"What's all this?" Alicia asked as she woke up to the delicious aroma of French toast, pancakes and fresh fruit. She had gotten out of bed to investigate and found the dining table set up with a huge spread of food and all the trimmings for breakfast.
"It's breakfast"
"I can see that but what's with all the table settings. Did I miss something? because Evan took Olivia home last night and if anyone should be apologising with a big breakfast it should be me" Alicia said as she moved to sit down at the table. The twins were blissfully asleep in their crib and would be for a few more hours.
"No apologies necessary. Anyway we both need a balanced diet and what you don't eat Kate can finish off when she comes over" he said to Alicia with an amused smile as he placed two small stacks of pancakes and French toast on the table.
"If she's feeling ok" Alicia said as she started piling fresh fruit and a piece of French toast on the plate.
"She looked a little pale and wobbly on her feet yesterday" Taylor commented as he went for pancakes and French toast. The man had a black hole in his stomach as he consumed a vast amount of food but burned the calories off with regular exercise.
"Her centre of gravity is shifting because of the pregnancy it happens around this time" Alicia said as she knew that Kate was embarrassed from her
"The fainting is low blood pressure?" Taylor offered with a smile that said he knew the truth even though Kate and Alicia hadn't uttered a word to him. Alicia shot a look at him and he held his hands up in surrender. "I can't help it if Malcolm asked me some advice" he told her.
"Malcolm told you"
"Yes, it was a mildly uncomfortable conversation I never want to repeat but then that's what you get for having a conversation with a scientist. They have no sense of boundaries when it comes to questions" Taylor said, Alicia laughed as Taylor looked genuinely embarrased which was very rare.
"Well I'm sure he's applied your knowledge well" Alicia said before she took a bite of her breakfast.
"So how are you feeling this morning?" he asked her changing the conversation away from Kate and Malcolm's sex life. It only made him think of how his was lacking at the moment. They had gotten their intimacy back true but he still craved to possess her body and share the intimacy they had when they were having sex.
"Tired but otherwise I'm good. You?" Alicia asked.
"Fine, is Olivia camping with us tonight?" Taylor asked her as they turned the conversation to light everyday information.
"Sean and Olivia tonight. Why is Evan working as late as Malcolm? Is this your doing or-"
"He asked to work the longer hours as he told you last week he just wants to finish the project" Taylor said, he was amazed Evan hadn't spoken to his sister about what Lucas told him as Taylor assumed he would of 2 weeks ago. Apparently finishing the terminus was taking precedence over that conversation.
"I know but he's putting in long hours with Evan" Alicia said she was worried about her little brother working long hours and not getting enough rest. That and his kids were starting to miss his presence as he dedicated more and more of his time to the finishing the repairs.
"Evan doesn't want to deal with Lucas but needs Lucas to stay focussed to finish the project. I think that is why he is burning the candle at both ends" Taylor told her, he hadn't planned to tell Alicia that but then he couldn't come up with another plausible reason for Evan working late.
"I knew Evan wouldn't be able to handle dealing with Lucas" Alicia said.
"Give your brother credit, he holds his own but Lucas's choice of conversation isn't easy to listen to. Lucas has been talking about the occupation, Kate, you and Ellyas" Taylor told her. Alicia dropped her fork to her plate and leaned back to look at Taylor for a second to see if he was just making a very poor joke.
"I never wanted him to know" Alicia said in a disappointed tone.
"I know he wants to talk about it with you" Taylor told her.
"I prefer to not discuss it with anyone" Alicia said as she picked up her fork again and viciously attacked the remains of the french toast on her plate.
"It's your choice I didn't tell him anything Lucas hadn't already told him and I said you didn't talk about that time in your life" Taylor told her.
"That won't stop him from asking" Alicia said.
"You can say no" Taylor told her.
"I will. I never want to speak of that man or time of my life ever again" Alicia said adamantly as she didn't want to even think about. She looked over to the crib where the twins were sleeping. The future she imagined for herself that she never truly believed would have happened but yet here she was. The sudden stark contrast of that past and her present made that made her smile for a brief moment as she realised truly how much her life had changed for the better.
"We're very lucky people" Alicia said as she turned her attention back to Taylor, her mood lighter as she looked at him feeling in a better mood. He returned the smile.
"We have been so far and touch wood it continues" Taylor said as he tapped the table with his knuckles. Alicia looked at him oddly. "It's a 21st century thing Kate does" he explained.
