Kate felt apprehensive as she walked into the infirmary she wondered what new level of hell she was walking into as she didn't need a repeat of yesterday's first meeting. How was she supposed to tell Malcolm she was pregnant with their future child when he didn't think she was anything special and felt nothing for her? It was very disheartening to say the least and she already felt like a fool as she was putting on a show today for him as she had dressed nice for the occasion.
She couldn't believe she had dressed up and brought berry cake with her, as if it would improve Malcolm's opinion of her. She was wearing her favourite maxi dress. It was her day off so she figured she wouldn't wear pants. It was a plain navy tank maxi dress which she matched with a soft cotton light grey ¾ sleeve drape cardigan, her hair was loose around her shoulders wishing she knew who cut hair in the Colony so she get the length cut from her waist to just a few inches below her collar bones as the long hair was becoming too much maintenance for her.
She walked up to the bed noting Malcolm was sitting up in bed and was wearing one of the shirts she had packed with hospital scrubs as the bottom looking relaxed as he was reading his plex. He looked up as she approached the bed and gave a smile. It was a better start than yesterday.
"Good morning" He said warmly.
"Hey, you're in a good mood" Kate said as she pulled up table on wheels and placed the container with two forks on the table before him. "I bought berry cake" she told him.
"Just so you know. You don't have to bring me something every time you visit. I assume you'll be here daily thus I wanted to make it clear from the start" He said. Kate quirked an eyebrow at him and smiled.
"Who said it was for you? This is my morning tea. I'm just sharing it. If you want some. If not more for me!" Kate teased as she pulled up a stool so she was able to sit by his bed and be able to reach the cake. She pulled of the lid and handed him a fork. Malcolm chuckled as he took the fork but waited for her to take first bite of the cake.
"Thank you" he said.
"So are you proud of all your accomplishments these past five years?" Kate asked gesturing to the plex.
"Yes, the research I have done, papers I've written and published. The only sad part is that I can't remember them but then I also don't recall the frustrations which I think would be a good thing" Malcolm said he had barely scratched the surface on his work as he had spent most of yesterday and the morning reading all about her. Not that he'd ever admit it to Kate but he found all his notes on her incredibly interesting.
"Hmm yeah I imagine so" Kate said before she took a bite of the cake.
"You should know I kept copies of your original personal records and history that I removed from the 'eye' and public network." Malcolm said carefully as he didn't want to upset her again.
"So I don't need to tell you all about how I'm not from the 22nd century?" Kate asked before she took another bite of the cake.
"No, I have read over my journals as well"
"You write journals?" Kate asked surprised.
"Ever since I was a teenager, I'm a note keeper of everything including my thoughts" Malcolm said feeling his neck grow warm as he wondered how she felt about him being a prolific journal writer. Some women found attractive while others not so much.
"I know you keep records or journals cataloguing your research for your work but not personal journals" Kate said.
"Ah so we still have some secrets" he said with an amused expression.
"Every person is entitled to their secrets" Kate said diplomatically.
"I just wanted you know I understand where you are coming from better and my thoughts and feelings in regards to you retrospectively speaking of course" He said.
"Of course" Kate said with a warm smile. He couldn't help but take in all the little things about her. Her unusual grey eyes, the small freckles on her face and the light blush to her cheeks. The way she held her fork and strategically cut into the cake making sure she got a cherry or a blueberry while bypassing the strawberries in the cake. She was unique and there was no denying she was beautiful especially with her down.
"I'm hoping you'll allow me the chance to get to know you again and vice versa as I'm sure I'm not the same man you know" he said as he purposely attacked the parts of the cake with the strawberries.
"I'd like that. Though I have to ask why you didn't balk at my military history" Kate said watching him carefully for his reaction.
"I have to admit I found it distasteful the idea of what you were or are as you can't really forget that kind of training can you?" He asked with genuine honesty.
"No, not really they ingrained it in me pretty well" Kate said with a shrug. She knew for a long time her training would forever be a part of her and there was no denying what she was capable of.
"Do you know you were trained with earliest forms of immersion psy-op military training?" Malcolm asked her.
"Yes, back then it was controversial. They were trying to train more soldiers who had the mental fortitude and compliancy to not burnout or hesitate or freeze up on a mission. The Perfect Soldiers was the point of it. We used to call the Psy-ops division the 'dollhouse' as you go into their office and you come out different person tailored for your mission. You come back from a mission twitchy and they'd patch you up mentally of course so you could go back into the field" Kate said with a shrug.
