Rick was sat on Alexis' floor, Monkey-Bunkey sat on his left, one of his daughter's dolls on his right, plastic tea cup in his hand, smile on his face as he listened to his daughter make idle chit chat with her toys while pouring air into their cups. He sipped at his own cup when Alexis turned to him, eliciting a beaming smile from the girl while she chatted away to her tea party guests, happy enough considering their morning.

After a while, Rick's eyes were drawn to the doorway. Kate stood, holding her waist tightly, a tiny smile on her face as she watched his daughter play. She took a moment to notice his gaze on her, another to gather the courage to actually meet his eye. She gave him a tiny watery smile.

"Hey, Lex?" She asked quietly. Alexis looked up and smiled at the teenager.

"Hey Kate, you wanna join us?" He could see the effort the smile she gave the little girl took.

"Maybe in a bit, yeah?" Alexis nodded. "Can I borrow daddy for a minute?" Alexis looked from one adult to the other before nodding.

"Sure. Go daddy, I'll entertain our guests." Rick beamed and pressed a kiss to her crown before getting up and meeting Kate in the hall.

She leaned against the wall for a moment, watching him for some sign he didn't know how to give. After a few seconds, she threw herself into his chest and held on for dear life. Rick didn't hesitate to wrap her up in his strong embrace.

"I, I'm sorry Rick." She murmured brokenly. "I'm so sorry. I, I'm just so sorry." Rick tightened his grip and subconsciously rocked them from side to side gently.

"Shhh, it's okay Kate." She shook her head against his chest.

"No, Rick it isn't. I know you better than that. I know you'd never cheat on anyone, no matter how long you've been with them. I'm sorry, I made you out to have no self control at all and that, that was wrong of me." She was fighting to not cry again and he could feel what it was costing her.

"Kate. It's okay. It would take a lot more than this to make me not want to be with you." She sobbed softly. "Kate, I am in awe that you picked me. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that. I only hope you realise at some point soon that I'm already falling for you." Kate pulled back only far enough to press her lips to his in an almost desperate kiss.

"I, I don't want you to be in awe of my wanting to be with you Rick. You're, well you're you. And I, I think this is the closest I've ever been to being in love." She whispered against his skin. "And I, I'm trying really hard..." he kissed her again, soft and clinging.

"Shhh Darling, I know, I know how hard you're trying Kate. I do. Just, let me in, okay? If you need to slow us down, if you need, if you need anything Kate just tell me. Just..." he paused and gently cupped her face in his palms, his heart breaking for her at the crystal tears in her eyes, the desperate way she leaned into his touch, as if she'd been expecting him to never touch her again. "Just please, let me in. You don't need to hide from me Kate. You never have to be anything other than yourself with me. Never, you hear me?" She nodded slowly, neither moving from his touch nor opening her eyes. Rick gently stroked his thumb under her eye, displacing a tear.

"I can't sleep with you yet." She whispered. "I, I was being really stupid earlier. I, I can't, I'm sorry." Rick kissed her gently.

"No need to apologise." She nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line.

"I want to. I do. I really do. I just, I need to get my head straight before we get into this like that." Rick nodded, dropping his hands to her waist to bring her into his chest again. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his back. "I, I think I'm gonna see someone. I need to, be better, for my dad and for you and Alexis." He kissed the top of her head gently.

"I think that's a good idea." She nodded.

"Would, would you help me find someone?" Rick smiled and held her that bit tighter. She was asking for his help. She was letting him in. She wasn't hiding what she perceived as weakness but instead letting him support her.

"We'll look later. For now..." he started, leaning down to look at her, "how about we go spend Valentines at a tea party in Paris, sipping air and making small talk with Monkey-Bunkey while watching the adorable little red headed waitress dance around the table?" She giggled and leaned in to kiss him ever so gently.

"I'd love to." She whispered.