"I wonder how Kate and Malcolm are doing" Taylor said making conversation as he and Alicia had been sitting in silence for the past two hours just holding and bonding with the twins. He was lying in the bed next to her with his shirt open and Ella lying on his bare chest sleeping peacefully not even disturbed by Taylor talking.
"I'm sure they are politely drinking tea and talking about the weather while Kate mentally freaks out about how she is going to tell about him about the baby. She only has 4 weeks and it will go quickly" Alicia said in a soft and light tone as if she were happy and talking about rainbows and puppy dogs. But Taylor knew her well enough to know if they had this conversation without the twins in the room she would have said it sarcastically.
She was lightly stroking Ava's back as she looked down at the baby. She was tolerating his presence for the twins. He had given her a plex of all the messages with video logs Evan had sent her over the years. Proof he had interfered not only with her relationship with her brother the one time but with her mail consistently over the years just to keep her and her brother apart. She just couldn't reconcile with the pain of betrayal and how much control Taylor had over her. He controlled her at work. Yes, it was a given he was her commanding officer but when they were off duty he always claimed she was his equal but really he had been still pulling the strings. Just like he pulled the strings to get her on the expedition to Terra Nova as he had refused to train a new XO when the Generals didn't approve of her. How he pulled strings to keep her in his unit for years never letting her go. At the time she didn't want to leave but in his keeping her close she wondered what opportunity she had missed out on.
But didn't dwell on it for too long as she had seen and done more things than most people did in one lifetime and then she came to Terra Nova where she was able to have dreams she never thought she'd ever get to have like children.
She just wished their father could have been the man she believed him to be. She didn't expect him to be perfect and never make mistakes but this mistake was one of the worst he could make. She wasn't sure how she was going to forgive him as the more messages and video logs she watched and read from her brother from years ago the angrier she got at Taylor and more upset she became at all the things she was catching up on. She had only gotten one quarter of the way through the messages when she had to stop because she wanted to scream and break something as murder was out of the question.
"Doc Shannon said the twins are looking good and in four weeks the twins will be ready to come home" Taylor said.
"Yes I know, is everything ready?" She asked.
"All ready to go, I'll make sure the fridge is stocked before you come home that way you and I don't have to worry about anything but these two peanuts" Taylor said with a smile.
"We should put a do not disturb sign on the door cause I don't want to share these two with anyone but our closest friends and family" Alicia murmured.
Malcolm was thoroughly amazed and thoroughly consumed by the woman in his arms, the kiss had started off innocent enough but something had set Kate off like fireworks as she attacked him. Not that he was going to complain as she kissed him with such passion, he responded in kind as it was hard to be passive with her as his body responded to her. Just like his journal describe but better, he let her set the pace and how far she wanted to go as he didn't want her to stop because he pushed her too far.
So there they were making out like a couple of crazy teenagers as she straddled his lap, their clothing the only barrier between them. Not that it stopped him from running his hands under tank top and enjoying the feel of her soft skin of her back and flanks. She pulled back from the kiss and they were completely breathless. He smiled at her noting her normally light grey eyes were dark and stormy as she looked ready to devour him.
"Sorry" She said breathlessly, she tried to move but Malcolm held onto her hips keeping her in place.
"Don't apologise and definitely don't move. I'm not ready to let you go" He said though he was planning on never letting her go.
"I can't do this you barely know me and I'm in so deep emotionally. I can't separate sex from my emotions and I'm not willing to be a notch in your belt" She told him frankly even though she desperately wanted to make that notch. Malcolm took her words seriously as he saw how conflicted she was. He cupped her face with both hands to make her look at him as she looked ready to cry.
"I guess you wouldn't believe me if I said I am in this for the long haul right now would you?" he asked in all seriousness, Kate felt her heart skip a beat as she saw her Malcolm looking back at her.
Tears burned her eyes as she had to stop herself from blurting out 'I'm pregnant' even though she was apprehensive to tell him she wanted him to make declarations like he just had without the pressure of an obligation such as a child. Even though Alicia told her to tell him, she couldn't do it.
