Sunday, April 10th 2005 10:00 am.
East Chapel
City Hall Park, New York, NY

They decided that they would marry in the spring. They wanted a simple affair nothing about it being too over the top. But neither could wait that much longer after spring had officially arrived. They find themselves at city hall in the East Chapel of New York City hall only twenty days after the start of spring. Rick had taken care of everything for which she was grateful. Only yesterday he had filed for their marriage license and after he received the email confirming the purchase of said marriage license, they were legally allowed to marry after twenty-four hours. He had the mayor's office provide a photographer and they had a couple of guests in attendance.

12 hours prior…

"Kate, what about your father? Will he be attending the ceremony today? I know you told me that your mother passed away in 1999, but I don't know that much about him."

"Rick, dad took mom's death pretty hard. Soon after her death, he crawled into the bottom of a bottle and literally never came out of it. One night he was drowning his sorrows at McSorley's, he stayed there late shooting whiskey shots, and then he decided that he'd be sober enough to make the drive home in his drunken condition. Funny fact about drunk drivers, they usually are very relaxed when they are in that condition. One would even say loose. This was quite opposite the fact with my father."

"He was driving East on a section of Interstate 278 in southern Brooklyn when he was hit head on by another drunk driver driving up the wrong way on the ramp, ironic huh? He was exiting off at Atlantic Avenue and he never noticed the other driver coming straight at him. They both died at the scene."

"Kate, I am so sorry. I never knew."

"Rick, for me it's in the past. Am I sad? Sure I am. But what pains me the most is that he could never see what his drinking was doing to everyone around him, me included."

"So are you ready? Is there anything that I can get for you?

"Rick I have everything right here in front of me. The big question is are you ready?"

"Yes, I am."

"Okay then we'd better get some sleep. Pick me up by nine?"

"I'll be there!"

Sunday, June 8th, 2008 1:45 pm.
595 Broome Street, NYC, NY.

This is something that they both want. Something that they've both been planning for together but she can't seem to shut her brain off for this reason. Is this what they want? He did tell her that he had always wanted more children, right? So why is she feeling like he will hate her when she gives him this news?

24 hours earlier…

"Well it's confirmed Kate. Congratulations!"

"So it's true? I'm going to have a baby?"

"You will." Doctor Hall had seen many reactions when she told her patients that they were expecting. But by the way Kate looked in front of her, well maybe telling her might not have been such a good thing.

"Kate, is something wrong?" Dr. Hall asked.

"No. I mean maybe, I'm not sure. We've been trying to conceive for almost a year now. Rick was losing faith in the whole getting me pregnant thing."

"Okay this can happen. Becoming frustrated with something like this is somewhat normal."

"No I get that, but it's what Rick told me after the last time we made love. He said that if we were not pregnant after this, then we might as well not even bother."

"Kate, Rick wants to have a baby with you this I know for a fact. I have seen the love he has for you. But there are times when a man thinks less of himself when the two of you keep getting bad news month after month. But Kate this is good news! So, do me a favor and stop worrying about this and go home and tell your husband that he will be a father."

"Yeah?" Kate asked nervously.

"Yeah. I'm sure. Oh, and by the way, don't forget to make s follow up appointment for a month from now. Because next month we will be able to hear your baby's heartbeat."

Kate turned around and left Dr. Halls office after making her next appointment with a better outlook on what she needed to do.

Knowing that he'd come about five minutes ago she still paced inside the bathroom knowing that what she was doing was in no way calming her nerves. So, she just went for it.

"Rick, are you home?" Kate asked knowing that he was.

"I just walked in. Where are you?"

"Come and see me in the bedroom."

She sat on the edge of their bed trying to calm down. This was going to be big news and she hoped he would love it.

"Kate, what's going on?"

"A lot actually." She said leaving him hanging there.

"Okay. How about a couple of clues then?"

"Alright. Two am, labor, swollen ankles."

Rick looked at her with a face that had no clue as to why she would be saying things like this.

"Did you hurt yourself out in the field today? Twisted your ankle maybe?"

"That right there is one of the many reasons why I love you. No, my ankles are fine, but thanks for the concern."

"Then how are your ankles swollen then?"

"Babe, that was one of my clues. My ankles are fine, well for right now they are."

He was stumped. He had no idea what she was driving at. Maybe if he asked for a couple more clues.

Knowing that he didn't have a clue she took both of his hands into hers and looked him in the eye. He tilted his head wondering what she was going to tell him.

"Listen to me Rick, soon I will be going into labor and then we are going to be up around two in the morning…"

"No WAY! Are you sure? Oh my god, I can't believe this! Is it true?"

"Well if you think that I am going to be giving you a son or daughter in eight months, then yes that part is true."

The second she finished her sentence she was engulfed in his arms and brought tightly into him completely putting her at ease. She never wanted to leave his arms again.

Xx

Friday, August 26th, 2011 8:30 am.
595 Broome Street New York, NY.

"Rick you need to take Reese and Jake to the nursery school for their assessment at nine this morning." Kate shouted out while she was getting dressed in their bedroom.

"That I can do. I'll take them and be there by 8:45."

"Thanks hon. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Oh, that reminds me, Dr. Hall wanted you to stop by later this afternoon. She had something to talk to you about."

"My appointment isn't until next week. Did she say what she wanted to talk about?"

"No she didn't. Maybe she wants to talk about our yet unborn peanut."

Kate gave him a look and he quickly moved to get the twins ready to leave not wanting to be on the receiving end of her look.

Xx

Friday, August 26th, 2011 4:30 pm.
Dr. Halls office
Midtown Manhattan

"Kate the reason I asked you to come in today, was because we need to talk about what we found in your last set of blood tests."

"Is something wrong with the baby? Is she okay?"

"Kate it's not the baby I'm concerned with. It's you."

"Me? What are you talking about?"

"Let's have a seat in my office."

After getting a little more comfortable Dr. Hall explained the results she had received back on Kate.

"Kate the baby is fine, please don't stress out about her okay?"

"Okay."

"Now the issue we have is what was found in your last tests. They came back and, in some areas, certain red flags went up. So, I am going to ask you to let them take some more blood for a CBC, Blood protein testing. I am also going to rule out Tumor markers in your blood."

"Do you think that I have cancer?" Kate asked her not really believing it herself.

"Kate, I'm not sure. But let's rule out every other possibility first. We'll get these tests done and then I will call in a specialist. He's a good man and knows his way around every test that is out there. Relax Kate. Everything will be fine."

Xx

Rick heard the door open and close quietly. It was as if there would be a rant coming his way and soon which usually did happen. But when he walked into the living room and saw his wife with tears running down her face leaning heavily against the front door he knew something was terribly wrong.

"Kate, what is it?"

Trying to control her sobbing she tried to answer her husband.

"Dr. Hall wants to have me tested for certain blood markers."

"Blood markers? Which ones?"

"The ones that cause cancer."