A week had passed and Taylor had been OTG the whole time. He sent no messages and didn't ask anyone to check in with her. She didn't understand what was going on with him. When he had come by to say goodbye to the twins he looked truly upset to be separated from them. He hugged them both and kissed them gently on the foreheads telling them to behave and that he'd be back. His goodbye to her was not as physical but she could tell by the way he looked at her said more than words and a kiss could. It gave it her hope. Hope she was vainly trying to keep hold onto so when she slowly woke up to a warm body pressed to her back she smiled.
In her half asleep state she felt hope bloom as it had to be taylor but when ran a hand down the arm that was slung around her waist she found it disappointingly slender and feminine. Then her conscious mind started to catalogue everything the body beside her was lacking in the 'Taylor' department.
"Kate?" Alicia asked in a polite tone as she knew only Kate would have the kahunas to break into her home and spoon Alicia in her sleep.
"Mmm" Kate said as she snuggled closer to Alicia, now throwing a leg over her hips and pulling Alicia tighter against her.
"You know I'm not your husband and this isn't your house right?" Alicia asked over her shoulder, she just waiting for Kate to do something sexual in the hopes it would freak Alicia out and thus get a laugh and a story out of the whole event.
"Yes" Kate said in a sleepy voice.
"Then why are you spooning me in my bed instead of in your own bed with your husband?" Alicia asked as she snaked an arm free and grabbed her comm. to check her message bank for anything from Taylor and the time. Sadly there was nothing from Taylor and it way too early to be spooned by Kate, if there ever was an appropiate time.
"Mmm because you're warm" Kate said, she moved her leg back and placed her bare foot on Alicia's leg while sneaking her other foot to the back of Alicia's calf. The action and the contact of Kate's freezing cold feet on her warm body made Alicia jumpstart out of bed just to get away.
"Oh my god woman, your feet are like icicles!" Alicia said getting out of the bed just to get away from Kate's feet. Kate propped her head up on her elbow and grinned mischievously at her now fully awake.
"Got you out of bed" Kate said with a chuckle. Alicia rolled her eyes and moved to the dresser to change out of her PJs inwardly thankful she hadn't returned to her sleeping naked habit.
"That's cruel, do you do that Malcolm?" Alicia asked her as she rummaged for an outfit.
"Sometimes, so now you're up do you want to come over for breakfast? We're having pancakes! Just be warned that Malcolm doesn't know this" Kate said as she laid on her back and looked at the ceiling.
"Ok so you want to tell me why you couldn't message or call me on the Comm. channel to come over?" Alicia asked as she motioned for Kate to get out of the bed.
"Because coming over here and spooning you is far more entertaining" Kate said with a smile as she got out of the bed and helped Alicia make the bed.
"You know you're supposed to be at home resting not breaking into my place and torturing me with your cold feet Kate" Alicia told her.
"I know, but technically I didn't break in. You gave me the code" Kate said as she fluffed up a pillow and placed it on the bed.
"For emergencies" Alicia told her.
"You're in the middle marriage crisis of Cold War proportions and you're alone with the twins. I consider it an emergency that I feed you three and give you comfort with my hugs. If anyone should be upset it should be me. You called me 'Nathaniel' when I hugged you" Kate said shaking her head looking disappointed.
"I was asleep" Alicia said as she couldn't believe Kate was making her feel like she had defend herself. It wasn't like they were married or had that kind of relationship.
"If we were in prison, I'd be your prison husband and calling me by another man's name is so not cool" Kate told her.
"Ok, one: we're not in prison and two: if we did end up in such a ridiculous reality. I'd wear the pants in the relationship. I can't believe we are even having this discussion" Alicia told her as she went to the nursery to get the twins ready.
"Because they are fun" Kate told her as she followed.
"I have to change the codes to the door" Alicia mumbled as she found the twins were still asleep but dressed to go. She wondered how Kate even managed it but then the woman had gotten into the house and in her bed without waking her. Kate was like a creepy ninja who needed to learn boundaries, obviously having Caleb was not enough to keep the woman occupied.
"You only say that because you're cranky and hungry. So come on let's wrangle the twins and anyway I stole the high chairs there are at my place. So you have to come over" Kate said.
"You do have a point about the high chairs but I am not an emergency situation. You dressed my kids" Alicia said.
"I know, aren't they so cute and easy to dress when they are sleepy?" Kate asked her.
"We need to talk about boundaries" Alicia told her as she lifted Ella from her crib into her arms.
