot, daddy's lucky'. The final one reads 'I am not spoiled, my auntie just heart's me'."
"You had fun," Luke comments as he notices the onesies. "What's left on your prep list?"
"Nothing, besides last-minute items for the hospital bag," she says as she looks around the room. "We are essentially waiting on her."
"Seriously?"
"The car seat has been installed and triple-checked. We set the bassinet up in our room. Everything has been laundered and put away. The hospital bag is packed, minus what we use regularly. The only thing missing is Fay."
"Wow," Luke says as he takes a minute to ponder that thought.