"Yes, I apparently researched a lot on the subject to understand why you acted certain ways and your thought patterns. I'm always deciphering you apparently" Malcolm said he watched Kate take in the information.
"Don't worry I'm always trying to figure you out too" Kate said.
"I'm not a fan of the military but I understand their purpose, their function. I know why you went the path you did and why you are a deputy now. I'll probably ask you again why but then I'll hear your thoughts instead of my assumptions and what I have in here. But what got me about this journal was that I was happy, am happy.. I'm not sure what tenses I should be uses" he said.
"It's fine either way please continue" Kate said.
"Well it said that I was happy and that we deeply love one another and I know that is worth trying to get back. I'm sure if I fell in love with you once I can do it again" He said.
"As long as you are doing it for yourself and not out of pity for me" Kate stated though she couldn't help but smile as his words warmed her.
"No, I'm doing this is for myself. This cake is delicious" Malcolm said as he took another bite he shared in the smile with Kate.
Alicia laid in bed watching the twins in their incubator, they had been fed and changed and were now peacefully sleeping. She swore she could do so for the rest of her life and never get bored. Taylor had stayed for breakfast and gone home to shower and get changed into fresh clothes. He also voiced something about making a stop by the Command Centre to check on Jim. Alicia marvelled at how he just couldn't let someone take the reins of the colony for more than 48 hours without checking on them. But she took the alone time for herself as she knew he would be back for lunch and the rest of the afternoon. A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Hey, you want a visitor?" Kate asked Alicia as she popped her head through the door. Alicia looked over at her friend who was looking beautiful and relaxed with her red hair our and a casual maxi tank dress with cardigan.
"Sure" Alicia said. The door widened and so did Alicia's smile as Kate came into the room with a container with two cupcakes. Kate closed the door before she moved to the bed. She didn't even ask for permission as she reclined onto the bed beside Alicia.
"How are you going?" Kate asked Alicia.
"I've been better, you?"
"Just the usual boring fatigue, I bought you a cupcake. Where's Taylor?" Kate asked.
"Having a shower and tying up loose ends with Jim" Alicia said with a shrug.
"Good, since it is just you and me with no Taylor around. You can tell me every gross detail of what happened so I can be prepared when it's my turn. That and I didn't want to share my cupcake with more than the parasite." Kate said seriously as she turned onto her side to look at Alicia.
"The parasite?" Alicia asked. She had kind of hoped that maybe Malcolm waking up would mean Kate would warm up to the idea of calling her baby a baby or child as Parasite had a very negative connitation.
"I have to call it something and that's what it feels like as its draining all my energy and making me ridiculously hungry and emotionally psychotic since it's hung up the occupied sign in my uterus" Kate told her.
"Ok" Alicia drawled slowly as she was amused and trying not laugh as she wasn't sure Kate would appreciate it.
"So talk to me, so I don't have to think about the colossal mess my life is right now" Kate said.
"It's was a mess and everything is still a mess" Alicia started in a deflated tone as she felt she and Kate were in the same boat just for different reasons.
"I don't know the babies are small but they look healthy" Kate said with a smile.
"The girls are perfect." Alicia said she then continued to tell Kate in a low voice about what happened. How she and Taylor had a fight and how she went into premature labour and because the twins were in distress she had to have a c-section, tears slipped from her eyes as she told Kate how she upset she was that she felt like a failure not being able to carry to term and give birth to the twins naturally.
"Alicia, they are alive and healthy. You're alive and well. You didn't fail anyone" Kate said as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind Alicia's ear. It comforted Alicia to hear Kate say those words and to see that she had one person she could confide her secrets in and know she would never be judged.
"I don't know what am I going to do with the situation with Taylor… I'm so angry at him and don't get me wrong I'm disappointed with Evan too but Taylor kept the knowledge to himself and said nothing" Alicia said she looked at Kate and frowned. "You knew before I told you"
"Evan told me when he first moved in. Please don't be mad with me, he promised me not to tell because he just wanted to be a family again and frankly it was his and Taylor's story to tell not mine" Kate said defensively.
"You're right it is their secret to tell. I'm not mad at you. You have supported my brother and his kids for the past month" Alicia said as she couldn't be angry at Kate. Her friend was going through enough as it was and Alicia wasn't going to punish her for keeping a secret that wasn't hers to begin with.
"I just put a roof over their heads" Kate said waving a dismissive hand.