"I know but you don't believe in luck" Alicia said.
"Doesn't hurt to cover my bases as I have three beautiful women to look after" Taylor said.
"Speaking of Beautiful women. This plan you and Jim have for Kate that isn't working has to stop" Alicia told him.
"Not Kate again-" Taylor started as he picked up a piece of french toast and placed it on his plate.
"Do you know that stress can make the body release corticotropin-releasing hormone which is linked to preterm labour? Not mention numerous studies have shown that stress can have a devastating impact on pregnancy and childbirth?" Alicia asked him in a calm and authorative tone.
"Kate agreed to it, she knew what she was signing up for" Taylor grumbled as he thought their breakfast had been turning into an enjoyable affair.
"You're making her sit at home alone with a gun for over 3 hours an evening with just her paranoid thoughts and fried nerves to keep her company. I don't think she signed up for 2 weeks of it" Alicia said.
"I'll admit, it's not a perfect plan but it was worth a try as we have no solid evidence to follow" Taylor said as he piled some fruit onto the plate aswell before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Well I want it stop. Switch the soldiers on rotation and make them do their jobs properly."
"They are doing their jobs properly" Taylor told her.
"You know what I mean." Alicia told him.
"You think you can get your way on this?" Taylor asked her sceptically as he wasn't ready to throw in the towel until the killer was caught.
"I do" Alicia told him.
"How?" Taylor asked.
"Well if Kate is guarded properly then she and Malcolm can finally relax and get the sleep they need. When they are rested they'll be able to take the twins for a few hours to give us some time alone one afternoon. Maybe finish what we have been starting and leaving for the past few days" Alicia drawled in a coy manner as she looked at him from across the table. Though there was nothign coy about what she was insinuating.
"That is cruel" Taylor told her as they hadn't had sex in months and while he was patient in waiting for her to be ready for sex which he assumed was when she felt more confident in her skin. Something he knew she got from being in good shape.
"Depends on how desperate you are to be with me sans the twins interrupting us" Alicia told him, she purposely bit her bottom lip as she looked at him with heated eyes. She had to admit just thinking about sex was turning her on. She might not be in her ideal shape but she could use a good afternoon romp to boost her confidence and relax. She also wanted to feel the intimacy she and Taylor shared when they made love.
Taylor exhaled slowly as she was making hard just looking at him the way she was right now. Her eyes had darkened with desire as she continued to look at him it was easy to tell her thoughts were heavily explicit and about them. He was sure if she didn't stop looking at him soon he would leap across the table and take her on the floor but he held back as there were cameras in the living area for security purposes. He was not going to give his soldiers a show.
Alicia quirked an eyebrow at him as she licked her lips and took another bite of her breakfast. She still looking at him with a saucy look as she chewed.
"You're trying my control" he told her in a low voice.
"Well it's up to you. I know for a fact I can't have my girls alone in the nursery while there is a killer on the loose. I'll be too distracted and worried about them to enjoy myself. But if they are with Kate and Malcolm with guards I'll be able to give you my undivided attention" Alicia told him giving him the offer that was too good to pass.
"You can only play this card once. Sure you want to use it now?" Taylor asked her.
"I haven't played any cards. I'm just telling you how it is and suggesting a possible solution that makes more than one party happy. So are you going to tell Kate that you've rethought the original plan and feel considering there has been no success that you're putting a stop to it?" Alicia asked.
"I don't think I like or appreciate you putting words in my mouth like I'm your puppet playing to your tune" Taylor said he silently added 'for sex' as he didn't want to come right out and say what he truly thought which was that Alicia was bartering sex for Kate's safety which was never really in danger but obviously Alicia felt that way. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"Welcome to my world" Alicia told him, her words hitting well below the belt. "Anyway, I want you and Shannon to start taking care of Kate not use her like bait. The killer will make her move no matter how lax or present the guards are. Also Malcolm and I can only do so much to keep her calm and relaxed." Alicia added before she took a long sip of her fruit juice.
"I'll talk it over with Shannon. We were hoping the killer would have tried something this past week but obviously she didn't take the bait or moved onto an easier target. Anyway I believe the Shannons' offered to babysit for us if we wanted a few hours to ourselves" Taylor said so Alicia was aware her bargaining chip wouldn't work though it did give him ideas for prospective 'date' nights.
