February 1999

„What has got you smiling so widely, Richard?" Martha asked her son after she had sat down opposite from him at the kitchen table. They hadn't seen each other for a few weeks because she had been on tour with a show. They hadn't talked much on the phone either so she wasn't really up to date with his life right now. But now that she was back in New York she'd invited him to their favorite restaurant.

„You found a new girl to fall in love with?" she continued her questioning.

He just grinned. „No mother, I found her. Kate."

Martha studied him for a second. He was smiling and his eyes were shining happily.

„Really? How?" Martha inquired.

„Well, I didn't exactly find her. She found me. Or her mother found me… Whatever. Either way, I'm meeting her later tonight. We're going to dance."

„Oh Richard, that is wonderful. I'm so happy for you" Martha exclaimed. She was truly happy for her son. He had been so crushed the last time she'd seen him. „When do I get to meet her?"

„We are taking things slow" he told her. He wasn't quiet ready to introduce Kate to the tornado that was his mother. Not that he actually thought that she would scare Kate away. But he just didn't want to take any risks. They weren't even officially together. They hadn't even talked about if they were exclusive. He thought so but they hadn't yet spoken about it.

„But there is something that I should probably tell you" Rick continued but hesitated. Which of course alerted Martha.

„What is it?" She inquired.

„Um… We are… Kate is… We forgot…" He said. Wow. Why was this so difficult? It shouldn't be. He was excited that they were going to have a baby. He wasn't even worried that his mother wouldn't be happy. She would be surprised probably. But he also knew that she would be happy to have a grandchild soon. Plus she had had him at an early age too.

But somehow it was a little difficult to tell your parent that you were going to have a child with a person you never introduced to them. „I'm going to be a father" he finally said, looking at his mother to catch her reaction.

At first she didn't say anything. Then she looked dubious.

„Oh Richard" she said.

Rick was a little taken aback. He had thought that his mother would be happy for him. He was going to have a child with the love of his life. She should be happy for him.

„What's wrong, mother?" he asked defensively. „Why aren't you happy for me?"

„I am, darling" she corrected. „It's just… I'm just worried, Richard. Does she really feel the same? Or did she just find you because she fell pregnant with your child and is searching for your financial support? You are so much in love with her, Richard, I'm scared she is taking advantage of you. I don't want you to get hurt."

„Kate is nothing like that, mother" he immediately protested and shook his head. „I'm sure that she wants the same. You'll see when you meet her."

„Well, then I'm happy for you, son" Martha smiled and squeezed his hand. She was still worried about her son. His break up with Kyra had been bad enough and as far as Martha could tell he loved this Kate even more. Her son had such a big heart and it can be broken way to easily. She just hoped that his judgement on Kate was right. Being dumped by the person you loved was bad enough. But if a kid was involved…

Wow, he was going to have a child. She was going to be a grandmother. It just dawned on her.

„You are going to have a baby. I'm going to be a grandmother. Wow" she voiced her thoughts in awe. No matter what would happen between Richard and this woman they were going to have another family member and that was just wonderful.

„Yeah, right? I know it's amazing. I can't wait to meet my baby.I'm going to be a dad. I'm so excited, mother" Rick said, smiling from ear to ear.

„How does Kate feel about the baby?" Martha asked. „How old is she anyway?"

Rick smiled embarrassedly. „She turned 19 in November. And she is nervous. Very nervous. But I just know that she is going to be a great mother."

„19? Oh boy…" Martha said. That was young. But maybe she was a responsible 19-year-old. Martha certainly hoped so. „I really can't wait to meet her, Richard."

„you'll have to wait, mother. But now, please tell me about your tour" he changed the subject. He could understand that his mother was worried. But he just knew that everything was going to be perfect. His mother would see that soon enough.

O-o-o-o-o

Rick was feeling good, great even. He was in the middle of one of his most perfect dates. It was their fifth date and so far every date had went perfectly well. They were taking things slow so they could built their relationship on friendship and trust. At least that was what Rick hoped for.

Their date last week had been great. They'd had so much fun dancing and he'd waited for their next date he'd invited Kate to his place. He'd cooked for her, they'd had dessert and now they were snuggled up in front of the TV. Rick loved it. Kate was cuddled into his side and he was able to rest his hand on the small bump of her belly.

They were going to have a child. It was amazing. He couldn't be happier. He was in love with the most amazing woman on the planet and they were going to have a baby together. They created a human being! It was absolutely wonderful. Rick slowly started to stroke her belly. First with his fingertips but when she didn't seem to mind he let his whole hand caress the small bump.

At first Kate seemed to enjoy his tender loving strokes but then he could feel her thinking. She didn't seem to be too happy anymore.

„Stop it" Kate huffed. Rick immediately stopped. What was wrong? Oh god, had he hurt her? Had he hurt the baby? He hadn't put too much pressure on her belly, had he?

„I know I'm getting fat. You don't have to remind me by petting my paunch" Kate growled.

