The next couple of days went by slowly but surely.
Rick and Alexis still found themselves treading on eggshells more times the not, but Kate seemed to be brighter, lighter within her self than they'd ever seen her. It was good and heart warming and it allowed both Rick and Alexis to bond better with Kate while she was less bogged down with everything going on at home. Rick was pleased to see the firm kinship developing between both his daughter and his girlfriend.
Rick had made a conscious decision to not make a big deal out of Valentines, knowing that, with everything that had happened in the last month, it was sure to be the last thing on her mind.
The fact he wasn't entirely sure where they stood on the whole exchanging of gifts thing, given they had been together barely a week, influenced that decision no end. He didn't want to scare her off by showering her with gifts but he also didn't want to not buy her anything and then find out she had brought him something. He figured he was pretty safe with knowing he could book a table later if she had brought him something. Although, she had agreed to move out of the guest bedroom and into his, as long as he promised to not let his hands wander any further than he would be happy for his daughter to see. That was present enough for him.
The knock of the door at half seven Valentine's morning however, was a surprise he would certainly do without.
He couldn't help but smile as Kate nuzzled further into his chest, rubbing her nose into his pectoral. He gently smoothed his hand up and down her back in one constant movement, smiling at the contented sigh it elicited.
"I've gotta get the door, Kate." Rick whispered against her forehead before pressing a kiss to her skin. She mumbled something incoherent, but adorable, about not leaving and staying with her. Something along the lines of 'cold without you' but he couldn't be sure. "I'll get rid of them, be right back." Kate grumbled quietly. "I'll be two minutes." He gently slanted his mouth over hers, barely kissing her, knowing full well that she wasn't nearly awake enough to appreciate it, and got out of bed to go get rid of whoever was at the door.
"Daddy?" Alexis asked sleepily from the middle of the stairs. Rick detoured from his path to the door over to the stairs and scooped her up gently.
"Hey Pumpkin, what're you doing up?" He asked softly as he watched his daughter rub her tiny fist into her eyes while the other held a firm grip on Monkey-Bunkey's arm.
"Heard door." She murmured, not yet awake enough for full sentences. Rick smiled warmly and kissed the top of her head.
"Why don't you go and snuggle in with Kate for a bit while I get rid of whoever is at the door and then I'll come join you, yeah?" Alexis bobbed her head slowly. Rick smiled again and gently put her down, watching with a light heart as she ambled through to his bedroom, Monkey-Bunkey trailing behind her. He chuckled to himself at the adorableness of his daughter and the image his imagination was conjuring of both his girls cuddled up in bed together, before turning his attention to the door he'd so far been neglecting to answer.
Stifling a yawn, Rick unlocked and opened the door, his heart stopping at the sight before him.
"Hey, Kitten." Oh, this was gonna be fun.