Chapter 7

Fiona turned the corner and knocked lightly on the door as she saw her friend looking out of her window, her back to her.

"Are you planning on staying here all night again?"

Andrea turned around to see Fiona smiling at her, her hand on her hip, giving her a curious look.

"Hey Fiona."

"So, are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Planning on staying here all night again?"

"No, I was just…thinking."

"About Kate?"

"Yes."

"I take it she hasn't made any definite decision then?"

"No, I think she's more confused than ever."

"It'll take her some time."

"I know, I just wish I could help make her decision easier some how."

"Well you can't and you know that. Only she can do what's best for her."

"Would you do it, if you were in her position? Would you chose to have the baby or not."

"If I'd been raped like she has, I'm not sure I could. It takes a very brave woman to choose to have a child from the result of a rape and I'm not sure I'd be that strong."

"You're stronger than you think you are, I remember how you were fifteen years ago, the pain you went though."

"Yeah well, that was a long time ago."

"But it never leaves you, does it?"

Fiona came further in to the room, taking a seat on the sofa as Andrea sat down beside her, turning towards her.

"Sometimes I think about what she'd be like if she'd lived, would she be like me or Nikki. It wasn't mean to be."

"You could have tried again."

"I couldn't go through that again, the fear of something going wrong again. I had to give birth to a child I knew would be dead and it was the most painful experience of my life, I'd never do that again."

"You know there's nothing to say it would have happened again, it was just an unfortunate tragedy."

"That tore Nikki and I apart."

"I'm sorry; I wish you'd met someone else."

"There was never anyone who could match up to her, she was everything to me. Anyway, we were talking about you, not me."

"It's not always about me, I do worry about you."

"I do value our friendship."

"I know me too."

"Which is why I want you to promise me that you'll be careful? I don't want you getting hurt by getting involved in Kate's life."

"I know you don't and I'd love to promise you that I will be careful, but I can't. I care a great deal about her and I'll do whatever I have too, to keep her safe."

"All I can hope for then, isn't it. Go home Andera, get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay, night Fiona."

Fiona kissed her cheek before leaving her office, as Andrea leaned back in to the sofa.

Kate was heating some soup on the stove, enjoying the silence before she heard the front door. She gave a small sigh to herself before turning of the gas and going to answer the door.

"Agent Mojtabai."

Aram heard the surprise in her voice as she looked up at him.

"I'm not disturbing you, am I? Mr Reddington gave me your address, I hope you don't mind?"

"No dearie I don't mind, it's just a surprise."

"I can go if you want."

"No don't be silly, come on inside."

Aram offered a warm smile before stepping inside, waiting for Kate to close the door.

"What can I do for you Agent Moj.."

"Call me Aram, please."

"Very well, Aram. What can I do for you, did Raymond need your help with something."

"He did."

"And you need my help too?"

"Not exactly."

"Go and sit down, I'll bring you a drink."

Aram watched her go in to the kitchen, deciding to follow her, the smell of the soup filling his senses."

"Did I disturb you dinner?"

"Hardly dearie, it was only soup…nothing that can't be reheated."

"Soup? Not very filling is it, you should be eating something more appetizing and healthy right now and you…."

"What do you mean dearie?"

"What, oh nothing I just…"

"Raymond told you didn't he? What's happened to me?"

"He did, I'm sorry. Look don't be angry with him, he asked me to trace the man who hurt you and I wanted to know why."

"I see."

"I'm so sorry Mr Kaplan; I can't even imagine what you're going through."

"That's very kind, thank you dearie."

"Let me make it up to you, I'm a great cook. Let me make you something, miles better than soup, please."

Kate watched the smile that crept on his face, the apologizing eyes boring in to her.

"Go ahead, the fridge is over there."

"Great, take a seat. Drink your tea and watch a master at work."

Kate did as he asked, taking a seat at the counter as she watched the young man go through her fridge and cupboards.

Agnes was nestled in Reddington's arms as Elizabeth sat beside him on the sofa, watching how happy her daughter looked as the man played with her.

"I thought you were having dinner with Tom tonight?"

"Yeah so did I, he said one of his college buddies were in town for tonight only and he wanted to meet up with him, I couldn't very well say no to him."

"You and Agnes should take priority."

"We do."