Rick was taken aback. What was happening? He'd thought they were having a nice evening. He pulled back a little from her so he could see her face better.

„Whoa, Kate. You are definitely not getting fat" Rick told her, almost offended. What was she even thinking? Where did this thought come from?

„Sure" Kate huffed and stood up from the couch, her arms folded in front of her chest. Her eyes full of anger. „That's why you don't want to sleep with me"

What? What? WHAT? Rick was speechless.

„What?" he asked ineloquently. What was she talking about? He didn't want to sleep with her? Where had she gotten that idea from? They were just taking things slow. Because they didn't want to rush anything, right? Right? Right?

The angry glint in Kate's eyes made room for frustrated tears the longer she stared at him. Rick slowly stood up from the couch to approach her.

„Okay" he started. „Apparently there is a big misunderstanding here. Just to clear this immediately: I definitely want to sleep with you, Kate. Definitely. Second: you are beautiful. Very very much so."

Kate stared at her feet. His words were nice. But actions spoke louder than words. And they were on their fifth date and he hadn't even kissed her properly, let alone taken her to bed.

„You don't believe me" he observed. How could she not know that? How could she not know how much he wanted her? How much he loved her? How beautiful she was?

When Kate pressed her lips tightly together and tears started to roll out of her closed eyes Rick decided to screw going slow. Words obviously weren't going to cut it here.

He took another step forward so there were only inches between them. He gently tilted her head up with one hand, brushed her hair to the side, placed his other hand on her cheek and leaned down to kiss her. First she didn't respond to his gentle kiss, her lips still pressed together tightly but when Rick wouldn't back away she slowly kissed him back. She tasted a little salty because of her tears.

Rick lightly nibbled on her bottom lip and when she slightly parted her lips he tipped his tongue inside. That's when she really came alive. She lifted her arms from her sides to close them behind his neck, holding him in place against her mouth. She opened her mouth wider and their tongues started to dance. The kiss shot tingles through her whole body. She could feel it in every fiber of her being.

Kissing her was amazing. And now that they'd really started, Rick couldn't stop anymore. But he really needed to get that idiotic thought out of Kate's head anyway. He needed to convince her that he very much desired her.

Kate moaned when Rick pushed his hips into hers. She moaned again, her body pushing further into his and her head fell back with a gasp. Rick used this opportunity to start sucking at her neck.

In turn she let her hands wander down his chest, aiming for his belt buckle.

When her shirt stopped Rick from moving further down her neck, he leaned back a little and lifted it over her head. He let his gaze wander over her now exposed skin.

„God, you are so beautiful, Kate" he breathed adoringly. He leaned back into her, whispering against her lips „So, so beautiful."

He let his hands wander down her sides before he put one on her lower back to hold her close to him. The other hand itched to touch her belly. But he didn't know if he was allowed to do so. Carefully he let his thumb caress the side of her belly. When she didn't seem to mind he grew bolder and soon his hand was stroking her abdomen.

Rick's warm palm felt amazing against her belly but it made Kate aware again of the growing body part and she tensed. He couldn't find it attractive, could he?

When he felt her tense and growing insecure again, Rick left her lips to move his mouth down her body.

He kissed one breast. „Pretty."

He kissed the other. „Perfect."

He kissed the beginning of the small bump. „Precious."

He lowered his mouth about an inch and kissed her there again. „Gorgeous."

He kissed her belly button. „Absolutely beautiful."

Kate felt tears prickling her eyes. He was perfect. What had she done to deserve a man like him?

Now that he was on the way down anyway, he continued that path. When his chin hit the waistband of her jeans, she shivered in anticipation.

O-o-o-o-o

Afterwards they found their legs still tangled together, Kate resting with her head on his chest. With the tips of her fingers she drew little circles on his torso. She sighed. She'd never felt this happy before.

„I love you" they blurted out at the same time which caused them to chuckle.

Kate shifted so she could kiss him more easily. They spent the next half hour cuddling, dozing and kissing in a comfortable silence, before Rick spoke up: „Kate?"

She hummed in invitation for him to speak. He hesitated. Kate turned to look at him.

„Since when did you have that absolutely insane thought that I didn't want to make love to you? Which couldn't be further from the truth, by the way."

Kate bit her lip. In hindsight she could see that her worries were ridiculous but at the time they seemed totally logical.

„Since you didn't want to have sex with me after our first date" she muttered, hoping he wouldn't hear.

Rick groaned. Then he pulled her closer and kissed her temple. „I'm so sorry Kate. That was not the message I wanted to send. All I wanted was to do this right. Because I couldn't stand the thought that we'd go too fast and crush everything we could have by doing so. I couldn't take that. I already love you so much, losing you would destroy me" he confessed. „And just for the record: I wanted to sleep with you after our first date. I just thought I was doing the right thing."

„I don't want to lose you either" Kate said.

Rick kissed her again. „I love you. I want you. I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world."

„Show me" Kate whispered.

So he did. Again.