"Tell me what I have to do to convince you I'm here to stay for good and I will do it. Anything" he told her. Malcolm watched the words sink in and saw everything she was feeling emotionally run through her eyes. For a woman he couldn't remember and only spent the last two weeks getting to know again he found himself remarkably comfortable with her deep emotions, it had been a long time since anyone had looked at him in such a way. He didn't want to give it up and now he had everything he needed to keep her to himself.
"Tell me this again when you aren't so aroused. That would make for a good start" Kate said.
"That's going to be hard. No pun intended of course" he said with smirk which made Kate laughed she dropped her head onto his shoulder burying her face in his neck as he wrapped his arms around her. They lapsed into a pleasant silence as they enjoyed the quiet and just being in each other's presence.
"I missed you and this" Kate mumbled into his neck. He rubbed her back in slow comforting motion as the moment for sex had truly passed but it replaced by the intimacy he wanted. He wanted to be there for her and even if it felt a little foreign hearing her talk about him like he had gone somewhere. "Sorry it musn't make you feel comfortable me talking like this" she said trying to back track but he held her in place.
"Stop apologising" he told her.
"Would it help if I admitted that I don't apologise for much? so you better take them where you can" Kate told him.
"I know this is not going to be easy but you don't have to monitor your speech with me. You can say whatever you want to me or do whatever you want" he offered, Kate playfully punched him in the chest.
"You're such a horn dog!" she told him.
"You started it" he said disavowing himself of all responsibility.
"No, you started it" She said with a sigh. They lapsed into another silence and stayed that way for a long time until Malcolm felt Kate slowly getting heavier in his arms.
"You falling asleep?" he asked her.
"No" Kate mumbled as she had dozed off but was not going to admit she used a big portion of her daily energy in pouncing him.
"Why don't I make us some tea?" Malcolm offered, he smiled as Kate nodded and sluggishly pulled herself out of his lap and stretched out on the bed beside him. He could see she was going to fall asleep in minutes.
"I'll follow you in a minute" she said.
"Ok" he said as he stood up and looked at her one last time before heading to the kitchen. It took a good ten minutes to find everything need but once he put the kettle on he went to check on Kate. True to his unsaid suspicions she was fast asleep. He walked up to her and carefully lifted her feet pulling off her shoes before he moved her under the blankets so she wouldn't get cold.
Evan opened the door holding a sleeping Olivia, Sean was chattering non stop about a school and how he'd be starting next week.
"You think Kate will let me take the monkey for show and tell?" Sean asked him.
"I don't know you'll have to ask her" Evan said as he noted Malcolm sitting at the dining table reading his plex and drinking a cup of tea. "Hey" he said, Malcolm looked up and gave a smile.
"Afternoon" Malcolm said as he watched Sean go over to the tree where the monkey was currently sleeping.
"Where's Kate?" Evan asked.
"Sleeping, I'm pretty sure she was sleeping through lunch" Malcolm saidwith a wry smile as he recalled the meal. she held a conversation and didn't choke on her food but she wasn't entirely there as she had a slightly glazed over look in her eyes.
"She does that a lot" Evan remarked as he placed the sleeping Olivia on the lounge before he moved to the kitchen to make himself a coffee. "Last week I could have sworn she was sleeping with her eyes open at the dinner table" Evan said with a chuckle.
"So you don't know?" Malcolm asked Evan.
"Know what?"
"She's pregnant" Malcolm said Evan laughed.
"Yeah I heard the rumours but I don't put much stock in it" Evan said before he became serious in his demeanour "Look, my father told me you should touch another man's woman as often as you should touch another man's rebreather. I need you to know this because this colony can be pretty vicious about Kate and I don't want you to misconstrue anything. Kate and I are like family I have no sexual interest in her whatsoever" Evan told him.
"Ok" Malcolm said mildly amused. He had to wonder what people were saying for Evan to state very clearly he wasn't interested in Kate. But also glad he didn't have to worry about competition.