"I know, I won't do this again but I'm worried about you" Kate said and Alicia could see the concern.
"Why?" Alicia told her as she watched Kate pick Ava up into arms.
"Because you're my closest friend and a week or so ago you came over to my house a mess and in tears. You never cry unless it's really bad and even then it's like 'I'm macho and these tears are just allergies'. And today I want to make the pancakes which means we have to get over to my house before Malcolm kicks me out of the kitchen" Kate said. Alicia shook her head at Kate and her antics wondering if giving birth to Caleb had made a few screws pop out of place in her head.
"Yeah well you're supposed to be resting"
"And I am but resting is boring and Malcolm makes the worst pancakes. But don't tell him that"
"Ok"
"So any word from Taylor?" Kate asked.
"No, he left the colony and no contact. Shannon said Guzman has been doing the check in calls. Though the Outpost should be up to scratch now" Alicia said.
"Sir, Breakfast is ready" Guzman called up to Taylor, the man had been up since dawn hacking the brush away from the area near the Outpost so a couple of Rovers could be parked away neatly. The Outpost itself was nearly operational, it just needed equipment and new power cells as the ones they had now had lost their charge and died completely.
"I'll be there in a minute" he told Guzman who nodded acknowlegement and walked away. Taylor turned back to hacking at the brush and clearing the area. It wasn't necessary but it gave him time alone to think, not that anything came to mind but Alicia and the twins.
He wondered how they were going, how big the twins were after a week. What he was missing out on, he knew it was ridiculous as the twins wouldn't sprout into teenagers in 7 days but he missed them. Then there was Alicia, he missed her just as equally but for different reasons. He missed their relationship, being able to open up to her, his grief and anger over Lucas was still deeply seated in him but it had taken a back seat 2 days ago when he had nearly taken his arm off with his machete because he had been angry and not paying attention.
Luckily he hadn't swung hard and his arm remained intact but he was going to have a scar thanks to Dr Haynes questionable medical skills. But then he wasn't ready to go to the colony for a few stitches and a lecture. He wanted to go home with a solid plan to get back with Alicia. He knew he could get past the anger he felt at his loss and the grief would dissipate. He also realised while he endured Dr Haynes' treatment that he didn't want to be miserable for the rest of his life and he knew he wanted his family. So now he was working on a plan.
A plan that had yet to come to him as he was too busy thinking about how he wanted go home for a hot shower and crawl into bed with Alicia. Then the meories and fantasies swirled through his head of her long raven hair and soft pale olive skin and her chocolate brown eyes. The sound of her breathing, the way her breath caught when he touched her in all the right places. He shook his head as if it would make the thoughts go away as he really needed to focus.
"So when is he coming back?" Kate asked as they walked from Alicia's house to Kate's. They had talked for a bit and the twins slowly woke up and appeared to be happy and not too off put by being dressed and waking up in their arms than in their crib.
"I don't know, he'll come back when he's done running" Alicia said to Kate as she ran a hand down the back of Ella's head enjoying the soft feel of her hair.
"It's becoming a bad habit for him" Kate mumbled as she adjusted Ava in her arms.
"You know if Malcolm and I got a few extensions and connected Evan's house to ours then we would be like an episode of 'Full house' but with more kids and all in a one story house. Oh think large communal kitchen-"
"Kate" Alicia said stopping Kate from painting some weird hallmark fantasy using the blue print of some old TV show Kate watched in her previous life. When all Alicia wanted was Taylor and her their old life back. Kate gave a smile as she opened the front door for her house and walked in to hold the door for her and Ella.
"I know but a girl can dream. I kinda wonder which character I would be from Full House" Kate said thoughtfully as she placed Ava into one of the high chairs. "So I'm thinking banana blueberry pancakes today. Sound good?" Kate asked as she opened one of the pantry cupboards and pulled out the dry ingredients.
"Sounds good to me" Alicia said as she moved to make the twins formula to go with their breakfast.
Taylor took a seat at the table opposite Guzman with a bowl of oatmeal and fruit and a glass of orange juice feeling disgustingly healthy as he really wanted bacon and eggs with toast. He had had a quick shower and change of clothes before joining everyone for breakfast in the kitchen-dining area of the outpost.
Taylor looked at Guzman who was frowning as he read his plex.
"What's going on Guz?" he asked as he hoped whatever had his friend frowning didn't involve his family.
"Oh messages from the colony"
"Anything I should know?" Taylor asked.
