Author's Note-I'm not entirely sure about the latter half of this chapter. I think Kate is very abrupt and hurtful and that Rick jumps the gun a little but I think I just about made it work. Let me know what you think. NYLF xx

When Rick woke the next morning he wasn't surprised to find a warm weight on his chest. Cherries filled his senses as he determined that the weight was definitely Kate-shaped rather than Alexis-shaped. Rick opened his eyes slowly and smiled when he saw the mass of chestnut curls spread across his shoulder. She'd clearly slept through the night and hadn't moved an inch.

He felt her sigh and watched as her nose crinkled. He felt an urge to kiss away the wrinkles but knew if she woke up to find him staring at her, it would get awkward.

He closed his eyes and fought to deepen his breathing, hoping she'd think he was still asleep, giving her time to process and work out what she wanted to do, how she wanted to handle the morning after despite the significant lack of the night before.

Kate sighed and let her eyes flutter open. It had been the best night she'd had since the ninth and she had to attribute it to the man she was currently using as a pillow. She was grateful that he was letting her come to terms with everything before letting her know he was awake. She smiled softly before pressing a kiss to his chest.

"I know you're awake you know." She murmured. Rick chuckled.

"What gave me away?" Kate lifted her head to face him with a soft smile.

"The fact that you've been stroking my back for the last minute." Rick looked down at his hand in surprise.

"I, I didn't realise I was doing that." He chuckled nervously. "So, how'd you sleep in the end?"

"Better than I have in a while." She told him honestly. "Thank you." He shook his head, gently tucking an errant curl behind her ear.

"No need to thank me Kate. I haven't slept that well in a while either." Kate smiled shyly before sitting up. She stared at his sheets as a hint of blush trailed across her cheeks. "You alright?" Rick asked gently, pulling himself to sit against the headboard.

"I..." she shook her head. "It's nothing." She moved to get up but Rick gently captured her wrist in his hand.

"Hey, Kate talk to me." He spoke softly but she knew it wasn't a request.

"What are we doing?" She whispered, never once looking up at him.

"What do you mean?" Rick asked gently, stroking his thumb across the hand he was yet to let go of.

"We shared a bed. You keep touching me, and kissing my forehead, and you keep letting me kiss your cheek and..." she filtered off as her tone got more and more vulnerable. She shook her head and he couldn't be certain, but he was pretty sure tears were building in her eyes. "What are we doing?" She whispered again tearfully. Rick sat up and gently cupped the side of her head.

"Kate. I was trying to be your friend. I know that I've been giving you mixed signals and I'm sorry. If you want me to back off, then I will." Kate slowly dragged her eyes up to meet his and confirmed his suspicion. Watery green met clear blue.

"I..." she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I think Alexis is awake." She stood and made her way out of his bedroom before he could stop her. He heard her go up the stairs before her door closed and sighed. That didn't go exactly as he'd planned.

They had been walking on eggshells around each other all day. They each put a brave face on so as not to alarm Alexis but even the four year old knew something was going on between them. Rick put Alexis down for her nap mid afternoon and quickly realised that this would be the only time they could hash things out before they were headed for bed.

Kate was sat on the sofa, nursing a coffee, when he sat down next to her, giving her enough room so that they didn't touch, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. In that school of thought, he decided to start with, in his opinion, the easier of the subjects they needed to handle; her sleeping arrangements.

"So." He started a little nervously. "Are you sleeping with me tonight?" Kate looked up alarmed and he immediately knew how she'd taken that. He opened his mouth to back peddle but she was already started.

"Is this what you do Rick? Find vulnerable young women, make them feel safe and then proposition them?" She ranted, angry and hurt.

"Kate, I didn't mean it like..." Rick started but to now avail.

"Do you just troll public libraries looking for women you think are easy marks? At least I'm the youngest. Well, I really, really hope I'm the youngest."

"Kate!?" He cried, outraged and astounded she would say such a thing.

"Is that how you got Meredith?" She asked, practically shouting by now.

"Stop talking, Kate." Rick murmured, his voice low and dangerous. That nerve was raw and she knew it, yet here she was practically tap dancing on top of it.

"Just found her looking vulnerable and started hitting on her, then waited two days before propositioning her and then what? Knocked her up? Is that how this works? Was I next?" She cried, her tongue running away with her. She was afraid and trapped and did the only thing she knew how, she pushed everything away.

"Get out." Rick murmured darkly.

"What?" Kate asked, anger fading out to hurt. Rick stood and took Kate's coat from the cupboard beside the front door, before holding it out to her.

"I'd like you to leave now. Go take some time, cool off. When you're ready to apologise, you can come back and we'll talk about this." Kate stared at him. Her eyes blazed, yes she was pushing but he didn't need to patronise her.

"I'm not your daughter Rick, you can't treat me like a child." She snapped. Rick didn't blink.

"Stop acting like one and I wouldn't have to." He volleyed back, giving her nowhere to hide. She deflated slightly.

"What about Alexis?" It was a last ditch attempt and she knew it, but she had to try.

"What about her?"

"What will you tell her, if she asks where I am?"

"What I always tell her, the truth; that you said some mean things you didn't mean and are taking some time to cool off." Rick announced with finality.

Kate knew she had no other option.

She took her coat without meeting his eye and left without looking back.

Rick flopped onto the sofa with a heavy sigh while Kate leaned against the back of the front door, rolling her tear filled eyes skyward. It was only when she'd left, she realised she had nowhere to go.