A Long Road Home

Chapter 3

AN: Doing a happy dance! Guys I'm so happy so many of you like this fic! Your reviews give me so much motivation to write and this story makes me happy and I'm glad it makes you guys happy too!

Little bit of drama ahead. Not big drama. Some Tommy/Kim cuteness too. If you're waiting for the Katsplosion, hang it there. You've got a while.

…

The next morning, Tommy made his way to Kim's house in Surfside. Kim answered the door looking a little green.

"Hey, Beautiful." He kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

Kim groaned. "Gross." She went and laid on the sofa and curled up into a ball. Tommy laid a blanket over her.

"Can I get you anything?"

Kim shook her head. "I can't keep anything down anyway."

Tommy frowned and walked into Kim's kitchen. He went through her fridge and cabinets and came out a moment later, grabbing his keys. "I'll be back in a few minutes. I need to grab some things from the store."

Kim nodded. Tommy grabbed her spare house key so she wouldn't have to get up to let him in again and left.

When Tommy returned a few minutes later, Kim was no longer on the couch. He heard retching sounds coming from the bathroom and he put the bags down and rushed to her. He knocked lightly before opening the door. Kim was keeling in front of the toilet. Tommy went to her side and held her hair, rubbing soothing circles on her back. He helped her stand once she was done and let her lean on him for support as she brushed her teeth.

He picked her up and carried her back to the couch. "You rest." He kissed her forehead and went back into the kitchen to unload the bags.

He returned a few minutes later with a mug. "Here, try this."

Kim eyed the mug wearily. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Tommy smiled at her reassuringly. "It's ginger tea. The ginger helps with nausea and the warmth of the tea should help settle your stomach too."

Kim took the mug and took a tentative sip. "Hmm, this is pretty good."

"I uh, I did a little research last night." Tommy admitted sheepishly. "I got some other stuff that might help. You didn't sound like you were too keen on the nausea pills."

Kimberly's eyes widened in surprise and she beamed at him. "You really did research about morning sickness? For me?"

Tommy placed a kiss on her forehead. "Of course, Beautiful."

"How'd it go last night, anyway?"

Tommy sighed. He'd been hoping she wouldn't ask, but hopefully she wouldn't be too upset. "Actually… it didn't."

Kim frowned and sat up straighter. "What do you mean?"

"When I got home, Kat was on her way out. She flew to Australia last night. Her father had a heart attack… I couldn't tell her. Not then."

Kimberly gasped. "No. No of course not. That's awful!"

"You're not upset?"

"No Tommy, of course not. I understand." Kim assured him.

Tommy let out a breath in relief. "I promise, I'm going to tell her the truth as soon as she gets back. I'm just not sure when that's going to be."

Kim took Tommy's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I know. I trust you."

…

Tommy had gone home and packed a bag, deciding it was worth the hour long commute to be able to stay with Kim while Kat was out of the country, and he couldn't have been happier. He'd forgotten how good it felt just to be around her. They'd had 5 perfect days together before reality intruded on their blissful little world.

The clock read 1:05AM when Tommy's cell phone buzzed. Tommy groaned and squinted sleepily at the screen. It was Kat. Tommy glanced over at Kimberly, who was still sleeping peacefully and carefully climbed out of bed so he wouldn't wake her and pulled on his boxers. He walked into the living room and pressed the button on his phone.

"Hello?"

"Tommy!" Kat's voice came over the line, sobbing.

"Kat? What's wrong?" If she was calling this late, knowing he had to work in the morning, it couldn't be anything good.

"He's gone, Tommy. My father… he's d-dead!"

Tommy sucked in a breath. "Oh Kat, I'm so sorry." He said softly, genuinely sad at the loss of his father-in-law.

"C-can you come? Please? I know it's short notice but I need you."

Tommy's chest tightened. Of course he would be there for Katherine, but the thought of being around not only Kat, but her family, given the circumstances with Kimberly, wasn't something he was looking forward to. Not to mention having to be away from Kim for however long they'd be in Australia. But he knew he had to go. He owed Kat that much.

"Of course. I'll be there as soon as I can. I'll call you with the details." Tommy ended the call and turned to go back into what was already starting to feel like their bedroom, when he saw Kimberly standing a few feet away, her robe wrapped tightly around her.

"What's going on?' She asked softly, though Tommy could tell by the look on her face, she already knew.

"Kat's father died tonight. I have to go to Australia for a few days for the funeral. It's the least I can do." He told her, watching her face cautiously.

Kim stayed silent for a moment before she slowly nodded. "Tell your wife I'm sorry for her loss." She said softly before walking back into the bedroom.

