It was time I updated this story, so, here it is, y'all.
As always, I appreciate the support- even the unseen support. LOL.
Stacy tilted her head slightly and gave Rick a searching look as she silently wondered if she had heard right. He wanted to help her get the baby? Seriously? "Rick... are you yanking me?" she asked slowly.
He rubbed his chin. "Val really wants to be a mother. Nothing is more important to me than her happiness. You know that."
"I do," she said, nodding. "You two actually make me believe in true love. But Val doesn't wanna do this. She thinks it's crazy and wrong. She doesn't see what an amazing solution it is! I just wanna give you guys the kid you deserve. Not many people would be willing to go to such lengths for their friends."
"You're absolutely right," he agreed.
"I know I am. This is the greatest gift I can give you guys. There's no way I'll get caught," she said confidently.
"You can't know that for sure," he said.
"Huh? Didn't you just say you wanted to help? What-" she was saying.
"I do wanna help, but, there are no guarantees in life. You could get caught. If that happens, I will deny any involvement I had," he said seriously before motioning for her to step aside so he could enter the apartment.
Stacy rolled her eyes as he walked in. "Thanks for believing in me so completely," she said dryly, then, slammed the door closed.
"I'm being realistic," he said.
"You're being a downer," she snapped. "Nobody's gonna get caught. I'm gonna get this baby for Val- and you. Because, yeah, I owe you guys everything. But Rocky owes, too. Hell, look what happened to my sister!"
Rick laughed. "Cut the dramatics, Stacy. You couldn't care less about Cait snapping the way she did."
"You got me there," Stacy admitted. "But I do need to repay you and Val."
"Of course... getting Val to take the baby will be a problem," he said. Then, his eyes widened with horror after his words registered. What the hell was he doing? "Wait a second! I can't do this! I don't know what I was thinking!"
"Rick, don't flip out on me. We-" Stacy began.
"No, Stacy. No. It just hit me all of a sudden that I only said I wanted to help you because I love my wife more than anything in this world. If I go through with this... she'll hate me and I will lose her. Forever," Rick said. He felt totally foolish now. Not to mention embarrassed and guilty. What was the matter with him? Valerie's happiness definitely meant everything to him, but, he knew he didn't have the heart to take a baby from its parents.
"You won't lose-" Stacy started to say.
"Val is right. This whole thing is crazy- and terrible. I can't believe I even considered..." Rick's voice trailed off and he shook his head, genuinely horrified. He'd rather go his whole life childless than without Valerie.
"I don't get you and your wife," Stacy said, looking at him in amazement.
"I can't go along with this, Stacy, because I'm not insane. Neither is Val," he said.
Neither am I! Jeez! Why can't either of you try to see this for what it really is? I love you guys and want you to have it all. I mean that, Rick," she said passionately.
He opened his mouth to retort until a thought rolled into his brain. His expression changed. Huh. "Say... what's Rocky's last name?"
"DeSantos. Why?" she demanded, frowning.
"That sounds kinda familiar," Rick said, intentionally keeping his tone casual.
"What does it have to do with anything?" she asked in irritation.
"I guess it doesn't. I was just... I don't know. Look, I have to go. You do whatever you want. I still say it's a twisted plan, but, trying to talk you outta something is like pulling teeth," he said, then, walked up to the door, opened it and exited the apartment.
"What the hell is his deal?" she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Stacy stood outside of Rocky and Katherine's apartment five days later- Thursday evening. She hadn't heard a thing from Rick or Valerie since they'd discovered her plan, but, whatever. She was still determined to get this kid for them. 'I'll just make Rocky and Kat warm up to me... then, take that baby girl outta there. It doesn't matter how I have to go about doing it. I can handle the two of them. Rick and Val will be grateful- eventually. I'm sure of it,' she thought. The more she thought about this scheme, the better she felt about it.
