Ch. 19 It's About Time
Last night came rushing back as Kate lifted her eyelids to the rising sun that was streaming through her window curtains. She tried to replay it, as slowly as possible, not wanting to miss anything. She remembered after all their groceries were put away, they got dressed in their jammies.
Kate put on a cotton nightgown that had a picture of sneakers on it. But being that it was really short, which was fine with Rick but not Alexis, she wore a pair of her red sleep shorts. She was reminiscent of a bloody newspaper, being that she was wearing a white nightgown with black sneakers, and a pair of red shorts.
Alexis wore pajamas that had candies all over them, fitting because she was a candy-holic. Rick wore his usual, a pair of boxers and a white t-shirt. They moved her coffee table out of the way and laid down blankets and sleeping bags in the middle of her living room.
With the T.V. before them, a big bowl of popcorn, some of the candy that Alexis bought for her, and their sundaes, they popped in Warm Bodies. They laughed at how he was transforming and how he felt about her. Kate cried when you realize that he loves her and that she loves him too. Rick and Alexis teased her because they didn't cry at all, they didn't even get choked up. But Kate cried anyway. Because sure it was an unusual love story but not everything is a fairytale. Much to most girls dismay I am sure. But when you watched them interact, R and Julie, you see their wonderment and awe.
But her favorite part wasn't when they kissed at the end or how much they loved each other, hers was when he saved her in the first place. All because he felt something, enough to risk his own life, should he have gotten caught. But even if it was the weirdest love story, maybe even weirder than Twilight, it resonated with her. Life was weird and you grow. People change you, their love changed everybody. That was the best part.
She had wanted to continue to stay up but she could sense that they wouldn't make another flick. So, she let them sleep and she just lay there. The silence was good though, it gave her time to think. About what? Well, what she could no longer tell her dad. And if he were here, would she still have met Rick? Porbably not. She might have ended up with someone who her dad introduced her to. Would her mom have ever come back? Probably not. So, the fact that she missed her dad was irrelevant but the fact that she now had her mom, Rick and because of him, Alexis, the loss didn't hurt as strongly as it had before. Because where she lost one person, she gained three.
But not just any three. Her mom, who with much disagreement with, was something she had always wanted and needed. But she had never been there. Still, after all, she thought that with all they've been through, it would be different. And at first it was but then just like a switch she felt it kept going backward rather than forward. She had Alexis, the sibling she had never had and had always wanted. A person who didn't ask questions but just came because they knew they were needed. And the most important of all, Rick. The one solid thing she had in her life, other than her job. Someone who was everything. Someone who understood her in the most simplest and most complicated ways. Someone, who made her live, not just exist, those get mixed up too often. But someone who made life bigger, brighter, and better.
She turned over and snuggled up to him, closer. Needing to feel him, solid and whole, next to her. Forever was a tossed around word for a lot of people but not Kate. And she wasn't about to let her old fears distract her from what she wanted. Not since she has met Rick, has she feared the future. Something so unknown seemed to be welcoming her. And she was ready to accept.
The sun seemed persistent, so she opened her eyes. To her left was Alexis, snuggled close to herself. Then on Kate's right, was Rick. His eyes were a little narrowed like he was thinking of something wonderful. His mouth hung open, ever so slightly and she laughed. She scooched closer to him, waking him up with a kiss. His eyes loosened and she felt herself blush. She pushed him back with her hand on his chest, and watched him wake up.
"Good morning to you too." Rick wiped at his eyes and closed them, cowering away from the sun. "Can you close the curtains please." He reached for her hand and felt the touch of his squeeze.
"Big baby." She dropped his hand and threw the covers away from her.
"Yeah but I am your baby." She tossed him a dirty look which he saw. "Thank you." He walked to her and pulled her, by her hips, into his arms. He gently kissed her but was interrupted by a cell phone ring.
"Mr. Brightside" started to play but Alexis just lay there, not bothering to get her phone. Kate tip toed closer to her and leaned over her. Alexis's eyes were fluttering like she was fighting the sleep. Kate kneeled down right beside her and gently started to sing along with the song. But when that did nothing but cause Alexis to swat her in the face, Kate stood up and loudly sang it. Alexis sat up, jolted awake. She kicked her blankets back and she could hear laughing.
Alexis wiped her eyes and opened them to see Rick and Kate laughing at her. Her phone was still going off, so she ran to her purse, dug through until she found it. "Hey Lil. What? Are you serious? I'll be right over." She dropped her phone back into her purse and ripped open her duffel bag.
