"Billy, I really appreciate you doing this for me," Kat told him as they sat in the living room of Tommy's house where Billy was helping Kat to catch up on her homework.
"It's no trouble at all, I can imagine how hard it's been for you to concentrate on homework with Joshua still in the hospital," Billy replied.
"I know that my school work still has to remain a priority but lately all I can think about is how long it is until school's over and I can head back to the hospital to be with Joshua," Kat explained.
"I was rather surprised when you called me to come over, Aisha said that you spend every afternoon after school at the hospital," Billy told her.
"I didn't want to get too far behind in my classes besides Joshua is doing better everyday and we might even get to bring him home soon," Kat replied.
"That's great Kat, but what are you going to do about school once Joshua's home," Billy asked.
"I've been thinking a lot about that lately, I don't really want to have to put Joshua in daycare so my mom has offered to hire me a tutor so that I can do home schooling and finish out the rest of this year and then I'll go back to school the next year when Joshua is a little older and I'm more comfortable with leaving him," she explained.
"It's good that you have a plan for continuing with school, most young mothers just drop out of high school without a second thought," Billy said.
"I know that but when I decided that I wanted to have Joshua I also promised myself that I would do everything possible to take care of my baby and to finish school," Kat told him.
"Well Kat, if anyone can do it, you can," Billy told her.
"Kat, what are you doing in here?" Tommy asked as he stood in the doorway of Joshua's room where Katherine sat in a rocking chair clutching a teddy bear.
"Just thinking about how empty this room is," Kat replied.
"Oh Kat, try not to think of it like that, Joshua will be home and in that crib before you know it," Tommy said standing behind the chair and wrapping his arms around her.
"I know but everyday I go to the hospital and I sit with our son and I hold him and tell him how much I love him and then before I know it visiting hours are over and I come home alone," Kat said as tears welled up in her eyes.
"But at least you get to be there for him, I feel like I don't get to visit him enough between school and my hours at the dojo," Tommy told her.
"Don't we make a fine pair, sitting here and feeling sorry for ourselves," Kat said with a laugh as she got out of the chair.
"Well, I know something that will make us both feel better, there's still a few hours left until visiting if over, why don't we go see our son," Tommy replied.
"I'd like that," Kat said as she took his hand and started walking toward the door but was pulled back by Tommy.
"I don't know if I've told you lately with everything that we've been through but I love you Kat and I couldn't ask for a better mother for our son," Tommy told her.
"I love you too Tommy," Kat replied as Tommy drew her into a kiss.
"I wasn't sure if you two were going to make it today," a nurse said as Tommy and Katherine entered the NICU where their son was being kept.
"How's our little guy doing?" Tommy asked her.
"Your doing quite well aren't you Joshua," the nurse said as she took him out of the incubator and handed him to Tommy.
"Has the doctor been by to see him?" Kat asked her.
"As a matter of fact, he wanted me to let him know if you stopped by, I think he wants to update you on Joshua's condition," the nurse informed them.
"I hope nothing's wrong," Kat said.
"I'm sure everything's just fine, your mommy worries too much," Tommy said and handed Joshua to Kat.
"Tommy, Kat, I'm glad you're here, I could have given you this news on the phone but I thought you might like to hear it in person," the doctor said.
"What news?" Tommy questioned.
"Well, we've had Joshua here for a little over a month and in that time he's managed to gain enough weight and he hasn't had any problems, so I think it's safe for us to send him home," the doctor informed them.
"You really mean it, we can take him home," Kat said feeling relieved that the news was good.
"Well, not tonight but I think the discharge papers can be ready first thing in the morning," he told them.
"Thank you so much doctor, this is the best news," Tommy said.
"Hear that Joshua, first thing in the morning your daddy and I are coming to finally take you home," Kat said with tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks.
"We better head home and make sure we have everything that we need for tomorrow," Tommy told her.
"Yeah and I want to call my mom and our friends and tell them the good news," Kat said as she handed Joshua back over to the nurse.