"The Shannons' live on the west side of the colony. If we dropped off the twins with them, everyone would know we were abandoning our children for sex whereas Kate and Malcolm are conveniently a few steps away from us. Less talk more action and we can pick up the twins with minimal ease. It's far more productive and efficient use of time and resources" Alicia said in a matter of factorial manner to him as she ran her foot slowly up and down his calf under the table teasing him.
"You didn't pass out" Malcolm remarked as they were still lying in bed, naked and completely sated. Kate laid her head on his shoulder while his left arm curled loosely around her shoulders. She was currently interlocking the fingers of her left hand with his right hand.
"Nearly did bit then I remembered to breathe" Kate said as she was watching the interplay of their fingers with a lazy smile as she was sure she could fall straight back to sleep. Malcolm gave a chuckle as he kissed forehead.
"Feeling relaxed?" Malcolm asked.
"Yes, you know you don't have to sex me into a coma to relax me. A foot rub or a back massage will work just as well" Kate told him with a chuckle as pulled their interlocked hands and playfully bit the tip of his thumb.
"Mmm but I like this way better. Saves me from going to the gym. Is the baby rolling around in there?" Malcolm murmured smugly as they had learned he was the only one who could calm the baby from moving and wriggling around like it was on a sugar high to a more relaxed state. He had a feeling the baby was just reflecting the stress and tension Kate felt through moving and squirming as Kate relaxed around him.
"No, must be sleeping. So what time are you abandoning me today?" Kate asked him as he was usually up and out of bed early to go to work but not today.
"Not until 10am" he told her as he looked to the clock noting it was only 7:30 before turning his attention back to Kate.
"You're violating the plan again. Taylor and Shannon will not be pleased with you especially after they hear how you came home an hour earlier than you were supposed to" Kate said in a conspiratorial manner like he was committing a crime.
"They can get stuffed. I prefer to think of it as enjoying some quality time with pregnant wife before the baby arrives which far more important than a plan that has done nothing but cause undue stress that is affecting you and our girl's health" Malcolm said.
"Our girl? there is no proof-"
"Of course not but I can dream. Anyway your blood pressure is unstable and sometimes you wobble around like a drunk woman" he told her.
"My centre of gravity is changing it is perfectly normal to feel off balanced and couple that with the rolling machine in me I feel like I'm a rocky boat. so ofcourse I'm going to walk a little funny" Kate said defensively.
"You have also more fatigued, incredibly tense and been having more headaches and body pains since we started Shannon's plan. It's not good for your health" he told her.
"It was worth a try and stop genderising our kid. It'll be really funny if 'she' turns out to be a 'he'" Kate said as it wasn't the first time Malcolm had called their baby a 'she' though last week he had been entirely set that it was a 'he'. She wondered if it was a new ploy to find out the sex of the baby.
"Genderising. I don't believe that is a real word" Malcolm commented.
"You'll still be red faced if you get the sex of the baby wrong" Kate pointed out with a smile playing on lips just imagining the scenario where he called the baby by a girl's name only for it to be a boy or vice versa.
"I don't know. I think it will be a girl. We could always find out" Malcolm told her.
"It's going to be a surprise and don't cheat" she told him firmly, she turned around so she was lying half on top of him and looked at him with a no nonsense look.
"I would never. Anyway just think a girl with my brains and your good looks" he told her as he slowly traced her back with his fingers.
"What's wrong with my brains?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
"Nothing they are very beautiful brains but the girl has to have something I claim to be mine as she'll look just like you" Malcolm said paying Kate a compliment even though he knew the child would have a mixture of their features.
"What happens when it's a boy? Are you going to be disappointed?" Kate asked as Malcolm appeared to really like the idea of a girl but then before he lost his memory he had said he wanted three little girls even told her the statistically speaking rate of having a girl was much higher than having boys.
"No, I'll be happy either way as long as she or he is healthy" he assured her.
"Mmm well I'll do my best but to be healthy I'm going to need food and sooner the better" Kate informed him as she was getting hungry, she pushed up off the bed and Malcolm to a seated position and looked at Malcolm. "So what do you want for breakfast?" She asked him.
"You ok?" Alicia asked Kate as they were reclining on the lounges in the living area being incredibly lazy after finishing their lunch. The redhead who had been chatting amiably suddenly stopped and went incredibly pale and she looked like she was going to be sick. Alicia knew it wasn't the lunch as she ate the food as her and was completely fine.