"Alexis, what's wrong?" Kate tried to clean up the mess Alexis was creating and saw a tear fall down her cheek. "Is everything alright?"
Alexis just shook her head and tried to keep composure. "There was this girl, new in our building, Emery, she is a shit kicker. But she has been really ill battling with some things. And, Lily, Sam, and I have breakfast with her every morning but she never answered her door." She stopped what she was doing and looked at Kate.
"We all have breakfast together, every morning. But they have a spare key and she was unconscious in her bed. They just rushed her to the hospital. I was sleeping while she was dying. What is wrong with me?"
Kate pulled Alexis closer and tried to calm her down. "You said she's sick?"
"She has leukemia. She just turned eighteen and her mom let her get an apartment, even though she didn't want her to. But Emery fought her mom so hard and her mom relented. Now look what has happened." Alexis pushed Kate away and tried to refocus. "I have to go." She grabbed a red t-shirt that had, in black lettering, "Live Free Because Of The Brave" across it, out of her bag. Then tossed beside that her jeans from last night and ran to the bathroom to get changed.
The minute Alexis was out of the room, Kate and Rick joined each other on the couch. "Do you think we should go with her?" Kate clutched some of Rick's t-shirt in her hand and bit her bottom lip.
"No. Emery means a lot to her. Because she had never had to look after someone, Alexis takes this as her biggest responsibility. She needs to do this alone." Rick was going to say more but Alexis ran out of the bathroom and right past them. She threw her pajamas in her bag and quickly pulled her hair into a ponytail.
"Hey, Alexis?" Kate moved off the couch but didn't approach. "If you need anything, call. Ok?"
"Sure. Bye." She slammed the door after her and Kate stopped Rick from charging after her. He stood in the middle of the empty living room and stared at the space Alexis just abandoned.
"We have to let her go. If she needs us, she'll call."
"I have always been the one she came to. Now she won't even talk to me. What did I do wrong?" He shook off Kate's touch and walked to the kitchen.
"Why won't you talk to me? Don't shut me out!" Kate held her arms firmly by her sides and her hands were balled into fists. She felt the heat rising through her skin.
"No. That's just your job." He spit the words out like venom and she felt the strike of them in her chest. He walked to the dining room and threw himself into a chair.
She wanted to deny what she heard but his words were too heavy and they started to sink in her chest, like quicksand. She didn't bother with another word but just slammed her bedroom door shut after her. She rifled through her drawers and pulled out a pair of blue jean cutoffs. She slid them on. She changed her bra and slid on a white and gray tank top. She threw a black vest over it and stomped to the bathroom.
She quickly ran the brush through her hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail. She slid on her most comfy socks and dug at the bottom of her closet for her brown, over-the-shoulder, bag. She tossed in her phone, keys, her wallet and chap stick.
When she left her room, she walked right past Rick and ignored his looming presence. She slid on her green, crocheted, tennis shoes and dared to look at him. He was staring at her, confusion and grief flooding his face. She fought the urge to kiss away his pain. Then she just left, closed the door after her and forced herself to keep walking.
Rick just stared after the closed door, feeling stupid. He was just angry that Alexis wouldn't come to him but he took it out on Kate. He never meant to hurt her. He knew how hard it was for her to open up after her dad died. She even had to see a therapist for it. And she was finally opening up to him. Finally trusting him completely and he went and messed it up.
He hoped that they could work this out. He had to let her know it was him, not her. He wasn't about to lose the one solid thing in his life. He pushed the coffee table back into its place and felt the pull of his ribs.
"Shit!" He collapsed on the couch and tried not to panic. But in the end, his nerves were short circuiting from the heavy feeling of the pain he caused Kate. He was stuck. And he wouldn't blame her if she wasn't going to save him.
Kate walked past the diner where her and Rick shared their first date. She paused at the window and eyed the booth that seemed to be so long ago. Before Rick, when she couldn't sleep, this place would have been her refuge. But now, it was a solid reminder of him and she needed to just clear him out of her mind. But what could she do? It's not like she had work to go do, she was bored.
As she passed many things, people, places, she knew she needed to feel safe. In a big city, albeit her city, she admitted that it could get a little scary. And she felt her armor was down, she needed to build herself back up. And without thinking, she took a cab to Central Park. And with the most tantalizing ride she has ever taken, she made her way to the Alice In Wonderland sculpture. She saw few kids around and took the time to get up and close with it.