"Anyway as you are the CSO when will you be coming back to work? because I need some bench space and to talk to you about the terminus and requesting supplies" Evan said.
"Tomorrow, I'm up to date on everything" Malcolm said.
"In only two weeks" Evan said sounding impressed.
"I wasn't given the position of Chief Science Officer for nothing" Malcolm said.
"Right, do I get any brownie points by giving you a warning about certain crazy people who work for you?" Evan asked.
"Possibly" Malcolm said carefully as he didn't like to show favouritism with his colleagues. Elisabeth was possibly the only exception but frankly the way she tore into him yesterday put her firmly into the same pile as everyone else.
"Dr Haynes, the woman is a crazy about you. I tried to get the terminus set up in the newly restored secondary labs and she threw fit saying ' Dr Wallace wouldn't approve of this' and 'you can't just move into his work station' which by the way is not clearly marked as yours."
"I don't believe I have designated work station there as I have a lab and office in the main research labs" Malcolm said but he made a mental note to keep an eye out for Dr Haynes she already had a bad track record with him. "I'll get you the space you need. Commander Taylor told me the importance of your work" Malcolm assured him.
"It would be appreciated" Evan said.
Malcolm walked back into his office a week later with cage in hand. After Kate, Evan and the kids left Malcolm had returned with a tranquilizer gun and cage. It hadn't been an easy feat but Malcolm managed. He knew Kate was not going to be happy but he wasn't comfortable with having the tiny primate in the house considering all the 'adventures' the monkey had when it wasn't attached to Kate's arm. He didn't want to risk Kate catching any diseases from the monkey and it harming their unborn child.
Their relationship was an odd balance of past and brand new. Brand new for him but for her he knew it had to feel like she was repeating history but she was taking things slowly. He of course didn't push her as it was she who was uncomfortable. He wondered if it was her keeping the secret of her pregnancy or she was afraid of making the wrong move. She was forever apologising for touching him or giving him perfunctory kisses out of habit or holding his hand simple things that he would tell her was completely fine. He'd rather she just attacked him like she did the first time they were alone in their room.
Hence he decided it was time he took a more active role. So far he had been passive just observing and trying not to rock the boat too much as Kate was looking stressed out as it was. But he could no longer sit back, he was going to tell her he knew without revealing his true sources. Then they would sit down and have a proper talk. It was just hard to do all of that when there was Evan and his kids in the house. They couldn't do anything the normal way. If there was one he would assume that he and Kate would have intimate dinners and long talks not with another man and two young kids in the room.
Either way all he had to do was sit back and wait for Kate to come to him in a huff and go from there. He picked up his plex and got to the gigabytes of plex work he had to get through before end of month came round.
"Tell me you and Taylor have kissed and made up" Kate said as she was sitting cross legged on the double bed holding Ava in her arms next to Alicia who had placed Ella on the bed in front of Kate.
"Only when you tell Malcolm you're pregnant" Alicia said as she played with Ella's feet for her own amusement as ella had no clue what was going on.
"I can't" Kate said.
"You have to, you're changing" Alicia said looking at Kate.
"No I'm not" Kate said defensively.
"Your breasts are bigger and your veins are like a subway map not to mention you're curvier" Alicia said. Kate was wearing her forest green wide leg yoga pants, a grey tank top and matching drape cardigan. Her decolletage was in plain view which normally was pale white skin with a couple of freckles now had many visible blue veins criss crossing as her body was pumping it's blood accomodating for the unborn child.
"You can always see my veins and no comment about the boobs or my ass. It was bound to happen" Kate said.
"You're have a junkie's dream body. Anyway I bet you'll be showing in another week and he will know. It's not like it's a secret, the rumours are flying he has to have heard them. I bet you he is already trying to confirm it. He is a scientist, the way he studies everything you don't think he's going to put all the evidence at hand together and figure it out" Alicia told her.
"My boobs are that noticably bigger and as far as I know Malcolm isn't measuring me in my sleep" Kate commented.