"It's more than Taylor has done and Evan is my brother… why he couldn't have told me years ago is beyond me and how I allowed him to treat my brother-" Alicia stopped as she choked on the lump forming in her throat. Tears fell down her face as she shook her head. Kate took Alicia's hand and squeezed it in a comforting gesture.
"Hey don't get worked up, you have a right to be mad but for now I think we should bask in the cuteness of your babies and good vibes as you need your energy and strength to recover. You can be as angry and mad as you want when you get out of here and I'm babysiting the duo with Evan" Kate offered with a smile.
"You're right" Alicia said as she didn't want to be angry when she had no way of directing it into more useful means. Kate was right.
"Also my sister in law told me when she was mad at my brother she'd make him do all the dirty jobs. Diaper changing and cleaning up the spew, the laundry etc. I'm totally putting Evan on that when we are on diaper duty. Aunty Kate gets the cute time while Unlce Evan has poopy time" Kate said with a smile. Alicia chuckled as Kate always had a plan for everything.
"I'll keep that in mind for Taylor" Alicia said.
"Did you know Malcolm keeps a journal?" Kate asked changing the topic.
"No" Alicia said looking to Kate who had her head propped up on her elbow looking down at Alicia.
"Yeah apparently it's helped him come to terms with the fact that he's engaged to me and that at one point in time we loved each other madly except now it's all one sided" Kate said.
"What?" Alicia asked confused as to Why Malcolm would need to come to terms with his engagement when he popped the question.
"You don't know?" Kate asked her.
"Know what?" Alicia asked.
"Malcolm woke up from his coma missing 5 years of his memory"
"No one told me this"
"I'm telling you now. He can't remember the last five years. For him the last thing he remembers is stepping through the portal. He believed he had passed out but Elisabeth corrected him. He was majorly disappointed that Elisabeth was happily married with three kids"
"Kate, I'm sorry do you want me to go kick his ass?"
"No, not yet but I reserve the right to ask you to kick his ass later down the track. Anyway it's not anyone's fault just how the cookie crumbles. It could have been worse"
"I guess so"
"Yeah so I don't know what his diary says as he won't let me read it but apparently it was on his personal plex and he read the last five years in a matter of hours and has come to a decision" Kate said.
"A decision" Alicia repeated confused.
"Yes, he wants to move home and spend time with me and getting back into his old routine and lifestyle."
"Every aspect of his old routine?" Alicia asked quirking an eyebrow and giving a salacious smile. Kate poked her in the arm.
"Not that I asked but I don't know. I mean yesterday I was like the dirt on the ground and today he's all let's start slow and see how we go. I wondered what he wrote in that journal" Kate said.
"Dear Diary, today I bent Kate over my desk and-"
"Hush your dirty mouth, there are innocent babies present in this room" Kate said cutting Alicia off and speaking in a scandalised voice.
"They don't know what I'm saying" Alicia said innocently.
"Whatever, I seriously doubt Malcolm would ever be so crass like you" Kate said
"Crass? Moi?" Alicia asked incredulously.
"Yeah I reckon his Journal it reads like classy romance novel not like a 14 yr old boy's journal" Kate said dryly.
"Really?" Alicia drawled sarcastically. Kate gave a one shoulder shrug.
"Yes a very graphic and classy romance novel detailing every sordid erotic moment of our relationship including the time Jim walked in on us" Kate said with a sigh before bursting into laughter with Alicia. "Ok we shouldn't laugh" Kate said after a few moments.
"I know we should be serious about this. Jim was scarred for life, he was lucky he was blinded by how pale Malcolm's ass is" Alicia said making them burst into laughter again.
"Oh it feels good to laugh" Kate sighed.
"Yes it does. Thank you I needed that" Alicia said.
"Me too. So how long you going to be in here?" Kate asked.
"As long as my babies are" Alicia said coming down from her laughter high.
"Fair enough, is there anything you want me to do for you or bring with me on my visits?" Kate asked.
"No, just visit and make me laugh" Alicia told her, glad that she had Kate in her life as her spirits felt lifted from the frivolity of their conversations.
"I may have to steal Malcolm's personal plex for that" Kate said.
"No, don't invade his privacy"
"I won't. Hey are there any hair dressers in this colony?" Kate asked. Alicia looked at Kate as they had gone from serious conversation to laughing and now to everyday casual conversation.
"Yeah talk Boylan he can make the meet and greets for you. Are you planning on shaving your head because I don't approve" Alicia told her matter of factorily.
"No just want a trim up to here and maybe some layers to lighten up the load on my head" Kate said as she gestured to the length she wanted her hair to be.
"I approve the changes" Alicia said after a moment's appraisal.
