After dinner, they all settled in the living room to watch a movie. Alexis chose the DVD and put it in the player. She went back to the couch she was sharing with Jim, letting Rick and Kate cuddle up in an armchair. She was sitting on his lap, her legs dangling for the armrest, her head snuggled in his neck.
"You know, you could at least pretend to be interested in the movie" Rick said
"I'm tired" she mumbled into his shoulder.
"Well, maybe you should go to bed then"
"No, I'm fine here. Now stop talking"
Jim was not watching the movie either. He was studying his daughter. He had never seen her like that. Even when her mother was around, she had never been really comfortable when she brought her boyfriends home.
"You better get used to it" Alexis said, interrupting his thoughts "they're always like that"
"Really?"
"Yeah, even when they were not together. That's why everyone thought they were" Alexis laughed.
Over an hour later, at the end of the movie, Kate was fast asleep in Rick's arms and Alexis was sleeping against Jim.
"Well, I think it's bedtime for our girls then" Rick said, looking at Jim.
"Well, chemistry can be exhausting" he laughed, looking at Alexis. "You really have a great kid Rick. You raised her well"
"To be honest, I don't know how she turned out so good. I know it does not come from me and certainly not from Meredith. She's just … crazy. I guess Alexis just raised herself. Or maybe she just took the best from the both of us and put the rest aside. I can't imagine my life without her. I try to be the cool dad but … I'm terrified of what's going to happen. I just don't want her to leave. Ever. I know that I'll have to let her go at one point, but I just don't know what I'm going to do without her. And she is going to leave soon to go to college so for now I just make the most of the time we have together. I don't know if Kate told you but Meredith came back this morning. It's been nearly two years, she just shows up and expect everything to be hers."
"Everything including you?" Jim asked
"Yeah. Well, that's what she thinks anyway. But there's no way I'm leaving Kate. Ever. I know it's probably cliché but, I swear, what I feel for her I've never felt before. I may have been married twice but I never felt THAT. I don't even know what to call it. It's love, of course, but it's also so much more" Rick said, looking down at Kate and caressing her cheek.
"You're right, it's cliché" Jim laughed "but the way you say it is not. I don't know you Rick, but I can tell you're good for my little Katie. I've never seen her so comfortable around anyone. To be honest, when I walked in on you the other day – and don't even try to deny it, I know I interrupted something – I asked Katie how long you've been together and I was really surprised with her answer. You really fit together. She is really herself with you. She has never been really … touchy… with her boyfriend when we were together, or at home with Jo, but with you, I'm not sure she even realize she is doing it. You just seem so … natural together. It would be a shame if you had never met each other. I … I want to thank you for that. Because I know that if something were to happen to me, she would have you. And you can't imagine what a relief it is for me. I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon, but I feel less worried about it, knowing that you'll be there for her, no matter what. But let me be clear about something: if you ever hurt my Katie, even a tiny little bit, I WILL hunt you down. Just don't make me regret all those kind words I just spoke and will never speak again" Jim finished, throwing a very dark look at Rick.
"Don't worry sir, she's safe with me. But thank you"
Just as Jim was going to answer, Kate began to stir in Rick's arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked between Rick and her father, who were both looking at her lovingly.
"What?" she asked, trying to wake up.
"Nothing, sweetheart" her father answered, smiling
"I have to go home Kate" Rick said, softly
"What? Why?"
"Well, first, because it's where I live, and second Alexis has a test in the morning"
"But you can sleep here, both of you. Alexis could sleep on the couch. It's really comfortable …"
"I know it's comfortable but she has to get up early and I don't want to wake you up in the morning"
"I have to get up early anyway to take my dad to the train station at 8. Please stay"
"Kate I …"
"Do you really want to go back to your place where you know Meredith is waiting for you to criticize me or everything you did, or tell you what you should do or how you should raise Alexis or …"
"Ok, ok, I get it" Rick laughed "you make a good point. It's been too good an evening to let her ruin it. First thing tomorrow I'm sending her to a hotel."
Kate kissed him softly before getting up. She went to her bedroom and came back with some blankets for Alexis. Jim had moved slowly and managed to get up without waking her. Once they had settled her, they all went back to their respective rooms.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
After dropping her father at the station, Kate drove to Rick's place to have lunch, just like they had planned. What they had not planned was to have Alexis join them. When Kate entered the loft, she was surprised, but pleased, to hear the girl's voice
"Kate! Your dad is a genius! I understood everything in my test this morning" Alexis called when she saw her
"I glad he could help" she said, smiling, before Rick pulled her to him and kissed her.
"You two are just so cute together!" Alexis said, watching her dad and Kate blush. "What? That's true!"
"Oh I forgot" Kate said, taking a piece of paper from her pocket "My dad asked me to give you his number. He'd like to know how the test went. He was rather proud of himself yesterday" she laughed.
"I'll be sure to call him as soon as I have the result. I'm pretty sure I nailed this one" Alexis said. "He must have been a really good teacher"
"Aren't you supposed to be at school today?" Kate asked, noticing the time
"Well, yeah, I was … until mom came after my Chemistry test and made me leave"
"Why?"
"To go shopping"
When she heard the answer, Kate nearly choked on her drink.
"I know, no so many people are used to Meredith's … methods" Rick said, taking the glass from Kate's hands. "What about lunch now?"
Once they had eaten and wash everything up, Alexis went back to school and Kate and Rick went into his office
"So, do you have any plans for your free week?" Rick asked, sitting down on the couch with his laptop.
"Well … my dad kind of invited us to his house for the weekend" Kate answered, sitting next to him.
"Us?"
"You, me and Alexis"
"Really, that's nice"
"Are you free this weekend?"
"Sure. I'd love to see where you grow up. I'd love to see your childhood bedroom…"
"Don't you like my grown up bedroom?" Kate asked, smiling seductively
"Oh I love your grown up bedroom" He answered, putting his laptop on the floor and pulling Kate on his lap.
Just as he was going to kiss her, he heard the front door open and Meredith calling him
"Richaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard"
"Oh God no, not again" He mumbled into Kate's neck. He got up anyway and pulled Kate by the hand with him. When they entered the living room, they found Meredith and a man on one of the couches.
"What do you want Meredith? Who is your friend?" Rick asked
"He's my lawyer"
"And what is he doing here?"
"I want Alexis back."