"Boys sending me formal letters asking if they could court my daughter and Tash giving me the chort list of who she'd like me to approve for 'courting' her." Guzman said.
"Well, she's what? 17 now" Taylor said making converstation as he began to eat his breakfast.
"Yeah, can't keep her locked up for another 10 years before having her courted and married off?" Guzman asked with a sigh.
"Sadly it's not always up to you and anyway weren't you and Gina high school sweethearts?" Taylor asked with a grin as an idea sparked in him and he knew just how to proceed. Guzman of course took his smile the wrong way as he thought Taylor was amused but his predicament and glowered as he didn't like his little girl growing up.
"Morning" Malcolm said as he came out Kate and his bedroom holding Caleb who was awake and looking around. The baby boy zoned in on Kate and immediately grappled in her direction and squirmed.
"Hey, just in time for pancakes" Kate said as she plated up the last pancake on a stack of already warm pancakes. She turned off the hot plate and placed the plate of pancakes on the kitchen Island for Alicia to take to the table. Alicia who was at the dining table picked up the place placedit on the table while she supervised her twins as they ate some berries.
"Excellent because I'm starving" Malcolm said as he gave Kate a quick kiss on the lips before going for he handed Caleb to her. He then moved to make himself a coffee. Kate cooed at her son who started making little cries as he voice his own hunger.
"Oh I know, you're hungry. Just a minute" Kate said she picked up a cotton wrap and sat down at the table with her son and proceeded to breast feed him under the cotton wrap.
Alicia served up pancakes onto her plate cutting them up into bite size pieces for the twins. She watched as Malcolm took his seat beside Kate and served her plate first and then himself. Alicia was envious of their family and how they just worked together. Sure they had their chaotic moments but for most part Kate and Malcolm were a well oiled machine and sickeningly in tune with one another it just didn't seem fair.
"So big plans today?" Malcolm asked them.
"Nope just the usual" Kate said as multitasked holding her son under the lightweight blanket and using her free hand with a fork to cut up her pancakes and eat. Alicia had no idea how Kate managed it but she did.
"Yeah, babies and stuff" Alicia said to Malcolm.
"Real boring" Kate said in a such a manner Malcolm narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion.
"You two up to something?" He asked.
"Or maybe we just want you to think that" Kate said being contrary as she ate another bite of pancake.
"Oh dear, forget I asked." Malcolm said in amusement.
"Yeah, though we have to talk about your wife and her lack of boundaries" Alicia told him.
"Why? what did she do?" Malcolm asked looking to Kate in amusement.
Taylor waited until it was dark before he snuck into the colony. He didn't want anyone knowing he was there as he would then have to answer questions and pretend he cared about what was going on when he was really here with a purpose. So he stashed his motorcycle in the brush on the east side and snuck in with ease. The lack of security was something that should both him but he decided to put it on the list.
He made it to his home and saw all the lights were out but then it was nearly midnight. He opened the door to the house secretly glad that Alicia hadn't changed the code. He quietly closed the door behind him and moved to the Nursery and looked at the twins, his heart melted as they were still small and precious even Ella with her small little snores. He smiled and quietly moved out of the bedroom and went to the main bedroom. He stood at the open doorway watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful and relaxed, her raven hair splayed across the pillow as she slept on her stomach with her arms and legs starfished at odd angles. The blanket and bed sheets was messed up to just below her ass, her beautiful long legs were on full display, he swallowed as the sight made him ache to just crawl into bed with her. To hold her but it wouldn't happen tonight.
He moved to the bed and sat down on the edge and reached out to her face and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Alicia shifted in her sleep and woke to his touch. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him in the dimly lit room. He saw her reaction of shock from his appearance as if he were a mirage. He removed his hand and looked down at her for a moment before he spoke.
"Let me talk first" he said to her and he waited a beat to make sure she wasn't going to interrupt. "When I said I was sorry, it wasn't because I didn't treat you properly. I didn't take care of you as I should of when you were recovering. As to our interlude on the kitchen counter, that shouldn't have happened. When I make love to you, I do so as an expression of my emotions for you, my love, my adoration not as a way to vent myself grief or anguish. I've spent the last few days thinking about what I want from my life and you because I don't see the point in dragging out our pain" he said, he pulled out a letter, he had written from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked as she reluctantly took the letter from him. She had woken up to find him home and he was speaking as though everything between them was over. It was not what she wanted but she didn't have the guts to say so. He gave a tight smile as he looked at her.