"Then why isn't he here."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she leaned back, watching her daughter.

"How did things go with Kate today?"

"You haven't spoken to her yet?" Elizabeth asked.

"I've been busy."

"Too busy for Mr Kaplan."

"The reason I've been busy concerns Kate."

"Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound abrupt."

"Have you found Salgado yet?"

"Your friend Aram had helped us put a trace on his phone so the next time he uses it, we should be able to find where he's hiding."

"You involved Aram?"

"I required skills only he possesses and he was happy to help when I explained it was for Kate."

"You told him what happened to her?"

"I did."

"Was he okay?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Well he, he likes her. Thinks she's great, he admires her."

"As he should, don't worry Lizzie he was fine. I gave him Kate's address, explained that she could use plenty of friends right now."

"Not just right now, we had a good talk earlier and she's decided that she's going to have the baby."

Reddington's head shot up at Elizabeth's words, his face not showing any signs of anger.

"You okay?"

"I am, I'm surprised. I honestly didn't think she'd go through with it."

"It took her a while, what she'd worried about is how she'll manage with the baby and working for you."

"She doesn't have to worry about any of that, we'll all be here to help her. She'll have plenty of baby sitters on hand."

"That's what I told her…I'm really proud of you, you know."

"Why is that?"

"Everything that has happened between you and Mr Kaplan, her betrayal…her loyalty to you. What she did to save Agnes and me, I didn't think that could ever be repaired."

"Neither did I, I suffered terribly when I was faced with what I'd have to do to her. Anyone else I wouldn't have thought twice about it but Kate…when I pointed that gun, I nearly didn't pull that trigger. If I'd made the exception for Kate, I'd have to do the same for others in the future and I can't do that, betrayal is betrayal."

"But you did forgive her."

"I did, when I found out she wasn't dead…the relief I felt in that moment, I can't describe it Lizzie. I've known Kate for so long that she became part of my life, my family. What she's going through now, she doesn't deserve that, she's suffering this pain because of me and I'll never be able to make up for that."

"So you're even."

"If I could turn back the clock I would."

Elizabeth reached over, taking hold of Reddington's free hand, smiling at him.

"Make up for all the shit that happened now, Mr Kaplan's decided to have this baby Red…help her through this, be there. Play the part of dad to this baby, they'll both need you."

"Thank you Lizzie, and I'm sorry for what I said about Tom."

"Don't be, I know you two will never be best buddies."

Kate closed her eyes, the smell of the food making her hungry as Aram placed the plate in front of her, before taking a seat beside her.

"I hope you like it." He smiled.

Kate picked up the fork and knife, cutting the chicken before taking a bite. A small moan escaped her as she ate the poultry.

"Aram, it's delicious."

"It's not too hot? I'm used to spicy food but I…"

"No, no it's perfect. You're quite the cook."

"Well you can thank my mother, she taught me well."

Aram had cooked her Paprika flavoured chicken with small potatoes and roasted vegetables, one of his mother's favourites.

"Thank you Aram, this is far better than the soup I was planning on for tonight."

They ate in silence, Kate looking sideways at Aram every now and again, seeing the way he would watch her when he thought she wasn't looking.

"Aram, what is it that you want to say to me."

"What do you mean?"

"You have something on your mind, I can see that much, out with it."

"I just wanted you to know that, what you're going through. You don't have to do it on your own; there are so many people out there who care a great deal about. Mr Reddington, Liz, Dembe…me."

"You?"

"You're not like most older woman, in fact I've heard you described as a bad ass."

"A bad ass, well I don't feel very much like a bad ass right now dearie."

"If you need someone to go with you, when you….you know."

"What?"

"When you, terminate then I…"

"Terminate, dearie…I've decided to have this baby."

"Really?"

"It's probably not the best idea I've ever had but I…"

"No I think, I think that's great."

"You do?"

"I do, I really do. You'd be a great mother."

"If perhaps older."

"Hey, there's lots of older women out there having babies these days."

"I wasn't exactly given the choice Aram, it was decided for me."

Kate looked down as Aram moved to cover Kate's hand with his as his other rested on her back.

"You're not on your own; we're all here for you, that's what friends are for."

"Thank you dearie, thank you."

Before Kate could look up at him, he moved in and hugged her, smiling when he felt her relax in his arms.

To Be Continued…