Yes, I know that I'm falling behind on updating, but it'll probably stay like that for awhile. I don't have as much time to write as I'd like to, and I have CWB.-anyone who figures out what that means is a genius in my book. (no pun intended!)

The ride home was long and tiresome. Kate drive this time and Erica deciphered the map, so it was a little quieter. Binky was certainly grateful for the peace and quiet after the nearly two weeks of 5 year olds. He slept most of the way back, only waking up to pee at the many rest stops.

The whole trip was definitely a cleansing experience. Erica and especially Kate could finally start to feel like John Anderson was only part of the past now. They had each other, and in 3 and a half months, they would have Ben too.

They talked about everything under the sun, which they regularly did. Some serious stuff, and some just plain girltalk and gossip. And yes, they fought over directions again, but not so much.

Erica was heading back to Canada, but only for a little while. She had been offered a job in New York City during the stay, and had eagerly accepted. But before she could go home and pack everything up, she had to see a few things out back in Boston.

XXX

"You're going to tell him, right?" Erica asked from behind the huge map. Kate looked confused.

"Tell who what?"

Erica sighed and looked over the map at her.

"Tell Nigel how you feel! Jeez, and I thought I was bad at romance!" She looked back down. Kate was a little lost, especially for words.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on Kate. I've seen you staring into space all the time and don't think I don't know you were thinking about him! Plus the fact that you're always a little happier after you've talked to him on the phone? It's pretty obvious."

Kate was starting to get a bit tired of Erica pressuring her.

"Look! Don't you think that if something big was happening, I would know about it? And for all I know, I could be setting myself up for another heartbreak, ok?!"

Erica was a little unnerved at Kate's sensitivity about it. She usually never was very emotional, even with big things.

"No you aren't." She said quietly. Kate gave her a questioning look.

"What?"

Erica paused and sighed.

"We both know what getting your heart broken is like. It hurts like hell and doesn't go away for awhile. But we've always gotten over it. And if there's one thing I've learned from it all, it's how to predict it. And I know you can tell too. You wouldn't have let anything happen if you could see something coming."

Kate had fallen silent.

XXX

Ding!

That's odd. Nigel thought. It was almost midnight and he was the only one at the morgue. Who could be coming up the elevator at this hour? The doors parted slowly and a curvy, curly blonde stepped off. She had on jeans and a tank top, obviously not here on business. A smile shot unto Nigel's face when he poked his head out the big swinging doors.

"Kate!"

"Hey!"

He walked up to her and hugged her, letting it linger as her sweet-smelling hair tickled his face and he kissed her neck a little. Kate smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, liking how tightly he held her. Neither wanted to let go anytime soon.

"So when did you get back, luv?" He said quietly, still in the hug.

"About an hour ago. I was too awake from the coffee I had earlier, so I left Erica at the house and came here."

"How'd you know I'd be here?"

Kate shrugged.

"Don't know."

Nigel chuckled and pulled away so he was looking at her.

"I'm that predictable, huh?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say predictable."

"Good, because I see myself as a wild, unexpected," He was faking drama the whole speech. "adventurous type. Don't you?"

Kate laughed.

"Of course." She said, playing the part of a wooed damsel.

"So, my love, where shall we explore next?"

They kissed tenderly at first, but with the passion building. Eventually his hands moved down her back, and her hands to his chest.

Kate wondered what she was getting herself into. There were feelings there that she never knew existed, and they felt foreign. Though she was uncomfortable with the idea of a new romance, she couldn't stop. And she knew that Erica was right; she would've stopped it if she saw something wrong.

Nigel was almost confused. He had always been able to figure things out, to find out how they worked or connected. But Kate was different. She was mysterious. He couldn't see through her like so many others he had been with, he had to dig. It was an attraction he had never felt before, and he loved it.

The kiss became unstoppable, though neither tried. He wanted her and she wanted him. No, he needed her and she needed him. Sooner or later, the morgue was empty.