"He's taking hand measurments. I'd do it and tell me you don't feel him up in your sleep" Alicia dared her, Kate pursed her lips and her cheeks went a tell tale pink as she and Malcolm managed to start on separate sides of the bed and she'd wake up in his arms or lying on top of him.
"It's not the point. I'll tell him when I'm ready. What are you and Taylor going to do?" Kate said changing the topic.
"I'll forgive him when I'm ready but right now I'm just beyond angry and he just thinks the requisite apology is enough and I should just get over it" Alicia said exasperated.
"For the sake of the twins?" Kate asked as she was just guessing he would pull out the cliche line.
"Yeah they have barely been in the world for a fortnight and he's using them as weapon against me" Alicia said heatedly.
"I don't think it's like that" Kate said.
"You think I'm being 'overly sensitive' as well?" Alicia asked tartly she couldn't help but be annoyed.
"No, I think he's using the only middle ground you both have at the moment. I also think that you are an emotional rollercoaster yourself but I can tell you that because I'm no better." Kate said said diplomatically.
"You aren't?" Alicia asked sceptically as Kate had more sef control than anyone Alicia knew.
"I have these moments when I'm over this side of the colony and I spot Haynes in the crowd. My hand itches to unholster my weapon" Kate told her, Alicia laughed. "I'm being serious! I caught her flirting with Malcolm. She was lucky I wasn't carrying my gun" Kate said.
"Really?"
"Yes, 'Oh hi Dr Wallace I'm sure you don't recall me but I am Dr Emily Haynes. I look forward to you reacquainting yourself with my work'" Kate said in a Marilyn Monroe flirty voice, she even fluttered her eyes at Alicia who was laughing hysterically at Kate's impressions. Kate pulled a face of disgust. "I'd like to acquaint my fist with her face. I think little Ava is hungry" she said before looking down at Ava who was fussing in her arms.
"I fed her an hour ago" Alicia complained, she didn't mind she just felt like she had already flashed Kate enough for one day since Kate had spent most of the afternoon with them.
"Oh no this bar isn't open for you kiddo" Kate told Ava as the baby turned her head to Kate's chest and grappling her. Alicia chuckled as Kate handed the fussy Ava back to her. Taylor opened the door and came into the room with a smile as he saw Ella lying on the double bed with Alicia taking care of Ava. He did enjoy the family moments.
"Hey Taylor" Kate said as she was sitting on the bed with her legs folded under her as Ella was taking the leg room in front of her.
"Kate, you're looking-"
"Haggard?" Kate supplied.
"I was going to say healthy, well rested" he said correcting her.
"Mmm I'm pretty sure the pregnancy glow comes from all the chundering and sweat from that" Kate said sceptically as she felt like the opposite of healthy.
"Bitch" Alicia said with a shake of her head which made Kate laugh.
"Do you really want me chundering around the colony?" Kate asked.
"No, I don't but I'd like you to just suffer a little nausea. It's only fair" Alicia told her.
"I'm really tired, extremely emotional and I have costochrondritis not to mention all the other aches and pains I think I'm suffering enough" Kate told Alicia.
"Fine" Alicia said in good humour.
"So, you lovely people I'm going to leave you and go peel Haynes off Malcolm" Kate said she had barely moved her legs when Taylor spoke.
"You know she'd back off if you and Malcolm announced your pregnancy and upcoming nuptials" Taylor said Kate made a face.
"I doubt that" Kate said.
"You have to tell him" Taylor said a common phrase Alicia and Taylor kept telling Kate.
"I know but I'm not going to force him into marrying me" Kate said.
"I will" he countered.
"What?!" Kate asked chuckling as she thought Taylor was joking but she soon stopped when she saw he was serious. "No you won't"
"I will, he has to take responsibility of you and his child" Taylor said seriously.
"But that doesn't mean we have to be married" Kate told him icredulously as she sat back and folded her arms.
"Yes it does. If you don't I'll be condemned for setting a bad example to the colony for allowing it. Not to mention the legality issues of two unmarried parents of a child. You two were going to get married anyway what's the problem?" Taylor asked as he sat down in a chair by the bed, he could see he was fighting a losing battle but he had to put it out there.