"I'm so glad" Kate said dryly.
After Kate left Alicia in the Infirmary she headed to the bar. She hadn't been down in a long time as she felt the booze would be an attractive distraction for when she was miserable and waiting for Malcolm to wake. A good thing too as she would have hurt the unborn baby.
"Boylan" Kate said with a warm smile as she sidled up to the bar. Boylan who was polishing glasses behind the bar smiled his usual smile at her.
"Kate it is such a joy to see you smiling again. Now what do you want as I know you didn't come here to sweep me off my feet and take me away from all this" Boylan said dramatically making Kate laugh.
"I'd like a drink" She said.
"Of the non alcoholic variety" he said loudly.
"Sure" Kate said looking at him oddly as he placed a glass of green powdery looking drink. "What is it?" she asked as she sniffed it and took a closer look.
"It's cloudy apple juice, very good for the body" He assured her.
"Ok" Kate said with a questionable tone as it didn't look appetising in the least and she drank green smoothies.
"It's perfectly safe for you to consume" Boylan told her.
"Ok what's going on?" Kate asked him as she narrowed her eyes at him suspicious of his behaviour. But before Boylan could give her an answer he blurted.
"Terra Mummies on your six" he said, Kate turned her back to the bar and prepared herself for a civic complaint as the group of four women came up to her. The leader of the pack was Bree Huntington a totally Queen bee as she was followed by her little worker bees Charmaine, Celeste, Flo and Tracy.
"Deputy Renshaw" Bree said with a big shiny fake smile plastered on her face.
"Yes?" Kate asked.
"We the Terra Nova Mother's group wanted to congratulate you on the news that you are expecting and we want to offer you a spot in mothers group as we know you'll need plenty of guidance and support during your pregnancy" Bree said with a smile. Kate wondered if it hurt Bree to smile like she was all the time.
"Excuse me?" Kate asked confused as to why they were making such forward assumptions of her. They shouldn't know anything about her pregnancy.
"I know it's supposed to be a secret but we felt we should come forward and offer our support" Bree said, Kate looked at the woman incredulously and then at Boylan who was waiting for her response.
"Who told you I had a belly full of arms and legs?" Kate asked purposely being crude as she was not happy with anyone knowing but she knew no amount of denial would get her free of the mess. The women looked at her slightly put off by her less than stellar appreciation of their congratulations. She also figured if she was crude they wouldn't want to associate with her as they were polite people.
"The whole Colony is buzzing with it" Celeste said which got her a look of censure from Bree for speaking out of turn.
"Really, how nice. Isn't that nice Boylan?" Kate asked him.
"Real nice" Boylan said agreeing with her as he was thoroughly amused by the show.
"Yeah I don't know the social etiquette in the 22nd Century but in my century usually one waits until the couple announce they are having a baby before people congratulate them. They don't speculate on rumour and decide it has to be true and put on a show like you all are" Kate told them.
"So you aren't pregnant?" Flo asked.
"Wow, it's none of your business either way and I have better things to deal with than the tongue waggings of this colony. Please go back to your morning tea and forget this ever happened" Kate told them.
"No need to be rude" Bree said in a dimplomatic tone.
"My fiancé has been in a coma for three weeks, I haven't slept well due to the fact of not knowing whether he'd wake up or not and if he did what kind of condition his brain would be in. So excuse me if I'm not overflowing with warmth as I find your congratulations presumptuous as it's not the first time rumours of my uterus being occupied have been spread before" Kate said.
"Well, excuse me" Bree said as she placed a hand on her chest looking offended as Kate said the word 'Uterus' out loud in a bar with others looking on. "That is not a polite way to speak to people"
"My apologies and good day" Kate said, she turned her back to them and took a long pull of her apple juice. After a moment when the girls realised they were dismissed they walked away. Boylan chuckled as he picked up another glass and proceeded to polish it.
"Well you took care of that rather neatly." he said sarcastically.
"Who told them?" Kate asked him.
"Not me, I only heard it from Jing this morning when she came in for her shift. So it's true? Your uterus has put up the 'occupied' sign?" he asked in a casual tone.
"I need a hairdresser and the name of the person who sourced that rumour" Kate said ignoring the question.
"Samia is the best but she retired. I might be able to persuade her to cut your hair as I am her gentleman caller but the name of the -" Boylan stopped as Kate had grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled him down so they were on eye level with one another. She spoke in a low voice only he could hear her.
