Monday morning-
After dropping Theo off at Kinder Kate took a deep breath when she rang the doorbell to Dylan's house, forcing a smile when his face came into view through the stain glass window her smile disappeared when he annoyingly unlocked the door
"Can I help you?"
"Can I come in?"
"I've got training at ten"
"It won't take long"
"I can give you ten minutes before I need to leave" he closed the door behind her when she moved inside.
"Nice place" she stood in the hall looking around
"It's nice enough, is that why you came here? To compliment my home"
"No.."
"Then what Kate? Because you made yourself pretty clear last night how you felt"
"You caught me off guard, what was I supposed to say?" she sighed when he walked past her
"I don't know how about 'maybe next time' or 'can I think about it?' either of those would have worked"
"I know"
"But you don't" he stopped turning to face her "you don't know because you push people away when they get to close"
"I didn't come here to fight Dylan"
"Then why did you?" he watched her ran a hand through her hair nervously
"This was a mistake, I should just go" she went to turn but Dylan reached out grabbing her arm to stop her
"You're scared"
"Your damn right I am, god Dylan you scare the hell out of me"
"Why?"
"Because I'm falling for you but at the same time I can't give myself a hundred percent to you"
"Kate.."
"No you wanted the truth, well there it is" she pulled her hand from his grip
"Kate McGregor is a coward who is too afraid to fall in love so she sabotages things before they get too far"
"I know your scared" he stepped closer "but there is nothing to be afraid of, if you fall I'll catch you" he placed both hands on her face forcing her to look at him
"Dylan.."
"Let me catch you, let me fall with you"
"It's not that simple, Theo has to be my priority I can't put anyone in front of him"
"So that's it?"
"I'm sorry.." she placed her hands over his removing them from her face
"Sorry isn't good enough, I gave you my heart Kate"
"What?"
"Pathetic isn't it, falling in love with someone who dosen't love you back"
"You.. you love me?"
"Yes, I could you not see it"
"Dylan.."
"You can go, lock the door behind you"
"Your kicking me out? After a declaration like that" she placed a hand over her chest
"You don't feel the same, why stick around"
"I'm scared.."
"We established that, but your not willing to give us a actual fighting chance"
"I.."
"Please just leave"
"I do care for you Dylan but saying those words I..."
"Is this because of Mike?"
"What?"
"He told me I couldn't win, that I'd never get you to love me" he shook his head
"He said that to you?"
"That morning he came over, he also told me that marrying Serena was for her convenience"
"What does that even mean?"
"Someone got her Pregnant, might be Mike might not be, but in order for her to get her inheritance she has to be married for a year"
"Their marriage is a scam!"
"Seems like it"
"What the hell.." she said in an irritated voice, shrugging Dylan cleared his throat
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.."
"This isn't about Mike"
"And for me it's not the three words that I need to hear Kate, it's the promise that you won't go running again if things get harder"
"I can't promise that.." she lowered her head
"Then I guess you know where the door is" he turned his back to her
"I'm sorry.."
"Yeah I heard" he kept staring off in front of him hearing the door open and close he dropped his head taking in a breath.
...
"I'm sorry Miss you can't go in there" Mike heard from behind his desk
"I don't give a shit"
"Miss you can't.." his office door flew open Kate waltzing in with the look of rage on her face
"Kate" he nodded
"I'm sorry Mr Flynn, I tried to stop her" his new assistance held onto the door
"It's fine Calli" he waved a hand, nodding at him she closed the door behind her.
"So what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked Kate when they were alone
"Don't act so surprised, I heard about your little arrangement"
"I don't know what your.."
"Stop lying to me!" she stepped to his desk resting her hands on it "you married her for convenience what the hell!"
"Can you say it any louder!"
"What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I didn't want to lose my job; you know Serena's Dad is my Boss. Hearing his daughter getting knocked up without a ring I could kiss my career goodbye"
"But the baby isn't even yours" she sighed sitting in a free chair
"It could be"
"And your willing to risk your livelihood on the odd chance it could be?" she raised an eyebrow "this isn't like you"
"I know.." he sighed shifting forward resting his elbows on his desk "I can't back out now, I promised"
"It's not the first time you've broken a promise Mike, what's so different about this one"
"Because if it is my kid she's carrying, I won't abdomen it like.."
"Like you did to Theo.." she gave him a sad look
"I know I messed up in the past, what I did was unforgivable"
"It was a pretty shitty thing to do"
"I never meant to hurt you Kate and I know that isn't an excuse for what I did" he pushed back in his chair "I've got this, I can handle Serena and if the baby turns out to not be mine then I'll end it you have to trust me"
"That's asking a lot of me"
"I know what I'm doing"
"Okay" she nodded "then I trust you, but if you so much as hurt Theo during your whole 'arrangement'"
"Then I give you permission to hurt me with bodily harm"
"I mean it Mike" she moved to stand "if you hurt our little boy it'll be the last time you ever see him"
"I promise to leave Theo out of it" he assured her, shaking his head he watched her exit his office this time more calmly then when she had arrived.