"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact he's only gotten to know me for short while. We already have enough pressure on us to make it work I can't just slam him with a 'hey I'm having your kid and now we have to get married otherwise the commander's approval rating will go down' speech" Kate told him her ire clearly directed at him, luckily he was used to being in the firing line.
"She has a point and you knocked up well before you were planning on marrying me" Alicia said finally putting in her two cents. They had their own problems that Taylor didn't need to fstick his nose into their friend's problems.
"That's different" Taylor said.
"Same problem different obstacles. Let Kate and Malcolm sort themselves out. If people are going to be so backward about it then let them be" Alicia told Taylor as she shifted the suckling Ava in her arms. Breastfeeding was still a foriegn activity to her but she was starting to get used to it. Luckily Ava was the easiest of the two girls to feed while Ella took a little more prompting she was definitely the problem child in that regard.
"I set up the rules" Taylor said.
"Rules you didn't follow yourself but hey it's always ok for you to break the rules and codes of conduct as long as it suits your purposes and long term goals" Alicia said passive aggressively.
"Ok that sounded off topic and I feel a little awkward I should go" Kate said as she decided it was definitely time to leave the room.
"Stay Kate" Alicia snapped.
"Okay" Kate said as she sat back uncomfortably. She decided it was probably best to pick up Ella so she could pretend she wasn't in the room.
"So you going to give her the standard apology and tell her to get over it when 10 years down the track her life is something completely unrecognisable all because you forced her into what you thought was the right direction?" Alicia asked him in a calm yet still passive aggressive tone.
"Is that how you feel? That because I altered one relationship of yours it irrevocably altered your future for the worst, into something unrecognisable to you?" Taylor asked in a calm tone as if he were trying to understand her but equally amazed at how aggressive she could be while gently holding one of their children.
"Ella this is so not a conversation you or I should be listening to aye, don't your agree?" Kate asked Ella as she knew Taylor and Alicia were in their own world.
"No, I'm not saying what we have is bad but you know how much of mess I was after Ellyas. You knew how months of lying and being lied to twisted me into an ugly individual. It was the whole reason I joined your unit. You promised me we'd never lie to one another about anything. One rule that was it and you broke it and not even a minor infraction" Alicia said.
"I said I was sorry" Taylor told her.
"Yeah but you don't even mean it. You're just sorry I now know how you played me and now finally answering for it. You always take me for granted" Alicia told him. It was right at that moment his comm. decided to beep, Guzman's voice could be heard calling for Taylor.
"Go ahead answer it, your colony needs you. You know what save yourself some time and just take outside and go put out whatever fire has been started. It's not like I'm going anywhere" Alicia told him she wasn't even shocked that he hadn't turned off his comm. The man was so predictable.
Taylor pulled the comm. out of his pocket and did exactly as she said as he knew she would never listen to reason in her current state. He just didn't want to argue with her all the time either.
Taylor left the room and Alicia's mouth set into a firm line as she shook her head. Of course he'd take precedence with the colony over her. She was always third in his life and always would be but for one moment she wished he'd put her first. Prove her wrong. Have his comm. unit turned off let Guzman defer to Jim for advice or whatever he needed.
"You really feel he takes you for granted?" Kate asked her, Alicia had forgotten she had told Kate to stay put.
"I don't know sometimes I feel like I'm just an item on his 'to do' list" Alicia said, she looked at Kate noticing she had Ella in her arms, the red head was smiling "Pardon the pun" Alicia added.
"Of course" Kate said.
"But I just feel like he doesn't feel like he has to treat me as if I'm any different from anyone else. I don't feel special and you know it doesn't help when he won't turn his comm. unit off to come into the room. I allowed him to take me for granted. I allowed him to control my life" Alicia said in a dejected tone. She just felt at a loss as to how she truly felt.
"These are some pretty giant leaps" Kate said as she adjusted Ella so the baby was lying on her chest.
