TITLE: A Friend in Need
AUTHOR: trista groulx (the dustytiger)
DISCLAIMER: kim, faith, fred, joey, bobby, jimmy, bosco, davis, sully,
none of these characters are mine, i'm just borowing them to play with
them for a little while, they belong to their creator and the actors
and actresses who portray them, i promise i'll be gentle, don't sue
RATING: PG-13 tops currently
CONTENT: kim/faith friendship, fred/faith divorce, kim/bobby r, faith/bosco sex/ust
SPOILERS: 32 bullets and a broken heart (missing scene/continuation)
SUMMARY: Kim and Faith become friends after they share their heartaches that Valintines day.
AUTHORS NOTES: we've got conflict, we've got kids, we've got fluff all
rolled into a nice neat package, what more can you ask for? hehe...
reviews help the muse so tell us what you think...
It had been two weeks since Fred had left, and there was no sign of him coming back. Faith was at Kim's having coffee together, as they both had a day off.
"Are you sure that Bobby can handle three kids at the park?" Faith asked Kim.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think he could do it," Kim assured her friend. "Besides I bet your kids just need some time to just be kids."
Faith nodded. "Yeah, God knows they haven't had much kid time of late. I hate that they have to go through this."
"It must be horrible for all of you. I can't imagine what you must be going through. How are you doing today?"
"I think today is a good day."
Kim smiled. "They seem to be handling it well."
"I'm not sure they know exactly what's going on."
"I guess not. How did you explain that to them?"
Faith shook her head. "It's really hard, but the therapists are helping a lot. Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Do you think I should get a new job?"
"Why?"
"Just something Emily is thinking. She is terrified that I'm going to die on the job, and that she's not going to have anyone left in her life."
"If I was her age and I saw what happened, I'd be afraid of that too."
"Yeah, I know, but should I quit just for that reason?"
"What are the chances of you getting shot before Bosco?"
Faith couldn't help but laugh. "I know that, but I still feel like a horrible mother for putting my life in danger just to do a job that I like."
Kim shrugged. "I guess that's the eternal struggle, family versus self right? I mean more so for a mother, cause people just expect women to drop everything and just be "Mom" and nothing else."
"Yeah, don't I know it. But at least before they had Fred filling such an important role in their lives that I couldn't really do."
"Can you really play that role now?"
"I guess not, but I could get a job that's not so dangerous."
"You could just as easily die from getting run over by a bus walking to a desk job."
Faith nodded. "I know you're right, but I still worry."
"It's just a matter of how much of a compromise you're willing to make. I was going try and be a firefighter before I found out I was pregnant."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I had to let that go for him, because I just couldn't live with the idea of both of his parents running into burning buildings wanting to go out in the blaze of glory. It's all about compromise. Jimmy wanted me to quit my job as a medic."
"Why didn't you?"
"Cause I love my job, and I'm normally careful. Accidents happen, but they can happen anywhere and on any job. I gave up one dream, but gained so much more. I'd rather have Joey have a mother who has happy with a job that was a little dangerous, then be unhappy at one that was super safe."
Faith nodded. "I think I understand. I just don't want to quit my job, it's the only thing I have control over right now."
"Then don't. You can still be a good mother and keep your job. You just have to make sure that don't put yourself in a place where you will end up hurt, or worse just for the sake of being a hero."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Kim smiled. "In the end it all comes down to what you want to do. You don't have to give up your job for your kids to be happy."
"I know, but still."
"If you really thinks it's better for everyone involved then do it. If not just do like you're doing it's not hurting anyone is it?"
"I understand, really, I do. It's just that I feel like people think I'm a bad mother for keeping my job after everything that's happened with Fred."
Kim nodded. "Kind of stupid that people would call you a bad parent when you're still around, and he's long gone huh?"
Faith laughed. "I know. There's days where I just want to yell at the people who think I can't hear what they're saying how bad of a mother I am."
"You're not a bad mother." Kim assured Faith. "You're just adjusting to a new role."
"Exactly, I went from being a career oriented person with a house husband, to being a single mother trying to juggle my full time stressful paying job, with a full time even more stressful unpaid job. But everyone says poor Fred just couldn't handle the stress of it. What about all the house wives out there that do it?"
Kim nodded. "There's defiantly a double standard. If you had left and one of your kids became a serial killer then it'd be your fault, and if they became a serial killer now, after Fred's left, it'd still be your fault for not spending enough time with them."