"I feel funky, this kid is making me nauseous" Kate said making a face as she placed a hand at the base of her throat where her collar bones met and stroked the area to calm her nausea as she breathed slow and easy breaths.
"You shouldn't have morning sickness now as your hormones would have settled by now" Alicia said.
"Bleh, no it's not morning sickness it's motion sickness. The baby is moving when it was smaller it wasn't so bad just little bubbles and now it's I have a wave machine in there and sometimes it's just incredibly nauseating like right now" Kate said as she blinked a couple of times as if trying to orient herself.
"Punishment for calling it a parasite" Alicia told her, Kate flipped her the one finger salute as it was fast becoming Kate's go to response for Alicia's quips. Alicia chuckled as she moved from her lounge and sat down next to Kate. She felt Kate's temperature to make sure it was just an overactive baby and not something more.
"May I have a feel?" Alicia asked gesturing to Kate's stomach.
"Knock yourself out but if you feel any activity... It never happened! Malcolm would be crushed if he wasn't the first to feel the baby move" Kate said as she gave a sickly moan and closed her eyes. She was ready to call Malcolm and make him come over to calm the baby before she lost her lunch.
"Well it's rare to feel movement from the outside womb before week 20 but not unheard of" Alicia said as she placed her hands on Kate's protruding stomach feeling Kate up for a moment to see if she could feel the movements.
"If that's the case why are you feeling me up?" Kate asked.
"Well you might have a thin abdominal wall which would mean I'd be able to feel your baby moving in there. That and I wanted to speak to your baby as payback for when you did it to the twins." Alicia gave Kate a mischievous smile before she spoke down at Kate's stomach. "Hello little one, I'm your godmother Alicia. Now if you don't settle down in there, I won't teach you how to fight and outdrink every person in the bar" Alicia said to Kate's stomach.
"Seriously? You're giving my kid an ultimatum in the womb?" Kate asked Alicia incredulously.
"Did it work?" Alicia asked with an amused smile as she could just feel the slightest flutters of movement when the baby grazed a foot or a hand on the wall of the womb. But she didn't say anything as it wasn't particularly note worthy.
"No, it only calms down for Malcolm. Maybe you should speak deeper, more masculine voice and with a British accent" Kate said sarcastically. Alicia laughed as she took her hands off Kate's stomach and sat up. She leaned back against the lounge and felt sympathy for Kate.
"Well it worth a try, want to go for a walk? It helped me when the twins acted up in me the first few weeks while I adjusted to the movements. Can't say I ever got motion sickness" Alicia said.
"Yeah but you had wicked morning sickness. I'll be fine, if it gets worse I'll either call Malcolm or chunder"
"Or we can call Malcolm. I would prefer that"
"I would prefer that as well as I don't want to waste my lunch"
"Me too, you make the worst noises and I don't want my babies hearing that" Alicia said in a matter factorial tone even though she was joking.
"Thanks" Kate said dryly. "So, how is the taming of Alicia Taylor coming along?" Kate asked with a sly smile changing the topic in the hopes of distracting herself from the nausea.
"You make it sound like I'm a shrew" Alicia said folding her arms across her chest.
"You a shrew? Never but seriously you two could use with some alone time of the sexual variety. I heard Taylor is a right pain in ass and some are suggesting to offer their baby sitting services so they don't have to run so many suicide drills in PT" Kate said with a smile as she was only relaying what Malcolm had been complaining about. Kate had to admit she kind of liked how Malcolm was taking a more proactive role in his health.
"Well I did mention it to Taylor that I would like to get laid" Alicia said she wasn't going to mention that she proposition Taylor with the proviso that he put a stop to the plan to catch the killer using Kate as bait though. Kate didn't need to know that.
"What were his thoughts on the subject?" Kate asked with a smile.
"Taylor's more concerned about the Killer and getting enough sleep" Alicia lied.
"Malcolm, Evan. How are the repairs progressing?" Taylor asked as he and Jim walked into the main research labs. Now that Malcolm was on the project full time for all intents and purposes he moved the project so it would be less of a commute for him and Evan. He also kept the terminus in the main labs as he could lock the terminus up at night.
