Alexis was perched on Kate's hip, attentively making sure her remaining ice-cream didn't drip on either of them, while Rick opened doors for them.

They had decided to go to lunch while they were out and Kate had recommended the little family diner down the road; Remy's. Rick ushered them into a booth in the back corner and smiled as Kate sat opposite him, slotting Alexis onto her lap rather than sitting her beside her. It seemed that she'd gotten over the irrational need to ask his permission every time she touched her.

Once they were all situated, a young waitress, who couldn't be far off Kate's age, came and handed them menus, asking of they'd like to start with drinks. Rick ordered a coffee for himself and Kate and an orange juice for Alexis. The waitress smiled before leaving them to it.

"Coffee's nasty." Alexis declared before popping the last of her ice cream cone in her mouth. Rick laughed while Kate smiled at the four year old.

"And when did you try coffee, young lady?" She asked, mock seriously. Alexis giggled.

"Daddy let me try it 'cause I asked. It was yucky."

"You may grow to like it." Kate chuckled before whipping a napkin out of the holder and passing it to Alexis. "But right now, you have ice-cream all over your face." She laughed. Alexis passed the napkin back to Kate with a shy smile.

"Can you do it?"

Kate smiled and took the napkin, shooting Rick a nervous questioning look. He smiled reassuringly, making sure she knew she wasn't overstepping, and Kate gently cleaned the ice cream off. Once she was certain she was clean, Kate crumpled the napkin and dropped it into the centre of the table.

"Daddy?" Alexis asked quietly. Rick looked at his little girl and was immediately tense at the uncertain look in her eye.

"Yes, Alexis?" He asked gently. He noticed Kate slightly tighten her hold, offering the little one comfort. It made his heart glad.

"I know I'm not supposed to talk about it," she started slowly, nervously. Rick glanced up at Kate, not even sure himself why he was looking to her for help, so he was unsurprised when she shrugged. He looked back down at his daughter just in time to see her dragging her eyes from the table to meet his. "Is mommy coming to visit soon?" Rick sighed. "It's just, she wasn't there for my birthday, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Year and she promised she'd come see us. I, I know I'm not meant to bring it up..." Rick shook his head, interrupting her ramble.

"Who told you, you couldn't bring your mom up?" He asked seriously. Alexis looked down at her hands as they twisted in her lap. He noticed that she leaned a little further into Kate's chest while she did so. "Hey, Pumpkin, talk to me. You aren't in trouble." Rick murmured soothingly. "Baby, who told you, you couldn't talk about your mom?" Alexis looked up at him with wide, sad eyes.

"You just always look so sad, Daddy." Alexis muttered before burying her head in Kate's chest.

Kate, bless her, wrapped her arms around her and held her firmly, rocking them back and forth slightly, trying to settle her, while Rick's eyes slammed shut as he put his head in his hands.

A moment later, Rick pulled himself together and rounded the table before crouching in front on the two girls.

"Hey, Alexis, Pumpkin?" He whispered, trying to grab her attention. She turned her head, while keeping her forehead on Kate's sternum, to face him. There were tears in her eyes and Rick's heart broke. "Come here Little One." He continued, holding out his arms to her.

Alexis held up her arms and Rick scooped her up, holding her like a baby into his chest before sitting back in his seat. Kate smiled sadly as Rick murmured soothings in his daughter's ear, trying to stop the tears that were now making their way down her flushed face.

Kate found herself, for the first time in seventeen days, thinking back on her time with her mother fondly.

Yes, she'd been ripped from them and torn Kate's life apart. Her death had destroyed her father, and their close relationship along with it. It had put all of Kate's plans on hold and gripped her in a depression so bad, that she had cried more in these last few days, than she had in her whole life since it stopped being her main method of communication.

But at least she'd had those times.

At least she'd had until just after her nineteenth birthday to live her life knowing her mother was there for her.

The tiny angel before her had just three years, and barely that. Her mother left her when she needed her most, for her career.

It made Kate sick to think that any parent could abandon their child for something quiet so trivial. But it made her appreciate her time she'd had with her mother that much more. Because she'd gotten more than six times longer than Alexis had had, and at least Johanna's departure had been involuntary.

At least Kate would never question if her mother wanted to spend time with her. And despite the fact she'd never said it to her; Kate could see something in Alexis' eyes that told her at some point she would start questioning if it was something to do with her.

Kate hoped between herself and the girl's family, they would convince her other wise, but she was so very grateful she would never have those doubts about her own mother.