Faith laughed. "It's crazy, I'm the one that's still around, and will continue to be around for them, trying my best, but I'm the bad parent."
"Exactly. I have a few people who still hassle me because of my job. But no one ever gets mad a Jimmy who would be perfectly content to die in a fire. No one would say anything if he went out in the blaze of glory after running into a fire. It's not like he thinks about how the consequences might effect his son before he runs head first into danger."
"It's a really stupid double standard." Faith agreed. "You never hear the murders say that they wouldn't have done it only their father had spent more time with him."
Kim nodded. "We just get blamed for everything. I guess it's the price we pay for living in a man's world."
The door to Kim's apartment had opened in the middle of the sentence. Bobby was standing in the doorway. Charlie and Emily were on either side of him, and Joey was on his back getting a piggy back ride.
"Is this bad timing or what?" Bobby chuckled, nervously. "If you need more time I can take this bunch for ice cream."
Knowing that after he said it, he'd have to do it. He didn't feel like ending up in a gender bashing conversation with those two.
"Ice cream?" all three kids, asked, excitedly.
"That'd be great, thank you Bobby," Faith said.
"It's all right with both of you?" he asked.
"I'm fine with that, you know by now how much is too much."
Bobby smiled. "Did you want me to bring anything back?"
"No thanks," Faith said.
"I'm good," Kim assured him.
"All right, we'll be back in about an hour, I guess then. Love you, Kim."
She smiled. "All right. Love you, too."
Bobby left the two women alone once again.
"Why are you doing complaining about men when you've managed to catch one like that?" Faith laughed.
Kim was grinning. "Cause I also have to deal with Jimmy?"
Faith laughed. "I guess that's fair then. He seems to be really good with kids."
"Yeah, Bobby'll make a great father."
Faith raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you two were that serious."
Kim laughed, nervously. "I don't mean within the next nine months, but one day. He's amazing with kids."
"What does Joey think of all of what's going on?"
"He loves it, he gets extra attention from Bobby."
"Hasn't Bobby always been around?"
"Yeah, he's always been great with Joey. But since we've been dating he's been amazing."
"Must be nice."
"You'll find someone like that when you're ready."
"I hope so."
"Talking about partners, how are you and Bosco doing these days?"
Faith smiled. "He's been really supportive. He's even offered to take the kids overnight if I really need a break."
"Wow."
"Yeah, when he told me I thought that he had been replaced by a body double. He's always gotten along with the kids, but I never thought he'd offer to take them overnight for me."
"Maybe there more there then you think?"
Faith shook her head. "I doubt that somehow. Bosco has almost the same reputation as Jimmy, remember?"
Kim laughed. "You have a point there. But everyone does grow up eventually."
"I guess so. When do you think Jimmy might grow up?"
"I'm hoping it's sometime before Joey hits puberty."
Faith laughed. "You can't believe how much I needed a gab session."
"You know you can call me anytime and I'll try to set something up."
Faith smiled. "I know, and I really appreciate it. It's so hard though with our schedules."
"Don't I know it. How is it working with childcare?"
"It's not," Faith admitted. "No can work the hours that I need them there. I'm actually considering going to one of those au pair agencies."
"Really?"
"Yeah, we'd have to move so that the person would have a room, but at least that way I wouldn't have to worry about my hours so much. I could probably afford a new apartment with the money I'd save on childcare."
"I'd be really nervous about that."
"I've heard some pretty bad stories too, but, it's not all bad. Besides, I'm a New York City police officer, if there's a criminal in my own house I think I'd figure it out before the situation got too out of hand."
Kim laughed. "It actually seems like a really good solution for you."
"Yeah. I'm really low on options right now. I don't have nearly enough seniority to get a day job. If I apply for any kind of promotion I'd start back on midnights, and that would be worse."
"Yeah."
"I know there are some disadvantages, but there are a lot of advantages too. I wouldn't have to worry about the sitter not being able to stay later if something happens and I'm tied up at work, or am offered an extra shift."
"That's true. And you could even go out after work once in a while."
Faith laughed. "Once I'm ready to go out, of course. See it's not a terrible idea. I'm going to do a lot of research before I actually jump in with both feet. But I really think it could be a good option for us."
"Yeah, I agree."
"So he thinks he'll be done at the ice cream shop in an hour?"
