Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination.
A/N: Thanks everyone for your patience and for reading. It seems i'm on a roll, making this the third story I update in a span of a week.
It had been weeks since the attack and Michael's suspension and things were going back to normal. Adam spent as much time as he could at Kim's place, barely being at his anymore. Kim watched Adam and Michael at the kitchen table one evening, hunched over a comic book project he had to do from school and seeing them both geeking out about it made her smile. She was making a cake because Michael had gotten straight A's on his last report card and they were celebrating.
"What's on your mind darlin'?" Kim startled when she felt Adam's arms around her waist.
"Just thinking about stuff, loving seeing you with Michael like this."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Do you miss being at your place?" She whispered.
"I have everything I need right here." He kissed behind her ear.
"You don't get tired of the chaos and the scheduling?"
"Hey, what's going on with you? Why these questions." He looked at her with worry in his eyes.
"I'm just curious." She shrugged against his chest.
"Curiosity killed the cat. How about we talk more about this when Michel is asleep?"
"There's no need for that I'm okay." She turned her head and kissed him.
"I think there is, but it can wait."
"Come on Adam." Michael's voice pulled them out of their little bubble.
"Coming." He chuckled. "Later." He released Kim from his grip. "I love you."
"I love you too." She smiled at him and returned to the baking of the cake.
Adam couldn't keep his eyes off her as she cooked, his brows furrowing in worry. He didn't know what was going on in her head and he hated that. He thought that things were going great and that they were moving in the right direction after Matt was removed from their lives, but clearly something was nagging at Kim that she maybe had doubts about them? He didn't want those thoughts from distracting him in his work with Michael so he put it aside to give his attention to the project until Kim called them for dinner. Dinner was a fun affair while Michael continued talking about his excitement over making this comic book and he had both Adam and Kim smiling at his enthusiasm.
"Can we, maybe get it printed properly when I finish it?" He questioned his mom.
"Yeah, I'm sure we can get something done for you to keep it bud."
"Thanks mom." He smiled. "I'll clear the table." He stood and left Adam and Kim looking at each other with a quizzical expression on their faces.
"What just happened?" Adam whispered after Michael left the room to go shower.
"I don't know and whatever reason for this behaviour, I'll take it." Michael had always helped around the house, Kim always made sure to raise him that was, but it was never of his own volition.
"No complaints from me either." He stood from the table. "Join me in the living room with a beer, it's been a long day?"
"Sure." She watched Adam pull out two beers and settled themselves in the couch, Kim's feet on Adam's lap. They sat in comfortable silence as Adam rubbed her feet after a long day. When a moan escaped her lips, Adam knew she was enjoying it. Michael came a little later to tell them goodnight and it was only when he was sure that Michael was sleeping that Adam broached the subject again.
"We're finally alone, tell me what's on your mind." He ran a hand against her leg.
"It's nothing Adam, please just drop it."
"Clearly something is on your mind, please, just tell me."
"I just have these doubts, they creep up sometimes and for the most part I can push them down, but sometimes, they just don't go away."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because I didn't want you to think that I was broken."
"You, are not broken Kim Burgess." He lowered her legs and slid closer to her on the couch. "You were forced to meet me when you woke up in that hospital bed after being shot. You didn't choose it; I was sprung on you." He chuckled. "You had a past that would break most people, but not you. You fought back and you built something amazing with Michael. Whatever you think is broken, you fixed it all by yourself and I'm just happy that you decided that I was enough for you, unless that is what you are doubting?"
"No, I don't have doubts about us, that's not why. I just, I don't know." She sighed, trying to get her ideas across. "When I decided to file a restraining order against Matt for what he did to me, I closed myself off because I thought it was simpler. I had one job and that was to take care of Michael because what he needed was bigger than me. I refused to go out and socialise with people outside of my regular circle of friends and the job so nothing would get in the way of that."
"You know how much I respect the sacrifices that you've done and when I look at Michael, I know that each, and every one of those sacrifices were worth it because Michael is amazing. If what you're wondering is if all of this is too much for me, the answer is no." He cupped her cheek. "I can see my future with you and Michael Kim. I want us to move in together and be a family."
"Adam you can't, I'm not ready, I can't make that decision." She pushed her body backwards as much as she could, releasing herself from Adam's hand on her cheek. "It's going too fast Adam, we need to take a step back."