Alice In Wonderland just happened to be her favorite fairytale, if it was considered one. The magic and wonder and the strong realization that you were given your life for a reason was always something that resonated with her. When she had first seen it, it was a beacon of hope. Of wonder. It was magical and fun. But most of all, it was something her dad did with her. Whenever she was down or feeling lost, this was what he turned to. This film had gotten her through many heartbreaking things in her life. And the day of her dad's funeral, it was the movie that made her smile. She felt his strongest presence here, countless trips they had taken here was where he resided the strongest.
She sat at the edge and watched the other side, as a little girl with pigtails climbed up on top of a mushroom. The same thing she had done so many years ago. But the thing that hurt the most, wasn't the sadness she felt, it was the longing. The love and innocence of a child. Something every adult was lacking. In her wonderment, she didn't notice who the girl was with. The girl's red checkered, dress got caught and she started to slide. It wasn't going to hurt her to just let go but there was panic in her eyes.
Kate bolted up and walked over to the little girl. She couldn't see anyone watching her and she felt enraged.
"Let me help you. I won't hurt you." She held out her arms and the little girl, who now at a closer look couldn't be more than two, fell into Kate's arms. When Kate sat her down on the edge, she kneeled down in front of her. "Who are you here with?"
"My mommy." The little girl started to suck her thumb and the gesture was the same as Kate had done. She had the pictures to prove it. In fact, the little girl looked like a mini version of Kate. She had the honey colored eyes and the brown hair, though the girl's was much darker, it looked too similar for comfort.
"What's your name?"
"Elsie. What's yours?" She continued to look up without a single care in the world coming across clearly on her face. She stuck her thumb back in her mouth, the minute she had finished talking.
"Kate. Where is your mommy?" The little girl shrugged and Kate felt uneasy. She heard someone crying out a name and the voice sounded familiar.
"Elsie! OH MY GOD! ELSIE!" Kate grabbed Elsie's hand in hers and led her to the voice and when she saw who it was, the color drained from Kate's face.
"Kate?" Johanna stood shocked but relieved when she saw Elsie was safe and sound.
"Mom? What is going on?" Kate was confused and felt her color draining. Her strength wasn't that far behind.
Elsie ran right into Johanna's open arms and Kate took a step back. "Mommy." Elsie was lifted to safety in Johanna's arms. Kate started to hyperventilate and felt the much needed escape.
Johanna caught Kate retreating and tried to stop her but Kate was already bolting, running fast. "Kate! Wait!" But Kate didn't, she charged straight ahead and tried not to be sick.
Lanie was busy going over her notes when someone charged into her office. "Kate? What are you doing here?" She stood up, sending a few loose leaf papers falling to the floor.
"I needed to… I can't…" She leaned over and dry heaved.
"Take a seat. I'll get you some water." Lanie patted her back and Kate obeyed, falling into a chair. She was clearly out of breath and when Lanie handed her a water, she nearly chugged it.
"I had to go. To just leave." She was still struggling for a breath and Lanie held up her hand.
"Relax. Take a breath and then explain. Because you are not supposed to be here. Not at all!" She crossed her arms over her chest and gave Kate her sassiest look.
"Rick jumped on me, so I bolted. Then I was walking, and this little girl who has the same eyes as me, was lost and then, guess who her mommy is?"
Lanie just shook her head, clearly wanting Kate to just spit it out. But Kate was still in shock and the words were just not coming.
"Girl, if you don't get to it, I'll call the boys and tell them you came back early. You think Captain Montgomery would be happier to hear that? I don't think so. So, SPILL!"
"My mom." When the words suddenly fell, the silence was too deafening, that Kate actually covered her ears with her hands. Given there was no actual sound, there might as well have been someone shouting. It held the same effect. But Kate was too focused on blocking it all out, like maybe it was just some daytime hallucination, that she hadn't noticed Lanie speaking.
"Kate!" Kate dropped her hands, mouthing an apology. "You mean, your mom has kept a little girl a secret from you for how many years?"
"Two. She looked two. What am I going to do?"
"What did she say when she saw you?" Lanie waited and Kate shrugged.
"I don't know. I ran before I could talk to her. But, Rick. Did I tell you about that?"
"Hold up. One problem at a time. You mean you didn't give her a chance to explain?"