She took a deep breath and knocked sharply on the door several times. It was time to act her butt off. The door was opened several moments later by Katherine. Stacy grinned widely, then, quickly toned it down a little. No need to raise suspicion right off the bat. "Hi, Kat."
"Hi, Stacy," the blonde said.
Stacy almost blinked. She was a little taken aback because Katherine didn't seem very surprised to see her. 'No need to get all paranoid,' Stacy told herself. Then, she cleared her throat and began speaking aloud. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here. Well, I'll be more than happy tell you."
"Why don't you come on in?" Katherine suggested with a seemingly genuine smile, then, stepped aside.
"Are you sure? Because if you'd feel more comfortable just talking right here or even out in the hall, we can do that," Stacy said.
"I've got no reason not to trust you, Stacy. I admit that Rocky and I were pretty uncertain at first, but, you're not to blame for what Cait did," she said.
"You really feel this way?" Stacy asked, more than a little taken aback this time.
"Yeah, I do. Rocky and I don't hold you responsible for anything. So... why don't you come on in?" Katherine said.
Stacy stared at her for a few moments, then, walked into the apartment. "I wanna say, again, how sorry I am about Cait," she said as Katherine closed the door.
"Thank you," Katherine said.
"Anyhow, I'm here because I'd like to get to know you guys. It's crazy, but, I sort of feel like I have to. I know I'm not responsible for what my sister did, but, I just feel like I have to show you and Rocky that not everyone in my family is unbalanced," Stacy said with a light laugh.
"I understand. But, it may take some time. We don't blame you for anything, but, we're not prepared to be friends just yet. You and Cait do look almost exactly alike, after all- meaning we need to do a little adjusting," Katherine said with a slight smile.
"Can't blame you for that," Stacy said. "So, where's Rocky and that baby of yours?"
"Rocky's out at the moment, but, Karina's in her nursery. I was just about to get her, actually," Katherine said.
'This is almost too freaking easy.' "I'd love to see her. But, if she's sleeping-" Stacy was saying.
"Oh, it's all right. Have a seat," Katherine said, then, turned to exit the room.
Stacy laughed gleefully to herself as she headed over to the couch and plopped down on it. Normally, if something seemed too good to be true, it was. But, she was feeling way too confident about this. 'Rick, Val... parenthood starts today for you guys.' She'd never been so selfless! 'Now, I see why all those goody-goodies like to lend helping hands so much.'
Katherine returned a minute later, wearing a huge smile and holding Stacy's reason for "visiting". She took a seat on the couch. "Here she is," she said proudly.
Stacy gasped. "Oh, Kat. She is a beauty! Is she even real?"
"I ask myself that all the time," Katherine said with a laugh. The baby cooed.
"She's an angel," Stacy whispered, making sure to wear an awestruck expression.
"Thanks," Katherine said. "Hey, I have to use the bathroom. Would you hold her for me?"
"Hold her? I don't know. That's not... I don't know," Stacy said with what she felt was the perfect amount of hesitance.
"Stacy, it'll only be for a minute. I'm going to the bathroom, not Sweden," Katherine said with a soft laugh.
Stacy stared at the baby for a few seconds, then, sighed deeply and nodded slowly. "Okay."
Katherine smiled and handed Karina over to the other woman, then, stood and headed off. When she vanished from sight, Stacy grinned down at the baby. It was a victorious grin. "You really are a cutie. They'll love you," she said as she stood slowly. She'd won! Like there'd ever been any doubt.
She headed for the door as quickly as she could without running, then, pulled it open. A cruel laugh escaped her lips. "Mommy Katherine's a real idiot, Karina. Time to get you outta here and to your new parents," she told the baby happily. Before she could step forward, a tall man appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a police uniform. What the hell? Stacy looked at him in confusion. "Is there a problem, officer?"
"That's certainly what I'd call it," he said. "Miss, you're under arrest for attempted kidnapping."
Endnote:
Zeopurple, I dedicate this chapter to you- since you lit a fire under me, girl.