"Kim, it's okay." He scooted closer to her again. "If you're not ready, neither am I. If you need to take a step back, I understand." This wasn't what he wanted, his heart constricting at the thought of being away from the two of them, but being so protective of Kim, the woman he loved with all his heart, he didn't want to force her into something that she was clearly not ready for.
"Adam, I just need some time to get my thoughts straight. I have someone who depends on me for everything and it's not a decision that I can take because that's what you want."
"I know Kim, and I won't pressure you to make a decision. I think it might be best if I spend the night at my place." He stood, folded his body to kiss Kim's forehead. "Good night darlin', I love you." He whispered against the crown of her head before he showed himself out. He made a phone call on his way down and simply went to an empty place, taking a couple of beers, spending a sleepless night.
Kim had trouble breathing as tears clouded her vision. She wasn't expecting Adam's declaration of love and family, never even thought about the possibility herself and what that could mean for them both. She pulled her knees up to her chest and let the tears escape her eyes and fall on her cheeks. What she doesn't expect is that knock on her door. She jumps at the intrusion but gets up to answer the door.
"Trudy?"
"Don't act so surprised Burgess." She walked past her and looked at her expectantly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I got a phone call from Ruzek, didn't like the worried tone of his voice, what happened?"
"He asked me to move in with him." She closed her eyes as she leaned against the closed door.
"And what's wrong with that?" She deadpanned.
"What's wrong with that?" She opened her eyes and stared directly into Trudy's, who nodded. "How about we start with Michael?"
"What about Michael? From where I'm standing, Adam has been a good influence on him, great even. He loves that boy as if he was his own, don't you get it?"
"I have to protect him, that's the one purpose I have."
"Are you really trying to protect him, or are you trying to protect yourself?" A single tear rolled down Kim's cheek.
"I can't do it again."
"Can't do what?"
"Get my heart broken again." Loving Matt and losing him, no matter the circumstances, had hurt Kim more than she was willing to admit. She had loved him fiercely; they had been happy for years until they weren't. What if that was the path she was going down now? What if her heart got broken again? Only this time it would hurt worst because it was going to break Michael's heart too.
"Alright, that's enough." Trudy said gently. "Go sit in the living room, I have a story to tell you." Kim looked at her quizzically but did as she was told. Trudy returned with a glass of water.
"I'm listening." She took a sip of the glass she was given.
"That day you were shot, I made the decision of sending Adam to get Michael, I chose him on purpose." Kim looked her as if she was crazy. "Adam is a solid guy, with integrity, a heart I've rarely seen in any man, least of all his age, even if he hides it all too well. I don't take to my patrolmen, not like I have with you, and you and Michael deserved to have someone that would love you. He balked at first, but I saw the change in him, in you, in Michael. Did you know that he stops by my front desk and tells me every time that Michael gets an A in a test, or when he has a project that he's helped him on, and don't get me started on the words he has to say about you." She rolled her eyes in mock disgust. "That man loves you more than anything and will protect you until he can't, I think he proved it with the Baker's incident a few weeks back. He loves you Kim, he's in love with you, and with your son. If he wants the three of you to move in together, it's because he wants a future with you, with the two of you. Please don't let him slip away because you are scared. You will regret letting him go if you do."
"How do I do that?"
"Do what? Trust him?" She nodded her answer. "For once, never mind your head, what does your heart tell you?"
"That he loves us and that he would do everything for us."
"Then listen to it for once, you won't regret it."
"Do you think you can stay with Michael while I go see him?"
"Only if your answer to him is yes." Kim smiled through her tears but said nothing.
"Thanks Trudy, for everything."
"Go get him." She smirked before Kim grabbed her keys and purse, closing the door softly, leaving Trudy shaking her head with a smile.
The drive was quick, Kim driving with a purpose, Trudy's words running free in her head. She ran up the stairs of his building and knocked on his door, waiting.
"Kim?" He asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Yes."
"Yes?" He didn't know what she was talking about.
"Yes, I'll move in with you, but I have one condition."
"I'm listening."
"Michael has to agree to it. If he's not ready, then we aren't ready."
"I can definitely live with that." He grinned, cupping her cheeks. "How about we go back to your place and be with your son?" He pressed his lips gently to hers.
"Let's." She smiled back at Adam and kissed him back before Adam grabbed his keys and locked the door behind them.
A/N: Well here it is...I hope you guys liked it and please take a few seconds to review before you go, I always love to read your thoughts. - Sarra
