The Next Day.
"Sweet heart do you think you can crush the cookies?" Kate asked Ella.
"Yes Mommy I big." Ella smiled as she was standing on the stool next to the counter.
Kate had just put the Oreo cookies in a large zip lock bag. She smiled at Ella and put them on the counter as Ella started crushing them. Kate smiled at Ella seeing the joy on her face melted her heart. She was just so thankful she was with her children again.
"I do it Mommy. I crush them." Ella giggled crushing the cookies with her little hand.
"Awesome job sweet girl. Just like that." Kate said as she was finishing up the chocolate pudding.
"What is going on in here?" Ridge asked coming into the kitchen with Jaxon.
"Me help to sissy." Jaxon said climbing on the stool with her.
"OK Bubby but you crush them like this." Ella said showing her little brother what she was doing.
"We are making dirt pudding cups." Kate said to her Dad. "Also I put the roast in the slow cooker for Mom. Since she was gone before I got up this morning."
"Yeah she headed to see Ethan and Leslie. I guess Skylar wasn't feeling the best and couldn't go to daycare." Ridge explained talking about Kate's older brother and his family.
Kate nodded. "You know it surprised me he moved so far away from you and Mom. I mean he always talked about living here or at Grandpa's."
"I think it was more of a Leslie choice. After a few years she just wasn't happy here. I knew that. He still has a role in the family business and I hope he one day moves back here. Besides it's only a few hours north." Ridge explained.
"Well the kids and I are here to hang out." Kate said with a smiled as she glanced at her two children crushing the cookies.
"I beats you up." Jaxon said to the crushed up bag of cookies.
"You really got those cookies good." Ridge said.
"Thank you. I have the worlds best helpers." Kate said kissing each one of their cheeks.
"What we do now Mommy?" Ella asked.
"We put the pudding in the cups. How about I do that then you both can put the gummy worms and candy pumpkins on them."
"Me too I big." Jaxon said raising his hand.
"You too my big little man." Kate smiled.
Ridge watched his daughter and grandchildren as they finished making the dirt pudding. He knew Kate had been through hell. But she was trying to be strong for her children. He knew deep down she was far from healed but he also knew that she would do everything she could to be the best mom to her children.
"This one done." Ella smiled holding up the dirt pudding cup.
"WOW that is a lot of pumpkins. Can you count how many?" Kate asked.
"One, two, three, four , five." Ella counted pointing to each one.
"I puts dis many wormies on dare." Jaxon smiled holding up two little fingers.
"You did put two worms on there. Can you say two?" Kate asked Jaxon.
"Two." He giggled.
"Right my little man." Kate smiled as she finished up the pudding cups.
"What's in this bowl here?" Ridge asked seeing a larger bowl on the counter with a towel over it as he peaked inside.
"Dough. I thought I would try my hand at making Grandma's special home made dinner rolls. I found the recipe and thought why not."
Ridge smiled at his daughter knowing she was trying to busy herself.
Later that afternoon Kate was back in the kitchen finishing up the rolls. It was a raining day in South Carolina so the kids had been running around the house before they finally crashed on the couch watching a movie.
"Hello Hello!" Seth said coming into the house with his suit case.
"Daddy you back!" Ella smiled running to her dad.
"I am princess. I told you I would be back in a few days."
"HI Daddy." Jaxon waved from the couch as he had stripped down to just his pull up.
"HI my boy. Comfy?" He chuckled looking at his son lounging on the couch.
"Yeah I tomfy." He giggled.
"Hi Seth. Glad you made it back." Ridge said coming into the living room.
"How is Katie?" He asked.
"She is doing well. She's been in the kitchen most of the day."
Seth nodded as he kissed the top of Ella's head then headed into the kitchen. He smiled seeing his wife wearing an apron her hair up in a messy bun with just a little flour on her face.
"HI beautiful." Seth said from the door way as he watched her.
"Oh Hi. I see you made it back." Kate said glancing up at him then continued to kneed the dough with her hands.
"I did. I see the kids are enjoying themselves." He smiled.
"Yeah it's been raining all day. So we've played hide and seek then we painted. Finally they agreed to watch a movie. Not sure what they picked." She said not taking her eyes off what she was doing.
"Sounded like The Lion King." Seth said walking over to the counter. "Need help?"
"No thanks. It's almost done. You are just in time for dinner. I made pot roast, potatoes and carrots. Also these are homemade dinner rolls." Kate stated putting them in the oven.
Seth watched her as she bent down slightly to put them in the oven. He could tell she was still in a little pain.
"Good I am starving." He said. "Just glad to be back with my family."
"How is Becky?" Kate asked looking at him.
"Katie please I don't want to fight." Seth said softly.
"Who is fighting? I just asked how she was doing."
"She is fine but I am worried about you."