"Why should I? She blatantly lied to me, sorry deceived me." Kate threw herself forward and felt Lanie's pens rattle as her foot slammed the floor.
"Because maybe she had a reason to hide it from you. Don't you want to know what that is?" But Kate kept her mouth shut and held it in a tight line. "Don't give me your best teenage angst face. She was probably trying to keep it from you because you couldn't handle it."
"Excuse me?" Kate stood and Lanie held her hand out at her.
"My point exactly. You ran before working things out. Now, you are about to do the same to me. Did you do that to Rick too?"
Kate slumped in the chair, realization spreading across her face. "Do I do that a lot? Do I really run?"
"Yes. But you haven't always done that. Just after Jim died. By the way, it might not be my place, but he wouldn't have wanted you to run."
"I know. He hated that. And I have always done that but I guess it never occurred to anyone that, that was what I was doing. You too. You had to realize something was up." She leaned her elbows on Lanie's desk, shoving papers into others.
"Maybe I did but it never bothered me. Well, until you literally just ran instead of working through it. You need to call your mom. Not right now, you have something more important to do."
"I know." She hugged Lanie and left feeling a little bit better about changing. But a whole lot worse for how she treated Rick. Her mom was another story. And she knew where she had to go.
When the cab pulled up in front of the diner, Kate could see Rick sitting in the same booth they had shared on their first date. She braved forward and saw him look up at the cling of the door. She took her time getting to him, trying to map out what she was going to say to him. But he took care of that.
"It's about time." He kissed her right away and then let her slide into the booth opposite him. "I am sorry that I overreacted." He reached for her hand and was happily rewarded when she slid her hand into his palm.
"I am sorry for running. But I guess I get scared." She held her head down but felt the look of his eyes, causing her to look right at him.
"I know you do. That's ok. We all have our thing. I overreact, you run, and Alexis distances herself from people. By the way, how did you know where to find me?"
"I just went to the place that you would feel closest to me. It's what I do with my dad. I go to the Alice In Wonderland sculpture. It was our thing. You must have a place." She kicked her foot into his, and felt the full weight of his light laugh.
"Maybe." She looked at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to spit it out. "Hudson River Park. We used to have trips, every Saturday, and we'd pack a picnic. I still go there sometimes. When I need it the most."
"I think that's great. Everyone needs a spot. Do you and Alexis still go together?" When he looked down, feeling guilty, she knew the answer was no.
"With everything that Alexis has had to battle, sadly, we haven't gotten a chance to." He dropped eye contact and dug out his phone. He quickly dialed Alexis but she didn't answer. So he sent a text. But without getting a response, he knew he had to go find her.
When the cab pulled up to the NYC Cancer Institute, Rick slid his hand in Kate's and they walked in together.
"Room number for Elsie Bayer." The nurse typed in the name and by the look on her face, they knew.
"I hate to tell you but it says here, that she passed away."
"When?" Rick tightened his grip on her hand and waited for the nurse to just tell him.
"About a half hour ago. If you want, I bet the family is still up there." But he knew Alexis wasn't. He shook his head and quickly thanked her. When they got back outside, Kate shared the same look of both grief and worry.
"I have no idea where she is. She isn't answering her phone." Rick slumped down on a bench and squeezed the brim of his nose. "She has to be hurting."
"Do you really not know where she is?" Kate crossed her arms in front of her chest while she waited for the light bulb to go off in his head.
"You mean?"
"Yep. I think we need to get a cab to Hudson River Park. What do you think?"
Alexis was leaning up against a tree and trying not to notice all the happy people that seemed to be sharing the park with her. She kept scanning all the printed pictures Sam, Lily, her, and Emery had taken. They all looked insanely happy. But her favorite picture wasn't the one where everyone was happy. Heck, it wasn't the ones with everyone in them. It was just Emery in it, she had her bandana off her head and was loosely holding it through her fingers. Her eyes were partially closed and there was a faint hint of a smile on her face. Alexis wasn't even sure Emery knew that she had taken the picture.
The tears slid silently down her face and due to the heat in the air, she was sure people might dismiss it as sweat trickling down. But that didn't matter, silence wasn't golden. She had remembered Lily's and Sam's face as they left before her. They went straight back to Sam's and Alexis's apartment but Alexis couldn't stand to be that close to Emery.
