I walk out of my study at around one and peek into the living room to see Alexis asleep on the couch with Kate on the sleeping bags on the floor by her head and Lanie the same as Kate at Alexis' feet. I walk into the room and cover all three of them in blankets and turn the TV off. I walk back up stairs and go to bed.

""""****""""****""""****""""

I wake up and head down the stairs I start to hear laughter from the kitchen. I stop at the doorway and smile as I see Kate sitting on the counter and Alexis cooking something. "Were is Lanie?" I ask my two girls.

"She got called in about an hour ago." Kate says.

"We got hungry and didn't know if you would be waking up soon so we thought we'd start breakfast." Alexis said turning back to the stove.

"And what is for breakfast?" I ask them.

"French toast." They both say.

"Yumm. So what are the plans for today?"

"Well we're going to do what we were supposed to do yesterday. We're going to go shopping, lunch, and then back here to get ready for that dinner you have planned for us." Alexis tells me.

"Where are we going Rick?" Kate asks.

"Not telling' it's a surprise." I wink at her.

"I hate surprises." Kate says.

"I know." I laugh at her and I notice Alexis and Kate roll their eyes.

"Alright, lets eat." Alexis says.

""""****""""****""""****""""

"Mom?" Alexis asks.

I turn from the window of the cab to Alexis. "Yes."

"Dad did tell me that it was a facy dinner, so I think we should get new dresses for tonight." She suggests.

"Sounds good besides your dads seen me in all the ones I have." I tap the glass between the front and back of the cab. The cabby opens the sliding window.

"Yeah." he says and I give him the new address.

The cab stops, I pay the cabby and head inside with Alexis. "Mom, don't you think dad would die if he saw me in a dress like these?" She asks.

"Maybe, but your almost 18 and we'll find one that's not to reveling." I smile at her and we start to look around. I watch Alexis pick a few before I turn to a rack and start pulling dresses as well.

I find Alexis and we head to the changing rooms. "Okay why don't you go first Alexis."

"Okay." She walks into the room and a few minutes later she comes out in a red dress. "What do you think?"

"It takes away from your hair, but I like the shape of the dress." I tell her honestly.

She nods and goes back into the dressing room. Again she comes out but it's a pale blue that matches her eyes the sweet heart neck line and the back was a bit lower than Rick would like but she looks beautiful. "Well?" She asks.

"Alexis, I love it; it's beautiful; you look beautiful." I smile at her.

She smiles. "I love it." She says spinning. I laugh at her childness. "Your turn mom."

I walk in and put on a black dress that I liked. "What do you think?" I ask Alexis.

"I like it, but it's not it." She says.

"Okay nest one." I say and go and change. The next one I have on is a deep blue dress. "How about this one?"

"It doesn't do anything for your figure mom."

"yeah your right. Alright, lets try the next one." The next dress is one shoulder red dress.

"I like it a lot mom." Alexis says as soon as I walk out of the dressing rooms.

"Me too, but there is one more I want to try on." I tell her.

"Okay." She ushers me into the room and I quickly change into the long plum colored dress.

"Alexis?" I ask her.

"Dads going to die when he sees this one." She says.

"You think so?" I ask her.

"Yes, you look amazing mom." She says.

"I do love this one and you love yours?" I ask her.

"Yes."

"Alright, lets pay for these and then we can go look for shoes." I tell her.

""""****""""****""""****""""

Finally done getting shoes and a few other pieces of clothing we were back at the loft.

"Hey how was the shopping?" Dad asks.

"It was so much fun; we got new dresses and shoes for tonight and some other things." I tell him.

"Ooo let me see." He says.

"Nope not until we are dressed and ready to go tonight." I tell him. " And don't even try to peek at her dress, Dad." I tell him before walking up the stairs. I put all my things on my bed and quietly walk down the stairs. I sit half way down the stairs and listen to Dad and Kate.

"So did you really have fun?" Dad asks Kate.

"Yeah Alexis is always entertaining. Why didn't think I could have fun without you?" she teases him.

"No, I was just wondering if you liked hanging out with my daughter." Dad says and I can hear concern and wonder in his voice.

"Of course I do." Kate says matter-of-factly. "I wouldn't have gone if I didn't want to. Rick, I love her. She wants to call me mom."

"I know you love her and I know she's calling you mom, but I don't want you to feel like you have to let her." He tells her and I can feel tears starting to form in my eyes. Is he trying to talk her out of liking me?

"Rick, I don't feel obligated to let her call me mom. God sometimes I feel like her mother; she comes to me when she needs something or someone to lean on and I can't explain how that feels. It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but sometimes I forget I'm not her mom because she has become such a big part of my life and I wish I could have been her mom as much as she wishes I was her mom. So stop thinking I don't like hanging out with her because, I love it, okay?"
"Okay, I love you."

"I love you too." Kate says. I stand and walk down the stairs and into the room they are sitting in. "What's wrong Alexis?" She asks as she gets up and wraps her arms around me. I wrap mine around Kate tight and let a few tears out. Kate pulls away a bit and wipes the tears away. "What is it?" she asks me.

"I heard what you said." I tell her and hug her again.

"Oh honey." She pulls me gently till we're sitting on the couch. "Way to go Rick." She scowls him.

"Hey, what did I do?" He asks.

"You went and made her think that I hang out with her because of you doof." She says pocking him and I couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Apples!" he says rubbing his shoulder. He turns his eyes to me "Oh pumpkin, I'm sorry."

"It's okay dad, I know Kate likes to hang out with me it was just when you asked her if she felt like she had to hang out with me I was just a bit nervous that you would say yes Kate." I look at her.

"Never, I promise." Kate says and pulls me in for a hug.