Authors Note: I've decided to do a time jump. I'm not too keen on writing all the pregnancy fluff. With that said, this story is coming to a close.
As always, thank you to alwayscastle2 for reading this. Stop stressing, you're going to be fine. Everything will work out.
Reviews are love, leave some!
-Krystle
Chapter 10
I love you this big
Eyes have never seen…this big
No one's ever dreamed…this big
And I'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words can not describe
but I'll try
I love you this big
Nine Months Later
"Dad!" Alexis calls from down the hallway. Rick turns and smiles at his daughter, opening his arms for her. "I got here as soon as I could, how's Kate?"
"She's amazing," he answers, kissing his daughter's head. "There's still a long way to go, since this is Kate's first pregnancy."
"Can I see her?"
Rick nods, "I'm sure she'd love that."
Alexis smiles, and walks towards the room they're standing outside of. Knocking on the door, she hears a faint 'come in'. Alexis pokes her head in. "Hey, you up for some company?"
Kate smiles at her stepdaughter. "Of course. When did you get here?"
"A few minutes ago," Alexis answers, "I ran into Dad in the hallway. How are you?"
"Well, this is no walk in the park," Kate jokes, wincing as the pain of a contraction rips through her. She instinctively reaches for Alexis's hand and squeezes.
Alexis widens her eyes at Kate's grip, but chooses instead to attempt to coach her through the pain. "Just breathe, Kate. You're doing good."
Kate loosens the grip on her step daughters hand. "Sorry, Lex. The contractions are coming every five minutes."
"Thats good right?"
Kate nods, "Yeah, but I still have a long way to go."
"It's crazy," Alexis almost whispers. "I feel like you and Dad just told me that you were pregnant, and in a few hours I'll have a baby brother or sister."
CB
"Rick, are you sure she's going to be okay with this? I mean, she's been an only child for twenty years, she's never had to share you and this baby is going to change everything."
"Honey, she's going to be thrilled," Rick assures her. "She's been begging me for a sibling for years."
Kate rolls her eyes, "Rick. I'm sure she did when she was growing up, but she's practically on her own now."
"Shh, don't tell me things like that. This one will never leave the house!"
Kate smiles as her husband wraps his arms around her waist. She tucks herself under his chin and inhales deeply - his scent is really the only one that doesn't make her nauseous. "I just don't want Alexis to be angry or upset with me. We always had an easy relationship, and then after I got shot, and treated you horribly, it was strained. I don't blame her; she was looking out for you and I get that, I do. I feel like she and I were just getting back to how we were, I don't want to change that."
"Kate, she adores you. You've been one of the only constants in her life for seven years. I don't think you realize how much she looks up to you. I promise you, this baby will bring you closer together."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive," he whispers, sealing his promise with a soft kiss.
Alexis walks into the loft two hours later, dropping her book bag dramatically on the floor. Rick looks up and grins. "Welcome home honey. How was your first day?"
"Exhausting," the red head answers. While she's always loved school, and was always extremely excited for the first day, she's always worn out by the end. Walking into the kitchen, she hugs her dad, and then Kate. "What were you guys up to on your day off?"
Kate looks over at Rick, and then back to their daughter. "Nothing much really. Walked around the city, ran a couple of errands and picked up the stuff for dinner."
"Nothing too exciting," Rick says, "it didn't seem right to have fun when you were in school."
Alexis chuckles. "Dad, I enjoy school, have all the fun you want."
"We'll keep that in mind, Lex," Kate smiles.
Once dinner was on the table, the trio sits down. Alexis fills them in on her classes; tells them she's really excited about narrowing down her courses to fit her major. She's decided to major in medicine; her time spent with Lanie having had more of an influence on her than she realized.
She grabs her fork and pops a baby carrot in her mouth. They eat in silence for a few minutes before Kate's voice breaks through.
"I'm pregnant."
Alexis chokes on her bite, and takes a drink of her water. "What?!"
Rick laces his fingers with Kate's, and smiles at his daughter. "We're having a baby, sweetheart."
"I'm sorry for just blurting it out, but I was getting nervous - and you didn't notice that there was a theme to dinner tonight," Kate says, closing her eyes for a moment, only to turn back to look at Alexis. "Are you mad?"
"Am I mad?" the red head echoes. "Of course I'm not mad! If anything I was momentarily shocked. I couldn't be more excited to be a big sister," Alexis assures her. "I only wish you were around when I was growing up; now that I'm in college, I'm scared I won't be able to enjoy being a big sister."
Kate pulls Alexis to her for a bone crushing hug. "Trust me, this baby is so lucky to have you, Alexis. I want you to be involved in this child's life. I can't do this without you or your father. I want you there for everything, if you want to be?"
Alexis nods, and smiles. "I'd like that. I love you, Kate. Thank you!"
"I love you too, Alexis."
Kate laughs at the memory. "I was so scared to tell you."
"Why?"
Their conversation is put on hold as another contraction takes Kate's concentration for a few moments. She knows the end result will be worth the pain, and she prides herself on her high pain tolerance, but childbirth is probably the only thing she will admit that hurts.
After catching her breath, Kate tugs Alexis down to sit next to her on the bed. "Because of everything I'd put you through. We had a great relationship in the beginning, you remember?" Alexis nods. "And then Josh happened, and then I got shot and fell off the face of the earth for three months without so much as a call or text to your dad. You were the one who had to hold him together in my absence. You knew how he felt about me; and you almost lost him to the bottle at the same age I lost my dad to the bottle.
It took us a long time to be able to even say 'hello' to each other. You and I are both stubborn. I know that you weren't exactly thrilled with your father and I dating, and I understand why, I really do. I knew that I had to prove myself to you as well as to him. He's my everything, Alexis. I need him to breath, to live, to do anything. I need him by my side. I've never felt this way about anyone. It's always been your dad.
I know I'm not your mom, and I don't want to replace her, no one can. The most I can hope for is our friendship."
"Are you done?" Alexis asks, an amused grin on her face.
"Yeah," Kate answers. "Yeah, I'm done."
"Good," Alexis says, and without warning launches herself as best as she can, into Kate's arms. "I know how much you love my dad, Kate, and I know how much you love me. I'm proud to be able to call you my step-mom; and as much as I love my mother, you've earned the title more so than she ever has. You're the one I talk to when I need advice, you're the one I talk to about anything that will have steam coming out of dad's ears.
I'm proud of our friendship, and someday, when you're ready, I'd like to make it a mother/daughter relationship. We're already there any way. So if I have your permission, I'd like to give you the title."
"What about Meredith?"
"I've talked to her about it, and explained that you have no intention of replacing her. But, this is my choice, not hers."
Kate smiles a watery smile, and pulls Alexis to her once more. "I love you, kid. I'd be honored to have the title."
Alexis squeezes Kate's shoulders, and kisses her cheek. "I love you too, Mom."