A/N: I would just like to quickly thank my readers and reviewers, Dragonmaster789, mlivingston1432, hodhod2011danger and Shirahane Aikawa, for their love and support. Love you all! :D

Chapter 9

(Kate's POV)

I hurriedly descended the stairs, since I was running a little late having overslept. Leon again had Lauren's company last night and she just couldn't keep her voice down. It was only when she quieted down; I could get myself to sleep. When I entered the kitchen, Shadow greeted me with a bark and I let him out in the backyard. I turned on the stove and rushed to make breakfast, starting with Leon's coffee. I was flipping omelets, when I felt a presence and turned to see Claire somewhat sleep walking in the kitchen.

"Good Morning, Kate!", Claire wished me with a yawn, taking a seat on one of the counter chairs, "I am sorry", she added resting her head on the counter.
I couldn't help but laugh a little, "Good Morning!", I wished her back with a smile, "Coffee?"
"Yeah", she replied sitting straight, "A really strong one, maybe the kind Leon has."
"You sure?", I asked in confirmation and she nodded wearily, and I poured her Leon's blend of coffee. She looked down at her cup and I turned back to preparing breakfast, burning it was not an option.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Claire taking a sip of the coffee and the face that she made, really made me concerned, "Are you alright?", I asked her. It looked like she wanted to spit the coffee out but she gulped it down somehow.
"Some milk and some sugar in this coffee", she said sliding her cup towards me, "I don't know what is that man made of, who drinks coffee like that", she cursed Leon out loud.
"Well it did wake you up didn't it?", I commented laughing a little, fixing her coffee with some milk and sugar.
"It sure did, it would even wake up the dead", Claire commented and we both laughed.

"Morning ladies!", Leon wished us, as he entered the kitchen.
"Speak for yourself", Claire said in an annoyed tone, "You and your girlfriend made such a racket last night."
"Well I wasn't making any noise", Leon said in matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah, you were the one making her make noises", Claire commented rolling her eyes, "God she's so loud! How are you not deaf yet?"
"I had to hear to Ashley all day long", Leon replied, letting out a laugh taking a seat by her side.
"Oh yeah", Claire said in realization, while I concentrated on cooking, "Thank god, I'm only staying for few days", she added letting out a sigh, "By the way, where is she?", she asked looking back.
"She is in the shower right now. Will be joining us shortly", he replied casually, taking out his cell phone.

Leon and Claire talked among themselves, while I plated the breakfast and set it in front of them, "Oh I won't be having breakfast", he told me pushing his plate away, "Lauren wishes to eat out today", he informed us and Claire sipped her coffee, shaking her head in displeasure.
"Oh…", I said feeling a little dejected all of sudden, keeping the plate away.
"Sorry I didn't inform you before, but she just decided it now", he apologized to me very regretfully.
"It's totally fine", I told him with a smile.
"But I can have my coffee", he smiled at me handsomely.

I poured him coffee and he got busy having a trivial conversation with Claire. I too sat down to have my breakfast, listening to their conversation. It was then that I got noticing Leon. He somehow seemed much more livelier in Claire's presence. I couldn't help but admire the set of new expressions on his face, which were more refreshing than the usual poker face that he fashioned almost all the time. There was no doubt that he was a really handsome man, but seeing him smiling and laughing like this could make anyone fall for him.

"Hey!", Leon waved his hand in front of my face and I came back to reality with a start, "You here?"
"Yeah, yeah… you need anything?", I replied, feeling embarrassed for zoning out like that.
"No", Leon gave me an intense look and I felt my face getting warm, "Are you feeling alright?", he asked me a little concerned.
"Yeah… yeah, I am fine", I told him speaking fast, feeling nervous all of a sudden and Claire started to laugh.
"You sure?", Leon gave me a doubtful look ignoring his laughing friend, "You are kind of turning red."
"What?!", I said a little surprised and felt even more embarrassed, and fruitlessly tried, or more of, hoped that my color turns back to normal, "I'm fine!", I told Leon with a weight in my voice and started to turn my back on them.
"I don't believe you", Leon said stopping me by grabbing hold of my hand, and kept his other hand on my forehead to check my temperature. I literally jumped away from him, as I felt electricity run through my body at his touch, and bumped the back of my head on the kitchen cabinets, which doubled up Claire's laughter.

(Leon's POV)

"Are you okay?", I couldn't help but ask Kate once again.
"Yes", she replied rubbing the back of her head, looking away.
"Even so take some rest, you don't look so good", I couldn't help but say, "And what are you laughing about?", I added to Claire, who had been in fits of laughs for some time now.
"Nothing!", she literally exclaimed smiling widely at me and I raised my brows at her puzzled, "I just realized something, that's it!"
"What?", I asked her, sipping my coffee.
"You have to figure it out on your own", she said smiling mysteriously.

Before I could say anything Lauren walked in the kitchen, "What's all this noise about?", she asked in an irritated tone.
"We were just laughing", Claire told her in an obvious tone.
"It was more like the cackling of a crow", Lauren said to her in an evidently demeaning tone.
"Lauren", I said in a warning tone, "I'd appreciate it if you behave with my friends."
"Oh I am sorry honey", she moved to me, "I was just joking", she leaned in and kissed me, "So shall we get going?", she asked sweetly, once she parted.
"Yeah", I replied getting up from the chairs, "See you guys later", I added to the other two women.
"Good day!", Claire wished me and Kate just gave me a nod of acknowledgement.