"Yes, my uterus is occupied but I'd prefer Malcolm hear the news from me and not the whole damn colony. I trust you can keep your mouth shut" Kate said in a steely tone as she knew Boylan would try to swindle the information out of her. She just wished he had asked her as a friend not like they were bartering information.
"Alright, mum's the word" Boylan said in a strained voice she held his collar a little too tightly. Kate loosened her grip on his shirt and sat back on her stool. She gave an aggravated sigh as she ran her hands through her hair.
"What a mess" Kate said as she read her comm. Jim had sent her a message asking if she had signed the forms. The forms stating she was pregnant and intending to stay on duty for 28 weeks and then go onto Maternity leave and so on and so forth. She had only skimmed the paperwork not really caring as she knew Jim would give her all the time she needed off and she accepted she'd have to cut back but it wasn't like they were in a huge city with a high crime rate.
"It's not that bad" Boylan said, the man had a sense of humour that was for sure.
"So says you. Find me that name and message me when you have a time for me to meet with Samia. Thanks" Kate said as she tossed a few terras on the bar for the drink.
"Done and don't be a stranger" Boylan told her.
"Yeah, we'll talk later" Kate said.
"You know being on paternity leave means you actually stay out of the office" Jim told Taylor.
"I am just checking in" Taylor said that and he wanted Alicia to get some alone time with Kate knowing they'd want to talk women stuff without him there.
"Are you going to be like this for the next 18 weeks?" Jim asked Taylor as he really couldn't do both his and Taylor's job with Taylor pestering him every day for a few hours. If Taylor wanted to shoot the breeze and play some Chess then Jim would be happy to see him but right now Taylor was bugging him.
"No" Taylor snapped grouchily.
"Because you might as well not claim paternity leave at all" Jim said. Guzman kept his head down as the two were bickering like an old married couple. It was easy for him to tell that Jim was the 'wife' in this scenario as he talked way too much.
"Ok, where's the paper work?" Kate asked as she came into the room unannounced. Taylor and Jim looked to Kate while Guzman moved out of the way. He heard the rumours of her being pregnant and felt it explained a lot of her recent emotional volatility and excessive fatigue. He also knew he'd be safer standing to the side out of the firing line as Kate looked ready to murder someone.
"Paperwork?" Jim asked.
"What are you doing here?" Taylor asked.
"I'm here to sign the damn paperwork about my uterus being occupied so I can get back to hunting down the little snitch who felt it necessary to tell the whole damn colony that I'm pregnant and scare them shitless so they never say boo about me again" Kate said in a calm and casual tone like she was talking about taking a walk around the colony because it was a sunny day. Jim and Taylor exchanged looks before Taylor spoke.
"The Colony doesn't know" Taylor said confused.
"The colony knows" Guzman said from his place.
"The medical staff were told to keep their mouths shut" Taylor said darkly as he didn't like it when people broke their word.
"There is also some speculation on who fathered the kid" Guzman added. Kate threw her hands up in the air.
"Great, because all I need is Malcolm overhearing that rumour and get it into his head that I'm either a liar and a whore trying to foist our kid onto him or he'll stay with me out of obligation even if we don't work out and be miserable" Kate stated sarcastically.
"You are being fairly dramatic. I'm sure Malcolm won't overhear" Taylor assured her.
"You should have been around Elisabeth when she was pregnant with Josh. She was fairly dramatic" Jim commented.
"Oh yes because the fathers group won't track him down and pat him on the back for getting me up the duff" Kate said in a passive aggressive manner.
"Up the duff, that phrase makes me a little uncomfortable" Jim informed Kate as he found some Australian slang a little too crass for his liking. He also didn't want her to accidently say around his kids as he didn't want them repeating some of the things Kate and Boylan said.
"So just give me the paperwork and I'll sign it and go. I have to find a way of telling my amnesiac fiancé that I'm pregnant before he hears the rumours. I've barely known that I'm pregnant for more than 48 hours. What is wrong with you people?" Kate said as she snatched the plex Jim held out to her and skimmed the paperwork for a third time.
"Us people?" Jim asked amused as he had never seen Kate so worked up since he had met her.
"Yeah, you can't keep your collective 22nd century noses out of my business. Or is it because we are a small colony people have nothing better to do than talk about other people's business? I wanted 6 weeks to re-establish my relationship with Malcolm and then tell him but no. I'm forced to drop this bomb and watch it explode. Yeah I can't wait I wonder if I'll have one day to prepare what I say or if I should just go and tell him now." She said as she signed the bottom in triplicate wondering why with all the technology she couldn't sign just once. She handed the plex back to Jim and gave an aggravated sigh.