"See you two tomorrow," the nurse said as they left.
"Mom, Dad, are you home?" Tommy said once they were back.
"In the kitchen," Lily Oliver replied.
"I assume you already know our good news," Tommy said as he and Kat entered the kitchen where his parents were eating.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you when I got home but you weren't here," Lily said smiling at them.
"Would someone care to clue me in?" Tommy's father asked.
"Joshua's coming home tomorrow," Kat said excitedly.
"That is good news," Rick Oliver said.
"I'm going to go call my mom," Kat said.
The next morning Kat and Tommy decided to miss school because they knew that neither of them would be able to concentrate on anything except for the fact that their son was coming home today.
"Are you nervous?" Tommy asked Kat as they arrived at the hospital.
"A little but mostly I'm excited, I know it's going to be a lot of work but Joshua is finally coming home with us where he belongs and besides we'll have your mom to help," Kat told him.
"I heard today's the big day," Nurse Sarah greeted Tommy and Kat.
"Yeah we're finally getting Joshua out of here," Tommy told her.
"Well I want you both to know that we are going to miss him a lot, but we couldn't be happier that he doesn't need us anymore," she said.
"I really want you to know that Tommy and I appreciate everything thing that you've done for Joshua," Kat told her.
"It was my pleasure, he's a great baby and I know you two are going to be great parents," she said as she handed the baby to Kat.
"He's all ours now," Tommy said once he got Kat and Joshua settled in the backseat of the car.
"Do you think we're ready for this?" Kat asked.
"Yeah, I think we're going to do just fine," Tommy replied. "Let's go home."
Tommy pulled into his driveway and noticed that there were a few extra cars parked outside on the street. He also saw that above the front door there hung a banner that read "WELCOME HOME JOSHUA."
"Looks like we're not the only ones who were excited about today," Kat said also seeing the sign.
"Did you know anything about this?" Tommy asked Kat as he helped her get Joshua out of the backseat.
"No, I'm just as surprised as you are," Kat told him.
"Welcome home you guys," the group of people shouted as Tommy and Kat entered the house with their son. They looked around to see Tommy's parents along with Kat's mom and their friends Aisha, Rocky, Adam and Billy.
"Thanks for coming," Kat said as she sat down on the couch with Joshua.
"We wouldn't miss this day for the world," Aisha told her.
"How'd you guys get out of school?" Tommy asked.
"We have study hall right now and we talked it over with Mr. Kaplan and he gave us permission to miss it," Adam told him.
"Kat, why don't you take Joshua into his room, I brought something for him," her mother suddenly said.
"Um, alright, come on Joshua let's go see what grandma brought," Kat said.
"Hello Katherine," her father said as he stood in the middle of the nursery.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Kat questioned as she placed Joshua in the crib.
"Your mother told me what an important day this was for you and I know I don't deserve it but I was hoping that you'd be able to forgive me for my foolishness," he said.
"Of course, I'll forgive you," Kat said with tears in her eyes as she hugged her dad.
"You're the best daughter a man could ever hope for and I'm so proud of the way that you've accepted motherhood, I'm just sorry I was too stubborn to be there for you when you really needed me," he told her.
"I had more than enough people to help me but it wasn't the same without you," Kat replied.
"Well, your never going to have to miss me again, and I want you to know that I'm going to apologize to Tommy, he's a remarkable young man and I couldn't wish for a better man to love my daughter and I know he's always going to be there for you and your son," he said.
"Hey Joshua, this is your other grandfather, the one I've been telling you about," Kat said as she picked Joshua up out of his crib and handed him to her father.
"He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," her dad told her.
"Everything all right in here?" Tommy asked as he entered the room.
"Everything's perfect," Kat told him.
Stay tuned for the final chapter of Unexpected Attraction. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this story. You'll never know how much it's meant to me that so many of you appreciated this story and were faithful in your reviewing. I promise there are many more Tommy/Kat fics to come.