"I figured to save any misunderstandings I'd put it down on paper. That way you have physical proof for later. Read it after I'm gone" he said and before she say anything he turned and left the room. She heard him stop by the nursery and then leave the house. She touched the space where he had sat and wondered how long he had been home. She looked to the letter he gave her that was still clutched in her hand, whatever held couldn't be good and the pain made tears come to her eyes.
She knew from his demeanour that the letter was probably the first divorce papers to be drawn in Terra Nova. So she flicked on the bedside lamp and opened the letter.
Dear Alicia…
"So what did the letter say? Can I read it?" Kate asked the next morning in an excited tone as she jiggled Ella in her lap keeping the girl entertained.
"No" Alicia told her as she poured out three cups of tea as she had Elisabeth and Kate come over for the catch up they had planned yesterday. They sat at the dining table with Elisabeth and Alicia on one side and Kate on the other.
"Why not?" Kate said with a pout. she looked to Elisabeth to back her up but Elisabeth was not jumping on Kate's bandwagon as she was busy holding Ava and just watching Kate and Alicia bounce off each other conversational wise.
"Because it's private" Alicia told her. She had been in a bad mood ever since she read the letter. The nerve of Nathaniel Taylor, she wished he was around so she could deck him.
"Then why did you tell me all of this only to stop at the really good part" Kate said, Elisabeth chuckled at Kate's exuberance as they had just been discussing soap opera tv shows as Kate had been borrowing Taylor's plex to watch them. 'Borrowing' meant that Kate had swiped it last time she was over at Alicia and Taylor's house.
"You need to stop watching that crap on the plex between that and the trashy novels you're melting your brain" Alicia told her in a matter factorial manner. Kate made a face.
"Don't go off topic. What did the letter say?" Kate demanded as she picked up a biscuit and took a bite.
"Well I'm not reciting it" Alicia told her.
"Give us a cliff notes. You can't just say Taylor broke and enter then dumped a letter in you lap and not tell us anything. Come on Liz back me up here" Kate said. Alicia looked to Elisabeth who gave a half shrug.
"She does have a point" Elisabeth said to her before she looked to Kate "though technically this is Taylor and Alicia's home so he didn't break and enter Kate" she added, Kate made a face and Alicia gave a smug smile.
"Fine, he wants to court me" Alicia told them. Elisabeth and Kate gave her blank looks for a moment before Kate spoke.
"Wait, you're pissed off because he rocked up in the middle of night apologising, then hands you a letter asking permission to court you?" Kate asked for clarification. She rose from her chair and placed Ella in the play pen by the table to give her arms a break and re took her chair at the table.
"Yes! he ran away before I could do or say anything. Worst yet he was acting like he was handing me divorce papers. Who does that?" Alicia said as she finally had them understanding her.
"Apparently Taylor" Elisabeth said into her tea. Alicia shot her a look but it didn't stop Elisabeth from smiling.
"And he wants to court me. I think the ship sailed on that one a while ago" Alicia said.
"Or not, you know if you let me read the letter-" Kate started but Alicia cut her off.
"No, I'm not letting you read the letter and don't think I didn't hide it" Alicia told Kate.
"So when he reappears expecting an answer you're going to say 'No' ?" Kate asked. Alicia hesitated for a second to answer but it was long enough for Elisabeth to jump in.
"Of course she's going to say 'yes'." Elisabeth said like it was a foregone conclusion.
"Yeah, so true just remember when you get to the 'sex' part of courting-" Kate started but again Alicia cut her off.
"There's no sex while courting" Alicia told her.
"You keep telling yourself that. I have read enough bodice rippers to know he'll be all up her business within a fortnight" Kate told Elisabeth, Alicia reached across the table smacked her arm and Kate chuckled as she rubbed her arm pretending the smack hurt.
"Not if he's playing by his own guidelines" Elisabeth said she pointed at Kate "And don't burst my bubble on this. I'm going to pretend Maddy will be a virgin until she's married and 30" Elisabeth told her. Kate rose her hands in mock surrender.
"You 22nd Century people are such prudes but I will allow you to keep your bubble but Alicia and Taylor are not Maddy and Reynolds. Taylor and Alicia are two wild and horny-" Kate stopped as she laughed and dodged Alicia's hand that had swung out to slap her on the arm yet again.
"Stop teasing me" Alicia told her.
"What? you all act prim and proper 'oh no I can't talk about it' so one would you guys would just have sex in the missionary position with all the lights out and sheets covering his and your nipples" Kate said, Elisabeth who had been mid sip sprayed the tea she had been drinking and burst out laughing.