"How about you sit down and take a few deep breaths" Jim suggested.
"Why don't you sit down. I'm perfectly fine" Kate snapped.
"You're a tad aggressive and stress isn't good for you in general. I need you to calm down not run around scaring the natives. So sit down" Jim said, the last sentencte was said in a firm tone so she took it as an order as he gestured to the guest chair opposite Taylor's desk. Kate sat down.
"You make me sound like I'm a loose cannon" Kate grumbled she looked to Guzman who was trying not to smile or laugh. "What are you sniggering like an old man about?" Kate snapped at him.
"You" Guzman told her.
"Me?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, it's not a big deal just tell Dr Wallace when you want to in six weeks and if he hears about it before then. You can explain your reasons for not telling him. I assume you're waiting until you've passed the first trimester. It's a legitimate reason to wait to tell him" Guzman offered.
"How would you know that?"
"I have a kid"
"I'm surrounded by fathers." Kate said with a sigh as she really did need to relax, Jim was right she aggressive of late but it was more than just a tad.
"Do you feel better?" Jim asked.
"No, I feel antsy and I can't help it if I feel like punching someone in the face for looking at me the wrong way. I never act on it" Kate said defensively.
"You need to do more yoga and become more zen" Jim said Kate made a face as she felt more than an three hours of yoga a day was too much for her.
"Or take up boxing so you can punch out your frustrations" Guzman suggested as he finished his work and handed it to Jim.
"I like that idea better" Kate said approving of Guzman's suggestion.
"Or go to the shooting range, I'll take you tomorrow morning" Taylor said.
"You're supposed to be on Paternity leave to be with your kids and your beautiful wife not me" Kate told him.
"If I have to hold a punching bag or shoot targets with you for a couple hours so you don't deck someone in the colony for looking sideways at you, Alicia will understand" Taylor told her.
Alicia opened her eyes from her afternoon nap to find Taylor whispering in a low voice to the twins as he gently cupped their backs with his hands. He was telling them about the colony and how he was going to teach them to fish and all the other survival requirements for if they got stranded outside the gates far from the colony. She smiled softly as it amusing and adorable as he laid out plans that wouldn't happen for years. She loved him so much in that moment for being here right now even if she was angry at him. She knew they would work through their problems she just needed time to digest everything completely.
Taylor noticed her watching and smiled over his shoulder at her. "Hey, I didn't wake you did I?" he asked.
"No, you were fine. How are they?" Alicia asked.
"The most patient listeners I've come across today" he said with a smile.
"They know your voice, it's probably very comforting for them to hear it" Alicia said.
"I'd like to believe that" Taylor said with a smile as he was glad she wasn't showing any outward signs of anger, or being passive aggressive. She was just relaxed and looking content.
"We'll work through this, I don't know how but we will" She assured him.
"I know" he said with determination. He pulled his hands from the incubator and closed the doors.
"You'll also have to get used to Evan being in our lives. I need him and he needs us, so I want you two to find common ground-"
"I don't think that's possible" Taylor said apprehensively.
"Can't you at least try for me? He's my family. Your family through marriage" she said, she had spoken with Evan in the morning as he helped her walk slowly around the infirmary as her light exercise. She had asked him to do the same thing. She wanted them to be a family it didn't have to be perfect but they had to learn to live with one another as she wanted his kids to grow up with hers.
"Ok I'll try" Taylor said with a nod. Though the last thing he wanted to be was friends with Evan but he would try at least to be civil and do a better job of it than he did at the family get together.
"Thank you" Alicia said Taylor's comm. unit beeped and pulled it out of his pocket. "What is it?"
"Just Boylan" Taylor said.
"Boylan is messaging you?" Alicia asked incredulously as they was no love lost between the men even after the Occupation.
"Yeah rumour got out Kate is pregnant, he's tracking down the source. I think I already know who it is but it's best to have evidence" He said as he pocketed the comm. "You want me to get some dinner for us while I'm having a chin wag with him? Maybe some of that lime sorbet you're so keen on?" he asked her.
"Yeah I'd like that" Alicia said, Taylor got up from his seat and leaned over her placing a tender kiss on her temple before leaving the room with a 'I'll be back in a little while'. It was the first token of affection he had bestowed on her since she had the twins, she hadn't realised how much she wanted him to give her more than in that brief moment. But then she reminded herself she was angry at him for a good reason and needed a clear head. Taylor touching or kissing her was not conducive to clear thinking.
TBC~ Cya all in a week!