The sun reflected off the water in the most beautiful way but it wasn't a sight of joy. It just reminded Alexis of Emery's shimmering eyes. How they could look one color but then look completely different in the sun. She was very aware of someone being so close to her but the feeling of people was all a little too disorienting.
"Alexis?" Rick kneeled down next to Alexis and watched as his baby sister, his only living relative, tried not to waver. But he knew better and before the loud sobs poured out of her, he cradled her in his arms and collapsed next to her. He tried to calm her by rubbing her back but she was inconsolable.
"We were, we were besties. She's gone." Alexis heaved into his shoulder and fell completely into him. His solidness and strength were the only things keeping her from passing out.
"I know. It's ok. Cry. I won't tell you not to." He kept rubbing her back and felt good that she had needed him and that he could be there for her.
"She wasn't supposed to die. She was getting better. We all thought, that things were about to turn around. It was so unexpected." Alexis finally pushed herself from Rick's chest but still let his arms keep her upright.
"These kind of things are. You better not be blaming yourself."
"I'm not. Is that Kate?" Alexis leaned around him and saw Kate sitting on a bench a little ways down. Alexis laughed as she watched her try to keep herself from worrying. She made him let her go, grabbed her bag and pictures and slowly walked towards Kate.
Rick followed, tagging a little behind as he watched Alexis run into Kate's arms. It was something different, a girl was able to be there in a way that a man couldn't be. And he wasn't hurt by it. He was just glad that Alexis had Kate. When Alexis just leaned her full weight into Kate, Kate didn't waver.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Kate talked into her hair and was surprised that they could clearly hear one another.
"Being there. For both me and Rick." Alexis released Kate but Kate still loosely held her.
"I will always be here." Kate rubbed Alexis's cheeks of tears and did her best to not cry along with her.
"You ok now?" Rick laid his hand on Alexis's shoulder and was relieved when she smiled.
"I think I am. Emery always told us to never cry over her. To do something fun in her honor, something she couldn't do because of her illness. I know I won't be completely okay without her but I think Sam and Lily need me. Do you guys mind if I go check on them?" She stood tip toed in her purple Converse and pulled on her red t-shirt. Her hair blew around her and she squinted her eyes at the rising sun.
"I think that you're right, they could really use you. Go ahead. But be careful and call us if you need anything." Rick gave her a quick kiss atop her head. And Kate gave her a quick send off hug.
"I will!" Alexis waved happily to them as she flagged down a cab.
"We should have car pooled." Kate waited for Rick to laugh and when he did, she ran and flagged down a cab of their own.
When they got home, Kate happily stripped her clothes and happy to have her jammies back on. They both laid down for a nap but not before stopping for lunch. They shared a pizza and brought the leftovers home. Those were already dibbed by Kate for lunch the next day.
But Kate was not left with a soundless sleep. She had the same dream she had before, the one where her and Rick had a family but this time, it was a little different.
"Mommy!" Aurora ran right into Kate's bare legs from behind knocking Kate into the counter. Aurora's little feet were stepping on the back of Kate's heels.
Kate turned to see Aurora in her little Betty Boop pajama set, clutching tightly to her legs. "What Aurora?"
"Bennett is trying to get me. He won't stop messing with me. Mommy, make him stop!" She leaned her little, braided, pigtailed head into Kate's legs.
Kate leaned down, scooping Aurora into her arms as she stood back up. "What did he do now?" She ran her fingers over Aurora's little head and tried to get her to calm down.
"He took Bunny." The bunny with which she was referring to was the White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland. Kate had surprised her with it on Aurora's eighth birthday.
"You ask him for it back?"
"Yes!" Aurora's little lip started to quiver so Kate carried her upstairs and into the kids' room.
"Bennett?"
Bennett poked his head out from under his bed and every time she saw his eyes, it took her by surprise. "Yes, Mommy?"
"Did you take Aurora's bunny?"
"Maybe." Kate gave him a stern look and he pulled the bunny out from under the bed. Aurora practically leapt out of Kate's arms and ran to get her bunny back.
"Thank you Bennett. Now apologize to your sister."
"Sorry Sissy." He gave her a hug and they went right back to playing.
Kate left them alone and headed down the hall and right up to the bathroom. When she poked her head in, through the crack in the door, she saw and heard Rick giving their two year old daughter, Raelyn, a bath.
"I would not be just a nuffin', my head all full of stuffin', my heart all full of pain, I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry, if I only had a brain." Rick sang a little off tune but it was enough to make Raelyn laugh, like it always did.