"Oh and you don't think Taylor doesn't control you?" Alicia asked her.
"I know to a certain level he does but that's who he is. He can't sit back and let things play out, he has to get right in the thick of it-"
"Shouldn't you be annoying Malcolm?" Alicia asked as she cut Kate off as she no longer wanted to talk about Taylor.
"Nah screw it. I'm comfortable and you ordered me to stay" Kate reminded her with a smug smile.
"He-Whoa what's going on here?" Kate asked a couple of hours later. She had left peacefully sleeping Alicia, Ava and Ella in search of Malcolm as it was nearly home time but when she walked into his office the first thing she noticed was the monkey in a cage on Malcolm's desk. The little guy was jumping up and down making little squeals at seeing her as if begging to be released.
"I'm keeping him in the labs" Malcolm remarked as he looked up briefly and smiled at her before ticking off something on his plex. He knew she was talking about the Monkey as it had been quiet all day until she walked in.
"I can see that but why?" Kate asked folding her arms.
"Because Monkeys are carriers for many diseases and you allow him free reign who knows where he goes when he's not attached to your arm and what he eats. I'm not taking the risk" he said as he approved of supply requisition orders on his plex.
"Risk of what? I feel fine and have no diseases" Kate told him, Malcolm placed his plex on the table and got up from his desk. He circled around it to stand in front of her. He placed his hands on her upper arms.
"Yes, but you are pregnant" he said in a calm and knowing fashion. It took Kate a couple of moments to realise what he said. "As such I want to keep you and our future child safe. Which means the Monkey stays in the cage" He told her.
"Who told you?" she asked.
"Besides everyone congratulating me?There are your lovely attributes that have increased, your excessive fatigue. I was curious so I looked into your medical file as I was concerned for your health" Malcolm told her.
"You hacked my medical file?" she asked in disbelief.
"No I didn't need to 'hack' I have full access. Being Chief Science Officer has it's perks" he said.
"That's a violation of my privacy" she said not angrily just surprised and oddly amused.
"It is but it's only fair considering you know all my medical history don't you think?" he asked.
"I was going to tell you" she said feeling bad for keeping the secret from him.
"I assume in 3 weeks" he said looking disappointed at the knowledge.
"Yes… wait how did you spin that around so I feel like the bad guy?" Kate asked him.
"It wasn't my intention if that helps?" he said as he cupped her face with one hand so she couldn't avoid looking at him.
"No but are you ok with this?" she asked him searching his face for a whisper of disapproval or sign that said he didn't want this but was willing to pretend but saw nothing of the sought.
"You being pregnant or you feeling like the bad guy?" he asked purposefully being obtuse.
"Being pregnant you ass" Kate snapped as she playfully punched him in the arm.
"Of course I'm fine with it but we do have a lot to discuss and plan" he told her, Kate felt her heart stop for a moment as he wasn't fleeing from her but in fact looked happy and content. These were not the reactions she was expecting as it shocked her.
"We do?" Kate asked as she was still shocked by the turn of events. "What?" she asked he was looking way to amused as he watched her.
"You're looking like I'm the one who told you that you're pregnant for the very first time not the other way round and I'd like it if we schedule a proper doctor's appointment where we can see the baby and hear the heartbeat" Malcolm said to her with keen interest.
"Really?" Kate asked.
"Yes" he said as he chuckled at her stunned behaviour.
"Ok" Kate said as a warmth bloomed inside her and she felt happy, truly happy for the first time since coming back from 2150.
"Do you want to sit down?" he asked her, she shook her head and before he could ask her what she wanted she pulled the front of his shirt and brought his lips to hers and kissed him in a thoroughly indecent and intense kiss Malcolm had shared with her to date.
A moment too soon and Kate broke the kiss, Malcolm felt punch drunk as he held her flush against his body. "We need to go home" She told him in a breathless voice. "Now" she added firmly as she wanted to go home and have her merry way with him before Evan and the kids got home.
"I won't argue" he said as he took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers and letting her lead the way.
TBC~Cya all in a few days :-)