Lauren and I walked out of the front door and got in the car, as she told me about the places, where she would like to go for breakfast. I let her decide, since every restaurant's food tasted the same to me somehow. I wasn't really an expert about food, but anyone could say that they lacked something, when compared to Kate's cooking. I prefer her handmade food over any of the finest restaurant's meal that Lauren was listing now, but I avoided sharing my opinion to prevent another emotional breakdown on her part.

Since the time Claire has arrived, Lauren has been particularly very insecure about me. She didn't want me to share same space with Claire for too long, and that was probably the reason why she requested for us to have breakfast outside. I didn't want to upset her and be involved in another argument, so I agreed to her wishes.

"Clovers, would be a great choice", Lauren said finally announcing the restaurant, where we'll be heading for breakfast.
"Alright", I responded with a nod.
"So…", she turned in her seat to look at me, "What was going on in the kitchen?", she asked casually.
"Claire was talking about her shopping plans and when she asked Kate about it", I paused, not really sure how to tell her this or what exactly happened back there, "Kate behaved a little odd…", I tried to choose my words wisely.
"Odd?", Lauren asked in a curious tone.
"Well I guess she was maybe tired or sick", I put forth my assumption.
"Why don't you just get rid of her", she said uncaringly, "She's unfit to do anything, always falling sick."
"It's just the second time", I defended Kate, "Besides, I already told you a million times that I need her services. If you can find me her replacement, I'll gladly ask her to leave", I made my point crystal clear. I thought we had an understanding, but Lauren's nagging was really getting me to the edge now.

Lauren didn't say anything; well she couldn't say anything, finding a caretaker that Shadow warms up to is no easy feat. She could find a million caretakers at the moment that could clean, cook and take care of the house like Kate, but Kate's uniqueness was not her cooking or cleaning, it was the way she took care of Shadow. I really doubted Shadow could warm up to someone like that. I let out a sigh and expelled those thoughts as I pulled my car in front of the restaurant. I had a long day ahead and I didn't want Lauren's jealousy to tire me out when it's just the beginning of the day.

(Kate's POV)

Claire and I roamed from one store to another shopping for stuff. She had just two days remaining at DC, so she wanted to buy a couple of souvenirs, for her brother and friends back at her hometown. So, once I was done with my housework, she offered me to tag along and I couldn't decline her invite. So we headed to a mall after lunch and have been shopping for some hours now.

"Just one thing remaining now", Claire said with a smile, checking her shopping bags.
"What?", I asked her, a little puzzled. It seemed like she shopped for everything.
"A present", she replied grinning happily.
"Present?", I repeated confused, since all we've been doing until now is shopping for gifts.
"Yeah more precisely, a birthday present", she said looking around at the shops.
"Oh, is someone's birthday coming up?", I asked her casually.

Claire slapped her head in realization, "Oh right! You don't know, he probably didn't tell you", she said in an obvious tone, "Well it's Leon's birthday tomorrow!"
"Oh… I didn't really know", I couldn't help but say, a little surprised at the fact.
"Yeah that's why I extended my stay by two days, so I can celebrate his birthday with him", Claire said with a wide smile and I smiled at her consideration, she was really a good friend, "I know his birthdays are not that special but now that I am here, I want to surprise him, after all it's his birthday right?! It's a once in a year thing!", she said enthusiastically.
"True!", I agreed with her, sharing her a little bit of her excitement.

"So what do you think would be a perfect gift for him?", Claire asked me and I shrugged, drawing up a blank, "I want him to have something he can use", she added thoughtfully, looking around and then her eyes gleamed in happiness, "How about I gift him a watch?", she asked pointing out a watch store to me, "I know he has one, but he can have a different one right?"
"I guess", I responded with a shrug, since I really had no idea, what would he like.
"Come on, let's check out some of them", Claire said literally dragging me to the store.
"Alright", I could only say in agreement.

When we entered the showroom, we were totally in awe of the exquisite and expensive watches for women that were in the showcases. But we snapped out of it quickly, after all we were here to get a watch for Leon and not for ourselves. One of the shop assistants came to our aid and we skimmed through a number of watches, being very picky about it. It was when both Claire and I unanimously thought that we found a watch that suited Leon's personality and he'd definitely like it, we decided to buy it. Claire paid for it and we exited the shop.

"That's done!", Claire said looking at the small box that held Leon's present, and then she looked at me, "What happened?", she asked noticing that I was in a middle of a thought process.
"Well that makes for your gift, what about mine?", I said with a shrug, thinking what could I buy for him.
"You want to give him something more?", Claire questioned me, raising her brow at me.
"What?!", I asked her in confusion and she laughed once again.
"Nothing", she shook her head smiling, "We're in mall, we'll figure out something."
"But we have to get back early. I still have to make dinner for Leon", I told her as she dragged me along, "I mean us… I have to make dinner for us."
"We can spare an hour or two", Claire said with smile.

We both tried to think of something that I could get Leon. I really didn't want to be an inconsiderate person, who doesn't get him anything. He had done a lot for me; he provided me with a job and a roof above my head. He also went ahead and got rid of my stalker ex and always treated me kindly. I didn't want to let this opportunity of showing my gratitude towards him go to waste, and for that I had to get him a present that he'd would really like.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the chapters and I apologize for any grammatical mistakes or typos that might have been troubling for you to understand the context. Please feel free to let me know your views on the story, it encourages me to write. See you all next chapter, hope you have a great time!