Her little golden brown, hair was all soapy and her little hands were busy clapping away. And the love and adoration in her little blue-gold, eyes seeped from her face as she watched Rick.
"Want another? How about a song from your other favorite movie?" Kate laughed, as did Rick, when her little head shook.
"Nooo, Daddy." Raelyn had him wrapped around her little finger but in all fairness, she had everyone wrapped around her little finger.
"Ok. How about, "We're Off To See The Wizard"?" When her little head bobbed up and down, Rick complied. "Last one before you get out." He leaned back and gave it his all.
Kate watched him at first but then fixed her eyes on watching Raelyn watching Rick. When Rick opened his mouth, she tried not to laugh.
"We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, if ever, of ever a wiz there was, The Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does. Oh, we're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz." He held out the last note and was rewarded by both Raelyn's and Kate's clapping.
Rick turned around and faked gasped when he saw Kate there. "Was Mommy spying on us Raelyn?" Her little face turned to look at Kate, who now emerged fully into the bathroom, and watched as her face lit up at the sight of her.
"Maybe I was just drawn to your surprising talent." She cracked a smile and Rick mocked laugh. "Ok, I couldn't resist. You two were so cute."
"Thank you." Rick quickly rinsed Raelyn's hair and pulled her out of the tub, quickly wrapping a towel around her.
"I better check on dinner. You mind finishing her up?"
"Not at all. Me and my Princess have some more singing to do anyway." Rick smiled as Kate left the bathroom, and on her way down, she was sure she heard him try to sing like The Cowardly Lion.
After all the kids were asleep, Kate and Rick climbed into bed at the same time. She was wearing her extra long, pink, jersey, sweatshirt and he was wearing blue boxers. They gently kissed and parted to gaze at each other.
"You know how lucky I am?" He wrapped his arms behind her.
"As lucky as me?"
"Luckier." He smiled at her lovingly, and she loved that, even after ten years and three kids later, he still looked at her the same way as he always had; like nothing else was going on in the world and that she was the most beautiful things his eyes had ever laid on.
"Doubt it. Because listen here, Mr. Castle."
"Yes, Mrs. Castle?"
"I have a husband who just adores me, a little eight year old girl, who looks just like me, an eight your old boy who looks just like my ruggedly handsome, husband, and last but not least, a two year old, little girl, who looks like the both of us. How could my life get better?"
"How about you marrying me again?"
"What?" Kate looked at his mouth then back at his eyes knowing that she had heard him correctly.
"Marry me again. Our tenth anniversary is coming up and I want to do something special. Invite just the essentials, the Ryans and their two girls, the Espositos and their two boys, the Montgomerys and their two daughters. And even your mom, her new husband, and Elsie. What do you say? Kathryn Louie Beckett, will you marry me?"
"Yes I will!" She pulled his face into hers and kissed him passionately. Both of their cheeks flushed and she relished in the touch, his fingers provided as they ran down her spine.
They pulled away as they heard little foot padding heading to the door. When the door was pushed open, Bennett, Aurora, and Raelyn stood in the doorway.
"Couldn't sleep?" Kate scooted to the edge and waited, and helped lift all the kids in her and Rick's bed.
"And you didn't want the King." Rick laughed and let the kids snuggle closer to him. Kate snuggled up to the kids and her and Rick's hands found each other over the comforter.
She watched as he mouthed, "I Love You" and she mouthed back. "Me too, Always."
Kate woke up with a jolt and a sharp pain in her abdomen. It was nothing serious but just the empty feeling the dream had left her with. She bolted out of bed and ran into her library/office before Rick heard her cry. But when the door opened, and he flicked the light on, it was too late.
"Kate, what's wrong? You have a bad dream?" He sat with her on the chaise and laid his hand on her knee.
She shook her head and clutched her knees closer to her chest.
"Obviously there is, you're crying. Was it a bad dream?"
"No, in fact it was a great dream."
"Then what's the problem with that?"
"Because it isn't true. I want it."
"What was it?" And when she looked into his eyes, she couldn't resist. She spilled it all out. Both of her dreams, in every detail. She waited for his response but he didn't say anything. He just looked at her with an unique expression, one she couldn't figure out.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just, I love you so much. Doesn't mean your dream isn't going to come true. But, just at believing it could and that you want it to, it means we can make something of this Kate."
And just like he had before in the diner, she gave him the same response. "It's about time."