They stayed at Hurley's only for a day before checking in a hotel. That's where they stayed until they bough the house a couple of weeks later.
The house was a quaint southern home. Four bedrooms, three baths. A huge yard. Everything that both James and Kate wanted. Their backyard was also big enough for a swimming pool, Kate had pointed out. It was then that James knew that the swimming pool would be her next thing to constantly ask for.
They had settled into the house within a couple of weeks. James wasn't worried at all about the cops finding them; he trusted Hurley not to tell the cops what he did and all of the coverage had died down so James expected that they gave up on looking for the suspects. So, they had settled into home life.
James got a job at the local insurance company and Kate stayed at home. Some nights when James came home from work, Kate complained about being bored at home, but James assured her that she didn't need a job. He told her that if she wanted a family she needed to used to being at home all the time doing all of the housework. She took that excuse as fact and stopped complaining about being home all day.
They had been settled in the house for two months (married now for 15 months) when they got the news. Kate was pregnant. And they were over the moon. Granted they were a young couple, 23 and 25, but they knew that they could handle a family now. They had all the money in the world saved up, and James had a job to support them without dipping into their stolen funds. They had decided that their stolen funds would be for emergency use only.
James was over the moon. He was already planning in his head what he would do with his future son or daughter and what he would teach them once they got here. Nothing could kill his happiness. They told Hurley and Libby and the other couple was just as excited as they were. Since Hurley and Libby were about to have their second child, the two children would be close in age. Add with Ava, James' and Kate's baby would have friends to play with no matter what.
Kate and James started planning the nursery and going shopping for supplies. They dipped into their stolen funds a little bit, but it was nothing to be worried about. They spent evenings with Hurley and Libby, planning out play dates and talking about names.
Everything was going as they planned. The nursery was slowly coming together. On the weekends James and Kate would paint the room a bright yellow. She would tease him by getting paint of his back and James would tease Kate right back. This life that they had for themselves was wonderful. It was everything James had hoped for.
Until Miles came.
He had knocked on their door one Sunday morning. James and Kate had just finished breakfast and Kate, who was now six months pregnant, was cleaning up in the kitchen. James went to answer the door and when he saw Miles, he was surprised.
"Miles, what the hell are you doing here?" he asked, opening the door and gesturing for his friend to come in.
Miles was in uniform and he had a frown on his face. Once James had shut the door and clearly looked at his childhood best friend, he also frowned. James had a sinking feeling in his chest and he was starting to get nervous.
"James, we need to talk," Miles said simply.
"Of course," he replied, leading Miles into the kitchen.
Kate, who was putting her brown hair up into a bun, saw Miles and immediately starting making coffee. James was so happy that she was becoming the housewife that he wanted. He loved her to death. He loved how strong and independent she was. But he loved this new woman that she was turning into as well.
"So, Miles," James said, looking across the table at his friend. "Why are you here?"
"Oh I think we all know why I am here, James," Miles said, frowning. "I hate doing this to you because you are my best friend. But we both know that I am here because we both know that you robbed that Chicago bank."
Kate, who was putting the plates away, stared at James. He could see the fear in her eyes and how her hands were shaking just ever so slightly.
"What Chicago bank?"
"Dammit, James, don't fucking play games with me. I don't want to do this at all, but you know that I am going to have to arrest you and Kate. There's a warrant out for both of your arrests. You can't play house anymore."
"Miles, we aren't fucking playing house. We really are in love and married. We really are pregnant. It's not like we did this all on purpose so that we could get out of jail. We are happy together," James replied, taking a sip of the coffee.
Miles also took a sip of the coffee and then looked back at James. "Okay, so you guys really are in love. That doesn't matter though. You robbed a bank. You guys can cooperate with me and go to the station or I will have to arrest you. They know that you are here and it was only a matter of time before you guys were caught," he explained, looking away from James and over at Kate. Miles looked at her stomach, which definitely showed her pregnancy.
"Then you are gonna have to arrest us. I'm not leaving my house," James said, folding his arms and glaring at Miles.
Miles looked back at James and frowned. "James I really do not want to hurt you guys. You know that right?"
"Yeah, I know. You're just doing your damn job," James sighed, shaking his head.
Miles took a sip of his coffee. "This is really good, Kate," he complimented, turning to smile at her.
She glared at him, green eyes narrow. "Thanks," she snapped.
"Freckles," James said, looking at her.
Kate looked over at him. "What?" she asked, her eyes softening.
"Just drop it, okay?"
She nodded and then turned to continue to clean the kitchen.
"James, I don't want to do this at all but you are a criminal. I have to arrest you," Miles said.
"No!" Kate exclaimed, turning around again. "None of it was his idea, Miles. It was all my idea," she said, abandoning her cleaning and walking over to the table. She bent down next to Miles and looked up at him, arms extended, wrists up. "Don't arrest James. I am the one that told him to rob the bank and I am the one that killed the worker. Arrest me."
"Kate," James said, standing up.
She looked up at him, "No, James. Don't." Then she looked back at Miles. "Miles, arrest me. I'll go with you willingly. I know what I did and I take full responsibility for it. Arrest me."
Now Miles was hesitant. "Kate, are you sure? What you are admitting to is serious. You could be in jail for a long time. Are you sure?" he asked, looking down at her.
Kate nodded, tears forming in her eyes. James wanted to reach out for her, hold her and stop her tears, but he knew that he couldn't. "I'm sure, Miles," she replied.
Miles sighed, looked at James apologetically, and then stood up. He helped Kate up and then took out his handcuffs. Cuffing them on her wrists, he said, "Kate Ford, you are under arrest for murder and grand larceny. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law…" Miles said, continuing the Miranda rights. He walked Kate out of the house and to his car, James following behind them. He watched helplessly as Miles helped Kate into the backseat of the police car. James watched as Miles drove off with his wife, tears streaming down his cheeks as they exited the development.
He had to fix this.