Author's Note-Hey, my internet has been down for the past week, so anything during that week I couldn't help-lack of updates, replies and the such-anything before that was on me. I now have the next four, including this one, written and should be uploaded pretty regularly. I have plans too, so watch this space. Thanks for sticking by it. NYLF xx
Rick and Kate both waited anxiously at the airport gate early Monday afternoon. Alexis was due back any moment and neither could wait to see her.
While this weekend had been great, getting to know each other on a deeper level, sharing things both physically and emotionally they hadn't before, they both missed their little girl; Kate long having gotten over her nervousness around the five year old and becoming almost the maternal figure in the child's life.
After Meredith had let Alexis down again, telling her she'd be there on her fifth birthday and not turning up, Kate had taken her out for the day, just the two of them, doing anything and everything the birthday girl wanted to. By the time Kate had carried her back into the loft that night, she was fast asleep with a smile on her face. Rick had never been so grateful.
"How much longer?" Kate practically whined, making Rick chuckle.
"Excited are we?" He teased gently, the arm around her waist, his hand cupping her hip, taking out any sting.
"You're not? She's been gone all weekend." Kate leaned deeper into his body.
"I enjoyed our weekend pretty well without her though, didn't you?" Rick asked, aiming for teasing her some more, but Kate could hear the subtle vulnerable undertone. She had thought she had been very appreciative of his talents this weekend, apparently she was loud, but maybe she hadn't convinced him enough.
"Our weekend was perfect Rick. And I wouldn't have changed it for anything. The way you hold me," she dropped her voice to a more intimate level, "the way you touch me; it's like nothing I've ever experienced." She felt Rick's grip tighten on her hip and smirked before resting her head in the crook of her neck, pressing a butterfly kiss to the skin she found. "But I miss our baby."
"Our baby, huh?" Rick smiled, loving how close Kate and his daughter had gotten over the last few months. "Well," he started, nudging her to get her attention, "I think she's here."
Kate turned to look and sure enough, coming out of the gate was an exhausted, but radiant as ever Martha, holding both her and her granddaughter's bags, while Alexis looked around anxiously.
Rick whistled, loud and clear, over all the noise and Kate couldn't help but smile when her stepdaughter immediately turned towards the sound. Both adults waved and Alexis took off like a shot, barrelling straight into Rick's open arms where he had crouched to catch her.
"Hey, Baby Girl." Rick murmured into her hair as he held her close, standing carefully. "Oh we missed you Pumpkin."
"Missed you too." Alexis whispered, snuggling into her daddy while Kate went to help Martha with their luggage.
"Hey, how was your trip?" The younger woman asked as she slung Alexis' bag over her shoulder and accepted Martha's embrace with the other arm.
"Too long." The matriarch groaned. "What my boy ever saw in that woman is beyond me."
Kate smiled softly, still not yet sure where she stood in the Meredith debate. Valentines had been her only interaction with her and that had been fleeting at best. While she couldn't say she liked the woman, she was Alexis' mother, and Kate would be civil to her for her stepdaughter's sake.
"But enough about my weekend, how was yours?" Martha asked, bumping their hips together as she winked at her, smiling broadly at the brunette's blush. "My my Katherine, good was he?"
"Martha!" Kate exclaimed, hiding her burning face with her spare hand.
Martha laughed and waved her off before linking their arms and leading her over to where Rick and Alexis hadn't moved.
"Hey, Little Red, where's my hug?" Kate chuckled as they reached the pair.
Alexis looked over her father's shoulder at her, worrying Kate when she saw the five year old's red-rimmed eyes.
"Hey, Baby, what happened?"
Alexis shook her head and buried it back into her father's neck.
Kate gently palmed the back of her head, trying to soothe her as best she could. "Shall we go home Honey?" When Alexis only nodded against Rick's shoulder, Kate kissed her hand where it was clinging to Rick's shirt, and led them through the airport towards their car.
Kate slipped her hand into Rick's back pocket and relieved him of his keys, before gently pushing him towards the open back door, silently telling him to cradle his little girl while she drove. With a grateful smile, Rick got into the back seat, letting Kate strap him in before he kissed her gently.
"Thank you." He murmured. Kate smiled softly and shut the door, sliding into the drivers' seat while Martha put the bags into the trunk and got in the passenger side. Once everyone was seated and strapped, Kate drove them home.