"No need to worry about me. I am fine." She stated. "You could get the kids washed up for dinner if you want to be helpful."
Seth signed he knew she was hurting and trying to push him away. He just nodded and went to get the kids ready for dinner.
They all sat down to a nice dinner. As they were eating Kate was helping the kiddos with their food. Small conversations were made between Ridge and Seth. Then Kate and Ridge. Kate didn't say to much as she was more focused on making sure the kids were eating as she was eating a little off her plate. After a nice yummy dinner the kids went back to the living room with Seth. Ridge was helping Kate clean up the after dinner mess.
"Katie I got this you go relax with the kids and Seth." Ridge said.
"Dad I made the mess the least I can do is clean it up." Kate insisted.
"The cook should never clean. I've got this Katie bug. Go it's alright." Ridge told her.
"Thanks Dad." She said as she went into the living room.
For the next hour or so Kate was playing with Seth and the kids. They were playing cars with Jaxon and Ella was playing with her Disney princess.
"I fast Daddy." Jaxon said as he was moving his car around racing with Seth.
"You are fast my boy. You win." He smiled.
"Yeah I tool." Jaxon smiled.
"Mommy look to brushed Elsa's hair." Ella smiled showing off her doll.
"I love it. So beautiful just like you." Kate smiled as she was holding Anna.
Ella giggled. "Daddy look at my princesses."
She had her dolls all lined up and looking pretty.
"They look great my princess." Seth smiled. When Jaxon jumped on Seth. "Ugh! You getting heavy son."
"I big." He smiled.
Kate smiled and giggled at her kids. She loved seeing them so happy.
"That's the smile I feel in love with." Seth said smiled as he slowly took Kate's hand.
She moved her hand away not because he did something wrong but because she just wasn't ready to be touched.
"Sorry. I just wanted to touch your hand." He told her.
"It's alright. It's just me." She said taking a deep breathe. "Alright kiddos it's time to get ready for bed. Jaxon you need a bath. Ella you took one this morning so I need you to go brush your teeth."
"I am here to help Kate. I got Jax's man." Seth said scooping up their son.
Kate smiled as he was tickling Jaxon and holding him upside down. Hearing Jaxon's deep belly laughs melted her heart.
"Thanks." She said.
After helping Ella brush her teeth and get into her jammies. She put her into bed and read her a story.
"Mommy how long we be here?" Ella asked yawning.
"You mean at Grandma and Grandpa's?" Kate asked tucking her in.
"Yeah." She nodded.
"I don't know sweetie heart. Are you not having fun?"
"I am. But I miss ours house and my bed." Ella said.
"The one in Jacksonville?" Kate asked.
"Yes that one too. I like being there with Mox. But I like the house with Daddy it was nice and big and I got to see you and Daddy all the time."
Kate's heart broke a little hearing her daughter's words. She knew as hard as all this was on her it had to of been just as hard on them. Moving from Iowa to South Carolina and then to Jacksonville back to South Carolina. This wasn't easy for any of them. Kate knew deep down she needed to figure out her long term plan and what was best for her and her children. She just didn't know what the best thing was she was a mess and wasn't sure what to do.
"I know you do sweet heart. But just know where ever we live your Dad is still your Dad. He and I love you so much. We will always love you and take care of you." Kate told her.
"That's right princess. No matter what your Mom and I love you and your brother and will always be here for you." Seth said from the door way.
"I love you both too." Ella smiled.
"Jax's is ready for his song." Seth smiled sitting on the bed.
"Good night my little princess. I love you to the moon and back." Kate said giving Ella a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you to moon and back Mommy." Ella smiled.
As Kate left the room she heard Ella asking Seth to read her another story. He of course agreed. Kate went into Jaxon's room and he was laying in the bed.
"Hi Mommy."
"Hi my handsome boy." Kate smiled as she tucked him in and started singing to him. "Baby of mine From your head to your toes. You're so sweet, goodness knows. You are so precious to me. Cute as can be. Baby of mine, Baby mine, Baby mine."
As she sang to him she watched him fall asleep. She waited a few minutes until she knew he was asleep. Then she went and took a shower and got ready for bed herself.
Seth went down stairs as Ridge was now sitting in the living room.
"How is Katie really doing?" Seth asked.
"Like I was telling Jon. She needs time. But I can see she is getting better day by day. I think you just need to talk to her. She is still your wife and if what you said is true and you want to work on your marriage you need to follow her lead and see what it is she truly wants. Seth she's been through hell so I don't know what she needs or wants. But we need to support her."
Seth nodded as his father in laws words.
When Kate got out of the shower she was putting lotion on her body as she looked at a few of the faded scars of her past and her bruises that had started to heal a bit.