"Well, I'd say we'll finish the repairs very soon and Lucas believes he will be able to complete his work within 3 months maximum. I hope you don't mind I told Evan to rescind the previous bargain and keep him in the brig until he finished his work first." Malcolm said taing responsibility of something Evan had done during his last visit with Lucas.
"You should have spoken to me first" Taylor said slightly annoyed Evan and Malcolm bypassed his authority on the matter.
"Well I suggested it and Malcolm agreed as we both looked over his previous work has been substandard. He hasn't been holding up his end of the agreement and anyway the construction hasn't finished on the cell which Lucas doesn't know. So I saw no harm in stretching the truth with him. I also spoke with Mira and she agreed to not tell Lucas the truth" Evan said calmly.
"Still I prefer you two keep me in the loop. Next time come to me before you circumnavigate my authority. Sometimes asking forgiveness later is not the best route" Taylor said coolly. He didn't like people going behind his back especially in regards to Lucas.
"Noted" Malcolm said while Evan gave a nod. "Was there something else we can do for you Gentlemen?" Malcolm asked as he was sure Jim and Taylor didn't come all this way for a progress report.
"Yes, Shannon and I discussed the current situation regarding your wife" Taylor said.
"Ok" Malcolm said not sure where Taylor was going with the conversation.
"We have decided since the plan has not reaped any benefits it was time to can it. You no longer have to work late unless by your own choice and there will be three shifts of soldiers on guard duty until the situation is resolved" Taylor told Malcolm in a formal manner.
"I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure Kate was when you told her" Malcolm said.
"She will be, we are going over to see her now. I just wanted to tell you first" Taylor said.
"Thank you, I appreciate it. Looks I'll be finishing at a regular time today" Malcolm said with a smile to the men as he was ready to go home now instead of being bent over a lab table soldering circuit boards.
"After you left early last night and you came in late this morning?" Taylor asked Malcolm who wasn't surprised Taylor even knew but then his soldiers would have reported him. But was surprised by the edge of disapproval in Taylor's tone.
"I was worried about my wife and considering the hours I have been putting in at the labs I'm entitled to a few hours off in the morning. Not that you can dictate my hours since I'm the head of the department and I'm already working overtime for this month" Malcolm told Taylor as he was not going to have the older man make him feel like he was in the wrong for taking half of the morning off to be with Kate especially after long hours he'd been working.
Taylor eyed Malcolm for a moment as if sizing him up before he gave a nod. "Well come on Shannon we got places to be" Taylor said and with that Taylos and Jim left the labs as soon as they were out of ear shot.
"Man, Taylor got a bug up his ass quick about Lucas" Evan mumbled as he kept his head down and continued working.
"As I understand it Lucas is a particularly touchy area of his. There is no right way of approaching the subject with him" Malcolm said as he turned his attention to the work in front of him.
"I hear that. So how you going with all the craziness and Kate etc. She appreciate you going home early yesterday?" Evan asked making light conversation so they could drift away from the topic of Lucas and Taylor.
"Yes, you wouldn't think being home an hour early would really make a difference but it did. She's been getting nauseous as she can feel the baby moving around more" Malcolm said.
"My wife had that with Olivia. She was a lively baby inside of Lena. Squirming, hiccupping, kicking, rolling you name it that girl didn't stop moving for more than 10 minutes or so Lena complained. Used to drive Lena nuts when she was trying to sleep but once Olivia was born she was the calmest baby in the hospital ward and remained so-"
"Until she turned 2?" Malcolm offered with a smile so Evan didn't take offence. Malcolm thought Olivia was incredibly lively for a 2 and half year old considering the child was bounced out daycare at least once a week for bad behaviour. Though Malcolm never saw Olivia behave badly persay unless one counted her table manners but then she was still learning.
"Yeah well she was really sick growing up and had bad fatigue from not being able to breathe properly. Now we're here in Terra Nova she's acting up now because she is breathing clean air and has more energy and freedom to run and play." Evan explained.
"She is a happy child and that's what matters right? So any tips for Kate?" Malcolm asked Evan looked up from his work and gave the question some thought before answering.
"Not really, try relaxing music or just tell the kid to cut it out" Evan offered with a smile.
"Did that and it worked but I can't exactly follow Kate around 24/7 telling my future child to stop moving around and making her sick now can I?" Malcolm asked with a chuckle as it would be quite a scene.
"Well it would be funny to watch" Evan replied with a chuckle.