Tommy frowned and followed after her. "It's just for a few days, Kim. This doesn't change anything."

Kim laughed bitterly. "It doesn't change anything? It changes everything! Kat's father just died, Tommy. Even I know how close she was to him. You expect me to believe you're going to tell her about us, about our baby after that? You forget, I know you Thomas Oliver. You wouldn't do that to her. You're not going to leave her. Not now, not anytime soon, if ever."

"I am going to tell her." Tommy insisted. "Not right this second, no. But I will tell her. I promise."

Kimberly turned her back to him, clearly not believing what he was telling her. Tommy moved closer to her, rubbing her shoulders and gently pulling her back against his chest. "It'll be okay, you'll see."

She didn't respond but allowed Tommy to guide her towards the bed as he began placing kisses on her neck. He turned her around and laid her back against the pillows, stripping the robe from her body. He quickly took off his boxers and slipped into the bed, moving over her. He kissed her deeply before moving back to her neck, trailing open-mouthed kisses up one side and down the other, then moving down to her breasts. Kim's nipples were more sensitive than ever, now the she was pregnant, and within moments Tommy's ministrations had her writhing beneath him. Unable to hold off any longer, Tommy entered her in one swift thrust, eliciting a moan from both of them. He pulled back slowly, loving the feel of her stretched around him, before trusting forward again, inch by inch. He did this a few more times before he gave in to his need and began thrusting faster. Kim cried out beneath him, wrapping her legs around him, pulling him deeper inside her. Tommy buried his head in her neck as waves of pleasure washed over him as she spasmed around him.

"Kim!" Tommy came with a hoarse shout, his body trembling.

As soon as he was able, he rolled them over, still intimately joined, holding her against his chest as they fell back into slumber.

When Tommy awoke a few hours later, Kim was no longer in his arms. A quick look around determined she wasn't in the bedroom. Tommy got up and showered and dressed before calling Reefside High, letting the Principal know he'd be taking a leave of absence for at least the next week. With that done, he made his way out of the room to find Kim.

He found her at the kitchen table with a cup of ginger tea and her sketch pad, fully dressed and her hair pulled up in a messy bun. She didn't look up as he entered.

"Good morning." He went to kiss her but she turned her head away. Tommy sighed. Apparently, he hadn't smoothed things over last night like he thought. "Kim…"

"Don't you have a plane to catch?" She asked coolly.

"Come on, Kim, don't be like that."

She said nothing, sipping her tea, refusing to look at him.

"It's only for a few days. You know I have to go."

Kim nodded. "I know you do. So go."

Tommy threw his hands in the air in exasperation. "But you're mad at me."

She shook her head. "Actually, I'm not. Nor do I have any right to be. You're married, Tommy, and technically, so am I. This was wrong from the start. Go be with your wife. She needs you more than I do."

"Dammit, Kimberly. Don't do this! I love you! Okay? Yes, what we did was wrong. I'll never argue otherwise, but I didn't regret it very much then, and don't regret it now. Things are more complicated now, true. The last thing I want to do is hurt Kat, but I'm going to tell her the truth. I can't tell her now, but soon. Once things are settled, I'll tell her everything and then we can be together. I just need you to give me a chance to do that. Please?"

Kimberly finally looked at him, her eyes unreadable. As much as she wanted to believe Tommy's words, she didn't want to get her hopes up. A part of her was afraid Tommy would realize what a mistake he'd made and change his mind about being with her. She knew Tommy truly wanted their baby, and would be there no matter what, but he didn't have to be with her to be a father to their child. He and Kat could work it out. And with this latest tragedy, she knew chances were good that they might. It was safer to keep him at a distance.

"You need to focus on her right now. We'll talk when you get back." Her words were emotionless, detached, and Tommy hated it, but he knew her well enough to know that pushing her now wouldn't do any good. He'd give her time to cool off.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll call you from Australia."

"That's not a good idea."

"I at least want to know that you two are okay."

Kim rolled her eyes. "I'm not a baby, Tommy. I don't need you checking on me."

"Humor me, Beautiful."

"Your wife wouldn't appreciate you calling me that." Kim said snarkily, her hormones getting the best of her with Tommy preparing to leave.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate me shoving my cock in you last night either. Stuff happens."

Kim gaped at Tommy's bluntness, but he just smirked in response and left, more than a little pleased at having gotten the last word. Kim would be thinking about that for a good while.

…

Up next, nosy Aussie in laws, a moody pregnant girlfriend, whatever will Tommy do? Reviews make my day! It takes 30 seconds. Pretty please!