"So." Kate started a few minutes later. Rick smiled.

"So."

"You don't look old enough to have a four year old." Rick laughed.

"Thanks, I guess. I'm twenty seven, and apparently am more baby faced than I thought." Kate smiled.

"Not always a bad thing." Rick shook his head.

"It sells books." Kate chuckled. "How about you? You're definitely not old enough to have any kids." Kate chuckled again.

"No. I'm a student actually. Stanford, prelaw." Rick smiled.

"You must be really intelligent." Kate shrugged.

"I try." Rick smiled softly.

"How about siblings?" Kate shook her head.

"Just me and my dad now; only child of only children." Rick nodded. "You?"

"Just me, my mother and Alexis. Famously fatherless." He shook his head. "We were talking like old friends a few minutes ago, and now we've gotten into those awkward 'getting to know you' conversations." Kate chuckled, tucking a curl behind her ear. "You don't need to be nervous around me you know?" Kate looked at him curiously. "The tucking the hair behind the ear thing, it's because you're nervous, right?" He asked her as he motioned at her ear. "You need to work on your poker face if you're going to be a lawyer."

"First female Chief Justice actually." Kate corrected proudly, a smile curving her lips. Rick laughed.

"Ambition, I like it." Kate smiled broadly. "What put you onto that path?" Her smile softened but didn't fall.

"My parents were both lawyers." Rick nodded. "What made you become a writer?" He smiled.

"A man in a bookstore handed me 'Casino Royal' one day when I was ten, the rest is history."

"That's sweet." Rick chuckled before reaching for his ringing cell.

"I'm sorry I've got to take this." Kate nodded and Rick answered. "Mother, is everything okay?" Kate watched as Rick transformed before her eyes from caring friend and bubbly writer to concerned parent. "Of course, I'll be right there. I'll catch a cab. I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up the phone and turned to Kate. "Alexis isn't well. I have to go. I'm sorry." Kate shook her head.

"No, not at all. Don't bother with a cab, I'll drive you." She offered impulsively.

"You sure?" Kate nodded.

"Sure, come on." They both stood and made their way through the cafe once Rick had dropped a couple of bills down on the table.

Kate drove quickly, following Rick's instructions as he directed her to his home. He didn't look too worried, so it clearly wasn't anything life-threatening, but if his mother had called him, it had to be a little serious.

Kate pulled up in front of the building and turned to Rick.

"Thank you for this Kate, I appreciate it." Rick smiled, receiving one back from Kate.

"I owed you for the handkerchief." Rick chuckled, hearing everything she wasn't saying in that moment.

"Listen; can I give you my number? Maybe you could call me next time you need a friend?" Kate hesitated for a moment before there was a knock at the passenger window. A shock of red hair was the first thing she saw before Rick smiled apologetically and got out. "Hey Pumpkin." Kate hesitated for a few seconds before joining him on the sidewalk.

The shock of red hair belonged to a middle aged woman who could only be his mother. She was beautiful and Kate was pretty sure she recognised her from somewhere.

"How you feeling?" Her attention was captured by the pale little girl in Rick's arms. He cradled her safely into his chest and kissed her forehead gently.

"Richard? Are you going to introduce us?" His mother interrupted, smiling reassuringly at a blushing Kate. Rick smiled.

"Of course, where are my manners? Kate, this is Martha Rodgers, my mother. Mother, this is Kate. We met at the library." Recognition Kate couldn't understand flashed in the older woman's gaze.

"Well, in that case, it is a pleasure to meet you Kate." Martha smiled warmly.

"Thank you Ms Rodgers, you too." Martha chuckled.

"My dear, call me Martha please." Kate nodded shyly and smiled before turning back to Rick and his little girl. He adjusted the child on his hip, jostling her, and she promptly let him know how she wasn't well. Kate grimaced as the little girl threw up over the side of her father's arm, hitting Kate's jeans in the process.

"I'm sorry." She whimpered, looking at Kate warily. Kate smiled.

"It's not your fault, Sweetie." Rick grimaced.

"And this is Alexis. Come on, you should come up, I'll put them through the wash for you." Kate started to protest but closed her mouth at Rick's pointed look.

"Okay, thank you." He nodded and led them through to the elevator.

"Thanks." Rick murmured as he threw Kate's jeans into the washer while she sat in his kitchen in a pair of his sweats. Kate looked at him quizzically.

"What for?" Rick shrugged.

"For not yelling at her." Once Rick had gotten Alexis cleaned up, he'd put her on the sofa snuggled under a load of blankets with a bucket beside her. Kate shook her head.

"Why would I yell at her? She's four years old and poorly. It's not like she meant to throw up on me." Rick smiled softly.

"Meredith, she uhh..." Kate looked alarmed. "She was more distant than abusive." He assured her. "But she didn't do well with the, messy side of having kids." Kate nodded understandingly.

"I would never yell at her for that Rick. I would never yell at her period, it isn't my place to." He smiled gratefully. "I'll get going as soon as my jeans are clean." Rick shook his head.

"Kate, at least let me make you dinner. After the fortnight you've had and my kid puking on you, it's the least I can do." Kate sighed.

"You aren't going to let me out of this are you?" Rick grinned.

"Nope." Kate chuckled.

"Okay. I'll stay, but only if it's okay with everyone else."