Kim laughed. "It'll probably take him a little while longer then that to wrangle three kids on sugar highs."
"He's a brave man, bring three kids for ice cream alone."
The two women started laughing so hard they were almost crying. They knew, one kid at an ice cream shop could be a handful, neither could imagine bringing three by herself. She knew that Bobby wouldn't let them go overboard, and they wouldn't end up with a few sick kids when he got back.
She and Faith continued their chat, glad to have some time for some good girl talk, and to have a bit of a break from her kids. She loved them, but she was glad that someone else was taking care of them without charging her a fortune for it.
xxxx
Later that night Kim and Bobby were curled up on the couch, watching an old movie on TV. Joey was tucked safely in bed, and had not made a peep since she had read him his bedtime story.
Bobby lightly kissed Kim's forehead. She purred, and snuggled in closer to him. She loved the feeling of having him close. It wasn't often that they could just relax and enjoy being in one another's company.
He began running his fingers through her hair. Her eyes began to get a little heavy, but she didn't want to fall asleep. She just wanted to watch the movie, and savour every moment with him.
"Bobby," she whispered. "You're going to put me to sleep."
"It's late, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing."
"No, I like just being like this."
He smiled. "All right."
"Faith was impressed that you were able to handle the three kids alone."
"They're good kids, it wasn't hard."
Kim nodded. "Still, most guys wouldn't be able to handle that."
He shrugged. "I've always liked kids, you know that."
"Yeah, you're gonna be a really good father."
"Yeah."
"So you want kids?"
"This isn't your way of telling me we're going to be having one is it?"
She laughed. "No, I'm sure I'm not pregnant."
"How sure?"
"Absolutely sure. You didn't think it was odd that I suggested we just watch a movie tonight?"
He laughed, figuring out what she meant.. "Gotcha. To answer your question, of course I want a to have kids one day. Maybe a son just like Joey, he's a great kid. Or maybe a little girl who is just like her amazing mother."
Kim laughed. "I'm sure that my mother would tell me that I was far from an amazing child."
"Probably, but I know that kids aren't perfect. Faith's kids are good kids too, with all they're dealing with, it's amazing that they can still just be kids."
Kim nodded. "I couldn't imagine having to go through that when I was their ages. Joey wouldn't know what to do with himself if he couldn't brag about his daddy."
"Yeah, I know. How's Faith doing?"
"I think she's doing all right. She was really glad that you took the kids today so that we could just talk."
"I got the impression that she really needed to talk without little interruptions."
"Yeah," she kissed him lightly. "It was very much appreciated."
"Do you think we'll have a kid some day?"
"I think there's a very strong chance that I might let you be the father of my next child."
He smiled at her. "So how serious are we?"
She shrugged. "Serious enough to talk about the future."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, I think that's it, for now. Let's just talk about it for a little while."
"As you wish." He kissed her lightly. "But don't forget that you told me once how you wanted a guy to propose to you."
She laughed. "You remember that?"
"I always remember stuff like that. I also remember a lot of the details of your dream wedding."
"Why would you remember that?"
"Kim, I told you I was in love with you for a long time before I actually told you. After you told me stuff like that I'd kind of file it away in my brain, just in case one day I had the chance to use it."
She smiled. "I'm going to find a flaw in you."
He shrugged. "They're there, you just haven't seen 'em yet."
"Or maybe they just don't bug me?"
"That could be it, too." He glanced at the TV. "The movie's over, I should be getting home."
"Stay?"
He was start to get up, and her question stopped him in his tracks. Most of the time he only stayed when Joey wasn't there. He wanted to the night, and wake up next to her, he just wasn't really sure if Joey would understand what was going on.
"I don't know Kim, Joey's here tonight."
"It's not like we'll be doing anything. I just want to feel you close to me tonight. I really like waking up next to you."
He smiled. "I like waking up next you too, maybe we should try and do it more often?"
"Maybe, but remember, we're still in the talking about the future phase."
He laughed. " I know, it would be so amazing to be able to wake up and see your face smiling at me every morning."
"Eventually you'd get sick of it."
"I don't think so. Even when your hair is grey, and you've got laugh lines, crows feet, and wrinkles all over your face I'd still know how beautiful you are."
She smiled at him. "You're too much sometimes."