"But it's not true but I know better. I walked in on you two doing the naughties on kitchen bench" Kate said making a point.
"One time and I don't know what's worse the fact you caught us or that you didn't turn around immediately" Alicia said shaking her head, Elisabeth looked at Kate with raised eyebrows. Kate leaned forward with a wide grin to Elisabeth.
"Hello, they are two very good looking people and they were naked. Anyway it's not like I unbutton my shirt and invited myself to the party" Kate said as if that made her reasoning valid.
"Never going to happen" Alicia told her as she didn't need Kate thinking that there was a possibility of teasing her about them all having a three way. Kate nodded and sagged at the news.
"I know I'm married. It just complicates things" Kate said in a tone that told them she was disappointed and resigned to never live out that fantasy.
"This 6 week abstinence thing is getting to you isn't it?" Alicia said as she and Elisabeth exchanged amused looks, that the fact Kate was talking about sex a lot more than she usually did.
"Yes, it's been over 2 weeks and you know I wouldn't notice time passing like a freaking iceberg if Malcolm didn't keep telling me to keep my hands above the belt and counting down the days. Who does that?" Kate said, she groaned in frustration and dropped her head on the table.
"Awwh poor baby" Alicia said with no sympathy.
"I can't believe you'd want to have sex so soon. I had no desire to have sex with Jim so soon after giving birth" Elisabeth said.
"It's all the romance novels" Alicia told Elisabeth who shook her head in amusement. Kate lifted her head and gave them a dark look.
"You know I have a question" Kate said pointing at Alicia.
"What?" Alicia asked.
"Who's going to chaperone your dates? And who will he ask permission to 'officially' marry you? or well remarry you?" Kate said changing the topic back to Taylor's grand plan of 'courting' Alicia.
"I don't know and I don't know why he wants to play this charade" Alicia said.
"For me could you please just play into the fantasy he's setting up. Obviously this whole courtship thing is his way of wanting to start anew. I don't know why you'd be pissed because he's going to shower you with flowers and dinners out etc. The whole relationship story other people have instead of the 'hey you're hot, let's shag' relationship that developed from hot satisfying sex into something more" Kate said.
"There is logic in what she is saying" Elisabeth said with a nod and Alicia gave her a weird look.
"Thank you" Kate said as Elisabeth was the biggest fence sitter as she agreed and disagreed with them equally.
"I wasn't going to say no" Alicia said.
"We know and before I forget Kate remember to use protection when you and Malcolm end up having sex. You can fall pregnant again and if you do it too early you could end up with many complications that will not end well Capisce?" Elisabeth said.
Alicia who had been drinking her tea stopped mid sip as it dawned on her that and Taylor hadn't used protection that night he had taken her on the kitchen bench. They hadn't exactly been thinking and usually she got the contraceptive shot but then she remembered that her re-up for that was well over 3 weeks ago. She inwardly groaned as she and Taylor were overachievers so she was probably pregnant with quadrulets this time. If she was pregnant with quadruplets she was going make Taylor get a vastectomy even if she had to hold him at gun point. She shook the thoughts away as her period was next week and all these crazy thoughts could be for nothing. She'd worry about it later.
"She's speaking Italian to me but yes, I understand. Alicia, you ok?" Kate asked as she noticed that Alicia had zoned out and waved her hand in front of Alicia's face.
"Yeah, fine" Alicia said as she placed her cup on the table.
"You zoned out" Elisabeth said. Kate smiled widely.
"That's cause she's thinking about- Hey stop being so violent" Kate said as Alicia smacked her again.
"Stop thinking being so dirty minded" Alicia told her.
"I can't. It's my nature. It'd be like me asking you to stop breathing" Kate said with a cheeky grin.
"Right, so where's Caleb?"
"It's Girls' morning. So he's out for a walk with Malcolm. Though Malcolm's doing the walking with Caleb strapped to his front. Father and son bonding time" Kate said with a shrug before she ate another biscuit.
"Awwh, that's adorable" Elisabeth said with a smile.
"Yeah it is ridiculously adorable, Caleb is such a mini Malcolm the two of them are going draw the ladies in like honey to a bee. They will come for me in an hour though" Kate said looking at the clock on the wall.
"That sounds ominous" Elisabeth teased.
"Nah that's when Caleb will get hungry, my life is now dictated by the whims of a newborn." Kate said with a shake of the head before she took a sip of her tea.
TBC- Thank you for the reviews and what not and cya all soonish