Rick pulled back slowly a moment later. He rested his forehead against hers and waited for her to open her eyes. While he was waiting, he drank her in. Her elegant cheek bones, the gentle curve of her nose, her ebony lashes set against her rose blushed skin. She was beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Eventually, she drew her lower lip between her teeth as her eyes fluttered open.

"Hi." Rick whispered with a smile. Kate chuckled quietly.

"Hey." She murmured back. He smiled and pulled back so he could look her in the eye.

"You okay?" Kate shook her head in disbelief. "What?"

"The first question you ask after you kiss me is 'you okay'?" She asked incredulously.

Rick chuckled. "What would you have me ask, Ms Beckett?" Kate shrugged.

"I don't know. I, uhh, I haven't done this very often." Rick's face fell quickly.

"Shit, you really are only nineteen." He murmured more to himself than her. He took her hand in his suddenly. "You have done this though, right? I mean, I'm not your first kiss or anything, right?" Kate smiled softly.

"I'm not a virgin, if that's what you're asking." She told him matter-of-factly, making him blush. "I won't be sharing my number with you." She added a little nervously. "It just probably isn't as big as yours." Rick nodded slowly.

"I won't ever push you. Not in this or anything else." He told her sincerely. Kate nodded slowly.

"I know Rick. I...I trust you." She nearly whispered, dropping her eyes to his chin. He gently put his fingers under her chin and pushed so she would face him.

"Kate..." he started softly. Kate shook her head.

"I'm okay. Really. I would have stopped you if I wasn't Rick, I promise." Rick nodded; he couldn't help but be relieved all the same. "I just...I wasn't expecting it. It came as a bit of a shock and may take some getting used to. That's all." She bit her lip to stop herself rambling. He chuckled.

"It's okay Kate. We have all the time in the world to figure this out." He smiled, gently cupping the side of her head again. "But I would like to kiss you again. Maybe persuade you a little?" Kate giggled, much to Rick's amusement, and smiled coyly.

"I guess that could be arranged." She leaned in and kissed him quickly before Rick slid his hand through her hair to hold the back of her head, holding her to him.

He deepened the kiss in a heartbeat and Kate found herself moving forward without knowledge, a whisper of a moan escaping her parted lips only to be swallowed by him.

By the time they broke apart, oxygen becoming a necessity, she was straddling his lap.

They both chuckled at each other, mostly out of nervousness, before Kate leaned forward and dropped her head onto his shoulder. She was still trying to regain her breath while Rick gently ran his hand up and down her spine, slowly soothing her rattled composure.

A few moments later, Rick heard her sniff as a droplet of water hit his shoulder.

"Kate? Shit, are you crying?" He asked softly, worriedly, pulling back to look at her. Kate dipped her head to avoid eye contact. "Hey, oh Sweetheart I'm sorry." He murmured. Kate looked up, startled.

"Why, why are you apologising?" Rick smiled guiltily.

"I kissed you." He shrugged. Kate shook her head.

"Rick, I..." she smiled at him and gently laid her hand on his cheek. "I was just thinking about how my parents used to grill me about the new guy in my life. I was just thinking about how they wouldn't do that with you. It wasn't..." she chuckled. "It wasn't the kiss." Rick covered her hand with his own while smoothing away her tear with his other thumb.

"I'm the new guy in your life?" He asked softly. Kate smiled shyly.

"I presumed you wanted to be, given how you kissed me and all."

Rick chuckled. "I would be honoured to be the new guy in your life Kate. Honoured." Kate giggled and shook her head.

"What about Alexis?"

Rick smiled gently. "Kate I've already told you you make her happy. She'd adore you to be in her life more securely. Okay, so maybe we don't kiss in front of her until we talk to her." Kate nodded. "But she'll be fine with it. She loves you." Kate blushed.

"The age gap doesn't bother you?" Kate asked quietly. Rick hesitated for a moment, trying to keep up with the rapid subject change.

"Does it bother you?" He hedged. Kate shrugged.

"It's big, but I've known bigger." Rick fought valiantly not to smile, not quiet valiantly enough though. "Oh, you child!" Kate cried, playfully hitting his shoulder.

"Sorry. I couldn't resist." He chuckled. He carefully wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her closer so that they rested chest to chest. "Kate, I like you. You're great with my daughter and she loves you. I don't care that you're eight years younger than me. If it doesn't bother you, then I'm more than fine with it." Kate chuckled gently before resting her forehead against his.

"How did we get from Alexis crying about Meredith, to us being together?"

"It's been coming for two days Kate." Rick murmured. "We were inevitable; the heart wants what the heart wants."

Kate bit her lip shyly. "And your heart wants me?"

Rick smiled and kissed her gently before pulling back and tucking her hair behind her ear.

"My heart wants yours."