He was standing over her, as she sat on the couch. He leaned down, and brushed a stray hair out of her face. He then brushed his lips lightly against hers. She sighed lightly in response to the gentle touch. He pulled away, but kept his face close to hers.
"I'll always love you," he whispered.
She looked right into his eyes, and smiled. "And I'll love you forever," she told him.
She suddenly needed to stand up, what they were doing was much to intense, and she felt flustered.
"Are you all right?" he asked her, concerned.
"I'm fine," she lied.
"Kim?"
She wrapped her arms around his waist, in a swift embrace. She then nuzzled her head into his chest, and just held him tightly.
"Bobby," she whispered. "Promise me you'll never leave me."
"I promise," he assured her, kissing her forehead.
"I mean it, Bobby. I don't want to feel what Faith is right now."
"I'd never do that to you. I love you too much to hurt you like that."
She nodded. "I want to marry you, one day Bobby, but I'm afraid."
"What are you afraid of?"
"That it'll end like with Jimmy. That I won't be good enough and you'll be with someone else."
"You're the only person I've wanted to be with in a very long time. That's why I wouldn't call people back after I was with them. It wasn't right for me to lead them on like that, when I knew I was already in love. I could never stray."
She could tell by the look in his eyes, that he was telling the truth.
"Jimmy was an idiot for going anywhere but to you, and one day he'll realize that, and it'll be too late," he told her.
"It's already too late. I only want to be with you from now on."
He kissed her lightly. "Really?"
"Yeah, but I want just us to know about this. Once other people get involved, I start getting scared, and I don't want to lose you."
"All right, what are you saying?"
She looked right into his eyes. "Bobby, I want you to know that I want to marry you. It may take me a while to tell people that that's what I want. But I want you to know, you're all I want."
He kissed her lightly. "Is this just talking?"
She shook her head. "No, this is real. I just don't want everyone to know that I feel like this, cause it still scares me. But I need you to know that I'm committed to you, and only to you, even if no one else done."
He smiled, then kissed her lightly. "I'll wait as long as it takes for you to be comfortable telling everyone the whole truth about us."
"I knew you'd understand."
"Just tell me when, and we'll make it all official."
She kissed him. "Don't worry, you'll know. Now let's get to bed before I get a jump start on those wrinkles you told me you'd love."
He laughed, and followed her into her room. She handed him one of his old T-shirts, then disappeared into the bathroom. When she came back into the room she was wearing another T-shirt that looked familiar to him.
"So that's where my shirts are going," he laughed. "I didn't think that I was getting that absent minded doing laundry."
She climbed into the bed next to him.
She laughed. "Sorry, I should have told you I was borrowing them."
He gave her a look. "Borrow?"
"I always bring them back, and take new ones."
"Why don't you just keep the ones you already go away with stealing?"
"Because after a little while they don't smell the same."
"What?"
She blushed. "I take them, because they smell like you, and it helps me to sleep when you're not here."
He smiled at her, then kissed her lightly. She pulled away from the kiss only a moment, before she pulled way. She then nuzzled her face into his chest, and took a deep breath in.
"You always smell so good," she whispered. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Though I'm not sure if I should be worried about you smelling me all the time."
She laughed. "At least I'm telling that you smell good."
"So what do I tell Joey if he starts asking questions if I'm up before you?"
She shrugged. "That you're like my teddy bear?"
He laughed. "I'm serious Kim. I'm sure that he knows that it's usually married people who sleep in the same bed."
She nodded. "I guess you could tell him that since we're in love that's okay too. If he starts asking a bunch of other questions, just use common sense, and answer any that you can."
"And when in doubt, say 'ask your mother?'"
She laughed. "Exactly. See you'll be a great father one of these days."
He smiled at her. "You sure you're not trying to tell me something?"
"I'm not pregnant, Bobby, you can examine the garbage in bathroom if you don't believe me. If I was though, you'd be the first to find out."
He kissed her lightly. "How many more kids do you want?"
"I think just one more. It wouldn't be fair to Joey if we decided to a few kids just when he's about to hit puberty."
He nodded, and then began to run his finger through her hair. She smiled at him, then closed her eyes. Before too long she had fallen into a peaceful sleep.
tbc...
end notes: i told you i'd have some kim/bobby stuff in this one, so there it is hehe... any reviews always graciously accepted i love to hear what people think about what i'm doing, it just makes me think that someone appricates it hehe