"You've got this Kate. You are strong you are here." She said to herself as she put on a pair of comfy pants and a t-shirt. She was getting ready to tune into AEW Dynamite when she noticed she had a few text messages.
She couldn't help but smile when she saw the photo that Nick of the Young Bucks sent her. It was of Nick, Matt, Kenny, Hangman, Cody and Brandi. With the caption. "We miss you Kate! Can't wait for your return. You are Elite."
As she stared at the picture she noticed something in the background. She zoomed in on the photo and noticed it was Jon talking with Renee. She didn't know why it bothered her so much. Her and Jon weren't a couple and he was free to make his own choices. But he had told her he would be there for her. Was he getting back with his ex? Was Kate now to damaged for Jon to stick around? All these thoughts and more flooded Kate's mind as she was laying on the bed. She couldn't help the tears that fell from her eyes.
"Katie? I know your tired but can we talk?" Seth asked knocking on the door.
"Yeah." She sniffed trying to dry her eyes as he came into the room.
"Awe baby." Seth said seeing his wife in tears he didn't think twice before he pulled her into a hug. She tried to fight him at first but soon relaxed into the hug. "Talk to me what's going on?"
"Why are you here?" She snapped and pulled away from him.
"Kate you are my wife. I gave you a few days. I did what you asked and went to work. But honestly I hated being away from you. All I thought about was all my mistakes and how it lead to all this." Seth stated. "I hurt you in a way I can't take back but even worse was that I wasn't there for you when you needed me. Because of me Trent got to you and hurt you again. I can't forgive myself for that."
Kate looked at him.
"I made the choice to come back here. This isn't your fault. I don't blame you. But I can't forgive you either. I can't forgive the fact that you got another woman pregnant when you told me you were good with having two children." Kate stated. "Do you remember our talk Seth after Jaxon was born? You said that you couldn't see me in that much pain again. That we had a boy and a girl and our family was complete. If you wanted more kids you should have come to me your wife. Even more than that you should have been able to talk to me about anything and everything. Instead you ran to Becky. Do you even understand how that made me feel Seth? Was I perfect no I get this is partly my fault. But that doesn't mean it didn't break my heart when you told me that Becky was pregnant. That is what hurt the most. I wanted to make our marriage work I did but that wasn't something I could forgive."
"Kate I know how hard Jaxon's pregnancy was on you. I didn't want you to have to go through that again. I was good with two kids. I didn't plan on getting Becky pregnant. That was the last thing on my mind."
"You know stop I can't listen to you talk about sleeping with Becky not any more. Seth I have been through hell the last few weeks. Trent took everything from me again. I am just so pissed off at everything. I am pissed at Trent for breaking me down. I am pissed at myself for letting him do that to me. I feel worthless and damaged and not good enough. I am pissed at you for breaking my heart because at the end of the day I never should have been moving to Jacksonville. I should be at home our home in Iowa. The home you built for us that was my safe place. You made it my safe place and you took that away all because you cheated on me. So I am just so pissed off and hurt. I hate you and still love you all at the same time!" Kate said in tears as Seth pulled her close. "Let me go Seth. You don't love me no one can love me any more."
"Kate Rollins I have always loved you. You are not worthless you are everything." He said to her looking into her eyes.
"If that were true Seth you wouldn't be having a baby with another woman." Kate said. "I don't know what my next step is going to be. But I just don't think I can forget you having a baby with someone other than me. I just need to be alone for a while. To figure out who I am now."
"How about we go on a vacation just the two of us. I booked us a trip to our favorite spot in Mexico. You and me at the beach." Seth said touching her face.
"Vacation? How can you even think about taking me away from the kids? I just got back with them."
"Kate it's not like that I thought you would enjoy some time away to rest. I am trying here." He stated.
"Take Becky because clearly she knows what you want more than I do." Kate stated.
"I know you are trying to push me away. But it's not gonna work this time. I know I screwed up before but I wont lose you again."
"What about your new baby? You think I can let you just abandon an innocent child? This isn't just about our family any more Seth. Don't you get that. You are started a whole knew family with another woman you can't just have it all and think I will be OK with any of this." She snapped as she was still in tears.
"What do you want from me Katie? What can I do to make this all right?"
"I … I don't know. I am broken Seth. I am broken and just not good enough for anyone." She said.
Seth's heart broke for his wife as she was letting it all out in this moment. He didn't know what to do or say he just pulled her close knowing she would fight him at first he didn't press to hard as she relaxed in his arms he held her close to him.
Thank You Jan, Blaze, Ant-I95, Eric, Hazel, Torrance,HB, Heather, Swaylow, CooLow, Arizona, Seattle, Guest, peace486, jjd022980, labinnacslove, and jessica619 for your amazing comments and reviews. I can't say it enough I love reading all your thoughts and ideas on this story. You are awesome.
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